Reilly Mcardle

For three years, I was Mrs. Sarah Davis-a title that meant nothing more than being a ghost in my own opulent home. My architect husband, Mark, kept our marriage a secret, a mere convenience while his heart belonged to another. The shattering truth unveiled itself in a hidden room: a shrine filled with portraits of Emily, his childhood sweetheart, his "one true love." I wasn't a wife; I was a placeholder, a warm bed until she returned. When Emily rejoined Mark's firm, his joy was palpable, his neglect of me complete. He spent endless nights by her side, leaving me invisible, my love unrequited, my existence dismissed. How could I have been so blind, so foolish, to waste three years on a man who could only offer polite indifference? The pain wasn't just his betrayal; it was my own self-inflicted wound, the slow erosion of my spirit. So, I devised a desperate plan-a carefully orchestrated deception designed to win my freedom. I would get his signature on a blank sheet of paper, and then the real work would begin. He wouldn't even know what hit him, consumed as he was by his public persona and his undying devotion to Emily. He would release me, even if he never truly saw me.

My fiancé kicked me out of his car on a deserted highway because his "sister" Krystle claimed her car had broken down. He drove off with her and her daughter, leaving me stranded in the scorching heat without a backward glance. While I trudged for miles through the dust, Krystle posted a video of him at the gala, captioning it "My Hero" as they laughed together under the fireworks. I realized then that I was never his partner, just a placeholder he could discard the moment Krystle snapped her fingers. I didn't cry, and I didn't call him to beg for an explanation. Instead, I returned to our shared penthouse and took a pair of heavy tailoring shears to my custom wedding dress. I shredded the delicate lace until it was nothing but a pile of ruined scraps on the floor, destroying the future we were supposed to have. Then I blocked his number, packed my life into a single suitcase, and vanished. By the time he realized Krystle had staged the breakdown to destroy us, I was already gone. Three years later, he found me again-but I wasn't the same woman he left on the side of the road.

The soft glow of my husband David' s laptop in our quiet living room seemed innocent enough, just like his daily ritual of coming home, dropping his keys, and sighing about a "long day" at the office. But then I saw the words on the screen: "The Player' s Sanctum," a dark forum where 'AlphaDave' detailed his calculated betrayals, turning our son Ethan into an unwitting accomplice in his web of lies, all while preaching the art of trust to facilitate deception. The facade shattered, revealing a cold, methodical manipulator who saw our perfect life as merely a stage for his performance, a performance he thought I was too naive to see through, and a philosophy that stretched far beyond simple infidelity. My breath caught as the birdhouse, his "secret project" with Ethan for my birthday, twisted in my mind-a symbol not of love, but of his monstrous manipulation; the discovery left me reeling, a deep, icy ache settling in my bones. He thought he was the director, the master of manipulation in a game he invented. He was utterly wrong. The moment he walked through that door, cheerful and loving, I knew the real game had just begun. He had unknowingly challenged a queen, and I never lose.

They found her, the long-lost true heiress of the Blakely fortune, after two decades in the rough foster system. They saw a loud, defiant girl who "hired a gang" to attack the family's adopted daughter, Stella. So, they sent me away, to a high-security psychiatric facility, to be reformed. I returned, a blank slate in a plain white dress, my voice soft, my hair severely pulled back, confessing to a crime I didn't commit. They called it recovery, but in truth, it was a subtle form of torture, designed to break me, inflicted by the very people who should have welcomed me home. My "sister" Stella, with her perfected victim act, continued her sickening games, dropping my childhood keepsake in the trash, then faking an attack to have me banished to the freezing basement. My "brother" Matthew, the cold CEO, put me through demeaning tasks, all the while watching for any sign of the "madness" he believed I possessed, while Andrew, the one flicker of conscience, could only watch, paralyzed by guilt. What kind of family would do this to their own? But they had no idea who they were dealing with, or what I truly learned in that "reforming" facility. The docile girl they saw was merely a sophisticated weapon, quietly observing, meticulously planning, and waiting for the perfect moment to prove that their guilt would be their undoing.

I was "NyxEcho," the hidden strategist behind my superstar gamer boyfriend, Kaiser. My plain avatar was a shield, masking past trauma as I secretly built his team into champions and created his real-world brand. Then, his message hit: "Nyx. Meet Seraphina. She's... the one." My heart shattered. He benched me, replacing me with an ethereal avatar, his long-obsessed "digital muse," declaring her his dream. He publicly discarded me as "practice," flaunting Seraphina. In real life, Liam, blind to my true identity as Ava Chen, severed my freelance work. Seraphina's cruelty deepened: she framed, slandered me, and incited thousands to hunt my avatar for a bounty. How could I be so invisible? Why did he believe her crafted fantasy over my genuine support? I was "not important," hunted, my true self unseen, while he celebrated her lie. The humiliation hardened into resolve. At Liam's lavish public proposal to Seraphina, I made my choice. No more hiding. My identity, my face, my truth-it was time for them to be revealed.

I was Liam, a quiet woodworker, often overshadowed by my dazzling wife Victoria and our Hamptons estate. My son, Ethan, a perfect copy of his mother, barely acknowledged me, instead fawning over his "Uncle Julian Vance." My life felt comfortably settled, if a little overlooked. That changed the sunny afternoon Julian arrived, a pale, small boy named Noah trailing behind him. Ethan cruelly taunted Noah, and a horrifying "accident" soon left Noah severely burned and fighting for his life in the hospital. As I sat outside his room, the smell of burnt fabric clinging to me, I overheard Victoria and Julian's low, conspiratorial voices. They spoke of a "switch at that clinic in Monaco," how "Noah wasn't Julian's," and "Liam's little swimmers" disappearing because "the medication worked perfectly." My blood ran cold. They were planning to pull the plug, to kill a child, because "Ethan is the sole heir." This wasn't just Julian's son; Noah, the frail, abused boy, was mine. And Ethan, the son I'd loved and raised, wasn't. My seemingly perfect family was a monstrous lie, a gilded cage built on unspeakable betrayals. Everything I thought was real crumbled to dust. They had sterilized me, swapped my child, and now plotted murder, all for inheritance. How could I have been so blind? How could the woman I loved be capable of such chilling evil? The world tilted, sickening and raw. With a horrifying clarity, I knew what I had to do next. Pushing open that door, my voice raw, I declared war: "You want a divorce, Victoria? You got it." But not before the world knew the truth of what you had done.

My SAT prep book felt heavy as I approached Jake Peterson' s front porch for our usual Tuesday session. Tutoring was my reliable income, essential for my college fund. The front door stood ajar, and a muffled thumping from upstairs hinted at something unexpected. Suddenly, my vision warped, inundated with glowing, intrusive text: `[Live-Chat Commentary]`. Remarks like `User_DramaQueen77: OMG, is the nerdy girl gonna bust in on them?!` and `User_JashleyFan01: Nooo, don' t ruin the Jashley moment! They' re endgame!` flashed across my sight. My life, apparently, was now a live broadcast for anonymous strangers on the internet. Moments later, Jake emerged, flustered, followed by a smirking blonde I immediately recognized as 'Ashley' , while the chat exploded with comments labeling me 'side character energy' . A chilling 'prophecy' soon appeared: `User_OracleGamer: Bet Jake dumps the tutor for Ashley. Sarah' s gonna lose him AND her cash cow. Sad.` What was this surreal nightmare, and why was my quiet, strategic existence suddenly the subject of relentless, bizarre public judgment from unseen trolls? I wasn' t a character in their made-up drama, yet every practical decision I made, from valuing my paid time to demanding payment for a stolen item, was twisted into a display of 'Ice Queen' or 'Money Grubber' behavior. But through the chaos, a different kind of insight emerged: this invasive commentary, while humiliating, also contained invaluable intel, revealing their malicious schemes before they even started. If my life was now a game show for their entertainment, I decided to become the player who knew all the cheats, turning every snarky comment into my strategic advantage.

For eight years, I was the quiet mastermind behind Synapse Dynamics, its financial engine and the secret girlfriend of its brilliant founder, Ethan Cole. I poured my life, my capital, and my intellect into his vision, building his empire from the shadows, believing fiercely in our shared future. But at an SXSW after-party, my meticulously built world imploded. I overheard Ethan publicly dismiss me as "useful but questionable," then proudly introduce Tiffany Bell, a marketing associate, as his "actual girlfriend"—and kiss her. The humiliation snowballed. Tiffany, pregnant and cruel, flaunted their affair on social media, even AirDropping a photo of her in *my* bed with Ethan. She texted, gloating about Ethan's "disgust" with me, contrasting her "clean" image. Then, at a private clinic, she faked a fall, framing me, turning Ethan and his parents into a rage-filled mob who publicly shamed me, labeling me "used goods" who "whor*d herself out." How could the man I loved, the company I saved, turn so viciously against me, twisting years of sacrifice into scandal? Every lie stung, designed to erase my unseen labor, to paint my dedication as depravity. Why was my loyalty repaid with such calculated cruelty? The final blow came: a deepfake video aiming to destroy my reputation, followed by Ethan’s public engagement announcement. But as the ice settled, a chilling clarity emerged. I wasn't broken. With my father's full backing, it was time they saw what a scorned woman could truly do.

The Texas heat shimmered, another ranch chore done. For years, strange comments floated in the air, a private, unsolicited social media feed just for me. Sometimes oddly accurate, sometimes nonsense. Then a woman and a girl appeared on our porch, clutching a fake DNA report. "She’s your daughter too," Maria Rodriguez declared, claiming my life. The air crackled. New comments hissed: "Here comes trouble. The real heiress arrives." My blood ran cold. I’d lived this day before. Last time, I followed the comments' treacherous advice. They said Ashley loved peanut butter cookies, so I baked them; she nearly died from a severe allergy. My parents' love turned to suspicion. Later, the comments screamed "Ashley’s in danger!" I rushed to help, only to be framed by Maria with fake texts and videos, making my parents believe I was a monster. Disowned, I was sent away, then found and brutally killed in a staged car accident. The comments, my supposed guides, were actually my undoing, twisting my actions, alienating my family, and sealing my doom. The horror of reliving this nightmare again and again was unbearable. But waking up today, with the sun on my face, the same day endless: I refused to be a puppet. This time, I would fight back, armed with the knowledge of their lies.

Here's the translation: "The girl I sponsored, Chen Qing, insisted on marrying a man who had just been released from prison and was a twice-married 'super man.' When I disagreed, the two of them killed me and claimed it was a suicide. After being reborn, I once again faced Chen Qing's request to be with Li Qiang. This time, I pretended to agree, but secretly manipulated the situation to take revenge for my past life."

Aurora woke up to the sterile chill of her king-sized bed in Sterling Thorne's penthouse. Today was the day her husband would finally throw her out like garbage. Sterling walked in, tossed divorce papers at her, and demanded her signature, eager to announce his "eligible bachelor" status to the world. In her past life, the sight of those papers had broken her, leaving her begging for a second chance. Sterling's sneering voice, calling her a "trailer park girl" undeserving of his name, had once cut deeper than any blade. He had always used her humble beginnings to keep her small, to make her grateful for the crumbs of his attention. She had lived a gilded cage, believing she was nothing without him, until her life flatlined in a hospital bed, watching him give a press conference about his "grief." But this time, she felt no sting, no tears. Only a cold, clear understanding of the mediocre man who stood on a pedestal she had painstakingly built with her own genius. Aurora signed the papers, her name a declaration of independence. She grabbed her old, phoenix-stickered laptop, ready to walk out. Sterling Thorne was about to find out exactly how expensive "free" could be.

The sterile white of the operating room blurred, then sharpened, as Skye Sterling felt the cold clawing its way up her body. The heart monitor flatlined, a steady, high-pitched whine announcing her end. Her uterus had been removed, a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding, but the blood wouldn't clot. It just kept flowing, warm and sticky, pooling beneath her. Through heavy eyes, she saw a trembling nurse holding a phone on speaker. "Mr. Kensington," the nurse's voice cracked, "your wife... she's critical." A pause, then a sweet, poisonous giggle. Seraphina Miller. "Liam is in the shower," Seraphina's voice purred. "Stop calling, Skye. It's pathetic. Faking a medical emergency on our anniversary? Even for you, that's low." Then, Liam's bored voice: "If she dies, call the funeral home. I have a meeting in the morning." Click. The line went dead. A second later, so did Skye. The darkness that followed was absolute, suffocating, a black ocean crushing her lungs. She screamed into the void, a silent, agonizing wail of regret for loving a man who saw her as a nuisance, for dying without ever truly living. Until she died, she didn't understand. Why was her life so tragically wasted? Why did her husband, the man she loved, abandon her so cruelly? The injustice of it all burned hotter than the fever in her body. Then, the air rushed back in. Skye gasped, her body convulsing violently on the mattress. Her eyes flew open, wide and terrified, staring blindly into the darkness. Her trembling hand reached for her phone. May 12th. Five years ago. She was back.

Vesper's marriage to Julian Sterling was a gilded cage. One morning, she woke naked beside Damon Sterling, Julian's terrifying brother, then found a text: Julian's mistress was pregnant. Her world shattered, but the real nightmare had just begun. Julian's abuse escalated, gaslighting Vesper, funding his secret life. Damon, a germaphobic billionaire, became her unsettling anchor amidst his chaos. As "Iris," Vesper exposed Julian's mistress, Serena Sharp, sparking brutal war: poisoned drinks, a broken leg, and the horrifying truth-Julian murdered her parents, trapping Vesper in marriage. The man she married was a killer. Broken and betrayed, Vesper was caught between monstrous brothers, burning with injustice. Refusing victimhood, Vesper reclaimed her identity. Fueled by vengeance, she allied with Damon, who vowed to burn his empire for her. Julian faced justice, but matriarch Eleanor's counterattack forced Vesper's choice as a hitman aimed for her.

Trigger/Content Warning: This story contains mature themes and explicit content intended for adult audiences(18+). Reader discretion is advised. It includes elements such as BDSM dynamics, explicit sexual content, toxic family relationships, occasional violence and strong language. This is not a fluffy romance. It is intense, raw and messy, and explores the darker side of desire. ***** "Take off your dress, Meadow." "Why?" "Because your ex is watching," he said, leaning back into his seat. "And I want him to see what he lost." ••••*••••*••••* Meadow Russell was supposed to get married to the love of her life in Vegas. Instead, she walked in on her twin sister riding her fiance. One drink at the bar turned to ten. One drunken mistake turned into reality. And one stranger's offer turned into a contract that she signed with shaking hands and a diamond ring. Alaric Ashford is the devil in a tailored Tom Ford suit. Billionaire CEO, brutal, possessive. A man born into an empire of blood and steel. He also suffers from a neurological condition-he can't feel. Not objects, not pain, not even human touch. Until Meadow touches him, and he feels everything. And now he owns her. On paper and in his bed. She wants him to ruin her. Take what no one else could have. He wants control, obedience... revenge. But what starts as a transaction slowly turns into something Meadow never saw coming. Obsession, secrets that were never meant to surface, and a pain from the past that threatens to break everything. Alaric doesn't share what's his. Not his company. Not his wife. And definitely not his vengeance.

The roasted lamb was cold, a reflection of her marriage. On their third anniversary, Evelyn Vance waited alone in her Manhattan penthouse. Then her phone buzzed: Alexander, her husband, had been spotted leaving the hospital, holding his childhood sweetheart Scarlett Sharp's hand. Alexander arrived hours later, dismissing Evelyn's quiet complaint with a cold reminder: she was Mrs. Vance, not a victim. Her mother's demands reinforced this role, making Evelyn, a brilliant mind, feel like a ghost. A dangerous indifference replaced betrayal. The debt was paid; now, it was her turn. She drafted a divorce settlement, waiving everything. As Alexander's tender voice drifted from his study, speaking to Scarlett, Evelyn placed her wedding ring on his pillow, moved to the guest suite, and locked the door. The dull wife was gone; the Oracle was back.

My husband Julian celebrated our five-year anniversary by sleeping with his mistress. He thought I was a clueless trophy wife, too dim to notice the vanilla and tuberose scent on his expensive suits. He was wrong. For years, I played Mrs. Vance, hiding my brilliance while Julian claimed my patents. An anonymous email confirmed his ultimate betrayal: photos of him and Scarlett Kensington in ecstasy. My heart didn't break; it solidified into ice at five years wasted. I activated "The Protocol" for a new identity and escape countdown. Playing the doting wife, I plotted his downfall, catching him with his mistress selling my work, and publicly snapping his credit card. His betrayals and stolen work ignited a cold, calculated fury. He had no idea the monster he'd created. I was dismantling his empire. I shredded his patent papers, stripping him of his ill-gotten gains. With a final tap, I initiated "Identity Erasure." Mrs. Vance was dead. Dr. Evelyn Thorne had just begun her counterattack.

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."

The acrid smell of smoke still clung to Evelyn in the ambulance, her lungs raw from the penthouse fire. She was alive, but the world around her felt utterly destroyed, a feeling deepened by the small TV flickering to life. On it, her husband, Julian Vance, thousands of miles away, publicly comforted his mistress, Serena Holloway, shielding her from paparazzi after *her* "panic attack." Julian's phone went straight to voicemail. Alone in the hospital with second-degree burns, Evelyn watched news replays, her heart rate spiking. He protected Serena from camera flashes while Evelyn burned. When he finally called, he demanded she handle insurance, dismissing the fire; Serena's voice faintly heard. The shallow family ties and pretense of marriage evaporated. A searing injustice and cold anger replaced pain; Evelyn knew Julian had chosen to let her burn. "Evelyn Vance died in that fire," she declared, ripping out her IV. Armed with a secret fortune as "The Architect," Hollywood's top ghostwriter, she walked out. She would divorce Julian, reclaim her name, and finally step into the spotlight as an actress.

Betrayed by her fiancé and stepsister a day before her wedding shattered all Lina's dreams about love. She was heartbroken and in pain. Being drugged and unknowingly loosing her virginity to a stranger is not as painful as being betrayed by her loved ones. She promised to make her pretentious step sister and her unfaithful fiancé pay back hundredfold for what they did to her. On her journey to seek revenge, the stranger she had a one night stand with, came knocking at her door with a marriage contract in hand. Without her knowing he was the one she has that blissful one night stand with, she agreed on the marriage contract for some reasons. Will she find out he was the one she had that blissful one night stand with? Will she fall in love with him after being betrayed? Will she be able to get her revenge on those that betrayed her? Find out in this amazing book "Contracted After Being Betrayed"

Vivian clutched her Hermès bag, her doctor's words echoing: "Extremely high-risk pregnancy." She hoped the baby would save her cold marriage, but Julian wasn't in London as his schedule claimed. Instead, a paparazzi photo revealed his early return-with a blonde woman, not his wife, at the private airport exit. The next morning, Julian served divorce papers, callously ending their "duty" marriage for his ex, Serena. A horrifying contract clause gave him the right to terminate her pregnancy or seize their child. Humiliated, demoted, and forced to fake an ulcer, Vivian watched him parade his affair, openly discarding her while celebrating Serena. This was a calculated erasure, not heartbreak. He cared only for his image, confirming he would "handle" the baby himself. A primal rage ignited her. "Just us," she whispered to her stomach, vowing to sign the divorce on her terms, keep her secret safe, and walk away from Sterling Corp for good, ready to protect her child alone.