"I finally know my place, Your Majesty. And that is not in your arms." - Isabel Archer "You shall not leave my side, Isabel. You are bound to me, body and soul." - King Lucian Devereux ~ Isabel is a commoner who has become a maidservant at the palace. Despite her status, the king, Lucian Devereux, falls in love with her, and she becomes his secret lover. But as their relationship flourishes, a rumor begins to spread that the king will marry a princess from another kingdom. As Isabel confronts Lucian directly, he confirms the gossip. She pleads with him not to marry the princess, but he rejects her plea, explaining that the marriage is for the kingdom's benefit. Heartbroken, Isabel who was only a mere servant, watches the man she loves marry another woman. When the new queen becomes pregnant with the king's child, the pain becomes unbearable. Isabel decides to leave the palace for good, hoping to forget the pain. But can she truly escape the grasp of the powerful and possessive king who notices her absence and begins to search for her?
Chapter 1: Dear Mother
The kingdom of Montebello awoke under a sky streaked with the hues of dawn. The golden light spilled into the busy slums where Isabel lived. As she completed her daily household chores, the warm morning sun touched her pale skin and her icy blue eyes sparkled with every splash of water as she stomped on the fabrics soaking in the wooden basin.
Despite her humble beginnings, Isabel embraced her life with gratitude, which was a fruition to the lessons her mother had imparted. Although Isabel was uneducated, she was wise enough to find joy in the simple things and never grumbled about their status in society's hierarchy. Her appreciation for her mother's sacrifices was boundless that she often expressed it in songs of love and gratitude during times of scarcity.
Her father was a subject shrouded in silence. A past her mother never spoke of, and Isabel never pressed. She understood enough to harbor a deep, personal hatred for the pain her existence had caused her mother. Yet, in her mother's eyes, there was no hint of resentment but only endless love and devotion for her daughter.
"Isabel, dear?" Teressa's sweet voice broke through her thoughts, bringing a smile to her face.
"Yes, Mother?" Isabel responded, looking up from her task.
Teressa approached, holding a bundle of blankets. "I thought you were almost done. I need these washed as well. Winter is coming."
Isabel nodded as her hands immediately moved efficiently. "I shall take care of it forthwith. Are you heading to work now?"
"Yes, dear. The pub shall be busy today," Teressa replied.
"Indeed? Is there a celebration of which I am unaware?" Isabel asked as her curiosity piqued.
Teressa chuckled, patting her daughter's shoulder. "One of the soldiers who frequents the pub is to be wed. The men are celebrating."
"That is wonderful news," Isabel said with a smile, kneeling to pick up a clothespin.
Teressa watched her daughter fondly. "One day, when you marry, your ceremony will be grander than all."
Caught off guard, Isabel stumbled, earning a laugh from her mother. "Mother, please. I do not wish to marry. I desire only to remain by your side."
"Goodness, Isabel. Life is lonely without a family of your own. You are my gift, the reason I rise no matter how many times I fall. Do the same when you are a mother," Teressa said, her voice filled with affection.
Isabel nodded although her heart resisted the idea. All she desired was a peaceful life with her mother, to give her the happiness she deserved, even if it meant sacrificing her own.
"Nevertheless, it is your life to decide," Teressa added playfully. "Though I do need someone to boss around."
"Mother!" Isabel retorted with a laugh.
"I shall be off then. Take care," Teressa said, kissing her daughter's forehead before leaving.
Isabel watched her mother go and took a deep breath before returning to her chores. The courtyard where she worked was alive with the sounds of the slums-children playing, vendors shouting, carts clattering on cobblestone streets.
By mid-day, Isabel had finished the laundry and moved on to other tasks. She swept their small living space, tidied up the sparse furniture, and prepared a simple meal for her mother's return. As she mended a tear in one of Teressa's old dresses, a knock at the door startled her.
She immediately stood up and opened the door to find Mrs. Hawthorne, their kind elderly neighbor, holding a loaf of fresh bread.
"Good afternoon, Isabel," Mrs. Hawthorne greeted warmly. "I baked too much this morning and thought you might like some."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hawthorne," Isabel replied gratefully, inviting her in.
As Mrs. Hawthorne stepped inside, she glanced around the tidy room. "You have been busy. How fares your mother?"
"She is at work, putting in extra hours," Isabel explained, setting the bread on the table.
Mrs. Hawthorne nodded with understanding in her eyes. "Your mother is a strong woman. And you, Isabel, are growing into a capable young lady."
Isabel blushed at the compliment. "I do what I can."
The afternoon wore on with Isabel and Mrs. Hawthorne conversing through various topics, from the latest news in the kingdom to tips on managing a household. The elderly woman's presence was comforting which reminded Isabel that even in the midst of hardship, there were still moments of kindness and community.
Eventually, Mrs. Hawthorne took her leave, and Isabel returned to her mending. The rhythm of the needle and thread was soothing and it allowed her mind to drift. She thought about her mother's words earlier that day. The notion of marriage was foreign to her desires, yet the conviction in her mother's voice made her wonder if there was more to life than the simple existence she cherished.
As the sun began its descent and casted long shadows across the courtyard, Isabel rose to prepare for her mother's return to ensure the small meal she had prepared was ready.
Just then, the door creaked open and Teressa stepped inside with her face weary but lit with a smile at the sight of her daughter.
"Welcome home, Mother," Isabel greeted warmly, taking her mother's cloak and hanging it by the door.
"Thank you, dear. The pub was indeed busy today," Teressa said, sinking into a chair with a sigh of relief.
"I have prepared a meal for us," Isabel announced, bringing the simple fare to the table. The two ate together and shared stories of their day.
As they finished their meal and made sure nothing was left on their plates, Isabel hesitated before speaking. "Mother, you spoke of marriage this morning. Do you truly wish for me to marry?"
Teressa looked at her daughter thoughtfully. "Isabel, I wish for you to have a life full of love and companionship. Marriage is one path to that. However, what I desire most is your happiness. If remaining by my side brings you joy, then that is enough for me."
Isabel nodded as her heart swelled with affection. "Your happiness is my greatest concern, Mother. I will think on your words."
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
"I'm a man and I want a child. If you can't give me that, then shut your mouth and just let me be." -Zachary Salazar "I need an heir, so if you're carrying my child, of course I'll take responsibility. But only if..." - Maximilian Klein ~ Evangeline who was diagnosed with infertility after marrying Zachary Salazar, discovers her husband's infidelity with her best friend, and is now expecting. And when she finally filed for divorce, it did not go as planned. Her husband refuses to let her go. But her problem does not end there as she ends up pregnant from a one night stand, and later on she discovers, that even her own brother was frightfully obsessed with her. How will she deal will all this chaos lurking in her life?
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
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!"
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."
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
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."