Emilee had never envisioned ending up in bed with Jonny, let alone becoming his wife through a contractual agreement. Yet, Jonny's heart belonged to another. When his true love came back, Emilee was overwhelmed with despair and chose to seek a divorce. But the typically distant and reserved man was unexpectedly firm in his refusal. "Emilee, the moment you married me, your life became mine! In this family, one may become a widow, but divorce is not an option!"
After a few drinks, Emilee Bates felt a searing sensation in her stomach.
Her body began to heat up, and her clarity of mind started to cloud.
Desperate to keep her balance, she pinched the palm of her hand fiercely and staggered forward.
Today was supposed to be a festive occasion, celebrating the company's recent acquisition and the inauguration of the new CEO. She had been coaxed into drinking several glasses of wine, never suspecting they were spiked.
Once Emilee sensed something was amiss, she mustered all her strength and dashed out.
But as the drug's effects intensified, the inner heat nearly overwhelmed her.
Soon, her wavering consciousness could no longer sustain her, and her body weakened, causing her to collapse forward.
Surprisingly, the expected impact never came.
Instead, she found herself in a broad, warm embrace.
The man who caught her carried a subtle mix of alcohol and a crisp, cold fragrance. As Emilee rested in his arms, the scent struck her as strangely familiar.
"Sir... please help me..." she murmured.
Feeling him attempting to detach, she instinctively tightened her grip around his neck.
Emilee's head swam, feeling as though she clutched a block of ice.
Unbeknownst to her, when she held him tightly, his body stiffened abruptly.
Through her dizziness, she saw him clearly.
He had taken off his suit jacket, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, exposing a glimpse of his chest. A silver chain dangled from his clavicle, disappearing beneath the fabric of his shirt.
His face retained its handsome, stern features, yet there was a shift from youthful charm to a more seasoned maturity.
At that moment, his deep-set, inscrutable eyes fixed on her without blinking, assessing her like a predator sizing up its prey, hinting at a hidden, ominous threat.
Jonny Owens...
Why was he here?
He was supposed to be the man of the hour at today's gathering.
As the scion of the formidable Owens family, he had just returned to the country and orchestrated a major takeover of her company. Following the acquisition, a lavish celebration was expected.
Yet, why had he left his own celebration?
Before Emilee could gather her thoughts, the room seemed to whirl around her, and suddenly, Jonny's arms scooped her up.
It wasn't until she was tossed onto the plush, spacious bed in the hotel room that her mind began to clear a bit.
But then Jonny was there, hovering above her, his large, muscular frame imposing a crushing weight.
His breath warmed her cheek, and he stared down at her with piercing intensity, his voice rough and deep.
"Do you know who I am?"
Emilee gazed at him, spellbound, and spoke automatically, her tone tender and melodious.
"You are Jonny Owens..."
Her words were abruptly cut off by his impassioned kiss. His large, firm hands clasped her waist, effectively trapping his prey.
But Emilee harbored no thoughts of escape.
If she were to be with a man, why not one who was attractive, affluent, and flawless?
Besides, given Jonny's esteemed status, he was unlikely to notice a mere secretary at a newly acquired subsidiary-much like he hadn't noticed a plain high school classmate named Emilee Bates.
After tonight, he would continue as the influential heir of the Owens family, returning to Piland to assume command of Owens Group amid much grandeur.
And she would return to her routine life as an ordinary secretary in this modest company.
Their paths would not cross again.
Just this once...
Emilee mused silently.
Summoning her bravery, she arched her neck and pressed her lips against his lower lip.
At that, Jonny's grip around her waist tightened, securing her firmly beneath him.
In the dim light, the air crackled with passion.
What ensued spiraled beyond control. Emilee succumbed to the overwhelming sensations and lost consciousness...
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Three years of marriage couldn't melt Theo's frozen heart. When an art gallery collapsed on Lena, he was off romancing another woman—lavishing her with a private jet. Three steel pins held Lena's shoulder together, but her heart remained broken. She filed for divorce and told everyone that he was impotent. Rising from the rubble, Lena blazed onto the design world's A‑list. She expected him to sail off with his true love—until Theo reappeared at her runway, pressing her against the wall. "Impotent, huh? Care to give it a try?"
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.
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?
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.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."