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Ava thought her life couldn't get worse after being sold into marriage to save her family-until her fiancé faked his death, leaving her trapped in a marriage with his father. Now, she's forced into a marriage with the same man who betrayed her, the infuriatingly handsome Orion, who wants nothing to do with her... or so he claims. But danger is never far. Orion's vengeful mistress, Chloe, is determined to ruin Ava's life, while the charming and mysterious Mason offers her an escape-but at what cost? As shocking truths unravel and Chloe shows up pregnant for Orion, Ava must navigate a deadly game of love, lies, and betrayal. Will Ava flee for her freedom and life, or will the lies and betrayal surrounding Orion destroy her once and for all? Can Orion reclaim his bride?
"In the name of God the father, the son and the holy spirit, amen," the priest prayed.
It all sounded like a whispered echo to Ava.
Ava's world just turned darker. Not once has she ever seen the world as a beautiful place since her mother died.
Her father became addicted to gambling, drinking and whoring around, abandoning Ava and her younger sister Holly. That was how he sold off their properties and sold her off as well.
At least she was sold off to a billionaire, although he's considered a monster among everyone in town. Ava didn't care, as long as her sister would receive the best treatment for her leukemia.
Nothing prepared her to be wearing black on her wedding day. Nothing prepared her to be standing by the graveside.
She watched as people ran for shade as heavy rain began to pour. But why would she run from rain? Her life is already flooded.
Ava stood still as the water cascaded all over her body. Her dress plastered to her body, revealing every curve and every line but she didn't care.
She stared into the grave of the man she was supposed to get married to today. Into the grave of Orion Miller. Her eyes shifted to the diamond ring on her finger and tears poured out uncontrollably.
The ring was mailed to her two nights ago. Mr Miller didn't even bother to propose to her in person. She didn't even know what he looked like. All her father told her was that he wasn't so bad looking.
Ava thought back to the hours she waited, standing in front of all the guests and he never showed up. But the News of his accident came bursting through the door instead.
Ava thought back to the minutes that she paced around the hospital in her white plain wedding dress, waiting for the doctor to come out with news about the surgery, which seemed to take forever.
"You witch!!" A furious looking woman barked, slapping her hard across the face, "If I had known it would be bad luck getting my son married to a beggar like you I would not have agreed to the deal your stupid father offered," she yelled with so much venom.
Ava just stood still, her expression blank. She silently prayed for Mr Miller to be OK. At least, that would save her from the wrath of her father and this woman. But fate was not on her side.
This would have been her way out of this nightmare called life.
Her thoughts briefly went to her sister, Holly. How would she cope now? Will they be thrown out onto the street? Her father made it clear that she should not return. In his words, "My new woman is not in support of accommodating two strangers."
Here she was. A twenty four year old young bride, mourning on her wedding day.
Ava looked up at the sky and laughed out crazily. Fate must be some twisted old woman who derives joy in watching her suffer.
People started leaving the graveyard, one after the other. She was left standing, alone.
With no where else in mind, Ava left. She walked barefooted to the hospital, drenched in rain.
She couldn't let her sister see her this way.
"Excuse...me nurse Linda?" she stammered in a croaked voice, "Please can I get something dry to put on? I don't want my sister to see me this way," she pleaded with tears streaming down her face.
"Of course baby. But it might be a bit bigger on you," she said lightly, rushing to her side and squeezing Ava's shoulders in a comforting gesture.
Nurse Linda has been nothing but kind to them since Holly was first admitted to the hospital.
She took her to the restroom and gave her a gown to wear. It didn't even fit in any way. Ava didn't care. She thanked the nurse and went to her sister's room.
"Ava!!" Holly cried out excitedly when she saw her sister, "Why did you come here? You should be on your way to Paris maybe? Wearing a classy dress, looking like a princess and..."
Ava's thoughts drifted away. Her sister was more excited about this wedding than she was. Anything that will get them out of their father's clutches.
"Ava?" Holly called, yanking her sister softly, "What's wrong? Why are you here alone dressed like that? Where's my brother in-law?"
Ava couldn't hide it anymore. She bursted out crying. Her sister joined in and they sobbed for a while.
"So what are we going to do now? Where are we going? Nurse Linda said father hasn't paid the bills and that I can't stay here any longer."
Ava squeezed her sister's hand. Holly shouldn't be concerned about all these. She's just 14!! The more Ava thought about her father, the more her hatred for him grew. He's not a father. He's a selfish monster.
"I'll figure a way, Holly. Don't worry about it," Ava whispered to her sister and hugged her tightly.
Fate is a monster.
Ava didn't know she slept off on the hospital bed with her sister. The slap on her thigh jerked her off the bed in shock.
"You witch! To think you would be sleeping, having a little get together with your dying sister, when my son lay dead is preposterous!!"
"Don't you dare say that about my sister. She's not dying," Ava retorted, getting off the bed and meeting her supposed mother in-law's eyes squarely.
"How dare you raise your voice at me?" the woman barked and slapped her.
"Leave my sister alone!" Holly cried.
"Pathetic!" the woman spat. "You bunch of sorry losers are pathetic. And to think I was doing your father a favor?" the woman raged.
She was bereaved. Ava understood. But she had her own fair share of misfortune as well.
"Ma, you can't do this here, this is a hospital," a nurse said politely to Mrs Miller.
"I can buy this entire hospital and every staff in it with just a flick of my finger so be quiet!" she barked at the nurse who cowered back immediately.
Ava's eyes were swollen with tears. She stared down at her feet. She was still barefooted. Could this day get any worse?
"How do you intend paying me back? I can't lose so much money for a pathetic family like yours."
Just then, Ava noticed the figure of an older man, leaning by the door. He had a walking stick supporting his steps as he limped forward.
He looked Ava over like some object to be auctioned away. "Well, well, well, if it ain't my dead son's fiancee," he blurted out.
"Not now Richard. What are you even doing here," Mrs Miller scowled.
"Well it's my money involved, not yours Priscilla and I know just how to get it back," he retorted with a sick smile.
Ava clamped her palms together. What could this scrawny looking man have for her? She bit down on her lips nervously, glancing towards her sister's tear streaked face.
"Since it's a wedding deal, it has to go ahead as planned," he continued, with the crazy smile still dancing on his lips.
"What do you mean by that Richard? We only had one son!" she retorted, through gritted teeth.
"Yes. She would be marrying me," he replied in a voice that made the hair on Ava's neck stand.
"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!
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
My marriage to Mathias was supposed to make me the happiest woman in the world. Although I knew he didn't love me, I thought he would fall for me once I showered him with all the love I had to give. Five years passed and Mathias still didn't give a damn about me. Instead, he met his true love and cut all ties with me because of her. He showed her off; something he never did for me. His abandonment pushed me into depression. I was broken in every sense of the word. Even on my deathbed, my so-called husband didn't come to say goodbye to me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. I was still Mathias's wife and it was two months before he met his true love. In this life, I refused to be hurt by him again. After talking some sense into my head, I asked him for a divorce in other to escape being heartbroken like I was previously. Mathias tore up the divorce papers time and time again while also shutting me down. "Rylie, stop all this nonsense! Playing hard to get doesn't work anymore!" To show him that I was dead serious, I went ahead to file for divorce. Only then did he panic. He abandoned the "woman of his dreams" and came to my side. "Please give me a second chance, Rylie. I promise to do right by you. You'll be the only woman in my heart from now on. Don't leave me, okay?" A war broke out in my mind after this apology. On one hand, I didn't want to be hurt again. And on the other, I didn't want to let go of the man I loved so dearly. What should I do?!
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
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.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.