Elena Rouge was assigned to disclose a young billionaire who was in disguise as an ordinary person and they involved in a romance until the next mystery of her identity would reveal by an old billionaire, Emir Drake.
Elena Rouge was assigned to disclose a young billionaire who was in disguise as an ordinary person and they involved in a romance until the next mystery of her identity would reveal by an old billionaire, Emir Drake.
Prologue
My name is Elena Rouge...I am an ordinary woman, what people don't know about me is who truly I am...They think that I am a reserved woman, a little bit shy or awkward...some people think about it but I always sneer at them and try to shut their underestimate stare at me down with 'whatever you think...'. They never thought that they would ever find me clubbing or partying at night...but they never knew who would be my next target (laughing inside). I was a professional killer...not a bloody killer but I did reveal what people think their hidden secrets were safe...whenever my boss asked me to do some orders that he got from his clients...The public will make a silent murder to all of my targets (smiling on her lips) but ordinary people think I am a common woman who is desperately lonely and avoids any bigger social life...I am glad that they think like that...
"Elena?" A guy with glasses and beautiful green eyes stood in her sight. His index was pointing at her then, he turned his finger to him. "Remember me?"
They were standing on the pavement of the sidewalk. Some people were rushing to go to work and some of them were walking to have sightseeing at the food court area nearby their place.
She widened her eyes. "Martinez?" She tried to guess and her lips shaped a wide smile.
"Yes, I spilled out your coffee when I bumped you..." That young man shrugged and looked around him. "That day." He inhaled and drew a clumsy smile as he took a glance at the woman who was standing in his sight, with her ankle-high boots, a loose sweater with a leopard motif scarf on her neck, and a pair of old jeans.
"Can I buy you coffee?" He bit his lips and his green eyes were staring at Elena. He sniffed and fixed his glasses. He seemed to be a little at the edge.
She nodded her head.
"Great. How about over there? Aren't you busy?" He took a long deep inhale as he found Elena accepting his offer.
The young woman wobbled her head and said, "Lucky me so, I am out to grab some coffee."
She chuckled and Martinez, the young man, imitated her action. He giggled and looked at his 'butterfly in his stomach' state to ease gradually.
"So, how is the dog that you saved when...?" Elena paused her sentence; a pair of her onyx eyes turned its direction from the pavement of the sidewalk where they were walking onto Martinez's face.
"When I bumped you that day?" Martinez squinted his eyes and made Elena deliver him her sweet smile that Martinez remembered since that day.
"Yeah...you say that you needed to save the dog's life because it was hit by a motorcycle," Elena tried to avoid Martinez's piercing stare at her as she looked down to their steps. 'Nice branded sneakers, Martinez!' She folded her two arms and stroked some of the hair strands that were blown by the breeze.
Martinez inhaled. "She's safe but the hit made her some fractures on her right bone leg."
"Really? Oh, poor girl!" Elena paused her steps and gasped as she felt pity for the dog.
"But she's okay and getting better!"
Martinez smiled and they continued their walk on the sidewalk.
They stopped at a coffee station on the sidewalk and there were two people before they queued.
"Were you walking for work on that day?" Martinez twitched one of his legs, he looked at Elena before putting his sight on the ground.
"Yeah. How about you?" Elena wiped her nose and glanced at Martinez.
His wavy berry-coloured hair was messed by the wind. Martinez stroked his fingers into his hair. "Yes, I am a vet assistant. I am working for an animal clinic. How about you?"
They stepped forward as the first person had got his takeaway order.
"I am working at a restaurant. As a washing dish person..." Elena answered and looked at Martinez slightly.
Martinez nodded his head and there was no change in his facial expression. "You are working in a shift?"
Elena inhaled. "Yes. Sometimes with some extra hours. To get some extra tips."
The second person left the queue as she had grabbed her orders. She took a glimpse at both Martinez and Elena as she slid her body to move from the queue and walk away.
Elena looked at the woman's back. 'I think she's from upper middle class. Her shoes I know the brand. It costs hundreds. Hmm...'
"What coffee, Elena?" Martinez startled her. "Cappuccino, latte, black coffee or espresso?"
"Oh...Latte, no sugar, crème with some ice." Elena smiled and she saw Martinez smirking at her.
"Any toppings?" Martinez put his two hands into his jean's pockets.
"Brown sugar powder, if there's any..." Elena stopped and giggled, "Don't make me sound like a complaint customer! Gosh..." She covered her mouth with her backhand at the time she giggled.
Martinez glanced at her and grinned. "One of the nightmares that often show up in your restaurant?"
Elena pulled her backhand from covering her mouth. "Not to me. But some of my friends that work for waiters said that they kind of customers...hmm...you know, they're mean for tips." She giggled again as Martinez smiled widely. Martinez ordered their coffee and they waited for several minutes to get their coffee.
"So, are you walking to work?" Martinez handed her coffee after he paid their orders. He sipped his coffee and glanced at Elena.
"Yeah. I am waiting for my bus. I have plenty of time. How about you?" Elena sipped her latte coffee; she wiped some crème that stained on her lip with her fingers.
"My bad. I have nothing much left to spend this coffee with you. Although I'll be glad to have it..." Martinez rubbed his right temple after he took a glimpse of his watch.
Elena jiggled her head and smiled. 'Why my instinct said that you are not an ordinary person who working as a vet assistant, Martinez. Your sneakers' brand name and the watch that you are wearing sound loud to me about you.' Elena stared at Martinez and sipped her coffee.
"Did you give the dog a name?" She asked Martinez.
"Yeah. I named her 'Fortune', as she could survive the accident!" Martinez sipped his coffee. He turned his eyes to the crowd, people who were passing them by.
Martinez sounded so puffing. "Can I see you again?" He handed his old version of the mobile phone to Elena. "Please, give me your number..."
Elena smiled and took his mobile phone to type her mobile phone number. "That's my number. Perhaps, I won't be able to answer your call so you should message me."
Martinez squinted his eyes and frowned his lips. "You're so vain..." He tried to make a joke and Elena chuckled.
"No, I'm just..." She moved her fingers in the air.
"I know. It's because your shifting hours sometimes ruin your dating schedule..." Martinez beamed.
Elena shrugged. "Perhaps."
Martinez wiped his nose. He whispered in Elena's ear. "I need to go now. Please, answer my call or reply to my messages, okay?" He smiled at Elena since he found that Elena's pupils dilated and she was surprised with what he did.
For three years, Natalie gave everything to be the perfect wife and mother, believing her love and effort could finally earn her a place in their hearts. Yet her sacrifices were met with betrayal from her husband and cold rejection from her son. In their eyes, she was nothing but a manipulator, using vulnerability to get her way. Her husband turned his back, her son misunderstood her, and she never truly belonged. Heartbroken yet determined, Natalie left her old life behind. When her family finally begged for a second chance, she looked at them and said, "It's too late."
Madelyn devoted sixteen years to loving Noah, and after finally marrying him, she believed her happiness would last forever. Instead, she faced relentless tragedy: a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, her family's financial collapse, and her father's heartbreaking suicide. The woman Noah truly loved suddenly returned, leaving Madelyn with nothing left to hold on to. Noah dismissed her divorce request as a tantrum, but when her medical report and the signed papers landed in his hands, he was plunged into utter panic, realizing what he was about to lose.
At my best friend's birthday party, I drank tainted wine and passed out. When I woke up, I heard the doctor say it could cause severe nerve damage. I teased my fiancé Cayden Hewitt, asking who I was and where I was. He hesitated, staring at me, then called my rival Liam Hewitt. "You're Julia. He's your fiancé. You're getting married soon." I froze, thinking he was joking too. My best friend, Vivian Green, slipped her arm through Cayden's, looking every bit like a couple in love. Eventually, I was about to marry Liam. But Cayden, with eyes red from emotion, stood in front of the car to stop it, pleading, "Julia, don't marry him. I've realized I can't let you go."
The ninety-ninth time Jax Little broke my heart was the last time. We were the golden couple of Northgate High, our future perfectly mapped out for UCLA. But in our senior year, he fell for a new girl, Catalina, and our love story became a sick, exhausting dance of his betrayals and my empty threats to leave. At a graduation party, Catalina "accidentally" pulled me into the pool with her. Jax dove in without a second's hesitation. He swam right past me as I struggled, wrapped his arms around Catalina, and pulled her to safety. As he helped her out to the cheers of his friends, he glanced back at me, my body shivering and my mascara running in black rivers. "Your life isn't my problem anymore," he said, his voice as cold as the water I was drowning in. That night, something inside me finally shattered. I went home, opened my laptop, and clicked the button that confirmed my admission. Not to UCLA with him, but to NYU, an entire country away.
In the eighteen years of her life, Brianna had endured relentless abuse from her family, living in constant fear. One fateful day, two dignified figures approached her and revealed a shocking truth: she was their long-lost daughter, heiress to the wealthiest family in the city-the Owens. Desperate for love and acceptance, Brianna hoped to escape her past. Instead, she fell victim to Cassie, a cunning impostor who manipulated their parents against her while feigning distress. Rather than forging a connection with her real family, Brianna found herself betrayed and isolated. When a car accident left Brianna in a vegetative state, she found herself able to listen to everything around her, though unable to respond. Bitterly, she realized her parents didn't care for her; they visited just once. A month later, Cassie visited, disconnecting the ventilator before leaning in to whisper coldly, "Goodbye, my dear sister. You shouldn't have come back. You are meant for that despicable, wretched family." Somehow, fate granted Brianna a second chance. Reborn and fueled by rage, she vowed to make everyone who had wronged her pay dearly. This time, she would seize the life that had been stolen from her.
Hidden for years by the state despite a fortune worth billions, Grace bounced through three foster homes. At her fourth stop, the wealthy Holden family showered her with care, sparking spiteful claims she was a despicable grifter. Those lies died when a university president greeted her. "Professor, your lab's ready." A top CEO presented a folder. "Boss, our profits soared by 300% this year!" An international hacker organization came to her doorstep. "The financial market would crash without you!" Colton, a mysterious tycoon, pinned her softly. "Fun's over. Let's go make some babies." Grace's cheeks flared. "I didn't agree to that!" He slid a black card into her hand. "One island per baby."
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