Due to her genuine love, Nayla doesn't care how harsh Elvan is towards her. In fact, she continues to love him even when she finds out that Elvan prioritizes his female friend, Emma. However, when Emma suddenly confesses her feelings to Elvan, Nayla becomes anxious and restless. Should she end her feelings and cancel their engagement?
"Next week you have to get engaged to Nayla."
Those words came out of David's mouth, Elvan's father, firmly and coldly, as if it couldn't be objected. However, Elvan, sitting in front of the man, immediately scoffed in annoyance.
"Don't joke around, Dad. It's modern times now, I'm free to choose my own partner in the future."
"Nayla's family has agreed. This was the agreement we made seven years ago as a form of cooperation to unite the companies. I don't want to hear any rejection from you," David stared at his only son seriously.
Elvan chuckled bitterly instantly. He truly couldn't believe what his father was saying. The words he least expected came out of his parents' mouths in his twenty-three years as an only child.
"Have you forgotten my rights as a child to choose freely, Dad? Why do you always force things?" Elvan dared to retort.
"Elvan Ganendra!" Laras immediately rebuked with eyes full of emotion, Elvan's mother sitting beside David.
Elvan turned, his gaze surprised; once again, he didn't expect what he was witnessing now. Elvan chuckled blandly as he looked at his mother. The young woman rarely defended him.
"So, Mom also agrees? You're both really selfish, aren't you!"
"Don't you dare oppose, Elvan. Have you forgotten our efforts in raising you all this time? Your father will see you as disobedient if you continue to reject our final request. Your father is not asking for much; you just need to agree to our decision to get engaged to Nayla."
David's expression, flat without a smile, made Elvan sigh deeply. Once again, he had to give in to the selfishness of his parents, which never seemed to end.
"I'll do anything as long as it's not that ridiculous arranged marriage. You know I'm still young and still in college. My future is long ahead; it's not the time for me to be engaged, let alone get married," Elvan clenched his fists with a hardened jaw.
Laras sighed deeply, her gaze implying firmness. "You can still go to college after getting engaged. Then, after you graduate, you will marry Nayla, and you can even continue with a Master's degree. Don't think we haven't planned your future, Elvan. We have arranged everything perfectly."
"Don't worry, we're not doing this because we don't care about you," added David.
Elvan smirked thinly; he had no more hope of refusing. Even if he could, it would mean being a disobedient child, and he didn't want that to happen.
"But why does it have to be Nayla? She's a girl I don't know at all," Elvan protested.
David looked disdainfully at his only son, who had been struggling so hard just to say 'yes'. "Don't protest too much, Van. She's the best choice we've found!"
Elvan expressed his frustration loudly, fed up with his annoying parents. "Fine, once selfish, forever selfish. You and Mom never understand how I feel."
"Elvan, watch your words!" Laras snapped with explosive emotions. David beside her rubbed her hand to help her control herself.
Elvan sighed deeply, then stood up, followed by a thin mutter from his lips. He gazed at his parents alternately with seriousness.
"I know all this time I've just been a burden in Mama and Papa's eyes, but it's okay, I will accept this arranged marriage for you. Whether I can endure it in the future or not, don't blame me if it turns out my heart isn't for her."
"Love cannot be forced, Dad, Mom," Elvan added.
David and Laras fell silent. They no longer spoke as Elvan left the living room and climbed the stairs to his room. David took a long breath, while Laras rubbed her temples, feeling dizzy.
"That child truly doesn't understand gratitude. I'm worried we won't be able to collaborate with Antonio's company." Laras rubbed her throbbing temples.
"Don't worry. We've done our best. I'll make sure he can't escape." A faint smirk appeared on the corner of David's lips.
***
The dark-toned room was where Elvan headed. He closed the door, then slumped onto the bed with a long sigh. "In this modern age, why does arranged marriage still exist?"
The issue escalated when Elvan found out that his fiancée-to-be was Nayla, the college student known for her spoiled behavior on campus. Not only that, according to his classmates, Nayla was a talkative woman.
"What a stroke of bad luck. Out of all the women out there, why does she have to be my fiancée? Damn it." Elvan continued to grumble while covering his face with his arm.
Unfortunately, his frustration was in vain as he couldn't refuse, let alone escape. Otherwise, all the privileges he had received so far would be taken away by his parents.
Before Elvan could close his eyes, he cursed annoyedly upon hearing his mother's voice from outside his room while knocking on the door. Elvan got off the bed to open it lazily.
Laras entered immediately after the door opened. She stared at her son seriously. "Today, you and Nayla have to try on engagement clothes and rings. Mama wants you to be nice to Nayla at this first meeting. Understand?"
"Why all of a sudden? Couldn't it be tomorrow? The event is still far away, Ma," Elvan retorted. He honestly didn't feel like meeting the girl. Truly. Very reluctant.
Laras shook her head vigorously, hating objections. "You know I don't like refusals. Willingly or not, you can't protest. Get ready quickly; you have to pick up Nayla at her house. I'll send you the location via chat. Understand?"
At this point, there was no way for Elvan to say 'no'. The truth was he couldn't object to Mama's orders no matter how. Elvan finally sighed reluctantly.
"Understood."
"Hurry downstairs and get going, you know Nayla doesn't like waiting long," commanded Laras, responded by Elvan's lazy nod.
Laras left the room, and Elvan followed behind, closing the door. Before descending the stairs, he took a deep breath to neutralize his suppressed frustration. He repeatedly restrained himself from uttering curses.
"I hope she'll hate me." Elvan hurried downstairs and walked towards the car garage. He hit the steering wheel and then sighed heavily.
"I will make her regret accepting this arranged marriage." Elvan clenched his fists tightly while holding the steering wheel, then closed his eyes for a moment before stepping on the gas pedal.
In the glittering world of New York's high-class business scene, a young, ambitious billionaire, Alexander "Alex" Grayson, is known as the man with the Midas touch: every project he touches turns to gold. However, behind this success, he hides a dark secret that could destroy everything. When Alex faces the threat of bankruptcy due to an internal conspiracy within his company, he meets Charlotte "Lottie" Bennett, a talented, headstrong young lawyer with a dark past she's trying to leave behind. Lottie is offered a deal she can't refuse: help clear Alex's name from the scandal that ensnares him, in exchange for a large sum of money that could change her life. But as they work together, they realize that this problem is bigger than just a business scandal. Behind the scenes, there are powerful forces at play, threatening both their lives. Their personal secrets begin to unravel, making their relationship even more complicated. Can Alex keep his fortune, or will he lose everything, including Lottie?
In a world shrouded in secrets, the fate of Zach Killian, an Alpha Werewolf, hangs in the balance due to an ancient curse that binds him. He cannot transform into a wolf, the symbol of his true strength, until he finds true love. When Lyorine Josephine, a witch with erased memories, enters his life, everything changes. Beneath their passionate and contentious relationship lies a dark prophecy. Zach and Lyorine are bound by destiny to stop the darkness threatening the supernatural world. But secrets from the past slowly come to light: Lyorine's ancestor is the root cause of Zach's curse. Now, they must choose between breaking the curse, which requires a great sacrifice, or allowing the supernatural world to fall into chaos. Amidst betrayal and complex love, will they find a way out, or become trapped by the moon that binds their fates?
One night. One mistake. One deal that changed everything. After heartbreak, Vyora spends a wild night with Leonard Morgan, her handsome and enigmatic boss. Now, to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, Vyora must become Leo's pretend girlfriend. Amidst the revenge plot and unexpected intimacy, their relationship becomes increasingly complicated. Can Vyora separate revenge from the love that's starting to blossom between them?
I'm Seraphina Langley, just looking to crash my ex's wedding party-not get caught up in another, more dangerous one. Lucian Devereaux, the cold and secretive CEO, suddenly offers me a contract marriage. I need revenge, he needs an inheritance. It should be simple, but the longer I'm by his side, the harder it is to tell the difference between a deal... and real feelings. This contract has an end. But what if my heart doesn't want to let go?
Feeling weary from life's trials, Agatha decided to go to a bar for the first time. Unfortunately, she was given free beer by a handsome bartender, which made her lose consciousness. Unbeknownst to Agatha, a CEO who had been observing her from a distance since the beginning ... secretly saved her. The next day, Agatha was surprised to wake up in a luxurious apartment. Agatha was confused. What happened last night? Who brought her to the apartment?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
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?"
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."