Claude, I have sacrificed so much for you. Please, can you just give the child back to me?" "The child is already dead!" His words were like a dagger to her heart. When she was betrayed by the person closest to her and lost her child, when she had to endure the humiliation of being mocked by a mistress, when she was alone and desperate, a mysterious man appeared by her side. He told her that with just one deal, he could help her seek revenge...
The wind howled and the rain poured down as the California typhoon approached. A lightning bolt tore through the pitch-black night.
"Claude, open the door! I won't accept your rejection, and I won't let you take care of our child either. Open the door!" I bravely pounded on the massive iron gate of the Hansom house, supporting my frail and weak body.
Tears streamed down my face as I couldn't understand why this was happening. During the birth of our child, I had a severe hemorrhage and was already physically weak, spending almost half a year recovering in the hospital. Claude had told me he was busy with tribal affairs and couldn't be by my side, and I never blamed him for it. But I never expected that after waiting for him in the hospital for so long, I would receive a rejection call from him, and my child would be taken away by the family.
I don't understand why it had to end like this for me.
The servant from the Hansom family couldn't bear to see me in that state and came out to sympathize with me. They said, "Luna, please leave. Alpha won't see you. Miss Burke has returned and she said you're not allowed inside."
Upon hearing this, a shiver ran down my spine, and a cold feeling penetrated my entire being. It was Vicky, my half-sister from another mother, and Claude's first love. So that's it. Claude's first love has returned.
"Claude, come out. Give me our child. I don't want anything else, I just want our child." My heart sank, and I fell into despair, but I still held onto a glimmer of hope. At least I could still have my child.
I knew that once Vicky came back, I would truly lose Claude. But I still had our child, and they belonged to me. I would never leave him.
Suddenly, I saw the closed main gate of the mansion open from afar. Someone was holding an umbrella and slowly walking towards me. A surge of hope flooded my heart.
I believe that I have been with Claude for four years, so it's impossible for him to have no feelings for me at all. But what I didn't expect is that the person who came was Vicky.
"Natalie, well, it seems like you haven't made any progress in four years. Dealing with someone like you doesn't give me any sense of accomplishment," Vicky approached and sneered at my miserable appearance.
Seeing that it was Vicky, the last glimmer in my eyes and in my heart slowly faded away.
"Give my child back to me," I wiped my face, unwilling to let Vicky see my vulnerability.
Vicky chuckled lightly and scornfully said, "Sure, I can give the child back to you, but you have to kneel down and beg me. Otherwise, you can forget about ever seeing your child again in your lifetime."
I clenched my lips tightly.
"What? Don't want to? Alright then, just keep waiting here. But since you've been with Claude for four years, you should already know Claude well. If I told Claude that I'm generous and don't mind having one more child of his with another woman, do you think he would give the child back to you?" Vicky said arrogantly.
My fists clenched tightly, feeling the sharp pain in the palm of my hand. I slowly calmed down.
I cannot lose my child. Vicky has never liked me since we were young. How could she possibly like my child?
I have suffered countless hidden losses in front of Vicky. I am not her match, never have been. But my child is still so young, he doesn't even know how to protect himself. How will Vicky treat my child?
"Alright." My nose tingled, and I reluctantly kneeled in front of Vicky, gritting my teeth. "I beg you, give my child back to me."
At that moment, all of my dignity and pride were trampled upon by Vicky.
Seeing me kneeling on the ground, Vicky seemed to derive immense pleasure from it. She held the umbrella high above, looking down at me, and cruelly laughed, saying, "Hahaha, Natalie, do you know? You look like a dog right now."
Seemingly bored, she continued, "Well, I'll tell you the truth. Actually, your child died shortly after birth."
"It's impossible." I widened my eyes, refusing to believe it.
Vicky chuckled and said, "Let me tell you a secret. I actually came back a year ago, and Claude didn't tell you, did he?"
"I'll tell you, the reason I went abroad four years ago was because our child got sick, and I have been taking care of him. Yes, the child of Claude and mine. But the reason Claude agreed to marry you and have that illegitimate child was just to leverage the power of your mother's family to help himself grow. I must thank you for your efforts all these years, supporting him tirelessly. It's just a pity that Claude never reciprocated your feelings."
Vicky smirked triumphantly, "And do you know why you had a premature birth? It's because I've been poisoning you. Your body has been getting weaker every day and couldn't bear the burden of pregnancy, that's why the child was born prematurely. But it turns out your child was just a weakling, born only for a day and died, just like you."
"Speaking of which, I really have to thank you for helping me hold onto Luna's position. But this position was mine from the beginning, and now it's time for you to give it back to me."
I clutched my chest tightly, feeling like my heart was being corroded by sulfuric acid. I tried to establish a connection with my wolf to find some strength to support myself, but I couldn't find it at all. I became even more panicked and helpless.
"I can't believe it. I saw him yesterday. He was perfectly fine. You're lying to me." I bit my lip hard, causing it to bleed.
Vicky must be deceiving me. This is just her way of trying to bring me down. I refuse to believe that Claude would do this to me.
"You're such a fool, still as naive as you were four years ago. Was that really your child that you saw?" Vicky smirked, finding it amusing. "That was just a baby we brought over from another delivery room to prevent you from suspecting. We gave the child's parents some money and borrowed their child for a while. The child has already been taken back by its rightful parents."
I was stunned, realizing that the child who didn't resemble me or Claude was not our own. I had assumed it was due to the newborn's appearance.
So this is the truth.
With a loud bang, thunder suddenly roared in the sky.
I felt a tickle in my throat and coughed up blood. Everything went dark, and I collapsed.
Lorena Jones was sent to mate with Seth Rodriguez by her father. After she snatched him from the jaws of death, they signed a marriage contract, deciding to play the couple role to get by. Misunderstandings and conflicts kept occurring between this quarrelsome and loving couple. However, there was always an unbreakable force to make them get closer to each other. When Lorena finally dropped the guard and accepted Seth, which was supposed to be the happy ending of the story, the secrets behind Lorena's true identity unfolded. This time, where will fate take them?
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.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Carrying a child left Adeline trapped in marriage to the ruthless and unhinged Waylon, and everyone doubted she'd survive to see the baby's first breath. Filled with dread but determined, she carefully won him over and soon became his lethal obsession. Yet on the day she planned to escape, Waylon drove their car to a cliff's edge, foot hovering over the gas. "I'm sorry, love—did you just say divorce?" His fingers skimmed her cheek, his tone a deadly whisper. "Defy me, and you pay." Later, drenched in blood and rain, he knelt before her, trembling, and pleaded, "Tell me how to keep you here."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?