Nicholas and Alison encountered each other for the first time in the intimacy of a bedroom, oblivious to the fact that she was his spouse, a woman he had been married to for two years yet had never laid eyes on. After he was back in his homeland, the powerful magnate Nicholas found himself intrigued by Alison, a lawyer celebrated for her striking appearance and sharp intellect. Faced with Nicholas' advances, Alison responded with composure, "Mr. Bowman, I am already married." Following their separation, Alison offhandedly brought up her former husband. "His name was Nicholas Bowman."
Inside an opulent hotel suite, Alison Conley gasped for breath, her head falling back as she clung to the man before her. Her fingers, trembling with passion, left trails of red on his back.
Then, like a wave retreating to the sea, exhaustion claimed her, and she slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
It was the sound of running water that stirred Alison from the depths of slumber. Her eyes fluttered open, memories from the previous night flooding back in disjointed fragments.
She had been drugged-that much she remembered-and then there was the man, a shadowy figure with a strikingly handsome face that seemed oddly familiar, though she couldn't quite place where she'd seen him before.
Just then, the water shut off, and the bathroom door creaked open. A tall man stepped out, his presence commanding the room.
A towel hung loosely around his waist, and droplets of water clung to his tousled hair, tracing a slow, tantalizing path down his sculpted abs before disappearing into the grooves of his V-line, each drop amplifying the magnetic allure he exuded.
Alison struggled to prop herself up, her body aching in protest. Her gaze locked onto his face, and shock slammed into her like a tidal wave.
How could it be him?
This wasn't just any man-it was her husband, Nicholas Bowman. The very same man who had moved abroad since the beginning of their marriage.
She instinctively recoiled, her voice barely a whisper as she stammered, "Last night, did we...?"
Nicholas approached, his footsteps slow and deliberate, eyes sharp as they bore down into hers. "How much do you want?"
The words cut through the air like a blade, leaving Alison stunned.
Even though she recognized Nicholas, it was clear he had no idea who she was.
A bitter laugh bubbled up inside her.
Alison had married Nicholas in her stepsister's place, filling in for Lindsay Powell.
Back then, when Nicholas' grandfather, Geoffrey Bowman, was on his deathbed, he was desperate to see his grandson married.
While it was Geoffrey's insistence had forced the union, Nicholas himself had loathed the idea of a wife being thrust upon him. He even sent his assistant, Joshua Fletcher, to handle the marriage registration, avoiding Alison throughout the whole process.
As soon as the marriage became official, Nicholas left for a business venture abroad, leaving Alison with nothing but a promise-that they would get a divorce after two years.
Two years had passed. Alison had caught wind that Nicholas had returned from abroad, but never expected their first encounter would be in bed.
"Keep your mouth shut, take the check, and leave." Nicholas' cold, detached gaze slid over Alison as he reached into the bedside drawer. He pulled out a check, flicking it onto the sheets in front of her as if he were swatting away an annoying fly.
A check to dismiss her? Alison fumed. Who did this jerk think he was insulting?
She had caught glimpses of Nicholas on TV over the years, always untouchable, like a noble who considered the world's concerns beneath him. His expression was a mask of unshakeable indifference, no matter the situation.
After Nicholas had left right after their hasty marriage, Alison had become the town's laughingstock.
That humiliation had burned deep, stoking a fire in her that she refused to let die. And now, as she looked at the man before her, a reckless idea took hold. She wanted to shatter his facade and watch him crumble in embarrassment.
With a defiant glint in her eye, she threw off the covers and reached for a robe. The silk fabric draped over her as she moved with purpose, snatching up the check and tearing it in half with a dramatic flourish. She let the pieces flutter into the trash like discarded confetti.
Nicholas' eyes darkened, a dangerous glint taking over his features.
His lips curled into a mocking smile, though his voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "What? Not enough for you?"
Alison's laughter bubbled up, sharp and mocking. "What happened last night was just a little fun between consenting adults. I don't need your hush money."
She paused, letting her smile turn wickedly seductive. "What's the matter, sir? Can't handle the heat?"
Nicholas' gaze turned icy, his jaw tightening as a flicker of anger danced behind his eyes.
He was known for his ruthlessness and his ability to crush anyone who dared to cross him.
The thought sent a shiver down Alison's spine, but a sense of newfound boldness surged within her. She stepped closer, poking his chest with her finger, her voice dripping with mockery. "Honestly, I was quite satisfied with your performance last night. How about we make it a regular thing? Name your price."
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.”
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?
“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?”
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.