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In public, he was a ruthless and terrifying business demon, but in private, he was a devoted wife-doting man. He indulged her every whim, clearing all obstacles for her, allowing her to do as she pleased, and spoiling her beyond reason at the slightest provocation. He said, "Cathy, in the past, you didn't have the luxury to be willful. From today onward, you do." She smiled sweetly. "Mr. Owen, I'm clinging to you for life." "My honor, Mrs. Owen." To save her family, Cathy had no choice but to enter into a fake marriage with Roderick, helping him secretly meet with his lover, Tracy, while enduring Tracy's humiliation. She had long grown used to such treatment-it was, after all, just a financial transaction. But what she never expected was that, by sheer coincidence, Roderick's greatest and most feared rival, Anthony, actually wanted to keep her as his mistress. And the most shocking part? She was still, at least in name, Roderick's wife... and Anthony was rumored to be Roderick's uncle.
Slap! A crisp slap echoed through the room.
Tracy, dressed in a mini skirt, teetering on fifteen-centimeter-high heels, and wearing heavy yet artful makeup, crossed her arms and looked down with an air of superiority.
Cathy, standing in front of her in a simple white wedding dress, hadn't even figured out what had just happened.
"Why did you slap me?"
Tracy stared at Cathy's bare, porcelain-like skin-smooth and flawless, even without makeup. That face drove her insane with jealousy.
"I just wanted to remind you-though I can't marry Roderick, you're nothing more than a mere shield for us. Your marriage is fake, so don't even think about getting any funny ideas!"
Being slapped for no reason, Cathy stared coldly at the woman in front of her, who looked as smug as a hen that had just laid an egg.
No matter how furious she was, she had taken the money, and now she had to deal with the trouble that came with it.
Taking a deep breath, Cathy silently reminded herself to endure-to hold back.
"Miss White, I'm fully aware that this is merely a contractual arrangement. Besides, I already have someone I love, and it's not Roderick. Once the contract ends, I will leave Roderick cleanly, with no lingering ties."
Even though Cathy had reassured her, no woman could feel secure seeing such a face by her man's side.
"Good. Consider this slap a warning-so you don't forget your place. A woman like you, who would do anything for money... who knows what you might try to pull..."
Tracy was about to continue her mockery when a knock on the door interrupted her.
"Miss Turner, are you ready?"
The deep, clear male voice belonged to Roderick. Tracy shot Cathy a glare.
"I don't want Roderick hearing anything unnecessary. Remember your role-you're nothing but a paid actress."
Cathy clenched the fabric of her dress, forcing herself to maintain the grace she was expected to uphold.
"Miss White, I don't have the habit of gossiping."
"Good. Touch up your left cheek so no one notices."
With that, Tracy strutted away on her high heels, swaying her hips seductively.
The door opened, and in an instant, Tracy's voice softened, turning sweet and gentle.
"Roderick, Miss Turner is still doing her makeup. Even though this is just a formality, the details still matter. Otherwise, your family might start suspecting."
"Why are all the makeup artists outside?"
"Miss Turner prefers doing her own makeup. Let's wait outside."
The door closed. Cathy stared at her reflection in the mirror, then slammed her fist against the vanity.
From the very first time she had met Roderick, he had made things crystal clear:
"I already have someone I love. Marrying you is just to shut my family up.
I know the Turner family is struggling financially. I'll pay twenty million. If you agree, we'll get married, but we won't register it legally. The wedding will be low-key. Any issues?"
The Turner family was on the brink of bankruptcy. Thinking of her parents, Cathy had no reason to refuse.
"Thirty million. I agree to all your conditions."
"Fine. Thirty million."
"Deal. I won't interfere in your personal life, and I'll play the role of Mrs. Smith in public. But you are not allowed to touch me."
"That's exactly what I wanted."
This marriage was nothing more than a transaction. He didn't love her, and she didn't love him.
But she hadn't expected someone to give her such a harsh "welcome gift" right from the start.
Yes, she was in it for the money-but in Tracy's eyes, that made her a woman without dignity.
Two silent tears slid down her cheeks.
What Cathy didn't know was that the mirror in front of her was actually a two-way mirror.
On the other side, a handsome man with golden hair and piercing blue eyes held a cigarette in one hand, resting his head on the other in a lazy posture.
Watching the fragile yet stubborn woman who had nowhere to vent her emotions, the man curled his lips into a devilish smirk.
"What a poor little thing."
The gentle twilight cast a soft glow on Alexander's face. His striking features seemed sculpted by the gods. He was the same age as Sunny's dad, Lucas, and yet why was Alexander so gorgeous and young? Sunny had always believed her father Lucas was already impossibly handsome. But compared to Alexander, her dad suddenly seemed dimmed. "Uncle Alexander, what are you doing here?" Alexander replied gently, "Waiting for someone."Sunny tilted her head. "Who are you waiting for?"Alexander said softly, "Someone who may never come." There was a faint sadness in his eyes as he spoke, and something about it pierced Sunny' s heart. A wave of sorrow surged through her, tightening her throat and bringing tears. Sunny asked, "If the one is never coming back, why keep waiting?"Alexander looked at her and said seriously, "Because I promised her I would." Alexander then asked, "Sunny, have you ever fallen in love with someone?"Sunny answered,"Nope. My dad doesn't let me date early."Alexander smiled faintly."I did. I fell in love young."Sunny looked at him curiously, and Alexander added with a subtle smile,"Loving her was the happiest thing in my life. She means my world." Before turning twenty, Sunny had always been the apple of her billionaire father Lucas's eyes, until he was ruined overnight by his nemesis, trillionaire Alexander, the cold-blooded rising king of Chicago. Not only did this ruthless tycoon destroy Lucas's corporation, he even took Lucas's daughter Sunny back to his luxurious mansion...Then came an accident, and Sunny was back to the time when her father Lucas was still a teenager. She watched, stunned, as her father laughed wildly, hanging out with a group of reckless boys. And there he was, gripping Alexander by the collar, patting his cheek,"Admit it, Alexander, you lost, huh?" Everyone at school knew there were two people you couldn't mess with. Lucas, the heir to a powerful family, arrogant, fierce, born to be bad; Alexander, stunning, silent, stoic, with fists as hard as steel and bones even harder. They were sworn enemies. Lately, the school prince Lucas had a teenage girl trailing behind him, named Sunny, who looked 90% like him, always following in his footsteps. One day, Lucas, completely exasperated, shoved some cash into her hands. Lucas, "This is the last time. Stop following me. We are almost the same age. I can never be your dad!" Sunny was in tears, "Dad..." After that, Sunny really stopped following him. And Lucas found himself weirdly missing Sunny. Until he saw his archenemy Alexander pinning Sunny to the wall, asking coldly, "Do you like me?"Sunny blushed. "Y-yes... I do." Lucas gaped. His Sunny, dated with his nemesis Alexander? He was so furious he nearly exploded. Alexander smirked, "Admit it, Lucas, Sunny likes me, not you." Lucas, "..."
In San Francisco, everyone knew that the always cold and aloof daughter of The Green family had married a crippled man from a wealthy family. Three years into the marriage, she remained childless, and outsiders mocked her, saying she was still a virgin. But no one knew- For three years, she had been unable to sleep every single night. Due to a car accident, a top billionaire became disabled, and his lover left for abroad. Cathy had no choice but to marry Lucas, being his wife at night and his caretaker during the day. Until one day, there was hope for his legs to recover, and his first love returned. Cathy overheard him saying that he would definitely divorce her. Cathy fulfilled her duty and took good care of him. Since he wanted a divorce, she turned and left without hesitation. Three years of marriage? She considered them a moment of misplaced responsibility-just a good deed to make up for the past.
For the three years he was my live-in husband, there was no physical contact between us. He was like my most loyal butler, servant, and caretaker. But when he became my financial backer, we were intimate all the time, indulging in passion every night. "I've been thinking about you for a long time..." In the darkness of the night, the man kissed me recklessly. He was my live-in husband. Thus, as the precious daughter of a wealthy family, I had no choice but to let this destitute man marry into my family and become my husband. Out of resentment, I humiliated him repeatedly, mistreated him, and even resorted to physical abuse. Yet, he never got angry, always maintaining the appearance of an obedient and gentle man. But just as I was slowly falling for him, he suddenly asked me for a divorce. The once gentle and submissive man turned into a cunning and terrifying figure overnight. In an instant, my family fell into ruin, while he rose to power. The man I once trampled underfoot had transformed into my financial backer.
The Tragic Fate of Alex, the Rise of Diana The head of the top US consortium, Alex, met an untimely demise, and all his assets were transferred to Diana. The real heiress of The White Family was found after eighteen years. Yet, everyone mocked her, calling her uncultured, useless, and nothing more than a pretty vase. However, at the wedding of the century, when the wife of the young head of The Smith Family was revealed to be none other than the "vase" Diana, the socialites of New York City were left pounding their chests in disbelief-How could she deserve this?! After Alex's death, Diana not only had to face the covetous gazes of The Smith Family but also play the role of a leader among various powerful organizations. Alex's subordinates assured her, "We will handle everything; you just need to sit on the throne." But later... When Diana was in danger, she wielded a gun, stepping on her enemy with a dazzling smile, "Be good, and I'll give you a quick death." When her loved ones fell ill, the legendary medical master personally visited and admitted-she was Diana's senior disciple! The renowned racing legend willingly became Diana's personal driver, calling her "Boss" at every turn. Alex's subordinates were in utter disbelief, "Wasn't she supposed to be a weak little white flower, a soft and obedient golden canary?!" But Alex wasn't entirely dead. When his consciousness awakened, he found himself soul-bound to a plush doll-one that Diana had designed in his likeness. Now, he not only had to endure being dressed and undressed by Diana but also be at her mercy, bathed and squeezed in her hands... Watching her reveal one hidden identity after another, Alex was utterly dumbfounded. Even the woman he admired and respected the most-was her?! [Mini Theater 1] Alex, now in plush doll form, was held against Diana's soft, snowy chest as she stood before a mirror. Staring at his own ridiculously extravagant appearance, his expression cracked- "Is this really how she sees me in her heart?!" Diana's fingers teasingly unfastened his tiny clothes, one button at a time. Alex shut his eyes, his mind filled with only one thought- "I want to die." [Mini Theater 2] Diana stared at the dust-covered plush doll, frowning, "My doll is precious-I have to wash it myself." Alex's inner monologue, "Stay away from me!" After an intense round of scrubbing and kneading, his soul burned with shame, his spirit flushed red, on the verge of tears. Diana, completely satisfied, gave him a kiss-he turned even redder... They said Alex had a cleanliness obsession, high standards, and was impossible to please. But now? He felt that... maybe staying dirty wasn't so bad after all. [Mini Theater 3] Once back in his real body, Alex trapped Diana against the wall, his gaze burning as he questioned, "You took so much advantage of me, destroyed my innocence-how are you going to repay me?" Diana's eyes gleamed mischievously. "That bad, huh? How about you cry for me first?" Alex, "..."
"Rose, do you have to be this shameless?" He yanked her hair tighter, forcing her to lift her face. She stared straight into his eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Yeah, I'm shameless. But what, you think you're any better? Talking about marriage one minute and pounding into me like crazy the next. We're just a pair of filthy lovers, aren't we? So stop pretending to be so righteous!" Alexander is aloof and arrogant; she is wild and unrestrained. For revenge, she meticulously approaches him, shamelessly flirts with him, and cunningly schemes against him. She disrupts his engagement party, drives away his first love, and repeatedly steps on his bottom line. One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Rose, what other tricks do you have that I don't know about?" And just like that, she barges into his world, does whatever she pleases, and drags him down from his throne step by step until she completely devours him... Upon returning home, Rose discovers that CEO Alexander who just gave her a sky-high breakup fee is actually her half-sister's fiancé. He broke up with her because he got engaged to her half-sister. To make matters worse, Rose's biological mother had also met her tragic fate because of her stepmother. Her mind remained clear at all times. Now, her goal was no longer as simple as forcing Alexander to call off the engagement. Her desire had grown. She wanted to possess him completely-body and soul-to conquer him, to make him entirely hers. Only his powerful status and background could truly help her reclaim everything she had lost. She had always known what he wanted. She had always known how to provoke his anger, make him compromise, lure him into indulgence, make him lose himself-until he became a puppet of her.
At first sight, in order to create a bond with Angela, Frances risked his life and deliberately staged a car accident. Angela was the adopted daughter of the Moore family. On the night she was kicked out of the house, her fiancé was already on the entertainment headlines, holding her sister in his arms. Later, Angela was caught up in endless scandals because she had gotten involved with the most powerful man. Everyone mocked her, saying she was nothing more than Mr. William's fleeting amusement. Little did they know that from the moment Frances first laid eyes on her, he had only one thought-to steal her away! To take her from the hands of her fiancé. Everyone was waiting to see Angela make a fool of herself, deliberately asking about her relationship with Frances. He merely smiled and said, "Perhaps I haven't tried hard enough. After being married for so long, Mrs. Williams still refuses to acknowledge me publicly and give me a proper title." That night, the air was damp. Angela was breathless as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. His breath was scorching. "Mrs. Williams, have I tried hard enough?" Angela gritted her teeth. He was trying... far too hard!
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
My marriage to Mathias was supposed to make me the happiest woman in the world. Although I knew he didn't love me, I thought he would fall for me once I showered him with all the love I had to give. Five years passed and Mathias still didn't give a damn about me. Instead, he met his true love and cut all ties with me because of her. He showed her off; something he never did for me. His abandonment pushed me into depression. I was broken in every sense of the word. Even on my deathbed, my so-called husband didn't come to say goodbye to me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. I was still Mathias's wife and it was two months before he met his true love. In this life, I refused to be hurt by him again. After talking some sense into my head, I asked him for a divorce in other to escape being heartbroken like I was previously. Mathias tore up the divorce papers time and time again while also shutting me down. "Rylie, stop all this nonsense! Playing hard to get doesn't work anymore!" To show him that I was dead serious, I went ahead to file for divorce. Only then did he panic. He abandoned the "woman of his dreams" and came to my side. "Please give me a second chance, Rylie. I promise to do right by you. You'll be the only woman in my heart from now on. Don't leave me, okay?" A war broke out in my mind after this apology. On one hand, I didn't want to be hurt again. And on the other, I didn't want to let go of the man I loved so dearly. What should I do?!
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."