Hugo knelt in front of me again, his fingers tracing a path along my jaw. "You're a beautiful little thing," he said, his tone mockingly soft. "Maybe I'll keep you as a pet and prisoner after I dump Dario's body in the street." I glared at him, my voice steady and defiant. "I'm already Dario's prisoner, Hugo. And I only serve one master, and that's Dario. I'd rather die than serve an old man with a rusty pipe between his legs." The words barely left my mouth before his hand struck my face, the force of the blow knocking me onto my side. Pain exploded in my cheek, blood dripping from my nose and lips. Hugo loomed over me, his face twisted with rage. "Careful, girl," he hissed. "That rusty pipe will fuck you right in front of your lover before I kill him. That'll be the last thing he sees before he rots in hell." I stared up at him, hatred burning in my eyes. I would rather die than let this man in between my legs. Dario would come. He had to.
Katy's wedding was just a week away, and her excitement was palpable. Every little detail had been meticulously planned but today felt special. Today was the day she'd see herself in the dress. As the Bentley came to a smooth stop in front of the designer boutique, Katy and her best friend Mia hopped out, barely able to contain their giddiness.
"Can you believe it? This time next week, I'll be walking down the aisle!" Katy beamed, her voice brimming with joy.
Mia nudged her playfully. "I know! But first, we need to make sure you're walking down in the perfect dress."
They entered the boutique, their eyes widening at the sheer grandeur of the space. Racks of exquisite gowns sparkled under soft, flattering lighting. It was a dream come true for Katy, and she couldn't help but let out a small gasp.
"This place is incredible," Mia whispered, her tone reverent.
Before they could take it all in, a poised woman with a polished smile approached them. "Welcome to All Woman Fashion Store. I'm Joyce, the manager, and this is Grace, one of our attendants," she said warmly, gesturing to the young woman at her side.
"Hi, Joyce! I'm Katy, and this is my best friend, Mia," Katy introduced, her excitement evident.
Joyce's eyes sparkled with recognition. "Ah, the bride herself! We've been expecting you. Let's get started, shall we?" She gestured toward an elegant fitting area.
Katy nodded eagerly. "I can't wait!"
Grace led them into the wedding gown section, where several dresses Katy had selected online were displayed. The sight of the pristine white gowns made her heart flutter.
"These are the ones you picked out," Grace said, smiling. "But feel free to browse for others if you'd like. And don't worry, your maid of honor can try on her dress once you're done." She winked at Mia, who grinned back.
Katy's laughter filled the room. "Let's do this!"
She slipped into the first dress, a beautiful A-line gown with lace detailing. As she stepped out, she turned to Mia, her heart pounding in anticipation. But Mia's lukewarm expression was impossible to miss.
"It's... nice," Mia said hesitantly.
Katy's shoulders slumped. "Just nice?"
Mia tilted her head, searching for the right words. "It's pretty, but it doesn't scream you. Let's try another."
Disappointed but determined, Katy went back to the fitting room. The next gown was stunning but too extravagant. The third was elegant but didn't feel special. By the fourth dress, Katy's excitement had dimmed slightly.
Still, her mind was buoyed by thoughts of Tom. In just a few days, she would marry the man she adored. Their whirlwind romance had taken her by surprise. After only eight months of dating, Tom had proposed with a dazzling ring, his love for her undeniable. Despite their differences-Tom's background was steeped in wealth and privilege, while Katy had built her success as a skincare therapist and entrepreneur-their bond had been instantaneous.
Tom had been a rock throughout the wedding planning process, going out of his way to ensure Katy had everything she needed. His family, too, had been wonderfully supportive, something Katy deeply appreciated.
Lost in thought, Katy barely noticed Grace knocking on the door. "Ready for the next one?"
"Coming!" Katy replied, shaking off her reverie.
When she stepped out in the fifth dress, the room fell silent. Mia and Joyce both froze, their eyes wide as they took her in.
"What?" Katy asked nervously.
Mia's eyes shimmered with tears. "Katy, you look... perfect."
Joyce nodded, her voice soft. "This is it. This is the one."
Mia walked up to Katy and gently guided her to the mirror. Katy gasped as she caught her reflection. The dress hugged her figure perfectly, its delicate lace and subtle sparkle giving her an ethereal glow. Her hands flew to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.
"You look like a dream," Mia whispered, her voice cracking.
Katy turned to her friend and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you for being here," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
They laughed through their tears, Katy joking, "If I cry this much now, I'll be a mess on the actual day!"
Joyce stepped forward to adjust Katy's veil. "You've found your dress, Katy. It's absolutely stunning."
The rest of the fitting passed in a blur of laughter and excitement. Mia tried on a sleek, emerald-green gown that complemented her figure perfectly, and the two friends reveled in the joy of the moment.
By the time they left the boutique, the sun was setting. Katy's phone buzzed in her pocket, and her face lit up when she saw Tom's name.
"Hey, Tom!" she answered, her voice bright.
But her smile faded almost immediately. "Wait, what's wrong?" she asked, her tone shifting to concern.
Mia leaned closer, sensing something was off.
"Okay, I'll be there soon," Katy said before hanging up.
She turned to Mia, her expression tense. "Tom needs me. It's urgent."
Mia frowned. "Do you want me to come with you?"
Katy shook her head. "No, I'll handle it. But I'll call you as soon as I know what's going on."
The driver took a sharp turn, heading toward Blue Nile, a quiet, upscale part of town. Katy's heart raced as she stared out the window, her mind running wild with possibilities. Was something wrong with the wedding plans? Had something happened to Tom's family?
When the car pulled up to the designated spot, Katy stepped out, forcing herself to stay calm. She reassured Mia one last time before watching the car disappear down the road.
Taking a deep breath, she turned toward the store ahead, but before she could take a step, she froze.
Tom was standing there, waiting for her, his face unreadable.
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
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."
“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?”
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?