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Bella has loved Alex since college, but all she ever got in return was cold rejection. Born into wealth and privilege, Alex was destined to marry Linda-the perfect match for his elite bloodline. But on the day of their grand wedding, Linda vanished, leaving him humiliated at the altar. Desperate to protect the family's reputation, Bella did the unthinkable-she stepped in as his bride. Three years of devotion, three years of being the perfect daughter-in-law, three years of trying to earn love from a man who never wanted her, and three years of enduring the Hayes family's cruelty. Bella finally snapped out of her reverie when the Hayes sweetheart Linda returned, determined to claim Alex back. Bella demands a divorce, but strangely, Alex refuses to let her go. He proposes a deal with her, to keep her trapped by his side. But will he be able to melt her already icy heart and keep her for long?
The elegant chandelier above spilled soft golden light over the well-furnished and exorbitant dining room, where the Hayes family sat in high spirits and laughter.
The room was filled with the savory aromas of roasted meats, garnished sauces, and steaming vegetables, served by professional chefs, that teased the senses and heightened the evening's celebration.
It was that time of the month again when every member of the family had to come together, away from their busy schedules, to catch up as one big family and bond over dinner. But tonight, something made this one spectacular.
The center of the excitement was Linda, the family's sweetheart, Alex's first love, and their most desired daughter-in-law, not the riffraff of a wife, Bella, seated opposite Alex.
Linda was the one they adorned, the one with class and vigor. She had been away for three years, and her presence tonight had ignited a spark of joy within the family. They talked animatedly about her great achievements in the past years, their voices filled with admiration and enthusiasm.
Yet, amidst the jubilation, Bella's isolation was palpable. Her silence was a stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere, a clear reminder that she was overlooked and unappreciated.
Bella's P.O.V
I sat quietly, slicing a piece of meat on my plate cos that was the least I could do: eat and remain irrelevant, as I've forcefully learned within these past years. I kept my eyes buried on my plate as I tried to ignore the pangs in my chest seeing how close together Linda and Alex sat as they chattered on.
I'd never sat so close to him in all the three years we've lived as husband and wife because he would never permit it. But here she was, not just sitting close to my husband but encircling her hand around his arm, right in my face, and he did nothing. Nobody did.
They were all blinded by the aura of Linda, a child born with a golden spoon that reciprocated and aligned well with their status as the formidable Hayes. Since I was short of that class given my poor upbringing, I was nothing but a ghostly creature nobody noticed, a naive girl lost in a world of fantasy through art and a despicable mistake Alex brought to the family.
Just when I lifted a chunk of meat to my mouth, Linda reached out for the bowl where the vegetables were served pushing aside her meat. "This is more healthy, Bella". She said, lifting the bowl to my face. All eyes turned to me, something I had dreaded all through the night and I froze. I felt like crawling under the table, away from their suffocating gazes. "You're adding a lot of weight already. Don't you think it's time to go on a diet and cut back on the food?" She asked, with a sarcastic, concerned look.
My mouth suddenly felt dry, and for a thousand and one reason, my heartbeat accelerated. I looked around, smiling nervously to mask the sting of embarrassment while I did a mental ransack for the right words. "Yeah, I.....I should. I just-"
"Oh Linda, that's so thoughtful of you. No wonder you're still in shape after all these years, look at you!" Mrs Caroline, my mother-in-law praised Linda, cutting me off rudely like I was babbling. She turned to me, and all the smile on her face turned to hateful scorn, "You can as well empty the refrigerator while going home. We have enough meat to last you for a month, so you can eat non-stop. I guess that's what you're good at after all".
They all laughed heartily like it was the entertainment they had anticipated all along. "Oh, mummy!" Linda pleaded jokingly, still laughing. "She is still my lovely friend from college and a foodie as always. But I can help her since I'm back now. She can try to be like me".
I bit my lower lip at her words, so hard that I felt the metallic taste of blood down my throat. It pained me so much that her words were getting to me. That was a big, fat lie. But who was I to challenge Linda in front of everyone?
That has always been the basis of her friendship with me in college. I was always the one to be degraded in front of others for her glory to shine bright. How could I have been a foodie for someone who barely ate three square meals as a child raised by a struggling single mum?
And what in God's name was wrong with my weight? Nobody ever complained about it but because Linda pointed it out tonight, they all bobbled their heads in agreement. I looked at Alex for some help, for him to defend me at least and salvage the situation, but he didn't spare me a glance and just sat there mindlessly while she said those hurtful things to me.
"What help can you render to something already damaged. That's a waste of time darling. You know this unworthy riffraff can never be like you, Linda. She is way out of your league". Sophia, Alex's sister, chimed in, shooting me a soul-crushing glare.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at them, simultaneously contributing, in turns, to my ordeal, their voices fading away into the background as my thoughts trailed off. Why was it so easy to forget a good did than a bad one? Why had they forgotten so soon that this unworthy riffraff was the same three years ago that saved their faces from shame when their darling Linda ditched their son on his wedding day and ran to God knows where? Had they forgotten so soon?
I was obliged to marry Alex despite his cold gesture and demeanor toward me. I loved him to a fault. I had my hope alive that one day he would see my worth and fall for me. But he never did. Linda had always been the one in his heart and there was no space left for me. Not even the thinnest.
The atmosphere seemed to mock me as hot sweats formed on my temples, a tip of the heat brewing in my insides, as reality dawned on me. Linda's return screamed only one thing, clear as crystal: My services as Mrs Alex were no longer needed.
Lewis, who was my right-hand man, finally spoke, scratching his forehead for God knows why. "But, sir, she doesn't have any educational qualifications in-" I cut him off, sounding as firm as I could "I don't care about that right now, Lewis. I need someone to take care of things around here, and I need her now! Are you trying to disobey my order?" Lewis swallowed hard. "No, sir, of course not. I just want to make sure we're making the right decision." My eyes flashed with impatience. "The decision is made, Lewis. Invite her tomorrow". "Okay, sir," He replied and was about to leave. "One more thing" He turned back to face me. "Yes sir". "You still have all the rules and regulations outlined, right?" "Yes sir" "And the contract file intact?" "Yes sir" 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. "Alright, Sophia will handle her when she comes tomorrow," I said, "Ask her to see me in my office now". I concluded, asking him out by waving my hands in the air. Within a few minutes, I was face to face with Sophia. "I'm sure Lewis has done a little briefing on what to do concerning tomorrow, right? "Yes sir" "Excellent, just one thing though" I gestured for her to move closer. And she did. Then I said in almost a whisper, stressing the last part, "Make sure she signs the contract; very, very important." Louis was at the time of his life when he was desperate for somebody who could help him overcome his nightmare. All these years, he struggled with a curse he thought was caused by the moon goddess, which turns him into an uncontrollable beast at full moons. His bother, Amber, disrespected him for this and even turned his mate, Annie, against him. Out of rage, he left his birthright as the next-in-line alpha to his brother in their werewolf pack to live in the human world, thinking he could outrun his misery. But alas! He barely survived during full moons and therefore started his search for a capable hand, someone, who could help him during those periods of his transformations, to keep his secret hidden from others. Especially a woman, he could lose his body in her warmth to free himself from the tension that had been building up in him. It sounds crazy, but that was like his antidote. He settled for a 23-year-old hybrid, Isha, who was unaware of her identity out of desperation. But this decision soon turns into something more. She soon learns of her boss's secret; he was cursed to turn into a beast on full moons. Unknown to her, she was destined to break the curse on the night that she was claimed as well as discover her true nature. Soon, his brother, Amber, joins forces with dark powers to take hold of the great powers Isha possesses as a hybrid. Will he discover the true reason behind his curse? Will Louis be able to protect the woman he loves from the dark forces or will his decision tear them apart? Dive into this intriguing novel, let's go on an exciting adventure to find these out.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Chandler Su who had cheated by her boyfriend then got drunk at a bar. To take revenge, she grabbed a man randomly and took him to the room. After a crazy night, Chandler found the strange man was a super handsome guy the next morning. Shy and shocked Chandler run away after leaving 150 RMB and scorning the man of his poor bed skills. However, she never thought the story would become so dramatic as the next day, she found out that the new coming president of her company was exactly the man she slept the last night! Worse than that, this new boss seemed very narrow-minded as he asked Chandler to come to his office on the first day.
Mistaken for a runaway bride, Mildred's ordinary life is shattered when she's forced to marry the Alpha King. Trapped in a castle of secrets, she's a pawn in a deadly game she doesn't understand. When danger strikes, Mildred must face her greatest fear to save the kingdom and the heart of a king who never wanted to love her. Will their bond be their undoing, or will it be the key to their survival?
"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!
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
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."