Kayley returned to Brayden's side for the sake of her dancing career. By day, they were step-siblings. By night, they were lovers. As her feelings deepened, she came to realize that she was a mere substitute for his lost love. They broke up. Kayley reinvented herself and became a beloved star. Seeing her perform in front of so many adoring eyes, Brayden panicked. "Please come back to me!" "You're the one who broke things off." "And I deeply regret it!"
A bolt of lightning slashed through the rainy night, illuminating a woman huddled against a stone pillar in the courtyard.
Brayden Davis paused briefly, his gaze indifferent as he stepped over her.
"Brayden, please, you're my brother," a soft familiar voice pleaded, the woman's fingers tugging at his pant leg.
He glanced down at her, his expression cold. "Kayley, I've told you, Roselyn is my only sister. You don't belong here."
Kayley Spencer's heart sank, but she couldn't refute his words.
She was a burden, an unwanted stepsister. She'd lost her place within the Davis family when her mother died.
Besides, Brayden had never acknowledged their familial bond.
"I'm so sorry. I just... I need help," she stammered, her voice trembling.
Brayden didn't respond. Through a flash of lightning, he saw her pale, fragile face clearly. Despite her pitiful appearance, she still looked undeniably beautiful... just as he remembered.
As he silently gazed down at her, Kayley tentatively withdrew her hand. "I..."
He had made his stance clear. She would have to pick up what remained of her dignity and face this alone.
With a forced smile, she pushed herself up, ignoring the pain in her ankle. "Sorry to bother you, Mr. Davis. I'll leave now..."
Before she could finish, he scooped her up and carried her into the villa.
He pushed his bedroom door open and tossed her onto the bed, his hands accidentally brushing against her injured ankle.
Kayley winced, instinctively grabbing his suit, but stifled a cry.
Brayden's eyes flashed. He cruelly squeezed her ankle.
She yelped. Tears streamed down her face as she begged, "Please stop, it hurts!"
Brayden withdrew his hand and stood up, looking down at her.
Kayley had thought her pitiful state might evoke his sympathy, but all she got was a mocking laugh. "How pathetic. After leaving the Davis family, you actually ended up like this."
Kayley clearly heard the taunts in his words but chose to ignore them. She braced herself and asked for his help, choking. "I can't dance anymore. My leg was broken. The injury healed but the nerves are still damaged. The doctor said it can't fully heal."
Tears flowed freely as she vented her shattered dreams. "Dancing is all I have left. It's the only way I can relive memories with my mother. Please, you're the best surgeon in the country. I believe you can cure me. Please..."
Brayden remained expressionless after hearing her pleas. He then sneered and asked, "What's that got to do with me? Go to Aaron Harding."
Kayley's eyes widened. How could Brayden possibly know about Aaron?
Had he been keeping an eye on her even after she left the Davis family?
Confusion filled her as she glanced at Brayden. When he offered no explanation, she awkwardly admitted, "We broke up. Aaron cheated on me with some rich woman."
He was behind her injury too, but revealing that would only invite more ridicule.
"Oh." Brayden's enigmatic smile held no clues. "I stopped doing surgeries three years ago to focus on the family business," he stated. "You should find someone else."
Feeling flustered, Kayley lunged forward, grasping his arm, pleading, "Brayden, please! You're the only one who can help me. I'll do anything."
His gaze swept over her hand on his arm, a sneer twisting his lips. "Trying to seduce me again, like three years ago, huh?"
His words were a dagger to her heart. She quickly pulled back, stammering an explanation. "No, I'm just..."
"Kayley, is that all you can do?" he interrupted, his eyes locking onto hers. A possessive intensity flared in his gaze, as if he wanted to consume her whole.
Shock washed over Kayley. Did he want her to continue?
But... she thought he despised her.
She had a lot of questions but no answers. There was only one way forward if she wanted to heal her leg. She stood on her tiptoes, her lips brushing his.
Brayden neither welcomed nor rejected her kiss. His Adam's apple bobbed as her moist lips awkwardly fumbled around his.
Seconds ticked by, and Kayley faltered, unsure of the next move. She pulled away, her voice tinged with despair as she asked, "Is this okay?"
"What do you think?" His tone was cold, mocking. "Your kissing hasn't improved one bit. No wonder Aaron left you."
Pain shot through Kayley. She bit her lip, determination hardening her resolve as her hand moved to his chest.
"Brayden, are you home?" a voice called from outside. It was Roselyn Davis, his sister.
Panic surged through Kayley as she tried to escape, but Brayden's grip held her fast, pinning her to the bed.
His hand cupped her chin as his lips descended forcefully, invading her mouth.
A hand slipped beneath her clothes, touching her with a possessive fury.
Kayley's entire body trembled as she struggled against his overpowering strength.
"Brayden, you're back, aren't you? I saw your car. Why didn't you even close the door?" Roselyn called again, her voice getting closer.
There was a brief knock on the door.
Terror seized Kayley's heart. She couldn't be seen by Roselyn - not like this.
Kayley grew increasingly terrified and struggled desperately, but the difference in strength was too great. She couldn't break free from under Brayden, only watching helplessly as the door handle turned.
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
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."
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?