Averie married Brayden while his company was in turmoil, a decision driven by love rather than careful thought. Yet, no matter how much she devoted herself, he didn't reciprocate her love. The woman in his heart would never be her. Tragedy struck on the night Brayden regained control of the Fowler Group. While he reveled in his victory, Averie endured a heartbreaking miscarriage and nearly lost her life in the freezing sea. Surviving the ordeal, she got tired of all this and resolved to break free from the past through divorce. However, Brayden, unexpectedly changing his heart, refused to let her go. "Averie, our paths were meant to cross. We are bound by fate."
In the high sea near Nolens
"Help! Help! Help... Help me... Brayden, please, help me!"
Averie Briggs' desperate pleas were growing fainter. On one side, the chilling seawater lapped at her, and on the other, a sheer cliff offered no escape.
Suddenly, headlights illuminated her face, now ghostly pale. She backed against the low sea guardrail.
Her ears caught the kidnapper's chilling voice. "Averie and Corinna, choose one..."
"Corinna," the man on the phone replied, without a second thought.
Averie fell silent, her heart turning to ice.
Brayden Fowler, the man she loved, had shattered her heart with such ease.
He had chosen to abandon her, despite her carrying his child.
In the next moment, a sudden kick to her abdomen from a figure in black sent her tumbling over the guardrail.
The frigid seawater swallowed her whole.
Her hatred for Brayden was overwhelming.
A sharp twinge of pain erupted in her lower abdomen, and Averie's world slowly blurred into blackness.
As she teetered on the edge of consciousness, a single thought crossed her mind. If she made it through this, she'd never live the same way again.
She couldn't justify sacrificing her life for such a man.
......
Miraculously, Averie survived.
A fishing boat found her and rushed her to the nearest hospital.
But her baby, the one she had so dearly hoped for, was lost, forever a part of the sea.
The bright overhead lights seemed to flicker above her as she lay in the hospital bed, lost in a daze.
The Fowler and Briggs families were immediately informed of her hospitalization on the first day.
But now, three days later, not a single visitor had come.
In her room, the TV broadcasted Nolens' latest social news.
"The Briggs sisters were suspected of being kidnapped, linked to Fowler Group's power struggle..."
"Brayden Fowler has become the youngest CEO in Fowler Group history."
Averie ran her cold fingers over her now flat stomach, a bitter smile playing on her lips. With difficulty, she grasped a pen and began to write on a piece of paper.
She had reached her breaking point.
As the sun set, someone opened the ward door.
"Apologies, Mrs. Fowler. Mr. Fowler got held up and is a bit late."
Hearing the voice, Averie tightened her grip on the quilt, her eyes on the suited man, Theo Gordon, Brayden's assistant.
"Take a seat, Theo." She tried to sit up a bit straighter, but it was too painful.
"Mr. Fowler's aware of the miscarriage... He mentioned something about making it up to you."
Brayden would make it up to her?
Averie wondered how one could make up for a lost life.
Just then, Theo looked toward the door and respectfully called, "Mr. Fowler."
Following Theo's gaze, Averie noticed a tall, slim figure approaching, backlit by the hallway light.
Despite the hospital's somber setting, his commanding presence was unmistakable.
Their eyes met, and a heavy silence filled the room.
"Mr. Fowler, Mrs. Fowler had a miscarriage, but the doctor believes her health is otherwise fine," Theo informed.
In the lamplight, Brayden's throat moved slightly.
He sat down, half his face shadowed, his eyes partly obscured by his hair.
Brayden lit up a cigarette, the lighter's flame casting a shadow on the scar under his eye, making him look colder and more intimidating.
"When are you getting out of here?" he asked, his voice low and captivating.
But Averie didn't pick up any emotion in his words.
He seemed indifferent, even about the baby they had lost.
If she hadn't been sedated when she learned of the miscarriage, she could have broken down.
But his reaction wasn't surprising. After all, she only married Brayden as a stand-in for someone else, and he had never really cared for her.
She had given up on expecting anything from this man.
All she felt was pity for the child she had lost. His father hadn't even anticipated his arrival.
A bitter smile crossed Averie's face, catching Brayden's fleeting glance.
"The day after tomorrow," she replied.
Three years had passed by. They had been married for that long, but her love for him went back even further.
Yet this young man, who had once been her protector in the poor and chaotic town of Haeidith, seemed to have forgotten all about her.
It was time for her to let go.
"Alright." Brayden's visit felt obligatory. He stood up, opened the door, and left as if he had completed a duty.
Averie and Brayden rarely talked to each other directly. Instead, Theo was often the messenger between them. The only time they were alone together was in the quiet of their bedroom.
"Brayden Fowler," Averie called out, stopping him in his tracks.
This was the first time she used his full name. Before, she had always boldly called him "honey."
Brayden turned to look at her, pausing mid-step.
"I need to talk to you about something..." Averie began, but her words were cut off by the sound of a phone ringing.
"Brayden, where are you? I'm terrified. I had a nightmare that I was kidnapped again..." The voice on the phone was sweet and flirtatious.
Brayden didn't stay any longer. He quickly left, blending into the crowd hustling through the hospital.
The room felt a bit uncomfortable after he left.
Theo said carefully, "Mrs. Fowler, Mr. Fowler mentioned he would give you a villa in Blossom Villas and a shop as compensation. If there's anything else you need, just let us know..."
Averie snorted softly. She remembered the days when Brayden had nothing, and his business was always in trouble. She had been by his side through those tough times.
Now that the Fowler Group was thriving, Brayden seemed to think money could solve everything.
"I want a divorce," she said firmly.
It was easier than she thought to say these words she had long considered. At that moment, Averie's face showed a hint of cold resolve.
"Mrs. Fowler, please think this through. Don't make decisions when you're angry," Theo urged, sounding worried.
"It's not about anger or a ruse," Averie said, handing a sheet filled with words to Theo.
"This is the divorce agreement. Can you give it to Brayden? He should read it closely. I'm not asking for too much."
"But, Mrs. Fowler..." Theo started, but Averie closed her eyes and fell silent.
Sensing the moment, Theo quietly left the hospital room.
Before Theo's next visit, Averie had already completed her discharge process on her own.
She didn't want to return to Brayden's house, so she reached out to her friend Nolan Brooks for help in finding a new place to stay.
Nolan, who didn't see an issue with men and women living together, warmly offered her a place at his home.
However, since he was a public figure, their living arrangement would lead to rumors. After they were seen dining together previously, gossip spread about Averie being Nolan's girlfriend.
This caused Brayden to give her the cold shoulder for an entire week.
Why was she thinking of Brayden again?
Averie shook her head, trying to dismiss these thoughts.
While tidying up the apartment Nolan had arranged for her, she got a call from Theo.
"Hey, Theo," Averie said, perched on a stool, busily wiping away cobwebs from above the kitchen cabinet.
"Mrs. Fowler, I've spoken to Mr. Fowler about the divorce you mentioned. I also showed him the divorce papers."
Theo's voice sounded a bit stiff, but Averie didn't really notice.
"Alright, so when is Brayden going to sign and get the divorce process moving?"
"Mr. Fowler wants to discuss the divorce papers face-to-face. He's asking you to come to the office."
"No need for that. I'm fine with whatever he decides, as long as he either hands over the properties he gave me or pays me in cash. I just want to be divorced as soon as possible."
Hearing Averie talk about a quick divorce, Brayden, standing near Theo, couldn't hide his gloomy look.
For Averie, once her decision was made, she was eager to sever ties quickly.
Having stood by him for years without winning his heart, she was ready to let go.
Before Theo could respond, a familiar, icy voice came through the phone.
"Come to my office, now."
With that, the call ended abruptly. Averie calmly put her phone away. But then, the stool wobbled, and she fell, wincing as her ankle started to swell. Through gritted teeth, Averie decided to deal with the divorce first.
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
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."
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.