My mom found me a dad who is three years younger at the senior college. What I mean is, he is three years younger than me.
"Come on, Aiden, sit down. This is my daughter, Sarah," my mom said cheerfully, gesturing for us to sit.
It was her 45th birthday, and she was dressed for the occasion-a red dress with matching crimson lipstick and an overly pale foundation that gave her the appearance of wearing a mask.
They said love would make people glow, and my mom was no exception.
I sat across from them with a blank expression, arms crossed, and sized up Aiden Davis, who was three years younger than me.
According to my mom, they had met at a community college for seniors, where Aiden was volunteering. A few friendly exchanges led to exchanging contacts, and the rest was history.
Aiden was slim and simply dressed in a plain white shirt, exuding an air of quiet intellect. With his sharp features and bright eyes, he looked like someone who might belong in a historical drama, perhaps as a young professor or an aspiring writer.
However, he was actually a con artist.
"Still in college, aren't you? Must be nice to live off someone else. Landing my mom couldn't have been easy, huh?"
My tone was sharp, dripping with undisguised sarcasm.
Men like him were so clever-they knew all it took was a silver tongue to manipulate gullible women like my mom into opening their wallets.
Aiden's eyes widened in surprise at my bluntness, glancing awkwardly at my mom for support.
The smile on her face froze for a second.
But I wasn't about to let them off the hook. "So, I heard on the way here that you've been spending a lot of time with a younger guy. Didn't think it was true, but it looks like you've proven me wrong."
I turned to Aiden. "What's your major? What year are you in?" I tilted my chin, studying him with open disdain, not caring about the stares from other tables.
It didn't matter. If anyone should feel embarrassed, it wasn't me.
My mom's smile finally disappeared. She straightened her dress, glanced at Aiden, and spoke up. "He's a sophomore, majoring in landscape architecture."
I casually picked up my glass and downed the wine in one gulp.
Between the two of them, I couldn't decide who disgusted me more.
About halfway through the meal, Aiden got up and excused himself to use the restroom.
I put down my fork and quickly followed him, cornering him near the sink.
Before Aiden, my mom had dated three other men. One ran off with her savings. Another freeloaded at our house for over six months and even made inappropriate advances toward me.
After my mom found out about the latter, she kicked him out so fast he didn't even have time to grab his toothbrush.
For three years, she stayed single, and I thought she'd given up. But no-when she finally started dating again, she didn't just aim higher; she aimed younger.
"So, how does it feel to date a middle-aged woman?"
I leaned casually against the door, blocking his exit, my eyes scanning him with interest.
Aiden finished washing his hands and responded calmly, "If we don't go back soon, Paulina might get worried."
But I wasn't planning to leave just yet.
A sly smile spread across my face as I leaned against the doorframe. Slowly, I tugged my collar down to reveal my shoulder, letting my fingers trace circles on his chest. "Let's be honest, you're only with my mom for the money. Why not switch to me? I'll pay you more. What do you think?"
Here I was, on my mother's birthday, openly seducing her boyfriend. And I didn't feel even a hint of shame.
Under the bright restroom lights, Aiden's cheeks turned visibly red.
"Seriously, think about it," I teased. "How much does she give you? Two thousand a month? Three? Whatever it is, I'll double it. Deal?"
Aiden grabbed my hand, his face flushed, his voice trembling with tension. "Miss Hayes, please move aside. I need to leave."
"And if I don't?"
I leaned in closer, so close I could hear his heartbeat. "What do you think will happen if my mom comes looking for us and finds me like this-leaning into you? What will she think? Have you thought about how you'll explain yourself to your sugar mommy? Don't worry, though. Even if she dumps you, I can take you in. Sound good?"
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket desperately. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid." "Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite. But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!" ************************************ Caught by her husband with another man on their matrimonial bed the morning after her birthday, Hailey Codza could not defend herself. As though it's not enough, she gets pregnant. Her enraged husband decides to pay her back for her infidelity by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend - Denise Kellers, the family Hailey never knew she had. Losing her family's wealth and company to her husband and his ex (now girlfriend), she is devastated, homeless and penniless as all her credit cards are blocked by her husband. She sees the man who is responsible for her pregnancy. The man she has no idea how he'd found his way to her matrimonial bed - Jared Johnson. Jared is annoyed when this strange woman disrupts his meeting and accuses him of ruining her life, marriage and impregnating her. It affects his business deals and having no choice, he marries her to calm the public whilst engaged to someone else. But he loathes her and allows his family treats her badly. Hailey who has fallen in love with Jared is broken when she can no longer take the humiliation. She signs the divorce papers and leaves, only to arrive six years later to the country as a self-made, secret billionaire and a mother of twins. Now her two ex-husbands are begging to have her back...
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
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.
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?