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Sighing heavily she met his eyes, "what do you want Julien?" "Exactly what you want El," he drawled as a lazy smirk spread across his lips. "I definitely don't want that, not after what you did to Landon you're an asshole you know, no single decency,-" She gasped as he pulled her flush against him, " I agree with you El, there really is no decency in me," he murmured before smashing his lips against hers. Elsida felt her resolve melt as her lips moved against his, she didn't stand a chance and he was awfully aware. She tried to fight it she really did, but it seemed as though she couldn't escape the torment. He had ruined her family once and now she's letting him do it again in more ways than one. Elsida can't keep up with her Father's bills anymore. The escort agency's pay is measly in comparison to her Father's medical expenses and she is desperate to save him. Desperate enough to accept an unlikely offer from the man she swore to loathe; Julien Benoit. He ruined her once, letting him in again might just be her damnation. Elsida didn't know that Julien is out for blood this time until she learns about the role he played in her Father's downfall when she's already too deep in. Ruthless betrayals, burning desires, heart-wrenching love, and a tragic past. Will trusting Julien save her Father or bring more chaos than she had bargained for?
"You're ridiculous"
Elsida mutters, pure disdain seeping from her words.
Who did Julien think he was, showing up at the escort agency and demanding her services?
He must be out of his mind for thinking she would ever accept an offer from him she thought.
Julien let out a dry chuckle.
"El why would I go out of my way to personally present my offer to you if I didn't mean business?" He said with a humorous glint dancing in his eyes and a smirk spreading across his lips.
"The next time you use that nickname on me I will make sure you never utter a word again"
Just the thought of Elsida threatening Julien
aroused a deep amused laugh from him.
"I love how creative you are with your threats but you and I both know you'd rather die than lay your hands on me"
"Go away Julien, find someone else to taunt, I'm tired of entertaining you," Elsida muttered, she had a very wealthy client to accompany to a ball in two hours and she wasn't even done getting ready. She didn't have the time for conversation, especially with Julien of all people. The awareness of him being in the same vicinity as her repulsed her.
"You say I'm taunting now, wait till you see the latest news headlines about your father, some say the former business tycoon needs a new heart or is it a brain tumor he has?"
Julien says this most casually, his malicious smirk still plastered on his face.
His words fill Elsida with so much rage that she
slaps him, her hands start to shake and she's not sure if it's from his words or the slap, it could be both she thinks as she glares daggers at Julien.
For what feels like a minute, Julien doesn't utter a word, his hand coming to his right cheek to rub it from the impact.
In a fleeting second, the smirk is wiped off Julien's face, replaced with a somber look as
his blue eyes take in Elsida.
"There's no need to get riled up El, think of what this offer could do for your family, once it's elapsed you won't have to work as an escort to pay your father's medical expenses, Heck you may not have to ever work again with all the money you can have at your disposal."
Elsida straightened her back, summoning her most scalding stare. She didn't care if she looked like a dwarf next to him, she would not let him intimidate her.
"Goodbye Julien I want nothing more than for you to rot in hell," she said and briskly walked towards the dressing room, not sparing a second glance to see if he was still standing there.
He could stand there for as long as he wanted she thought as she closed the door to the dressing room.
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Elsida looked at herself in the mirror one last time, adjusting her red lipstick and her brunette hair she put up in a bun.
This should do, she thought to herself.
Just as she buckled the last strap of her stiletto sandals, she heard her phone buzz next to her.
As she looked over, she saw a text from Mr Grimaldi signaling his arrival.
She quickly adjusted the slit of her maxi dress and picked up her clutch, sauntering out of the dressing room.
"Elsida, you look stunning," Mr. Grimaldi said as his eyes raked from head to as far as they could go in the limousine they were sitting in"
He took her slender hand in his and placed a kiss on the back of her palm.
"Oh, Mr. Grimaldi, you're so full of compliments,"
Elsida said, batting her eyelashes and plastering what she hoped was an endearing smile on her face.
He let out a throaty laugh, "Nonsense, I'm only stating facts"
"Well it is my pleasure to accompany you today," she said.
She would kiss his ass if it meant he'd pay her more, she wasn't beneath that, she thought.
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As they stepped into the ballroom, hand in hand, they were ushered to a table that was already occupied by seemingly other wealthy people and Mr Grimaldi's name plastered on a card.
He draws out a chair for her and is quickly swept in by the conversation.
Elsida straightens her back as her eyes swirl around her surroundings, noticing an ice sculpture of a swan set in the center of the ballroom.
Less than three years ago, she used to accompany her father to flamboyant events like this and now he couldn't even stand right on his own. The thought of it alone made her chuckle dryly.
As if startled by the sound, Mr Grimaldi snapped his attention back to Elsida, "Darling, would you fancy a dance?" He asked, extending his hand.
"Of course," she said, gingerly accepting his extended hand, she'd do anything to keep her mind off her father's illness.
As they waltzed through the dance floor, Elsida noticed Julien's figure, he was faced backward and seemed to be engaged in a heated conversation with a plump bald man.
Just her luck she thought, fighting the urge to curse out loud.
As if he could feel her eyes trying to bore holes in his skull.
Julien's head reared back and he immediately locked eyes with Elsida, a smirk made its way to his mouth as his steel-blue eyes took her in.
Completely ignoring the plump bald man he was talking to, without a second glance, Julien walks
towards Elsida.
Her eyes widen as she realizes he is sauntering in her direction.
"Mr. Grimlad, pleasure seeing you here"
Julien says plastering a lazy smile on his lips.
Mr Grimald halts, noticing Julien standing quite close to him.
"Ahh Mr Benoit, what a lovely surprise, I was just a-"
"Leave us," Julien utters, his eyes not leaving Elsida.
Elsida gasps in surprise as he lets go of her hand.
"I'll see you later Elsida" Mr Grimald says, giving Elsida an apologetic look and walking away.
"Your audacity never fails to surprise me"
Elsida says, already turning her back to retreat to her seat.
"Relax he works for me"
Julien says trailing after her. Elsida is shell-shocked but doesn't turn to give him the satisfaction of catching her off guard.
"Have you had time to give my offer an afterthought?" Julien says.
"I'm not sure if I should commend your hopefulness or just call you foolish for thinking I would ever consider that offer"
Just as Julien is about to say something, he is interrupted by the buzz coming from Elsida's
leg.
Without sparing him a second glance she unstraps her phone from her lap, placing it on her ear.
"Hi Natasha," she says as she walks away from Julien.
"Elsida, Natasha sputters, I found Dad unresponsive in his room
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
"You're pathetic!" Brenden sneered, each word cutting deep into Corinna's heart. Years of emotional wounds had drained every ounce of love she once held. "I've wasted enough time on you. If there's a next life, I hope we never meet again." Her words severed the bond between them like a blade. From that moment on, Brenden was haunted by her absence—unable to sleep, longing for the warmth he took for granted.
My marriage to Mathias was supposed to make me the happiest woman in the world. Although I knew he didn't love me, I thought he would fall for me once I showered him with all the love I had to give. Five years passed and Mathias still didn't give a damn about me. Instead, he met his true love and cut all ties with me because of her. He showed her off; something he never did for me. His abandonment pushed me into depression. I was broken in every sense of the word. Even on my deathbed, my so-called husband didn't come to say goodbye to me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. I was still Mathias's wife and it was two months before he met his true love. In this life, I refused to be hurt by him again. After talking some sense into my head, I asked him for a divorce in other to escape being heartbroken like I was previously. Mathias tore up the divorce papers time and time again while also shutting me down. "Rylie, stop all this nonsense! Playing hard to get doesn't work anymore!" To show him that I was dead serious, I went ahead to file for divorce. Only then did he panic. He abandoned the "woman of his dreams" and came to my side. "Please give me a second chance, Rylie. I promise to do right by you. You'll be the only woman in my heart from now on. Don't leave me, okay?" A war broke out in my mind after this apology. On one hand, I didn't want to be hurt again. And on the other, I didn't want to let go of the man I loved so dearly. What should I do?!
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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?