"This marriage is null and void! The wedding of Dan Miller and Lucia Ray is null and void." A man from behind shouted as he stepped into the entrance of the church, breathing heavily, just as the priest was about to pronounce Dan and Lucia 'husband and wife'. Dan Miller, the CEO of Miller's Production Enterprise, hurriedly planned a wedding with his fiance, Lucia Ray, whom they've dated for only two months. His plan was to outsmart his father, who had signed a contract with his friend, Dantes. The moment young Miller set an eye on those papers, he had been looking for a way to do a surprise wedding without his father's consent. "Never! Over my dead body would I forcefully marry the daughter of my father's debtor! I can never marry someone who is not my standard." He thought to himself. He was at the altar with his bride, taking their marriage vows, when his father, Mr. Morgan Miller, who was out of the country for a six-month business trip, showed up unexpectedly and put the wedding to a halt. "You either marry Clara Dantes in the next two weeks or you lose your position as the heir of the Miller's family." Mr. Miller declared. Stuck of choice, Dan vows to ill-treat Clara in their marriage till she finally decides to leave by herself. Forced to marry the arrogant son of the billionaire because of her father's debt to offset her mother's medical bill, Clara Dantes planned to get back with her ex-lover once she secured a loan and paid off the debt. As time went on, Clara and Dan realised that they had developed true feelings for each other, but they had to be strong and fight their past as their ex-lovers conspired to ruin their union
Chapter 1
The wedding
The church was packed full of guests. Everywhere was coloured white and blue for the wedding of the only son of the richest man in New York City, Dan Miller, to Lucia Ray. His wedding has been the talk of the town in recent times. Invitations were sent across top TV and radio channels. Everyone in New York City, both the poor and the rich, anticipated this upcoming wedding. The wedding was set to start with a church service by ten o'clock in the morning at the Miracle Center church, which was the biggest church in the city, a ten thousand-capacity building, but before nine o'clock, the church was packed full already of people from far and near, with uncountable people hanging outside as a result of the unavailability of space. Everyone wants to be a witness at the wedding from the time of the couple's entrance into the church till the end. No one wants to be told stories about how the event went.
The people of New York City have waited anxiously to see that lucky girl Dan Miller would take home as a wife.
New York City is ranked top in towns with the most beautiful ladies, of which people from other places have been coming to marry their girls, yet, Dan Miller has never been seen with any girl in that town.
At exactly ten o'clock, the bride and groom stood at the entrance to the church, dancing to the melodious music being sung.
"Oh, we can imagine the bride's happiness for getting married to the wealthiest family." Some people in the congregation said.
Lucia showcased her best dancing steps that day, for that was her happiest day. Her long-trained white wedding gown was something almost all the single ladies in the church admired and wished they were the ones in such a beautiful dress. Dan Miller ensured that he got the most expensive wedding dress for his bride, a dress worth five million dollars.
Everyone sat and listened as the church program commenced and the preacher gave a sermon about marriage life. After the sermon and other necessary programs, the preacher invited the bride and groom to the altar as they exchanged their marriage vows.
Dressed in his black suit, standing at the altar and facing the most beautiful woman he has chosen to start an endless journey of love with, the priest asked,
"Daniel Miller, do you take Lucia Ray to be your lawfully wedded wife, and promise to love her in joy and in pain, in sickness and in health, till death do you path?"
"Yes, I do". Dan Miller answered with so much enthusiasm. He turned to Lucia and asked,
"Lucia Ray, do you accept Dan Miller to be your lawfully wedded husband, in joy and in pain, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
"Yes, I do." She answered.
"Before I pronounce them husband and wife, if anyone here has anything that will hinder them from being declared husband and wife today should say it now, or forever remain silent.
"We're sure there'll be no one having anything to alter this exchange of vows. Dan is a good man" some people mumbled in the background.
Everywhere was silent, no hand was raised.
"Ok, I declare...."
"This marriage is null and void. Dan's marriage to Lucia is null and void". A man who just stepped into the church declared before the priest could finish pronouncing them husband and wife.
The whole congregation was stunned at the man's statement. A murmur arose from the audience, but no one dared to ask the man why, because, with just a phone call, he could get anyone he liked arrested due to his influential status. Even the officiating minister was dumbfounded, he would not want to go against the man's wish, because if he did, his church could also be closed down.
Immediately at the sight of that man from the entrance, Dan knew that his wedding would experience a huge setback.
Lucia's eyes were beginning to turn into an ocean of tears already.
That was not the type of wedding she bargained for.
"Dan already has a lady to marry whose bride price has been paid already. Their wedding is in the next two weeks." The man added.
Different talks were emanating from the background, but no one dared to challenge his utterance.
Dan and Lucia stood and watched people leaving the church one after the other.
Slap! Dan almost fell to the floor from the slap he received from Mr. Ray, Lucia's father.
"You'll surely regret and pay for this nonsense you just did. Mark my words" her father threatened Dan.
He held his daughter's hands alongside her mother and other siblings and raced off to their town.
In less than an hour, the church that was earlier packed full of guests was left with only three people standing, Dan, his father and his mother.
"But you didn't have to do that, Morgan.That was too destructive. You could have found a better way to stop the wedding from the time of planning rather than what you just did now." Mrs. Morgan Miller suggested, feeling bad at how her son was humiliated on his wedding day.
"Quiet! Margaret. To think that you were fully aware of our son's supposed marriage to Clara Dantes to fulfil the terms of the contract, yet, you supported him in getting married to another lady is what disgusts me." Morgan Millar told his wife.
"Dad! Contract? Don't I have the right to make my choice of marriage?" Dan shouted.
"Yes, you have a choice of any other thing, but when it comes to marriage, I'm sorry, you don't have a choice." His father retorted.
"Start planning for your wedding with Clara in the next two weeks to come." He added.
"Never! Dad. I will never marry Clara, not even for a day." Dan yelled in disdain at his father's choice for him.
"Then, be ready to lose all your rights as the heir of the Miller family!"
"You see that contract with Mr. Dantes, you must accomplish it." His father stated.
All Dan's plans to outsmart his father failed. He was fortunate to set his eyes on the contract signed between His father and Mr. Gomez Dantes fifteen years ago.
Mr. Dantes, Morgan Miller's old friend, was at the verge of losing his wife to cancer due to lack of funds. About ten million was needed for her treatment. He ran to Morgan Miller for help.
"Alright, you'll surely get the money."
"Ten million is a very big amount, but well, I can grant whatever amount you need, friend, but with conditions attached." Morgan Miller said.
"Yes, please, anything you suggest is fine by me. All I need is for my wife to be alive." Mr. Dantes replied.
"Good morning, Mr Dantes. I am Barrister Franco. Here's a copy of the agreement between you and my client that requires your signature.
He handed a brown envelope to Mr. Dantes, who was seated beside his dying wife. Mr. Dantes was ever ready to sign the agreement, not minding the content. All he needed was to save his wife. He immediately penned down his signature on the papers.
"You can forward your account details to him now," the barrister said as he left with one copy for his client.
In less than five minutes, his phone beeped with an alert. Mr. Dantes was able to pay for his wife's medical bill to save her life at the expense of his daughter's choice.
As it was contained in the agreement, "If you fail to pay back the loan in three months, your ten-year-old daughter is to get married to my son once she's up to twenty-five years of age."
Both parties concealed the agreement from their children until they were of age to get married.
On seeing the agreement, Dan rushed to plan a wedding with Lucia Ray whom he dated for only three months when his father travelled out for a six-month trip.
"Then, be ready to lose all your rights as the heir of the Miller family!"
Those words kept ringing in Dan's world of imagination. Would he rather lose his inheritance or marry a total stranger against his wish?
Emerald Scott is a woman endowed with beauty and wealth. She lacks nothing except one thing that her money couldn't buy, 'TRUE LOVE.' But everything changed when she met the only man that ever showed her sincerity in love, Dennis Spencer. Even though he was rejected by her family, Emerald didn't hesitate to say 'Yes' to Dennis at the altar and sacrificed everything she had to transform him from a broke ass into a billionaire CEO. Everything was perfect, until their third anniversary, when Dennis returned home with his ex-girlfriend, who was pregnant with his second child, and threw divorce papers at Emerald. "You have two hours to sign this divorce and get the hell out of my life. I'm way out of my league now, Emerald. Besides, Sylvia here is pregnant, and I'm sure you won't advise me to cling to a barren soul like you, right?" he declared coldly without a surge of remorse. She pleaded with tears, but she was still thrown out of the home she built without a pin of belonging. She lost everything!*************"Marry me, Emerald, and I'll give you everything you ever desired," Adrian Taylor requested. He is the youngest business mogul, who turned out to be Dennis's top and most influential client. "Yes, I'll marry you, but under one condition: you'll destroy everything that Dennis has and turn him into a street beggar." Emerald replied with a determined voice. ****************** "Emerald, I can't believe that you chose to be a shameless gold digger instead of getting a cure for yourself!" Her ex-husband said with his reddened and regretful eyes when he lost everything. "Are you starting to regret your actions now, Mr. Dennis?" "Or–do you have more to say? How about you call me a gold maker? Because I'm back to take every good thing I've ever brought to your life," she declared with a smug smile.
"Get your bloody self off me! After killing my son, you still have the nerves to ask for a chance to father my adopted child." Viola struggled to loosen Leonardo's grip on her when he pinned her to the wall and asked for forgiveness and a second chance to be a father to their son after decades of being apart. At the age of fifteen, Viola vowed to do anything to save her dying mother, and lucky enough, she found refuge in the hands of Mrs. Vera Vans, who accidentally hit her on the highway. A few years down the line, Viola caught the attention of the only son and heir of the Van's family, Leonardo Vans, and they ended up happily married. Mrs. Vans despised Viola's union with her son and did everything in her power to get them divorced. Losing her parents, her marriage, and her child in the same year, Viola decided to leave the country and came back after twenty-two years with her adopted son, Nicole, to take revenge on those that tormented her life, but the sharp Leonardo was quick to discover that her adopted son is the product of their union twenty-three years ago, and he came begging for a second chance. Would Viola forgive and accept him back? Then what is the fate of his mother, who masterminded their divorce? Would Nicole easily accept him as a father, remembering the sufferings he passed through in the past? What is the fate of Leonardo's wife and her children if Viola decides to get back with him?
"I'm done with you, Lila; you and I know that there's no chemistry between us." Grey Shun, the CEO of Bintex Ltd., one of the leading textile companies in the city of New York, told Lila Sims with his face devoid of any remorse. Lila Sims has been living in depression since the first day of her three-year-old marriage. She had done all she could to please Grey, but the more she tried, the more she kept getting depressed. Young, talented, and beautiful career woman, Lila Sims gave up everything for the sake of her marriage with Grey, turning her into a shadow of herself. A marriage she worked hard to keep moving ended like a flash of light on a day she least expected-her twenty-fifth birthday dinner! Lila Sims was ready to accept the divorce in good faith and let go of everything, until she discovered Grey's mystery mistress, who has been the cause of her misery in marriage. She vouch to take her revenge to the fullest. Lila conspired with Brian, Grey's ex-rival, to ruin Grey's life, but Brian wants more from her; he wants a relationship with her. Will Lila risk her heart for love again to get her revenge the way she planned, or will she give up on her revenge plans to avoid being heartbroken a second time?
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
A man like Travis Sinclair wants nothing more than a woman who matches his sexual prowess and is used to getting everything he wants. A cold-hearted billionaire ,he lives by one rule - no love, no commitment. Ayanna Davies isn't looking for a relationship. She's focused on her work and the financial security it brings. As a high end escort, her client is full of filthy rich men who are willing to pay handsomely for her services. But when Travis Sinclair becomes one of her clients, she begins twice about mixing work with pleasure. Not knowing that he is an old acquaintance whom she despises.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
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.
"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.]
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"