Judith Martinez was born from a secret- unwanted by her father's wife, unloved by her siblings, and treated like a maid in her own home. Her only joy was Erod, the son of the richest man in New Jersey, and their hidden love gave her hope. But when Erod's marriage proposal exposed their secret, Judith's life took a dark turn. Betrayed by the very people who shared her blood, Judith is poisoned at her own dinner table. But death isn't the end- it's a second chance. Awakening five years in the past, Judith is determined to rewrite her fate, uncover family secrets, and rise from the shadows. This time, she won't just survive- she'll take back everything that was stolen from her. But the question right now is, will she succeed?
JUDITH'S POV
The night was cold, and the wind blew softly through the window. I sat on my small, hard bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. My life had always been full of pain, and I had long accepted it. Ever since my mother died, nothing had truly made me happy-except for one person.
Erod.
He was my secret boyfriend, the only light in my dark world. We had been together for five years, hiding our love from everyone, especially from Nina-my stepmother.
I never really knew my mother. She was just a story told to me in whispers. A maid who worked for my father, Mr. Martinez. A woman who was thrown out of the house when Nina found out she was pregnant. My mother had died, but Nina had kept me-not out of love, but out of control.
I had never known a mother's love.
Since I could talk and walk, I had taken over my mother's job as a maid. I cleaned, I cooked, I served. Nina treated me like a daughter whenever my father was around, smiling sweetly and pretending to care. But the moment he left, her true face appeared-cold, cruel, and full of hatred.
My three sisters-Elena, Emma, and Elizabeth-were no different. They treated me just as their mother did, like I was nothing. But among them, Elena was the worst.
She had a crush on Erod.
She didn't know that I was the one he loved. And I had done everything I could to avoid her wrath. I was terrified of what would happen if she ever found out.
But everything changed the night Erod came to me with news that shattered my world.
"My father wants me to take over the family business," Erod said, his eyes filled with excitement.
I smiled. "That's great, Erod! I'm happy for you."
But then his expression changed. "There's something else," he said.
I felt a strange fear rise in my chest. "What is it
"He wants me to get married before handing over the business to me."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"I told him that you're the one I want to marry, Judith." He took my hands in his, smiling. "So, my parents are meeting your parents tomorrow."
I pulled my hands away. "No! You can't do that, Erod!"
He looked confused. "Why not? I love you. I want to be with you."
"You don't understand," I whispered. "Nina will never allow it. Elena will never allow it."
"I don't care about them." His voice was firm. "I love you, and I want the world to know."
I shook my head. "This will ruin everything.
Erod refused to listen. We argued for the first time that night. And for the first time, I was truly afraid of what was coming.
The next day, Erod's parents came.
I watched from the corner of the room as they spoke to my father. I saw the way Nina's face changed when she heard Erod wanted to marry me.
She was furious.
She didn't say much, but I could see the fire in her eyes. I knew she would not let this happen.
That night, my sisters sat with their mother, whispering. Plotting, I think.
Then days passed on, something strange happened. They all started treating me good.
Nina gave me a new dress.
It was beautiful. The finest thing I had ever owned.
For the first time, she invited me to eat at the dining table with the rest of the family, though my father wasn't around. I was shocked. My heart swelled with hope. Maybe, just maybe, she had changed her mind.
We ate together, laughing and smiling. It felt... nice. It felt like a real family.
Until the pain started.
A sharp, unbearable pain in my stomach.
I gasped, clutching my abdomen. "Something is wrong," I whispered.
Nina and my sisters only smiled.
I looked at them in horror. "What... what did you do?"
They laughed.
The pain grew worse. My body trembled. My vision blurred.
And then-
Darkness.
---
I opened my eyes.
I was sitting in a classroom.
The familiar smell of chalk filled my nose. The sound of a teacher's voice echoed in the room.
I knew this place.
It was my high school.
I looked down at myself. My hands were small. My uniform was clean and new. I touched my face, my hair.
I was young again.
I gasped. My heart raced. What is happening?
And then it hit me.
This was the day I had learned about the human digestive system in Biology class. The day I had stared out of the window, dreaming of a better life.
The day before Erod and I first met.
A realization struck me.
Life had given me a second chance.
But I would not use it to be weak.
I would not use it to suffer again.
I would use it for revenge.
I knew everything that was going to happen.
I knew how Nina would treat me. I knew how my sisters would torment me. I knew how Erod would love me in secret. I knew the poison they would give me.
But this time...
I would not let them win.
This time, I would not be their weak, silent servant.
I would be their nightmare.
I sat up straight in class, listening carefully. When the teacher asked a question, I answered with confidence. My classmates looked at me in surprise. The Judith they knew had always been quiet, afraid to speak.
Not anymore.
When school ended, I walked home with a different energy. I held my head high. When I saw Nina waiting for me at the mansion's door, I did not lower my gaze.
She frowned. "What took you so long?"
I smiled sweetly. "I had an important lesson today."
She scoffed. "Lessons won't help a maid."
I laughed. "Oh, Nina," I said, stepping past her. "You have no idea."
For the first time in my life, I was not afraid.
I had been given another chance.
And this time...
I would destroy them all.
Behind the gates of luxury and power, secrets lurk in every shadow. For Sophia, a young woman with a mysterious past, the truth about her family's secrets and lies will change everything. Join Sophia on a journey of discovery, love, and heartbreak as she uncovers the shocking truth about her identity and her place in the world."
Title :Not my wishes but with C Life is so sweet as being the only child of my parents. I enjoyed all the goodness of life, getting everything I want no matter the cost. This also gave me confidence not to bother to work or have serious future plans because there was a lot to inherit. My dad's business is enough for me to keep flying higher even above my peer group. I was a golden egg to my parents that they will never want it to break but unfortunately I was surprised when my dad turned back at me and engaged me in marriage. I never wish or pray for all in the name of partnership business. I decided to make the marriage miserable for my partner, never mind if the business crashes all together because I want to please my mind and satisfy my loving partner charlie. Would I be able to accomplish my mission or not?
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."