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On the night of their engagement party, Emma finds Lena in Ryan's arms. Ryan smirks. "You were never enough, Emma." Lena watches with zero guilt. "You had everything, Emma. It's my turn now." Emma is devastated, but the real blow comes next- Her parents choose Lena over her. "You've always been a disappointment, Emma. Lena is the daughter we should have had." ****** "I used to be a Sinclair. I used to be someone's daughter, someone's fiancée. But then I learned-being their daughter meant nothing. Being his fiancée meant nothing. So I let them bury that girl. And when I rose, I made sure no one would ever break me again."
Emma's POV
I stood before the mirror, smoothing my hands down the delicate fabric of the gown I had finally chosen for my engagement party tomorrow. This day had finally arrived. The day I had waited for, dreamt of, and sacrificed so much for. Even though my marriage to Ryan Carter was arranged, I loved him.
Ryan had always been a bit controlling. He was the one who brought me out to pick dresses today, as usual taking the lead. I should be used to it by now. He never quite let me decide on my own, always having a comment or correction.
"This is not for your body proportions. You would look more stunning in something else."
His voice was sharp as he dismissed yet another gown.
"I don't like how tight it is. You're literally calling out to lustful men when you wear this."
The store attendant cleared her throat. She had been patient, but I could tell she wanted to say something.
"Sir, this looks good and sophisticated. It's just that Ma'am Emma looks outstanding in whatever she wears," she explained, trying to defend my choice.
Ryan, as usual, brushed her off like her opinion didn't matter. Like my opinion didn't matter.
I let out a soft breath, staring at my reflection. Did I really need his approval for everything?
Then I stepped out in the dress I was wearing now-a sleek, elegant piece that hugged my body in all the right places. Finally, a satisfactory compliment.
"Now, this is it," Ryan said with a nod of approval.
He then excused himself to take a call, stepping away as I turned back to the changing room to get dressed again.
That's how it had always been with Ryan.
It wasn't that I didn't have my own fashion sense. In fact, the dress I had initially chosen was perfect-but of course, he hated it. Not because it didn't look good, but because it wasn't his taste.
Lena. My best friend. My sister, though not by blood.
She was the only one who truly understood how much passion I had for fashion. She had seen my sketches, my vision. My family had built an empire in fashion. We had been at the forefront of the industry for years, following the aesthetic traditions passed down for generations.
But I had bigger dreams.
I wanted something new. Fresh. Innovative. Designs that would break the mold.
But my father had shut me down before I could even begin.
"That's not how we do things, Emma. Our legacy must remain untouched."
So, I had kept my ideas to myself. I had watched in silence as my dreams stayed locked away, too afraid to go against tradition.
Until Lena.
She had taken my designs, the ones I poured my soul into, and presented them as her own.
At first, she promised me it was temporary.
"They won't listen to you now, Emma. But if I introduce them slowly, one by one, they'll see the value. When the time is right, we'll tell them."
And I believed her.
I told myself it didn't matter whose name was on the designs-as long as they saw the beauty in them, as long as they were out in the world.
But deep down, something inside me felt uneasy.
I stepped out of the changing room, adjusting my dress as I made my way toward Ryan. He was still on his phone, his voice low but firm.
I wasn't trying to eavesdrop. I really wasn't.
But then I heard her name.
"Lena, you just have to keep quiet. It's still our secret for now."
I froze.
The air around me seemed to shift, the atmosphere suddenly too thick, too heavy.
Lena.
A secret.
With Ryan.
What secret could she possibly be hiding?
Lena had stayed back at home, helping with the engagement party. If not, she would have been here with me, fussing over every little detail, making sure I didn't pick something "too boring" or "not breathtaking enough." She was just as excited about this engagement as I was. Maybe even more.
Lena had always been my best friend-the sister I never had. She knew my dreams, my fears, my deepest insecurities... and most importantly, my love for Ryan.
And Ryan-he was my fiancé. The man I was going to marry. The man I had loved for years.
So why did it feel like they were keeping something from me?
Could it be that the two of them were planning a surprise?
The thought made sense.
Maybe that was why Ryan had sounded so secretive just now. Maybe that was why Lena had been unusually giddy all week, always whispering with our parents when she thought I wasn't looking.
Yes. That had to be it.
I let out a slow breath, trying to shake off the unease creeping in.
Just then, Ryan turned around, his deep blue eyes locking onto mine. His smile was immediate-effortless, warm, reassuring.
"Ready to head home?" he asked.
I wanted to ask him about that phone call.
I wanted to look him in the eye and demand to know what he was hiding.
But did he even look like someone with something to hide?
No.
He seemed perfectly at ease, completely unbothered.
Maybe he just didn't want me to find out yet.
Maybe whatever secret he and Lena were keeping was something good-something meant to make me happy.
So I pushed the doubt away, forcing a smile.
"Yes," I said, slipping my hand into his.
Because whatever they were hiding... it couldn't possibly be something bad.
Right?
Ryan led me to the elevator, his hand resting lightly on my back. The boutique was nearly empty now, save for a few late shoppers and sales attendants tidying up for the night. The soft chime of the elevator doors filled the silence as we stepped inside.
I stole a glance at him. His expression was calm, but his grip on his phone was firm, his thumb hovering over the screen as if waiting for a message.
"You're quiet," I murmured.
"Just tired," he answered smoothly, slipping his phone into his pocket before wrapping an arm around my waist. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Let's get home. Tomorrow's a big day."
I nodded, leaning into him, willing the unease to fade.
Williams Ava is a well known doctor in New York, she maintained a low profile because she has someone she loves, she has saved many lives, after saving Alexander's grandfather, she got into an arranged marriage with Alexander who she is in love with as his grandfather requested, she turned a blind eye to all his escapades. Ava devoted all her being into their 4 years marriage, she made sure Alexander met food in the dining room, sort out his laundry, she had to stop practicing her career to be the submissive wife Alexander would want and hoped to gain his love. With all this, it still seems she wasn't enough for Alexander who had his first love lurking around him 24/7. Ava did all she could to get her husband attention to her but all proved abortive as Linda was also determine to get back into Alexander life as a legally married wife. Ava discovered that Alexander had eye defect and needed eye surgery with immediate effects, she didn't hesitate to give out one eye for him. Linda made sure all Ava does was nothing to Alexander as she claimed the position of the eye donor just as she has always does. Alexander was touched by her and vowed to give her a place in his life after leaving her hanging all this years. Alexander gave divorce papers to the sick Ava without any delay, Ava hoped to save her marriage and reveal that she was pregnant. Alexander looked at her coldly and spat 'abort it'. Forced into the cold walls of the hospital to get rid of the baby, Ava shed tears of blood and decided to cut off ties with Alexander after she makes it out alive.
In the dark , she could only hear the sound of her heartbeat and laboured breath, lost in the shivering nerves wrecking her fragile soul, that was the place she was forced to co- habit. Get out, your services is needed by the boss, A servant spat. Britney uncurled herself from the cold floor of the basement she could now call her only home, followed the hasty servant with precise caution. Standing before her stepbrother, she was frightened and had to stare down to be able to endure his enraged gaze. The maids will get you ready, you are meeting up with someone soon, I don't want you saying nonsense later, Theophilus, her stepbrother commanded. In the abyss of finding peace , freedom and light, Britney strives to fight and emerged relentlessly, but what does fate have in store for her?
PERMISSION IS TAKEN FRIM THE ORIGINAL, BE WARNED!! Do you believe in Myths? Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, it does. Lucy lost everything four years ago in a rogue attack. She's been abused, starved, rejected, and broken. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, strange things start to happen, things that only happen once every century. She finds friendship in the most unlikely place and escapes to find her true self with the help of the most dangerous Alpha. Warning: This werewolf trilogy is not intended for anyone under the age of 18 or anyone who doesn't enjoy a good spanking. It will take you on adventures around the world, make you laugh, fall in love, crush your heart and possibly leave you drooling.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
"You're pathetic!" Brenden sneered, each word cutting deep into Corinna's heart. Years of emotional wounds had drained every ounce of love she once held. "I've wasted enough time on you. If there's a next life, I hope we never meet again." Her words severed the bond between them like a blade. From that moment on, Brenden was haunted by her absence—unable to sleep, longing for the warmth he took for granted.
"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?"
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Julia and Evan were the perfect couple-or so she thought. But everything changed when Evan abruptly ended their relationship, leaving her heartbroken and unable to tell him she was carrying his child. Years later, Julia has built a life for herself and her son, Andy, while Evan has risen to unimaginable wealth and success. Their paths cross again at a chance meeting, but Julia soon discovers Evan has moved on with someone else. Julia is done with the pain. She's fought battles alone, raising a son who deserves the truth about his father, even if Evan doesn't deserve her forgiveness. When Julia told Evan years ago she had something to say, he didn't listen. Now, it's time for him to listen. But is it too late to reclaim what he lost? "We should break up," he'd said, the words cutting through her like glass. The pregnancy test in her pocket stayed hidden, just like the child they would never share. Now, it's Evan's turn to hear the truth-and to face his deepest regret.