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No | 2024-10-10 19:48 | active | 1604 | 0 | A new working life with renewed purpose. | Retired business owner, Nealie, was looking for something to do. In a few short weeks she was teaching third grade as a substitute teacher. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.mykelly.com/local-jobs/wake-up-teach-b | Kelly Education | https://www.facebook.com/KellyEducation/ | 2,227 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | www.mykelly.com | VIDEO | https://www.mykelly.com/local-jobs/wake-up-teach-berks-county/?utm_source=meta&utm_medium=video-sponsored&utm_campaign=2024_07_edu_b2c_general_wut&utm_content=berks_employee_video_nealie_diggs_1 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462282121_607138968302548_4786056538524489174_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wdAu5TGT2k8Q7kNvgFVGXeE&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AEBixwYVJ3wJ1qYpoGRk0fP&oh=00_AYDtV0srVgrKS8x7lE4TWbHtN2y1gQkRnpPRoBkdB0HS7g&oe=670E5294 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Kelly Education | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-10-10 20:09 | active | 1605 | 0 | Skip the awkward clinic visit, improve your sperm score at home⚡ | Think your fertility is in top shape? You might be surprised—take control with Fertility Accelerator. 🚀 The Fertility Accelerator is the only comprehensive program designed to improve your sperm health and help you successfully conceive. Plus, if your sperm score doesn’t improve, you get your money back! Here’s what’s included: ✅ 4-months of at-home sperm testing with SeedCheck ✅ 4-months of complete fertility support with SeedBoost 📚 Complete digital guides: lifestyle, cookbook, and fertility blueprint 📦 Free shipping & VIP support throughout the program 💡 Daily fertility tips and money-back guarantee—improve or get your investment back! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "We had been trying for over a year with no luck. The Fertility Accelerator completely changed our game—my sperm score skyrocketed, and we got pregnant in just a few months! Best decision ever." - Zach W. (verified customer) Don’t wait—the sooner you start, the better your chances. Take charge of your fertility today!💪 | LEARN_MORE | https://www.lifespark.bio/products/fertility-accel | Lifespark | https://www.facebook.com/lifespark.bio/ | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | www.lifespark.bio | VIDEO | Skip the awkward clinic visit, test & improve your sperm score with the Fertility Accelerator | https://www.lifespark.bio/products/fertility-accelerator | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/459458987_1518575095428546_8036543772879781844_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UFtSjwD17S4Q7kNvgGdtirE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AwxZJBCt1kaU9EVv3kmYfb5&oh=00_AYAVKgqvPtAnKjErsqobRDqEiMxJ-v-yQNW42NdQkqDpGQ&oe=670E42A4 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lifespark | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-10-10 20:09 | active | 1605 | 0 |
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🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that don’t quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. “Is this the way you greet all Alpha’s?” His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. “I’m sorry.” I whisper, getting to my feet. “I…I thought I was alone.” I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. “Come forward.” He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as I’m told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. “You smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?” My head moved up and down, though I couldn’t tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. “I would prefer it if you spoke to me.” He growls, “I’m not in the mood to play games.” “Yes.” I whisper. “I am…I am a Wolf.” I couldn’t help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasn’t sure how much more my body could take. “How is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.” “I…..” I hated the question. “I haven’t got all day!” He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldn’t scent him. I knew why I hadn’t been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. “You should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?” His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. “My Wolf abilities were bound.” “Why?” If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. “It was a punishment.” “For what?” “For killing my parents.” | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | New world publications | https://www.facebook.com/61557831245498/ | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GLa4FmNoFu8Q7kNvgHd4Ztv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AFJP9yNkWRAzhrH2-F976QK&oh=00_AYDMLpk6kzubyHPocrF4Ks1SfLuahY7rxUJA1sX9XrbfvQ&oe=670E379D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | New world publications | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-10-10 21:18 | active | 1606 | 0 |
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🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉 | Haley hadn't seen her husband William for a week and when she finally called him in the evening he seemed annoyed. "I have a meeting now. Excuse me." He brushed hang up the phone before she could say a word. Haley felt a little disappointed since tonight marked their third anniversary. Anyway, she decided to stay awake until he got home. Bored, she picked up her phone, checking into her tiktok to kil-l time. Just then, a piece of news popped up, featuring NK Enterprise, her husband's company. Excited, Haley tapped into the news; "William Nash, Famous CEO of NK Enterprise, Checks Into Hotel With his Mystery Girlfriend, Relationship Revealed" Her William? Haley's eyes glued to her phone's screen, shock and disbelief taking over when she saw the image of her husband entering the Hotel, his arm snaked around a woman's waist. Haley couldn’t believe her husband was with a woman. She must be mistaken. Sinking in confusion was pointless. Haley dialed his number. On her third trial, he finally picked up. “What's up?” he asked coldly. Haley inhaled deeply, controlling her emotions. “Liam, where are you? Today's our 3rd anniversary, remember?” “So?” he said through his careless tone, “Not coming home. Sleep by yourself.” His voice holding no remorse, a gut-wrenching punch to her pride. Just then, a female voice, soft and seductive, came on the phone. “Willy, I'm thirsty.” Willy? Even Haley wasn't allowed to call him that. He truly was with a woman! The phone beeped. He hung up the call. Haley sank onto the bed, her thoughts spinning and that voice echoing. It was Leah! Liam’s secretary who looked a lot like his Ex. Dazed, Haley's gaze fell on the decorations; her hard work. Tears blurred Haley's vision. Suddenly, a message notification appeared. [I'm pre-gnant. It's time for me to become the new Mrs. Nash.] Haley gripped the phone, her body trembling. It was from Leah. She'd been having second thoughts whenever she wanted to leave the man, but now she gave up her last hope. Haley stood up and retrieved the document she'd hidden in a corner of the closet and signed her name on it. Tears that reminded her of how weak and helpless she'd reduced herself to all in this marriage. Never again. | LEARN_MORE | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12277&u | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 810 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | redtgb.com | DCO | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12277&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449390795_7854042474649336_272341074011239376_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9ifwiGaeO8kQ7kNvgFPd-lo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ATVFfr2N-zo0cxzPn0gsCFO&oh=00_AYDbYb-RugAETV3K4uymowV7f9t3bYG5gYPGlRjVGMkQQA&oe=670E3B9E | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-10-10 21:18 | active | 1606 | 0 |
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WASHER AND DRYER SETS | WASHER AND DRYER SETS - $425.00 Beautifully refurbished washer and dryer sets $425-$1100 for the PAIR. ✅ All fully tested and serviced in excellent working condition 🛠️ In-house or third party warranty on every unit 🚚 Delivery available for a fee 💰 $0 upfront payment option available 🏬 2139 N. Main St. Unit I, Summerville, SC located behind Little Caesars ⏰ Open Wednesday-Saturday 9:30-5 Facebook.com/allianceappliancesc Facebook Marketplace | CONTACT_US | https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/390361499320 | Jessica Dooley | https://www.facebook.com/Jessica-Dooley-112741293523146/ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Contact us | 0 | IMAGE | https://facebook.com/marketplace/item/3903614993201590/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | REGULAR_PAGE | 1 | 0 | 0 | Jessica Dooley | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-10-10 19:30 | active | 1603 | 0 |
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Enter $500 Waterwise Garden Giveaway | Sustainability begins in your backyard–and your waterwise garden begins with our giveaway! Enter to win a $500 gift card and a consultation with gardening experts. | SIGN_UP | https://waterwisegiveaway.highcountrygardens.com/ | High Country Gardens | https://www.facebook.com/hcg4fans/ | 99,576 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Sign Up | 0 | highcountrygardens.com | DCO | Enter to win a waterwise yard transformation & turn your yard into a thriving ecosystem today! | https://waterwisegiveaway.highcountrygardens.com/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/405305977_1719693421841242_7364882152367765383_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bvbODQ8WjO4Q7kNvgHKsGh5&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A_MQkHLcCadtNX957zacGqz&oh=00_AYD-hrDhCZV10zA8CaOtJvTtscD9Qc2HwHbjZKbWyCfkpA&oe=670E5513 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | High Country Gardens | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Plan a student trip, get $1K in scholarship money | Earn up to $1K in scholarship money for a class trip to NYC, D.C., and beyond | SIGN_UP | http://fb.me/ | EF Explore America | https://www.facebook.com/efexploreamerica/ | 25,385 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Sign Up | 0 | efexploreamerica.com | DCO | Give your students the trip of a lifetime. | http://fb.me/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462600094_521000270724596_8096738169560230658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QwLzFE42q0kQ7kNvgGZFRaD&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AIK0P7Wz5NQEvXP-suRS9ma&oh=00_AYAACkgkXMJqqn09kSIJ9g6LEgh2zzoqAxMq1Q0VB0T8NA&oe=670E4C40 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | EF Explore America | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2024-10-10 20:09 | active | 1605 | 0 |
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My new husband is disabled, yet he manages to wear me out every night | Forced to marry a disabled tycoon, thinking she would be caring for him for life, she was taken aback when he stood up on their wedding night, making her exhausted every night! ===== Chapter 1 How About We Get Married? "Today is our wedding day! What am I supposed to do if you leave?" At the wedding, Elyse Lloyd was in a panic as she grabbed Theo Ward's wrist to stop him from leaving, her eyes filling with pleading. "Kaelyn knows about our wedding, and now she's threatening to jump off a building. You are aware of her depression, aren't you? I have to go save her." Theo explained impatiently and pushed Elyse aside. The venue was filled with the family and friends of both parties, all seated and waiting. The officiant had posed the question to Theo about his willingness to marry Elyse. Instead of replying, he ignored the officiant, answered his phone, and then abruptly attempted to leave. "Kaelyn Bennett totally stabbed you in the back before. She's caused you so much pain--why the heck must you go see her right now?" "You're not in a position to judge what happened between me and Kaelyn. No matter her wrongs or the pain she caused, you don't measure up to her." A pain struck Elyse's heart. "You're more concerned with your wedding than a living person's life. You're so heartless. Let's reschedule the wedding." Without a glance at her pale face, he strode away from the ornate altar, oblivious to the puzzled looks of gathered guests. Elyse cried out, sitting pitifully on the floor. She trembled, tears ruining her carefully applied makeup. The man she had loved for three years, disregarding her dignity, had chosen another woman without a second thought on their big day. He was consumed with thoughts of Kaelyn's distress but seemed indifferent to how lost and humiliated she felt, left alone at the altar. All around her, countless eyes watched, some mocking, some pitying, and others even gloating. Elyse had never felt such torment! Her father, Lanny Lloyd, approached. She hoped for comfort, but instead, he scolded her sharply, "You can't even keep a man. How useless!" After berating her, he left with his wife, Glenda Lloyd, without a backward glance. Her sister, Mabel Lloyd, emerged from the crowd with a smirk. "Well, that's embarrassing, Elyse. Your groom ran off, and now you're a laughingstock. I'm embarrassed for you. Imagine how Mom and Dad feel." After saying that, she turned and left. One by one, all of Elyse's family members departed, leaving her completely alone. Initially, Theo's parents felt guilty, but upon witnessing her family's reaction, all traces of guilt dissipated. "Even her own parents didn't support her. It seems this isn't entirely Theo's fault." "Yes, if she were a good partner, why would her fiancé leave her?" "Did she cheat on him? What else would make a groom leave like that?" The murmurs of criticism from the surrounding guests grew louder and harsher. Suddenly, there were noises nearby. Turning around, Elyse spotted a man in a suit sitting alone in a wheelchair. The officiant, looking flustered, asked, "Where is your bride?" Wiping away her tears, she halted a passing staff member and inquired, "That man is a groom, right? Where is his bride?" The staff member glanced at her and responded, "She didn't show up. I heard it was because she couldn't deal with her husband's disability." "And he's been waiting here all this time?" The staff member nodded. The wheelchair-bound groom was facing away from Elyse, and they were a fair distance apart. She couldn't see his expression, but she understood the pain of being left alone. They were both unfortunate souls, abandoned. After a moment of reflection, a determined look settled in Elyse's eyes. She had loved Theo for three years, but he had betrayed her. Why should she remain loyal to him? She realized she didn't need to be with him at all. As she suddenly stood up, the guests who had been whispering and mocking her fell silent. All eyes instinctively focused on her as she lifted the hem of her dress and confidently walked toward the man in the wheelchair. The sight of a bride in a white wedding dress approaching left the man's guests equally stunned. Hearing the rustle of her dress, the man in the wheelchair turned around slowly. Elyse halted and gazed at the handsome man before her, a spark of surprise in her eyes. She then extended her hand and said, "Hello, I heard you're in need of a bride. My groom just left me. How about we get married?" Chapter 2 What Was She Up To? "My name is Elyse Lloyd. If it's all right with you, we can get married today," she proposed confidently. Her bold proposal left the crowd in shock, prompting several to capture the moment with their phones. "Miss Lloyd, are you certain about this decision? Given my disability, I may not be able to provide the future you envision," the man replied openly, without hiding his condition, and gently urged her to think it over. "I've made up my mind," Elyse responded with determination. "I'm Jayden," he introduced himself. Seeing her resolve, Jayden Owen grasped her hand and shared his concern, "I fear you might regret this choice later on." Elyse chose not to respond. She was sure of her decision. She had once been solely focused on marrying Theo, who never truly reciprocated her love. Now, who she married seemed inconsequential. After efficiently wrapping up the wedding formalities at City Hall, Elyse and Jayden were now bound by matrimony, officially united as husband and wife. With the marriage certificate in hand, Elyse experienced a profound sense of relief. Theo had broken her heart, and she was resolute in never returning to him. Regarding her father, since she would not be marrying into the Ward family, he had another daughter to think about. She understood her little sister Mabel too well. As someone driven by greed, how could Mabel resist the temptation to become Theo's wife and a member of the Ward family? Thus, marrying Jayden was Elyse's perfect escape from her family's clutches. She had no intention of going back home again. While she gazed thoughtfully at the marriage certificate, Jayden asked, "What's on your mind? Regretting your decision to marry a disabled man?" Elyse shook her head, took hold of the wheelchair, and replied, "I think it was a good decision." Jayden smiled slightly, though his eyes betrayed a hint of skepticism and mistrust. How could any woman genuinely want to marry a disabled man? He figured she was just putting on an act--an act that couldn't last forever. He needed a bride momentarily to distract his family while he pursued his own goals. Well, he decided, he might as well see what she was up to. Elyse helped Jayden into the car, and they drove to his house. Jayden's home was opulent, complete with a garden and a swimming pool, and staffed with a butler in a tuxedo and uniformed maids. As Elyse stepped onto the plush wool carpet, she truly realized that her new husband was far from ordinary. The butler, Driscoll Lee, approached them respectfully and inquired, "Mr. Owen, is this your bride?" Surveying the opulent house and recollecting her newlywed husband's full name, a sudden realization dawned on Elyse. The Owens were the most influential family in town, and Jayden Owen was particularly notable among his peers for his business acumen and exceptional talent. He was one of the wealthiest men around. However, after a car accident a year ago that cost him his legs, Jayden had faded from the public eye and his prior achievements were largely forgotten. So, she had married the legendary Jayden Owen? Elyse recalled hearing rumors about his engagement to a girl from the Foster family. The bride who had disappeared on her wedding day was supposed to be that Foster girl. Upon hearing Jayden's full name at City Hall, Elyse hadn't dwelled on it much. If she had known his background sooner, she wouldn't have had the courage to broach the topic of marriage with him. Jayden noticed the shock and panic on her face but remained silent. He still doubted that she truly hadn't recognized him. After all, his disability was well known. "This is Elyse Lloyd, my wife. From now on, she will be the hostess here," Jayden introduced her firmly. "Joanna Foster escaped on our wedding day because she didn't want to marry a disabled man," he added bluntly. "Joanna Foster disappeared on the wedding day?" Driscoll expressed his surprise. The Foster family had been eager to forge a union with the Owen family through marriage, pushing for Jayden to marry Joanna. On the wedding day, however, the bride had disappeared. Wasn't this a deliberate humiliation of Jayden? Driscoll felt sympathy for him and offered some consolation, "Sir, perhaps it's for the best that she left. It seems you might have found the right person after all." Elyse had shown no concern for Jayden's disability and was willing to marry him. That indeed counted for something. Chapter 3 He Could Walk Fluidly Looking at Jayden's legs, Elyse felt a wave of sympathy for him. Jayden had once been at the pinnacle of success, and now he seemed so vulnerable. Just because he was disabled, his bride had callously abandoned him at the altar, showing him no respect whatsoever. He must have felt even more devastated than she did during the wedding. Approaching Jayden, Elyse took his hand and said earnestly, "Don't worry. We are husband and wife now. I will take care of you for the rest of our lives." Jayden's expression turned rigid. Could she really mean it, promising to take care of him for a lifetime? He doubted her sincerity, thinking she was just putting on an act of compassion. Without a word, Jayden maneuvered his wheelchair into the study on the first floor. "I'm sorry," Driscoll said apologetically. "Since his accident, he's been a bit more temperamental." "It's fine. I understand," Elyse replied, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. Anyone in his situation might change. She then followed Driscoll upstairs to a room on the second floor. -- "Sir." In the study stood a bald man named Vinny Bailey, clad in a tight black shirt that accentuated his prominent tendons. Respectfully, Vinny ignited a lighter and lit a cigar for Jayden. "Joanna has gone abroad. The Foster family is desperately trying to come up with a solution." "They've taken thirty million and five major projects from me. Is this their way of repaying me?" Jayden let out a puff of smoke and remarked casually, "If I don't teach them a lesson, others will see me as a pushover. The Fosters need to learn a few things." "Do you want us to bring Joanna back?" Vinny inquired, nodding. "And as for your new wife, should we make some introductions with our men?" "No need." Jayden, cigar clenched between his teeth, lifted a document from the desk and strolled over to the window. The wheelchair was tucked away in a corner of the room, ignored, as he moved fluidly across the floor. This document detailed Elyse's entire life, from her childhood through to her college life, even including her romance with Theo. He casually flipped through the pages and drawled, "An ordinary woman. She married me just for my money." Back then, the Owens had declared their search for a wife for Jayden, aiming simply to secure an heir. Upon the announcement, no wealthy family was eager to marry their daughter to him, except for the Fosters, who had enriched themselves through their daughters' marriage. The Fosters' motive was straightforward--to exchange their daughter for resources and money. Vinny saw no other reason for Elyse to marry Jayden but for financial gain. Yet, there was another twist. "She was originally going to marry Theo Ward." "Ward? The Ward family that's well-known?" Jayden lifted an eyebrow. "Yes. But apparently, the groom ran off to reunite with his ex-girlfriend after receiving a phone call." Vinny paused, then speculated, "Maybe she married you just to spite Theo Ward." Jayden ceased perusing the documents and glanced up at Vinny with a hint of annoyance. "You're looking at it too simplistically. By marrying me, she stands to gain more. That's the real reason she married me, despite my disability." In Jayden's eyes, Elyse hadn't yet revealed her true intentions. But he didn't mind her interest in his money. He needed a wife to appease his family. If she married him for gain, it would make a future divorce simpler for him. -- Perched on the edge of the bed, Elysee scrolled through her phone and noticed the trending topics. #Bridegroom Ran Away For His Ex #Bride Marries Stranger To Anger Her Ranaway Groom She casually scrolled through the comments. The public deemed the entire situation unbelievable and both parties' actions as unreasonable. Nevertheless, discussions had thrust Elyse's name into circulation because of it. Some even discovered she was a violinist in an orchestra and stumbled upon a video of her past performance. Unable to resist, Elyse was watching these videos when Theo called. "Where are you, Elyse? Let's meet and talk." Chapter 4 Who Were You Married To? As Elyse descended the stairs to the villa's entrance, Driscoll approached her with concern. "It's quite late. Where are you off to? Shall I arrange a car for you?" "No, thanks. I'll be back soon." Driscoll watched her depart before heading to the study. Elyse, having agreed to meet Theo, called a taxi and was soon en route. Fifteen minutes later, she entered a coffee shop and instantly noticed Theo, who was in high spirits, busy texting on his phone. A flicker of sarcasm crossed her eyes as she approached and sat across from him. Theo looked up, his expression souring. "Why are you so late? Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting?" Staring back at him, Elyse felt a chill. They had been together for a long time, yet he was always domineering toward her, a stark contrast to his demeanor with Kaelyn. She had once loved him, believing she could endure anything. Only today had she realized how foolish that was. If she didn't love herself, how could she expect anyone else to love her? "If you don't want to wait, you can leave," Elyse retorted icily. Theo, taken aback by her response, grew visibly more upset. "You're holding a grudge about what happened at the wedding, aren't you? I get why you're upset, but you can't be more understanding and reasonable? I left because Kaelyn was in dire straits--she was depressed and contemplating suicide." "You can go to anyone you want. You don't need to explain anything to me--I don't care anymore." Elyse found humor in his words. Theo couldn't believe she was indifferent. They had been together for three years, and everyone knew how deeply she loved him. He thought her claim of indifference was merely a result of anger. But he was confident he could easily resolve this. Just a few sweet words and she'd come back to him. "It's not a big deal. I came back to you after handling everything, didn't I? I'll visit your parents soon, and we can start planning the wedding again," Theo said. "No need for that." "What?" "There won't be a wedding." Elyse's face was devoid of emotion. "We're done." "Why are you still upset? I left at the wedding, but I came back for you. Can't you forgive me?" Theo frowned. "Forgive you? Forgive you for abandoning me for another woman?" Elyse slammed her hand on the table. "Do you have any idea what I've been through since you left? Your family has been calling me names, even though you were the one who left me at the altar--just for another woman!" "Elyse Lloyd!" Theo shouted her name furiously. "What others say is their issue. Isn't our three-year relationship strong enough for you to trust me?" "Three years, and yet you never forgot your ex," Elyse countered, her face marked by disappointment. "I believed we'd be together forever, but it seems three years was our limit. We're done, Theo. It's clear we're not suited for each other." While speaking, she retrieved a ring from her bag and set it down on the table--the same ring he had used to propose. She recalled the joy she felt that day, now overshadowed by her current despair. Elyse gave Theo one last look, mentally closing the chapter on their three years together. She grabbed her bag and departed without a backward glance. Theo was stunned. Was Elyse dumping him? He always saw her as a simp, her family reliant on his. How could she just walk away? Humiliated, he chased after her, grabbed her shoulder, and said forcefully, "You have no right to break things off! Remember, your father's business relies on me. Without me, your family has nothing. Come back, and we'll marry in a few days to make up for today!" "Let me go!" Elyse fought back fiercely and yelled with defiance and frustration, "I'm married. Stop bothering me!" "So what if you are married! You will always belong to me." After blurting that out, he froze and asked incredulously, "What did you say? You're married? Who to?" While he was momentarily dazed, Elyse wriggled free from his grip. She hadn't anticipated turning around to find Jayden sitting in a wheelchair quietly a few meters behind her. "Jayden!" she exclaimed. Chapter 5 You Can Stand? "Didn't I make it clear? I'm married. We're over. This is my husband," Elyse said as she quickly moved to Jayden's side, gripping his arm. Theo stared at Jayden, failing to recognize him. With a sneer, he said, "To get back at me, you married a disabled man?" He then extended his hand, commanding in a domineering tone, "Elyse, come here! I'll make it up to you when we get back." But Elyse looked at him as if he were a stranger. "Did you hear me? Come here!" Theo grew frustrated. Elyse reflected on how she would have responded in the past--she would definitely walk over to his side. She had loved him deeply for three years. Her feelings had been genuine. Yet, the depth of her affection made the betrayal harder to bear. On her first birthday after they got together, she wanted to celebrate it by the sea. To make her happy, Theo bought a camera, promising to capture beautiful photos of her. As they were about to board the plane for their trip to the seaside, Kaelyn was injured on a film set and called Theo. Without any hesitation, Theo left her stranded at the airport. It was the most disappointing birthday Elyse had ever experienced. Theo had once vowed to attend her debut performance with her orchestra, yet she ended up not seeing him there. She lingered in the hall all night, only to learn the next day that he had missed the performance because Kaelyn had become drunk at a dinner party while trying to land a role. He stayed because he was worried she might be taken advantage of. For three years, he had been Kaelyn's protector, but he had never offered Elyse the same safeguard. This accumulation of disappointments came to a head at the wedding. She knew she deserved love and respect, not neglect. "I am Jayden's wife now. I owe my loyalty to him," declared Elyse with a chill in her voice. "Elyse Lloyd!" Theo roared, enraged. He thought Elyse was merely being spiteful and fabricating things due to the day's incidents. As he tried to seize her hand, Jayden intervened, blocking him swiftly. Theo struggled to free his hand, but was unable to. He couldn't overpower a disabled man? The realization pissedhim off. "Release me!" Theo exploded with anger. "She has no desire to leave with you. Can't you understand?" Jayden pressed slowly, his force causing Theo's features to twist in distress. Jayden held on until Theo cried out in pain before releasing him. "Remember this day, Elyse. You'll regret it in the future!" With a hint of embarrassment, Theo glared at Elyse and stormed off after his declaration. Watching him leave, Elyse felt a bitter smile form within her. She knew Theo would not easily let go of being humiliated, but there was no turning back for them now. "Let's go home, Elyse." "Okay." After helping Jayden into the car, they both sat silently, gazing out the window and avoiding any mention of Theo. "How did you know I was out here?" Elyse asked, her curiosity piqued. Without turning to face her, Jayden replied, "Driscoll mentioned it wasn't safe for you to be alone at this hour, so I came to pick you up." In truth, he had suspected she was up to something secretive, but it turned out she was merely meeting her ex. This revelation left him slightly disappointed. "Since you've married me, you should sever ties with your ex. My family members are strict, and I can't cover for you if they find out you're still seeing another man." "I won't see him again. I met him just to return a ring," Elyse responded, nodding. Jayden said nothing more. As long as Elyse respected his boundaries, she was free to make her own choices. When they arrived home, Elyse noticed Jayden heading straight for the study again. Curious, she asked Driscoll, "Why is he always in the study?" "The study is not only his workplace, but it has also become a sanctuary for his soul," Driscoll explained. "And why doesn't he return to his room?" "He does sometimes, but we rarely know when. He prefers that we don't fuss over him too much." With that, Driscoll departed. After freshening up in her room, Elyse was preparing for bed, but her thoughts lingered on the day's events with Jayden. She realized that despite his reserved nature, he was genuinely concerned for her safety. Feeling grateful and wanting to express her thanks, she left her room and walked towards the study. As she approached, she noticed the door was slightly ajar, casting a sliver of light into the hallway. Elyse pushed the door open and to her surprise, saw Jayden standing. She gasped and asked, "Jayden, you can stand?" ==== "You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don't we get married?" Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful and healthy tycoon. Was Jayden's fake disability revealed just like that? What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &5& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/55905322-fb_contact-e | Beloved Books | https://www.facebook.com/61565799023858/ | 209 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/55905322-fb_contact-enp12_8-c2-0511-core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=060236&accid=1758242218037720&rawadid=120211934622330227 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/461168015_1257869715380361_5350768026672202878_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7iwI70oqqMYQ7kNvgHh4QP5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AQdGAHoL8S4mzTMLoNlVVms&oh=00_AYDrrACxqnDQ8Hyqtkqf8laIDVf5z2p-F3QZlLqnQKR3yw&oe=670E4DD5 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Beloved Books | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉 | Bryan was slicing fruit for his mother-in-law when his phone rang. He looked around to make sure there’s no one close to him before picking it up. “Liana. I remember I’ve told you not to contact me unless it's necessary." He lowered his voice and said a bit harshly. "Sorry, Mr. Bryan. But congratulations! Your wife has achieved great success. She has finally made it and become the best actress in Glare, standing on the stage of Heavenwood and enjoying the attentions from all over the world.” A gentle and pleasant female voice came from the phone. Bryan was first stunned, then as if suddenly remembering something, he reproached himself, "Oh, gosh, I didn’t know this important thing!" But then he couldn’t help muttering, “But...why didn’t Amelia tell me to attend the ceremony with her?” He felt a little upset. As Amelia’s husband, he should be allowed to accompany with her. Also more importantly, he wanted to tell the whole world that Amelia is his wife! But he had lost the best opportunity. “She must be too busy!” Bryan relieved himself in heart. At that moment, a voice suddenly roared from the living room, which startled him. “What are you doing in the kitchen? Where is the fruit? Take it to me now!” That was Mrs. Hailey, Amelia's mother, whose attitude toward Bryan became increasingly worse as her daughter became more and more famous. In the past, when Amelia was only an unknown actress, Mrs. Hailey always praised Bryan as a good husband; But after her Amelia became famous, she started to look down on Bryan, thinking that a stay-at-home husband was not good enough for her big star daughter. Bryan immediately hung up the call, sliced the fruit as quickly as possible, and rushed to give it to her. He gently placed the plate in front of Mrs. Hailey, who was glaring at him. “Good-for-nothing! What kind of fruit is this?” she snapped. “Apples and bananas, ma'am.” Bryan replied, keeping his voice humble and his gaze lowered. “Foolish guy, are you a deaf? Or even the poverty in your life has spread through your brain? Don’t you know I dislike apples and bananas? You are really annoying me!” she shouted. “Sorry, but you didn’t...” Bryan felt very aggrieved and wanted to explain. “Shut up! You useless trash!” She glared fiercely at Bryan and shouted to cut off his explanation. In fact, she didn't hate apples and bananas, she was just looking for trouble. Bryan stood there, suffering from her chattering. It wasn't the first time he had heard those humiliations, but out of respect to his wife, he also respect her mother. Finally, Mrs. Hailey got tired of scolding him. She took a glass of water that Bryan handed over, took a sip and looked at him with disgust, shouting, “ Get lost! Don’t block me from watch TV.” At this moment, Bryan saw the live broadcast of the Grayer Awards Ceremony on the screen, and exactly, it was his wife's turn! Bryan blushed immediately as Amelia walked on stage. She looked so pretty, wearing a stunning off-shoulder gown that accentuated her figure. She was shining brightly! She was the center of attention! "That's my daughter!" Mrs. Hailey excitedly shouted, but she soon got calm when she saw Bryan. She mocked, "Bryan, you are such a piece of waste. Look, how excellent my daughter is! You're only hindering her progress!" "But...she is my wife..." Bryan protested, he even wanted to tell this snob what he had secretly done for his wife. However, he can’t expose it because Amelia always hoped to succeed because of her own hard work. "You are not even worthy to be Amelia’s husband. My superstar daughter deserves better man! Hump, clean up the room right now!" she commanded, her eyes full of contempt. “I’ve done it this morning.” . “Do it again!” Bryan knew arguing with her was baseless. So he hurriedly picked up the rag and started cleaning the living room. The stage anchor's voice boomed from the TV, "And here we have our beautiful, talented Amelia, the best actress of the year. Please welcome her with a round of applause!" Bryan stole glances at the TV as he cleaned up the room. He quietly joined in the clapping. Amelia collected the award and began her acceptance speech: "Thank you so much for this incredible honor. All thanks to my fans, team, and supporters. First, I'd like to thank my wonderful mother for always believing in me and supporting me every step of the way. Your unwavering love and guidance have been my anchor.” Mrs. Hailey laughed excitedly, very proud of her daughter; Bryan's eyes were glued to the TV, confident that his name would be mentioned then. He knew that! “I also want to express my deep gratitude to my amazing director and other teammates, they really taught me a lot...” “......” Bryan felt anxious. As time went by, he didn’t hear anything relevant to him in Amelia’s speech. “But Why? I’m her husband!” Bryan thought in mind, feeling disappointed. “Amelia will definitely mention me in the end! We deeply love each other!” Bryan muttered to himself, as if he was relieving himself. Eventually, under Bryan’s expectant gaze, the speech was coming to an end. “Lastly, my deepest gratitude goes to the most special person in my life. Your unwavering support, your endless love, and your belief in my dreams have been the foundation of my success...” “She is looking at me! She is referring to me!” Bryan excitedly stated. Mrs. Hailey felt very confused because Amelia had ever told her that she didn’t love Bryan at all. Suddenly, she realized something. She looked at Bryan, who was dancing with excitement, and laughed in her heart, "Poor guy, Amelia was not talking about you!” On TV, Amelia was still going on, “You are my rock and my greatest love. Every achievement of mine is a testament to your devotion and sacrifice. I couldn't have done this without you, and I am eternally grateful for everything you’ve done for me. This award is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you, my love, for being my everything, I love you! Yeah, I mean you.” Amelia then, smiled at the camera so brightly, with very much lovely affection. Bryan's eyes flushed and his heart melted. “It's me! Wow, I can't believe there is a day Amelia would appreciate me like this. I love you too, Amelia.” he muttered back However, on TV, Amelia’s loving gaze was passing through the crowd of spectators and falling on a handsome young man in the middle of the audience, who was beyond the range of the camera. ... ... Bryan beamed with joy, smile appeared on his face as Amelia's appreciation replayed in his mind. He never doubted that the man his wife referred to was not him. As he cleaned up the room, he hummed and thought to himself, “I know I made a good decision marrying Amelia and supporting her career.” After that, Bryan planned to prepare a candlelight dinner and celebrate with his wife when she returned home. Fortunately, Mrs. Hailey had gone out for something urgent. Bryan rummaged through the pantry and refrigerator, gathering ingredients for his special dishes. With practiced hands, he began chopping vegetables, humming a tune as he worked. Bryan decided to cook Amelia’s favorite food. He set the table, beautifully decorating it with a bouquet of fresh flowers, adding a touch of elegance. Expensive beverages and candles were lit, casting a warm glow over the room. After all things were ready, he looked over the transfer agreement he had prepared for the entertainment company's shares. Bryan intended to transfer the shares of Imperial Legacy Entertainment, one of the state's leading entertainment companies, worth billions of dollars, to give Amelia a big surprise. He couldn't wait for his wife's reaction when she saw it; she must be ecstatic! He sat impatiently waiting for her. All this while, all he could do was help her from the shadows. Now, he could fully support her openly. He watched the time slip by as Amelia was yet to return home. He felt worried and nervous. Normally, even if Amelia didn’t come back home, she would have given him a call or a message. He called her in anxiety. It rang the first time but no one picked up. He tried it again, but she hung up immediately. On the third call, she finally answered and Bryan felt relieved. “Hi babe! Congratulations on your success today!” He said eagerly. “Thanks.” She replied simply. “You looked very, very beautiful on TV. I can't believe you are my wife,” He complimented her. “Yeah, I know.” She answered coldly again. Bryan was surprised because the wife he knew would have screamed and called him sweet names. “Are you coming home soon? There are a lot of surprises for you!” He said excitedly. “No!” She answered in the same indifferent tone. Bryan frowned, he immediately knew something was off. “Is everything okay, Amelia? You should open up to me.” He probed gently. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I won’t be coming home until tomorrow morning,” She said, her voice lacking any warmth. Bryan felt disappointed. He had prepared all those dishes for her, and now it was going to waste. “Okay, tomorrow then!” he said, and as he was about to hang up, he heard a thick voice vibrate in the background asking, “Who is that?” Bryan immediately asked, “Amelia, where are you and who is that talking?” Amelia answered, now with a sweet tone, “Babe, I am in the bar with my colleagues. They are throwing a party for me. I'm sorry I won't be coming home.” Bryan smiled and nodded, “Okay then, bye, love you.” The phone hung up when he was expecting a “love you too.” He pondered what was going wrong because that wasn't the usual Amelia. Then he shrugged it off, thinking, “She is just tired and busy.” He consoled himself and felt disappointed for the food he cooked. He went to clear the table. He was still on it when his phone vibrated. He checked it to see it was an incoming message. He clicked on it. His heart skipped a beat as his grip on the plates in his hand loosened. The plates shattered on the floor as he stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock. He felt like throwing up. "No, this must not be real!" he uttered, his voice shaking, staring at the picture on the screen. The message contained an image showing a man kissing his wife, Amelia, passionately in front of a bar. Bryan's face contorted in denial, his eyes scanning the picture frantically. He gripped the table tightly, his knuckles white with tension. His head spun with confusion, "No, no... someone is trying to frame my sweet wife," he muttered to himself, "I know my Amelia will never do this, never, never." With a determined look on his face, he gathered himself up and immediately called Amelia, but she didn't answer. He tried repeatedly, but her phone went straight to voicemail, each time displaying the same automatic response. "Oh no! It can't be, it can't be my wife," he uttered nervously. He didn't know what to do, and again, he tried her number, and the response was the same. He checked the image again and nodded as he sat down somberly on the chair in the dining hall. "No, it can't be, Amelia won’t do this!" he muttered again. ... ... In a presidential suite, a luxury hotel, the light was dim, the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioning and the gentle crackle of the fireplace. A handsome young man, dressed in a tailored suit, stood tall, his eyes locked on the woman in front of him. She was stunning, her red gown hugging her curves in all the right places. As they moved closer, their mouths met in a passionate kiss. The man's hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her in tight, while hers grasped his shoulders, deepening the embrace. The woman's eyes fluttered closed, her head tilting back as the man's mouth traced a path down her neck. His hands roamed, caressing her skin, then he stopped and gazed at her. “Is that your lowlife, servant husband that called you earlier?” He asked her. Amelia nodded slowly, “Yeah, it's that worthless waste. I'm fed up with him.” “Sure, then… why haven't you divorced him then? When are you doing that? I can't wait any longer.” He said. Amelia hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, “I will divorce him soon. The agreement is ready, just give me some time.” “Okay, I can't wait to live with you together, babe.” The man, Xander, said. Amelia smiled and kissed him. “I will, soon.” Although Amelia had been married to Bryan for three years, her heart belonged to Xander. He was the man she was praising during the speech. Her first love, the man of her dreams since adolescence. ... ... The Next Morning... Bryan tried to dismiss the pictures from his mind. He didn’t believe Amelia had betrayed him. After all, photo editing and AI face-swapping technology are very advanced. He thought that photo must have been maliciously edited to defame his innocent wife. However, a seed of doubt lingered, gnawing at him. He spent the entire night on the sofa in the living room, unable to sleep, because the image on the picture would appear in his mind when he closed his eyes. Suddenly, the door opened, Amelia entered the room with a flushed face, looking radiant. It seemed that he had spent a good night with her first love. She was surprised to see Bryan there, looking haggard and exhausted. "Welcome back, darling," Bryan said tiredly. Amelia glanced at her pale husband and the candlelight dinner he had prepared on the table, but she didn't care about those, nor did she greet him back as she sat down on the sofa. "Uh, I'm so exhausted... come and massage me, Bryan." she simply stated, like commanding her servant. His heart began to waver, and he felt uneasy about his wife's change in attitude towards him. He didn’t follow her instruction and kept silent, just staring at her. Amelia frowned and repeated, "Are you deaf? I said come and massage me, right now!" Her voice sounded a bit angry and impatient. Bryan didn’t do it still... "Wow, you aren’t even willing to do this for me since I work so hard to feed the family?" Amelia's voice dripped with sarcasm. She immediately missed Xander, who would have done it without even asking. But she never thought Bryan used to give her massage. Then, Bryan finally asked, “Where were you last night?” Amelia frowned and leaned forward. “Why are you asking? I told you I was celebrating the award with my friends. I told you that, Bryan.” "Please, Amelia... don't lie to me. Where were you all night? I kept calling you but you ignored my calls." "My phone was switched off, it powered off... Bryan, you should have known that." "Powered off?" Bryan found it funny. What a poor excuse! Amelia's brow furrowed, and she snapped, “Should I have to repeat it again and again? I said I was with my colleagues that time... or... What are you thinking? That I'm with another man, uh? How could you not be wild in imagination since you are just staying at home and doing nothing?” Her voice filled with disdain. "You can't even answer a question without shaming me," Bryan said. "Yeah, that's because you are selfish and accusing me with some baseless question! I was with my colleagues, that's all. I don't know why I have to keep explaining that to you!". "Amelia, do you still love me? You..., you are my heart, and I can't believe that nonsense. If you love me, tell me where were you last night". Bryan stated, his voice trembling with fear. "Bryan, it's enough! Stop bothering me! I have told you the truth!". Bryan then opened his phone and threw it at her. “Then what is this? ” Amelia grabbed the phone and checked it, then saw the photo, clearly the scene of her and her first lover Xander. Her eyes popped out, then she immediately composed herself and stayed calm, “Where did you get these pictures? It's just a behind-the-scenes shot from the new movie I'm currently in.” The worst fear was confirmed. Amelia was really cheating on him. Bryan knew she wasn’t preparing for any new movies. "Amelia! who is that man, we can talk it out." He softly stated. "What are you saying!", Amelia yelled, now on her feet, "How dare you tag me with such affairs! Someone set me up and I don't know who was working for you to get you this picture." He scoffed, “ You are still lying to me!” Amelia felt ridiculed, saying, “How audacious you are! Do you even have the right to ask me anything when I'm literally the one feeding you?” Bryan still expected she could regret and apologize to him, spoke in low voice, “Amelia...” “Don't call my name, you’re disgusting! I work so hard to get to where I am today and provide for the family. What did you do? Nothing, absolutely nothing,” she yelled. Bryan didn't even know what to do. He just stood there. He couldn't believe all these years of supporting her were just a waste. Amelia was talking about hard work when she actually did nothing. She was an actress who didn't want to accept minor roles, even as a newbie. Bryan was the one who made it all easy for her. He made sure she was always the main character, took out every actor and actress that would get in her way, and took it upon himself to take care of the home so Amelia could just focus on her career. “Amelia… I can't believe you are saying this… to me” “Why not when you are accusing me? And I am just stating the fact. You are poor, useless, and I am your host while you are nothing but just a parasite!” she yelled. Bryan felt extremely disappointed and asked, “Then, what is that man to you, symbiosis? Benefiting each other? Uh?” Amelia was filled with rage immediately. She couldn't take Bryan's ridicule. As she raised her hand and tried to slap him, Bryan caught her hand and in anger flung it away. Unexpectedly, Amelia lost her balance and fell onto the ground. “Stop! What are you doing?” A voice roared from behind. It’s Xander, who had expected this scene earlier because... ... ... Actually, it’s Xander who sent the photo to Bryan’s phone. He knew Amelia was hesitating in divorcing Bryan, maybe she still had some feelings for him, so he took the photo secretly and expose it to Bryan to accelerate their divorce. He stepped forward towards Bryan and confronted him, “How could you beat a woman? She’s your wife! How could you do this?” Bryan saw that this man was the guy seducing his wife on that photo, and he angrily said, “You dare to come to my home!” “Yeah, I have. Because I won't let you hurt Amelia anymore!” He stared at Bryan’s eyes, firmly said. Then he turned to Amelia, swearing affectionately, “Amelia, I swear...I will protect you forever.” Initially, Amelia was a bit angry at Xander for showing up unannounced, but after hearing his heartfelt confession, especially compared to Bryan, Xander seemed like a perfect man. She was also moved by him and looked at him affectionately. Seeing his wife gazing affectionately at another man in his home, Bryan felt extremely uncomfortable. With a dark expression, he warned Xander, "Get out of my house!" “What if I don't?” Xander taunted. Amelia intervened. “Xander, stop. This shouldn't cause a fight. We will resolve the issues.” But Xander's gaze never left Bryan's face. “No, Amelia. I won't let him get away with this. He hurt you led your face injured. As an actress, face is wealth!” Amelia was immediately impressed by what Xander said. Bryan gritted his teeth and said with his face gloomy, “You think you're a hero by doing this?” “At least I'm able to protect her from you, you’re a beast. She is the one feeding you, and you want to ruin her career!” Xander stated. Bryan stared at him. He felt Xander looked awfully familiar once he saw Xander. Then he suddenly recalled it! Amelia had a photo album some years ago, which was all about her and her first love. She named the album "Moonlight” and kept it secret. Once he accidentally found the photo album, and she explained that she no longer liked Xander, it was just a souvenir of her youth. However, it’s also a lie! He turned to her. “we have been married for 5 years, Amelia, five good years! What's wrong with our marriage that you have to reconcile with your ex boyfriend?” Amelia gazed back at him. She wasn't going to keep up with this any longer. Xander had proven he was the right person she needed...forever be. She uttered, “Bryan, I'm over this. Let's get a divorce, yeah, I don't want you now, I want Xander. He is my true love!” Bryan immediately felt disheartened although he had known things would come to this end. He was still sad for his marriage, and all those he had sacrificed... He complied with her request to become a stay-at-home husband, providing her with emotional support and taking care of her. Not to hurt her pride, he secretly arranged to support her career until she succeeded. Bryan couldn’t understand... Amelia continued and justified her reasons, “Bryan, you know… you were never up to my standard to begin with. Now I'm in a higher league, higher than you can imagine. In just a short time, I will become a well-known international actress. You can't be my husband, or it will be my forever smirch!” “Amelia…” “Yeah, you know that. You are useless, worthless, poor, and just an idle househusband. You can't add any value to my life.” “I have high ambitions. I want to go places, but you… you are nothing, no ambition, lazy, and just wait around for me to feed you. You are satisfied with your status quo. You are even a disgrace to other men. It will be best if I just let you go,” she said, then dipped her hand in her bag and brought out a stack of papers containing a pre-draft divorce agreement. “Sign, and let's end our false marriage here, you useless husband,” she threw it at him. Bryan felt bitter. Her success was because of him. Everything she achieved, he made possible. He thought she was a devoted wife, and he couldn't just watch her struggle, so he helped her behind the scenes, and just yesterday, he made her collect the award. She had drastically changed. Bryan not working was not because he was lazy, but when they first met, Amelia told him she wanted a husband who would be at home, not busy, and she wanted to see him every time she wanted. Bryan left his company to his subordinate to help her achieve that. Also, her mother forced him to do the chores anytime he contemplated working... Bryan planned to tell her about his true identity last night after her initial success and transfer one of his successful companies to her as a surprise, allowing her to pursue filmmaking as a hobby rather than work. However, she didn’t sign the transfer agreement while he had to sign the divorce agreement. How ridiculous! He didn't even bother to talk again. He bent down, picked up the papers, and brought out a pen. He thought of all he had done and all the years spent together. He stared at her one more time, brought out his pen and, in pain, scribbled his signature on the agreement. “Bye. but you will regret it.” Bryan calmly said. "regret? I’m the fastest upcoming actress, you must be joking!" As Amelia watched him leave, she felt something very important slipping out of her life. Her heart felt empty. Xander patted her gently. “You did great, babe. It's better to let him go. Later, you will see how your life will improve.” She stayed mute. Then Xander added and assured her, “We will make a film, a blockbuster movie, with you as the female lead, and after that, we will announce our romantic relationship. Just envision how perfect that would be. Everyone will be jealous.” Amelia nodded. Actually, a movie with great potential directed by a great director was soon to be filmed. She was determined to secure the female lead role, and also she planned on recommending Xander as the male lead. Xander hugged her and smirked. He had achieved the first step of his plan... ... ... Bryan felt heartbroken broken as he walked, lost in thought. He never imagined there would be one day that he and Amelia would divorce. He came to a park, wondering where to go... Then it hit him that he was the owner of the house, and he shouldn't have been the one to leave, but it should have been the two. Suddenly, his phone rang, and it was from Liana. He picked it up. “Boss, The role for Amelia in the new movie has been arranged. This time, she will be the only female leader role in this movie and gain more and better reputation!” Liana said sincerely. There was a brief silence before Bryan spoke, “Well done! But unfortunately, we have just divorced! It is of no use now.” “Huh?” Liana was stunned by the surprising news. “I said I divorced with her. Just cancel everything, including the female leader role and the company's share transfer arrangements... Cancel them all.” He commanded. Then Liana was overwhelmed with joy and spoke excitedly. “Wow, great...” she slipped. “What?” Bryan felt confused. Why was so happy when she heard the news. “I am sorry, boss. I was just… somehow shocked. Okay, I will tell the director as soon as possible before he notifies your ex-wife.” She said. After hanging it up. Liana felt she was the happiest woman in the world. She was so excited about Bryan’s divorce. After all, she had had a crush on him for many years, even earlier than his marriage. After calming down, Liana immediately called a familiar movie director and instructed, "Don't give the role of the female lead in the new movie to Amelia. Replace her with another actress! She doesn't deserve such a good role anymore!" Liana looked down on Amelia in every way. She despised Amelia’s acting skills. If it weren't for Bryan's secret support, she wouldn't have deserved to become famous at all. She knew the real reason for Amelia's success, and she never expected that foolish woman to divorce Bryan. Although she was happy that their relationship had broken down, she would not thank Amelia. Instead, she was extremely angry that she had hurt Bryan, which was unforgivable! She was determined to make that foolish woman pay the price! She would make her regret it! ... ... Bryan stood alone in the quiet cemetery, his eyes fixed on the grave in front of him. The headstone bore his mother's name, Mrs. Wood. He had come to pay tribute to her. His knees sank into the soft earth, and gently touched the engraved letters. "Mom, here I am again… I have failed you. I broke my promise to you that I would be here with my wife, but I was unable to achieve it… We broke up and got divorced." He trailed off as he lamented. Then, a feminine voice suddenly shrieked into the air, so loud! Someone was screaming, “Help, help, help…somebody help me...” | LEARN_MORE | https://herfv.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13229&u | Fantasy Hero Country | https://www.facebook.com/61561117201220/ | 1,024 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | herfv.com | DCO | https://herfv.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=13229&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/454313049_3697295210508522_4376685614113117256_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=I1jC7SZ3kHgQ7kNvgH7r_uq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AFJP9yNkWRAzhrH2-F976QK&oh=00_AYBXJ6W_SupmAhycWXlYTyLYKuga0qkYkGeXRwksN9NPoQ&oe=670E555C | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fantasy Hero Country | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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New 2024 Ram 2500 $66,961 - 3C6UR5HL9RG125727 | Click for Details | SHOP_NOW | https://autos.lotlinx.com/?pubId=89000&ad=3C6UR5HL | Car Savvy 8 | https://www.facebook.com/100083324390309/ | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop Now | 0 | www.edmurdockchryslerdodge.com | CAROUSEL | Click for Details | https://autos.lotlinx.com/?pubId=89000&ad=3C6UR5HL9RG125727&channelid=61260_Ed_Murdock_Chrysler_428730_co241010_conversion_autop&contractid=428730&type=FC&confirm=true&lp=https://www.edmurdockchryslerdodge.com/new/Ram/2024-Ram-2500-a3687ff90a0e08327bcd655e06e160bc.htm | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462527158_1226010721883751_7652173147074231061_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=cq4K1QC7ZywQ7kNvgG9lpB_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ABKLkm317kW0uLvUAoSfltr&oh=00_AYAdA0hx2kY48B2D0FCEGV2nDvBRsZcPCWo5M06NaH4R5w&oe=670E62E5 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Car Savvy 8 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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When school is out, Ninja is open! Come join us for Ninja fun. https://www.ninjamarlborough.com/clinics | LEARN_MORE | https://www.ninjamarlborough.com/clinics | USA Ninja Challenge - Marlborough, MA | https://www.facebook.com/ninja.marlborough/ | 958 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | DCO | https://www.ninjamarlborough.com/clinics | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462673167_1594038111542180_9331543530428878_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Qf7-mbg88koQ7kNvgFQjQVF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A60VMXELu0V4QGxA4D-svR-&oh=00_AYDHnmSfr1CjvtXZH6HRyuC9ZMVWIZlZTbIbtwseskBcpw&oe=670E62EF | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | USA Ninja Challenge - Marlborough, MA | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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❤️😍What happens next👉Click Here to read on👉 | As the first snowflake settled, it whispered secrets of a winter tale waiting to unfold. A tale of pain, love and heartbreak. I push the brush across the wooden floor, even though there is nothing that needs cleaning. Alpha Draven expects perfection, which requires me to clean multiple times a day. God forbid a spec of dust falls. It might be missed if I only sweep once or twice a day. "Mutt!" I froze upon hearing his voice. "Mutt!" Sighing, I place the brush down and rush into the other room. He turns in his chair and smiles at me. "Yes, Master." I move and get down on my knees, my head lowering as I await his instructions. "We have company tonight. Ensure the tables are set. There will be several guests." "Yes, Master, I will get it done. Is there anything else?" "These guests are important, and I trust that you will behave appropriately and follow instructions tonight." I don’t have a choice. Alpha Draven forgets that it’s his choice, not mine. "I will, Master." I hear him rise and keep my head lowered. Unable to move. "Raise your head." I lift my head and see him standing before me. "What is your role tonight?" I consider my words. "To please you, Master and your guests." "One guest in particular, Mutt, Alpha Ethan, I need to ensure that he agrees to this transaction, so pay more attention to him than my other guests. Do you understand?" His words are growled towards the end. "Yes, Master." "Good. Please go get the room ready. Your outfit is in your cell. I expect you to be wearing it before the guests arrive. You may leave now." "Thank you, Master." Standing, I turn and leave. Walking through the house, I go to the room he uses to entertain guests. I begin to set up the tables. I clean them and ensure that everything is ready for the cooks and servants to put food on. Walking back through the house, I go to my cell. I look down at the clothing lying on my mat. They give me the perfect indication of what I am expected to do tonight. The dress is short, so Alpha Ethan no doubt expects more than conversation. "Mutt." I turn and get down on my knees. "Yes, Sir." I watch as Beta Luca steps into my cell. He stops just before me and I stay looking down at his shoes. "I expect your company tonight. Do not be late." "Sir, Alpha Draven has already requested that I attend his event and focus primarily on Alpha Ethan." I hear his slight chuckle and feel his hand fist into my hair, pulling my head back so that I face him. "Then you will be sure to have a long night. My room once Alpha Ethan is finished with your body." "Yes, Sir." A whimper escapes as his hand tightens on my hair, my scalp burning. "Actually, I have the perfect idea. I'm sure Alpha Ethan will agree with my plan. You keep him company as Alpha Draven has requested. I'm sure I will see you at the event." He pushes my head forward, and I stay on my knees, listening to his retreating footsteps becoming quieter and quieter until they disappear. Picking up the dress, I put it on. Pulling my hair up, I tie it high so it's out of the way. Walking down to the room, the guests are standing and talking. I step into the room, taking notice of the guests, and then I stop Alpha Ethan. Walking to him, I stand with my head lowered, waiting for his attention and acceptance. "Ah, Elara, you're my company tonight?" "Yes, Sir." To be fair, Alpha Ethan isn't as bad as Alpha Draven or the Beta's here. He treats me like a person, but something tells me that will change tonight. Something tells me his relaxed approach will become tense and very strict later. I will do as he asks, though. The last time I fought them, I almost lost my life. Years Earlier… I had to fight. Having him reaching me made me sick. So I fought, and he still took what he wanted, however. He took it relentlessly and with even more force. When I was sold to Alpha Draven, I was young. As I got older, I was told it was a good thing. He's a strong Alpha with a good clan. I was told my life was set, but it was all lies. I cuddle myself to fight the cold that burns through my body. It says something when you're so cold you feel like your body is burning. The snow is piling higher and higher around me, and I don't think I will survive this punishment. All this because I didn't want him to reach me. I wanted to save that part of myself for my mate, but I'm his. I'm theirs. I was so sure things would be fine when I woke. I may have fought him off, but he succeeded in his mission. The marks across my body screamed that he succeeded. So when the door swung open, and Beta Luca dragged me out and threw me down in the snow unclothed, I knew I was being punished. I'm not sure how long this punishment has lasted for. It seems like hours, but maybe that is just because of how cold I am. "Look at the Mutt." I keep my head lowered at their mocking. "Throw this at it." Beta Paul laughs, and I feel the snow hitting my head. The force pushes my body back, and I almost fall over. "Don't worry, Mutt. We will warm you up after." I scream as he grips my hair and pulls my head up. The tears fall down my face, but they do not get far before they harden into ice. Beta Jones leans into my face. "This will teach you never to refuse again, won't it, Mutt?" I don't reply, I can't. My body is too numb. The snow is stuck to me. "That's enough, bring her in." Alpha Draven is standing by the door as they pull me inside. "Will you refuse or fight again?" I try to talk but can't. I'm shaking too much. "Answer Mutt." "N-n-n-no Master." His smile widens. "Good, go get in my bed." I nod and walk away. Getting into his room, I climb into the bed. Right now, I'm happy to obey. My cell is frozen, and the thin sheet does little to keep me warm. At least in here, there is plush bedding that will warm me. Chapter 2 I stay with Alpha Ethan but can feel Alpha Draven’s eyes on me the entire time. I also notice Beta Luca watching me closely. They are expecting me to refuse, to fight. I can’t; it’s not like I have a wolf or power to escape them. It’s also not like I have a wolf to protect me and help me battle the weather if I am forced to prostrate outside unclothed again. “For you.” I watch Alpha Ethan hold out a glass. “Thank you, Sir. However, I am not allowed to drink without Alpha Draven’s approval first.” He smiles, seemingly pleased by my words. I watch as he looks at Alpha Draven, raising the glass and pointing towards me. Alpha Draven gives an approving nod. “Now you can.” He holds out the glass, waiting for me to take it. I never drink. I would rather not drink. Refusing it, however, is defying the command that Alpha Draven gave me. So my hand wraps around the glass, lifting it. I take a sip. Coughing as it burns my pharynx. His smile widens. “I’m on the edge with this transaction. I want to agree but also disagree. What do you think is the best choice?” He looks at me, waiting. “I cannot say, Sir, it isn’t my place. However, Alpha Draven is an honest and trustworthy Alpha.” He is not, but I know that is what Alpha Draven would like me to say. “Hmmm.” He turns and continues to walk, and I follow; He leaves the room and sits in a quieter one. I stay a short distance away from him and prostrate. It’s the standard protocol that Alpha Draven expects when any Alpha, Beta or similar is in the room until I am told to do otherwise. “You don’t need to do that, Elara.” I raise my head at his words. “Please, come sit and get comfy.” He pats the sofa next to him. “I apologize, Alpha Ethan; I am forbidden from sitting on that sofa. It isn’t for me.” Most of the furniture isn’t for me. Even if he insists I sit on it, I can’t. Alpha Draven would punish me for not getting his permission first. “Where can you sit?” I point at the wooden chair. “That won’t do. At all.” I watch him stand. “Stay there.” I nod and don’t move as I hear him leaving. After about five minutes, I begin to wonder if he is even returning. I can’t just go and find him. Sure, Alpha Draven insisted I spend all my time with him. Still, if I moved, I would defy Alpha Ethan’s instruction, and well, I’m sure Alpha Draven would have a reaction to finding out that I did that. “Come.” I stand hearing his instruction. Turning, I see Beta Luca standing beside him. I step towards them and watch as they turn and walk out. I fall into step behind them, keeping my head down as I follow them through the house. We stop at a guest room, and Alpha Ethan opens the door. He holds it for me and gestures that I walk in. Stepping forward, I go through the door. “Remove your clothes.” I watch as he stands before me and loosens his tie before removing it entirely. Taking a deep breath, I lift the dress and place it on the side. Alpha Ethan stands with his eyes on me. I watch as he slowly walks around me, circling me until I feel like prey under his movements. He pauses behind me, and my body shakes. I hate not being able to see what they are doing and thinking. “I have some instructions that I am hoping you will follow without hesitation.” “Of course, Sir.” I feel sick. I hear him moving and watch as he walks past me to a suitcase. He flips it open, and I panic when I hear metal. I watch him take out the long chain with cuffs attached. “You see, even if you planned to refuse, you won’t get a chance to.” I watch as he hooks the chain into the ceiling, my body getting pushed to him. I stumble, and his hand reaches out. Grabbing my wrist, the cuff locks around them. I scream as the spikes dig into my skin. He ignores my reaction, grabbing my other wrist and snapping the restraint around it. I held myself to stop the scream that builds. “Now you have no choice but to follow instructions. You refuse...” I scream as he pulls the chain, and the spikes dig deeper into my wrists. “I ensure you listen.” His calm and friendly attitude from before has gone, replaced with pure darkness and evil. I should have known all Alpha’s were the same. None I have met yet care, and why would they? I’m nothing. ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~ When I am placed back in my cell, I crawl to the small bathroom I have. My body hurts so much it feels like it’s on fire. Nowhere is painless; I ran out of tears hours ago, and guttural cries escape my voice as I struggle to make it into the tiny shower. Hitting the button, I collapse under the spray of the water. My eyes finally look down at my body, the angry brown marks showing; each new bruise I see seems more prominent than the last one. The large bite marks are bleeding so badly that I know for sure they will scar without the use of magic. I watch the water rush around me, the blood from their marks mixing within it as it runs down the drain. Cries continue to erupt from within me as I struggle to find any position that eases the pain. “Mutt.” I go to move, hearing him, but my body is too tired and hurt to obey. I simply fall back down again. “I will get someone to fix the worst bites and cuts.” I hear him leave and breathe a sigh of relief; I was sure he would request that I join him in bedroom. I don’t think I could agree or even refuse. My body right now can’t do anything. It’s useless without my wolf to help me heal. I hear movement and watch Alex walk in. His eyes widen when he sees me; he glances towards the door quickly, then back to me. “Are you okay?” He turns off the water, lifts me from the shower, and carries me through, placing me on the mat; he wraps my sheet around me. I watch him crouch down before me, unscrewing the lid. His hand run through the ointment, and he rubs it across the bites and cuts. It helps. The burning sensation stops. “I’m sorry I cannot do more, Elara; I’m very sorry.” He looks at me as he continues to cover the bites. “It’s fine, thank you, Alex.” He nods and smiles, and I watch it begin to work. The bite marks slowly start to close up and heal. “Alpha Draven must have realized your wounds were serious to request we use magic to heal them. Good night, Elara.” He stands and leaves. Lying down, I realize this has to be the worst beginning of my birthday ever. My eyes flutter close, and I fall asleep, unable to stay awake any longer. Chapter 3 I've cleaned multiple times again today. Alpha Draven has been watching me unusually closely, and I feel like something is coming. I don't know what, but something. He never usually pays this much attention to me outside of the bedroom. So why now? I followed their commands last night despite the immense pain I was in. I didn't refuse or say no. So I know I have not done something wrong with them, or at least I hope not. "Mutt." I move and prostrate at his feet. "I am busy; ensure the guest room is cleaned and ready for guests who may be staying tonight." "Yes, Master." He stands and walks out. I walk through to the bedroom and fight back the vomit. The memories of last night are more potent in this room. The blood is still on the floor and the sheets. Along with actual vomit because Alpha Ethan seems to have a fetish for gagging women to the point they are physically sick. I began to clean the room, removing every trace of evidence of what had happened to me in this room last night. It takes far longer than it should due to my hurting. The bruises are far more prominent today. They cover every inch of my body, and my face isn't excluded; it didn't escape the torture of mistreatment. Carrying the sheets through the house to the laundry room, the maid looks at me and takes them. I stop when I see the Television on. I rarely get to see it or watch it. It's the king, Alpha Prime Darius. "Anyone is welcome, yes." He stands tall, his hair dark, and his eyes bright emerald. "Does that include those of poorer backgrounds, without strong packs, or without a pack at all?" The reporter questions him, and the camera zooms in. "Yes. There is no restriction on it, except the contestants cannot be bitten and claimed." What is going on? I look towards the maid. "You didn't know? After the king had passed away, Alpha Prime Darius took over. He's holding a sort of game, a trial for females between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. He's looking for his Luna." I didn't know. "No, I shall not be personally selecting. How would that be fair?" He chuckles and leans forward, looking directly at the camera, almost like he is looking through the lens directly at me. "Magic will be used. Fifteen women, one Luna. However, there is a chance a lady may be lucky and picked up by Alpha Kellan." I hear claps and gasps. Alpha Kellan is his younger brother, the prince. So, while one will become his Luna and the queen, one will possibly be chosen by Kellan to be his Luna. "It's easy. Those wanting to take part, go online, answer a few quick questions and await to be whisked away to the castle." His smile widens. I record the website link. I can find time, I'm sure of it. Turning, I leave the laundry room. I have twenty-four hours or less. The rules are simple: the entry form will be locked in twenty-four hours or when ten thousand women apply. Whichever comes first? More than likely, the ten thousand women applying will be what closes it, not the time limit. I walk through and pretend to be cleaning; I briefly check the Beta's rooms, finding them empty. Rushing, I sit at the computer and type in the address. The form begins easily. Name. Age. Date of birth. Pack name if applicable. Questions regarding my appearance. Questions regarding my occupation or standing within my pack. Then it gets interesting. It asks about intimate partners. That question, I lied on. I couldn't possibly answer the truth anyway; I don't know how many times I have been intimate. Then it is the question about being bitten and claimed, I again lie. I will keep my mark hidden. Ten minutes later, I finished and submitted it. Quickly deleting the history, I walk out and try to make it look like I am doing the regular jobs I am meant to. I doubt anything will come from this. He said everyone can apply, but even I know that those women will all have wolves and a pack and be high up in their pack. The daughter of another Alpha. Me? I'm sold. I don't know who my parents are. I don't know if I came from a strong pack. I know nothing. So of course I won't be chosen. If it was truly picked using magic, why require answers to so many questions? It feels more like it is so they can ensure the woman selected will be as good as Luna. "Mutt." I walk through and get down on my knees, lowering my head. I wait. "You have a gift." I don't raise my head, even though I want to. I have never been given a gift before, and I'm unsure what to say or do. "You may raise your head." I lift it and look at Alpha Draven. "Apparently, you made a good impression on Alpha Ethan. He requested that he be allowed to give you a gift, and I agreed." "Thank you, Master." "We spoke, and he suggested you may find a blanket more beneficial than a gift such as a bracelet." He holds out the giant blanket, and I have to be honest, I would rather have the blanket than a bracelet or anything else. My cell is cold. "You may take it." I reach out, taking it from his arms. "You understand, I only agreed because he has decided to go ahead with our transaction and felt you should be treated for your part." The words are almost growled. He didn't want to agree. I can tell by his tone he wanted to refuse but couldn't. Instead, he agreed to get the agreement signed. "Thank you, Master. I understand." "Good, you may leave." Standing, I walk out; it's late now. Returning to my cell, I unfold the blanket and wrap it around my body. It feels amazing. Sleep takes me instantly; the warmth and comfort of the blanket are the perfect gift; I rarely fall asleep quickly; I need to either be in tremendous pain or be extremely tired as the coldness of my cell prevents me from sleeping. Chapter 4 It's been three days since I completed that application. My mind considers it as I wipe the table, ensuring everything is clean. Alpha Draven has been visiting Alpha Ethan and his pack. Apparently, the agreement they are making is going well. Well enough for Alpha Draven to leave his own pack and travel It's good, though; it means I haven't been punished for three days. I have barely had to prostrate as Beta Luca and the others are busy doing Alpha Draven's work. I have even managed to get out of the constant cleaning and finally had time to consider the implications of that application. I'm sure Alpha Prime Darius will punish me for lying about it. I could be executed; I lied to the king essentially. It was an instruction to answer honestly, and I didn't. So will Alpha Draven have fun telling them I lied if he ever finds out the truth? Finishing cleaning, I sit on my mat, my eyes close, and I try to relax; I was told he is returning today. So I've made sure I cleaned at the hours I was required to. Standing, I walk through to the laundry room. The maid smiles at me, and I begin to get the correct items for Alpha Draven's bedroom. I still have plenty of time to get it done before he can complain. "They are getting the women." I turn to the maid, confused. "The guards of Alpha Prime Darius began to collect the selected ladies today." "Lucky them." I smile, and she reaches out. "It could be lucky you." I look at her with a confused expression, and she smiles. "I saw, don't worry, no one else did." I stand and panic. "If..." Her hand goes up. "I won't be telling Alpha Draven, Elara, so you don't need to worry; I have everything crossed for you." She says that, yet she hasn't considered the consequences, just as I didn't. I'm claimed; the mark is impossible to hide if he were to ask us to strip and confirm we're not claimed. I never considered the consequences of my actions, and right now, it’s too late. All I can do is hope I wasn't selected, and why would I be? Wolf-less, pack-less, orphan, with no last name. I'm at the end of that list. After replacing the sheets and bedding, I take the dirty ones to the maid, although they aren't dirty. They were put on two days ago. No one has even slept in it. As I leave, I hear the door. I quickly walk to my cell to avoid them. If I'm not there, I am hoping that I'm out of their minds. "Mutt." Or not. Standing, I walk through and get down on my knees. "What is this?" I look up. "A cloth Master." Why is he asking me that? "And who uses it?" "Myself, Master, they are the ones given to me to use." No one else uses them. He has a weird habit, like everyone has their own cloths. Why? So he can see whose cloths are used the most? "Then why was it next to the computer?" Oh no. My mind races back. I was cleaning that day and took the sheets to the maid. When I went to the computer, I had a cloth in my hand. "I don't know, Master." "That is a blatant lie." I hear him move. "Get it ready. Ensure the entire pack will be watching." Wait, I stare at him. "You went into a room that is forbidden. You used items you are not allowed to. Did you think this would go unpunished?" I thought he wouldn't know. He wouldn't have if I didn't leave the cloth. "Master, it was not me who put the cloth there." Maybe he won't punish me if I lie and make out that it was someone else. "Lying is only increasing your punishment." He turns to Alpha Luca. "Drag her out." I feel my body get pulled up and pushed out. He rarely punishes me in front of the entire pack. My body is thrown to the ground. On my knees, I keep my head lowered. I know that I caused this. Now, I consider his plan, maybe to keep me prostrating here and battle the weather with them watching. "If I give instructions, I expect them to be followed even when I am not in sight." I feel the cuffs wrap around my wrists. So, I’m not going to be punished by having to face the elements? "So this is a reminder that I won't allow it to happen," I scream as my body is pulled up by the cuffs around my wrists. My toes barely reach the floor. "Now," I scream, feeling the whip hit against my back. My head raises, and I look at Alpha Draven. He had sworn never to do this to me. "Again." I brace myself, but it does little to help. Screaming; tears flow from my eyes. "Again." The pain from the whip has me slump forward, the scream getting tangled in my voice with the sob. "Again." I stare at Alpha Draven. Screaming, I dangle from the chains, my eyes seeing Alex in the crowd. My head drops, I never expected him to give me this punishment. The pain is worse than the other night. I can feel the blood running down my back from the lacerations. I hear cars and raise my head. I watch as the crowd disappears. "Take it inside." Alpha Draven points to me, and I feel the cuffs being removed, and I fall down. A hand grabs me and drags me through. As we get inside the door, I'm dragged forward. "Stop! “Alpha Draven shouts. My body is dropped, and I prostrate, ready for Alpha Draven to begin yelling at me. "Apparently, Alpha Prime Darius has sent guards for you, Mutt!" Oh no. I raise my head slowly to see him glaring and growling at me. Is this because they know I lied? I have a feeling tonight's punishment is only the start of it. Chapter 5 "Why me?" I look at the guards as Beta Luca pulls me to my feet. "You're to join the other candidates at the Luna Battle. Alpha Prime Darius has requested that you attend after your submission made the finals." My body stills as I’m shocked by their words. I never expected to be chosen. I feel Alpha Draven's eyes on me, and I know his anger is rising because of this. He can't refuse, he can't go against Alpha Prime Darius's commands, but he has the power to announce that I am already bitten and claimed by him. Standing, I wait for his words, and I wait for his refusal or acceptance. Surely he will speak soon? "Mutt, I suggest you pack your bag." I move quickly through the house and to my cell, packing the few items I have. Pulling off the top I am wearing, I winch and hold in the screams. Someone steps into my cell as I begin to pull on my top. "He sent me to cover your lacerations." Alex smiles, and I turn. "At least you are released." His words are whispered as I hold myself to stop the screams as he rubs the ointment across my back. "For a short time." I won't be forever. "All done, good luck." He walks out. Pulling my top down, I grab my things and walk out. As I make my way through the house, I bump into Beta Luca. "You won't be gone long, Mutt. Enjoy the freedom; Alpha Prime Darius will quickly throw you to the curb when he realizes you're a wolfless, packless harlot." His words are correct, and there's nothing I can do to change it. Maybe, though, once I am removed from this competition, I can make it to the Nightfall Citadel, the only place for rejected, wolfless people. Alpha Draven will never come there to collect me. I stop at the door, the guards looking at me. "See you soon, you can guarantee it." Alpha Draven watches as I walk out. I follow the guards and see the packs outside, watching as I step into the car. I'm lost on what I am meant to do. I don't know anything about this. I know nothing about the world, either. We stop at the palace, and I step out of the car. "The maid will guide you inside." The guard points to the door. "Thank you." I give him a small smile, and he nods. Walking to the door, the maid looks at me. "Follow me, please. You are the last to arrive." I walk through with her. She guides me through the palace, and I glance around, amazed. I thought Alpha Draven's home was lavish. This is on a whole new level. "Through here." She opens the door, and I step inside. I see the other women they are standing close to each other. Already, groups are forming. I can clearly see the ones who are high up in their packs. The ones trained to be here are standing together. Their voices quiet as they speak. Expressionless faces, as if this isn't a big event. I stand close to the women but try not to draw attention to myself. Everyone is dressed beautifully, and I am in jeans and an old, worn T-shirt. Their dresses are something that you would expect the king’s Luna to wear. My eyes leave them, and that's when I notice the cameras. I'm not ready for this. Panic builds in me. "Excuse me." I glance up, looking at the man, confused. "You're too close. Please move back." "Sorry?" I look at the news producer. "You heard me. You're too close to the candidates. Move!" "I-I'm a candidate." I hear laughter. My body is pushed back, and I stumble before regaining my footing. "Please don't disrespect the king; he won't be pleased when he arrives to see trash stood with his possible Luna!" The man pushes me back further. "I am not lying. I was chosen to be here. Ask the maid. She brought me in." I point to her, and he laughs. "Look, you're making us look bad. Move away, you stink." One of the women looks at me with a disgusted expression. "Surely you should be like in the cellar cleaning the floor?" I hear some of the women laugh. The producer laughs as well. "People like you don't belong here! You're not part of this; you would never be, and the king wouldn't allow it!" He pushes me hard, and this time, I fall and am ready for the pain when I hit the floor. Instead, I feel a hand catch me before I can hit it. "What is going on here?" I look up to see Alpha Kellan holding me. He has the same emerald eyes as Darius. "She wouldn't get out of the shot; we were trying to get footage for your highness." The producer looks at him. "And why was she required to be moved out of the shot?" He steps in front of me. "She doesn't belong here. I am sure when Alpha Prime Darius arrives, he won't be happy with delays caused by the help." "Well, you made the delay. Didn't you?" He steps forward. "As you're also 'the help,' you personally caused this delay." "I didn't mean to do that, Sir; I needed to get a clear and clean shot of only the candidates." "Which she is." The producer stills upon hearing his words. "I-I..." He stops. "Assumed. Didn't the broadcast say everyone was welcome to apply and that everyone had an equal chance?" "W-we just assumed that was for the cameras, Sir." "Well, it wasn't. Now, apologize; I will be letting the king know about this, considering she is possibly his future Luna and your queen." His face pales at Alpha Kellan's words. "I'm sorry, miss." He bows his head. "Ella." Alpha Kellan waves a maid over. "Please see that Elara is dressed appropriately. Then she fits in." He turns and walks away, Ella rushes and pulls me out. Taking me into a room, she quickly helps me strip and pull on a dress. I still look awful, but far better than I had before. I can't complain. Putting on the shoes, I stand, and Ella guides me out. I stand with the women again. "God, they really are letting the Mutt stay." One of them glares at me. "Well, they need to make it look real. The Mutt will be gone at the first round." One of the women laughs. "Ladies!" Someone calls our attention to him. I look forward and see the man standing on a stage. "I'm Beta William. The personal representative for the king. He will be joining us soon, at which point I will announce the first task for you ladies. Please do not approach the king. He will not be doing personal meetings today." The girls all nod, and some are clearly excited. I look through them, trying to find where I would fit in. Right now, I don't feel like that is anywhere. Chapter 6 We stand quietly and wait. The camera pans across the women as we stand waiting for the king. I notice the camera lingers on the other contestants for a longer time than they do me. The producer smirks at me; I don't need time on screen; it isn't down to the public who is Luna. So, he purposely cutting my time down is fine with me. I watch the door open, and the king walks in with Alpha Kellan. His eyes scan the contestants as he makes his way to the stage. He barely settles on any of them for longer than a few seconds. Then he reaches me and stares; I shift uncomfortably; no doubt this is him noticing I have no wolf. He steps onto the stage and keeps his eyes on me the entire time. I try to be confident and look back. Yet, it cracks, and I fail. My eyes drop quickly. I'm so used to having to prostrate to Alphas and Betas. I don't even feel like I should look at him without permission. "Ladies," William calls our attention back to him. "After the rules are explained, you will face your first task. Each candidate will be sitting with the news crew. You will be asked questions, and the scores will be based on who grabs the audience's attention; the better you do, the longer you will get." Well, I've failed. The producer already hates me. No matter what my answers will be, he will cut it quickly. "You will all be staying in one hall; each of you will have your own room, along with a maid and guard. You may be the future Luna and queen, so you need to get ready for that reality." William stands and discusses the rules. Every single one of us listens. We listen to the areas of the palace that are off-bounds if less the King, Prince Kellan or their personal guards request us to go there. We are expected to behave in a manner that the Luna would, both inside our rooms and outside. Regardless of if we're alone or not. No contact with the outside world. We're not allowed to listen or watch the TV. The rules seem to go on forever before William steps back. Alpha Prime Darius, the King, steps forward. "All candidates are required to attend each meal on time. From time to time, Prince Kellan and I will also attend." He steps forward slightly. "Each candidate that is here has an equal chance to prevail. It is solely on your efforts and abilities throughout the competition. If you fail, you only have yourself to blame." Alpha Kellan steps forward. "As you are aware, Alpha Prime Darius, your king, will select one candidate to be his Luna and, ultimately, the queen. However, I may myself pick a candidate to be my Luna." "How will that work?" I hear one of the women, and he chuckles. "Do not worry. I will not sweep you away from my brother. I will…like him and get to know you personally. At the end of each round, if I feel someone should stay, who would be suited to me. I may save them from leaving that round, but that does not mean they will be chosen by me in the long run." So, even if someone loses, they may be saved by Alpha Kellan. I just assumed he would pick the one who came second. "Okay Ladies. The instruction of your interviews will be selected at random." I watch William pick up a small box from the table. Opening it, he reads. "Astrid, please come take a seat. Ladies, we request that you stand and wait your turn, but keep the noise down to avoid disrupting the filming." He walks away, and the women begin to sit. Moving, I join them and feel eyes on me. Alpha Prime Darius is staring at me. I notice Alpha Kellan is whispering in his ear. So he's talking about me, I am guessing? I watch Astrid as she is interviewed. She seems to be doing well. Twenty minutes later, she stands and joins us. "Next up is." William selects a box. "Aurora." I watch her stand and walk to the cameras. It feels like hours. The women have been in front of the camera anywhere from five minutes to half an hour each. So far, I'm yet to go. I feel like this is set up so I would be last, and they would have a reason to cut mine short. Both Darius and Kellan have left. "Hi." I turn to the woman next to me. I believe her name was Sage? "Hey." I give her a small smile. "You should be next, right?" She looks at me, and I nod. I can't not be next. Everyone else has done theirs. "Good luck; unfortunately, none of the questions for the candidates were the same." I nod at her words. "What is your name?" She looks at me. "Elara." "It's nice to meet you, Elara; I'm sorry about earlier." She nods towards the other women. "It's fine." It's far better than how I have been treated in the past. "Considering they are here to become Luna to the king, you would think they would realize their actions were not very Luna-worthy." We both chuckle, as she isn't wrong. The way they acted wasn't how a Luna would. "I am amazed; some of them have trained for this their entire lives and seem to forget that training. I couldn't imagine the king’s Luna acting like that." It was shameful, in private, yes. In front of a room full of people? No, that wasn't how a Luna would react. I wonder if they realize that. "Okay, Ladies, thank you for your participation. You will now be guided by your maid back to your rooms." The producer stands and looks at us. Where is William? "Sir, you haven't interviewed everyone." Sage smiles. He glances around and then at me. "We interviewed who matters." He stands and tells them to pack away. "No, you have not." I watch William walk over. "I trust that I don't need to remind you that it was the king's instructions that each lady has a chance." He picks up the box and opens it. The producer nods and sits, his frown quickly aimed at me. "Elara." William points to the seat, but now I wish I wasn't doing it. Something tells me that the producer is going to ask questions that won't be appropriate and are set to ridicule me. Chapter 7 I sit with the camera in my face; it's far closer than it had been for any of the other candidates, and I feel like it's a way to try and make me nervous. It's working. "Elara, we don't have a last name. Why is that?" He smirks at me. I knew it. "I do not have one. I was an orphan." He glances at his papers. "An orphan? It says here you were sold?" How much does he know? "I was, yes, but I was first an orphan." "Hmm." He looks at me. "Elara, is it true that you were a servant and harlot for your past Alpha?" I freeze, and I watch his smile widen. "End it here." I watch him turn the camera off. "You're done." "Wait." He can’t cut it off already. "Sorry, but you couldn't answer a simple question. Not only that, but you sound bored and highly unworthy of watching. You’re finished, I think you surpassed the candidates. One minute, well done." He laughs. "Ahm." He raises his head, and I watch the roll of his neck as he swallows. "Delete it. All the footage you just took of her, delete it." "Prince Kellan, I'm sorry, but the king requested we do no retakes or deletes." "The king wouldn't want that footage used. The last question alone is vile and shows the royal family as sleazy. Now delete it and start again." I don't turn to look at him. I just stay still. I watch the producer mess about with the camera. "This will be spoken of to the king; he was already displeased with your behavior before he arrived. I'm sure with this, you won't be filming after this." I hear a chair move and watch as he places it next to me and sits. "I apologize." The producer's head lowers. "This competition is meant to be non-biased and available to all. Your actions, however, make it seem like the competition is biased and focused on only a few women. That is disrespecting the king's wishes." The producer doesn't reply. He sits and sets back up the camera. I watch him finish and sit back. "You may leave Prince Kellan." He looks at him. "I should stay, ensure that you're being appropriate." "I understand, Prince Kellan; however, won't it appear that the mu...Elara is getting special treatment if the kingdom sees you sitting with her and none of the other candidates?" "Please understand, I am not walking away. Someone must ensure you follow the rules and don't cut this short because of your beliefs." Prince Kellan stares him down, and I watch him nod. The producer presses the button and looks at his paper; his eyes scan it, and silence engulfs us. I'm guessing his paper only has inappropriate questions. "Elara, may I know why you decided to participate in this?" Alpha Kellan looks at me. "Well, Alpha Kellan, you could say it was interesting; I was intrigued to see the outcome of my application. I also did not expect to be chosen." He nods and smiles, looking at the producer, but he is still searching for a question. "What would you say are some important traits that a Luna to the king must have, Elara?" I smile at his question. "That, Alpha Kellan, is an amazing question. I would say understanding is essential. The King’s Luna meets people from all walks of life, so she must be understanding to each of them. She must also be resilient and calm. A Luna shouldn't act on impulse or her emotions." "Very well answered." He turns and grins. "Do you think you have those traits?" I chew my cheek slightly. "I would like to think so, but wouldn't we all? The fact is, Alpha Kellan, no one truly knows until they are put into situations where those traits are required." He goes to talk, and the producer cuts him off. "So you have never had to be understanding or resilient?" He looks at me. "Resilience is one thing I know for sure I have. Same with understanding." "How do you know?" He leans closer. "Well, I wouldn't be sitting here right now if I wasn't resilient. I wouldn't have made it this far in my life. As for understanding? I understand some people's need to see me as merely a mutt, not worthy of being Luna; I understand that everyone has their own opinion and don't judge them for it." His jaw drops open. Yes, I just called myself a mutt, which we all know he is thinking. Alpha Kellan laughs. "I have to say, she answered that one perfectly, don't you think?" His grin widens. "Was it true that you were being punished and whipped when the guards collected you?" "Cut!" Alpha Kellan stares at him. "That is highly inappropriate!" "Sorry, Alpha Kellan, I will delete it." His voice wavers, and he moves quickly. "Elara, there are many women here; why do you think you would be a better Luna than some of the more professional ones?" "I don't think I would be a better Luna. There is no way to know that yet. Many will not be showing their true selves, so to believe you're going to be a better Luna would be a waste of time. I, however, can say that in my life, I have faced things many of the other candidates never have. That alone means I can understand and relate to the majority." "That's enough." He presses the button. "Why?" Alpha Kellan looks at him. "Well, it's been long enough. The conversation isn't going in the right direction." "The direction to humiliate her? I suggest you forget her past and treat her like you had any of the other ladies." The producer sighs. Pressing the button, he sits and asks me questions. After nearly half an hour, we finish. "I shall walk you back to your room, Elara. The other women have gone." Nodding, I stand and follow him out. We walk quietly, and he guides me through the palace. "I apologize for the way you have been treated." "You don't need to apologize, Alpha Kellan. It was not you treating me in such a way." He nods and continues to walk. "Even so, I apologize. This is meant to be a fair competition, and you already seem to have the odds stacked against you to lose, purely based on others' beliefs." "I expected this. Someone without a wolf, pack, or last name is not seen as worthy to be Luna." He stops at my words and turns to me. "That I am sure will change when people see your interview. Good night, Elara." He walks off and I step into the room. "Hi, I'm May!" The maid stands up and smiles. "Hi, May, I'm Elara." "Anything you need, let me know. I will also be responsible for making your gowns. Each event will require a specific gown to be made." I nod and step further in. "I shall leave you. I will see you in the morning." She smiles and walks off. Closing the door, I get changed and instantly pass out on the bed, exhaustion crippling me. Chapter 8 When I wake, I get myself ready. May had brought me some clothes this morning. All the contestants were given general clothing as they were only allowed to bring one small bag each. Breakfast was awkward. Some of the women were looking at me like I didn't belong here. I heard the whispers and complaints because Alpha Kellan had sat with me during my interview. That alone has already started to make the women complain and pinpoint me as a troublemaker. Yet, I've noticed they are more brutal to the other ladies. It appears they think I'm not a threat. Which is likely correct. They don't think I can possibly get through and become Luna, so while they are all taking bites out of each other and trying to make each other feel like unimportant. I'm here untouched. Sure, I get called mutt and Tramp, but it is far less than they are throwing at each other. ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~ I'm sitting in the garden with Sage. It's still snowing. Something tells me this isn't going to stop any time soon. Yet the palace gardens look stunning right now. "They are jealous, you know." Turning, I look at Sage, confused. "This morning, before you joined us for breakfast, they were clearly jealous that Alpha Kellan sat with you for the video. Not because it gave you leverage but because many here want him just as much as the king." "He was being polite, that is all. He kept saying that the producer made the king and royal family look bad and didn't want it to happen." He wasn't there because he wanted to be with me. More to protect his and the king's reputation. "We should get in. William will be announcing the next event." I nod at her words and follow her through. I hope the next event doesn't include that producer as the central part. If so, I have a feeling it will be a long, painful day for me. We join the other women, and the whispers instantly begin. "Watch when they come in, you will see." I turn, hearing Aurora. Her eyes glare at me. Well, I'm still hated. I laugh it off and wait. "Ladies, the king himself will be announcing the next event. He will arrive any moment." William steps back, and I watch as Kellan walks in. His eyes glance across the contestants and land on me. He holds my gaze and smiles while winking. "See." I hear Aurora and look at her, breaking away from the eye contact. "Alpha Kellan and Alpha Prime Darius spent exactly three seconds looking at each contestant yesterday; apparently, Darius spent ten seconds looking at you, and Kellan apparently kept having his eyes on you," Sage whispers. "Someone timed their looks?" What? "The producer, apparently, so everyone knows." "They were only looking at me for so long, questioning why I got here." Nothing more than that. "Ladies." We all look towards Kellan. He loses everyone's attention except for mine; however, when the door opens, and the king walks in. Kellan's eyes come to me, and he smiles. "He actually likes you." Turning, I look at Sage. "Seriously, he hardly ever smiles." She laughs, but I know he doesn't. He's been kind to make sure they keep up appearances. "Afternoon." I watch Darius stand on the stage. "The next event will be now." Everyone gasps. "It will not happen until we eliminate those who didn't make the last round." "Bye, Mutt." Aurora glares at me. "Now, I believe we said those with the less time on camera would be going home. However, that changed." Yeah, as I thought, because I had more time on the camera, the only way to remove me was to change the rules for succeeding. "As my brother Darius said, we're changing it. You get points based on how well your broadcast went. How many views it had, comments, and interaction." I watch as the producer holds out the paper, and Kellan takes it. He glances down and turns his gaze back to him. I watch as he leans into Darius and talks. They both look at the paper, and their eyes go from the producer to me. Anxiety builds within me. "Well, I think it's clear who lost." Selene laughs. "They could be wrong." Sage hugs me. "I'm sorry, ladies, there will be a delay in reporting the victors and losers. After personal checks this morning, it appears the results we were handed are fake." Everyone gasps, and we watch as the producer is dragged out. Everyone begins to speculate what was changed and why. They all assume the producer fixed it to put me at the top. Apparently, keeping a wolfless mutt here helps the family's appearance. I couldn't see the producer making it, so I won. He hated me. A while later, Kellan and Darius walked back in, this time with another sheet of paper. "Let's begin." Kellan looks at us. "Elara had the most views, comments, and such." Everyone looks at me. "The second person is Aurora." I listen to them list the names, and Sage is through. The lowest two, Nova and Raven, were told they got the lower scores and were to leave. Kellan and Darius keep our attention on them, not giving the women a chance to snap at me. They will. "The second event. I and Kellan will be staying here, and we will personally introduce ourselves to each lady. We will then choose which lady sits next to us while we eat tonight." "This means ladies, please continue to socialize. We will come to you. Please do not follow us around, continue with your own conversations, and we will come and join in." Kellan smiles, and they walk off the stage. "Congrats." I hug Sage. She was low on the list, but at least not at the end. "I expected it. The bigger the pack, the more interaction they would get." Which is wrong. The only reason I got any views, no doubt, is because I am wolfless, and people wonder how I got here. "It's wrong. Alpha Kellan sat with her; of course, she got more views with a prince on her side." Lyra glares at me. "I can assure you that Elara's views weren't for Kellan. The comments alone show people watched for her, not him." King Darius looks at her. "If you believe it was so unfair, we will arrange another one sometime where you all have him sat with you." Lyra closes her jaw and I have to stop myself from laughing. She got caught out acting in a way that a true Luna and queen wouldn't. "I apologize, Your Highness; I didn't mean any disrespect, just an observation that I am sure the future Luna of the King would make." Stepping forward, I look at her. "A Luna would collect all the facts before making assumptions. She also wouldn't speak out against the king and prince, marking their actions unfair." "She would if she had a brain." Lyra snaps at me. "Ladies, please." Kellan steps between us and laughs. "Darius, I believe you haven't met Elara." He points to me, steps around us and faces Lyra. "I had not, no." Darius rolls his eyes. "It's nice to meet you, Elara." He holds out his hand, and I shake it. "It is nice to meet you, your Highness." "Please, just call me Darius while we're in such relaxed conditions. I wanted to apologize for your treatment yesterday from the staff, it wasn't very...Welcoming." "It is fine, honestly. I wasn't hurt or offended." I've given up on getting hurt and offended. "Even if you weren't, it was wrong." He points to a seat, and I walk over and sit down. He moves to sit next to me. "May I know where your wolf is?" Ah, of course, he is going to ask that. "I'm not sure. It was taken while I was young. I can't remember." I can. I can remember the pain as it was pulled from me. I can't say it was Alpha Draven, though; there is a chance when I lose this and leave, he will grab me. The last thing I want is to make him angrier. "It's a shame, Elara. Something tells me your wolf was far from weak." He tilts his head like he is trying to sense it inside of me. "I remember it vaguely. It was strong." Just not strong enough to fight off the magic that ripped it from my heart. "Without a wolf, you may have an issue in the next round, Elara. I suggest you get the help of some of the ladies, one you can trust as it involves wolves. It is essential." "Thank you, Darius. I will be sure to." I'm sure he shouldn't be giving me hints about the next event. "I think you have kept her long enough. I would like a moment to introduce myself without formalities." Kellan smiles down at us. "Very well." I watch Darius walk away, and Kellan take his spot. Chapter 9 After our casual chats, we all went back to our rooms to get ready for tonight's dinner. I haven't seen the producer since, but the cameras still stayed. "Your dress for tonight." May holds it up. It's ocean blue with a sweetheart neckline. It's the most beautiful thing I own. It's simple, which is what was required for tonight's meal. Once I'm ready, I walk out, Sage meets me, and we walk down together. We walk in and see Darius and Kellan at opposite sides of the table. "Okay, ladies. I will read out the name of those whom Alpha Prime Darius wishes to sit with him." William opens the paper. "Aurora and Elara. Please take a seat on either side of him." Kellan grins, and it is one that says trouble is about to blow up. Ignoring him, I take my seat. "The two selected by Prince Kellan are." William unfolds the paper and glances up. "We have an issue." He glances at Darius. "Of course we do. My brother chose one of these two ladies." Darius laughs slightly. "We will move you to one side, Sir." A maid quickly begins moving things around. Now, Darius and Kellan are with a space between them. Aurora takes the seat, and I sit on the opposite side. It's obvious that is who he picked. "Kellan has picked Sage and Elara." Everyone looks shocked. "Please swap seats." Kellan smiles at Aurora, and she stands up quickly. We move and swap places. Yet her eyes glare at me as we pass each other. How is this my fault? I fight back the laugh and sit between them. I wish it was Aurora, this is awkward. The other women pick where to sit, and I sit awkwardly between the king and prince. The plates are set down, and I notice Darius has something different. "Do you not like sauce?" I peer at him. "Allergy." Ah, well, that makes sense. I nod slightly. "Not an allergy. He just uses that as an excuse." Kellan laughs. "I believe the hives I got after consuming it is a confirmation of an allergy." Darius looks at him and then turns to me. "You mentioned you can't remember your wolf being taken. Do you remember who cared for you when it was taken?" I do, although I'm not sure if I should say. I swallow and glance around. "You see, my brother is fixated on finding out where the wolves are going. He thinks if you remember, it could be his way to figure it out." Kellan smiles at me. He can find out easy enough. "I was living with Alpha Draven at the time." "Did he mention it to you?" My head shakes. "No." My word sounds cold and he tilts his head. "It is weird he never asked where your wolf went." "He rarely spoke to me." That is my excuse. He can clearly tell I am lying. Which is terrible for me, considering he is the king, and I just lied to his face multiple times. "I think you should maybe talk to Aurora so she doesn't feel left out," Kellan smirks and Darius turns to her. She smiles at him, quickly covering the scrawl she had while staring at me. "I would like to offer your assistance in the next event, Elara." I look at Kellan, confused. "I already get seen as having special treatment. We best not confirm it more." "You don't want my help?" He smirks at me. "Some women believe I am being given special treatment, which has given me an advantage. I would like for them to realize that isn't real." "The next event is different, so my helping won't raise questions." "How so?" I look at him. His eyes glance around the table, and people are listening. Maybe they can hear him? "I will explain later. Once it is announced." I nod at his words. Darius had said I needed help because I didn't have a wolf, so how would Kellan help me? A guard steps between me and Darius, whispering something in his ear. As he turns he knocks the glass onto me. I stand up, but it's too late. "I apologize." He looks at me, but his words say it was on purpose. "It's fine. I shall go get changed." Standing, I walk out. As I make my way around the halls, I feel a hand grab me. Spinning, I see the producer. "You think I will let you push me out?" "I did no such thing." How am I to blame for his actions? "No one wants you here; when the king realizes how bad you make him look, he will be grateful I tampered with the results to try to have you removed." I don't reply; I just turn to walk away, but he follows. "Alpha Draven has explained that you follow instructions well." I continue to walk as he follows. Has he really contacted him? "He seems to think that you lied on your application. Is that true?" Turning, I look at him. "Alpha Draven couldn't possibly know as he didn't even know I went in." "Even so, how did you put a number for intimate partners when you can't possibly be sure?" I hesitate. "You didn't." His eyes widen. "Ahm." I look up to see Kellan walking towards us. "Are you okay?" He looks at me, and I nod. "Fine, I'm getting changed. I go to walk away, and he stops me. "Why are you in the contestant's hallway?" He looks at the producer now. "Apologizing as I was told to do so by the king." Apologize? I almost laugh at that. "Is that so?" Kellan looks at me. I can't say no. Right now, I can't cope with more enemies. "Yes." I don't want more drama. "Well, you can leave now. I'm sure you could have apologized somewhere more public rather than following Elara to the bedrooms." Kellan states, and I watch as he walks away. I turn to go to my room, and Kellan stops me. "We're not devil's Elara." "I know." I never said they were. I go to move and he stops me again. "We know you lied on your application." My body stills. "We also understand that those particular questions were intrusive and would maybe make people feel like they would be excluded for the number. You didn't need to lie." "I didn't lie." The number I put was random, as I don't know the answer. "Really?" He looks at me, waiting. "How can I lie when I myself don't know the number? It only accepted numbers. There was no way to explain. I couldn't possibly know the answer when letters were not accepted." He peers at me, and the silence grows. I can see he is thinking something or maybe working something out in his head. "You knew you could be punished and lied anyway?" He steps closer, and I nod. "Why?" "Punishment from the king wouldn't be any different from the ones I received almost daily. At least this way, there was a chance I wouldn't be found out." He moves closer to me. "You won't be punished for lying about that number, however..." He steps closer, his body against mine. "We may need to discuss it in more detail to ensure nothing else was a lie." I hold myself at his words, his smile widening. "That's fine, I'm happy to be honest." "Bitten and claimed?" His body presses against mine. Oh no, maybe not that honest. His hand strokes down my neck. I'm too busy whimpering slightly to notice his hand pull my dress down from my shoulder. My hand raises quickly to cover the area. "Oh, now that...is interesting." His eyes come to mine. "Bitten and claimed. Where is your mate?" "I don't have a mate." His head tilts. "You're bitten and claimed." "Not by choice." I didn't want to be. I didn't choose to be or agree. "Go on, tell him, and have me punished." He will. "Hmm...I think I will pass; I'm intrigued to see how this will all work out. My brother seems interested in you, and he's never interested in anyone." "He's intrigued, not interested. Like yourself." "Oh, no. The king is interested, as am I." His head lowers, and I hold my breath, he almost kissed me. "Well." I watch Kellan jump back. "Dinner has ended; many will be leaving soon once William announces the next event, and here you are." I watch Darius walk to us. "We were talking." Kellan smiles and steps back more. "Close for someone who was just talking. You do remember you're not allowed to have relations with the women, Kellan, not until you choose." "You mistake my intentions, brother. I wasn't have relations with her." "I don't mistake anything. You can't have relations with the contestants. It doesn't exactly set a good example, does it!" I step back slightly, inching closer to my room. "Ah, no, you don't." He looks at me. "Stay right there. I need to speak to you after." Did he see my shoulder? I watch as he pulls Kellan away and discusses something. I watch Kellan nodding and waiting as Darius walks over to me. He stops in front of me. His head lowers to my ear. "Do not indulge my brother Elara. It won't end well for you." "I wasn't..." "Oh, you were." He leans closer. "Although I can't blame you, he has a habit of making people follow on his little missions to cause problems." Well, I won't then. "I will keep space between us." "Please do. You can't afford to have my brother's bad behavior used against you." "We both know I won't be making it to the end and becoming Luna." That's impossible. "You seem so sure? You were top for the first round. You got both mine and Kellan's attention in the last event. That's all it takes." I hear something, and he steps back. Everyone is staring at us. Kellan is grinning with the other contestants behind him, staring between us. This is making me a bigger target for their hate. "Please go to your rooms; I am explaining the next event to Elara after she had to leave early." I watch as they follow his instruction and rush to their rooms. "The next event?" I look at him. "You will be talking to wolves. How well you connect with them will be the key factor. Your points from that round and the event after will be added together. The one after is a ball. Consider your gown. More details will be told after the next event." "Thank you." I turn to leave, and he stops me. "Please remember what I said. Kellan isn't considering the impact of his actions on you. If the cameras had seen how close you two were...Well, it wouldn't be good." He turns and walks away. Rushing into my room, I close the door. May looks up and smiles at me. "We need to discuss your next dress, right?" I nod. That event will be essential as I am going to fail at the event tomorrow with the wolves. | LEARN_MORE | https://getokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12514&u | Start Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61558999080853/ | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | getokn.com | DCO | https://getokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12514&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/450841567_7865646213523721_6151987300376898356_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BE3nQFQCFsYQ7kNvgGGY5-V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AyxV_LEoP8TQGuE5knJ3O2B&oh=00_AYAAoSa29r4rNrFIzMhAeFY8SsTkRfZagzGFfwi0Ka80sw&oe=670E5466 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Start Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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😍Read the next chapters👉 | Chapter 1 A Messy Life and the Mafia Six months ago, I was a promising med student on the verge of all my dreams coming true, but now I’m just a waitress trying to start over in a new city. I know this restaurant I work at has ties to the infamous Onyx Mafia, but I didn’t have much choice—it's the best-paying job I could find. Besides, the scariest thing about working here isn’t the Mafia, it is the man at table eight flagging me down, obviously fuming. “What looks wrong here?” He snaps and I scan table eight's orders. Foie gras for the blonde in red, Peking duck for the pouty daughter—check. But the impatient bald man tapping his fingers? He got the risotto, not the ribeye currently in front of him. A cold sweat sweeps down my spine as I look between the squinting gaze of the man and the squiggles that are my handwriting. I still write like a surgeon, yet another reminder of my failed dreams. "Wait, I'm sorry... you ordered--" My hands tremble, and my heart sinks as I realize the kitchen couldn’t decipher my handwriting and just took a guess. Lucky me, their guess was wrong. "I-I think the kitchen--" Before I can finish my sentence, Jessica descends upon us like a vulture, risotto in hand. "Apologies for the inconvenience," she chimes in, her voice dripping with faux sympathy. "Elise here is still learning the ropes." "I can tell," the man responds curtly, his attention entirely on Jessica, silently dismissing me. There goes my tip. "Sir, I noticed you’re drinking the 1984 Chateau. Let me send another round on the house for your troubles," Jessica offers breathlessly, her bosom on display as she leans in, her eyes batting just like they did back in high school. The man grunts in agreement as her fingers dig into my arm like talons. She whispers through clenched teeth, "Kitchen. Now." I bow my head obediently as I follow her into the chaos of the kitchen. When I moved here, I promised things were going to be different. I would be no one’s stepping stool, and yet here I am again, at the mercy of another girl who appears oblivious to the fact that we graduated high school. “Elise struck again, boys!” Tony, the sous chef, calls out, his laughter echoing through the kitchen. “What was it this time? Dropped another soup? Tripped and broke all the glasses?” In my defense, the soup incident happened because a man molested me, and Jessica tripped me while I was carrying glasses for an 18-person table. “Oh, tonight she gave one of our regulars the wrong meal.” “It’s the kitchen’s fault. I ordered a risotto, not a ribeye."I retort, pushing my glasses up as I glare at Jessica. “And who could tell with that chicken scratch handwriting?” Tony snorts. “Remember she wanted to be a surgeon,” Jessica sneers. “Doctors notoriously have terrible handwriting, but not waitresses.” The other kitchen staff snicker at her remark. They all think I went to med school and couldn’t cut it. But they don't know the truth, and it would be worse if they did. I take a deep breath, trying to push down my anger. "You were supposed to be a surgeon, marry Sirius, live your perfect little life," she snaps back, the mention of his name, Sirius, still a punch to the gut after all these years. I bite my lip to stifle the retort that threatens to spill from my lips and look down at my tennis shoes, a lump forming in my throat. I can still remember the feeling of the day he disappeared. I told everyone he loved me, that he would be back, and that he would never just leave me, but they were all right. He was gone. He didn’t want me anymore and wasn’t brave enough to say it to my face before disappearing. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever saw him again. It’d be a combination of running into his arms, waiting to see every bit of his life I missed, and kicking him where the sun doesn't shine. "But then you ended up at the bottom, where you’re meant to be." I hold my breath. I can’t show Jessica she’s getting to me. "Good thing Sirius came to his senses like we all knew he would," Jessica retorts. "Once he was done slumming it, he ran away from you as fast as possible. I mean, you practically ran him out of town." The lump in my throat swells as memories of his abandonment flood back, the pain still fresh. "You know what--" "Those better are words of gratitude, Elise, because I am two seconds away from firing you," Jessica interrupts, her smirk widening as she relishes in my discomfort. I swallow back my retort, facing Mr. Thompson, the restaurant manager. Mr. Thompson's stern gaze pierces through me as he approaches. "Elise, why do I have Mr. Kelsey asking for a free bottle of wine for his troubles?" "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Thompson," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do better, I promise." "You have been promising to do better for weeks, Elise. That is not enough anymore," he snaps. "I'll work harder, I swear," I plead, desperation creeping into my voice. "Please." Mr. Thompson holds up a hand to silence me. "You've got one more chance, Elise, but you’re out of here if I hear one more complaint. Do you understand?" I nod frantically."Yes, Mr. Thompson. I won't let you down. I promise." He scoffs, clearly unconvinced. "For the rest of your shift, you are exclusive to the VIPs upstairs," he continues, his tone stern. "They’re too drunk to notice your insolence." "Yes, sir," I whisper. "And you better be on your best behavior because the Mafia king is here," Mr. Thompson warns. "And if I don’t have your head, he will." I swallow hard, the weight of his words settling like a lead weight in the pit of my stomach, as I nod, feeling a shiver run down my spine. Mr. Thompson storms off into his office, leaving Jessica behind me with a wicked gleam in her eye. "Looks like you're on thin ice, Elise," Jessica says, her tone dripping with faux sympathy. "Better watch your step." "Why? You’re going to trip me?" "I would never, but since you are exclusive to VIPs," Jessica hands me a tray of appetizers too heavy for me to hold without almost falling over. "Take this to table 19... the King’s subjects are there." I take a deep breath as I walk out of the kitchen and into the dining room. But as I look up at the men sitting upstairs, a wave of dread washes over me, making me want to run in the opposite direction. They're overly comfortable, as if they own the place as if they own the world. And in a way, they do. The rumors swirling around the restaurant's ownership, whispers of connections to the mafia, suddenly feel all too real. Each step closer to the VIP room feels heavier, as if I am dragging myself closer. As I approach, the men’s eyes leering over me like predators sizing up their prey. The minute I set down the appetizers, a hand grips the back of my leg, sending a shiver down my spine. "Hey there, sweetheart," the man slurs, his breath reeking of booze as he pulls me into his lap. "Why don’t you clock out and hang with the big dogs?" I squirm, feeling his hand wander where it shouldn't."No. Stop it. I have to get back to work," I protest, trying to push him away. But he only laughs, his grip tightening as his friends jeer and egg him on. I squirm, feeling something hard poking me, I begin to panic. He hisses in excitement in my ear. “Yeah, baby, keep doing that.” I try to pull away, causing my glasses to go flying. Great, now I’m blind too. I struggle with my body, tears stinging as I attempt to slide out of his lap, “I need my glasses.” “You do not need glasses for what we are going to do.” He pinches my chin, leaning in as if he is going to kiss me, but the sound of a growling, cleared throat causes him to pause. Panic rises in my throat as I realize that none of these guys will help me and that going against the Mafia for some random waitress is a losing battle. "In my restaurant, we do not tolerate harassment of women," the voice declares, cutting through the VIP, firm and unwavering. The handsy man practically throws me onto the floor as he looks up at the gentleman standing in front of him. I turn to see, in my blurry haze, the silhouette of a man looming protectively over me, his presence exuding authority and strength. The handsy man stutters as the man approaches us, “King. She approached me.” “Really? Are you calling me a liar?” The Mafia King’s voice is calm and sharp, like a shard of ice. “ No, my King, but she is a call girl!” I snap, looking back at the handsy man before turning to the King to plead my case. But I pause. The King’s head is tilted as he looks at me. The King’s voice is laced with disappointment and concern, “A call girl?” Chapter 2 Mafia King Knows Me？ “What, no!” I stand up, “I am not a call girl!” My hand instinctively reaches for my glasses, but they're not there. With a frown, I protest, glaring at the accusing handsyMafia man. “No call girl is too nice for what she does on her knees.” Jessica stands next to the stairs, arms crossed, leaning on the railing. “She solicited me. Asked me to come get her after work because she needs to make some extra money,” the handsy man pleads, but the King stares at me. Jessica saunters over, her hand casually trailing between her bosoms and up to her collarbone as she walks. She stops in front of the King, a coy smile playing on her lips as she leans close to whisper in his ear. “Think about it, darling. A woman who can get close enough to you without suspicion and weasels her way into the VIP area. Doesn’t that sound like a call girl?” The movements Jessica makes intrigue me as if she can turn on and off her alluring appeal. The King's gaze never leaves my direction as Jessica whispers in his ear. Slowly, he straightens up and pushes Jessica slightly back. “You seem to know a lot about the position of a call girl,” King says, but Jessica playfully laughs that off. “I admire how they always seem to get their way.” Gears start to turn in my mind as I squint at Jessica’s blurry form. She looks innocent and inviting, as if she is just flirting, but she is fully prepared to go much further than that. But I can see past her facade now, despite my broken glasses and the blurry world they left me in. Squinting, I can just make out the calculated way she moves and the sharpness in her eyes. I interject before Jessica can respond, “King, look at her body language. Even through the blur, she’s loose, inviting, and sensual as she speaks to you.” The King's gaze shifts from me back to Jessica, a new sense of awareness in his eyes. “When you came in here my body language was stiff, closed off. If I were a call girl like her, I wouldn’t be a good one, would I?” Jessica's facade wavers for a split second before she regains her composure, letting a seductive smile spread across her face. The King lightly chuckles as he pushes Jessica away, “It takes more than a brain full of silicone and fake bosoms to be a good call girl, but I see your point.” “It’s an act some guys like, King, a little bit of fight,” Jessica goes to reach for the King again, but he grabs her wrist tightly, his body tense. “Do not touch me again,” the King drops her hand with disgust, wiping his hand on his jeans as he continues. “ I have let you humor me with your lies, but do not treat me like a fool.” “No, King I would never,” the King gives her a humorless laugh as he invades her space menacingly. “You think you could play me for a fool because I am a man I must be ruled by my hormonal drive? Is that it?” The King looks her over in disgust and turns away, “Get out of my sight.” “King, you have to be protected from her.” Jessica approaches him again, feigning innocence, but the King’s subjects block her as he moves closer to me. “You underestimate me because I have shown you kindness. I will not make that mistake again. ” He slowly looks over at Jessica, and I can tell from how her knees buckle that she sees the darkness in his eyes. “ You're fired.” “King, I’m sorry I-” “You have three minutes to exit. I would use that time wisely.” Fear strikes across Jessica’s face as she scrambles back down the stairs. I bow my head, looking at my tennis shoes, unsure of the punishment I may receive. I don’t know how long I have been looking down, but a hand holding my broken glasses evades my eyeline. “Oh, thank you.” “They are shattered, can you see otherwise?” I shake my head, not allowing my hair to fall into my face. The King pinches my chin forcing me to look at him, and I can make out the sharpness of his jawline. His touch shoots a spark of electricity down my spine, and my breath hitches. “I will-” “I have contacts downstairs. You know, in case of emergencies.” The King looks at me as if a thousand questions are running through his mind. “Why are you working here?” I struggle back, slighting, and the King releases me. Jessica was right in a way I was supposed to be so much more. I was supposed to be a surgeon. I had the brains for it. The steady hands. The determination, but it is not often a stranger can see you are meant to be so much more than what you are. In the blur, I try to find his eyes before I respond, “Most people can’t do what they truly want to.” The King nods sharply before taking a step back and clearing his throat. “I don’t want you in the VIP rooms anymore. They’re filled with dangerous people, and normal people shouldn’t be around them.” “You sound worried.” I laugh at the King’s warning. “I am serious, Elise. I don’t want you up here again.” The King’s voice is sharp, and I straighten at the command. “As you wish, King.” His lips in a tight line, he nods taking a small step to the right, allowing me to shimmy past him. I stop and turn around, “Thank you for everything.” He doesn’t respond, opting for a sharp nod. I walk forward, clutching my broken glasses, looking down when another figure blocks my exit. The blonde guy with an easygoing smile clears his throat as he nervously scratches the back of his head, “Hey," he says, his voice wavering slightly. "I'm sorry about what happened back there. Are you okay?" "I'll survive," I reply with a shrug, avoiding eye contact. His gaze lingers on me for a moment before he nods slowly. “Well, I was wondering if you would give me a chance to show you not everyone in the Mafia is not a pig?” I give him a small smile, feeling the heat of someone’s eyes behind me. “I don’t think my boyfriend would like that very much.” The snort causes me to turn around, and the King blends into the black leather couch, looking at me, “Boyfriend?” “A great boyfriend. If that matters?” The King coughs, “Not at all.” He looks over at a disappointed Jacob. “I just told her to steer clear of us, and you ask her out on a date in front of me.” “What shot would I have after this if you ban her?” “None. You get no chance.” The King growls, and I back up towards the stairs. “Leave now, Elise Caroline. I don’t want to see you up here again.” His warning is sharp and declarative. With a small squeak, I scurry down the stairs, but I pause before I enter the kitchen. I never introduced myself. I never told the King my name, yet he said it not once but twice, and the second time, he used my middle name. Does the Mafia King know me? Do I know him? Chapter 3 Rumors and Crisis I don’t breathe until the kitchen doors slam behind me. How does the Mafia King know my name, surely he knows all his employees' names. He may just be a great boss. Right, that’s it. The Mafia King is a great boss who would’ve thought? My breathing slows and I realize I’m so caught up in my thoughts I don’t feel the entire kitchen looking at me until Toni clears his throat. “Elise?” I look up at him, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but I don’t respond. Instead, Dawn, the pastry chef, approaches me with flour-covered hands. “Hey girly, are you okay? Did the King…hurt you?” I shake my hand no, a strangled breath releases from my lips, and Dawn sighs, squeezing my cheeks. “Good because the King has no right hurting a girl as innocent as you.” “Like that would’ve been his first time!” Kelsey, the saucier, laughs in the corner of the kitchen. “Kels, you’re not helping,” Dawn snaps, but Toni approaches us wickedly. “I heard his favorite way to murder is the bloody eagle.” “Toni!” I look at Dawn’s horrified face as she runs to cover my ears. “What's the bloody eagle?” I whisper. The dread I had swimming in my gut since the King first laid eyes on me bubbles to the surface. I feel like I could vomit. “All I’m going to say is ribs pulled through the back. If you want more details, do your research online.” I would not, but Kelsey laughs, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t put it past him. The King treats his subjects like their commodities, completely replaceable. He’s the youngest King ever, and you don’t get to be King in your twenties without a trail of blood behind you.” Kelsey points her ladle at us in warning, “So watch ya’ step, or the King will gut ya’ like a fish!” “Or hang your head above his fireplace, I heard the king loves a trophy, and a pretty head like yours would be perfect.” Toni swats at my hair and Dawn pushes him back to his station. “What is all this racket?! Kelsey you’re messing around and broke the sauce!” The Head Chef, Yolanda enters the kitchen with a stern look in her eyes, “And you! Why aren’t you running my plates?” “I-I…” I rub my hands back and forth, feeling the tension of being in trouble for the third time tonight. “She just had an interaction with the King. Leave her alone.” Dawn snaps. Dawn and Yolanda are childhood best friends, and Dawn is the only one who can talk to Yolanda that way and still have her job. Yolanda’s face pales as she walks closer to me, “You interacted with the King and made it out alive? Count your lucky stars.” Yolanda approaches me cautiously and I don’t realize all the stress is forcing tears to burn in my eyes. “That man is cold-blooded like a snake.” Despite the bile I balance in the back of my throat, I look Yolanda in the eye and shake my head, “No, he protected me. He knew my name.” “He knew your name because you have a name tag on your shirt.” Yolanda flicks my name tag and I look down at it, a pang of disappointment shivering through me. “Protect you?” Dawn questions, “You didn’t say anything about the King protecting you.” “That may be worse. A dangerous man like him may like you, want you.” Yolanda whispers. My eyes widened. My skin flushes as Yolanda and Dawn share a look with each other. The King knew my name. The King wants me. I remember the way he said boyfriend as if it was the most disgusting word on his tongue. But just as I spiral, Dawn and Yolanda break into laughter. “Girl, bless your heart! A man that fine wants you. You better be over the moon happy.” Dawn lightly hits her rag on my right arm, and I flinch, holding my breath. “I mean, those gray eyes are just delicious!” Kelsey chimes in. “Nope, it has to be black curly hair.” Those eyes, that hair remind me of Sirius. His eyes could be a storm with everyone else and clear with me. How a single curl always danced in the middle of his forehead, and I’d spend all day pushing it back. The days when he was my Sirius. The laughter snaps me out of my daze. “I bet he wakes up with his hair like that, just messy and perfect!” “Yolanda, I don’t know if you want to be him or sleep with him?” “Does it matter?” The entire kitchen erupts into laughter. “I would take him any way I could get him. He is so fine!” “So how did he look up close, Elise? A walking daydream, huh?” Kelsey leans over her pot, wiggling her eyebrows. I hide my head slightly, blush to creep up the apple of my cheeks. “I don’t know,” I show the kitchen my glasses. “I broke my glasses. All I could see was tall, charming, and hot.” The entire kitchen boos. “You get close to the Mafia King, and your glasses break!” Dawn pouts, pushing me away, and I giggle for the first time in this entire situation. “Sorry, I can’t tell you how hot he is. You’re going to have to figure that out yourselves!” “Hey! Why is no one helping me out on the floor?” An upset waiter enters the kitchen looking around at us. “I’ll be right there, just let me get my contacts.” I head towards the break room and rummage inside my purse, revealing my contact lenses. I begin to replace my contacts, looking into the crappy workplace mirror, but once my vision is clear, all I can see is my missing earring. One of my silver earrings from Sirius, he got me for our last anniversary together. He’s already missing. I can lose the last thing he’s ever given me. I look over at the floor near my locker, but I know where it is. It’s in the VIP area. I turn on my heel towards the VIP area. The Mafia King's warning echoed in my mind, I don’t want you in the VIP rooms anymore. It’s filled with the type of dangerous people, normal people shouldn’t be around.” I push his warning into the back of my mind. With a deep breath, I start walking up the stairs. I’ll be quick! In and out before anyone notices. As I enter the VIP area, I immediately fall to my knees, crawling around for the earring and hiding from the boisterous men laughing around the bar. I freeze when the King’s voice booms through the area, “You’re lucky I don’t collect your freaking head!” The music in the VIP clicks off. “Boss, it was just a girl!” The man snaps back and the entire area seems to hold their breath as the twinkle of something catches my eye. “A girl under my protection. The same way you are under my protection.” The King's voice is even and controlled again, “And don’t I always protect mine?” I contort my body, grabbing the dangled earring from underneath the couch. “Let me provide you with this small mercy. I promise you the alternative is lethal, and it would be a shame to murder you when you’re still useful to me.” The club music clicks back on as if nothing happened. I sit up on the floor, fixing the earring in my ear. When the footsteps descend towards me. I am not quick enough when I hear the humorless laughter of the handsy man, “You are the freaking pain of my existence. I’m on grunt duty because of you.” I look up, my eyes darting between him and the stairs. If I jump up and run. I should make it. I will make it. I propel myself off the floor, running towards the stairs, but the handsy man is quicker. He pulls me back by my hair, caging me in. My breath hitches as cold metal digs into my side. His breath gushes over my face in puffs thick with the scent of tobacco and gin. “ Go on and scream. No one will hear you, and it’ll only make this more fun for me.” Chapter 4 The Mafia King is My Ex? “ Go on and scream. No one will hear you, and it’ll only make this more fun for me.” His fingernails dig into my wrist, but I bite back any response watching his nostrils flare. “You got me suspended from duties because you rather spread your legs for the King than me.” He pulls me against him, snarling at my confident facade. I look down at the mark forming on my wrist, keeping my voice as even as possible, I say, “I do not want the King. I do not know the King.” He pushes me against the brick wall, and with my better judgment, I whimper, gripping the back of my head, “You dare lie to me? After all you have done, you freaking lie to me?” Spit sprays over my face, his eyes bulge out of his head as he holds me against the wall. The concrete dug into my skin. “Please,” I whisper. “Please?! Please! You purposefully lead me to the freaking slaughter, shaking your tight body for the king, begging him to punish me for your fault.” His wet breath drips down my face, and I look away towards the hallway leading to the King. I didn’t know the King. He did not need to come to my rescue, yet he did. Maybe the King liked me the way Dawn said, but what did it matter? I did not want him. “I am not sorry you were punished. I said no.” “Oh, so this is the little game we’re going to play? You say no, and mean yes.” A greedy, devious smile spread across the man's lips as if the idea of conquering me in such a manner excited him. “You little freaking tease.” His palm digs into my waist, and my eyes water over, straining to look down the hallway to the King. “No.” “You like causing trouble, huh? You like luring men in to watch them. ” I hear the click of his belt, a dooming sound. “You need to be taught a lesson, and I love punishing little girls with fresh mouths.” A voice and the click of a door opening cut the tension. “Boss, who even was she?” He pulls me into a corner. He pulls me in front of him and presses himself on me. His gun is tucked under my chin, and his arm is wrapped around my waist as he whispers in my ear, “Don’t make a freaking sound.” I watch the King walk down the hallway, most of his subjects a step or two behind him. The young member with dirty brown hair and colorful tattoos walks almost in step with him. The King’s voice almost sounds bored as he responds. “That is none of your concern, Taylor.” “You punished one of your own men for her. I think you owe us an explanation.” Taylor snaps, stopping the King in his steps. “Owe?” He slowly turns, and I can see the King’s face clearly through a sliver of light. The girls downstairs didn’t do him any justice. He was breathtaking. Dressed in a tailored black suit, the fabric stretched taut over his muscular frame, his white button-up exposed the tattoo in swirling patterns on his chest and up part of his neck. His curly black hair was gelled back into a style of sorts, but two unruly curls escaped and framed his face. His eyes swirled like a storm, erupting and flashing between the calming gray and black. He looked almost like a tortured angel. He almost looks like Sirius. “You think I owe you?” The King snarls at Taylor, who instantly turns pale. “N-no, I just mean-” “You just mean I should allow subordinates to run rampant to assault and pillage like average thugs.” “Sir it just seemed like you cared about the girl too much.” “What I choose to care and not care about is none of your freaking business, but Dan was punished for lying to me,” The King leans in closer, “ I was feeling gracious, so he was given a slap on the wrist, next time I will cut out his tongue. But my kindness has expired.” “King.” Desperation drips in the boy’s tone, but the King dismisses him with the flick of his wrist, and a man drags Taylor away. “Step foot in my territory again, and you will be destroyed on sight.” The King continues walking forward as if he did not send someone to their death, but the gasp that escapes my lips makes him pause. “Dan?” The handsy man behind me shifts, a grunt escaping his throat. Then a shot rang out, something sliced through the air, and Dan shrieked, falling to his knees. “I show you kindness, and this is how you repay me?” The King’s voice is deathly low as he approaches, and I dare not move. I dare not breathe. “The call girl freaking deserves it.” A low rumble of laughter escapes the King, lowering himself over a bleeding Dan. He pushes the barrel of the gun into the wound in his shoulder. “You are freaking mad, murdering innocents just because they won’t sleep with you?” The King pistol whips Dan into the floor, and a strangled sound fills the room. Dan spits onto the floor. “This is the thanks I get for letting you keep your life?” “My King, she seduced me-” The King grips him by the collar dragging him close. “You think it is wise to lie again?” Dan audibly swallows, a whimper escaping his lips. The King snaps his finger, and a buff, bald man with the word mercy over his knuckles comes up behind him. “Yes, boss?” “I want his tongue and right hand.” With a curt nod, the man grips Dan by his injured shoulder and drags him deeper into the VIP area. “I thought I told you not to come back in here.” The King looks in the direction of a weeping, sounding annoyed. I slowly at the King from the corner of my eye, my mouth completely dry and my hands feverishly shaking. The scars on the King’s face glitter in the low lighting making my stomach twist, so I focus on the silver, twisted ring on his ring finger. It looks almost like tree branches gripping his skin. “I-I left something here.” “What?” His empty grey eyes lock on me. “An earring.” A short grunt leaves his lips, “You risked your life for an earring?” “It’s sentimental.” I whisper, narrowing my eyes closer to the ring, recognizing the red ruby in the center of a rose, and I almost choke, drilling my eyes into his, “Sirius?!” Chapter 5 An Unexpected Reunion “Sirius?!” My heart is practically beating out of my chest. I can’t breathe, staring into his eyes, I know. I know it’s him. He turns to me a blank look on his face. The silence in the room creeps over me, and I slowly look around the room. Every mafia member is staring at me, with tension in their necks, awaiting the command of their king. I almost believe I’ve misspoken as I watch the King’s jaw click. “Elise.” “Oh my god!” I take a step back, looking him over. He looks just like he did in high school, but buffed up and toned, no longer lean and boyish. He’s a full man now. “When I told you to stay away from here, I meant it. Earring or not.” “These were…you cannot tell me what to do, Sirius.” He tilts his head to the side, looking me over. “You gave these to me…before you…” “I know, earring or not. Do not come back up here. Stay away from the mafia.” His voice is ice-cold and distant. He starts to walk away from me, and I almost leap out of my skin following him. “Do not speak to me like that, not after what you did. You abandoned me, and now you dismiss me.” “We both know what really happened back then, don’t act like you don’t know. Do not make me into some villain.” “No, but you are heartless. You leave without a word. You disappear, then you come back and ignore me as if we were nothing. As if you didn’t even—” My words get caught in my chest as if I am about to cry, but Sirius turns sharply towards me, heat rising in his eyes. “Once. I had a heart once, but now when I tell you to do something, you listen, Elise, and that’s final.” Sirius speaks lowly in my face, his voice feathers over me. “Now leave.” My eyes cannot help but flicker at his lips, but I immediately take a step back when he licks them. “No. Just because you say jump, d-does not mean I have to follow, Sirius.” I can hear the click of a gun, and Sirius doesn’t even move as he watches my actions. I raise my hands up and grit my teeth, “I guess you won’t even let me say thank you before murdering me, huh? ” “Lower your weapons, no one is allowed to point a gun at her ever.” I put my hands down slowly, my anger and grief swirling into panic as he turns to leave again. “If I mean so little to you, why are you still wearing your ring?” The branching ring with a single ruby was part of a promise ring set Sirius and I had brought when we were silly and in love. My ring is in my jewelry bag, hidden so Alston won’t find it and ask questions. “For sentimental reasons. I engraved it with something to remind me of the past.” He looks down at the ring longingly before snapping his eyes to my hands. “Where is your ring?” “I lost it years ago.” I don’t know why I lie or what I try to hide, but I know I can’t let him think anything can happen between us. He just nods sharply, not letting any emotions pass over his face. A throat clears in the background, and the tension in the room deflates slightly at the fakely bubbly voice of Mr. Thompson. He stands between Sirius and me a sharp look in his eyes. “Is everything okay here?” “Just a conversation,” Sirius responds evenly, his eyes not leaving mine. Mr.Thompson gives an empty chuckle, “Ah yes, I had to have a conversation with this employee multiple times. She is lazy. She constantly elicits complaints for her promiscuity and irresponsible nature.” He turns to me, hard eyes in his eyes, raising his voice, “Elise, I told you one more time.” “Mr.Thompson, this isn’t what it looks.” I begin, but he puts a hand in my face silencing me. “No, no, the time has come Elise you have embarrassed yourself in front of the King. You have constantly caused problems. You are the most terrible waitress I have ever had the displeasure of managing--” Sirius clocks his gun, placing the barrel against the back of Mr.Thompson’s head and he freezes. “No, no, continue your rant with a gun to your head.” “Sir, I was just firing insubordinate who was causing you trouble.” Mr.Thompson raises his hands up shakily. “Do you think of me as a damsel in need of saving, Thompson?” “Absolutely not sir.” “So why would I need you to come to my rescue?” “Sir, she has been a terrible employee, and I think--” “I do not care what you think. One more insult at her, and I am blowing your freaking brain across this room, understand?” Mr.Thompson nods slowly. “Good.” Sirius puts his gun away, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Is this what you do all day? Threaten people’s lives?” “No normally I am not protecting my ex-girlfriend.” Sirius tucks the gun in his waistband, shrugging at Elise. “Where even is he?” “What are you talking about, Sirius?” He walks closer to me a teasing smile on his lips. “Where is your boyfriend? Why is he not here to step in during every crisis, like I am?” Sirius stands a breath away from me, and from his tone, I can tell he is taunting me, that he wants a rise out of me. For a second, I want to smile at his boyish ways. His jealousy-fueled mockery reminds me of my Sirius. “My relationship with Alston has nothing to do with you!” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. His eyes dip to my chest, but his eyes narrow, looking at me just as quickly. “I thought you were dating my brother Lester?” “No, he is like a brother to me.” He chuckles. “It would destroy him to hear you say that.” “Why would you think I was with Lester?” “I never would have guessed Alston because he is such a good guy. Taking down major corporations, defending the little guy. I thought you liked your guys with a little edge to them.” Sirius shrugs, a carefree look in his eyes. “You used to be a good guy.” Sirius flashes his million-dollar smile that makes my knees weaken. “I was never a good guy, you just always saw the good in me.” Sirius’s voice is barely above a whisper, causing shivers down my spine. Alston was good. After Sirius went missing, Alston pursued me and when Lester was severely injured, Alston was the one who gathered most of the money for the medical expenses. His good deeds made me fall for him. He was always saving the day, and knowing that he was my personal superhero made me feel secure, supported, and loved. Most importantly, I never felt like he would abandon me. “I agreed to be his girlfriend because he makes me feel safe, Sirius, physically and emotionally.” Sirius’s eyes widen and the careless smile on his face fizzles out. I want to reach up and cup his face. I want to tell him that despite moving on he was my first, I have never been crazy, or foolish in love with anyone else. It’s only been him. “Thompson, leave.” Sirius doesn’t break eye contact with me as Mr.Thompson scurries to leave, but before he can make his grand escape, “I want your office cleared out by the morning.” “What?” Mr.Thompson slows, looking over his shoulder, shock across his face. “Elise will be the new owner, effective in the morning.” Simultaneously Mr.Thompson and I both look at Sirius as if he has lost his mind, screaming, “What? Why?” “Because Alston is not the only person who can make you feel safe, Elise.” | LEARN_MORE | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12158&u | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61560831098071/ | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | redtgb.com | DCO | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12158&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449035833_3673882339608318_8624242140010251787_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t3VQTS08tTsQ7kNvgFuu0nJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AA6PDw5Sv-BlD26ku9wV-e-&oh=00_AYAtsmZyVRA67c6GJ2JTLkHfheWQ2nCuvzGTWIv7J9nOXQ&oe=670E5C5D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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🌪️💨 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑹𝑳𝑾𝑰𝑵𝑫 𝑾𝑬𝑫𝑵𝑬𝑺𝑫𝑨𝒀𝑺 🌪️💨 🐰 Hi frens! How we all doing so far? As par for the course that is my life, the cycle of work I constantly seem to find myself drowning in is infinite. I wish I could say I’m still riding a quieter wave right now— but I’m not. And probably won’t be again until the end of year 🥴 LOL yikes on bikes 💀 But anyway. As I’ve also said many a time before, all of the above is truly just a ~Me™ problem, not y’all’s 😅 Please just know that I have 2-3 spotlight/feature posts currently in the works; a 𝙂𝙄𝙑𝙀𝘼𝙒𝘼𝙔 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙀𝙎𝙏 popping up by or before early next week in celebration of hitting ✨𝟔𝐊(✨!!?) followers, and at least 3-5 book reviews coming real soon— and, if you made it this far reading, THANK YOU for sticking around & for all of your continued patience with me; I appreciate you all very much! ——— 📬📮 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤? // 💌 𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭! All the books photographed here are ones I bought back in early-Sept when I went to Cali on holiday & visited @savvyrosereads! I told myself I’d only get a *max* of “3-5” books *total* across all the indie shops we went to…. I returned home, one extra hand-carry on purchase later, with 11 books. ELEVEN. Whoops! 🥸 But also— how very on brand? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ lmao I have no regrets. • Until next time frens, see you all again real soon! 🤍🎐 ——— 📚 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒 / 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃: 🧮 𝟻𝟶 𝚀𝚄𝙰𝙽𝚃𝚄𝙼 𝙿𝙷𝚈𝚂𝙸𝙲𝚂 𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚂 • { Baker, J. } 💫 𝙰𝙽 𝙰𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙾𝙼𝙴𝚁 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴 • { Laurain, A. } ☁️ 𝙸𝙵 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 • { Hjorth, V. } 🚮 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚂 𝚈𝙾𝚄 • { Roper, R. } 🪼 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝙻𝙾𝚆 • { Gaynor, J. } 🦚 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝚁𝙽𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝙸𝚂𝚃’𝚂 𝙵𝙸𝙴𝙻𝙳 𝙶𝚄𝙸𝙳𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴** • { Holton, I. } 🍻 𝙶𝚄𝚈’𝚂 𝙶𝙸𝚁𝙻 • { Noyes, E. } ⛓️💥 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳𝙱𝚈𝙴 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙲𝙴𝚂𝚂 • { Jones, M. } 🪺 𝙱𝙸𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝙱𝙴𝙽𝙴𝙵𝙸𝚃𝚂** • { Dubb, S.T. } ⚡️ 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙻𝙰𝚂𝙷 [𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝚆𝙾 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙻𝙳𝚂]* • { Gardner, F. } 🩰 𝚂𝙺𝙸𝙽 𝙳𝙴𝙴𝙿* • { Woolley, F. } ——— (* = 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥) (** = 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨) | VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE | http://instagram.com/bookswithbuns | bookswithbuns | https://www.instagram.com/_u/bookswithbuns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visit Instagram profile | 0 | instagram.com | IMAGE | http://instagram.com/bookswithbuns | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/332029459_207601548477634_7072127780427086713_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s206x206&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=7fff4e&_nc_ohc=HJE0EHq3-L4Q7kNvgFkURzc&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AYCER8Lqz43iGJTOEzYzWwK-suaSxl6HSuDtJLdEmo4AKg&oe=670E5856 | IG_ADS_IDENTITY | 1 | 0 | 0 | bookswithbuns | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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🔥️click here to read more FREE chapters! | Maxwell arrived home well past 11:00 pm. The villa was eerily quiet, with only a night light switched on in the living room. Jennifer sat on the couch, seemingly waiting for him. As Maxwell took off his coat and loosened his tie, he spoke impatiently, "Didn't we agree on the divorce? I won't shortchange you when it comes to assets. You can rest assured about that." He thought she wanted a larger share of the assets. Jennifer's voice was hoarse when she asked, "Maxwell, did you want a divorce because of that woman?" Maxwell's expression faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn't want to hide anything from her, nor did he care to. "Yes. I owe it to her. That's something I must do," he admitted frankly. Jennifer chuckled bitterly. "I only discovered today how hypocritical you are. You played the victim, making me feel guilty and pushing me to get a divorce. I bet you were secretly pleased, weren't you? You finally caught me making a blunder, and you're now forcing me to leave so you can be with her." Maxwell furrowed his brows. His tone was chilling as he replied, "Jennifer, let's make things clear. Rachel and I were together in the first place. You know very well how you ended up marrying me. Now that you have someone else, we're even. Let's spare each other, shall we?" "No!" Jennifer's words were sharp. "I hate being deceived. You and her have been playing me like a fool for the past two years. Do you think I'll let you off?" Maxwell rubbed his temples, suppressing his irritation. With gritted teeth, he demanded, "Then what do you want?" "I won't get a divorce." With that, Jennifer went to the bedroom. Almost as soon as she turned around, her tears surged out. For two whole years, she had been waiting for him to return her feelings. Before her mother passed away, she was told that most marriages in this world were built on growing affection over time. Love at first sight was just infatuation, like what she felt for Maxwell. But marriage ultimately relied on tolerance and patience. Jennifer thought her perseverance would eventually warm his heart. Now she realized how wrong she was. | LEARN_MORE | https://mn.ikkly.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=12134 | Free BOOKS | https://www.facebook.com/61560779513133/ | 497 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | mn.ikkly.com | DCO | https://mn.ikkly.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=12134&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448810168_508013721795463_5680667871745428556_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GInxnkHb-BAQ7kNvgHKWTUS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AGa0RFtJKbQ4IjNJ1A4cfeK&oh=00_AYAYc70aSFERsAENS1PEXn8sz2ZoSSnQ8t4gZKLuwUwffQ&oe=670E4675 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Free BOOKS | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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🎃👻 Halloween Giveaway Alert! 👻🎃 Are you ready to make this Halloween spooktacular? 🎬🍿 We’re giving away a $200 Regal gift card to one lucky winner so you can enjoy all your favorite movies! 🍂👀 Head over to our Instagram @miramesamarket for details and enter today! https://www.instagram.com/p/DA6TbYYtIj7/ This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram. NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. | NO_BUTTON | Mira Mesa Market | https://www.facebook.com/miramesamarket/ | 721 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No button | 0 | IMAGE | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462508929_1994821757638754_1348858078980872401_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3D9eX31N6qEQ7kNvgEJC9t2&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AjVzHbhuDXEoasS2HJWYtCs&oh=00_AYA_9rYJ0IcMicbzR6xTFKI_5jMQ97HYuHYY6amOOkkRbQ&oe=670E51A7 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mira Mesa Market | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office. Today was the first time I went to his company. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that they’re finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from losing my baby lingered, even though it had been a long time since that accident. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijah’s world — his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijah’s ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized I’d dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And that’s when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijah’s ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. “You remember Serena, right? She works here now.” I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. They’re just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldn’t cheat on me, would he? All this time, I’d remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. “So why are you here?” Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. “Your mom asked me to deliver this,” I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didn’t. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that he’d never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. “Sophia, you look shaken up. Didn’t you know Elijah hired me to work here?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Apparently, we make a great team. Funny, I don’t recall seeing you here before.” She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, “Oh, right, you don’t know anything about business. You might just mess things up.” “I take care of our home,” I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldn’t even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, “Next time, Sophia, just contact me and I’ll have my assistant come over.” "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijah’s secretary came in. “Alice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,” he instructed. “Just black for Serena. No sugar.” Serena’s eyes lit up. “Hey, you remembered!” she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. “Of course.” I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldn’t help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. “Join us, Sophia,” Serena invited with a devilish grin. “Just like how we used to hang out together in college.” I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. “I have to go,” I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. “I’ll see you at home.” Elijah’s expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after losing my baby. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. You’re the one who keeps hoping he’ll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband’s mother Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldn’t seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. I’m back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained — the papers I’d prepared before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 The divorce agreement was written after I accidentally lost my baby. During that time, I couldn’t even look at Elijah’s face without thinking about our baby. The pain was unbearable, so I believed divorce was my salvation. Looking back, preparing the divorce agreement was not a mistake, now that leaving was my only option. My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morgana’s voice outside. “Sophia!” she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. That’s when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full of disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. “Elijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,” she said with a scoff. “You can’t even be relied on for such a simple task.” Her words cut deep. “When you first came to our house carrying a baby in your belly, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,” she continued. “Then you had lost your baby and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, “My son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.” Sure enough, she already knew that Serena worked at Elijah's company. She asked me to deliver the papers today just to make a fool of me. The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I don’t deserve this, I thought sourly. It’s time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers I’d hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. I’ve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, I’d always seemed invisible to them. I’ve been obedient, helpful, and hardworking… But no one cares. Not even my own husband. I’m nothing to him. He doesn’t love me and he never learned to. That’s the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or I’ll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadn’t realized I’d already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasn’t, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. “Hey, playing hard to get, aren’t you?” he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didn’t have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. “When did Serena start working at your company?” I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didn’t stop what he was doing. “Not sure. Probably recruited by HR.” His lips traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally, the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. “Serena is such a talented addition to our team,” he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn’t believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. “You know,” he said, oblivious to my disappointment, “she's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.” Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gaze—a kind of infatuation—that he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He’s probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn’t want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didn’t answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’ve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought you’d snap out of it, but you’ve only gotten worse. It’s depressing to even see you.” I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldn’t even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. “Maybe it’s because of the baby we lost…” he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, “Why don’t we just make another baby?” I couldn’t believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didn’t understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury I’ve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesn’t get it. Or maybe he just doesn’t care. I was totally pissed off. And that’s when I blurted it out. “I want to divorce you.” CHAPTER 3 I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another — strangers who’d been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. “I want a divorce,” I repeated, keeping my voice steady. “I’m serious.” Slowly he nodded. “Yes, sure,” he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. I’m going to be free. And yet somehow, I didn’t feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth — he never loved me at all. He’s not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. It’s time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. “We should sign this,” I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. “Elijah, please,” I whispered, making sure my voice wouldn’t break. “Let's end this.” His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didn’t sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serena’s name, making my heart tighten. I can’t believe this woman’s timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didn’t want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. “Why don’t you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.” He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings — relief, frustration, anger, sadness. “I’m finally free,” I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, “The morning’s almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.” With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. “Sorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.” Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesn’t matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. “You know what? It's actually quite nice,” she said, her tone almost mocking. “Elijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!” Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. I’m done here. I’m done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after I lost my baby, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. “Luckily I hadn’t sold it,” I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: That Elijah! You have no idea what I saw! Elijah was out partying and flirting with that Serena, which he never did with you! My heart sank, anger and sadness clouded my mind as I realized he was indeed getting back together with Serena and flaunting her around. Forcing back my tears, I told Kayla: It’s over between me and Elijah. We were divorced. CHAPTER 4 “Aaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!” Kayla hissed. “If I had known he’d treat you like that, I wouldn’t have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldn’t have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!” Being the daughter of Raven Media’s renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. “You should have seen them at the party last night!” she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. “They didn’t even care that I was there! They were just… Aaahhh! I really couldn’t take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!” “Oh, wow,” I uttered in disbelief. “But it’s over now, Kayla. I’m doing my best to move on.” Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. “I’m always here for you, Sophia. You know that.” “Thanks so much. I’m really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,” I responded with a fluttering heart. “Well, you’ve always had my back even in high school. So now it’s my turn to return the favor.” Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. We’d hit it off at once, and the rest was history. “Anyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesn’t deserve you, Sophia,” she went on. “So what are you planning now?” “Well, I’ve been giving it some thought…” I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. “A few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in France—” “You did not!” she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. “This will surely be your big break!” I laughed. “I haven’t been accepted yet, you know.” “Oh, but you will be!” Kayla’s enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijah’s name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kayla’s eyes narrowed when she saw it too. “Go ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.” As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijah’s sharp tone of voice on the other end. “You filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!” “Wait, what do you mean?” “You know I’m busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!” Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. “I’ll talk to Troy.” “Good. Make sure he doesn’t come back again ever.” Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. “Sorry I have to go now, Kayla,” I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved to after my adoptive father Tom Bennett passed away. He’d left me the original house where he’d taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. They’d bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. “What did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!” Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. “It was never going to work out,” I said, trying to maintain my composure. “Just please stop bothering him. We’ve cut our ties. You can’t ask for anything from him anymore.” “Oh, man!” Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. “Did you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!” Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. “When I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. I’m guessing there’s a third party involved! People who don’t know better would think that woman is his wife!” CHAPTER 5 My heart felt like it would explode any time now. “It doesn’t matter,” I eventually said to Troy. “It’s none of my business now. I don’t care what he does with that woman or with whomever.” Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, “We’re definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!” “But…” Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. “Elijah and I are over. Besides, I’ll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijah’s wealth, then now you won’t have any more need for me, right?” They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. “All thing that you swindled out of my ex-husband’s pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,” I went on in a steady voice. “We don’t have to see or talk to each other ever again.” On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this drama’s taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadn’t fully recovered since the loss. “Could you please take me to the hospital?” I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. “Are you okay? You look like you're about to faint,” he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. “Oh, wait! It’s you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?” I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. “Uh, Daniel?” I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. “Yes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.” I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. “How are you feeling now?” Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. “A little better, but still kinda dizzy,” I answered honestly. “Thanks for the assistance, but it’s okay if you have somewhere to be. You’ve already done too much for me.” “Oh, it’s okay,” he said with a smile. “Unless you don’t want me here.” “It’s nothing like that, of course!” I quickly replied. “Thanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while I’m here.” “Well, I’m all ears. People say I’m a good listener.” I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, “I don’t really know you, Daniel…” “You know my name. That’s a start.” His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. “I remember… Daniel Pierce…” I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. “High school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.” He laughed. “You’ve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too — the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.” I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. “You’re joking!” “No, it’s true… Really! I’m sure you’ve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?” He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. “Good-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.” “Oh.” His expression changed immediately. “I’m sorry to hear that.” “You know, it's been a rough few months,” I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. “I'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.” Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. “And then I lost my baby...It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?” He nodded in understanding. “I’m so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. I’m sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?” “Yeah, starting anew in a foreign land,” I answered, thinking about my application in France. “Hmm… sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. “It takes courage to make such a big change.” I smiled weakly. “Actually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.” Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Paris…” My jaw dropped. “What? I’m planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!” He looked at me with astonishment. “What are the odds, huh? Looks like we’ll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.” I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. “That’s really… something else.” “Surely you’ll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?” “The Latin Quarter, of course. I’m looking at an apartment there, since it’s where most students live.” Daniel chuckled. “And it looks like we’ll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “Who knows? Maybe we’re destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Let’s fly together. I mean, if that’s alright with you?” His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. “Thank you, Daniel…” Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. “Miss Sophia Bennett?” she informed me. “Your test results are here.” CHAPTER 6 Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. “Well, Sophia,” he began, his tone measured, “the results are in. Congratulations to you both.” I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. “You’re going to be parents. Congratulations!” the doctor added. I’m… pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. “Other than that, you’re perfectly healthy, Sophia,” the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didn’t know what to say either. “Let me drive you home, Sophia,” he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and I’m supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it won’t have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I don’t have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. I’m so sorry, baby. It’s just all too sudden. But I know that I’m going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrived—I had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a week’s time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. “Call me when you get there!” she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. “Everything will be okay,” he reassured me. “I'm here. We'll do this together.” His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, You’re my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed past—the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was it—the start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. “Looks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,” he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. “Just remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.” I rolled my eyes. “I'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.” He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. “I'm just saying, you’ll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!” I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. “Oh, shut up.” We both laughed. He added, “You need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.” “Oh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?” Daniel grinned. “Hey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.” I playfully nudged him. “I think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.” He appeared pleased with that statement. “Fair enough,” he answered with a teasing smile. “But you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.” I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. “Come on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.” As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. “Hello?” I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. “Who the hell is this? Where's Sophia?” a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allowed to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | LEARN_MORE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid= | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 810 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | thebvhwysgng.com | IMAGE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12887&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/452924715_3327902127515032_1948312353889863924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3uZdsTZmRfgQ7kNvgGBIaPf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AW7fVN-ftZFfwOUyY_wYFif&oh=00_AYDXD2YV59fAwYhWHVf2cdY9dqwK5oMtUBd7LU2BhnxVhw&oe=670E5DD8 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2024-10-10 20:09 | active | 1605 | 0 | 🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office. Today was the first time I went to his company. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that they’re finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from losing my baby lingered, even though it had been a long time since that accident. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijah’s world — his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijah’s ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized I’d dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And that’s when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijah’s ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. “You remember Serena, right? She works here now.” I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. They’re just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldn’t cheat on me, would he? All this time, I’d remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. “So why are you here?” Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. “Your mom asked me to deliver this,” I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didn’t. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that he’d never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. “Sophia, you look shaken up. Didn’t you know Elijah hired me to work here?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Apparently, we make a great team. Funny, I don’t recall seeing you here before.” She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, “Oh, right, you don’t know anything about business. You might just mess things up.” “I take care of our home,” I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldn’t even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, “Next time, Sophia, just contact me and I’ll have my assistant come over.” "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijah’s secretary came in. “Alice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,” he instructed. “Just black for Serena. No sugar.” Serena’s eyes lit up. “Hey, you remembered!” she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. “Of course.” I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldn’t help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. “Join us, Sophia,” Serena invited with a devilish grin. “Just like how we used to hang out together in college.” I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. “I have to go,” I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. “I’ll see you at home.” Elijah’s expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after losing my baby. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. You’re the one who keeps hoping he’ll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband’s mother Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldn’t seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. I’m back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained — the papers I’d prepared before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 The divorce agreement was written after I accidentally lost my baby. During that time, I couldn’t even look at Elijah’s face without thinking about our baby. The pain was unbearable, so I believed divorce was my salvation. Looking back, preparing the divorce agreement was not a mistake, now that leaving was my only option. My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morgana’s voice outside. “Sophia!” she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. That’s when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full of disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. “Elijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,” she said with a scoff. “You can’t even be relied on for such a simple task.” Her words cut deep. “When you first came to our house carrying a baby in your belly, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,” she continued. “Then you had lost your baby and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, “My son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.” Sure enough, she already knew that Serena worked at Elijah's company. She asked me to deliver the papers today just to make a fool of me. The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I don’t deserve this, I thought sourly. It’s time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers I’d hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. I’ve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, I’d always seemed invisible to them. I’ve been obedient, helpful, and hardworking… But no one cares. Not even my own husband. I’m nothing to him. He doesn’t love me and he never learned to. That’s the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or I’ll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadn’t realized I’d already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasn’t, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. “Hey, playing hard to get, aren’t you?” he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didn’t have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. “When did Serena start working at your company?” I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didn’t stop what he was doing. “Not sure. Probably recruited by HR.” His lips traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally, the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. “Serena is such a talented addition to our team,” he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn’t believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. “You know,” he said, oblivious to my disappointment, “she's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.” Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gaze—a kind of infatuation—that he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He’s probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn’t want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didn’t answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’ve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought you’d snap out of it, but you’ve only gotten worse. It’s depressing to even see you.” I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldn’t even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. “Maybe it’s because of the baby we lost…” he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, “Why don’t we just make another baby?” I couldn’t believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didn’t understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury I’ve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesn’t get it. Or maybe he just doesn’t care. I was totally pissed off. And that’s when I blurted it out. “I want to divorce you.” CHAPTER 3 I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another — strangers who’d been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. “I want a divorce,” I repeated, keeping my voice steady. “I’m serious.” Slowly he nodded. “Yes, sure,” he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. I’m going to be free. And yet somehow, I didn’t feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth — he never loved me at all. He’s not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. It’s time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. “We should sign this,” I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. “Elijah, please,” I whispered, making sure my voice wouldn’t break. “Let's end this.” His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didn’t sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serena’s name, making my heart tighten. I can’t believe this woman’s timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didn’t want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. “Why don’t you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.” He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings — relief, frustration, anger, sadness. “I’m finally free,” I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, “The morning’s almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.” With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. “Sorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.” Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesn’t matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. “You know what? It's actually quite nice,” she said, her tone almost mocking. “Elijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!” Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. I’m done here. I’m done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after I lost my baby, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. “Luckily I hadn’t sold it,” I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: That Elijah! You have no idea what I saw! Elijah was out partying and flirting with that Serena, which he never did with you! My heart sank, anger and sadness clouded my mind as I realized he was indeed getting back together with Serena and flaunting her around. Forcing back my tears, I told Kayla: It’s over between me and Elijah. We were divorced. CHAPTER 4 “Aaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!” Kayla hissed. “If I had known he’d treat you like that, I wouldn’t have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldn’t have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!” Being the daughter of Raven Media’s renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. “You should have seen them at the party last night!” she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. “They didn’t even care that I was there! They were just… Aaahhh! I really couldn’t take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!” “Oh, wow,” I uttered in disbelief. “But it’s over now, Kayla. I’m doing my best to move on.” Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. “I’m always here for you, Sophia. You know that.” “Thanks so much. I’m really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,” I responded with a fluttering heart. “Well, you’ve always had my back even in high school. So now it’s my turn to return the favor.” Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. We’d hit it off at once, and the rest was history. “Anyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesn’t deserve you, Sophia,” she went on. “So what are you planning now?” “Well, I’ve been giving it some thought…” I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. “A few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in France—” “You did not!” she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. “This will surely be your big break!” I laughed. “I haven’t been accepted yet, you know.” “Oh, but you will be!” Kayla’s enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijah’s name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kayla’s eyes narrowed when she saw it too. “Go ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.” As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijah’s sharp tone of voice on the other end. “You filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!” “Wait, what do you mean?” “You know I’m busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!” Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. “I’ll talk to Troy.” “Good. Make sure he doesn’t come back again ever.” Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. “Sorry I have to go now, Kayla,” I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved to after my adoptive father Tom Bennett passed away. He’d left me the original house where he’d taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. They’d bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. “What did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!” Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. “It was never going to work out,” I said, trying to maintain my composure. “Just please stop bothering him. We’ve cut our ties. You can’t ask for anything from him anymore.” “Oh, man!” Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. “Did you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!” Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. “When I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. I’m guessing there’s a third party involved! People who don’t know better would think that woman is his wife!” CHAPTER 5 My heart felt like it would explode any time now. “It doesn’t matter,” I eventually said to Troy. “It’s none of my business now. I don’t care what he does with that woman or with whomever.” Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, “We’re definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!” “But…” Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. “Elijah and I are over. Besides, I’ll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijah’s wealth, then now you won’t have any more need for me, right?” They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. “All thing that you swindled out of my ex-husband’s pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,” I went on in a steady voice. “We don’t have to see or talk to each other ever again.” On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this drama’s taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadn’t fully recovered since the loss. “Could you please take me to the hospital?” I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. “Are you okay? You look like you're about to faint,” he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. “Oh, wait! It’s you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?” I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. “Uh, Daniel?” I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. “Yes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.” I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. “How are you feeling now?” Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. “A little better, but still kinda dizzy,” I answered honestly. “Thanks for the assistance, but it’s okay if you have somewhere to be. You’ve already done too much for me.” “Oh, it’s okay,” he said with a smile. “Unless you don’t want me here.” “It’s nothing like that, of course!” I quickly replied. “Thanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while I’m here.” “Well, I’m all ears. People say I’m a good listener.” I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, “I don’t really know you, Daniel…” “You know my name. That’s a start.” His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. “I remember… Daniel Pierce…” I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. “High school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.” He laughed. “You’ve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too — the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.” I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. “You’re joking!” “No, it’s true… Really! I’m sure you’ve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?” He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. “Good-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.” “Oh.” His expression changed immediately. “I’m sorry to hear that.” “You know, it's been a rough few months,” I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. “I'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.” Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. “And then I lost my baby...It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?” He nodded in understanding. “I’m so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. I’m sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?” “Yeah, starting anew in a foreign land,” I answered, thinking about my application in France. “Hmm… sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. “It takes courage to make such a big change.” I smiled weakly. “Actually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.” Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Really? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Paris…” My jaw dropped. “What? I’m planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!” He looked at me with astonishment. “What are the odds, huh? Looks like we’ll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.” I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. “That’s really… something else.” “Surely you’ll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?” “The Latin Quarter, of course. I’m looking at an apartment there, since it’s where most students live.” Daniel chuckled. “And it looks like we’ll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “Who knows? Maybe we’re destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Let’s fly together. I mean, if that’s alright with you?” His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. “Thank you, Daniel…” Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. “Miss Sophia Bennett?” she informed me. “Your test results are here.” CHAPTER 6 Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. “Well, Sophia,” he began, his tone measured, “the results are in. Congratulations to you both.” I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. “You’re going to be parents. Congratulations!” the doctor added. I’m… pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. “Other than that, you’re perfectly healthy, Sophia,” the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didn’t know what to say either. “Let me drive you home, Sophia,” he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and I’m supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it won’t have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I don’t have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. I’m so sorry, baby. It’s just all too sudden. But I know that I’m going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrived—I had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a week’s time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. “Call me when you get there!” she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. “Everything will be okay,” he reassured me. “I'm here. We'll do this together.” His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, You’re my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed past—the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was it—the start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. “Looks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,” he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. “Just remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.” I rolled my eyes. “I'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.” He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. “I'm just saying, you’ll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!” I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. “Oh, shut up.” We both laughed. He added, “You need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.” “Oh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?” Daniel grinned. “Hey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.” I playfully nudged him. “I think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.” He appeared pleased with that statement. “Fair enough,” he answered with a teasing smile. “But you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.” I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. “Come on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.” As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. “Hello?” I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. “Who the hell is this? Where's Sophia?” a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allowed to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | LEARN_MORE | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid= | Indulge in story | https://www.facebook.com/61552702618591/ | 810 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | thebvhwysgng.com | VIDEO | https://thebvhwysgng.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12887&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/452982644_8285199321519915_64433848147217988_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XU4J-dwk6PkQ7kNvgFK125d&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Ad2LMGuP71LugpF-dleYrSf&oh=00_AYBlvOVJysDLfsShbeCXg4FKZusbKwPMvCxWZmkAZ2QvMg&oe=670E54BF | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Indulge in story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that don’t quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. “Is this the way you greet all Alpha’s?” His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. “I’m sorry.” I whisper, getting to my feet. “I…I thought I was alone.” I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. “Come forward.” He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as I’m told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. “You smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?” My head moved up and down, though I couldn’t tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. “I would prefer it if you spoke to me.” He growls, “I’m not in the mood to play games.” “Yes.” I whisper. “I am…I am a Wolf.” I couldn’t help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasn’t sure how much more my body could take. “How is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.” “I…..” I hated the question. “I haven’t got all day!” He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldn’t scent him. I knew why I hadn’t been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. “You should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?” His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. “My Wolf abilities were bound.” “Why?” If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. “It was a punishment.” “For what?” “For killing my parents.” | LEARN_MORE | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&u | New world publications | https://www.facebook.com/61557831245498/ | 22 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | wwwedb.com | DCO | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GLa4FmNoFu8Q7kNvgHd4Ztv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AROGTxTjP6pqeTKXP9Xxov-&oh=00_AYBDiGaiIq3QnSd-ma3fkwlcBzUT2zJm3GA8TZ-RPK-gdg&oe=670E379D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | New world publications | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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LEARN_MORE | https://weddedweek.com/ | Wedded Wonderland | https://www.facebook.com/WeddedWonderland/ | 909,016 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | weddedweek.com | CAROUSEL | https://weddedweek.com/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/462717321_1824364038093390_5945409969480376567_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oZAAlHVjUmoQ7kNvgFPSuRF&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A6Lr27x55Z65QLtQNfqXWXS&oh=00_AYCfZIDIeJ-nk6kl1mij3Em9ke1M_TRa656OMwWhf3zfkA&oe=670E28C9 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wedded Wonderland | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete |
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