/0/47898/coverbig.jpg?v=7464c4428bbe2e637e7ef8eaee337858)
Being a Collateral Bride to a young billionaire wasn't a big deal for the 21-year-old Chloe Adams, despite her illness that left her with less than a year to live. She slowly begins to fall in love with the young billionaire But then her hopes are cut short when Code Anderson, her husband disappears without a trace. After six months, Chloe is surprised by the sudden appearance of Code Anderson, and his fiancee, Martina. How would Chloe cope with watching the man she loved with another woman coupled with the fact that her days are numbered?
As Chloe cleared the cups from the counter, she mustered the courage to ask a question that had been weighing on her mind. "Can I ask you something?" Chloe said as she raised her head up to meet Code's eyes.
Code glanced at his wristwatch and then at his phone, a sense of urgency in his gaze. "Yes, go ahead, but make it quick. I have a meeting in less than an hour."
Taking a deep breath, Chloe ventured, "Do you actually have any feelings for me?" The room immediately fell silent as Code's earlier movements came to a pause and a lump gathered in his throat.
"I mean, sometimes you act like you care, but other times, it's like you're making my life a living hell. I'm so confused." Chloe continued to state her concerns.
Code cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his chair before meeting Chloe's eyes. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I want to have this conversation with you."
Chloe's disappointment was palpable. "I expected as much. You always dodge this question. Just tell me how much you hate me and can't stand having me under your roof. Why is it a big deal for you? Just say it already..."
Code's frustration flared, his voice rising. "Chloe, don't be naive, I don't have any feelings for you. Our marriage is nothing but a contract. You are just a collateral, how many times do I have to say this?" Code yelled before finally coming to a pause.
"And if it's about that night, I didn't plan to have sex with you, It was a mistake but you shouldn't use that to define our relationship." Code continued, his voice cooler than before.
The words stung, and Chloe retorted, her voice trembling with emotion. "Wow, of course, taking away my virginity was your 'mistake,' and loving you was my 'mistake,' I mean... what was I even thinking?How could a billonaire like you even fall in love with a low class citizen like me? I'm so sorry for ever being in your life."
Tears began to stream down uncontrollably from her eyes. "Just give me a month I promise to pay off the 20,000 USD my family owes you and get the hell out of your life." With that, she stormed out of the living room.
******
**one week earlier**
"Chloe Adams right?" Dr Covey, a man in his early thirties inquired before dropping a file with Chloe's name on the desk.
"Yes," Chloe picked up the file and began to flip through the pages.
"I don't even know what to say concerning your case," Dr Covey sighed, his frustration evident on his face.
"120 days to live?" Chloe exclaimed. "How?"
"The last time we saw each other, you had roughly 250 days to live and now in less than 2 months, it has reduced to 120 days. What is going on?" He lowered the file which was in front of Chloe's face so as to get an eye contact with her.
"I am also shocked Doc, I think God has seen how useless I am in this world and he has decided to take me home." Chloe replied nonchalantly.
"That's crazy of you to think, your drinking habit caused this. Like it or not." Dr Covey snapped back at her. "You should be living your last days in happiness, so you could die happy."
"Happy you say," Chloe retorted. "A person in so much debt as I am could never die a happy man. You struggle and live a sad and fucked up life until you breath your very last." Chloe said tears had already begun to stream down her eyes.
"Have you informed your father about this?" Dr Covey asked, still trying to get an eye contact with Chloe.
Chloe rolled her eyes indicating that she had not told anyone, not even her best friend Kira. "I can't, he has so much to deal with already and I don't want to add pressure. Once it's time for me to go, I will go. At least that way he would only think of me and cry but I wouldn't become a liability." She said, cleaning her tears.
"Don't say that, You need to undergo an operation before it becomes too late and then you can't survive it anymore." Dr Covey placed his hands on Chloe's hands which were on the table.
Chloe gently removed her hand from under his, running her hands through her face in frustration. "I don't have the money for an operation, let me just die. At least that way my family's debt would be behind me." Chloe sighed. "Or maybe I could sell a kidney?"
She smirked at the thought of it. "How much will I get if I decide to sell a kidney?"
"This session is over, I can't continue with your madness. It was nice having you, it's time for you to leave. I have other clients to attend to." Dr Covey dismissed the crazy young lady.
Chloe left the hospital, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't bring herself to share the devastating news with her family, especially her father, burdened as he already was with their financial struggles. She had resolved to face her fate alone and spare them the added pain.
As she walked out into the bustling city, Chloe decided to call her best friend, Kira. She needed to clear her mind from all the crazy stuff that had been happening to her. Her fingers dialled Kira's number, and she waited anxiously for her friend to pick up.
"Hello?" Kira's cheerful voice chimed through the phone.
Chloe swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "Hey, Kira, Can I come over? I just need somewhere to you know... hang out."
"Of course, Chloe. I gat you" Kira replied.
With that, Chloe disconnected the call and then headed to a nearby grocery store to pick up a few things for Kira.
As she walked through the store's aisles, a familiar voice called out her name. "Chloe?"
Turning, Chloe was surprised to find Nathan, her husband's friend, standing there. Nathan had always been friendly and sweet towards her, unlike her bossy and arrogant husband. He was also rich, but not as much as Code Anderson.
"Hey, Nathan," Chloe greeted him, her voice tinged with sadness. "What brings you here?"
Nathan noticed the melancholy in Chloe's eyes. "I was just picking up a few things. How about you? Everything okay?"
Chloe forced a weak smile. "Just getting some groceries. You know how it is."
Nathan studied her for a moment, sensing that something was amiss. "You seem... different. Is something bothering you?"
Chloe hesitated, torn between confiding in him and maintaining her privacy. Yet, she found herself opening up a little. "It's just been a tough day, Nathan. Life can be so unpredictable sometimes."
Nathan nodded in understanding, his expression sympathetic. "If you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out. We all have our rough days."
Chloe appreciated his kindness but didn't reveal the full extent of her troubles. Averting his attention, Chloe asked, "Is Code ever going to return home?"
My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest, my world shattered into a million and one pieces. I couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't speak. All I could do was stare, my eyes fixed on the unreasonable scene before me. "L...Lucia..." my father stuttered, his face flushed with embarrassment and guilt as he immediately lifted his underwear. "It's not what it seems..." But I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to hear their excuses or justifications. The sweet scent of mangoes was now replaced with the bitter taste of betrayal. "Lucia!" Beta Mario called out, his heart pounding heavily as he swallowed a heavy lump. "Mate?" I said and a pained chuckle escaped my lips. Goddess! How could you let this realisation come to me now- my cheating *ssh*l* boyfriend is- my mate. My lifelong wish had come to pass... I found my mate. And he happened to be my childhood lover, same guy who had been my boyfriend for two years. It should have been fun, this should have been a happy moment. But there was a painful twist. My dad and my mate were secret lovers, or would I rather say 'f*ck buddies'. What could be worse than this? "My mate and my dad..." I said and I didn't know when tears began to drop from my eyes. "Lucia, please listen to me," Beta Mario begged, taking a step closer to me. His eyes were filled with remorse, but I couldn't bear to look at him. "Get your clothes on!" I spat, my voice trembling with anger and hurt. "I can't focus with you, standing there naked." Beta Mario quickly grabbed his pants and put them on, his eyes never leaving mine. "Lucia, I'm so sorry. I know this looks bad, but please just listen to me." "No," I snapped, my voice rising. "You had all the time to explain and you blew it. You and my dad...how could you?" "Lucia, it's not what you think," my dad started, but I cut him off. "Thank you for stealing the most precious guy in my life, Dad," I said, feeling heavy hatred and resentment towards my dad. "I hate you both, Assholes!" I turned, ready to run off. My heart was already split and I knew that any more second there could make me even more furious, but there was still one thing I was yet to do. "One more thing..." "No, please Lucia... you can't take decisions in haste. I swear I really like you..." "I Lucia Herod of Crescent land pack reject you Beta Mario of Crescent land pack." I'm glad I rejected him- that cheating *ssh*l*. But then, the goddess wasn't done with her surprises. "I want you to become my wife!" The Lycan King said, causing everyone's jaw to drop.
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"