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."
In the evening, heavy rain poured over Owathe as Belinda Wright made her way to Dream Club, soaked through but somehow keeping the cake she held untouched by the downpour.
Upon reaching the private room's entrance, Belinda nudged the door open.
"Verena, throughout the three years you vanished, not once did Lucas cease his search for you. And now, you are finally back!"
Hearing that from inside the room, Belinda froze mid-step.
Verena?
The same Verena Reed who used to be Lucas Clark's girlfriend?
"But hasn't Lucas already gotten married?" queried a soft female voice.
"Ah, Verena, there's no need to concern yourself with that woman Lucas married. Lucas was coerced into that marriage by his father, who threatened to kill you if Lucas didn't get married. Lucas married that woman only to protect you."
"Really?" Verena's doubt was evident.
"Absolutely! Why else would Lucas choose someone like Belinda? She is so unappealing and overweight. Besides, she is an illegitimate daughter. Marrying her was Lucas's attempt to annoy his father, to get back at him!"
Outside the private room, Belinda felt cold; her complexion drained of color.
Recalling the night when Lucas had proposed, she remembered her heart had soared. She had been blissfully unaware of the harsh truth. She had believed herself incredibly fortunate, not realizing she was merely a pawn in a revenge plot. It turned out Lucas had only married her because she was ugly and fat.
Belinda couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, her body wavering slightly.
She clenched the door handle to steady herself.
"Speaking of Belinda, it has been five hours since she left; it's doubtful she will ever show up. Delight Desserts is way out in the eastern suburbs, and just getting there and back takes more than three hours. Besides, that place is notorious for its long queues. Surely, Belinda isn't foolish enough to go there."
"If Lucas requested it, Belinda would go there even if Delight Desserts were in another city. Everyone knows how deeply she loves Lucas. She is so pathetic."
Upon absorbing these scornful remarks, Belinda inhaled deeply, put on a stoic expression, and thrust the door to the private room open, making her entrance.
Her gaze quickly settled on the figure of confidence and charm at the center of the room.
Lucas was sitting there on the sofa with his legs elegantly crossed, embodying a casual yet graceful air.
His visage was stunningly attractive, with every feature exquisitely sculpted.
This man was Belinda's husband, the esteemed leader of the Triumph Consortium.
A hush descended upon the room momentarily when everyone saw Belinda enter.
Shortly thereafter, a voice laced with mockery pierced the silence. "Verena, ever wonder what Lucas' wife looks like? Take a look at her now."
At that moment, Belinda's appearance was disheveled. Rain-soaked clothes clung to her, accentuating her large frame. Strands of hair plastered to her damp face highlighted a noticeable dark mark on her left cheek.
Ignoring the disdainful eyes upon her, Belinda approached Lucas, setting the cake on the coffee table with a strained smile. "Lucas, I've brought the mousse cake you requested."
Without even glancing at Belinda, Lucas slid the cake towards Verena, saying in a charming voice, "Here, you can have it now."
Verena responded with a bashful smile, "I just mentioned it casually. I did not expect you would actually ask her to buy it."
A jolt of realization struck Belinda, her eyes widening in shock.
She felt like her heart had been stabbed by a knife.
The cake she had spent nearly five hours to get... It was meant for Verena?
"Verena, you see how deeply Lucas cares about you now, don't you? He would fetch the moon for you if you desired it."
"That's right! Go ahead and eat the cake. After all, Belinda just spent five hours to get this. Don't let her efforts go to waste!"
At that, Belinda's fists tightened at her sides. She felt like the biggest fool in the world now.
Just then, Lucas rose and strode towards Belinda, meeting her gaze with an expressionless face.
In a cold voice, he said, "The divorce papers are on the coffee table at home. Sign them when you go back."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
“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?”
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.