Vanessa felt like the luckiest woman in the whole world when she finally got married to the man she had been in love with secretly for seven years. If only she knew that she had just set herself up for drags and suffering... The elites barraged her with criticism at every chance they got. It was said that a country girl like her didn't deserve to be with such a distinguished man. Despite everything, Vanessa shut her ears and kept her eyes on Killian. All that mattered was that he was finally hers even though he didn't love her back. Vanessa was a firm believer that love can grow over time. She thought that if she treated Killian right, he would one day fall in love with her. But she received the greatest shocker when Killian continued to ignore her. It was as if she was pouring water into a basket. It wasn't until one day Vanessa realized that she was wasting her precious time. Even before she married Killian, she had it all. Money wasn't a problem for her. She had a pretty face, a killer body, and the charm boys died for. Why then should she continue to waste her youthful years on an emotionless robot? Vanessa filed for divorce and decided that they go their separate ways. It was a welcomed development for Killian until he saw her in the news after the divorce. His docile ex-wife was a whole new person. One moment she was dining with a tech mogul. And the next moment, she was rumored to be dating a fast-rising star. Jealousy engulfed Killian in a trice. He threw his phone to the wall and barked, "Fuck! That's my woman!" When they met again, Killian tried to move to her. But Vanessa just smiled politely and said, "Sir, I don't believe we have met. May I know who you are?" Killian couldn't believe his ears!
"Vanessa, what are you up to? Are you trying to run away from home?"
Just as Vanessa James was about to go downstairs with her suitcase, she heard her sister-in-law, Ella Bates, talking to her.
Instead of giving any responses, Vanessa spared her an indifferent glance and continued to go down the steps. When Vanessa reached downstairs, she happened to bump into her mother-in-law, Julia Bates, who always looked down upon her.
"Where are you going with a suitcase at this hour?" Julia asked with disdain laced in her gaze.
After getting married into the Bates family for three years, Vanessa knew that Julia was about to make things difficult for her.
If it was in the past, she would apologize and coax Julia carefully. However, things were different now. Since she no longer wanted to be with her husband, Killian Bates, how could she possibly put up with this bad-tempered woman anymore?
"Wherever. Don't worry, Mrs. Bates. I won't come back here again." Her voice was cold, and she was no longer as humble as before.
When Julia saw the sudden change in her attitude, her face darkened at once. "Vanessa, is this how you treat the elders?"
Vanessa raised her eyebrows. "I'm just treating you the same way you treat me."
Hearing that, Julia was bent out of shape. "Do you even still see me as your mother-in-law?"
Looking at Julia with a smile, Vanessa replied, "Sorry, you won't be my mother-in-law soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, a car honked from outside the villa.
"I'm leaving now. You can do whatever you want with the things I left in the room. I don't want them anymore. All that I ask is for you not to contact me again from now on." Dragging her suitcase with her slowly, she added, "The Bates are so disgusting."
Julia had yet to understand what Vanessa meant by saying that she would no longer be her daughter-in-law soon when she heard her calling the Bates disgusting. She flew into a rage at once. "Vanessa, are you crazy? I'm going to tell Killian that you-"
"Mom, did you see Vanessa? She was carrying her suitcase just now. Could it be that she wanted me to make her stay by walking past me on purpose?" As Ella descended the stairs, she saw Julia standing still at the front door, so she sauntered over, tugged at her mother's sleeve and asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Julia had a complicated expression on her face. If it was in the past, Vanessa would always yield to her whenever she mentioned Killian. However, today, Vanessa left decisively without looking back.
The sports car outside sped away. Julia walked out and only caught sight of its taillights.
"She... She left?" Ella followed suit and quirked her lips. "Whatever. Louise is back now. Even if Vanessa doesn't leave now, Killian will still drive her out sooner or later!"
Julia felt that her words made sense. Now that Louise Keillor was back, it was smart of Vanessa to leave on her own.
Sitting in the Porsche, Vanessa flipped through the divorce agreement. After reading the terms, she dropped her signature without any hesitation.
At the sight of that, her friend, Nicole Clarke, clicked her tongue. "That's it?" she asked while driving.
Vanessa snapped the cap on her pen. "Or what?"
Killian's first love was back. There was nothing else Vanessa could do.
Three years were neither too long nor too short. Vanessa used to think that she could warm up Killian's heart no matter how cold it was.
However, she was wrong. Louise was the only one he loved.
Vanessa felt that she was indeed shameless. Back then, she had forced Killian to marry her by using repaying her favor as the reason. For three years, she had trapped herself in a loveless marriage. Now that Louise was back, Vanessa would naturally have to give up her position as Killian's wife.
After all, Killian had been keeping his virginity for the sake of Louise.
Yes, throughout the three years, Killian had never made love to Vanessa, not even once. No outsiders knew about this, or else she would end up as a laughingstock. Anyway, three years of hopeless marriage was enough to quell her seven years of infatuation.
Vanessa covered her eyes with her hand. She didn't want Nicole to see her tears.
No matter how free and easy one could be, anyone would still feel sad when their ten years of love didn't receive a good ending.
Soon, the red sports car pulled up outside the company building. Raising her sunglasses, Nicole said, "We are here. Vanessa, go ahead and do whatever you want. I've got your back!" Then, Nicole blew a kiss to her.
Vanessa smiled, "All right. I'm entering now."
It was going to be difficult to toss the divorce agreement at Killian in a way that was both domineering and graceful at the same time.
With the agreement in her hand, Vanessa pushed open the door and got out of the car. It wasn't her first time coming to his company, Grandwalk Company, nor was it the first time she was treated perfunctorily by the receptionist. "Miss James, you can't enter without an appointment. Mr. Bates is very busy. If everyone can meet him without an appointment, what's the point of me as a receptionist?"
Even a receptionist had the guts to be disrespectful to her. In the past three years, she had never been called Mrs. Bates in his company. Clear enough, Killian had never taken her seriously.
Vanessa looked down, letting out a soft chuckle. "The staff training here is pretty bad. Why do I have to make an appointment to see Killian when I am his wife? It seems like being his wife is pretty boring."
She cast a cold glance at the receptionist before walking to the elevator.
It was the first time the receptionist had seen Vanessa behaving like this. After being stunned for a moment, she let out a snort. Nevertheless, she was worried that something would happen, so she immediately called to inform Killian's secretary about it.
Hence, Killian was aware of Vanessa's arrival.
"I'm not seeing her," he frowned.
There was a meeting that he needed to attend in another five minutes.
His secretary, Gavin Harris, hummed in acknowledgment and left. As soon as Gavin walked out of the office, he saw Vanessa coming over.
She had dressed herself well today, which made her look gentle and dignified. Gavin felt that she was somewhat different today.
"Gavin," Vanessa greeted him. Before Gavin could say anything, she directly entered Killian's office and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Bates. I need you to sign an agreement." She strode toward the man at the desk and put the divorce agreement in front of him. "Sign it."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
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.