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Scarlett, a determined writer, gets a job at the city's largest entertainment company, hoping to free her family from the grip of poverty. But her dreams take an unexpected turn when her path crosses Cade, her rude and seductive boss. Desperate to become CEO, Cade proposes a deal: financial assistance for Scarlett's family in exchange for a contract marriage. Torn between her hatred for Cade and her family's dire needs, Scarlett faces the test of her values. Will she compromise her principles for the sake of those she loves? Or will she find a way to loosen this tangled web of ambition, power, and unexpected attraction?
Scarlett.
I bet he has a hundred concubines chasing after him ,each more beautiful than the last. And there I was ... sitting in despair, not knowing what I'll be of .
This was not the first time, nor will it be the last I'll see panties in his suitcase. Each time my eyes beheld them, it feels as though my heart will crumble into pieces. I'd always feel this cold thing run through my spine.
Who was that? I jolted out of my thoughts when I heard the doorbell ring.
I didn't linger in wiping the tears off my face. I stared at the clock that hit six PM. Oh my, how long have I been crying?
I walked to the mirror. That was it. The figure there always has her eyes maroon and teary. I mustered courage and scrubbed my face, ensuring no one could sense I was crying.
I walked to the door, and saw a mail man.
I don't remember anyone saying they had a package for me.
The mailman gazed at me in an awkward way. What now?
Just then I realized my hair wasn't put together. Shit.
"Hello ma'am."
"Hello." I said, heaving deeply when the mailman took a huge step backwards, making a face as though he had smelt a dead rat.
"This is for you." He handed me an envelope.
"Thanks." I said, and received it, still perplexed at his behavior.
I abruptly shut the door behind me, and poured my mouth breath on my palms. Shit! It was disgusting. Oh my, no wonder he made those faces.
All because of Aaron. I sat my ass on the couch, anticipating the content in the envelope.
"The high court of Greenfield." It read. Court?
I ran my eyes through everything that was penned. I felt my heart shatter into crumbs. "Petition for dissolution of marriage." He really meant this. I thought it was all part of the empty threats he made.
I slowly fell off the couch, to get my head together. He had signed, and mine was demanded.
No, no. It's impossible I'll be signing this. I love him too dearly.
My eyes became frozen. I could barely see anything but mustered tears.
I heard the door knob twist and open. I slowly turned to see him. Out of the blue, the man decided to break my heart.
But he wasn't the only one; another was with him. His mistress perhaps. Her face didn't ring a bell.
"Aaron?" I stood to meet him. The fool was intoxicated already.
"You..." he said, pointing his unstable index finger at me.
"Aaron? What's this?" I asked, with the divorce papers hanging in my hand, not having time for the other lady.
"It is what it is, love." He said, and smacked my face slightly.
The other lady majestically walked her ass to my settee. "Why are you doing this? I'm sorry if I've done anything...we can resolve this like two adults but not like this-" he interrupted me midway.
"Save that for someone else..." This was real. My eyes twitch as he grabs the other lady by the waist, romantically leading her to our bedroom.
OUR bedroom.
That was what he did to me on our wedding night, and now for her...
They came out again, and he whispered. "We'll be needing the room to ourselves the whole night."
"If you don't mind..." the lady said, and I just stood there, staring and amazed at how stupid they looked.
"Like she has a choice." Aaron said and they both poured out laughter.
Their lips interlocked, deeply, which made tears fall.
I wasn't interested in seeing them do their shit. I ran upstairs and grabbed a coat. By the time I was back down, no one was there. I leaned my ear to the door only to hear the intense mourning of the lady.
"Should I put it in?" Aaron asked, in a breath that was filled with pleasure.
"Yes..."
I couldn't hold the tears any longer. I ran out of the house, shutting the door behind. So soon? I had just been married for three months.
I strengthened my face, and dialed my mom's number. It rang, but she didn't answer.
I damn needed someone to talk to. She's the only person that could lend a listening ear to me now.
I put on my coat and walked in silence to the park, holding my grief at heart. Hoping nobody notices.
The cold was strong enough to dry up my tears, but not the sorrow in my heart. Shrubs were swept away by the breeze, then I sighted a bench. It had no companion, just like me.
I gently walked to it and sat. My heart grew heavier.
It was as if my heart was being beaten with a whip that had blades at its corners.
Then a thick flawless voice spoke. Perhaps it wasn't to me.
" How saddening it is to know angels cry" he said. I looked around and realized I was the only one, so he was referring to me.
Oh my, my tears were visible.
" Excuse me?" I said and wiped off my tears, as if nothing happened. "I saw an angel crying and decided to come over.
Is anything the matter? I'd be glad to lend a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on."
I paused and looked into his eyes and was weak knowing someone noticed my tears; I couldn't help but break down again.
I saw empathy and wonder in his eyes. It was obvious he didn't know what to do when he gently held my feeble hands. Before I knew it, I hugged him.. tighter than I could ever have imagined, even to the extent of leaving tears on his coat.
I felt his strong hands pat my hair.
" Everything will be okay, don't worry." He said.
The cold worsened and I was still crying.
Probably he didn't know how to tell me to stop hugging him so we could find shelter.
" Hey," he said.
" Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for... I should just leave." I said,
" No, you shouldn't leave. I'd love to help. You know a lot of people have fallen into depression and even died because they didn't have a listening ear and I wouldn't have that happen to you." he said. Tears dropped down my cheeks and I sniffed, cleaning my face with the back of my hand.
" I'm Scarlett" I said
" Silas," He said. " Would you like to have something to eat? There's a restaurant nearby."
"Oh no, I'm fine."
"Are you?"
I nodded. "All I wanted was a shoulder to cry on."
That was all I ever wanted at that moment. I felt better, at least a little better than before.
We exchanged numbers, in case of a next time. My eyes dimmed as I saw him disappear into a dot in the street.
I woke up the next morning to honking vehicle , and busy pedestrians trailing down the street. Where was I?
It was open. I could see the sky, roadside sellers...
My eyes finally gaped open to realize I was in the park. Did I sleep here?
I didn't need an answer to that. People's glare boldly answered for me.
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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."