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Alesia, 23, was overwhelmed with a deep dilemma when her gynecologist told her that her womb was less fertile. That news became the reason her husband, Kaelan, 28, used to justify marrying another woman- claiming it was solely to have children. The other woman? Ziva, his ex-girlfriend and the daughter of his mother-in-law's close friend. So what choice did Alesia make? Did she agree to a polygamous marriage-or choose divorce?
The silence in the doctor's office was deafening.
Alesia sat on the edge of the cushioned chair, her fingers clutching the hem of her blouse so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out everything else-until the doctor's voice, calm and clinical, shattered her world.
"I'm afraid your hormone levels are significantly low, Alesia. Based on the tests, it may be difficult for you to conceive naturally. There are options, of course, but... the chances are limited."
Difficult. Limited. Options. Every word struck her like a slap.
She nodded slowly, unable to speak, her throat thick with emotion. The moment she stepped out of the clinic, her phone buzzed. Kaelan.
"Done?" His voice was casual, like he was asking if she had picked up groceries.
Alesia swallowed. "Yes. I'll be home in an hour."
She didn't tell him-not yet. Not over the phone. Not while standing on the steps of the clinic, with the weight of quiet disappointment suffocating her.
---
Kaelan wasn't home when she arrived. The penthouse was spotless, its silence cold. The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the emptiness. She walked past the wedding photo hanging above the fireplace-her in white satin, Kaelan in his custom-tailored tuxedo, smiling like the world belonged to them.
What a lie.
She waited until he came home, three hours later, smelling faintly of whiskey and expensive cologne.
"You're late," she said, trying not to sound accusatory.
He tossed his keys onto the marble countertop. "Meeting ran long. What's the verdict?"
She hesitated. "The doctor said I may have difficulty conceiving naturally. My hormone levels are low."
Kaelan stood still. His expression didn't change, but something in his eyes flickered-an imperceptible shift.
"I see," he said simply, walking past her.
Alesia turned to follow. "That's all you're going to say?"
"What do you want me to say?" he snapped, spinning to face her. "That I'm happy? That this is okay?"
"I want you to stand by me," she said softly. "I want you to tell me that we'll figure this out together."
He exhaled sharply, like her words exhausted him. "Do you think love alone is enough when you can't give me a child?"
The silence that followed was heavier than the one in the doctor's office.
---
Days passed. Kaelan became more distant, more silent, always busy, always tired. Alesia pretended not to notice the extra hours he spent away from home, the way he avoided her eyes, the nights he turned his back to her in bed.
Until one night, he came home early.
He sat across from her at the dining table, his eyes unreadable. "There's something we need to talk about."
She already knew. Her stomach turned.
"I've been thinking about our situation. About what the doctor said."
Alesia stared at her untouched plate.
"There's someone I've been... considering. Someone who could carry my child."
She raised her head slowly. "You're not serious."
"Her name is Ziva."
Alesia's heart dropped. Ziva. The name hit her like a punch to the chest.
"She's your ex."
"She's also the daughter of my mother's best friend. She's known to the family. Respected. And she's willing."
Alesia stood up. Her chair scraped loudly against the marble floor. "So what am I now? Just the placeholder wife?"
"You're still my wife," Kaelan said, as if that title still meant something.
"And she'll be what? The second wife? Or the real one, since she'll give you what I can't?"
His jaw clenched. "This isn't about love, Alesia. It's about legacy. You knew how important that was to my family."
Her voice cracked. "So you'd rather break our marriage than wait? Than try?"
He didn't answer.
That silence was answer enough.
---
The next morning, Alesia packed a small suitcase. Not because she had made a decision, but because she needed space to think-away from the cold, calculated world Kaelan had created.
She drove to the house she grew up in, hoping her mother would understand. But her mother only sighed when she heard the story.
"You're his wife, Alesia. Do you want to throw that away just because of one setback?"
"One setback? He's marrying someone else, Mom."
"To give him children. That's different. You still have his name."
"I don't want his name if it comes with betrayal."
Her mother shook her head. "Then you're being naïve. This is reality. If you walk away, Ziva wins everything. The title. The money. The respect. You'll be forgotten."
---
That night, alone in her childhood room, Alesia stared at the ceiling, memories of Kaelan running through her mind-the way he used to hold her, laugh with her, the promises he once made. Promises now discarded like ashes in the wind.
What did she want more?
To keep the man who had betrayed her, even if it meant sharing him?
Or to walk away with her pride, but nothing else?
And somewhere deep inside, a quiet voice whispered a third question-
What if she didn't do either?
What if she rewrote the rules?
Luna lives with her husband, Darius, in a large house, alongside her in-laws and her sister-in-law. At first, their marriage was harmonious, filled with happiness. However, as time went by, after four years of marriage, Luna gave birth to their second child. The gap between the first and second child was only two years. As a young mother, Luna became busy taking care of her children and family, and she no longer paid attention to herself. Her weight kept increasing, and at that point, she had reached almost 200 kg. Luna, a beautiful woman with an enchanting face, had once been the perfect figure in the eyes of many men. With her ideal body and captivating smile, she was admired by many. She came from a wealthy family, enjoying all the comforts of life. However, for the sake of marrying Darius, she left everything behind-her family and the luxurious life she once had. However, life with Darius turned out to be far from what she had imagined. Her once-loving husband now often ignored her and even mocked her appearance. Her sister-in-law, Bianca, was no better, frequently teasing and humiliating Luna. Meanwhile, Darius spent more and more time with another woman, including his ex-lover, which was fully supported by his family. This situation pushed Luna deeper into despair. On one hand, she felt trapped in a marriage full of lies and betrayal. On the other hand, she felt like she had no choice. Darius's family, who she had once hoped to accept, had now become a source of suffering that was becoming harder to bear. At her lowest point, Luna had to face the harsh truth that her happiness no longer existed within the marriage she had fought for. At this breaking point, Luna had to decide-would she continue to endure a marriage full of pain, or would she rise up and find a way out, even if it meant leaving everything behind?
"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!
If there was something very significant the Aquila's were known for, it is the ability to get whatever they set their eyes on. Fate has been cruel to them recently since the diagnosis of an ailment on the heir of the Aquila family's , Enzo Aquila, leading to the impromptu blind date organized by his mother for him to an unknown girl, Camila, a young vibrant college drop out residing with her grandmother since the death of her parents. Life hasn't been fair to her either, so when her grandmother comes home one day and announces to her about a blind date with a certain wealthy goon, she knew she had no choice but to accept or risk being thrown out of her comfort zone. What has fate designed for these two people who met due to unfortunate incidents thrust at them by fate? And how are they going to endure to break down every barrier to reach their happy ever after?
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!
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?!
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.