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"Is-Is that a ring I see? Stephen, are you...engaged to her?" I stuttered, my voice trembling. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. My mind was reeling, trying to process the reality of the situation. Alia's world is turned upside down when she discovers that her boyfriend of three years has been cheating on her. Filled with anger and hurt, she reluctantly attends a high society event, where she runs into Stephen again. They get into a bitter argument, and in a fit of pique, Alia claims that she has a new boyfriend - a man she doesn't even know. But this man, who turns out to be the dashing and enigmatic CEO of Xu Empires, Christopher Tao Xu, is more than happy to play along with Alia's charade. As Christopher and Alia continue their charade, they begin to develop real feelings for each other. But as they grow closer, Alia's ex-boyfriend, Stephen, becomes increasingly jealous and vengeful. He starts to plot against the blossoming relationship, putting Alia's safety in jeopardy. Will Alia and Christopher's love survive? Or will Stephen's scheming tear them apart?
TRIGGER WARNING! - The following chapter contains content that may be triggering for some readers, including subtle depictions of rape. If you find this content disturbing, please exercise caution.
ONE YEAR AGO
"Help! Please, help me!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the damp walls of the dark, musty room. I was bound to a chair in the center of the room, a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling above me. I had no idea who had taken me or why, but I knew I had to escape. My birthday was only a week away, and I refused to die before I'd had a chance to celebrate.
I struggled against the ropes that held me captive, but they were too tight to break free. I began to cry, despair creeping in as I realized I was trapped. As I stared into the gloom, I couldn't help but wonder where my boyfriend, Christopher, was. We'd been planning to celebrate my birthday together, but he was nowhere to be found.
Just then, he walked in. Christopher? No, it wasn't. It was the man who would ruin my life forever.
I braced myself, expecting the worst. The man who had walked in looked just like my boyfriend, but I knew it wasn't him. This man was taller, with a cruel smile on his face. I could tell that he was up to no good. He stood there, staring at me with an unreadable expression on his face. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
The man took a step towards me, and I flinched. What was he going to do? I was terrified, but I knew I had to stay strong. The man continued to approach me, his steps slow and deliberate. I could hear his breath as he got closer, but I still couldn't see his face.
"Please help me!" I pleaded, my voice shaking. But he ignored my pleas, his eyes fixed on me.
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see what he would do next. But I could hear him getting closer, his footsteps louder and louder. I decided to open my eyes.
"It's July 19th," he said, his voice cold and emotionless.
The man got closer and closer, until he was right in front of me. He leaned in, and for the first time I could see his face clearly. And what I saw shocked me to my core. There was a scar running underneath his left eye, giving him a sinister look. But it wasn't just the scar that scared me - it was the way he was looking at me. His eyes were cold and calculating, and his smile was nothing short of psychotic. For a kidnapper, he sure was handsome.
The man was well-dressed, wearing a black suit that looked tailor-made. His cologne was expensive, and his demeanor screamed wealth and power.
"I will help you," the man said, his voice echoing through the room. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Was he really going to help me? Or was he just playing with me?
I watched as he stepped back, and I could finally see him clearly. He carried himself with an air of confidence, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't to be trusted.
I was starting to panic, but I tried to keep my composure.
I looked around the room, trying to figure out where I was. It looked like an old warehouse, with cracked walls and dusty floors. I could see cobwebs hanging from the rafters, and the windows were covered with grime. It was an eerie, desolate place, and I felt a sense of dread settle over me. I was stuck here with this man, who was clearly dangerous. I needed to get out of here, but I had no idea how.
"Please," I begged, my voice shaking with fear. "I don't know anything about the business deal. I haven't done anything wrong. Please let me go, and I promise I won't tell anyone about this. Not even Christopher!"
The man laughed, a cold, harsh laugh that made my blood run cold. "You think I'm worried about what Christopher will do?" he asked, his eyes hard and cold. "I'm not scared of him. In fact, I have something he wants very badly. And I'm going to use it to my advantage."
My heart sank. I had no idea what he was talking about, but it couldn't be good. I felt sick to my stomach. I was trapped in this empty room, with no way out.
"But what if I could offer you something in return for your silence?" the man asked, his voice soft and persuasive.
I felt my resolve weakening. What could he possibly offer me? I had to be strong. I couldn't give in.
"I don't want anything from you," I said, my voice trembling. "I just want to go home. I just want to be free!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that," he said, his voice cold and emotionless. "You see, you have something that I want, and I'm not about to let you go until I get it."
"Please, just tell me what it is you want! I'll do anything!" I begged, my voice breaking. I was terrified of what he might do to me if I didn't give him what he wanted.
"You'll find out soon enough," he said, a sly smile playing across his lips.
"Please, let me go," I begged, my voice shaking with fear.
"Not yet," he said, a cruel smile playing across his lips. "The fun is just getting started. Christopher's looking for you, after all."
I felt a wave of panic wash over me.
"Please just let me go!" I screamed, my voice cracking with emotion as I sobbed.
"Not so fast," he said, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "You're not leaving here the same way you came. There's more to this than you know."
I was trembling with fear, my heart pounding in my chest. I had no idea what he had in store for me, but I knew it couldn't be good.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear.
"You'll find out soon enough," he said, his face betraying no emotion.
"Please, don't do this!" I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. "If you hurt me, Christopher will make you pay!"
The man merely smiled, a cold, empty smile, then he chuckled, a long, low laugh that sent shivers down my spine.
"I've heard that it's someone's birthday coming up soon," he said, a sly smile playing across his lips.
"Please, don't do this!" I begged, terror gripping my heart. "I don't want to die!"
The man regarded me with cold, calculating eyes. I could feel the blood drain from my face as I realized that I was at his mercy.
He began to laugh, his laughter turned into a sinister sing-song, his voice taunting me as he circled me like a shark.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you," he crooned, his eyes glittering with malice. "Happy birthday, happy death day...happy death day to you!"
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized the full weight of my situation. I was trapped, and at the mercy of a man who seemed to take great pleasure in my fear. I sobbed, my body trembling as he continued his deadly serenade.
"I promise I'll do whatever you want," I pleaded, my voice shaking with desperation. "Just please, don't hurt me. If it's about the business deal, I can make sure you get what you want. I'll convince Christopher to step down. I swear!"
He regarded me with a look of amusement, as if I were a child begging for a toy. It was clear that he had no intention of bargaining with me.
"I don't need the business deal anymore," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "For all I care, Christopher can have it. I have something much more precious to him."
"I don't have the strength to fight you anymore," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I give up."
Tears were streaming down my face, like waterfalls of grief. I felt like a dam had broken inside me, releasing all the sorrow and despair I'd been holding back.
He looked at me with a strange mixture of pity and satisfaction. "Give up?" he said coldly. "Why so easily?" he asked with interest on his face
"There's no point in pleading or arguing with you," I said, my voice firm and resolute. "You've clearly made up your mind, and I won't waste my breath trying to change it."
"I admire your honesty," he replied, his voice full of respect. "But it won't change my plans."
I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. Whatever he had in store for me, it was clear that I wouldn't be able to stop him. I was utterly powerless.
"What are you going to do to me? Kill me?" I asked, my tears dried up. I had accepted my fate.
Christopher wasn't coming. I have to be brave.
"You know, death is not the worst fate that can befall you," he said, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "There are things far worse than death, and I'm going to show them to you."
My heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I tried to imagine what he could possibly mean, but my mind refused to go down that dark path. I forced myself to stay strong, but I could feel my resolve starting to crumble.
"So, what are you going to do to me?" I asked, my voice shaking with anticipation.
"You're a curious one, aren't you?" he replied, his eyes glittering with amusement. "No wonder Christopher likes you so much."
My blood ran cold at the mention of his name. "Don't talk about him!" I snapped, my voice rising with anger.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" he said, a laugh in his voice. "I like a little feistiness. It adds to the fun!"
I glared at him, my eyes burning with hatred. "You're not going to kill me? Then what's your plan? It's hilarious how you're wasting your time to torture me when Christopher's going to show up any minute now."
"Who said I was going to torture you?" he asked, his voice cold and his brows arched up in curiousity.
"Then what!" I screamed at him, my voice slightly giving away the fact that I was scared.
He chuckled, his breath warm against my face. The scent of his cologne was intoxicating, and I felt myself being pulled closer to him.
"I am going to give you a scar that will last you a lifetime!" he said, his voice dripping with malice.
The smile that twisted his lips was unnerving, and I felt my heart begin to race. I couldn't tell if he was serious or not, but I knew I didn't want to find out.
"A scar like the one under my eye?" I asked, my voice trembling. He nodded, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
"Even better! You won't be able to escape from this scar," he said, his eyes burning into mine. "No matter where you run, it will follow you. No matter how hard you try to forget it, it will be there, haunting you." I tried to maintain my composure, but his words were like a dagger to my heart. I felt the walls closing in on me.
"I can cover it up with make-up," I said, trying to sound confident.
He gave me a sly smile. "Who said it would be on your face?"
"Are you always this obtuse?" I asked, a hint of irritation in my voice. "It must be hard to communicate when you can't just say what you mean!"
"What could possibly be worse than death for a woman?" he taunted.
I couldn't resist the bait. "Oh, I can think of a few things," I said, matching his tone with a hint of sarcasm.
He let out a scoff, his face brimming with a hint of mystery, he proceeded to say "When her dignity gets taken away from her!"
I paused for a moment, considering his words. I was torn between my desire to understand what he meant and my fear of what he might say next. The silence stretched between us, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
Finally, I gathered the courage to speak. "What do you mean by 'her dignity'? What are you talking about?"
"When a woman's dignity is taken from her, it is a devastating loss," he said coldy. "She is stripped of her sense of self, her sense of worth, and her sense of purpose. It is a loss that can never be fully repaired, and the scars it leaves behind can last a lifetime."
The thought of what he might do next made my stomach churn. "No..." I said, my voice trembling. "There's no way he would..."
I trailed off, unable to finish the thought. I didn't want to believe what he was implying, but the fear was growing inside me.
"What?" I stammered, my mind racing to make sense of what he had just said, of what I had just heard.
"I love the way you think," he said, a smug grin on his face. "Always asking questions, always probing for answers. It's refreshing, to say the least."
"But... what do you mean by that?" I pressed, my voice shaking. "What are you implying?"
"What are you thinking?" he asked, a befitting smug grin on his face.
"Are you...going to...ra..pe me?" I shuddered to ask as a tear dropped down from my eyes.
"There's the smart girl I know!" he replied in a psychotic manner.
"Why?" I shuddered to ask, my heart racing and mind disorganized.
"You see Alia," he started off. "For a person like Christopher, hurting their loved ones is the best way to ruin them!" he answered with an air of certainty, feeling happy with himself.
I breathed in, it was more of a sharp breath "And you think he would just let you live?" I dared him.
"Death, I don't fear it, I await it. Christopher should...fear death." he replied to me confidently.
My thoughts turned to Christopher, my hope and my salvation. I prayed that he would find me, that he would rescue me from this nightmare. "Christopher will come," I whispered, more to myself than to him. "I know he will. He will find me and he will save me!"
"Don't you get it?! There is no saving you because he can never find you!" he said out loud.
"You bastard!" I screamed as he laughed and walked towards me, he leaned in close to my face and whispered into my ear.
"You would look gorgeous in a red dress." He said to me with a sinister and contented grin on his face.
He proceeded towards the exit with me screaming and crying at him.
"See you in seven days, Alia!" were his final words as he walked off.
I screamed and cried, forcefully tried to free myself and then cried again. I waited and waited with the hope in my heart that Christopher would come.
Christopher never came...And I wore the red dress.
"To Liam and Aurora... for your story will always live on in my heart." Aurora watched in horror as her father attacked her mother and charged at her to kill her. She never thought that her life would change on the night of the tragedy. She never imagined that one fateful night would change everything. When she begged Liam Anderson, a mysterious and powerful figure, to save her, she never imagined that he would offer her a marriage proposal in return. She was torn between her desperate need for safety and her reluctance to marry a man she hardly knew. Little did she know that accepting Liam's proposal would lead her into a world of romance, danger, and suspense, one where they would both have to fight for their life.
“It all began in Casablanca, do you still remember?” the voice said. Stripped of everything he has and betrayed by his wife and bestfriend, a young, wealthy businessman sets out on a path of vengeance to get back what he's lost. Along the way, he discovers that the betrayal may have been part of a larger conspiracy, and he must decide whether to continue down his dark path or try to rebuild his life….but vengeance is a must!
“Oh, here he comes! You know him, right? Christopher Tao Xu, CEO of Xu Empires, Heir to the Golden Estate! I don't date broke guys!” Alia said to spite Stephen with a satisfying grip on her lips. After watching her relationship of three years go done the drain because her boyfriend cheated on her, Alia Moon Crust, trying to get back at him get Christopher entangled in a lovers' feud. But what happens when entanglement turns into love? Will Alia give in to Christopher? What happens when he finds out that she is the woman he has been chasing for two years? What happens when Stephen decides to strike back.
“Get married to my son if you ever want your father to be released!” Mr. Carter uttered the very words that would end up turning my life around. I knew he wasn't joking. The look on his face was all the evidence I needed. I knew I had to do it because it was the only choice I have left, but... I'll not go down without a fight! "I, Althea Ruiz, swear on my life that I will never get married to Adam Wilson!" I said out loud, my voice echoing through the room. "We'll see about that!" Adam said through the phone. *With blood on the line and an arranged marriage as ransom, Althea has to make the most difficult choice of her life; abandon her boyfriend of six years and get married to a man that no one has seen for the last ten years. What could go wrong?
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
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."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
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.”