Selene's eyes widened as she spotted me. With a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, she stepped forward with him. "Anastasia, what a pleasant surprise!" I gave a curt nod. "Selene. Blake." Blake looked momentarily puzzled, his eyes narrowing as he saw me. He is probably confused as to how it is possible for me to be here and that too at this party. He definitely didn't see this coming "Anastasia. Didn't expect to see you here." Selene leaned in, her tone sarcastic but edged with curiosity. "It's been a while. Hmm.... Five years I think. How have you been?" I hated everything about her, I wish I could just drive my nails into her smug face. I tried to maintain my composure with a gentle smile. "I've been well, thank you. Busy with... various things." Selene's smile widened slightly. "Well, Blake and I have been well, getting married to him was a decision I'll never regret," She says smugly as if it were an achievement when it's nothing more than a facade. "It's interesting how the past has a way of catching up with us, isn't it?" She continued. Blake shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting between Selene and me, still confused. "I suppose so,". The past does have a way of resurfacing." Selene's eyes lingered on me, her curiosity piqued. "What brings you here tonight, Anastasia? Besides, of course, catching up." Before l could respond, Damien appeared at my side, his presence commanding immediate attention. He placed a hand on my lower back, a touch both protective and assertive. "Forgive the interruption," Damien said smoothly, his voice cutting through the conversation with effortless grace. "But I'm afraid I need to steal my date for a moment." Blake's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Damien Santoro. I didn't realize you two were... together." Damien flashed a charming smile. "We are indeed. And now, if you'll excuse us, Anastasia and I have some catching up to do on our own." Selene's eyes widened, and she glanced at Blake, her expression was a mix of confusion and discomfort. I steadied my gaze as I addressed Blake and Selene before leaving. "It seems the past is as unpredictable as ever. Enjoy your evening." ----------------------- 25-year-old resilient Anastasia Winslow finds herself bewildered and reeling with shock when her ex-husband Blake Sinclair and his mistress-also her work rival, frame her for a fraudulent crime that ruins her career and reputation at its peak. As she struggles with the dual burden of public disgrace and personal betrayal, she finds out she's pregnant with his child, exacerbating her desire for revenge and justice while trying to be a good mother to her child. Along comes the Santoro family who shares a deep-seated feud with her ex that threatens to bring her into the darkest underbelly of society in her quest for revenge. Her journey becomes more complicated as she forms a forbidden connection with Damien Santoro, the family's middle son, whose quest for vengeance mirrors her own. As Anastasia digs deeper she unveils more than she ever bargained for, pushing her to her limits and testing her resolve. The stakes are high, and suspense and anticipation intertwine, will Anastasia emerge victorious and reclaim her life, or will the shadows of her past lead to a further devastating loss? Dive into a tale of betrayal, revenge, and forbidden romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Anastasia's POV
The dance floor had been washed in shades of purple and the moving figures made a haze on the club's walls through the light's appearance. I gradually took a taste of the fluid in my glass and felt again the typical consuming sensation at the rear of my throat.
This was a night for her, my best friend Sofi's 25th birthday party. We had gathered here to mark the occasion, but the festive mood felt distant, almost surreal.
As the music pounded through the speakers, a man slipped into the seat next to me. He was unremarkable at first glance, dressed in a simple black jacket and jeans, his features shadowed by the faint lighting. He exuded a quiet calm, a presence that was easily overlooked but felt somehow significant.
"Quite the party," he said, nodding towards where Sofi and our friends were dancing. "Your friends?"
I took another sip of my drink. "Yes, it's Sofi's birthday," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
He smiled, gently "Happy birthday to her. Looks like she's having a great time."
"Yeah," I muttered, looking back at the dance floor.
"You seem a bit out of place here. Not a fan of clubs?" he asked, his voice calm and unintrusive.
I shrugged. "Just here for my friend."
He nodded, not asking more questions. "Sometimes, the best parts of parties are the quiet moments. Mind if I stay for a bit?"
I hesitated, then gave a slight nod. "Sure, why not."
We sat quietly for a while, watching the lights and people dancing. Then he spoke again, sounding thoughtful. "You know, sometimes the best moments at a party happen when it's quiet, away from all the noise."
I glanced at him, curious. "What do you mean?
"He shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. "Just that sometimes, the best connections happen in the quieter spaces, away from the noise."
I looked back at Sofi and our friends, feeling the weight of his words. "Yeah, maybe you're right."
Before the conversation could go any deeper, he leaned in slightly, his expression earnest. "Can I buy you a drink?" he asked, his voice low and gentle
He reeked of money and entitlement but I wasn't in the mood for another round of drinks and unnecessary chit-chat. "No, thank you," I snapped and focused on the dancing area where Sofi was laughing and spinning with Cassie and Mel. The four of us had been friends since college, admittedly, I don't know how I ended up with a circle of extroverted people. Probably karma.
I wanted to enjoy the night for Sofia's sake, but the energy around me felt suffocating.
Undeterred by my dismissal, the man continued, leaning in closer. "Oh, come on," he insisted like a used car salesman who wouldn't take no for an answer.
Great, now I am stuck with Mr persistent. What a night this was turning out.
"I'm married," I stated flatly, holding up my hand to display the wedding ring, hoping he would relent. His expression didn't change, but I noticed a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"It's just a drink. No harm in that, right?" he said, undeterred.
I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to our group chat: *Leaving early. Need some air. Love you all.* I turned my gaze back to the stranger "I'm really not interested," I replied, this time with a firmer tone. "Please, just leave me alone."
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say another word, I grabbed my bag and stood up. "Excuse me," I said, brushing past him. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked away, the tension of the encounter remaining in the air.
As I made my way through the crowded club, almost immediately, my phone started pinging as replies started pouring in.
Cassie: You okay? Want me to come with you?
Anastasia; No darling.
Melissa: Are you alright, hun?
Anastasia: Yes, continue partying, don't let me ruin your night!
Soph: Take care, babe! Call me if you need anything.
Their concern warmed my heart, but I needed to be alone, to process the disquieting encounter with the stranger and the suffocating atmosphere of the club. Plus, I had pending office work to complete during the weekend and it's getting late.
Blake's Pov
I settled into the plush armchair of the second lounge of the club, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. I was swimming in my thoughts. Cheating on Ana isn't something I like doing, she is my wife, and she is meant to be my companion but I can't seem to see her that way. More like, I don't treat her that way.
My heart is weighty with longing and regret. We used to be inseparable, sharing dreams and aspirations. But now, our marriage felt like a facade I struggled to maintain. When my lover slid into the seat beside me, her presence brought a rush of excitement influenced by guilt. She was my escape, a reprieve from the complexities of my life.
"You look distracted tonight," she remarked, her voice teasing. "Thinking about someone?"
I shook my head, a forced smile playing on my lips. "Just work stuff," I lied, staying away from her knowing look. I couldn't bring myself to admit the truth-that my contemplations were consumed by Anastasia, by the life we had built together and the distance that had grown between us.
Anastasia's father and my father had been companions starting from the start of their primary school years. We had an arranged family because of the relationship between our dads. Anastasia is the type of wife every man would wish to have but, I can't seem to relate with her as a normal couple or share any secrets with her even after almost three years of marriage.
The contrast between them was stark-Anastasia, the woman I had vowed to cherish, and my lover, a forbidden thrill I couldn't resist.
My lover noticed my hesitation, her fingers trailing lightly down my arm. "Stay with me tonight," she murmured, her breath warm against my ear. She gradually strokes my face carrying my lips to hers.
Imagine you've spent your entire life trusting and believing in the people who raised you, only to find out that they aren't your real parents. You've spent those years suffering in silence and had no say or freedom over your own life. Worse still, you decided to flee from your reality, only to end up in a more dangerous situation-kidnapped by a man who held the key to your future...... and your heart. Yup, well.... Sophia knows this pain all too well. A very brilliant and self-taught hacker, She goes into hiding from her adopted mafia family. But her world is turned upside down when the mafia leader of the Carusos..... Dante Caruso kidnaps her. She finds out that he turned out to be her childhood love who disappeared without a trace. What should have been a sweet and tender reunion of the lovers turned into a game of power and deception. Dante does not recognize Sophia and thinks she is Maya, his ex-girlfriend who betrayed him and happened to have the same face as Sophia's. He kidnaps her to help him take revenge on his rival enemy while wanting to take revenge on her for Maya's betrayal. Now, with pasts that is tangled together and hidden identities, Sophia and Dante must find a way that could either lead to redemption or destroy them both.
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!"
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
"Listen, Gadreel Ødegaar," she looked at him, not hesitating this time. "It's my anniversary present for you. Let's divorce." *** Ivory Remington had sacrificed five years to look after her husband Gadreel who was in a vegetative state after an accident and a few months ago, he finally awakened like a miracle. She thought it was the start of their happy life but Gadreel still had no heart for her. On their anniversary and her birthday, she received a cheating video of her dear husband and her stepsister. Heartbroken, Ivory chose to quit this stupid game. She decided to set him free but the reason she left on the divorce agreement pierced Gadreel's noble pride. *** "Impotent? Are you serious?" He gripped her wrist and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "I'm a woman, Gadreel. I'm tired of being in a sexless marriage. Let's end it once and for all." "Sexless, huh?" he chuckled lowly and without warning grabbed her chin in between his hands, pulling her face closer. "Turns out my wife was so eager to get a man between her legs? "
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]