My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest, my world shattered into a million and one pieces. I couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't speak. All I could do was stare, my eyes fixed on the unreasonable scene before me. "L...Lucia..." my father stuttered, his face flushed with embarrassment and guilt as he immediately lifted his underwear. "It's not what it seems..." But I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to hear their excuses or justifications. The sweet scent of mangoes was now replaced with the bitter taste of betrayal. "Lucia!" Beta Mario called out, his heart pounding heavily as he swallowed a heavy lump. "Mate?" I said and a pained chuckle escaped my lips. Goddess! How could you let this realisation come to me now- my cheating *ssh*l* boyfriend is- my mate. My lifelong wish had come to pass... I found my mate. And he happened to be my childhood lover, same guy who had been my boyfriend for two years. It should have been fun, this should have been a happy moment. But there was a painful twist. My dad and my mate were secret lovers, or would I rather say 'f*ck buddies'. What could be worse than this? "My mate and my dad..." I said and I didn't know when tears began to drop from my eyes. "Lucia, please listen to me," Beta Mario begged, taking a step closer to me. His eyes were filled with remorse, but I couldn't bear to look at him. "Get your clothes on!" I spat, my voice trembling with anger and hurt. "I can't focus with you, standing there naked." Beta Mario quickly grabbed his pants and put them on, his eyes never leaving mine. "Lucia, I'm so sorry. I know this looks bad, but please just listen to me." "No," I snapped, my voice rising. "You had all the time to explain and you blew it. You and my dad...how could you?" "Lucia, it's not what you think," my dad started, but I cut him off. "Thank you for stealing the most precious guy in my life, Dad," I said, feeling heavy hatred and resentment towards my dad. "I hate you both, Assholes!" I turned, ready to run off. My heart was already split and I knew that any more second there could make me even more furious, but there was still one thing I was yet to do. "One more thing..." "No, please Lucia... you can't take decisions in haste. I swear I really like you..." "I Lucia Herod of Crescent land pack reject you Beta Mario of Crescent land pack." I'm glad I rejected him- that cheating *ssh*l*. But then, the goddess wasn't done with her surprises. "I want you to become my wife!" The Lycan King said, causing everyone's jaw to drop.
Lucia's POV
"Hi, I'm here for Room 109-"
The receptionist's expression turned apologetic. "I'm sorry, miss. But the visitor for room 109 already arrived."
My heart skipped a beat. "Are you sure , please check your records again. My boyfriend and I are supposed to meet here."
"Ma, I'm sure of what I'm saying." She confirmed.
I felt a pang of worry and confusion. Why would Mario have someone else in the room and still call for me?
"Isn't it Beta Mario in room 109?"
"Yes ma'am, he is the one," she confirmed, making me grow even more anxious.
Is this some kind of late birthday surprise or what? I thought, almost feeling excited. But then again, none of it felt right.
"I'm sorry miss, but I think there is some kind of mix-up. He wouldn't have asked me to come if he was going to meet with some other person." I queried.
"I advise that you give him a call..." The lady suggested calmly.
I looked down at my phone, only to realize that it had gone blank because I somehow forgot to charge it. Now I couldn't even call my boyfriend to ask what was going on.
The receptionist saw my sad expression and kindly offered me hers, "You could use mine..."
I looked up hopefully and gave her a grateful smile. "His phone is switched off as well," I said after dialling Beta Mario's number.
"Please, is there anything else you can do?" I pleaded with the receptionist. "I really need to see him."
The receptionist hesitated, then smiled. "I remember you, miss. You're the one who's been donating to the home for the elderly. My parents are residents there, and they've told me so much about your kindness."
She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I could get fired for this, but...take my worker's emergency scan card. It should give you access to the room."
I took the card, relief washing over me. "Thank you so much! I won't forget this."
I made my way to the elevator, my mind racing with questions. Who was in the room with Mario? And why? I got to the Elevator and the doors slid open. I stepped inside, my heart pounding in anticipation.
"101, 102, 103..." I continued counting, but I was soon lost in the sweet scent that had filled my nose. The scent lingered in the air as I moved, and it only became stronger as I walked further.
As I approached room 109, the sweet aroma of ripe mangoes filled my nostrils, making my heart race. It was a scent I had never smelled before, yet it felt familiar, like a warm embrace on a cold night. I felt a shiver run down my spine, and my senses tingled with excitement.
In all the twenty-two years of my life, I had never felt like this before. I don't even know what it is... And that made me more desperate to know what was happening to me.
I soon got to room 109 and slowly unlocked it... As the door opened, the sight I got caught with sent me reeling backwards, my heart racing with shock and confusion.
My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest, my world shattered into a million and one pieces. I couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't speak. All I could do was stare, my eyes fixed on the unreasonable scene before me.
"L...Lucia..." my father stuttered, his face flushed with embarrassment and guilt as he immediately lifted his underwear. "It's not what it seems..."
But I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to hear their excuses or justifications. The sweet scent of mangoes was now replaced with the bitter taste of betrayal.
"Lucia!" Beta Mario called out, his heart pounding heavily as he swallowed a heavy lump.
"Mate?" I said and a pained chuckle escaped my lips.
Goddess! How could you let this realisation come to me now- my cheating asshole boyfriend is- my mate.
My lifelong wish had come to pass... I found my mate. And he happened to be my childhood lover, same guy who had been my boyfriend for two years. It should have been fun, this should have been a happy moment. But there was a painful twist. My dad and my mate were secret lovers, or would I rather say 'fuck buddies'.
What could be worse than this?
"My mate and my dad..." I said and I didn't know when tears began to drop from my eyes.
"Lucia, please listen to me," Beta Mario begged, taking a step closer to me. His eyes were filled with remorse, but I couldn't bear to look at him.
"Get your clothes on!" I spat, my voice trembling with anger and hurt. "I can't focus with you, standing there naked."
Beta Mario quickly grabbed his pants and put them on, his eyes never leaving mine. "Lucia, I'm so sorry. I know this looks bad, but please just listen to me."
"No," I snapped, my voice rising. "You had all the time to explain and you blew it. You and my dad...how could you?"
"Lucia, it's not what you think," my dad started, but I cut him off.
"Thank you for stealing the most precious guy in my life, Dad," I said, feeling heavy hatred and resentment towards my dad. "I hate you both, Assholes!"
I turned, ready to run off. My heart was already split and I knew that any more second there could make me even more furious, but there was still one thing I was yet to do.
"One more thing..."
"No, please Lucia... you can't take decisions in haste. I swear I really like you..."
"I Lucia Herod of Crescent land pack reject you Beta Mario of Crescent land pack." The fact that I was still bearing my father's name was so annoying, I wish I could just change my last name.
Without even waiting for him to accept or reject my rejection. I stormed out of the room, heading for the bar section where I would hide in the crowd and drown in my tears.
"Lucia, Please listen to me!" Beta Mario called out, chasing after me.
"Don't you dare follow me!" I roared.
"Babe, please. I swear I love you, this was just a... a mistake." He stuttered, tears hanging on his eyelashes.
"One more step and I promise to let the whole pack know about your ordeal." He stood frozen, not expecting to hear that from me. Of course, he knew me well and what I could do, so he stopped following me.
My dad on the other hand didn't bother coming after me, at first I thought he was just too ashamed to do that. But then I realized that he never really cared. Cause if he did, he wouldn't be fucking the very guy he knew I was mad about.
I ran like a mad woman, feeling like my world was crashing down around me. I didn't know how to process the pain and betrayal I was feeling. The white walls of the hotel suddenly began to look like a prison, suffocating me.
I soon found myself at the bar area where I drank like a lunatic. I wasn't used to drinking so I got drunk after just a few glasses of wine. I staggered out of the bar, not knowing where I was headed until I met myself at the pool area.
My heart clenched and I walked like a zombie towards the pool, my eyes fixed on the water. I felt like I was drowning in my own tears, my own pain. I didn't know how to escape it.
I staggered towards the edge of the pool and stared into the depths. And without thinking, I stepped forward, letting the water envelop me. It was cool and soothing, a balm to my battered soul. I sank deeper, letting the water cover my head, and suddenly, I was weightless, free from the pain and heartache.
As I sank deeper into the water, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. But it was short-lived. Water began to pass through every opening in my body, and I realized I could no longer breathe. Panic set in as I tried to swim back up to the surface, but my limbs flailed wildly, uncoordinated. I didn't know how to swim. I had never learned.
I flapped recklessly on the face of the waters but no one was coming to my rescue. I couldn't even cry for help. Every time I tried, I ended up drinking as much water as my mouth could contain.
I was slowly losing it. My mind was going blank and I knew I was dying. Was this really the end? I thought, taking in my last breath.
Being a Collateral Bride to a young billionaire wasn't a big deal for the 21-year-old Chloe Adams, despite her illness that left her with less than a year to live. She slowly begins to fall in love with the young billionaire But then her hopes are cut short when Code Anderson, her husband disappears without a trace. After six months, Chloe is surprised by the sudden appearance of Code Anderson, and his fiancee, Martina. How would Chloe cope with watching the man she loved with another woman coupled with the fact that her days are numbered?
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman-the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
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.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.