James struggled to sit up, his body throbbing with pain. How much more of this can I take? Everywhere I turn, it's nothing but mockery and betrayal. For years, I've been nothing but a pawn in someone else's game. His mind drifted to his sister in the hospital, clinging to life because he couldn't afford better care. Maybe they're right. Maybe I am worthless.
James clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the floor. "You took every penny," he whispered, his voice laced with barely restrained anger. "That money was for my sister's medical bills, Helen."
Helen Shaw scoffed, folding her arms with a look of complete disdain. "That money was wasted on a useless fool like you. My son deserves a proper wedding, and you don't deserve to be part of this family. You're pathetic."
James swallowed hard, his mind spinning with the weight of her words. For three years, I've tried to make this work, to be what they expect, but no matter what I do, it's never enough. He fought the urge to retaliate, knowing it would only worsen things.
Pamela stood silently behind her mother, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "Mom... maybe he just... Maybe James needs a break."
"Pamela, don't defend him," Helen snapped, her voice icy. "He's failed you. Failed everyone. I've told him a hundred times to leave you. He's nothing but a leech."
James felt his chest tighten as he glanced at his wife. "Pamela, do you think that too?" he asked, almost pleading.
She looked away, saying nothing, and in that silence, James heard his answer.
"See?" Helen laughed, nudging Pamela. "Even your own wife can't defend you. Why don't you just give up already? Divorce her, leave, and stop embarrassing us."
Defeated, James turned to George Shaw, who had been observing in stony silence. "George... surely, you understand. My sister's hurt-she needs help."
George's indifferent gaze remained unchanged. "If you can't handle your family's problems, you shouldn't be part of ours."
A mix of anger and helplessness welled up within him, but he forced it down. Why am I even trying to reason with them? To them, I'm just a means to clear their debts-a tool they're done with. He turned on his heel and left the house, his heart heavy with bitterness.
Later, at the construction site, James approached his foreman, Ray Walters, who was chatting and laughing with a few other workers. As James cleared his throat, Ray gave him a sneer.
"Ah, look who it is-the husband of the mighty Shaw family princess," Ray mocked, crossing his arms. "What do you want, Carter?"
"I'm here for my wages, Ray. You've been holding them back for weeks now," James said, trying to keep his tone steady.
Ray chuckled. "Your wages, huh? You've been slacking lately, Carter. Hardly worth what I've been paying."
James's patience was running thin. "I've worked every hour you asked for. You owe me."
Ray's eyes narrowed, and he leaned in with a sneer. "Maybe you should put that wife of yours to good use, huh? Wouldn't take long to make what you're begging for here."
A surge of fury coursed through James, and before he could think, he grabbed Ray by the collar. "Don't you dare bring her into this," he growled.
In a heartbeat, Ray shoved him back, and within moments, the other workers piled on. James felt punches, kicks, and the impact of the ground as he was beaten down, his pride crushed alongside his body. When they finally left him lying there, Ray spat on the ground near him. "Next time, know your place."
James struggled to sit up, his body throbbing with pain. How much more of this can I take? Everywhere I turn, it's nothing but mockery and betrayal. For years, I've been nothing but a pawn in someone else's game. His mind drifted to his sister in the hospital, clinging to life because he couldn't afford better care.
Maybe they're right. Maybe I am worthless.
The thought lingered, growing heavier as he considered his options. His savings had been drained, his family held him in contempt, and he'd been stripped of every shred of dignity. For a brief moment, an unsettling thought crossed his mind-a way to end it all and leave something behind for his sister.
Hours later, as the sun began to set, James found himself wandering back to the construction site. The steel beams towered above him, stark and cold against the darkening sky. He stood on the edge, peering over, his heart racing.
If this is the only way to provide for her... he thought, swallowing hard.
But just as he steadied himself, the rumble of a car engine pulled him back to reality. A sleek black Rolls-Royce rolled to a stop nearby, and a sharply dressed man stepped out, looking straight at him.
"Mr. Carter?" the man addressed him with a slight bow.
James blinked in confusion, stepping away from the edge. "Who... Who are you?"
The man smiled, his demeanor calm but commanding. "I'm here on behalf of your father, David Smith. There's something I believe you should know."
James stared at the man, a sense of disbelief washing over him. My father? But he... His heart thudded with a mix of hope and apprehension as he stepped forward.
"Please," the man continued, gesturing to the car. "I think it's time you learned the truth."
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
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."
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Sequel to chasing my estranged wife; I want you back. ******** " You promised me!'' I screamed. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt me, you made the vows that you would stand beside me, Ryan, and what did you do? You broke me into smithereens. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. When I said we were done. I meant it!" Falling in love with him had come in a whirlwind, she couldn't account for how exactly it had happened but what she knew was that she didn't want to let go once she was in. For Ryan, when he made a vow, he had meant it, but nothing had told him about marriage, that it wasn't just a bed of roses, but it had thorns in it as well. When secrets piled up between them and vows broken, they had no choice but to let go of each other, but years later, he wanted her back. Like the air he breathed, he chased after her, but she was gone. Left with the remnants of his actions, he is torn between getting her back and damning all consequences or letting go of her and his children, which would it be?
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!