How can he tell me not to fall in love with him when he's insanely handsome? How can I stop myself from breaking the rules when we live under the same roof? And how can he tell me not to stare when his gaze is always on me? Yes, I know this is just a contract marriage-I'm only here to be his wife and take care of his son. But my heart wants more. Unfortunately, nothing is ever that easy when the father is cold as ice and the son is a little monster himself. Mirabel is a stubborn, troublesome girl who takes on any job to provide for her mother's treatment. But when Adrian enters her life with an offer she can't refuse-a contract marriage in exchange for paying for her mother's surgery-she has no choice but to accept. Becoming his wife and a mother to his five-year-old son should have been simple. But Adrian and his child seem determined to make her life a living hell. Now, she has to find a way to survive them both.
Chapter 1: Trapped in a Contract
Mirabel's POV
The loud, relentless beeping of the alarm yanked me from sleep. Groaning, I reached out to turn it off, but then it hit me-I wasn't in my home anymore.
I sat up, rubbing my sleepy eyes as I looked around. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get used to this place. Everything felt foreign, like I didn't belong. But this was my reality now.
Sighing, I got out of bed and dragged myself to the bathroom to freshen up. Once done, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen, thinking about what to prepare for breakfast.
Pasta. That would do.
I quickly cooked and set the food on the dining table before heading to Grey's room to wake him up. But as soon as I entered, I saw a maid already dressing him.
"My little boy," I whispered, stepping closer.
I squatted in front of him, reaching out to help, but he immediately smacked my hand away.
"Tell her to leave," Grey demanded, his voice firm.
My heart clenched, but I didn't argue. Without a word, I stood up and left the room.
This wasn't the first time.
Holding back my frustration, I made my way to Adrian's room. I pushed the door open without thinking-
Shit!
I forgot to knock.
Before I could turn around to fix my mistake, his cold voice cut through the air.
"You never listen, do you?"
I shivered. Fear gripped me instantly. Yes, I was scared of my own husband. Isn't that amazing?
"I-I was just going to knock," I stammered, taking a step back.
But before I could move, he grabbed me by the waist, pulling me close.
"What are you doing here?" His voice was as cold as ever.
"The food is ready," I managed to say.
"So?"
I blinked. So? What did he mean so? Didn't his brain know what came next after that?
I found myself staring at his lips-sharp, firm, and undeniably tempting.
"Are you done looking?" His deep voice snapped me back to reality.
God, was I drooling?
Embarrassed, I tried to pull away, but he suddenly let go of me. I lost my balance and landed on my butt with a painful thud.
"Ouch," I winced, looking up at him. But he had already walked away like nothing happened.
Seriously?
I dusted myself off and followed him to the dining room.
Grey and Adrian were already seated. I quietly served their food and was about to sit down when I remembered one of Adrian's ridiculous rules-I wasn't allowed to eat with them.
I had to wait until they were done, standing like some maid waiting for orders.
Crazy, right? But those were my husband's rules.
As I stood beside Grey, watching him eat, he suddenly frowned.
"I don't want this!" he snapped, before flinging the hot pasta onto me.
The burning food splattered across my skin. I screamed in pain, my hands instantly turning red from the heat.
Tears pricked my eyes, but I clenched my jaw. If he weren't just a kid... I didn't even want to think about what I would have done.
I looked at him, waiting for an apology. But nothing.
And Adrian? He made it even worse.
"You can't even prepare a simple meal that he likes," he said coldly. "How do you expect to handle him?"
Then, without another word, he stood up and walked away-taking Grey with him.
I stared at my burning hands, blinking back tears.
I finally sat down, letting the pain and frustration sink in.
If not for my mom, what would I be doing here? It has been two years since I got married to him but he never accepted me as his mother.
A Brief Introduction to My Miserable Life
My name is Mirabel Logan. I come from a poor family, and because of that, I've lost so much.
My father died because I couldn't afford his medical treatment.
Now, my mother is battling kidney failure-an inherited condition that runs in my family. The only way to save her is through a transplant, which costs ten million dollars.
I worked multiple jobs, struggling every day, but I barely saved even a fraction of that amount.
Then Adrian Carter came into my life.
He offered me a deal-a contract marriage. In exchange for becoming his wife and acting as a mother to his son, he would pay for my mother's surgery.
I had no choice. I signed the contract.
And now, here I am-trapped in a marriage with a man who doesn't care about me and a son who hates me.
"Welcome to My Life"
I took a deep breath and slowly stood up, ignoring the burning pain on my skin.
"Are you okay?"
I turned to see Lisa standing near me, concern written all over her face. She was one of the maids-probably the only one in this house who treated me with kindness.
"I'm okay, Lisa," I lied, forcing a smile.
But deep down, I wasn't okay. Nothing about my life was okay.
Adrian thought I sold myself for money.
Grey hated me.
And no matter how hard I tried, I was nothing more than a burden in this house.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned and made my way upstairs. My hand was throbbing, the red burns on my skin reminding me of what just happened. The pasta had been hot-hot enough to leave a mark.
When I reached my room, I went straight to the bathroom and grabbed the first-aid box. Carefully, I cleaned the burn, wincing as the antiseptic stung my skin. Then, I wrapped my hand in a bandage.
My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten all day. But I wasn't in the mood to eat.
I walked over to my bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling.
Everything felt heavy-my body, my heart, my life.
How did I end up here?
A wife to a man who despised me. A mother to a child who wanted nothing to do with me. A prisoner in a house where I didn't belong.
I let out a shaky sigh and closed my eyes.
Maybe if I slept, I could escape reality for a little while.
Before I knew it, sleep took over.
How can he tell me not to fall in love with him when he's insanely handsome? How can I stop myself from breaking the rules when we live under the same roof? And how can he tell me not to stare when his gaze is always on me? Yes, I know this is just a contract marriage-I'm only here to be his wife and take care of his son. But my heart wants more. Unfortunately, nothing is ever that easy when the father is cold as ice and the son is a little monster himself. Mirabel is a stubborn, troublesome girl who takes on any job to provide for her mother's treatment. But when Adrian enters her life with an offer she can't refuse-a contract marriage in exchange for paying for her mother's surgery-she has no choice but to accept. Becoming his wife and a mother to his five-year-old son should have been simple. But Adrian and his child seem determined to make her life a living hell. Now, she has to find a way to survive them both.
How can he tell me not to fall in love with him when he's insanely handsome? How can I stop myself from breaking the rules when we live under the same roof? And how can he tell me not to stare when his gaze is always on me? Yes, I know this is just a contract marriage-I'm only here to be his wife and take care of his son. But my heart wants more. Unfortunately, nothing is ever that easy when the father is cold as ice and the son is a little monster himself. Mirabel is a stubborn, troublesome girl who takes on any job to provide for her mother's treatment. But when Adrian enters her life with an offer she can't refuse-a contract marriage in exchange for paying for her mother's surgery-she has no choice but to accept. Becoming his wife and a mother to his five-year-old son should have been simple. But Adrian and his child seem determined to make her life a living hell. Now, she has to find a way to survive them both.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
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.
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!