'Oh God pretty please! This looks too good to be true.' Mia thought as she pushed her lips forward with her eyes closed to be kissed. Rey's breath got labored, he had to fight against getting a hard-on just looking at her this way. 'What is she doing to me?' He saw the way her eyes closed in earnest, trying to get a kiss from him. He almost gave in but held himself back at the last minute, what was wrong with him!? This is against the contract; she said it herself, 'no strings attached.' This, this whole thing was breaching the contract. "What do you think you are doing?" Rey chuckled loudly making Mia's eyes open abruptly. "What." She looked at his mocking gaze and felt the air being squeezed out of her lungs. "Do you have what it takes to kiss me?" The question rang over and again in her head, and her eyes blurred with tears. Looking down to avoid him seeing her hurt which he already noticed by the way, she shook her head in response. "You must be delusional." Rey avoided looking at Mia after seeing the initial hurt in her eyes. He knew his words were hurtful, but he had to say them to cut any unnecessary bond between them; this was purely a business transaction and nothing else. 'Delusional' repeated itself in Mia's head and whatever romantic thought she had about him died instantly. "What was it you wanted to do? Kiss me even when I pay you. ****** Mia who had sat down on the pile of her clothes with her now dried body, looked about distraught. "I shouldn't have allowed him anywhere close to me." Her eyes were reddened, and her lips pouted as she was about to cry. In such an intense moment, she forgot there were to be no strings attached, and everything was to be transactional. Holding onto the pain and embarrassment of the night, she vowed never to allow herself to fall too cheap for his deliberate deception. ******* "Reynaldo Davies, the first and only son of The Davies, finds himself in a constricted situation of choosing a wife, a command made clear by his Father, Mr Davies, on turning sixty, otherwise, young Davies would forfeit his inheritance to his younger sister. He makes a business proposal with Mia, his cook, who has no expectation of any kind, coming from the fling Reynaldo. In desperation, she agrees but only on the condition that certain lines are drawn and rules are kept. All is fair and clear until Celine, Reynaldo's high school friend, comes into the picture. His mother had arranged an engagement for them against Reynaldo's persistence in dating his cook, "acting as his girlfriend". Would this act bloom into something beautiful? What would be the fate of Mia? Would Celine succeed in her quest for love? Will he gain his inheritance?
The electronic door hummed from the porch, followed by the sound of thick footsteps of loafers, thudding against the marble floor. It was Reynaldo. Mr. Davies had invited him over for dinner, but he had arrived earlier than expected.
"Rey, is that you?" His mum's voice echoed warmly from the top floor.
"Hey, Mum!" Reynaldo responded, tilting his head to see his mum's figure descending the stairs.
"Come on in, son." She smiled, heading towards the large brown dining table. He joined her, following suit. They were seated when the cook began serving dinner, neatly arranged for a table of four. Sabrina soon joined them, coming
down the stairs.
"Good evening, family." She said.
"Good evening, Sabrina. How are you doing today?" Her mum asked.
"I'm good, Mom. Hmm... dinner looks so yummy!" Sabrina exclaimed, breathing in the savory aroma.
"How have you been, bro?" She asked, looking at Reynaldo, whose eyes were fixed on the meal in front of him. Although Rey and Sabrina were siblings, two years apart, they rarely spoke. They spent most of their time apart, from high school
to college days, attending different schools.
"I'm good, Sis," Rey responded, digging into his appetizer.
They all ate silently and slowly, with just the sound of their cutlery clinking, breaking the silence until they were full.
Sabrina was the first to leave the dining table. She received a call about a package she had ordered yesterday.
"Okay, I'll be on my way! Yes... yes." She said this into the phone, pushing her seat back and signaling to her parents with one finger.
"I'll be right back!" She whispered before leaving.
Mrs. Davies was the next to leave.
"I have to go take a warm bath." She said, smiling. The comfort of her Jacuzzi was the one thing she looked forward to at the end of each day. She left, calling the cook to clear the dishes.
Soon enough, Rey realized he was left alone with his Dad at the table. His father was staring at him intensely, and he knew there had to be more to it. Rey dropped the phone into the pocket of his blue jeans and waited.
He knew there was something behind the dinner invitation, it was unusual.
"Reynaldo, son." He called.
"Yes, Mr. Davies," Rey responded.
"How have you been, son?"
"I have been well, Mr. Da..."
"I'd prefer Dad if you don't mind." Mr. Davies interrupted.
"Okay, Dad." Rey answered, with a hint of sarcasm.
Mr. Davies sighed and continued, "You know, I invited you over for a reason, of which I'm very much certain you do not care to know, but I will say it anyway. I'm turning sixty soon. I'm growing old and so are you. Time waits for
no one, son. I'm growing too old to manage business projects, and I need to rest. I have built this fortune for you. You and I both understand that."
"I need to hand over the company to able hands - hands that would be able to handle the value I have placed in time and hard work. I know you have been doing pretty well, son, but there's more to life than just making money. You need a partner through the ups and downs of life, you know." Mr. Davies paused, watching Reynaldo's stern expression.
"Reynaldo, you're my first son. You are my successor and heir. And to be honest, I can see
you did a good job working yourself into a better man. I'd commend you for that. But I want just one thing from you before my sixtieth birthday in a few months."
Rey knew where this was heading, and he absolutely hated it when his father brought
up the topic of marriage. It made him distant from his father. It angered him
and boiled his patience away.
"I want you to get married," Mr. Davies said. "You can only take over the company and its assets if you find yourself an eligible bride before then." He finished, letting his words delve into the tension filling the room.
"What?" Rey's voice thundered.
His nostrils flared as he fumed; his eyes darkened, holding his father's gaze, unblinkingly. He clenched his jaws and gnashed his teeth.
"Is this some kind of blackmail? And why do you think you can decide that for my life? What makes you think, Mr Davies, that you can dictate the terms on which I should live?"
"And right now, I think you should mind the manner of your speech, Reynaldo Davies!" Mr Davies's voice grew annoyed and his eyes grew cold.
"Oh please drop that childish longing from the past! I know you loved Vanessa but that doesn't mean you'd remain a bachelor. I need a generation that can carry on my legacy." He continued.
"Did you just call it childish?" Rey asked, his eyes narrowing.
"What else is it called when you can't simply move on from a relationship that ended seven years ago?" Mr. Davies's words cut deeply. They were like acid, burning down Rey's throat.
Mrs. Davies, who had been listening from afar, was teary-eyed but refused to intervene.
"Father, There is no need to bug me like this. Besides, I'm not even thirty-five yet. Your threats won't change my feelings about women. Except for mum, all they care about is money and that is exactly what Vanessa did. So, you won't determine or teach me how to live my life, Mr. Davies!" Rey retorted.
"If that is what you want, then, so be it." He paused searchingly.
"But be ready to watch your sister become the next successor."
Rey felt a chill run down his spine at the ultimatum. He looked away fighting the urge to lash out further.
"This isn't fair." He muttered under his breath.
"Life isn't fair, Rey," Mr. Davies replied his voice a little softer now. "But it is the reality we all must face."
Rey's breath labored with the urge to hit something. In a swift movement, he bumped
his fist into the mirror beside the dining table; Its pieces splattering, sinking into the skin of his tight fist.
"Rey!" Mr. Davies shook in horror and just
then, the doorbell rang interrupting them. Who could it have been?
"Just do it. Please." I begged, I was desperate and I needed to get my release. "You'll get punished for this Valentina." He held me in a way that I could not turn to face him, his voice was dark. "Then just punish me now, I don't mind and I won't regret it tomorrow." I pleaded but I only heard him sigh. "I didn't want to do this." He said in a low voice...
Carla's ordinary and manageable life began to fall apart after she got assigned to investigate the missing case of a hiker in the dark wood Forest. She clashes with Rhys, a mysterious man from the forest fitting into all descriptions from the reports but is in another surprise when things spiral out of her control. Suddenly, Damien Graves, the man who had abandoned her after their one night stand years ago is the CEO and wants to have absolute control over her life, she happens to unlock an ancient being from the past only to find out she has a history with the forest. She's mind blown when it turns out that these three brothers – Damian, Rhys and Caldwell died fighting to have her. Again, she is torn between the three of them. Would fate repeat itself?
The known illegitimate son of the Owens finally has a crush on a lady, putting off all the rumors about his sexuality. His father happily allows him to meet his love interest despite the past between both families. Grace Williams, whose ambition is to belong to the high-class family, only accepts to be engaged to the illegitimate son, using him as a ladder to achieve her goal by sleeping with the legitimate son, her fiancée's bother, and making sure she gets pregnant for him. Now, she is pregnant, and at the right time, when the will has to be read out and properties shared between the two sons of the Owen, table turns, and it turns out her fiancé is a legitimate son and the head of the family. She is in disarray and plans to pin the pregnancy on her fiancé by plotting to sleep with him for the first time in two years. She is in the dark about his own secrets too as she is desperate to get a share of his riches and respect that comes with being the wife to the family head.
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."
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
"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.
She thought he was the villain. He was only trying to save his soul. Rena lives in a world of sunshine, sweets, and simple dreams. Until one reckless decision drops her into a dark realm of secrets, curses and werewolves. Kidnapped, heartbroken. She doesn't know who to trust anymore especially not Logan, the arrogant, cruel Alpha who's keeping her as a hostage. Until she discovers his dark secret. He's been hearing her thoughts all along. Now the walls between them are crumbling. And when feelings grow where hatred once lived, a curse demands that blood becomes a love that demands sacrifice. But how can she give her heart to the one who might need it to die?