"I'll hate to spoil your makeup." He brushed my hair aside to kiss the delicate skin on my neck. He was my husband, and he was trying to seduce me. The man my father forced me to marry so he could form a political alliance, but also gain access to this enemy family for revenge through me. My name is Racheal, the only legitimate child of one of the world's most influential presidents. As the president's daughter, you would think my life was perfect, but it wasn't. Since my mother's untimely death, my step-mother has maltreated and tortured me relentlessly. My boyfriend betrayed me, and then my father sold me off to be married to a man I did not know, a complete stranger, the billionaire son of a rival president. Now I am forced to make a decision, continue with my father's revenge plan, or let myself fall for my new husband?
"Is it over?" Racheal Rana asked
"Yes." Maxwell responded, and she ran into his arms happily. She hugged him tight, the moment felt surreal.
There had been rumors that the war that had raged the country for five years was coming to an end.
Even Maxwell, a palace guard high up in the presidential palace had told her as much, but it had been almost too much to hope for.
"It feels surreal. Now we can leave and really live" she said softly withdrawing from the embrace.
"That is what I came to talk to you about." Maxwell said.
"Really?" Racheal said, half jumping excitedly. "Would we leave today?" She asked in nervous excitement.
Maxwell led the way to one of the sofas in her luxuriously furnished room and sat down. She hurriedly followed and took a seat beside him.
She returned her gaze to his face expectantly. And for the first time, she had a feeling that something was terribly wrong.
"Maxwell" Racheal said with a little dread. He was avoiding her eyes, and he was sweating despite the cool air conditioning in her room.
"There is no good way to say this. I am calling this quits." He said.
"You are quitting your position." She said expectantly, because that had been the plan. He quits his position and they elope together to another country to start a family.
But the question sounded foolish even to her own ears. Maxwell would not look so uncomfortable if he was sticking to the plan.
"No. I am calling our relationship quits." He said, turning to finally face her. "We cannot go on with the plan."
Racheal felt herself caving in "You promised." She said, the feeling of being betrayed twisting her guts.
"You promised. This was what I had looked forward to for years, this is the only reason I went on living." She added. "You cannot change your mind."
"It's impossible. You will find some other man. You will find happiness." He said standing up.
"You swore you loved me, you promised to continue loving me." She said, feeling the heat of her unshared tears beginning to burn the back of her throat now.
"How can you love me and want to abandon me in this situation? Why give me a will to live and then take it away?" She asked angrily.
Then she paused, and her eyes widened. "Did someone find out about us, are you being threatened?" She asked moving close to him.
"No." He said forcefully, stepping back. He looked offended at her words.
"Then what is it? Why this sudden decision. I saw you two days ago and all was fine." She said in frustration.
"Was it?" He asked with a bitter smile.
"Maxwell, why are you acting this way? Please tell me." She said, and lost control over her tears. They flowed freely, but she felt no shame, this was still Maxwell.
This was Maxwell who knew her darkest thoughts and the depth of her embarrassing reality.
She finally came to the realisation.
"You do not want to be involved in all these anymore right? The presidential family drama is too much for you, and why send yourself to exile over the unwanted daughter of all his children." She said.
From the way he continued watching her silently she realised she was not far from the truth.
He was no longer defensive.
She sat back heavily on the couch. She never knew this day would come. Not even for one minute, in her moments of doubt did she think of this possibility.
She feared their getting caught, she feared an accident killing them on their way, or their being condemned to a life of poverty, and even those were not so terrifying because Maxwell would be with her.
Never did she think he would back out.
"You will find happiness again Racheal." He said, sounding a little sad.
Not sweet Racheal. My sweet Racheal was what he had always called her. He turned to leave.
"Don't go." She said, "Please!" She cried. He did not even break his stride.
She hurriedly got up and crumbled to the floor, clutching his foot.
She could already feel the darkness swallowing her, a shiver went through her body at the thought of her fate if she let him walk out that door.
She clung to his foot desperately.
"Please don't go. I beg you. Please". She cried as he struggled to pull his leg away. "Take pity on me, you know the life you are condemning me to." She pleaded.
He leaned down and forcefully pushed her away, finally setting himself free. He hurried out the door like the devil himself was chasing him.
Racheal remained at that spot and sobbed. Heart wrenching sobs that shook her whole body.
She cried and cried, she cried for her late mother, she cried for the life she could have had, she cried for Maxwell and the life by his side she just lost.
Twice, her personal maids came in and tried to pull her up but she fought them off her.
She finally stood up as the sun began to set outside. She could still hear all the noise from the crowd outside.
Her maid came in with a cup of tea and turned on the television.
Racheal stared at the cup for a long time, remembering her teenage days. When her step-mother would have her confined to her room like she did now, but would strictly order that no food be brought up to her. And Racheal would starve and starve.
And now that she was older, although she was rarely starved, she still faced these confinements.
Whenever her step-mother was angry about something, anything at all she would send out palace guards to go seize her anywhere in the city she was.
They would bring her back to the palace and lock her up in her room while her father pretended to be blind and deaf to the situation.
He did nothing too when his wife blacklisted her from getting a job anywhere in the country.
Light flashes from the TV interrupted her thoughts. She slowly turned to see her father firmly shaking the president of the country they had been at war with.
She read the banner on the screen and went cold.
The both presidents promised to join their son and daughter in marriage to further unite both countries, and assure the countrymen that the war was truly over.
Myra got the shock of her life when she found her fiance in bed with her own father. The pain depended when both men, who were not sorry, tried to gaslight her that it never happened, almost making her believe she was crazy. Her mother did not support her either, and she suddenly found herself floating alone as she tried to come to terms with her new reality that her fiance and father were lovers even though they denied it. All these years she had pandered to her jealous fiance's wishes, devoted her life to pleasing him even when it affected her career, but he had betrayed her without remorse. Unable to come to terms with this evil betrayal, she decided to hit Aiden back where it hurts. She set out on a mission to seduce his widowed father and make him hers. With his wealth, power and political connections, she plans to pull down her own arrogant and powerful father from his golden horse. This story is about revenge, taboo love, crime, passion and lust. Myra Shaw, a beautiful young woman, will go to any length, including marrying a man twice her age to take all her enemies down.
"You will love me, I will make you love me. You will fall so hard, and maybe then I will not care about you anymore." Ever heard of the RED STRING theory? So Romantic. But a red string with a ruthless, possessive, mafia lord? Tough luck! There is no escape, the red string prevents you both from ever leaving each other. On the day Primrose was set to marry her true love, fate struck and her jealous best friend managed to ruin the wedding. She suddenly finds herself on an adventure of fated love, obsession, s*x, violence, and billionaire luxury when she cluelessly marries Egan Alexakis, after her groom abandons her at the altar. The Mafia lord is now determined to keep this woman who he believes is his salvation, and fate is on his side. Sunshine Prim was hooked by fate to cold-hearted Egan from birth, and it's their destiny to live and die by each other's side. Will Egan become a better man, or will Prim twist fate to bow to her own desires and get freedom from Egan?
Apples do not fall far from the tree, were words I heard non-stop growing up. They were not said by kind strangers. These words came with a look of disgust, first at my mother and then down at me as I tried to hide my face in her skirts, away from an angry legal wife, fiancee or even girlfriend. My mother had the reputation of being a homewrecker, and even my birth had a scandalous event surrounding it. So I grew up determined to never be like her. To avoid men in general. Well, until I met Blaine. Blaine was different, mature, kind, attentive. But Blaine turned me into what I had feared most and spent my whole life trying not to be, a homewrecker.
Annette Vasquez is broken and desperate to talk to Ryan, her ex-boyfriend who broke up with her a month ago. When an intimidating man appears on her door dressed in all blacks, she runs for cover and sends Ryan a text for help. Vicente Di Alberto is the Don of the Italian Mafia, cold, ruthless and untouchable. A strange message pops up on his phone which has him acting on impulse. He hates men who hurts women and he is ready to save and protect the woman calling for his help. Rescued by a sinfully handsome man, Ann feels safe around him until she finds out his real identity and also finds herself married accidentally to the most feared man in Italy. She wants out but Vicente is ready to use the accidental marriage to his advantage.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
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?
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
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.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.