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He betrayed me by sleeping with his secretary. "Fine." I don't care anymore-all I want is his property. But fate had other plans. Instead of his wealth, I got his "lieutenant uncle" as compensation. --- "Me,"Ethan said. Just a single word-two letters-but it carried a weight I couldn't quite grasp. "I'm not following. "You?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "The compensation-the one you have no choice but to accept," he clarified. My eyes widened in shock before a chuckle escaped my lips. "I must have heard wrong." "Let me be your compensation. Trust me, honey... I'm worth a lot," he added smoothly. I blinked several times, trying to determine if this was some kind of twisted dream. But the pale, dumbfounded looks on Ashton's and Kira's faces confirmed my worst suspicion. "I wasn't dreaming." This was "real." "Let's get married," Ethan Brooks declared, as if those words meant "nothing." He was "dead serious." Did he even realize I had just "divorced his nephew?"
SIA'S POV:
I kept staring at the fixed phone. It had been more than thirty minutes since my husband's driver had called, informing me that he was on his way to pick him up from the airport.
It had been one year and six days since I had last heard from Ashton-no calls, no texts, nothing. He had abandoned me in this mansion, all alone.
Though he had started mistreating me after his sister's death-an incident he unjustly blamed me for-he had never left for an entire year without a single word.
I wished Ashton would give me a chance to prove my innocence, to show him I had nothing to do with his sister's death. I wished he would give our relationship a chance, to care for me as much as I cared for him.
Ashton loved me-after all, our marriage was built on love. But this sudden hatred was shattering me completely.
The phone finally rang, and I answered it immediately, my heart pounding. The driver's voice echoed through the receiver, "Ma'am, Mr. Wood didn't want to come home. He asked me to take him to the company instead."
My eyes burned as I fought back my tears. He had returned to the country after a year, and yet, he didn't think of seeing me first. The only thing on his mind was his work. He should have just married his job.
I grabbed my purse, rushed out of the house, got into my car, and drove off. He didn't get to treat me this way. He didn't get to hate me based on mere assumptions.
The drive felt unbearably long, the dark clouds mirroring the storm brewing inside me. When I finally arrived at the company, the weather had worsened. I hurried inside, taking the elevator without anyone attempting to stop me.
I used to work here as Ashton's secretary, but one day, he had coldly told me that seeing my face both at work and at home irritated him. He had given me an ultimatum: either continue working at the company and move out of the mansion, or quit and stay home.
But how could I have moved out? Where would I have gone? I had no one else in this world except for him.
The elevator stopped, and I walked down the long corridor, my heart pounding in my chest. Finally, I reached Ashton's office. Without hesitation, I pushed the door open and stepped inside-only for my palms to turn clammy at the scene before me.
Ashton was indeed back after a year. But he wasn't alone.
There she was-his secretary. Not just any woman, but the one whose shoes alone cost more than my entire wardrobe. She always dressed so stylishly, effortlessly elegant-something I could never compete with.
One year ago, Ashton had spent countless late nights at the office with her under the pretense of working. I had been a fool to believe that lie.
Now, they were entwined in each other's arms, his hand resting on her bare thighs as they savored each other's lips.
"Ash..." I called out in disbelief, my throat suddenly dry, my voice barely above a whisper.
They broke their kiss, their gazes shifting toward me.
Ashton scanned me for a moment, and I expected him to at least apologize, to lie and tell me that what I had just witnessed wasn't real.
But the next words that left his lips shattered me completely.
With a raised brow, he asked, "Who are you?"
Tina chuckled mockingly. "Mr. Wood, it's your wife... remember?" she said, her tone light and remorseless.
I knew Ashton had only said that to hurt me. There was no way he had forgotten me. No way he had forgotten that he was married.
Yet, he turned to her and asked, "Sia?" as if confirming whether the name belonged to me.
Tears finally rolled down my cheeks.
"Is this it, Ash?" I asked, my voice breaking. Did he really need to confirm my name?
What had happened to all those times he had canceled important business trips just so he wouldn't be far from me? What had happened to the way he used to shower my face with soft butterfly kisses while I pretended to be asleep?
What about the cheesy way he used to whisper, I love you?
Had all of that been nothing but a stupid, meaningless fragment of my memory?
"How could you be with another woman?" I demanded, my voice trembling. "It's one thing to treat me badly and ignore me for a year, but you have no right to disrespect me like this."
He snorted, utterly unfazed.
"Tina, call security. Get this woman out of here," he ordered coldly, turning to leave.
Panic surged through me, and I instinctively grabbed his hand.
"What are you saying?" I asked in disbelief. He couldn't just push me out of his life like this. I wasn't his mistress-I was his wife.
"Call security, Tina," he repeated sternly.
Tina smirked as she picked up her phone and dialed a number.
I clenched my fists, my heart aching unbearably.
I wanted to plead with him, beg him not to do this. But I knew it would be futile. From the look in his eyes, I was no longer a part of his life.
And I wished I never had been.
Wiping my tears, I straightened my posture. "I'm leaving," I declared, my voice steady despite the storm raging within me. "You still have one last chance to stop me."
Tina's mocking smile grew even more pronounced.
Ashton chuckled darkly. "Get out, Sia."
I nodded, my heart breaking into irreparable pieces.
I was done.
With a heavy heart, I said, "I want a divorce. I'll have the documents prepared. So if you see a document tomorrow with the name Sia Jones, sign it. That's S-I-A. Don't forget the name before you sign."
His laughter echoed through the room. "This is hilarious, Sia," he scoffed. "We both know you can't divorce me. Did you forget? I'm the center of your life."
A small smile crept onto my lips.
"Good," I said softly. "At least you know that much about me."
Then, I tilted my head slightly and added, "Remember, the name is S-I-A. Please sign the papers."
I turned to leave, determined not to break down in front of them.
But before I could take another step, Ashton grabbed my hand.
Hope flickered in my heart. Was he regretting it already? Did he want to plead with me?
I turned to him, my eyes searching his. "Yes, Ashton?"
His next words shattered the last bit of hope I had left.
"You have no relatives, no money. Do you really think you can survive without my wealth?" he asked mockingly.
Tina burst into laughter.
I exhaled sharply, my lips curling into a smirk.
"Of course not, Mr. Wood," I said sweetly. "I definitely can't survive without your money."
He nodded smugly, as though satisfied with my admission.
But then, I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough to make his smirk fade.
"And since you seem to have a poor memory," I continued, "let me remind you-we didn't sign a prenup. So what belongs to my ex-husband... will equally belong to me."
The moment I saw his face turn pale, my smile widened.
After switching grooms with her sister, Nady Jones, Hazel is broken with the thought that she will be marrying Coyle Anderson, the billionaire who is rumored to be a living corpse while her sister marries her fiance. Never did Hazel expect Coyle to be loving and also healthy; just like fire, the news about his well-being spreads across the country, and Nady wants back her groom. "I made a mistake by switching your fiance with mine; I want Coyle back. So let's switch," Nady spouted. Will Coyle choose to be with Nady, seeing that she was the bride he wanted from the beginning, or will he give a chance to a loving adventure with Hazel, the bride who is willing to die for him?
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
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.
What happens when an all business Alpha planning his chosen's mating ceremony, smells the most wonderful fruity scent that belonged to his curvy mating ceremony planner. Confident plus size Ji'lahni, her two cousins, and friend owns a successful Wedding planning company along with a dance, and self defense workout studio, get hired by their new friend who is like a mother to them to plan her sons wedding I mean mating ceremony? What will happen when the sassy plus size women step into the world of werewolves? Read to find out.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
"Lucien, let's get a divorce," I said in a peremptory tone that was long overdue, the most decisive farewell to this absurd marriage. We had been married for exactly three years-three years that, for me, were filled with nothing but endless loneliness and torment. For three years, the husband who should have stood by my side through every storm, Lucien Sullivan, had completely disappeared from my life as if he had never existed. He vanished without a trace, leaving me alone to endure this empty, desolate marriage. Today, I finally received his message: "I'm back. Come pick me up at the airport." When I read his words, my heart leapt with joy, and I raced to the airport, thinking that he finally understood my love and was coming back to me. But his cruelty was far worse than I could have ever imagined-he was accompanied by a pregnant woman, and that woman was Carla, my closest and most trusted friend. In that moment, all of my previous excitement, all my hope, and all of our shared laughter and tears turned into the sharpest of daggers, stabbing into my heart and leaving me gasping for air. Now, all I want is to escape from this place that has left me so broken-to lick my wounds in solitude. Even if these wounds will remain with me for the rest of my life, I refuse to have anything to do with him ever again. He should know that it was his own hand that trampled our love underfoot, that his coldness and betrayal created this irreparable situation. But when he heard those words, he desperately clung to this broken, crumbling marriage, unwilling to let it end-almost as though doing so could rewind time and return everything to how it used to be. "Aurora, come back. I regret everything!" Regret? Those simple words stirred no emotion in me-only endless sadness and fury. My heart let out a frantic, desperate scream: It's too late for any of this!
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?