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Time passed as the court proceedings went by. Audrey's lawyer kept me in awe with his work. When it was time for Grandma to walk into the witness box, she hesitated. I felt her hand trembling in mine. "Calm down, Grandma. I'm right here with you." I smiled at her and led her to the witness box. Vanessa's eyes trolled me as I walked, her sharp gaze piercing my skin. I turned to meet her gaze, the anger in her eyes exciting me. Oh, sweetheart, we are just getting started. I have a lot in store for you and your dearest mother. My lips curved into a smirk, a sign of immense satisfaction. Her frustration gladdened me. I walked back to my seat and could almost smell my victory. The beginning of my revenge. "Did you invite the media as I asked you to?" I whispered to Audrey. "Yes, I did. Stop worrying, it's a clear case. Eric is pretty impressive; it will be over in no time," Audrey said, smiling at me. "I'm not worrying. I don't get nervous," I said, avoiding his gaze. He chuckled and turned to the other side. It was time for the judge to give his verdict. I could hear my heart beating so much that I feared it was audible to others. I swallowed hard, trying not to show my anxiety. Sweat rolled down my back, and my jean jacket now seemed too tight. The air was stiff, and the room felt suffocating.....
Laura's POV
I sit anxiously in my Mercedes, the type of luxury for which I have worked so hard. But right now, what interests me the most is the cool air coming from the car's rolled-down window. It tickles my skin, flickers my lashes, and brushes my eyebrows. This is how I like it; it kind of prepares me for what I am about to do.
What am I about to do? I am about to intrude on a coronation party and steal the queen's crown. Vanessa, my step-sister, the queen, is going to be the CEO of the company. Her crown is now mine, and I am going to claim it.
"Did you, as I requested, pay the paparazzi?" I say to my assistant sitting beside me.
"Absolutely, ma'am. I gave them instructions and also called the media. The inauguration ceremony will be just how you want it," she responds, her face buried in her iPad.
I brace myself for what's about to happen. This is the moment I had been waiting for my entire life. The look on their faces is so gonna make my day. I am going to relish every second of it.
I hear the buzzing sound emanating from the building as the car comes to a sudden stop. Lifting my head, I see the name in big bold letters: "Whitehood Enterprise." My spine tingles at the name. I signal to the driver, and he gets down to open the door.
"Thanks, Austin," I say to him, patting his shoulder. As I take a step down and straighten my silk dress, numerous paparazzi start to focus on me. Whoa, this will be entertaining.
I catwalk into the building holding a microphone. As I enter the hall, I make my way straight to the stage.
"Madam, ma'am, who are you? You were not supposed to be here," I hear the security personnel muttering under their breath. "Hey, do not stop there!" another security staff protests. He makes no effort to stop me. Monica did an excellent job. She had greased their palms before now. They practised a little protest and resistance.
I see Vanessa standing there, giving her speech, holding a bunch of flowers in her arms. Oh, how I want to swipe her face with it. As soon as she notices me, her face is filled with confusion. Her puzzled look is soon replaced with a frightened one. Looks like she knew who I was. I am a step away from her now, and she is shaking with terror. It is as if she saw a ghost or met death. My demeanour alone is enough to raise her blood pressure.
"I will take it from here," I say to her in a low tone. I take over the podium, pushing her nub figure to the side.
"Good day, everyone. Sorry for the minor commotion over here, but I need to convey some critical information. My name is Laura Whitehood, the daughter of Leonard Whitehood. I'm indeed the first daughter and the heiress to the Whitehood firm and enterprise," I say and give a pause, loving the disgust on Lucy's face. "My apologies for the sudden disruption, but I must bring to your notice that I'm the legal benefactor of this great firm. As the first daughter of the Whitehood clan, my grandmother and the legal owner of these properties willed them to me. I have been met by unfair treatment given to me by my father, stepmother, and sister. I only seek that this matter will be reinvestigated and the rightful heiress given the inheritance. I will take legal action against whoever tried to deprive me of my well-deserving rights." I say the last words loudly. I smile as the continuous buzzing from the crowd seems to serenade me. I notice an obvious cheer from my grandma. Right now, she seems to be the only person who has my back.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing, Laura? I dare you to ruin this for me," Vanessa snaps, causing the smirk on my face to expand.
"Shush, baby sis, see you in court," I snap back at her as I grab the bouquet from her arm. I walk down the stage feeling like Beyonce. The paparazzi and media staff flock around me, hitting my face with the flashes of light from their cameras.
"Ma'am, are you really a Whitehood? Where have you been all this while? Why did the family keep you hidden?" The paparazzi throw questions at me, not giving me a chance to reply. I keep a stern face and say loudly, "I'm the first daughter of Leonard Whitehood and the legal benefactor to his properties. I was kept hidden because I'm his illegitimate daughter." The crowd's loud chatter turns into whispers. I motion to my bodyguard, Pablo, and he paves the way. Walking past the crowd, I run into him. The man that started it all, Leonard Whitehood.
"Laura, I..." he says and stops midway, noticing my already agitated face.
"I'm sorry things have to be like this. I'm sorry you and your sister aren't seeing eye to eye. But this is not the way to go about it, Laura. What will the media and people say?"
I kiss my teeth as he speaks, thinking of ways to make him feel the same pain he put my mother through.
"You don't dictate how I act, Mr. Leonard. I'm not like you. I have never really cared about what people say. I mean, they're always going to talk. I just gave them something fun to talk about," I say, trying to curtail my anger. He tries to reach for my arm, and I move a step back.
"Why are you trying so hard? Is it because of Lucy and her daughter? Save your strength; I'm gonna make sure they get nothing," I snarl, looking straight into his eyes. I walk right past him and head towards my car.
I step into my car and breathe out in relief.
"Where to, ma'am?" Austin asks, looking at me from the rearview mirror.
"The Whitehood mansion. There's someone I need to see," I say as I place a warm towel on my neck.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
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?
Aria Wilson agrees to her step- sister offers to have a one night stand with an old man interchange for large amounts. It will be use for his brother's operation. What they don't know is the man she had sex with is turned out to be Jake Thomson! The most powerful man in Golden City, a multi-billionaire. Her step- sister Ayah, pretended that she is the one he was with that night so she is the on who gained wealth. Aria got pregnant and walked away but after five years she came back and her children...
PERMISSION IS TAKEN FRIM THE ORIGINAL, BE WARNED!! Do you believe in Myths? Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, it does. Lucy lost everything four years ago in a rogue attack. She's been abused, starved, rejected, and broken. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, strange things start to happen, things that only happen once every century. She finds friendship in the most unlikely place and escapes to find her true self with the help of the most dangerous Alpha. Warning: This werewolf trilogy is not intended for anyone under the age of 18 or anyone who doesn't enjoy a good spanking. It will take you on adventures around the world, make you laugh, fall in love, crush your heart and possibly leave you drooling.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."