The story revolves around a young lady named Julian, a Biomedical Engineer. She is the only surviving heir to her Father's Empire. However, having met all the conditions needed to become a successor of her Dad's businesses, she also needs to get married. She meets Michael, a Civil Engineer, and falls in love with him. Nursing hatred and jealousy for Julian, James, her stepbrother, has been managing the businesses while she was away; he makes a move to claim his seemingly rightful inheritance. Unknowingly to Julian, James sets Michael up for her. Michael and James later had a misunderstanding about silencing Julian for good. A rescuer emerges.
CHAPTER ONE
JULIAN
I stood in the doorway of my father's room, my heart pounding in my chest. The grandeur of the mansion, with its ornate chandeliers and antique furnishings, seemed to mock the frailty of the man lying in the bed.
The room was dimly lit, the heavy drapes partially drawn, casting shadows across his gaunt face. He looked so small, so vulnerable, a stark contrast to the powerful figure he had always been in my life.
For years, I had harbored a deep resentment towards him, convinced that his infidelity had led to my mother's death.
Her accident, a tragedy that had shattered our family, had always seemed too coincidental, too convenient for someone looking to start anew. That suspicion had festered, turning my love for him into a bitter grudge.
Now, seeing him like this, the anger was hard to hold onto. He was just a man, a dying man, and I was his only daughter.
"Julian," he whispered, his voice a mere shadow of its former strength. "Come closer, my dear."
I took a tentative step forward, then another, until I was standing by his bedside. His hand, once strong and commanding, now trembled as he reached out to me.
"Julian, I don't have much time," he began, his eyes pleading with me. "I need you to forgive me. I know I've made mistakes, terrible mistakes, but please, for the sake of our family, I need you to fulfill my last wish."
Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. "Dad, how can I? You... you ruined everything. You tore our family apart. How can I forgive you?"
He squeezed my hand weakly, his eyes filling with tears. "I know, and I'm so sorry. I never meant for things to turn out this way.
But please, Julian, I need you to do this. You must get married to secure your position as the heir. It's the only way to protect the legacy your mother and I built."
His words cut through me like a knife. The thought of marrying for convenience, of tying myself to someone just to fulfill a dying wish, was almost unbearable.
But the look in his eyes, the desperation, made it clear that this was his last hope.
"Please, Julian," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Forgive me."
I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They flowed freely down my cheeks as I looked at the man who had given me life, who had shaped my world, for better or worse.
"I... I don't know if I can forgive you," I sobbed, my heart aching with the weight of his request. "But I'll do it. I'll do what you ask."
His face crumpled with relief, and he nodded, closing his eyes. "Thank you, Julian. Thank you."
Unable to bear the sight of his frailty any longer, I turned and fled the room, my emotions a turbulent storm.
I stumbled down the grand staircase, the opulence of the mansion a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. The mansion, with its memories of happier times, now felt like a prison.
A few days later, I returned home from the hospital, exhausted and emotionally drained.
As I stepped through the front door, I was met with an unexpected sight. The mansion was bustling with activity. Staff were hurrying about, setting up tables and decorations in the grand ballroom.
There were flowers everywhere, their sweet scent mingling with the rich aroma of food being prepared in the kitchen.
"What is going on here?" I demanded, grabbing one of the passing staff members.
"It's an event, Miss Julian," he replied nervously. "Your father has arranged it."
My heart sank. What was he thinking? I rushed up to his room, my mind racing. I found him sitting up in bed, looking weaker than ever but with a determined glint in his eye.
"Dad, what is all this?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why is there an event being organized in our house?"
He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and hope. "Julian, I need you to dress for the event. It's to be held tomorrow. It's important."
"Important? How can you think of hosting an event in your condition? What is this really about?" I demanded, my frustration boiling over.
He sighed, his face etched with exhaustion. "It's about you, Julian. It's about finding you a suitable husband.
I need you to be married before I'm gone. It's the only way to secure your future and the future of our family's legacy."
Tears filled my eyes again. "Dad, this is insane. I can't just marry someone like this. It's not fair."
"I know it's not fair," he said softly, his voice cracking. "But it's my last wish. Please, Julian. Do this for me."
Seeing the tears in his eyes broke something inside me. I wanted to refuse, to walk away and never look back, but I couldn't. He was my father, and despite everything, I loved him.
"Okay," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I'll do it. I'll be there."
The next day, the mansion was a hive of activity. Guests began to arrive, each more distinguished than the last.
The grand ballroom was filled with the sound of laughter and conversation, the chandeliers casting a warm glow over the elegantly dressed crowd.
I had retreated to my room, trying to gather my thoughts and prepare myself for what lay ahead.
I looked at myself in the mirror, my reflection staring back at me. I was wearing a beautiful dress, one my mother had worn to a similar event many years ago.
It was a painful reminder of the past, of the family we once were. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.
Just as I was about to head downstairs, there was a knock on my door. It was Mrs. Jane, my stepmother.
"Julian, are you ready?" she asked, her eyes kind but filled with worry.
"I'm ready," I replied, forcing a smile. "I'll be down in a minute."
She nodded and left, and I took one last look at myself in the mirror. This was it. I had to do this, for my father.
But as I made my way down the grand staircase, something inside me snapped.
I couldn't go through with it. The weight of my father's expectations, the pain of my mother's death, and the anger I still felt towards him all came crashing down on me.
Without thinking, I turned and ran. I fled through the back entrance of the mansion, not stopping until I was far away, hidden in the garden where my mother and I used to spend our afternoons.
The memories of her laughter, her love, were too much to bear.
Eliza Hayes thought her life couldn't get worse until she was thrust into a contract marriage with the cold and enigmatic billionaire, Alexander Grey, to save her family's business. Little did she know, this was only the beginning of her ordeal. As she navigates her new life, Eliza stumbles upon a mysterious clause in Alexander's father's will that could destroy everything she’s fought for: "To secure the inheritance of the Grey fortune, my son, Alexander Grey, must marry and remain married for no less than one year. If his marriage is unsuccessful within this period and he fails to produce an HEIR, he must give up his inheritance.” This clause, shrouded in secrecy and hidden agendas, holds the power to unravel Alexander's empire and their fragile relationship. With powerful enemies lurking in the shadows and unexpected allies revealing their true intentions, Eliza must decipher the cryptic will and confront the web of deceit surrounding her. Meanwhile, Alexander's cousin, Richard, is hell-bent on revenge. His resentment towards Alexander runs deep, fueled by years of rivalry and a sense of betrayal. Determined to get back at Alexander, Richard secretly manipulates events to use Eliza as a pawn in his vendetta, all unbeknownst to her. As Eliza gets entangled in Richard’s schemes, the stakes rise, and the line between friend and foe blurs. Unknowingly to Eliza, Alexander himself harbored an ulterior motive, driven by a deep-seated need to get back at her for what her father did to his father. Will she uncover the truth in time to save herself and Alexander, or will the buried secrets of the past and present shatter her completely? Will she fight to make this marriage work? Find out in the book.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
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?
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."
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."
“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.
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!