The howling alpha and the forest of deception
Jilted Ex-Wife? The Secret Billionaire Heiress!
I was in the hospital, enduring the agonizing pain of labor, while my husband, a famous hockey captain, refused to show up. When I called him for the twelfth time, begging for him, he lost his patience. "Giving birth is a woman's job, don't bother me with this stuff." Then, I heard my stepsister's sweet voice offering him a drink, and he immediately softened before hanging up on me. I gave birth to twins all by myself. The nurses treated me with cold indifference, and the family in the next bed loudly mocked me as a pathetic "Puck Bunny" who was just an adopted orphan about to be dumped. They were right. A month ago, my husband had thrown divorce papers at me, demanding I make way because my stepsister was pregnant with his child. I thought my life was a joke. I was just a discarded prop he married to satisfy his grandfather, a fake daughter my adoptive parents only used to elevate my stepsister. I was completely alone, ready to sign the papers just to protect my two babies. But then, the head of the hospital rushed in, transferred me to the top-floor VIP suite, and handed me a DNA test. It turned out I wasn't an unwanted orphan, but the long-lost daughter of the ultra-wealthy Sinclair family who had been searching for me for twenty years. Looking at my billionaire parents and three powerful brothers who just flew in on their private jets to protect me, I picked up my phone to call my arrogant husband. This time, I was going to make him leave with nothing.
Chapter 1 No.1
ANYA POV:
When I was lying in the operating room with postpartum hemorrhage and in urgent need of a family consent form during emergency situations, the thirteen phone calls I made to my husband with my last strength were not worth one tenth of the hockey stick in his hand.
The operating room was in chaos. The monitor screamed and the nurses ran around.
After a day and a night of childbirth, my body was exhausted. Every pulse took away warm, sticky blood and slipped away from me quietly. I knew I was going to die. I could feel it.
Two years of marriage, and I should have known. I was just a prop he married to satisfy his family.
But for the sake of my unborn child, I continued to make one last effort.
This was the thirteenth time I had called him.
Waiting in agony, I heard the call connect.
But it wasn't his voice. It was his assistant's, crisp and professional. "Mr. Knight is in a critical strategy meeting before tonight's game, Mrs. Knight."
My voice was so weak I could barely hear it. "Please, let me say something to him, just once...... Maybe after today, he won't have to answer my calls anymore."
A moment of silence. Then, I heard Keenan's voice, laced with irritation. The background noise was unmistakable-the sharp tap of hockey sticks on a locker room floor.
"Anya, what trick are you playing now? Didn't I tell you every pre-game meeting is crucial?"
My eyes were blurred with tears. "Keenan, I know you always wanted me to sign that divorce agreement. Now I agree to your request. As long as you come to the hospital—"
He cut me off, his tone brutal. "Giving birth is a woman's job. You have doctors and nurses for that. Don't bother me with this stuff. You can't afford to be responsible for messing with the team's focus."
Just as I was about to speak again and beg for help, another voice. Sweet, familiar, and dripping with poison. "Keenan, the competition is about to start. Don't let irrelevant people upset you. Come try the energy drink I made for you."
The daughter of my adoptive family, Kinley Hayes.
Keenan's voice instantly softened. "Okay, babe."
The line went dead.
I let the phone slip from my numb fingers. Tears mixed with the sweat on my face.
I gave up the struggle, and numbly closed my eyes.
But nurse Miller suddenly rushed in. "Dr. Sinclair! The mother's family has just signed the consent form. We're ready for the operation!"
When I heard these words, my eyes, which I had just closed, slowly opened again.
My adoptive parents?
No, they would rather have me die than let this happen. I couldn't help but wonder whether maybe the family of one of their patients signed the wrong form.
But I no longer had the time to care about these things. The darkness had blinded my eyes.
When I opened my eyes once again, I found myself in a regular ward. Two small, transparent baby beds were placed beside my bed.
Through the clear plastic, I saw two tiny, wrinkled beings. One slept peacefully, the other waved a minuscule fist in the air. So small. So fragile.
My children… they are all alive. I am also alive.
Tears flowed from my eyes as I stretched out my trembling hand, pressing my fingers against the smooth plastic surface of the baby cribs, as if I could feel their warmth through them.
At that moment, I suddenly remembered the person who signed the informed consent form for the emergency treatment.
Just as I was about to call the nurse to ask about this matter, the TV on the wall flashed briefly. Someone must have changed the channel. Live sports news began to play in the room.
"Keenan Knight leads his team to a stunning victory tonight! The star player delivered an unforgettable performance, securing their place in the finals!"
My eyes snapped open.
On the screen, Keenan stands in the middle of the rink, arms raised in triumph. The crowd roars behind him. His face is all smiles—the same face that had called me a trick just hours ago.
And then the camera panned.
Kinley was there, at his side, clinging to his arm. Her head leaned against his shoulder. She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed.
The news anchor's voice continued, "And it looks like the victory isn't the only good news for Knight tonight! Rumors are swirling that he and his long-time girlfriend, influencer Kinley Hayes, are getting closer to making things official. Wedding bells might be ringing soon for this golden couple!"
Golden couple. Long-time girlfriend. Wedding bells.
My chest hurts terribly. But I swallowed the pain back down. I looked at my child again… I couldn't collapse now.
In this crowded ward, there were two other beds. Both of these beds were surrounded by family members. The husband held the wife's hand. The mothers were busy taking care of the newborns. The grandparents laughed as they watched the babies. The room was filled with conversations, laughter, and expressions of love.
My corner was completely silent. I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep, trying to ignore all this chaos.
"Look, that's the woman who married Keenan Knight. I heard she's just an adopted daughter with no background."
"Her husband didn't even show up for the birth. Tsk, tsk. Being a rich man's wife isn't easy."
"I heard Keenan's real love is her influencer sister. This marriage is probably about to end."
"She's so pathetic. A Puck Bunny who thought she could climb the ladder, only to get kicked off."
I clenched the blanket, my nails digging into my palm. That was what they thought of me. I didn't marry him for his fame or his money.
The malicious speculation was a physical pain, worse than the tearing of childbirth. Humiliation and grief made it hard to breathe.
As I turned my head, my two babies were snoring softly beside me. They were my only comfort in this world.
I gently took my daughter's tiny hand.
This one-woman show was over. For my children, I had to leave him.
The fox and the forest
In a serene corner of the world, far removed from the clamor of human life, lay a forest known as the Whispering Woods. This forest was no ordinary collection of trees and animals; it was a place of magic and mystery, where every leaf seemed to murmur secrets of the past and every breeze carried tal
ALPHA KING OF FIRE
“PYRO. That’s my name.” Fira was about to die at the hands of hunters when there was a man came to save her. This man had a cold emotion with his unusual strength, good at dodging, and a fighter who can prevent every strike of the opponent without looking at it. She was curious about the identity o
The Forest of Mystery
Part of James H. Foster's series of action-adventure novels geared for young audiences, The Forest of Mystery begins with a chance encounter with a mysterious figure who recruits intrepid explorers Bob and Joe for a top-secret mission. The task seems tame compared to the boys' many overseas adventur
The Man of the Forest
This eBook edition of "The Man of the Forest" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. "At sunset hour the forest was still, lonely, sweet with tang of fir and spruce, blazing in gold and red and green; and the man who glided on under the great
The Cursed Wolf and the Forest Princess
The forest has always been Jackline's only home. She doesn't remember the palace she was born to, the parents who once held her, or the kingdom that cried for a stolen princess. All she knows are the crumbling stones of an abandoned castle hidden deep in the woods, the whisper of leaves, the growl o
The Debt of Deception
My bank account was a graveyard of numbers, each one a testament to my crushing debt. One hundred and fifty-two thousand, four hundred and eighty-one dollars and sixty-two cents, to be exact. It all started when Jennifer Chavez, my ex-colleague, whispered about an impending grid collapse. I belie
THE ART OF DECEPTION
Renowned art critic Lena Grant is drawn into a world of forgery and deception by a mysterious stranger known as "The Phoenix." As she uncovers the truth, she must confront her dark past and navigate a complex web of secrets and lies.
THE MAZE OF DECEPTION
In "The Maze of Deception," Aria Flynn navigates a treacherous world of crime and magic in 18th-century Ashwood. With her quick wit and sharp instincts, she must outsmart city guards, rival thieves, and mysterious figures who seek to control her fate. As she uncovers hidden secrets and ancient artif
The Cost of Deception
I was the little princess cherished by my brother Derek Walton, the most well-behaved girl in our family. The boldest thing I ever did was hide my identity and date Lucas Morrison, my brother's sworn enemy, in secret for three years. Over those three years, I let him record countless sex video
The Shadow of Deception
Marvin Simpson will be 25 next month. He is shy about ladies but not Cassie, the cleaner. Unknown to Marvin, Cassie was an assassin sent to kill him by the Contractor. Cassie has a four-month contract to kill Marvin while Marvin has Six months to get a wife or lose his company.
The Alpha King's Hated Slave
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he atta
Howling
The wolf infestation is on the rise in the village of Lublin. The villagers close their doors and windows as evening falls. Who knows when wolves come and attack them! Many of the villagers are fleeing from the village to distant towns or villages. Lublin police have not been able to trace the culpr
Veil of secrets and deception
Olivia Hayes, a renowned attorney, is drawn to the charismatic and enigmatic tech mogul, Luca Drake. His charm, humor, and innovative vision tick all the boxes for her, and their whirlwind romance sweeps her off her feet. Olivia is already deeply in love with Luca, but behind his thriving tech compa
The Billionaire's Veil Of Deception
A thrilling chase. A risky deal. A marriage shrouded in secrets. Lila Monroe was just trying to get by-until one fateful night turned her world upside down. Drugged and chased by merciless strangers, she barely managed to escape with her life. But she's left in the dark about why she was targeted or
The Howling Pact
In The Howling Pact, Kaelan is a skilled hunter dedicated to protecting his village from the terrifying creatures that lurk in the depths of Eldergrove Forest. After years of success in slaying various monsters, he faces a formidable foe, a powerful werewolf. During their epic confrontation, Kaelan
Whispers of the Forest : The Last Priestess
Mira just wanted to live an ordinary life and become a healer like her mother. But an emperor, a god and a mysterious forest had other plans for her. After the kidnapping of her adoptive mother, Mira is forced to return to a fantasy world full of magic that she did not remember. In this fantastic un
