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Joaquín Oviedo, the prosecutor and also heir to the family that is considered royalty in the United States, the Caldwell-Oviedo's, does not believe in promises. Yet when a friend begs him for help, he makes one. He just didn't count on fate orchestrating things in such a way as to put him in a situation that would change his life forever. Now, the man who plans every step of his existence finds himself in the midst of a whirlwind of emotions he can't handle when young Bianca Ortiz parachutes into his life. The sweet girl turns the billionaire's world upside down, slowly reaching out and melting the Iceman's heart.
Joaquín Oviedo's pov
nine years old
"They won't come. Do you know what that means? We're going to have to sell you to another family. We can't keep you in America, but there are plenty of rich couples in other countries who would pay for a blonde Boys pay big bucks. If your parents don't want to pay to bring you home, we'll find someone who will."
I try to pretend I'm not listening. Be strong and brave like my brother Guillermo because I don't want these people to see how scared I am.
It's been six days since they brought me here. I'm counting. Sometimes my mind can get really cluttered, so I decided to pile up some pebbles I found on my bedroom floor so I wouldn't forget.
Why isn't Dad here yet? They said they wanted money and my family had a lot of money.
Are these people telling the truth? Do my parents know they took me but still don't want to pay the money they demand to get me back? I wish Guillermo was an adult. My brother would never leave me here. I believe in him. I also believed in Mom and Dad, but now I don't know.
"Are you listening to me, kid? I know you understand what I'm saying, and you're scared. You should."
Even if I don't look at him, I know he's smiling. You do it all the time. You put on an evil grin like you're having fun scaring me.
"I was thinking it was wrong for us to take you away. Your family doesn't care if you come back or not. I think, after we sell, bring the little girl. She may be worth a lot of money."
Take my Martina? get my Martina? my little sister?
I tried not to cry but felt pain behind my eyes. I clasped my hands together to keep them still because I wanted to get to where the guy was and kick his shins.
"It's okay. I can see you don't want to talk. I'm leaving, but think about what I said. You might wake up tomorrow in another country."
As soon as he was gone, I grabbed a wooden box I found under the bed. I can't reach that small, tall window without it. I put it near a window. From day one, I climbed up and looked out. Surrounded by old houses.
The window is a very narrow passage, but I think I can get through it. I was terrified of getting scratched by shards of glass because it was shattered, but that was before and I thought my dad would come and save me.
Now, I think I have to escape by myself, so I have an idea.
I go back to bed and get the blanket. I wrap it around my hand, like I've seen in action movies, and slam on shards of glass, shattering the missing pieces.
There. That's it, just the glass tip, even if I cut myself, it wouldn't be that much. I need to go home. Even if my parents don't care about me like this man said, I can't let them take my sister away.
I ran so fast that I was out of breath.
My lungs were on fire, but I didn't stop until I found a store. There is a sign on the door that says "OPEN".
I still pushed the door open, for fear that they would chase me, and I was relieved to see a white-haired woman inside.
"Good evening, my love. Aren't you a little late walking around by yourself?" she asked.
"I don't walk," I said, taking a deep breath. I ran away.
My name is Joaquin Oviedo. They kidnapped me. "Please call the police for me."
Her eyes widened. She turned around at the counter and came towards me.
"Are you from the Oviedo family? Can you tell me your father's name?"
"Stuart Caldwell, but don't call my dad. He doesn't care about me. I'm going to let those people betray me. Talk to my brother Guillermo. Yes, he will come to my rescue."
*************
twenty three years later
I mentally count to ten, taking a planned pause before closing. I stared at the jurors without blinking, trying to guess if any of them were going to give it all up.
No, I put them where I want them.
They have been persuaded. I could tell by their attentiveness to what I had to say.
My verdict is in.
I nodded as if to pat them on the back, praising them for taking another murderer off the street in a few minutes. Then I started talking.
"I have no doubt that when they return, there will only be one decision: guilty."
I sat down again while the defense attorney tried to work her magic in her final remarks, even though we all knew her case had been lost.
Half an hour later, after she finished speaking, I put the papers in my briefcase. I am now indifferent to everyone around me. It was as if my mind had shut itself off from the universe, muted it.
My sister Martina said I took the concept of introspection to another level.
I don't think this is the case. I just don't like humans a lot of the time. Interaction is just a necessary evil.
It doesn't matter. I admit there are some exceptions.
My family, Olivia and my three nieces.
When a monster in human form tries to take everything from Valentina, even her dignity, she is forced to fight back. No matter what price she would pay, she knew she needed to get control of her life back. What she didn't know was that Benjamin Daslow, a friendly and caring CEO, would be her savior. He approached her meekly, with care, and became her protector. Now Valentina will know that not all men are equal and that there will always be a second chance for love.
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.
Chandler Su who had cheated by her boyfriend then got drunk at a bar. To take revenge, she grabbed a man randomly and took him to the room. After a crazy night, Chandler found the strange man was a super handsome guy the next morning. Shy and shocked Chandler run away after leaving 150 RMB and scorning the man of his poor bed skills. However, she never thought the story would become so dramatic as the next day, she found out that the new coming president of her company was exactly the man she slept the last night! Worse than that, this new boss seemed very narrow-minded as he asked Chandler to come to his office on the first day.
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.
"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!
Lyric had spent her life being hated. Bullied for her scarred face and hated by everyone-including her own mate-she was always told she was ugly. Her mate only kept her around to gain territory, and the moment he got what he wanted, he rejected her, leaving her broken and alone. Then, she met him. The first man to call her beautiful. The first man to show her what it felt like to be loved. It was only one night, but it changed everything. For Lyric, he was a saint, a savior. For him, she was the only woman that had ever made him cum in bed-a problem he had been battling for years. Lyric thought her life would finally be different, but like everyone else in her life, he lied. And when she found out who he really was, she realized he wasn't just dangerous-he was the kind of man you don't escape from. Lyric wanted to run. She wanted freedom. But she desired to navigate her way and take back her respect, to rise above the ashes. Eventually, she was forced into a dark world she didn't wish to get involved with.
Veronica is an eighteen-year-old omega who falls into an emotional breakdown when her Mate, who was soon to be the Alpha of the Sun crest pack, turns against her, hurls hurtful words at her, and rejects her on the night of the full moon festival because he and everyone in the pack, including her, thinks she is an omega. As if the pain of rejection, helplessness, and worthlessness wasn't enough, she lost her best and only friend to the cold hands of death when rogue wolves attacked their pack. Right in the presence of her mate, she was tagged as someone who always attracted problems and calamities anywhere she went and he turned a blind eye and watched as she was banished from the pack. With hatred for her life, she runs deep into the woods that were off-limits and jumps off to end her life, but in a turn of events, something else happens. What would her mate do when he finds out that Veronica is not who he thinks she is? Will she be able to forgive him? What fate lies ahead for them?