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🔥Click to Read more about📜<Rejected by the Titan Alpha>📜 | It rained hell the day I felt the ground rumble beneath my feet and I watched the scary Titan wolves descend from the volcano hilltop. Chaos ensued and people ran and screamed in terror. I found myself paralyzed, my legs rooted on spot and my mind unwilling to register to my brain that if I didn't move right now, I would be a dead little weak Omega soon. But the white wolves mesmerized me. And I couldn't reap my eyes off their glowing golden eyes even though they looked angry. "Effie, let's go!" After a considerable amount of my little sister's urgent inaudible voice on the background, I finally heard her clear scream, her hand pulling me with urgency. Finally, my legs gave way and we started to run. "Mom is going to kill us, Effie!" My little sister, Gage screamed as we ran. "Is that really your concern right now?!" I screamed back. Hot flames erupted from the ground just a step away from us, forcing us into an abrupt stop. Just then, we felt a heavy spark from behind us, like some bomb had went off. I looked behind me to catch the transformation of one of the wolves into a Titan wolf. I was seeing this for the first time and their height was massive, more than we heard in stories. He roars and caught sight of me. Fear caught hold of me, but before I could pull Gage away, he was throwing a thunder at me, causing us to fall over in the mix of sands and dirt. I tried to open my eyes but everywhere looked dark. Gage..... I peeled my eyes open and tried to look for my sister. But something else suddenly caught my attention. A smell that stung my nostril so hard, I wanted to get rid of it. The smell was the best I've ever smelled since all my eighteen years alive. It was happening. My mate was here. Why did he have to be here right now? I didn't find him two days ago after my birthday so why now? As I looked around, I found Gage's unconscious body laid beneath the dirt. "Gage!" I screamed and attempted to leap over to her but before I could, something big came over me. One of the White wolves. His eyes glistened with thunder as they watched me with anger. The fur on the body stood out as he growled slowly at me. He completely caged me so I couldn't escape. My heart beat rose up at his appearance, but it slowly went down as I realized the smell I perceived was now directly from him. He had found me here. Because he's my mate. I'm Mated to a white mountain wolf? But he looked pissed at me, like he was angry that I was his mate. I was weak and he didn't want me. I wouldn't want me either. Another big wolf comes and stands over my unconscious sister. As he looked away to see the second wolf, I notice an ornament around on of his arm. A beautiful clear crystal bracelet surrounding one arm. "Take the little girl." He said to the second wolf, his voice bold and instilling fear. "No! That's my sister!" I screamed. But my sister was already disappearing before my eyes, in the back of the second wolf as he ran away towards the volcano hill. Then my mate's eyes watched me. There was so much hate, so much disgust in them as they watched me. He looks above me and spoke "all the titans should fall back, today is not the day." Quickly, the entire place cleared in my eyes. Every last one of them disappeared, including him too. I hurried back to the village. The entire place was deserted. Some of the houses had fallen to the ground. Where did everybody go. I ran to my house but there wasn't a soul there. The last time Gage and I had seen our parents was when we took off this morning to go see the descent of the White wolves. What we didn't expect was a war between them and our people. They came out and killed everyone. Bodies laid piled up on the dirty ground. Nobody has ever seen where the Titan wolves lived but I needed to get my sister back. I dashed Into the house and took the only thing I had to fight, a crossbow my father had gifted me on my seventeen birthday. Then I dashed Into the woods, switching into my wolf form in order to be able to pick Gage's scent more quickly. I spent a considerable amount of time in the bushes, not finding a trail of her. I lost her scent. As I rounded around the volcano, I discovered a dark opening. Bracing myself, I fit myself into it and slipped inside. I landed on a can of rubbish. I peeped out and found a completely different world, a few people walking around. Exiting the can, I walked so people didn't notice me. I tried to pick my sister's scent but couldn't. I noticed a bridge and I climbed it, only to me stinged by that same scent from earlier. My mate's scent. Quickly, I followed it. As I walked, I noticed a tall building resembling a castle. There's plenty of large windows. I bent over and climbed the wall, the scent getting heavier and heavier. Then I saw the person whose wolf form I'd seen earlier. He is dressed in what looked like a royal robe, a crown seated firmly on his head. He's a prince? A king? The room was filled with a lot of fancy dressed people. There seemed to be an occasion going on but I couldn't give a care in the world. I rose the bow up and stroke the glass windows, letting myself in. I jumped inside the broken window and rolled on the floor until I was standing right in front of my mate and pointing my arrow at him, everyone gasping behind us. My eyes watched him with anger and fear, as his watched me without an emotion. With fire in my eyes, and a trembling voice, I asked "where is my sister?" ------------------------ As I retreated away from the girl, I was compelled to go back to her. It was harder for me to leave like that but I have a mate chosen for me already and I needed to make it back to make her my mate. I found my mate, but I couldn't hurt my best friend for her. "Your Highness," My beta, Eli called "I think we should meet everyone now. It is time." We were standing in my room, both dressed. Today, Anisa and I will be wedded and mated. She would be my Queen and most of all, she will be my Luna. "I found my mate, Eli." I muttered to him. "You did what was best. That Omega girl is weak. She is not a royal blood." He's right. From the beginning of time, the Titan wolves of the royal descent must be mated to only those from the royal blood too. They didn't follow the moon goddess's rule of mating who has been chosen for you. "And her sister?" I asked. "The doctor is taking care of her. I'm sure she's fine now." I nodded before we headed out. Just as I was about stepping out of my room, I caught her scent. I looked out the window but couldn't see her. Was she here, in white steel pack? Stepping into the room full of people waiting for my arrival, I caught Anisa's eyes watching me with delight. I sit next to her but I couldn't help perceive the scent around me. It was getting stronger and stronger. She was here. The window shattered from across the room and somebody threw herself in. Then she was in front of me in one second, her crossbow pointing at me, rage in her eyes. I'm turned on by her fierce entrance. "Where is my sister?" She had come for her sister? Her voice has some fear in them, but she was brave. "Your sister is now our prisoner" I told her coldly. Every second that I watched her, I wanted to hold her in my arms. But I had my duties to my family and my people. Then she did something that completely shocked me. She lowered her crossbow and stood up. Then pointed a finger at me and said "this man right here is my mate!" Everyone gasped. "And he knows that!" "I am getting married to my rightful mate!" I shot back, pulling Anisa's hand into mine. There's a shock in her eyes at this revelation. What did she think we were gathered here for? A tea party? I saw the pain in her eyes. But as quickly as they came, they disappeared, replaced by anger. She points her crossbow at me again. "I, Effie Owens reject you as my mate, Alpha." She said, disgust and pain emitting from her voice. She looked like if I even made a move she would put that arrow inside of me. "I, Alpha and Prince Cain Malachi do not accept your rejection." I said with gritted teeth. Whispers rose from the people in the room but I didn't care. She didn't get to reject me. She was a weak and low Omega, without even a royal bloodline. I am the one who gets to reject her. "Seize her." I commanded, my eyes watching hers intensely. She doesn't shoot the arrow even when it's pointed at my chest, tears welling up in her eyes. The sight breaks my heart. It shatters my entire being. I know that I have a lot of questions to answer later, but so be it. My men apprehends her, dragging her to the corner. EFFIE's P. O V. "The king and queen has arrived !" Someone announced as the large glass doors pulled open and two couple whom I assumed to be this arrogant prince's parents to be walked in. They were filled with so much grace, I'd never seen anything like this before. A man dressed in a cloak follows them, stopping where Cain is now standing, the blond woman rising now to stand before him. My heart broke when he said that he had a mate. But I did the only thing I could to protect my heart: rejecting him first. After all, I'd only come here for my sister, not to be mated with him. I watched in horror as the cloaked man said some things, uniting them, and Cain leaning over her and digging his fangs into her neck, marking her. I watched, my heart beat accelerating painfully. Cain gives me a look, a look intended to hurt me and yes he was winning. Because I was hurt. That should be me. As the guards pulled me out of the room, my eyes lingered on Cain. I will never be with my mate. The guards were talked me to completely different building. I didn't realize it was a cell section until I was seeing some people from my village caged inside. They all gasped as they saw me. "Effie?" I heard my mother's voice and I turned immediately to see her against the cell bar, tears smeared all over her face. "Mother?" I called, my heart growing heavy. But the guards pushed me forward before I could reach her. I screamed and tried to fight them before they bundled me up and threw me into an empty cell. I spent the entire night sobbing. I had no idea where my little sister was, and I'd lost my mate the same way I met him. I was a weak Omega. My life has always been worthless. Why wasn't I one of those people who died back at the village? I didn't know I slept off until the next morning's light was burning my eyes through the window. I heard the bar doors opening with urgency, and a man picking my arm and dragging me out. I didn't find my mother in the cell I'd seen her last night as we went outside. I was dragged and dropped in the middle of two huge Titan wolf statues. That scent stung my nostrils again and I looked up to find Cain standing high above me, his parents right next to him along with some guards. Around us where his pack members, waiting for what was about to happen. Just as I was. Cain's father steps forward, silencing the crowd before speaking "this little Omega before you all here entered into my city illegally last night and tried to murder my son on his wedding night!" "Your son murdered my people!" I roared back, enough that everyone would hear me "and he kidnapped my little sister!" I lost my sister and my mate already. Might as well die. "If my son took your sister or did any of the things that you accuse him of, then he had his reasons." He replied, much to my surprise. What? The father steps away and Alpha Cain comes forward, his eyes watching me intimidatingly. "For punishment of her crimes, she will be exiled from the entire northern territories....." Wait, can he do that? I don't even belong to his pack. But he's a king, so does that mean he has the power to do that? "She will be blindfolded and taken far away, where she would never come back to harm our king again!" The person I assumed to be his Beta standing right next to him said. He couldn't do this to me. I haven't even seen my sister yet. I cannot leave my parents here as slaves to him. I thought he was supposed to be my mate. Why was he being so cruel when he didn't even know me? I was pulled away by the same guards and into a different building now. I was dumped inside a room with a large bed and other bedroom necessities. A few seconds later, I felt presence behind me. I started to turn, but I was pinned down on the bed before I could. My eyes grew wide as I watched Cain's face above mine, his big body caging my smaller one beneath him. He had his palm against my mouth, muffling my screams. "You didn't think I was going to let you go just like that, did you?" His voice is still and venomous. His hand slides in between my thighs. If this was a different situation, I'd have loved every touch. But instead, tears ran down my eyes. I tried to fight him but it seemed impossible against him. So I just laid there and watched his cold eyes as he rose my dress up and pushed himself in between my legs. He pulls his short down. I was aware of what he was going to do to me but I didn't have any strength left to fight him. In one swift move, he drove himself inside me. I've never had sex with any man before, but he pinned me here and stole my virginity from me. Pain shot through me like a knife as he pushed himself inside of me, forcefully. I cried painfully but he didn't care. He pulls out and turns me face down on the bed. Then he continued to me harder. I cried onto the bed but he didn't stop. After what felt like forever, he stopped and whispered into my ear "I do not want to ever see you again." And then he was gone. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/txvc2ntpb | Novel Yang Booming | https://www.facebook.com/100077426966140/ | 110 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | novel-oasis.com | IMAGE | It rained hell the day I felt the ground rumble beneath my feet and I watched the scary Titan wolves descend from the volcano hilltop. | https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/txvc2ntpbo4mkctfuwrpcm0l?ad_id={{ad.id}}&sid=120213798200450429&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/466563038_579694827967370_5554198615006043113_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S344XnRyeU4Q7kNvgElphr9&_nc_oc=Adgm2j57RmtVrIN1L-dBik0jEY_H606rsOKT8NJ3BawbBjlGQjQa6QAIUjFzyGgR7-SPPtfeARnFsezS-EnpmLXs&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AC7iLyoZ3kDqSuywm8byoVZ&oh=00_AYAdE1QagrwWQekDNZeSBkFkxGwaPWmvJm6u0yG-NHhkkQ&oe=67C417FD | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Novel Yang Booming | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2025-02-24 19:00 | active | 2623 | 0 | Our first ever ✨GIVEAWAY✨ Enter to win our Bijou flower bar for your next event perfect for any occasion 💐 To Enter: ✨Follow us ✨Like & share this post ✨Tag a friend who loves flowers Win: 💐100 blooms and greens for your bar 💐Work with our flower artist to pick the perfect flowers for your event. 💐your choice between flower bar or cart. 💐Sign with instructions 💐Clippers 💐Trash can + clipping removal 💐on site set up and breakdown 💐flower wrapping ✨Winner chosen March 1st 🍀 #flowerbar #southbay #momowned #socal #flower #bar #newbusiness #familyowned #inglewood | VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE | http://instagram.com/sunday.flowerbar | sunday.flowerbar | https://www.instagram.com/_u/sunday.flowerbar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visit Instagram profile | 0 | instagram.com | VIDEO | http://instagram.com/sunday.flowerbar | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/476799046_658303109983858_8429975851792258497_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s206x206_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=525117&_nc_ohc=xKqP-sIgfFQQ7kNvgFim6AL&_nc_oc=AdizE4AX10L6ob7nIv5oS7-RmclrN-a7Nqr5UVG1fhLRDDLenYiKVeCBqNdOYuKeZqEfMV_eE8PwwdKNVA12q3IH&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=00_AYCNQXiRmtrfn14rryYAtvYeTmNEBeWBEAkF38kRozlBXA&oe=67C2CE97 | IG_ADS_IDENTITY | 1 | 0 | 0 | sunday.flowerbar | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2025-02-25 16:51 | active | 2627 | 0 | Smart Wireless Headphone Sunglasses | 🕶2024 new bluetooth glasses make a grand debut! 😎Wireless Bluetooth connection,,allowing you to enjoy a free and unfettered world of music! Fashionable design, comfortable to wear.✨ | SHOP_NOW | http://excellentk.com/products/sunglasses-4-2 | Excellentk/3 | https://www.facebook.com/100091803159680/ | 378 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shop now | 0 | excellentk.com | VIDEO | http://excellentk.com/products/sunglasses-4-2 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/471593647_953757213361025_7694168350293326630_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0UAGPx8rLoYQ7kNvgFcJ-2u&_nc_oc=AdhDjkbJlPC96U9x912eXpipDBAWgD_EvlUrxPLbQLLfuH_2ftwyxgMXqyHGeBGBzXdtwJSTJAnbEbVFGu1M9mVB&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=A0lzU-5CFD4SqMawtzwZylr&oh=00_AYD_nlX_n2MIRq5cApqYwJ-PY6fQddZdes7UzYNnRiOvBw&oe=67C40E2A | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Excellentk/3 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE | http://instagram.com/rainbowridgereptiles | Rainbow Ridge Reptiles & Exotics | https://www.facebook.com/61573489854094/ | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visit Instagram Profile | 0 | instagram.com | CAROUSEL | http://instagram.com/rainbowridgereptiles | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480742169_921735323452600_3248462329692923794_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=InQ0JvQaob0Q7kNvgEvG77t&_nc_oc=AdiaMGDWd19f_2oDWxtx_hColMKU9dTvF6zoESNBYf6awGhsb_7Zd6ujS_54vrtAq9aYUoOlweJD4BJiaMbj7ehf&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AarcnvT63PPaVw_BKJ-QIYa&oh=00_AYDesXkcWksUdpKDL00ywzXO6tgSU9nSLZbrRcTnAeb4ng&oe=67C2D04E | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Rainbow Ridge Reptiles & Exotics | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2025-02-24 19:42 | active | 2625 | 0 | 🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉 | My once best friend posted a photo on her social media account on the tenth anniversary of my marriage. In the photo, her daughter and my son were wrapped in my husband's and her arms. The caption said, 'The perfect pair.' I commented, 'Perfect indeed.' Soon, the post was deleted. The next day, my husband rushed home and asked me, "Sophie is finally recovering. Why are you provoking her?" My son even pushed me and accused me, "It's all your fault for making Tammy cry." I took out the divorce papers and threw them in their faces. "Well, it's my fault, so I quit your perfect family of four." | LEARN_MORE | https://www.qknymufd.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1 | Happyday | https://www.facebook.com/61558228850235/ | 1,643 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | www.qknymufd.com | VIDEO | https://www.qknymufd.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=17448&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/473579966_1324359608914278_7985141294914376454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jLhIwziEjvcQ7kNvgE6KJdN&_nc_oc=AdibR9ts_1_RGZGrobnGa2J_jYHOV8pybJ-6SVnneUkwVF43nKZkKcuWgrrYIrX6bHI&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AYJ4X-UB0FU-1vxk3wN8i21&oh=00_AYDweopc9GRjuvyqudzQEda8pJjYsVtwRB0Ld0OZXEItHA&oe=67C2E049 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Happyday | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE | http://instagram.com/soulvalidhi | HI-Bling Millennial Biz Boss | https://www.facebook.com/100068434008561/ | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visit Instagram Profile | 0 | instagram.com | CAROUSEL | http://instagram.com/soulvalidhi | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480514465_1767482277368900_7108376279248902380_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OnOeV9n5zFwQ7kNvgFLQ6zc&_nc_oc=AdiN4FhqZdXj6X4RiTT5286VkX39LeWhB_P5HWRwnMoDHRE1iGjkZEKnvlMh1ksi9Ti9iMAN_qpys32xQ7f6r2h4&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Avf4cnZfd5lmdDfRDmOrgCc&oh=00_AYBKDYMp_85-VUO3hKuiySOCc09JO-3l_TuZiRgAVZPrOQ&oe=67C2E3BE | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | HI-Bling Millennial Biz Boss | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2025-02-25 17:24 | active | 2628 | 0 | FREE Jerky for a Year 👉 | 👉HUGE Jerky Giveaway👈 🎉 We're giving away INSANE prize packages to 3 lucky winners of this Jerky Giveaway! 🎁 The Grand Prize winner will receive a year's worth of jerky for FREE! This Jerky Giveaway features: 💥 Irresistible Jerky Prizes 💥 3 Prize Winners 🥳 💥 Tons of ways to get FREE jerky Don't miss out, sign up today! 👇 This Promotion Is In No Way Sponsored, Endorsed or Administered by or Associated with Facebook®. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.jerky.com/pages/jerky-giveaway | Jerky.com | https://www.facebook.com/jerky/ | 31,689 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | Jerky.com | VIDEO | Tons of ways to get FREE jerky | https://www.jerky.com/pages/jerky-giveaway | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/472189821_1229163324812784_1690126994661125075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7OZcq1LEzegQ7kNvgHwolxI&_nc_oc=Adj5_s-kUWd7gG5TwwmhyI0zC1XUaZKp67uBn-xX-UTGQGq4ulKUYR9dfeaJUn4PUhs&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A_gOLaiEhqfF1ZdCUNM-9dC&oh=00_AYBD7ykfIf5LjIl5_X1YavkM7Y2kGNhVdGwf_co_D0KV3g&oe=67C4191E | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Jerky.com | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2025-02-24 19:43 | active | 2625 | 0 | 🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free👉 | One day, Wendy discovered that her husband Stanley was having an affair. He had been seeing a college student. It was Stanley's birthday. Wendy had prepared a table full of dishes early in the day. Just then, she heard a notification from his phone. Ding! He had left his phone at home. Wendy switched it on and saw a text from the college student. [I hurt myself when I was carrying the cake. It hurts so much.] Attached was a selfie—not of the sender's face, but of her legs. The girl in the photo wore pulled-up white socks, black leather shoes, and a blue-and-white skirt that had been pushed up to reveal her long, slender legs. Her pale knees were visibly reddened from the bump. The youthful, vibrant image of her body paired with coquettish words exuded a forbidden allure. People often say successful businessmen like Stanley favored this type of woman when choosing mistresses. Wendy clutched the phone tightly, her fingers turning white from the pressure. Ding! Another text came from the college student. "Mr. Hawk, see you at Cloud Hotel tonight. I want to celebrate your birthday!" So, his mistress wanted to celebrate his birthday tonight. Wendy grabbed her bag and headed straight to Cloud Hotel. She had to see for herself who this college student was. She soon arrived at the hotel, ready to go in. Just then, she saw her parents, Harry and Lilian at the entrance. Surprised, she walked up to them. "Dad, Mom, what are you doing here?" she asked. Harry and Lilian, caught off guard, exchanged a glance before responding to her hesitantly. "Wendy, your sister's back in the country. We brought her here," Harry said. 'Jessica?' Through the hotel's gleaming floor-to-ceiling windows, Wendy spotted her sister Jessica and immediately froze. Jessica was wearing the exact same blue-and-white skirt from the photo in Stanley's phone. The college student was none other than her own sister! Jessica had always been a beauty, known as the 'Red Rose of Hovendale,' and she was famed for having the most beautiful legs in town. Many men had been captivated by her charm. And now, her darling sister was using those legs to seduce her husband. Wendy found it laughable. She turned to her parents and said coldly, "So I'm the last to know?" Harry gave a sheepish smile. "Wendy, Mr. Hawk doesn't even like you." "Exactly, Wendy," Lilian chimed in. "Do you know how many women in Hovendale are dying to be with Mr. Hawk? Better to let Jessica have him than some other woman." Wendy clenched her fists. "Dad, Mom, I'm your daughter too!" Turning on her heel, she started walking away. Lilian called after her. "Wendy, tell me—has Mr. Hawk ever touched you?" Wendy stopped in her tracks. Harry's voice turned sharp. "Wendy, don't act like we owe you anything. Three years ago, when Stanley and Jessica were Hovendale's golden couple, everyone thought they'd get married. But then Stanley got into a car accident and went into a coma. That's the only reason we had you marry him instead." Lilian gave Wendy a disdainful once-over. "Look at yourself, Wendy. In the past three years, you've turned into a housewife who revolves around her husband. Meanwhile, Jessica became the principal ballerina of her company. She's a white swan, and you're just an ugly duckling. What do you have to compete with Jessica? Just give Mr. Hawk back to her already." Every word felt like a knife into Wendy's chest. Tears filling her eyes, she walked away. - Back at the villa, night had fallen. Wendy had sent the maid Mathilda home, so the house was empty, dark, and cold. She sat alone at the dining table. The once-warm meal had gone cold. The cake she had carefully prepared had 'Happy Birthday, Honey' written on it in frosting. It was glaringly ironic, just like her existence—a complete joke. Stanley and Jessica had been the golden couple of Hovendale, with Jessica as Stanley's cherished 'Red Rose.' But three years ago, a sudden car accident left Stanley in a vegetative state and Jessica disappeared entirely. That was when the Crone family brought Wendy back from the countryside and forced her to marry Stanley in Jessica's place. Wendy had agreed willingly when she found out it was Stanley—the man she had loved all along. For three years, Stanley remained in a coma. During those years, Wendy devoted herself to caring for him. She stayed by his side, gave up socializing, and focused solely on nursing him back to health, living as a dutiful housewife. In the end, her efforts paid off. Stanley woke up. Wendy lit the candles on the cake. The flickering glow illuminated her reflection in the nearby mirror—a plain housewife in a dull black-and-white dress, devoid of charm or excitement. Meanwhile, Jessica, now a successful ballerina, was young, vibrant, and beautiful. Wendy was an ugly duckling, while Jessica was the white swan. After waking up, Stanley abandoned the ugly duckling and returned to the white swan's side. Wendy let out a bitter laugh. This wasn't love; it was self-delusion. Stanley had never loved her, but she had loved him. The first one to fall in love always lost. Today, Stanley had made her lose completely. Tears welled in her eyes as she blew out the candles, plunging the villa back into darkness. Just then, two bright headlights pierced through the night. Stanley's car sped up the driveway and came to a halt on the lawn. Wendy's eyelashes quivered. He had come back. She had thought he wouldn't return tonight. The villa door opened and Stanley stepped in, carrying the cool air of the night with him. Stanley Hawk, the heir of the Hawk family, had been a business prodigy from a very young age. By 16, he had earned dual master's degrees from Harfield. Later, he took Hawk Group public in Hawthorne, making a name for himself internationally before returning home to lead the company as Hovendale's wealthiest man. Stanley walked in. "Why didn't you turn on the lights?" he asked in a deep, magnetic voice as he turned on the wall lamp with a click. The sudden brightness made Wendy blink. When her eyes adjusted, she looked at him. Dressed in a custom-tailored black suit, Stanley exuded a cold, aristocratic elegance that left countless socialites dreaming of him at night. "It's your birthday," she said. Stanley's handsome face remained indifferent as his gaze swept lazily over the dining table. "Don't waste your time on this again. I don't celebrate such occasions." Wendy smiled faintly. "Is it that you don't celebrate, or you just don't want to celebrate with me?" Stanley glanced at her, his gaze impassive. "Think what you like." With that, he turned around and started up the stairs. He had always been like this—distant and cold. No matter what she did, she could never warm his heart. Wendy stood and called after him. "It's your birthday today. I have a gift for you." However, Stanley didn't stop or turn around. "I don't need it." Wendy let out a soft chuckle and said, "Stanley, let's get a divorce." Stanley froze mid-step, one foot already on the staircase. He turned around, his deep black eyes locking onto her. Chapter 2 Wendy was also staring at him. Her tone was light but firm as she repeated, "Let's get a divorce, Stanley. Do you like your birthday gift?" Stanley didn't bat an eyelid. "You're asking for a divorce just because I didn't celebrate my birthday with you?" "Jessica has returned, hasn't she?" At the mention of Jessica, Stanley's thin lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. He took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "Are you bothered by Jessica?" Stanley, known as the youngest business prodigy alive, exuded an aura of power, wealth, and status. As he approached, Wendy instinctively stepped back, her slender back pressing against the cold wall. Her vision went dark as Stanley leaned in. He propped one hand against the wall beside her, trapping her between his firm chest and the wall. Looking down at her with his deep, striking eyes, Stanley sneered. "Everyone in Hovendale knows Jessica was the one I intended to marry. Weren't you aware when you schemed to replace her and became Mrs. Hawk? You didn’t mind then, so why act all self-righteous now?" Wendy's face turned pale. Yes, Stanley had wanted to marry Jessica. If not for the accident that left him in a coma, how could Wendy have married him? She would never forget the day he woke up. The disappointment and coldness in his eyes when he saw her was devastating. Since then, they had lived in separate rooms. He never touched her. He loved Jessica. Wendy had always known this, but... She gazed deeply at Stanley's face, the grown man overlapping in her mind with the young boy from years ago. 'Stanley, do you really not remember me?' It turned out she had been standing in place all along, waiting for someone that no longer existed. It was enough. These three years were just her one-sided effort to cherish him. Suppressing the ache in her heart, Wendy said softly, "Stanley, let's end this loveless marriage." Stanley's brows arched sharply, and his deep, magnetic voice could be heard. "Loveless?" He raised his hand, gripping her delicate chin, his thumb brushing against her crimson lips in a provocative motion. "Is that why? Are you asking for a divorce because of that? Do you want it that badly?" Wendy's delicate face flushed red like a ripe berry, vibrant and tempting. That wasn’t what she meant! Yet his thumb lingered on her lips, pressing and toying with them. She hadn't expected such a composed and distinguished man to have such a teasing, roguish side. Stanley was seeing Wendy up close for the first time. She usually dressed in monotonous black-and-white outfits, paired with oversized black-framed glasses, presenting herself like an old maid. But up close, he realized her face was barely the size of his palm, and her delicate features exuded a quiet elegance beneath those glasses. Her dark pupils were stunningly beautiful. Her lips were soft, their plush surface springing back with a subtle elasticity wherever his thumb pressed. It stirred an unbidden thought. Stanley’s gaze darkened. "I didn’t expect you to be so eager. You’re that desperate for a man, aren’t you?" Slap! Wendy raised her hand and slapped him across the face. Stanley’s handsome face tilted to the side from the impact. Wendy’s fingers trembled with anger. She realized that loving someone too humbly only led to her dignity being trampled on. He had actually humiliated her. Furious, she declared, "I know you’ve never stopped thinking about Jessica. Fine, I’ll fulfill your wishes and return Mrs. Hawk’s title to her!" Stanley’s face instantly darkened, frosty and sullen. A man of his stature had never been slapped before—never! His sharp gaze locked onto her. "Wendy, you married me when it was convenient for you, and now you want a divorce just because you feel like it. What do you take me for?" Wendy let out a soft chuckle. "A plaything." "What?" Stanley’s expression stiffened. Wendy forced herself to endure the pain in her heart and said what she knew would hurt him. "You’re just a toy I took from Jessica. I’m done playing, so I’m tossing you aside." Stanley’s expression turned grim, his mood darkening to the point where it could drip with venom. "Fine! Wendy, you’re something else. Let’s divorce, but don’t come crying back to me, begging for reconciliation!" He stormed upstairs, slamming the study door shut with a deafening bang. Wendy felt as though all the strength had been drained from her body. Slowly, she slid down the wall, crouching on the carpet. Hugging her knees, she whispered to herself, 'Stanley, I won’t love you anymore.' - The next morning, Mathilda entered the study. Stanley was seated at his desk, reviewing documents. He was a notorious workaholic. "Sir," Mathilda greeted Stanley cautiously. Stanley didn’t even look up. His icy aura hinted at his foul mood. It felt cold being around him. Mathilda carefully placed a cup of coffee by his hand. "Sir, this coffee was made by Mrs. Hawk." Stanley’s pen paused mid-air, his cold expression softening slightly. Was she trying to make amends? Truth be told, Wendy was an excellent wife. She cooked to his preferences, hand-washed his clothes, and meticulously managed his daily needs. Stanley picked up the coffee, taking a sip. It was her coffee—the taste he liked. But he was still angry. She had slapped him last night, and he wasn’t about to let that go easily. A single cup of coffee wouldn’t suffice as an apology. "Did she admit she was wrong?" Stanley asked. Mathilda glanced at him hesitantly. "Sir, Mrs. Hawk has left." Stanley froze, looking up at Mathilda. She handed him a piece of paper. "Sir, Mrs. Hawk left this with her suitcase and asked me to give this to you before she left." Stanley unfolded the paper. The words 'Divorce Agreement' caught his eye. His expression darkened. He thought she was trying to reconcile. Mathilda added cautiously, "Sir, Mrs. Hawk asked you to finish the coffee before signing the divorce papers." Stanley glared at the coffee. "Throw it out! All of it!" 'Sir, you seemed to like the coffee just fine a moment ago. Why don't you anymore?' Mathilda thought to herself. Without saying another word, she quickly left with the coffee. Stanley’s face was a thunderstorm, his mood in turmoil. He skimmed through the divorce agreement. She wasn’t asking for a penny—she intended to leave with nothing. Stanley scoffed coldly. It was bold of her to act like she didn’t need his money. How would a country girl like her survive without it? It was then that his gaze landed on the reason for divorce, handwritten by Wendy herself. "Due to my husband’s physical dysfunction, he cannot fulfill his marital obligations." Stanley froze, his handsome face turning completely dark. 'That woman!' He grabbed his phone and dialed Wendy’s number. The line connected, and Wendy’s voice came through clearly. "Hello?" Chapter 3 Stanley's thin lips curved into a frosty arc. "Wendy, get back here immediately!" Wendy chuckled. "You expect me to come back just because you said so? We're divorced, Stanley. I'm not going to continue indulging you!" Stanley clenched his jaw. "I'll give you a chance to rewrite the reason for divorce!" Wendy's tone grew more playful. "Did I write anything wrong? Stanley, it's been six months since you woke up, hasn't it? Yet, in these six months, you haven't even held my hand. You were in a coma for three years, and although you're physically healthy now, I have legitimate reasons to believe you've developed functional problems. You're not potent anymore! Better hurry to find an experienced naturopath. As our parting gift, I wish you an early recovery of your manhood!" Stanley was rendered speechless. The veins on his forehead were visibly twitching. This woman was out of control. "Wendy, I'll make you regret this! You'll know what I'm capable of sooner or later!" "Sorry, but you'll never get the chance!" "Wendy!" The call abruptly ended with two cold beeps. He hadn't even had time to explode in anger before hearing the disconnected tone. 'Wendy…!' - Wendy had already arrived at her best friend Cecelia Sunder's apartment. After she hung up the phone, Cecelia burst out laughing and gave her a big thumbs-up. "Wendy, that was amazing! Stanley must be so furious, he's spitting blood right now." Wendy reflected that she had been too humble in the past, which had allowed him to act superior to her for so long. 'Love yourself first. A woman must always prioritize self-love.' "Three years ago, when Jessica learned Stanley went into a coma after the car accident, she immediately ran away. Now that he's awake, he's crawling back to her? What a joke! You're better off without a man like that," Cecelia commented. Wendy unwrapped a candy and popped it into her mouth. The sweetness seemed to mask the bitterness in her heart. "That's how you tell if you're loved or not, Cecelia." Those who were loved were fearless. Those who weren't lived in constant insecurity. Cecelia noticed Wendy had already gone through a pile of candies. She pulled Wendy to her feet. "Wendy, cheer up! When you give up one tree, you'll discover an entire forest waiting for you. Tonight, I'm booking eight male hosts to celebrate you becoming single!" Wendy covered her forehead and laughed. Cecelia suddenly snatched Wendy's black-rimmed glasses off her face, tossing them into the trash. Wendy tried to retrieve them. "My glasses—" Cecelia stopped her. "Wendy, you've been in academic research for too long, and you've gotten used to wearing these glasses. But you should take a page out of Jessica's book and doll yourself up." Wendy thought about how her parents had always told her she was an ugly duckling while Jessica was a swan. It wasn't just her parents—Stanley must have thought the same. In his eyes, she was just an ugly duckling too. Cecelia dragged Wendy to the door. "Come on, we're going shopping! Hair, nails, clothes—everything! I want Stanley and everyone else to see how stunning you can be!" As they walked out, Cecelia suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Wendy, are you really not taking any money from Stanley after the divorce?" "I have my own money," Wendy replied. "Letting Jessica spend Stanley's money instead? Jessica says thank you!" Cecelia teased. Wendy didn't know what to say to that. "What about the card Stanley gave you?" Cecelia pressed. Stanley was always generous and had given Wendy a premium black card. However, she had never used it. Wendy pulled the black card out of her purse and winked playfully. "Today, I'll splurge—and let Stanley foot the bill." - That evening, at 1996 Bar. 1996 Bar was Hovendale's playground for the rich, where young heirs and the city's elites spent extravagantly. The music was never-ending, and the dance floor was wild. In a luxurious and dimly lit booth, Stanley sat in the center of a leather sofa. Tonight, he had on a black shirt paired with black trousers. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his toned forearms and a steel watch worth millions. His aristocratic, striking features made him the center of attention, drawing glances from countless women in the bar. Beside him was his close friend, Benny Gondale—the heir of the Gondale family—and several other young elites. Benny laughed. "Stanley, are you serious? Wendy wants a divorce?" The others laughed along. "Everyone knows Wendy loves Stanley to the bone. When he was in a coma, she insisted on marrying him. There's no way she'd actually go through with a divorce." "Let's bet on it. How long do you think Wendy can hold out before begging Stanley to take her back?" Benny smirked. "I bet she can't even make it through tonight. She's probably already sent Stanley a message." Stanley's chiseled features remained cold and sharp, his mood clearly sour. He pulled out his phone and opened WhatsApp to check their chat history. The last message from Wendy was from last night. She had sent a photo of the broth with the caption, [Honey, even though your bone density is back to normal, you should still drink this broth regularly. Don't come home too late!] As he scrolled up, he saw countless similar messages—all from Wendy. She messaged him every day. He had never replied. Not once. Today, the chat was silent. Stanley felt a vague sense of irritation. Ding! A notification popped up. "See? I told you—Wendy messaged you!" Benny immediately exclaimed. Ding, ding, ding! Several more notifications followed in quick succession. The group burst out laughing. "We knew it—Wendy couldn't hold out! But we didn't expect her to cave so fast." "Stanley, open them. Let's see how Wendy is begging you to reconcile," Benny urged. Stanley's sharp eyebrows lifted slightly. Did she really send a message? If she regretted it so quickly, why did she make such a fuss this morning? He tapped on the notifications, only to freeze. Benny leaned over and read aloud, "Dear VVIP customer, your card ending in 0975 has been charged 800 at Dazzling Nail Salon." The group collectively frowned. Stanley scrolled further. 2,000. 86,000. 240,000. There were no messages about reconciliations, only transaction notifications. The group fell silent, feeling like Wendy had slapped them all hard in the face. Stanley's expression darkened and he slammed his phone onto the table. He didn't care how much money Wendy spent. What bothered him was that she had gone on a shopping spree right after their divorce. This woman was something else! The once submissive Wendy, who had clung to him for three years, now seemed to have grown fangs. "Stanley, what's Wendy up to? She's gone to do her nails and hair, and buy clothes. Is she trying to imitate Jessica?" Benny commented. "Jessica is Hovendale's Red Rose. Wendy's just a country bumpkin. No matter how hard she tries, she'll only be a pale imitation." "A swan is a swan. An ugly duckling will always be an ugly duckling." Everyone laughed at Wendy. Suddenly, there was a commotion in the bar. All eyes turned toward the entrance. Someone gasped, "Look—an angel just walked in!" Chapter 4 Wendy arrived. After finishing their shopping spree at the mall, Cecelia brought Wendy directly to 1996 Bar. Tonight, she was determined to throw a celebration party for Wendy. Wendy hadn't expected to run into Stanley and his friends here, but she could hear their mocking remarks. She recognized Benny and the others in the luxury booth. They were part of Stanley's circle, and Benny was Stanley's close friend. Back when Stanley had a whirlwind romance with Jessica, they were all fans of Jessica, with Benny even regarding her as Stanley's future wife. Over the past three years, Wendy had never truly integrated into their group. None of them ever accepted her. The labels they plastered on her were always the same: desperate substitute bride, ugly duckling, country bumpkin, and the like. When a man didn't love you, his friends wouldn't respect you either. Cecelia, already fuming, rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront them. "I'm going to tear their mouths apart!" Wendy quickly held her back. "Cecelia, forget it! We're divorced now—there's no need to stoop to their level." Seeing Wendy's calm and indifferent demeanor, Cecelia reluctantly held back her temper. Then, as more and more people began to notice Wendy and exclaimed, calling her an angel, Cecelia's mood improved. "Wendy, let's go. Time to party." Cecelia dragged Wendy to another luxury booth and waved her hand grandly. "Bring all the male hosts from 1996 Bar over here!" Meanwhile, back at Stanley's booth, Benny and the others continued to mock Wendy. That was when they felt an icy and sharp gaze fall upon them. Looking up, they saw Stanley lazily lifting his cold gaze to glare at them. His expression was chilling, displeased, and full of warning. The men stopped laughing, and they immediately shut up, not daring to speak ill of Wendy again. Benny glanced at Stanley. Although Stanley had never paid much attention to Wendy, she had, after all, cared for him diligently for three years. It seemed Stanley still held some regard for that. At that moment, the commotion around them grew louder. "Wow, what a stunning angel!" 'An angel? Where?' Following the direction of the crowd's gaze, Benny looked ahead and was instantly dumbfounded. "Holy crap, she really is an angel." The other rich young men were equally astonished, their eyes glued to her. "When did such a stunning angel begin existing in Hovendale? How have we never seen her before?" Benny nudged Stanley. "Stanley, look! It's an angel." Stanley, who had no shortage of women around him, wasn't interested. He had seen all kinds of women—slim, curvy, and everything in between. He had no intention of looking, but Wendy's booth happened to be right across from theirs. When Stanley glanced over, he saw Wendy. Without her black-framed glasses and her usual dull, conservative attire, she revealed a delicate, fair face, her naturally exquisite bone structure, and ethereal beauty shining through. Her long, glossy black hair flowed gracefully over her shoulders, making her look like a true angel. Stanley paused, staring at her for two full seconds. Benny was excited. "Stanley, what do you think of the angel?" Another rich young man chimed in, "Mr. Hawk probably doesn't think much of her. Mr. Hawk likes delicate beauties like Jessica, not cold, aloof angels." "But look at her legs! Her legs are just as stunning as Jessica's." Wendy was wearing a short dress, shedding her usual conservative style and showing her legs for the first time. Her legs were perfectly proportioned—slender yet shapely. Those were legs that could make any man's imagination run wild. She looked just as good as Jessica. Stanley stared at the 'angel' for a moment and couldn't shake the feeling that she looked familiar, as if he'd seen her somewhere before. Just then, a line of male hosts walked in, all tall and handsome, forming a row in front of Wendy. Cecelia grinned. "Wendy, make your pick of eight." Deciding to indulge herself to celebrate her escape from the misery of marriage, Wendy smiled and pointed. "You, you, you... All of you stay." Benny counted aloud. "One, two, three... Eight! She actually picked eight male hosts at once!" The other rich young men laughed. "Why waste money? If the angel just asked, we'd serve her for free." Everyone chuckled. Ding! Stanley's phone buzzed again with a notification. Picking it up, he glanced at it to see what Wendy had spent on this time. [Dear VVIP user, your card ending in 0975 has been charged 500,000 at 1996 Bar for eight male hosts.] Stanley froze, staring at the words before raising his eyes toward the so-called angel across the room. If that wasn't Wendy, who else could it be? Stanley was speechless. Eight male hosts surrounded Wendy, pouring drinks into her glass. "Let's play a drinking game." Cecelia clapped happily. "Yes, let's play!" In the first round, Wendy lost. One of the male hosts handed her a drink. "Please drink some." Wendy took a sip, but the other male hosts protested. "Why drink his and not ours? We want to serve you too." Surrounded by all the attention, Wendy found it impossible to keep up, overwhelmed by the 'sweet burden' of their pampering. Stanley's eyes narrowed, his handsome features tensing into a grim expression. Without a word, he stood up and strode out. Benny was taken aback. "Stanley? Where are you going?" Wendy was about to take another drink when a large, strong hand reached over, grabbed her slender wrist, and pulled her up like she was a rag doll. Startled, she looked up to see Stanley's handsome face suddenly looming over her. She froze for a second, then quickly tried to break free. "Stanley, let go of me!" His face darkened and he dragged her away without a word. Cecelia stood up. "Stanley, what are you doing? Let Wendy go!" Benny and the others were completely stunned. They stared, dumbfounded, as if they had just misheard something. "Wendy?" "That angel is Wendy?" "Is this the same ugly duckling Wendy we know?" "She's actually stunning!" As they watched Stanley drag Wendy away, her cold, ethereal beauty still lingering in their vision, Benny muttered, "Wendy, who no longer chases after Stanley, just turned into a full-blown angel!" - Stanley's grip was firm and unrelenting, like an iron shackle. No matter how much Wendy struggled, she couldn't break free. His strides were long, forcing Wendy to stumble as she tried to keep up. "Stanley, let go of me!" Finally, Stanley stopped and flung her backward. Wendy's slender frame collided against the cold wall behind her. Before she could regain her balance, Stanley's tall figure loomed over her, pressing her against the wall. His eyes burned with fury. "Wendy, do you think I'm dead, playing around like this?" Chapter 5 Wendy furrowed her brows. "What did I do?" Stanley clenched his jaw. "Who told you to dress like this?" 'What? Like this?' she wondered. "What do you mean, Stanley?!" Stanley glanced at her ultra-short skirt. "Your legs are almost exposed. Do you really want people to see your legs like this?" Wendy's skirt was a bit short, but it was Cecelia's choice. Cecelia's exact words were, "My dearest Wendy doesn't show her legs, but look at how Jessica flaunts hers. Tonight, let everyone see who has the best legs in Hovendale." Wendy raised her finely arched eyebrows. "Looks like Mr. Hawk noticed my legs." Stanley paused. Wendy leaned back against the wall, appearing languid and graceful. She slowly lifted her right leg, her crystal-high heel brushing against his ankle. Stanley had on black trousers, showcasing his long, muscular legs, exuding an aura of coldness and restraint. Wendy's pale foot gently grazed up his ankle, moving along his calf. It was an act of seduction and defiance. Stanley shot her a cold glance. "What are you doing?" Wendy curved her lips into a smile. "Mr. Hawk, which do you prefer? My legs, or Jessica's?" Stanley stared at her small, delicate face that glowed with celestial radiance, yet she seduced him with a dazzling smile. Last night, he had glimpsed the beauty hidden beneath her dark-rimmed glasses, but he hadn't expected her to be this beautiful. He felt like he had seen this face somewhere before. Wendy's clear eyes sparkled. "Mr. Hawk, has Jessica ever wrapped her legs around your waist?" Stanley's breath hitched. His handsome face moved closer to hers, his gaze softening with a tenderness Wendy had never seen before. "Wendy, are you really this shameless? All you think about is men. You even hired eight male hosts to satisfy your needs!" He didn't answer Wendy's question about Jessica. That was perhaps the best kind of protection a man could offer a woman. Their love had been so passionate, full of youthful excitement. Jessica's legs had definitely wrapped around his waist, or else why would he still remember her so fondly? Jessica was lucky to have a man like Stanley so deeply attached to her. He would never describe her as 'shameless.' Though Wendy wore a smile, her eyes remained clear and distant. "Well, Mr. Hawk, your body isn't up to par and can't satisfy me, so of course I have to go out and find men. Let's get divorced quickly. If the first man doesn't work, the next will be better." Did she actually say he was inadequate, and the next man would be better? This woman was truly asking for it. Stanley reached out, grabbing Wendy's chin. "Are you trying to provoke me? Do you really want to know if I'm up to the task?" 'What?' Wendy froze. Stanley moved closer to her lips, teasing, but with words that carried no warmth. "Dream on. I won't touch you. The one I love is Jessica." He loved Jessica. He didn't even need to say it—Wendy already knew. It stung her heart, the sharp pain spreading through her, though the ache wasn't obvious. At that moment, a sweet voice rang out. "Stanley." Wendy looked up—Jessica had arrived. Jessica, the Red Rose of Hovendale, was a beautiful woman with rosy lips and perfect teeth, her body delicate from years of ballet training. Stanley immediately released Wendy and walked toward Jessica. He lowered his gaze to meet hers, his eyes filled with a tenderness Wendy had never seen. "You're here." Jessica nodded, then turned to Wendy. "Who's this?" Jessica didn't recognize Wendy at first. However, Wendy would never forget Jessica. Wendy and Jessica were stepsisters, but from completely different parents. Harry, Wendy's father, wasn't her biological father, but her stepfather. Many years ago, Wendy had a happy family with her real father, Jerry, and her mother Lilian, who were always respectful toward each other. Her father loved her dearly, always lifting her high. "Wendy, please be happy always." Then, one day, her father suddenly passed away. Harry, Jerry's brother, moved in with his daughter Jessica. Wendy's mother became Jessica's mother as well. Her mother remarried her second uncle. Her mother loved Jessica and stopped loving her. When Jessica got an A in a test and Wendy got an A+, her mother hit her hand with a ruler. "Can't you give your sister a break? Why must you outdo her?" When Jessica fell ill and had to undergo chemotherapy, her head had to be shaved. She cried, saying she had become ugly. In response, Wendy's mother immediately shaved Wendy's head. "You should look the same as your sister so she won't cry." Every night, her mother, Jessica, and Harry would sleep together, laughing and playing. Wendy, holding the doll her late father had bought her, would stand outside their door, crying alone. "Mommy, I'm scared…" Eventually, Jessica called her mother "Mom," which made her mother incredibly happy. But then Jessica said, "A mother can only have one daughter." One rainy day, Wendy's mother took her to the countryside and left her there. Wendy chased after the car, crying uncontrollably. "Mommy, don't leave me! I'll be good, I'll always put my sister before me… Mommy, hold me… I'm scared…!" Wendy fell heavily into the muddy water while holding her doll, watching helplessly as her mother's car disappeared from view. Wendy would never forget Jessica. At that moment, Benny rushed over. "Jessica, this is…your sister, Wendy!" Jessica was stunned. "You're Wendy?" Wendy knew that Jessica had always looked down on her. When they were young, Jessica had always been the one to beat her. As Jessica grew up, she excelled in everything. Later, she even dated Stanley, the heir of the Hawk family. She grew up in a world of admiration and love, full of pride and arrogance. Benny, once again, was stunned by Wendy's ethereal beauty. He whispered, "I didn't expect Wendy to be this beautiful." Jessica's memory of their childhood was fuzzy because she had never truly paid attention to her unloved sister. But wasn't her sister the ugly duckling from the countryside? Jessica approached Wendy, glancing at her, her brow raised in haughty pride. "Wendy, I didn't expect you to start dressing like me." Wendy remained silent. 'Well, if you say so,' she thought. Wendy straightened her slender back, smiling but saying nothing. The light from the corridor illuminated her delicate, otherworldly face, making it glow like a precious pearl. She was no longer the Wendy from before. Jessica sneered. "Wendy, I heard you're getting a divorce with Stanley. Can't you live without a man? Coming to a bar to hire male hosts to fulfill your desires? If I were you, I'd get a job." As she spoke, Jessica glanced at Stanley. In a tone that seemed almost benevolent, she added, "Stanley, Wendy took care of you for so long. Even if she was your maid, you should at least find her a job." Stanley's gaze landed on Wendy's face. "Jessica, nowadays, you need a degree to get a job. What's Wendy's education?" Benny said. Jessica seemed to recall something amusing. She lifted her chin and laughed. "Wendy dropped out of school at 16." Chapter 6 Benny was stunned. '16 years old?' The reason people in Benny's social circle held Jessica in such high regard wasn't just because of her beauty. It was also because of her exceptional academic achievements. She was a high achiever at a prestigious university, someone unmatched even among Hovendale's socialites. She deserved to be with Stanley. For any woman, beauty alone was a dead end. Beauty combined with education was the real trump card. The higher the social class, the more they valued a woman's education. Benny's initial admiration for Wendy vanished instantly. His tone became dismissive. "Wendy, did you seriously drop out of school at 16?" Wendy glanced at Jessica, who stood there with pride, and smiled faintly. "Yes, I did stop studying at 16." Benny sneered, "Well, what a coincidence. Stanley also stopped studying at 16. But he's a true prodigy, earning dual master's degrees from Harfield at that age and making history. And you? Dropped out of high school with nothing to your name!" His mockery echoed loudly. Jessica stood tall, looking down at Wendy with disdain. Stanley, with his tall and imposing figure, stood silently under the corridor lights. His handsome face remained unreadable as his gaze fell on Wendy. For the past three years, Wendy had been just a housewife, revolving around him. It was no surprise she lacked education. Wendy, however, didn't seem embarrassed or flustered. Instead, her clear, luminous eyes met his gaze. Then she smiled gracefully and said, "Yes, what a coincidence." 'Indeed, what a coincidence.' For reasons he couldn't explain, Stanley felt a ripple in his heart. He suddenly noticed how beautiful Wendy's eyes were—brimming with vitality and seemingly able to speak volumes without words. "Wendy!" At that moment, Cecelia came rushing over. She glared at Jessica. "Jessica, are you bullying Wendy again?" Jessica responded proudly, "We weren't bullying Wendy. We were just discussing helping her find a job." Cecelia was stunned. "You're helping Wendy find a job?" Jessica continued her magnanimous act. "Yes. Even though Wendy lacks education and qualifications, we'll try our best to help her secure something decent." Cecelia laughed in disbelief. "Do you even know who Wendy is? Wendy is—" Wendy quickly grabbed Cecelia's arm to stop her. "Cecelia, let's go." Cecelia held back her words, but before leaving, she cast a mocking glance at Jessica. "You'll regret this someday!" With that, she led Wendy away. Benny fumed, "What's wrong with Wendy? She dropped out of school at 16 and still acts so arrogant! If I were her, I'd be too ashamed to show my face." Jessica wasn't upset. She had never truly looked at Wendy as a rival—Wendy wasn't even qualified to compete with her. Getting angry at Wendy would only lower her status. She smiled loftily at Benny. "Benny, let it go. Ignorance is bliss." Benny turned to Stanley. "Stanley, you should hurry up and divorce Wendy. She's not worthy of you." Stanley's expression remained calm as his gaze briefly lingered on Wendy's departing figure. "Let's go," he said to Jessica. Jessica nodded. "Alright." And so, Jessica and Benny left with Stanley. - Later, outside the bar... "Mr. Hawk?" a voice called out. Stanley looked up to see a familiar face. It was Dave Suarez, the president of Harfield University. Stanley approached him. "Mr. Suarez, what brings you to Hovendale?" Jessica, always respectful of such prestigious figures, greeted him as well. Although she had always excelled academically, she hadn't been able to secure a spot at a top-tier institution like Harfield. Dave smiled. "Mr. Hawk, I'm here for a seminar. What a coincidence—you have a junior alumna here in Hovendale too." Stanley paused. "A junior alumna?" Dave nodded. "Yes, Harfield has two legends. The first is you, Stanley. The second is your junior alumna. Like you, she earned dual master's degrees at 16. She's a high-IQ prodigy. Unfortunately, you were a few years apart, so you've never met her." Benny's curiosity was piqued. "Wow! Stanley's junior is that amazing? Who's better between the two of them?" Dave smiled and looked at Stanley. "They're evenly matched." Stanley raised an eyebrow. He had never encountered a woman who could be his equal. Jessica, who had been calm earlier, suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of jealousy. This mysterious prodigious junior made her feel threatened. "Who is this junior?" she wondered aloud. Dave pulled out his phone. "Mr. Hawk, I've sent you her WhatsApp contact. She's also in Hovendale. You should connect with her and look out for her since you're her senior." Stanley nodded. "Alright." After Dave left, Benny urged, "Stanley, add her WhatsApp now! I want to see what she looks like." Stanley switched on his phone and found the contact. It had a profile named simply 'W,' with a plain white background. "What does the 'W' stand for?" Benny asked excitedly. Stanley didn't know either. He sent a friend request, adding the note, "Stanley." The request was pending approval. Benny was buzzing with excitement. "Stanley, once she adds you, introduce her to me! I'm in awe of her already." Jessica, sensing the shift in attention, grew visibly unhappy. At that moment, a car pulled up. Stanley's personal secretary, Zayn Cameron, had arrived. Jessica seized the opportunity to cut the conversation short. "Stanley, the car's here. Let's go." "Stanley, Jessica, see you later," Benny said. The car glided smoothly through the city streets, the quiet, opulent interior filled with an air of calmness. The dazzling city lights outside refracted against the polished windows, creating a cinematic interplay of shadows on Stanley's chiseled face—elegant and enigmatic. From the driver's seat, Zayn glanced back respectfully. "Sir, where to?" "To the office," Stanley answered curtly. Jessica observed him quietly, love evident in her gaze. She broke the silence with a question. "Stanley, what was that with Wendy earlier? You're not interested in her now that she's grown more beautiful, are you?" Stanley turned his sharp gaze toward her, his voice nonchalant yet teasing. "She's my wife. If something were to happen, wouldn't that be normal? Wasn't it you who handed her to me in the first place?" Jessica knew he still blamed her for leaving him behind to marry Wendy three years ago while he was in a state of coma. "Stanley, it wasn't like that. Wendy insisted on marrying you—I had no choice but to let her take my place…" Stanley's piercing gaze held hers. "Do you even believe that yourself?" Jessica faltered. Biting her lower lip, she feigned defiance. "Fine! Three years ago, I abandoned you—if you can't forgive me for that, then let's just break up! You can simply get rid of me if you don't want me anymore." She turned to Zayn and ordered, "Zayn, stop the car!" Jessica wanted to get out, but before she could leave, Stanley's long, elegant fingers reached out, grabbing her delicate wrist and yanking her firmly to his chest. Jessica's soft body collided with his solid frame, and she froze. Above her, Stanley's deep, exasperated voice softened into indulgence. "Jessica, you're only this bold because you know I'd spoil you rotten." Chapter 7 Jessica smiled, her heart filled with sweetness. She leaned into Stanley's embrace, then tilted her delicate, radiant face to look up at him. "I knew it—you can't bear to let me go. You would never leave me." Stanley, as Hovendale's wealthiest man, exuded an air of elegance and strength that could dictate the rise and fall of fortunes. He fulfilled every fantasy she had about what a man should be. But three years ago, when he had been in a car accident and declared a vegetative state, with doctors pronouncing he would never wake again, how could she waste the prime of her youth on a man like that? So, she had fled. Who could have predicted that Wendy, who married him in her place, would somehow help Stanley wake up within three years? Even now, Jessica didn't understand how Stanley recovered. Could Wendy's fortune be aligned perfectly with his? Doctors called it a medical miracle. So, Jessica returned. She knew Stanley loved her—he would never truly abandon her. Stanley looked at Jessica's radiant face. "If it weren't for what happened back then… Would I still spoil you like this?" At the mention of 'back then,' Jessica froze, guilt flashing through her eyes. She quickly changed the subject. "Have you slept with Wendy?" Stanley lowered his gaze. "Why would I sleep with her when I could sleep with you?" She knew he hadn't been with Wendy, but she asked the question anyway, baiting him into a flirtatious response. He played along, his words dripping with teasing ambiguity. Jessica loved this side of him—the allure of a mature man with a touch of mischief. His response made her cheeks flush. This cold and seemingly abstinent man only made her want to strip away his layers and uncover his deeper desires. Jessica turned, boldly straddling his lean waist. She draped her arms around his neck, bringing her lips close to his. Her breath was warm and seducing. "Do you want me?" Zayn, who had worked as Stanley's secretary for years, tactfully raised the partition between the driver's seat and the back of the car. Stanley looked at Jessica but said nothing. She was wearing a red dress. In her seated position, the hem had ridden up, exposing her long, flawless legs. Those famed 'best legs in Hovendale' were now sensuously wrapped around his tailored black trousers, creating an intimate and sultry scene. Jessica tightened her legs around his waist, pulling herself closer. "Say it. Do you want me?" If he said yes, she would give herself to him right here and now. Stanley, of course, understood her intent. But at that moment, an image of Wendy's legs from earlier in the evening at the bar flashed in his mind. Wendy's legs were perfectly proportioned, balanced in their slenderness and curves. She had asked him which legs he preferred—Jessica's or hers. At the time, Wendy had playfully raised her foot, the delicate crystal chain on her stiletto heels glinting as it dangled from her dainty ankle. She had teased him with her toes, brushing against his leg and asking if Jessica's legs had ever wrapped around his waist. Stanley slowly removed Jessica's hands from his neck. "I'm still married." Jessica frowned. "So?" "I don't intend to cheat while I'm still married," Stanley replied coolly. Jessica was momentarily stunned. The intimate atmosphere vanished. Stanley had put an end to it. Disappointed, Jessica slid off his lap. She had pride, too—she would only give herself to him if he wanted her. "When will you divorce Wendy?" she asked. Stanley's gaze shifted to the cityscape outside the window. In truth, it was indeed better that Wendy initiated the divorce—he was planning for it anyway. "Soon," Stanley said, his tone detached. Wendy and Cecelia returned to their apartment. Wendy lay on her soft bed, letting out a small sigh of relief. After tonight's indulgence, it was time to return to her normal life. She pulled out her phone and opened WhatsApp. Wendy had two accounts. For the past three years, she had been using the account named "Mrs. Hawk." Now, that account had been officially retired. She logged into her other WhatsApp account. As soon as she logged in, her notification chimed repeatedly. The group chat 'One Big Happy Family' was bustling with activity. Wendy opened it. [Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wendy's finally online!] Daryl exclaimed. [Welcome back, Wendy!] Ernest added. [Big hugs to Wendy!] Samuel chimed in. Her three seniors were tossing virtual confetti, enthusiastically celebrating her return. [Three years ago, Wendy was all starry-eyed and insisted on leaving the mountains to experience life with a man. So, how was it, Wendy? Was the man worth it?] Daryl asked. [Not worth it,] Wendy replied. [Looks like Wendy had her heart broken. Haha!] Ernest wrote. [So even Wendy can't conquer everything? Hahaha!] Samuel added. [All right, you two, stop teasing her. Let's just say these three years were her trial by fire in the mortal world. Sorry, this is just too funny—I need to laugh it out. Hahaha!] Daryl typed. Wendy was speechless. She was tempted to kick all three of them out of the group. With a swift move, she renamed the group chat from 'One Big Happy Family' to 'One Big Gossipy Family.' Just then, Samuel brought up a serious topic. [Wendy, it's time for you to come back. Our surgery schedule is packed. I've booked you a tricky heart operation. Report to the naturopathy center tomorrow.] Wendy replied with an 'OK' emoji. After exiting the chat, she suddenly noticed a friend request. She tapped it open and saw that it was from Stanley. Stanley was requesting to add her as a WhatsApp contact. The irony wasn't lost on her. For three years, she had used her 'Mrs. Hawk' account to message him daily. Yet, he had never replied. Now, on her other account, he was the one reaching out to her. 'Once upon a time, you didn't care for me. Now, you'll find I'm out of your reach.' Wendy's pale, delicate fingers hovered over the keyboard. After a moment of hesitation, she tapped decisively. - At Hawk Group… The Hawk Group building, a landmark of Hovendale, controlled the city's economic pulse. It towered into the clouds, its grandeur even more striking against the night sky. After dropping Jessica off at her home, Stanley arrived at his office. He sat in his black leather chair while he reviewed documents. The sharp nib of his pen scratched across the paper as he signed his name, 'Stanley,' with bold, confident strokes. Behind him, the gleaming floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the vibrant lights of the city—a dazzling backdrop that seemed to exist solely to complement this man. A crisp-sounding notification broke the silence. His phone buzzed with a WhatsApp alert. Stanley picked up his phone and opened the app. His brilliant junior had responded. Upon seeing the response, Stanley froze for a moment. Then, his thin lips curved into a smirk and he let out a soft chuckle. Chapter 8 Stanley's genius junior had directly rejected his friend request! At that moment, Zayn walked in with a cup of coffee. When he saw the screen on Stanley's phone, he was stunned. 'Did someone actually reject the CEO's friend request?' This was certainly something out of the ordinary. "Sir, your junior is…quite special," Zayn said. Stanley scoffed. 'Special indeed.' She was the first person to reject him. If she didn't want to add him, so be it. Stanley picked up the coffee and took a sip, only to frown. "Is the coffee not to your liking, sir? I'll make another cup," Zayn asked. Stanley suddenly remembered the coffee Wendy used to make—it was always just right for his taste. With an impassive expression, Stanley said, "Write an eight-figure check. That's my divorce settlement for Wendy." She said she wanted to leave with nothing, but he didn't believe it for a second. A girl from the countryside who had stopped schooling at sixteen—how would she make a living? She was just playing hard to get, hoping for more money. This eight-figure check was enough to buy out her three years. After that, they owed each other nothing. Zayn nodded. "Yes, sir." Just then, Zayn's phone rang. He answered and was thrilled. "Sir, great news! Dr. Ceylan has accepted our request and agreed to perform the heart surgery for Miss Jessica!" Dr. Ceylan was a legendary figure in the medical world, known for her extraordinary skills. Even top-tier billionaires had to wait in line to see her. However, three years ago, Dr. Ceylan had mysteriously disappeared, and no one knew where she went. Now, she was back. Jessica had suffered from a heart disease since childhood and had undergone treatments, but nothing worked. Now, Stanley had used his immense wealth to secure Dr. Ceylan's services for Jessica. The crease between Stanley's brows finally smoothed out, and he smiled. Jessica would be saved. - The next day, Wendy arrived at the naturopathy center. Suddenly, a group of black-clad bodyguards entered in an orderly formation, creating a path. Wendy and other bystanders were pushed aside. Two young women nearby were chatting. "What's going on?" "Don't you know? Hovendale's Red Rose, the prima ballerina Jessica, felt unwell while dancing today. Mr. Hawk brought her here to see a doctor." "With Mr. Hawk around, no wonder it's such a big fuss." Wendy's lashes trembled. She hadn't expected to encounter Stanley and Jessica at the naturopathy center today. "Look, there's Mr. Hawk and Jessica!" Wendy glanced up, and Stanley's tall, handsome figure came into view. He was dressed in a custom-tailored black suit, exuding an air of elegance and dominance. He carried Jessica in his arms. Doctors and nurses from the naturopathy center flocked around them, fawning over them like stars orbiting a moon. "Mr. Hawk, this way, please." Stanley strode forward. One of the young women gushed, "Wow, Mr. Hawk is so handsome! He's the epitome of a domineering CEO." "And Jessica's so beautiful, with her fair skin and graceful ballerina aura. They truly are the perfect couple!" "A dashing, noble CEO and a delicate, enchanting dancer—ahh, I'm dying over their fairy-tale love story!" Wendy and Stanley's marriage was a secret, known only to a select few. Most people were shipping Stanley and Jessica. Wendy watched Stanley disappear from her sight. Just now, he hadn't even noticed her; his eyes were only on Jessica. She was nothing more than a supporting character in their fairy tale. Reeling in her emotions, Wendy followed her appointment instructions and found ward Number 109. Soon, she saw Stanley, Jessica, Harry, and Lilian inside. Jessica was already sitting on the hospital bed, surrounded by Harry and Lilian on either side. Just like in their childhood, they pampered Jessica like a princess. "Jessica, this is great!" Harry said happily. "Mr. Hawk managed to secure Dr. Ceylan to treat you." Lilian was moved to tears. "Jessica, you've been through so much! But now, everything will be fine. Once Dr. Ceylan cures your heart, you'll be healthy and can marry Mr. Hawk as his bride." Jessica gave Stanley a sweet smile. Stanley, tall and imposing, stood by her side, gently patting her head. The scene of the four of them together was harmonious. Wendy froze at the door. She couldn't believe how small the world was—Samuel had assigned her the heart surgery case, and it turned out to be Jessica. The heartwarming scene inside made Wendy's eyes sting slightly. At that moment, Stanley seemed to sense something. He turned, and his deep, sharp gaze landed squarely on her. Wendy was caught off guard and met his gaze. Stanley's gaze narrowed as he immediately strode over to her. "Wendy, what are you doing here?" "I…" Wendy began. Stanley's voice turned icy. "Wendy, are you following me?" "I-I'm not," Wendy replied. Harry and Lilian noticed Wendy too. "Wendy, why are you here? Today, we invited the legendary Dr. Ceylan to treat your sister! How could you come here and cause trouble at a time like this?" Lilian yelled. Harry's expression darkened. "Wendy, you're so inconsiderate. Leave immediately!" Jessica said nothing. She sat on the bed, her gaze haughty and radiant as she glanced at Wendy. At that moment, Stanley's imposing figure leaned closer. He grabbed Wendy's slender arm. His voice was cold and dismissive. "Wendy, are you still playing hard to get? Have you not had enough of this? Now you're resorting to stalking? Stop wasting your time on me. Leave!" Chapter 9 No one welcomed her arrival—they were all trying to push her away. Wendy found it laughable. Her cold, sharp eyes swept across Lilian, Jessica, and Harry's faces before she yanked her arm out of Stanley's grip. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she said, "Fine, I'll leave." 'Remember this—it was you who told me to go!' With that, Wendy turned and walked away. Soon after, she came back. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she asked, "Mr. Hawk, do you know why I came to the naturopathy center today?" Stanley's gaze fell on her flawless, porcelain-like face, her soft peach fuzz catching the light, making her beauty even more striking. Stanley's expression was cold, and it was clear he didn't care. His voice was harsh and distant. "Wendy, this is getting annoying." Wendy stepped forward with a dazzling smile. "I'm here to help you find a naturopath." She pulled a small card out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Here, this is for you." Stanley looked down at the slightly yellowed card, which looked like something someone might slip through a door crack. The card read, "Traditional Naturopath – Specializing in ED, and helping you rediscover your manhood. Contact: 138..8888" Stanley's usually stoic face cracked ever so slightly. Wendy slipped the card into his suit pocket. "Jessica has a problem. Mr. Hawk, don't you as well? You both should really get yourselves checked out." She turned and walked away without waiting for a response. Stanley's hand, hanging by his side, clenched into a fist. This woman always managed to push his buttons. Jessica broke the silence. "Stanley, let it go. Wendy isn't worth our time." Lilian nodded. "Right. Why isn't Dr. Ceylan here yet?" Everyone grew tense at the mention of Dr. Ceylan, who was Jessica's last hope. Stanley glanced at his watch. The appointment time had passed, but Dr. Ceylan hadn't arrived. Just then, a nurse walked in. "Mr. Hawk." Jessica, Harry, and Lilian perked up. "Is Dr. Ceylan here?" The nurse addressed Stanley. "Dr. Ceylan arrived earlier but has already left." 'What?' Stanley looked down the hallway but didn't see anyone—only Wendy disappearing around a corner. Stanley frowned. "I didn't see Dr. Ceylan." The nurse explained, "Dr. Ceylan came, but decided not to stay." "Why?" Jessica, Harry, and Lilian's expressions changed instantly. "Why would Dr. Ceylan leave without helping Jessica?" The nurse apologized, "I'm sorry, but Dr. Ceylan refused to treat Miss Jessica." Jessica's face went pale. Dr. Ceylan wouldn't treat her? Why? Their earlier hope was doused like a bucket of cold water. Everyone was stunned. Jessica lost it. "Why won't Dr. Ceylan treat me? Why?" Harry and Lilian immediately comforted her. "Jessica, don't get upset. We'll figure something out and bring Dr. Ceylan back. You'll be okay!" Stanley's sharp features hardened. He stared down the empty hallway, his aura radiating danger. Outside the hospital, someone called out, "Wendy." Wendy paused and turned around slowly. It was Lilian, who had followed her out. Lilian approached her. "Wendy, this is for you." Wendy glanced down—it was a check for 20,000. "Wendy, Mr. Hawk doesn't love you. Stop clinging to him and give him back to your sister. Why can't you let her have him? Just divorce him and take this money to start fresh in the countryside," Lilian said. Wendy found it absurd. If she hadn't secretly done a DNA test on Lilian and Jessica, she might have believed Jessica was Lilian's biological daughter. Yet, that wasn't the case. Lilian was only Jessica's stepmother. However, Lilian adored Jessica and not Wendy, her actual daughter. Wendy knew Lilian was obsessed with Harry, which explained her bias. Wendy's gaze was calm as she looked at Lilian. She smiled faintly. "So, being Mrs. Hawk is only worth this much to you? Or is that all I'm worth in your eyes?" Lilian froze, then hurriedly said, "Wendy, I'm your mother, and I'm doing this for your good. You don't belong here…" 'Mother?' The word sounded foreign, and Wendy laughed softly. "You already sent me to the countryside once, and now you want to do it again. You really are a great mother!" Wendy didn't look at Lilian again. She stepped into a taxi and left. Lilian stood frozen, watching Wendy's taxi leave. Just then, someone approached. "Mrs. Crone." Lilian turned to see Ted Whalen, the head of the naturopathy center. Lilian immediately approached him. "Dr. Whalen, you have so many connections. Can you help us get Dr. Ceylan to treat Jessica?" Dr. Whalen smiled. "Mrs. Crone, I know Dr. Ceylan personally. I can make the introduction." Lilian's face lit up. "Really? Thank you so much, Dr. Whalen." Dr. Whalen's gaze shifted to where Wendy had disappeared. A sly smile tugged at his lips. "Mrs. Crone, was that your daughter who came back from the countryside? She's stunning. For a second, I thought I'd seen an angel." Lilian's expression turned cold, her earlier excitement fading into icy indifference. | LEARN_MORE | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=17748&ut | Random Reading | https://www.facebook.com/61559743679549/ | 373 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | beokn.com | VIDEO | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=17748&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/474624803_598289179614520_7138667337823866619_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hFoxgbwdQ8cQ7kNvgGqxzi4&_nc_oc=AdgJV7XK7HnSBkshRDkEtAiw5bMVTHTMcixQw6BRapfFqD5H2c2XfAhiz_bRNjapZL9XTGhZpcZ0x0EI-LN2D6h3&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AEuzSsXDq8SZmlzHMkchiqB&oh=00_AYBbUBEZIrdMqx443L3_BtuZxPRBj_IPR_XXtDh0NYn-pQ&oe=67C3050E | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Random Reading | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2025-02-25 16:51 | active | 2627 | 0 | 🔞Click to read on📜Rejected by the Titan Alpha📜 | It rained hell the day I felt the ground rumble beneath my feet and I watched the scary Titan wolves descend from the volcano hilltop. Chaos ensued and people ran and screamed in terror. I found myself paralyzed, my legs rooted on spot and my mind unwilling to register to my brain that if I didn't move right now, I would be a dead little weak Omega soon. But the white wolves mesmerized me. And I couldn't reap my eyes off their glowing golden eyes even though they looked angry. "Effie, let's go!" After a considerable amount of my little sister's urgent inaudible voice on the background, I finally heard her clear scream, her hand pulling me with urgency. Finally, my legs gave way and we started to run. "Mom is going to kill us, Effie!" My little sister, Gage screamed as we ran. "Is that really your concern right now?!" I screamed back. Hot flames erupted from the ground just a step away from us, forcing us into an abrupt stop. Just then, we felt a heavy spark from behind us, like some bomb had went off. I looked behind me to catch the transformation of one of the wolves into a Titan wolf. I was seeing this for the first time and their height was massive, more than we heard in stories. He roars and caught sight of me. Fear caught hold of me, but before I could pull Gage away, he was throwing a thunder at me, causing us to fall over in the mix of sands and dirt. I tried to open my eyes but everywhere looked dark. Gage..... I peeled my eyes open and tried to look for my sister. But something else suddenly caught my attention. A smell that stung my nostril so hard, I wanted to get rid of it. The smell was the best I've ever smelled since all my eighteen years alive. It was happening. My mate was here. Why did he have to be here right now? I didn't find him two days ago after my birthday so why now? As I looked around, I found Gage's unconscious body laid beneath the dirt. "Gage!" I screamed and attempted to leap over to her but before I could, something big came over me. One of the White wolves. His eyes glistened with thunder as they watched me with anger. The fur on the body stood out as he growled slowly at me. He completely caged me so I couldn't escape. My heart beat rose up at his appearance, but it slowly went down as I realized the smell I perceived was now directly from him. He had found me here. Because he's my mate. I'm Mated to a white mountain wolf? But he looked pissed at me, like he was angry that I was his mate. I was weak and he didn't want me. I wouldn't want me either. Another big wolf comes and stands over my unconscious sister. As he looked away to see the second wolf, I notice an ornament around on of his arm. A beautiful clear crystal bracelet surrounding one arm. "Take the little girl." He said to the second wolf, his voice bold and instilling fear. "No! That's my sister!" I screamed. But my sister was already disappearing before my eyes, in the back of the second wolf as he ran away towards the volcano hill. Then my mate's eyes watched me. There was so much hate, so much disgust in them as they watched me. He looks above me and spoke "all the titans should fall back, today is not the day." Quickly, the entire place cleared in my eyes. Every last one of them disappeared, including him too. I hurried back to the village. The entire place was deserted. Some of the houses had fallen to the ground. Where did everybody go. I ran to my house but there wasn't a soul there. The last time Gage and I had seen our parents was when we took off this morning to go see the descent of the White wolves. What we didn't expect was a war between them and our people. They came out and killed everyone. Bodies laid piled up on the dirty ground. Nobody has ever seen where the Titan wolves lived but I needed to get my sister back. I dashed Into the house and took the only thing I had to fight, a crossbow my father had gifted me on my seventeen birthday. Then I dashed Into the woods, switching into my wolf form in order to be able to pick Gage's scent more quickly. I spent a considerable amount of time in the bushes, not finding a trail of her. I lost her scent. As I rounded around the volcano, I discovered a dark opening. Bracing myself, I fit myself into it and slipped inside. I landed on a can of rubbish. I peeped out and found a completely different world, a few people walking around. Exiting the can, I walked so people didn't notice me. I tried to pick my sister's scent but couldn't. I noticed a bridge and I climbed it, only to me stinged by that same scent from earlier. My mate's scent. Quickly, I followed it. As I walked, I noticed a tall building resembling a castle. There's plenty of large windows. I bent over and climbed the wall, the scent getting heavier and heavier. Then I saw the person whose wolf form I'd seen earlier. He is dressed in what looked like a royal robe, a crown seated firmly on his head. He's a prince? A king? The room was filled with a lot of fancy dressed people. There seemed to be an occasion going on but I couldn't give a care in the world. I rose the bow up and stroke the glass windows, letting myself in. I jumped inside the broken window and rolled on the floor until I was standing right in front of my mate and pointing my arrow at him, everyone gasping behind us. My eyes watched him with anger and fear, as his watched me without an emotion. With fire in my eyes, and a trembling voice, I asked "where is my sister?" .............................................................................. ALPHA CAIN's P. O. V. As I retreated away from the girl, I was compelled to go back to her. It was harder for me to leave like that but I have a mate chosen for me already and I needed to make it back to make her my mate. I found my mate, but I couldn't hurt my best friend for her. "Your Highness," My beta, Eli called "I think we should meet everyone now. It is time." We were standing in my room, both dressed. Today, Anisa and I will be wedded and mated. She would be my Queen and most of all, she will be my Luna. "I found my mate, Eli." I muttered to him. "You did what was best. That Omega girl is weak. She is not a royal blood." He's right. From the beginning of time, the Titan wolves of the royal descent must be mated to only those from the royal blood too. They didn't follow the moon goddess's rule of mating who has been chosen for you. "And her sister?" I asked. "The doctor is taking care of her. I'm sure she's fine now." I nodded before we headed out. Just as I was about stepping out of my room, I caught her scent. I looked out the window but couldn't see her. Was she here, in white steel pack? Stepping into the room full of people waiting for my arrival, I caught Anisa's eyes watching me with delight. I sit next to her but I couldn't help perceive the scent around me. It was getting stronger and stronger. She was here. The window shattered from across the room and somebody threw herself in. Then she was in front of me in one second, her crossbow pointing at me, rage in her eyes. I'm turned on by her fierce entrance. "Where is my sister?" She had come for her sister? Her voice has some fear in them, but she was brave. "Your sister is now our prisoner" I told her coldly. Every second that I watched her, I wanted to hold her in my arms. But I had my duties to my family and my people. Then she did something that completely shocked me. She lowered her crossbow and stood up. Then pointed a finger at me and said "this man right here is my mate!" Everyone gasped. "And he knows that!" "I am getting married to my rightful mate!" I shot back, pulling Anisa's hand into mine. There's a shock in her eyes at this revelation. What did she think we were gathered here for? A tea party? I saw the pain in her eyes. But as quickly as they came, they disappeared, replaced by anger. She points her crossbow at me again. "I, Effie Owens reject you as my mate, Alpha." She said, disgust and pain emitting from her voice. She looked like if I even made a move she would put that arrow inside of me. "I, Alpha and Prince Cain Malachi do not accept your rejection." I said with gritted teeth. Whispers rose from the people in the room but I didn't care. She didn't get to reject me. She was a weak and low Omega, without even a royal bloodline. I am the one who gets to reject her. "Seize her." I commanded, my eyes watching hers intensely. She doesn't shoot the arrow even when it's pointed at my chest, tears welling up in her eyes. The sight breaks my heart. It shatters my entire being. I know that I have a lot of questions to answer later, but so be it. My men apprehends her, dragging her to the corner. EFFIE's P. O V. "The king and queen has arrived !" Someone announced as the large glass doors pulled open and two couple whom I assumed to be this arrogant prince's parents to be walked in. They were filled with so much grace, I'd never seen anything like this before. A man dressed in a cloak follows them, stopping where Cain is now standing, the blond woman rising now to stand before him. My heart broke when he said that he had a mate. But I did the only thing I could to protect my heart: rejecting him first. After all, I'd only come here for my sister, not to be mated with him. I watched in horror as the cloaked man said some things, uniting them, and Cain leaning over her and digging his fangs into her neck, marking her. I watched, my heart beat accelerating painfully. Cain gives me a look, a look intended to hurt me and yes he was winning. Because I was hurt. That should be me. As the guards pulled me out of the room, my eyes lingered on Cain. I will never be with my mate. The guards were talked me to completely different building. I didn't realize it was a cell section until I was seeing some people from my village caged inside. They all gasped as they saw me. "Effie?" I heard my mother's voice and I turned immediately to see her against the cell bar, tears smeared all over her face. "Mother?" I called, my heart growing heavy. But the guards pushed me forward before I could reach her. I screamed and tried to fight them before they bundled me up and threw me into an empty cell. I spent the entire night sobbing. I had no idea where my little sister was, and I'd lost my mate the same way I met him. I was a weak Omega. My life has always been worthless. Why wasn't I one of those people who died back at the village? I didn't know I slept off until the next morning's light was burning my eyes through the window. I heard the bar doors opening with urgency, and a man picking my arm and dragging me out. I didn't find my mother in the cell I'd seen her last night as we went outside. I was dragged and dropped in the middle of two huge Titan wolf statues. That scent stung my nostrils again and I looked up to find Cain standing high above me, his parents right next to him along with some guards. Around us where his pack members, waiting for what was about to happen. Just as I was. Cain's father steps forward, silencing the crowd before speaking "this little Omega before you all here entered into my city illegally last night and tried to murder my son on his wedding night!" "Your son murdered my people!" I roared back, enough that everyone would hear me "and he kidnapped my little sister!" I lost my sister and my mate already. Might as well die. "If my son took your sister or did any of the things that you accuse him of, then he had his reasons." He replied, much to my surprise. What? The father steps away and Alpha Cain comes forward, his eyes watching me intimidatingly. "For punishment of her crimes, she will be exiled from the entire northern territories....." Wait, can he do that? I don't even belong to his pack. But he's a king, so does that mean he has the power to do that? "She will be blindfolded and taken far away, where she would never come back to harm our king again!" The person I assumed to be his Beta standing right next to him said. He couldn't do this to me. I haven't even seen my sister yet. I cannot leave my parents here as slaves to him. I thought he was supposed to be my mate. Why was he being so cruel when he didn't even know me? I was pulled away by the same guards and into a different building now. I was dumped inside a room with a large bed and other bedroom necessities. A few seconds later, I felt presence behind me. I started to turn, but I was pinned down on the bed before I could. My eyes grew wide as I watched Cain's face above mine, his big body caging my smaller one beneath him. He had his palm against my mouth, muffling my screams. "You didn't think I was going to let you go just like that, did you?" His voice is still and venomous. His hand slides in between my thighs. If this was a different situation, I'd have loved every touch. But instead, tears ran down my eyes. I tried to fight him but it seemed impossible against him. So I just laid there and watched his cold eyes as he rose my dress up and pushed himself in between my legs. He pulls his short down. I was aware of what he was going to do to me but I didn't have any strength left to fight him. In one swift move, he drove himself inside me. I've never had sex with any man before, but he pinned me here and stole my virginity from me. Pain shot through me like a knife as he pushed himself inside of me, forcefully. I cried painfully but he didn't care. He pulls out and turns me face down on the bed. Then he continued to me harder. I cried onto the bed but he didn't stop. After what felt like forever, he stopped and whispered into my ear "I do not want to ever see you again." And then he was gone. .............................................................................. FIVE YEARS LATER. EFFIE'S P O V . "The Blogwood companies would be expecting a return of this paper work tomorrow miss Genevieve" My personal assistant, Jessica said as she placed a piece of paper in front of me. I quickly signed the papers. I was going to be present at a one week advertisement for the Blogwood companies by next week. They'd contacted me to be the face of their latest 'celebrity choice' outfits for the week. I was getting a lot of money by just showing my face on screen and I didn't care. Jessica walks out with the now signed papers. Four years after all that happened, I'd found a way to leave everything behind and come to a different world and time where there were no fights, no wars. Where I could live a normal life amongst humans. I lived as a different person to hide myself better. I had to hide my identity so Alpha Cain couldn't find me ever again. And I have fit in well but each time, I would remember Gage and wonder what happened to her, what happened to our parents and what happened to the pack behind the volcano. I rose up and walked out, wanting to leave my past behind as I've managed to do for five years. The Blogwood companies was a huge company and a huge opportunity for me, I needed to put all my focus on it. One week later after my contract with Blogwood was sealed, I was getting ready in the dresser room backstage inside the arena where the advertisement was taking place. After getting my make up done, I was dressed in a beautiful shimmering red slip dress with a slit that revealed one of my thighs. The manager and scriptwriter of the advertisement for the Blogwood companies, Mrs Smith runs in, out of breath. "I'm sorry but we need you out right now, miss Genevieve." Mrs Smith said quickly. "Chill out, Smith, I'm just about done here." I told her. "Yes, yes. I'm sorry, it's just we have someone huge coming and he's here already. He will be your co star in the advert....." "Co star?" I cut her off "nobody told me I was doing this with a second person. How come nobody told me." "I'm really sorry, it was a short notice." "That's alright," I said as I started towards the exit "tell me what I'm doing again?" "Alright," Mrs Smith said "so you'll get on to the stage and meet a few people standing over tables and working on their laptops. You lean over and ask them what they're doing. That's when you'll introduce the new tech app to them which my team will project on the board above. And that is when your co star comes in. Of course you have absolutely nothing to worry about because everything will be screened for you to see." I nodded before stepping out. Just as Mrs Smith had said, there's at least five tables with two to three people around it. The entire place has been set to look like a real event, camera crew at the back filming everything. I walked over to the designated table and started to speak with them, just as it was scripted. The app which is the purpose of this entire advert, comes up on the projected white board. "And the 'tech world' app everyone has been anticipating.." a very deep masculine voice speaks from the other side of the stage. The voice sounded almost familiar but I refrained myself from turning around and looking at the owner of the voice. "Tech wood is what you need to make your businesses reach the people who needs it." His voice continued. I heard him approach me before I felt a hand slip around my waist gently, causing me to turn around. I'm peering up at the beautiful ocean blue eyes I thought I'd never see again, the same ones I thought I left behind completely. Alpha Cain looked down at me, a long smile on his face. I completely forgot that I was on screen and just continued to watch him. ALPHA CAIN'S P. O. V. When I walked into the arena, I hadn't expected to be seeing the woman I thought I'd lost long ago. But it was her, Effie, my mate. As I saw her in the red dress, all I could remember was how I forced myself on her that day. But I needed to do that so she doesn't come back. But I never expected her to disappear forever. And now here she was. I watched her from my seat as she talked and when it was my cue, I went into the scene and started saying my line. I tried to stay off her but I couldn't help it and slipped a hand around her waist. Beautiful deep brown eyes stared at me, the same eyes that watched me bravely the night she had her crossbow pointed at my heart. What was she doing in this world? "Cut!" The director screamed from the camera set and she quickly pushed me off her and hurried out of the room. She's so repulsive to me and I didn't blame her. I couldn't stop looking at her from across the room even as people tried to chat with me. I didn't want to let her out of my sight. Once I sighted her walking out of the room, I attempted to go after her but I was quickly blocked by Mr Blogwood himself, the host of the day. "Not so fast, Mr Cain!" He said, my eyes still fixed on Effie's disappearing dress "we still have dinner before you leave remember?" Turning to Eli who stood beside me, I whispered to him "follow her." Then I turned to Mr Blogwood and let him lead me to his car parked outside. Mr Blogwood took me to a fancy dinner where he introduced me to some of his most important associates. My father said in this human world, status matters and the more famous people I got to know, the better. And now, I've found a reason to stay longer. After the dinner, I returned to my hotel suit and still, Eli wasn't yet back. I've never for once stopped regretting everything I put Effie through after our first meet under that volcano the day we whipped out her entire city. When I first saw her, my heart couldn't stop racing after her. But I had a duty to my subjects and it was marrying a woman of the royal blood. Every day after raping her in that room, I fantasized about holding her body again, making love to her. I've never stopped wanting her. Over the years I tried not to think of the worst that could happen to her. I also never thought she would end up here a successful woman. My phone started vibrating on the bed and I picked it up. "Speak to me" I said to Eli. "Alpha, I followed your mate across town," he said "and she has a son. A son looking to be not more than 5 years, Alpha. And there's no record of her getting married." I stood up instantly. She had a son? How was that possible. Could it be what I was thinking? I ended the call with Eli and quickly searched for Mr Blogwood's contact and dialed him. He picked up on the first ring. "Mr. Blogwood, I need a favor from you," I said "I need to know more about Miss Genevieve, everything you can find including her son." "I'll get back to you right away, let me make a call." He said and disconnected the call. I didn't think Effie could have been pregnant from that rape five years ago, could she? I was swimming in my own thoughts when Mr. Blogwood's call came in and I picked it instantly. "I called someone who has been acquainted with her since she arrived here," he said "apparently, miss Genevieve came to her heavily pregnant exactly five years ago. Then she had a son called Ace. She doesn't talk about her son much but she had said that she got pregnant off a one night stand with a man she loved." A night stand..... After ending the call, my heart swelled with anger and frustration. I can't believe I did this to her. It doesn't take me time before I got a hold of her number which is registered in her fake name. "We need to meet," I said as soon as she picked up "I know about my son." "You do not have a son with me, Cain." Her voice is cold and as usual, intimidating. So I used the only leverage I had "if you want to see your sister again, you would meet and show me my son." Then I ended the call. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/q3bnsaj2m | Caminovela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | www.novel-oasis.com | VIDEO | https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/q3bnsaj2mh3zkdrov4aifvfs?ad_id={{ad.id}}&sid=120212333158920725&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/466954166_1125141365721474_462817853160640476_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WflEcUmgPUYQ7kNvgEnusUJ&_nc_oc=AdhU4J0etFSjIUU2DAosWhT__2n2MH2cywe7Apu9Qr_MIcKpgQwotZ-u-pvFUT3bX8qaMyjYFxM6Hx57idnCOzGe&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A28B6SLZ8CXOoPDGWgtyhCe&oh=00_AYAl_0coDRqSkHXc48o0SdaL0QN2WnOY82U36MpyqgZ38A&oe=67C430C0 | REGULAR_PAGE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2025-02-24 19:12 | active | 2624 | 0 | 🔥 Conrad's betrayal shattered my family. Unforgivable!😤 | My fiancé, Conrad Reese, fell in love with his secretary, Kelly Dunn, and insisted on breaking off our engagement. I tried to reason with him. "She doesn't have any power behind her; she can't help you become the heir to the Reeses' fortune. You'd be better off keeping her as your mistress." Kelly, feeling insulted, threw herself off a building in front of everyone. Five years later, after he became the heir, the first thing he did was divorce me, destroying my family in the process. "This is what you owe Kelly," he said. I woke up again, and it was my 22nd birthday. Conrad's grandfather asked me what my wish was. "I hope Conrad and Ms. Dunn… will live happily ever after." I bowed slightly and said, "Please, Mr. Jonathan. I hope you'll let me end my engagement with Conrad." Chapter 1 I died on a rainy day. The vibrant maple leaves, usually scattered across the mountainside, were nowhere to be seen because Conrad Reese couldn't wait any longer. I tumbled down the steps, blood pooling beneath me. But he wasn't satisfied. He shoved me down the stairs again and again, each time more forcefully. The pain was so intense that I could barely make a sound, but I still couldn't help but ask, "Why… are you doing this?" I didn't understand. Our families had always been close, and Conrad and I grew up together. For over a decade, my family had supported him in securing his position as the heir. But he set a trap, pulling my father into it, leading to the destruction of my family and my father's death from a heart attack. "Why, Conrad?" I gripped his clothes, desperate. Conrad's face was pale, almost ghostly, and though he was the one who ruined my family, his expression made it seem as if I was the one who had wronged him. "This is what you all owe Kelly," he spat, gritting his teeth. Kelly? Kelly Dunn? The name felt unfamiliar, and it took me a moment to remember her. Then I remembered her face—the innocent, fragile look that came to mind without warning. I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Five years had passed. It turned out that Conrad had never forgotten her during all this time. He had blamed her death on me, blaming the entire Harmon International. "Conrad, you're really—" An idiot! I didn't get the chance to say the words before Conrad had his hands tightly around my neck. My breath was slowly drained from my chest. Blood dripped from the corner of my mouth. It looked just like the red leaves that had fallen on the ground. "Shirley, are you having another headache?" The cold rain vanished. The hard floor disappeared. The crisp autumn air filled the space, and the room buzzed with guests. It was my 22nd birthday party and my engagement party with Conrad. Maybe God wanted to give me a second chance; in the blink of an eye, I was reborn. Not only was I alive, but I was back at the age of 22. This year, Harmon International was thriving, and my father had made it into the top ten on the Forbes list. This year, Conrad and I were still not engaged. "Of course, she's having a headache," someone behind me chimed in with a tone of malicious glee. "Yesterday, Conrad admitted in front of the media that the little secretary is his girlfriend." My best friend, Melanie Jennings, turned around and tried to confront that person, but I stopped her. It wasn't just an admission of her being his girlfriend. Three months ago, when Conrad had gone out of town for business, his competitors had drugged him, and Kelly had slept with him to "save" him. Conrad suddenly realized that she was his true love and wanted to marry her. Including yesterday, the media had already caught them together three times. "Shirley, don't listen to the media. You and Conrad have known each other since you were kids. You've shared so many years together…" I looked at Melanie and shook my head. Her words stopped abruptly. I knew exactly what she wanted to say. A week ago, I had woken up in my home. One week was enough for me to sort out everything that had happened in the past five years. "Shirley," Melanie suddenly reminded me, "Conrad is coming." Chapter 2 I looked up and saw Conrad walking toward me, surrounded by a crowd. As he approached, the whispers of the crowd immediately ceased. Conrad and I had grown up together. When we were five or six, our families arranged an engagement between us. Whenever anyone bullied me, he was always the first to stand up for me. When he made a mistake and got punished, I was the first to plead for him. Until now, no one had ever doubted that I was Conrad's true love. But today, on my 22nd birthday, he brought another woman with him. Kelly was thin and delicate, a fragile little flower standing close to his side. Conrad smiled, speaking affectionately in her ear. She looked at me, her face instantly panicked and flustered. She quickly stepped forward, bowing to me in a deep ninety-degree gesture. It was exactly the same as in my previous life. Even the single teardrop hanging from her eyelash was identical. In my last life, it was this pitiful, helpless look that had bewitched Conrad. I had grown up in a family where marriages were arranged for business and status, so I never expected love. Her appearance made me feel a pang of bitterness, but it didn't cloud my judgment. When Conrad wanted to break off our engagement, I didn't cry or throw a fit. I just calmly tried to reason with him, considering the many years our families had known each other. "Kelly's just an orphan. She doesn't have much work experience. Even though you two… "But if you marry her, your grandpa won't approve. It'll only bring trouble. "Conrad, why don't you just keep her as your mistress for now? Once…" I left my words vague. "Once you're the heir, won't you be able to do whatever you want?" I had said these things to protect her, but it only ended up causing me trouble. In my past life, the moment I saw Kelly bowing, I had rushed to help her up. This time, I just watched coldly. When she realized no one was paying attention to her, she crumbled to the ground without hesitation and groveled at my feet. She was practically kissing the ground, drawing gasps from everyone present. Melanie tugged at my sleeve. There were many guests today, all eyes on us. I tightened my grip on her hand. What was the rush? "Kelly!" Conrad’s face was already dark with anger. Kelly slowly lifted her head. With her tear-filled eyes, it was hard not to feel a little sympathy. She glanced back at Conrad, then at me, biting her lip as she continued groveling. I leisurely took a sip of the red wine in my glass. I couldn't help but wonder—just how long could she keep up this act? Yes, Kelly was acting. Her innocent demeanor was all a facade, and even when she "committed suicide" by jumping off a building in my past life, it was an act. I was on the rooftop, all alone, when I overheard her sweet, almost melodic voice. She was crying, pleading with a man. "I'm just an orphan. If I don't use some tricks, how would Mr. Reese ever care about me? Please, help me again. Let me make him feel guilty! Mr. Reese loves me, but because of my status, his family will never approve of me. He promised he'd marry me. I have to do something and make him feel guilty, so he'll feel sorry for me! Please, just one more time! I just need to pretend to jump off the building, and Mr. Reese will feel indebted to me for the rest of his life!" She was such a good actress. She fooled Conrad, fooled me, and even fooled the press. I once asked Conrad why he cared so much about Kelly. "I was born as the Reeses’ heir. Everyone caters to me and worships me. They respect and love me, all because of my family's money and power. Even you, Shirley—if I wasn't a Reese, would you still marry me?" His words left me speechless. If he and I weren't of similar backgrounds, we never would've grown up together, let alone gotten engaged or married. "Only Kelly—she's the only one who truly loves me and is willing to give everything for me. Shirley, how could I resist such pure love?" Chapter 3 His words almost tricked me. As the daughter of the Harmons, I'd always been cautious and reserved. I had to consider my parents and the family; I couldn't just give everything up for one person. We both missed one important possibility. Whether Conrad was poisoned or drugged, Kelly's intentions were clear from the start. She had planned to climb her way into his life from the very beginning. "Enough!" Conrad snapped. The room fell silent. Kelly trembled, slowly looking up, her eyes filled with pleading. The message was clear. She had ruined my engagement and turned me into a joke in front of everyone—she felt guilty. If I didn't say anything, she wouldn't stop. Fine. Let her keep going. I raised an eyebrow and continued sipping my wine. Kelly gritted her teeth, preparing to grovel again. Conrad suddenly stepped forward, slapping my wine glass out of my hand. "Shirley, don't go too far!" "Shirley, is this how the Harmons taught you to behave?" Conrad's face was cold, and the room fell silent in shock. He pulled Kelly into his arms, gently cradling her. "Shirley, apologize. If you apologize now, I'll pretend nothing happened." I almost laughed out loud. I'd been so naïve back then. The moment I caught Kelly's lie, I called Conrad, telling him everything I had seen. I warned him to be cautious of Kelly. The next day, Kelly was dead. She was really dead. The media reported that she had jumped because she never got a legitimate place in Conrad's life. Conrad told me, "I'm glad you warned me. Otherwise, I would've been tricked." After that, I always believed he had truly forgotten about Kelly. After all, he hated being deceived. But the day I died, I realized that when he said he had been tricked, he was talking about me. "Shirley, are you mute? Kelly didn't do anything. I wanted to break off the engagement. Apologize to her. I won't hold it against you for the humiliation she experienced." I looked at Conrad, and couldn't help but tug the corner of my lips into a smile. I must've been blind. I'd always thought he was intelligent. "Are the elders inside?" I asked a passing waiter. I then elegantly walked toward the door. Conrad followed me, asking, "What are you doing? Are you going to tell on me?" I ignored him. He continued following me right up to the door. "Shirley, don't think just because you're the Harmons' daughter, you can force me into marriage. I've already promised to marry Kelly. I will never marry you." I turned to look at him. As he'd said, he was born into privilege. Everything had come so easily for him. He had no idea what it meant to have a strong wife by his side. Perhaps my cold gaze stunned him for a moment. Just as we reached the door, Conrad's grandfather, Jonathan Reese, asked, "Shirley, what's going on here? Are you two that inseparable?" The entire room of guests watched. I took a step forward and bowed. "Mr. Jonathan, today is my birthday, and I'd like to make a wish. Conrad and Ms. Dunn are in love, and I admire their relationship. I don't want to tear them apart. Mr. Jonathan, I hope you'll let me break off the engagement with Conrad." The room fell into silence immediately. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.qknymufd.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=1 | Fantasy Story | https://www.facebook.com/61573231130692/ | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | www.qknymufd.com | VIDEO | https://www.qknymufd.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=18776&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481465436_2817347128431660_6128098222033142744_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XQoQmT_L0dUQ7kNvgEgGUin&_nc_oc=AdjQORr4W3vEBHjGeuMOW8lanW6raPxxc7945L73u6olOdS7GCk0Ul7iq-U47_ERPnc&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ALW9rfdO_p1hm8mW2OFZccl&oh=00_AYCDMMyMCAa_oeQJoB1yaW5dsNbwk4pExQ-ZiZMVXydpSw&oe=67C2E422 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fantasy Story | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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🔞Click to read on📜The Rejected Rogue Luna📜 | “This is such a pleasant surprise, Seth” I croon, running to meet my mate. It has been so long since I have seen him last and I miss the familiar scent of him and his laughter. I throw my hands around him but he does not hug me back. If anything he seems like he does not want me to be here. “I had no idea you were throwing a party for my homecoming” I tell him, kissing him slightly on the cheek. “I had no idea you were back, Rowena. You should not be here” He pushes me, holding me away from his body. “Did you not get my letter?” I ask, my smile falling from my face. “What letter?” He grunts. “The one where I told you I will be coming back today. You missed my graduation and I thought to surprise you by returning but it seems you did not know” My feet grows cold at this information and I back away from him. He is staring at me, his eyes not giving the usual warmth that I am used to. It could only explain why he had not responded to any of my letters for the past months. I gave excuses that he must be busy as Alpha and head of the pack and he could not write to me but… Seth de Beaufort, my childhood friend and mate was staring at me like I was some stranger. “Who then is the party for?” I ask. I am interrupted by cheers erupting from the members of our pack and then I see her walk in, holding freshly picked flowers in her hand and a crown on her head. I know who this is, she is my best friend, Isobel but what is she doing? I am pushed back into the crowd as she approaches. She is yet to see me as she only has eyes for Seth who is smiling back at her. “Hello mate” I hear her whisper. Mate? I gasp. I push forward, stopping her approach. “Rowena” She jolts. “What are you doing here?” She glances at Seth who shrugs his shoulders. “I should be asking you that question, don’t you think? What are you doing?” I cry out. “I am getting engaged” She smiles brightly at me. “It is great that you are here, maybe you could be my chief’s bridesmaid?” “You have got to be joking” I scoff. “Not now, Rowena. We will talk about this after” Seth stops me, putting out a hand for Isobel. “No” I raise my voice, my insides shaking with confusion. I cannot believe my eyes as I watch them turn to me. “We have to talk about it now” I tell him, braving the stares I am getting from every member of the pack. “Okay, if you want to do this here then that is fine by me” Seth growls, stepping away from Isobel and approaching me. “Seth, what is the meaning of this? We are mates… you can still feel it so why?” “I, Seth de Beaufort reject you, Rowena Stuart as my mate and future Luna” He declares. “No, stop it please… do not do this” I grunt, my chest tearing apart with pain. I double over, clutching my pounding heart. “Accept the rejection!” He spits. “Accept it and leave so that I might have a great day with my true mate” He announces. “I, Rowena Stuart… accept your rejection” My chest eases up a little bit as I say this but I cannot stop the tears gushing from my eyes as I watch them walk up, smiling into each other’s eyes. I feel betrayed by every single step and every single smile. To think I was coming back to my fiance and my best friend and they were doing this behind my back. I turn around, dashing out and into the dark, my eyes blinded with tears. This should not be happening. I collapse to the ground outside the party, my heart beating rapidly like it is about to burst. I do not turn around even when I hear the patters of feet until a throat clears behind me. “Rowena, I…” “Have you not done enough, Isobel?” I rise to my feet and face her. She has a smirk on her face “How could you? I trusted you, you are my best friend!” I cry out. “It is hardly my fault that Seth took a liking to me while you were away pursuing the career of your dreams.” she scoffs at this. I had gone to learn modern healing and had been supported by every member of the clan, including Seth. “Who do you think comforted him on the nights when he was alone and needed company?” I make to slap her but she catches my hand in the air, throwing it back at me. “This is the least of your problems, I promise you” She tells me instead. “What is that supposed to mean?” I ask “Did you come here straight from the airport?” She throws her head back to laugh. I did come there straight because I thought… “What do you mean?” I ask her again. “I don’t know, friend. You should probably run along home now before it is too late” She turns around and walks back into the party. I stand there in confusion not understanding what her talk was about. I move however, heading straight to my home with her warning ringing in my ears. I can hear screaming coming in the direction of my home which only speeds my steps. “What is happening?” I mutter, running inside. Sybillia, my sister has tears streaming down her face and her clothes torn to shreds. “What happened, talk to me” I shake her. “Father was taken” Her voice broke. “Taken?” I ask, confusion dotting my forehead “They say he is a traitor and they are going to kill him, Rowena. You have to do something.” She holds me, crying some more. “Where is mother?” I ask her. She shakes her head in the negative which told me that she had no idea where our mother was. “Listen, Sybil… I need you to find mother” I shake her again. “Do you hear me? I want you to find her and then I want you both to hide” I tell her. “What are you going to do?” She asks. “I need to find out what is going on” I mutter vaguely. I turn around and exit, heading back to the party where I burst in regarding Seth with baleful eyes. He notices me immediately and rolls his eyes but I approach, stopping when his guards block my path. “My father, what has he done?” I ask, my voice breaking. Seth, my one time lover and mate regards me with disgust, his lips quirking up in a sneer. “He is a traitor and for that he must die” .............................................................................. ROWENA “That is a lie” I scream. There are murmurs everywhere by members of the pack and I know they must think that I have lost my head coming here and yelling at the Alpha of the pack but I am too far gone to understand what I am doing. “I will allow you leave this place and we will speak when my party is over” Seth warns me. “I want to know what crimes my father has committed for you to lock him up” I repeat. “Look at her” Isobel grunts, turning to Seth. “She does not respect you, my love. Tell me how she is going to remain in this pack if she is this defiant towards you” She mutters. Seth’s eyes darkens as he rises to his feet, pointing a hand towards me. “You dare speak back to your Alpha?” He snaps, approaching me. I do not take a step back even as I am intimidated by him. It is as though we are now enemies because I do not recognize him anymore as the man I used to be in love with. “Your father has admitted to his crimes and come noon tomorrow, he will be beheaded as a traitor and so will your mother” He announces The crowd cheers again “You will denounce them, yourself and your sister or you will leave me no choice” “I cannot do that… I cannot-” “And for the crime of speaking back at me, Rowena Stuart… you will be reduced to the life of a maid and you will serve Isobel who is going to be my Luna” My friend smiles, clasping her fingers together. “Guards” Seth calls The door swished open again and they enter. “Get her out of her and make sure to keep her locked up until she denounces her bloodline. Make the announcement that I shall be marrying Isobel Howard tomorrow’s noon after the execution of Grant and Helena Stuart” He declares. “No” I rave, trashing as both men drag me out of his tent. They are laughing at my struggle and then I hear the loud thunk of the metal gate leading to the dungeons. I am thrown into it, flung like useless waste paper. I do not know how long I am in that dim pit before the doors burst open and I hear the fall of footsteps approaching where I lay. “Rowena?” A voice calls out. I recognize it immediately as Isobel and wonder what she wants. “What the do you want?” I rave, my eyes red from all the crying I have been doing the past hour. She is standing in front of me now, her lips quirked up in a smile. “I hate you” I snap. “What do you hate me for? For sleeping with her fiance or reporting your parents for…” She pauses as my eyes widens in realization. “Oops” She laughs. “You are a slut who moved on her friend’s man almost immediately she…” “Almost immediately?” She stops me, scoffing. “Have you been so utterly blind, Rowena?” Rowena, I think… she used to call me Row but I guess when you betray your friend, you do not get to use pet names any longer. “Seth and I have been together before you both began dating. The engagement to you was his father’s idea… you do not think he wanted to get married to you, did you?” She asks. “What are you talking about?” I mutter. She laughs then, her voice grating on my ears. “You have always had a stupid crush on Seth, always saying he will be your mate and so when you claimed he was your mate and your wolf has…” “I claimed?” I stop her. “Seth is my mate!” I scream at her “But he is also mine!” Isobel screams back at me. “You are lying, that is not possible” “It is rare but not impossible and that is what we are going to tell the members of the pack. They are going to hear that my wolf has mated with his and he has rejected your bond because of your family. They are going to accept me as Luna of the pack and if you want to save yourself then you will accept Seth’s offer” “You plotted this, didn’t you? You plotted this treason and you somehow roped my family into it” I accuse. “Whatever are you talking about, dear girl” She mocks, her eyes wide with innocence. “Get out” I snarl, my eyes blue with rage. “Your parents have been arrested but we are yet to catch Sybillia. Where did you send her?” She questions. I am confused at this because I know I sent Sybil to find our mother and so if they have both been arrested then she is supposed to be with them. “I have no idea where she is” I mutter. “Yes you do and you are going to tell me. Tomorrow is my wedding and I am not going to have you ruin my chances at being Luna of this pack” My lips curve up in a smile but I say nothing. “Where the is she?” Isobel asks again, approaching me. “I have no idea” I repeat. She stares at me, the anger evident in her gaze. “You will pay for this” She declares right before walking out and leaving me in the darkness. I do not know how long the night lasts but the doors open again and I hear a tumble and then a yelp. “Who’s there?” I mutter. “Rowena?” I hear my sister. “Sybil?” I ask, scampering to my feet. “How are you here? I thought you somehow escaped” “I was caught. They have mom and dad and they… they are going to kill them” She cries out. “Come here” I mutter. I put my hand out through the opening and touch my sister, our hands connecting and holding. I can feel her panic and I am sure she can feel mine too. “Everything will be alright” I reassure her. “What are we going to do?” She asks me. “We have to do something” “We ask the moon goddess for help” I tell her. We both close our eyes and begin praying to the moon goddess. I feel peaceful for the first time since our ordeal began and so I close my eyes, my hand still intertwined with my sister’s and I drift into sleep. … “Drag her out!” The loud boom of voice arouses me from my sleep. I hear screaming right before my sister is yanked from my grasp. “No, leave her alone” I yell. The door to my prison is also opened and I am dragged out too. “Leave my sister the …” One of the guards back hand me across the face and blood spurts out of my mouth. “Shut your mouth, cunt” He snaps. I can still hear her screams as I am led out into the open with members of the pack staring at me with disgust evident on their faces. I stare back, refusing to lower my gaze. I am not a traitor and neither is any member of my family so why should I be ashamed? I am pushed forward until we come to the clearing and I see Seth and Isobel both seated with my father and mother kneeling. They are tied up and I can see that they have both taken beatings but I do not see Sybillia anywhere. “We are gathered here today to sentence Grant and Helena Stuart for the crime of dabbling into the dark arts” Seth announces. The crowd cheers and I can feel the bile rising in my mouth at the sound of their hooping. They are happy, I think. I knew we were hated but I did not think they would be happy to see us die. Where is my sister? Where was she taken? I think to myself. “How do you both plead?” Seth roars, rising to his feet. My father says nothing and so does my mother. “I will spare both your daughters if they denounce your family right this minute” He declares. There are hushed protest about this but no one dares say anything to counter the Alpha of the pack. I can see that my father is about to speak up but we are interrupted by a commotion and sounds of running. I turn around, my eyes happening upon Sybillia who is holding a crossbow aimed at Seth. She has blood running from the center of her legs and I can see that she can hardly stand. “No” I scream, rising to my feet to stop her but I am held back by the guards. “You asshole” She pants. “You cannot do this, Sybil… it is treason” I scream, tears streaming down my face. “Put the crossbow down, Sybillia” My father’s calm voice comes through. My sister’s eyes are bright as she stares pointedly at Seht who has not breathed a word and then she drops the crossbow. I heave a sigh of relief at this while the guards grab the weapon, taking it away from her grasp. There is still a hushed silence, like everyone was waiting for a reaction from the Alpha with bated breath. I turn to Seth, his eyes are black with rage and I know there is trouble. “Do it” I hear him say. Do what? I am confused but I follow his eyes to where my sister remained standing. I see the swing of the sword too late as my sister is cut down. There is a scream, a tiny high pitched scream… I realize it is me screaming before I pass out. .............................................................................. ROWENA “Rowena, open your eyes” My eyes flutters open, my mother’s face in view. I am laying on the ground and my thoughts are scattered. I turn immediately to the place I had seen my sister fall, very sure it was a bad dream. Her body is no longer there but I see the blood decorating the ground, seeping into the sand. “No” I begin to cry, my mother holding unto me. “Sybil” I quiver. “She is with the goddess” My mother says, trying to comfort me. The goddess be damned! Where is the goddess as my family is facing persecution. “You have to denounce us” My mother whispers urgently in my ears while I cry. “I cannot do that” I argue. “You are going to do it for your father and I, Rowena. We are going to die, that is for sure but you do not have to die with us” We are sitting in the sand with Seth staring at us and every member of the pack. None of them trying to help “Mom” I wail “Do it, Rowena” She snaps at me. “Do it for us” “That’s enough” Seth commands, breaking our conversation. I rise to my feet, shaking like a leaf and my eyes meet my father’s. He nods at me once, a smile on his face like he is giving his approval and he wants me to do exactly as my mother had said. “I denounce them” I mutter, my voice breaking. “Louder, Rowena” My mother encourages, nodding her head. “I denounce them!” I shout, the tears streaming down my cheeks. “I am not with these traitors and I do not identify as their family” The crowd begins jeering at me and my parents but I am staring into Seth’s face imagining all the ways I am going to make him suffer before I kill him. And Isobel? I am going to make sure she suffers for the rest of her life. “You have done the right thing” Seth finally smiles in my direction. He moves his head to the side and the guards grab me, dragging me away. I am led to the side and my parents are strung up while the executioner grabs his sword and begins taking slow, measured steps around them. I make sure to leave my eyes open and my face blank. I want to see it all, I want to feel their pain and I want the hate to blossom in my heart so that when it is finally time for my revenge, I will not hesitate. “Any last words?” Seth asks. My father sighs at this and then he turns to me. “You are special, Rowena. Very special and I want you to remember that” He says. The crowd boos him while I struggle to regulate my breathing so I do not cry out loud. I can feel my wolf wailing inside me but I shut her out, not wanting to give in to the torment I am feeling. There will be plenty time to cry when I am done avenging my family. “You may begin” Seth declares. The sword swings once, taking my father’s head with it. I watch as the blood sputters from his neck and my mother scream. It is almost as if I am watching the event unfolding from far away. My mother follows next, her body crumpling beside my father’s and then I am pushed by the crowd. I am walking to where the marriage ceremony of Seth and Isobel will take place and I watch as the elder of our pack binds them in matrimony. I cannot get over the ringing in my ears even as I go on my knees as the rest of the crowd, hailing them both as Alpha and Luna of the pack. “Follow me” Isobel’s voice drags me out of my reverie. I walk behind her, stopping as she enters Seth’s tent. “Come inside” She orders. I walk in, my eyes coming up to hers. “What is your plan?” She asks me. “What are you talking about?” I shoot back. “You denounced your family. I know you, Rowena and you would rather die than do that so what do you have planned? And do not think I do not know that you are plotting something” “Just as you plotted?” I ask her. “ bitch!” She raves. “He should have killed you too and somehow you are still standing here in front of me” “I plan to serve you to the best of my ability, Isobel” I smirk at her. I can see that she is afraid judging by the way her teeth grits in her mouth and then she raises her hand to slap me across the face. She is stopped however by Seth who had come in without our knowledge. “What are you doing?” He bellows. “She insulted your Luna, Seth” Ana whines. “That does not give you the right to slap her, Isobel. Go to your room till I call for you” He commands. Isobel eyes me then asks me to follow her. “Rowena will stay here” He stops her. “What do you mean? You promised she will be my maid and serve me” She reminds him. “I know what I said but promises can change and I want her to serve me instead.” He announces. I raise my eyes, my lips parting in shock. He betrays me, rejects me as his mate, kills my family and now he wants me to serve him? How low could one get? I think to myself. “You cannot do that. What would the people of our pack say when they hear or see this? You just beheaded her parents in front of her and her sister, you seem to be forgetting she is a traitor” Isobel spat. “It is you who is forgetting your place, Isobel Howard. I am Alpha and my word is law and you might be my Luna but you do not talk back at me.” Seth snaps. I watch this display with mild interest. “She is no longer your mate, Seth… I am and I want her to serve me” She tries again. “Do not question my orders, Isobel… now leave” Seth responds to her. “I am sorry” She mutters, exiting the tent. I am left alone now with Seth and my heart is pounding rapidly in my chest. “Are you okay?” He asks, touching my arm. I try not to flinch, merely nod at his enquiry while I bite the inside of my cheek till it bleeds. “You should sit” He says, leading me to his bed. “I did not want this” He mutters as he caresses the side of my face. “It is not your fault” I tell him, bringing my hand up to touch him. My skin crawls and my wolf shrinks within me but I pay them no mind. I am going to kill him but first, I plan to make him think all is forgotten and forgiven. Seth de Beaufort will not know what hit him until it is damn well too late… I will make sure of that. | LEARN_MORE | https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/dvbl2moa4 | Le | https://www.facebook.com/100092986922851/ | 73 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | novel-oasis.com | IMAGE | “The one where I told you I will be coming back today. You missed my graduation and I thought to surprise you by returning but it seems you did not know” My feet grows cold at this information and I back away from him. | https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/dvbl2moa4htcowwvvmfc2vjt?ad_id={{ad.id}}&sid=120213973301740267&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}} | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/467932251_913525000754561_2622901543599047232_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-IBqsu4eYuMQ7kNvgH21w_C&_nc_oc=AdhnG9FlkitrAVuV85QIJIkabSE2CcWyG6uWsEvPXUqDtcVYDPfa5udKDlS102ncCw2ppowfYejAhxxTqo7P6vF-&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=AtP0RGK_pJVdXpAkCuJo3Im&oh=00_AYDawCQEMyTX7fJPZa8L5as31qKuGcU-TnSAMt7C0oWUDw&oe=67C42182 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Le | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No | 2025-02-25 16:51 | active | 2627 | 0 | Survival isn't just luck—it's strategy. | INSTALL_MOBILE_APP | http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.r | Dark War Survival Mobile | https://www.facebook.com/61566393095967/ | 469 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Install now | 0 | play.google.com | VIDEO | http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.readygo.dark.gp | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/473044280_1245496813192175_3176021397213567076_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=v05EC0jfxfUQ7kNvgH76pry&_nc_oc=Adgjxz6KDN5wHHP-6Re8IcjcYKCAOdstUz2vetCzaRVgNuvC2vIWD30ZIE9hoyMslI5abNotPSi_mkycXinJVffi&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=AyFsmEESOM3waZjudoJdxry&oh=00_AYAxTLtCuZhTT6c1Yl55Nt6j9SeJ88_iaDVd_GLrckGHzQ&oe=67C43002 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Dark War Survival Mobile | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Read next chapter | To survive, she climbed into her so-called uncle's bed. Two years later, she realized she was just a toy. Heartbroken, she left after seeing him at his first love's prenatal checkup. ===== The winters in Ulares were bone-chilling, but inside Cloudscape Mansion, the air was thick with warmth and passion. "Uncle Ethan…" Nyla Green gasped, her voice catching. Ethan's lips quirked into a satisfied smirk. "Being so well-behaved tonight, aren't you?" "Don't you like it when I'm well-behaved?" The hunger in Ethan's eyes was undeniable. "What is it you want?" Settling into the armchair by the window, he asked, his mood seemingly lighter than usual. "Will you give me anything I ask for?" Nyla's voice was soft, hesitant, her hopeful gaze fixed on his sharp, handsome face. "Depends on what it is," Ethan replied evenly. "I want to be Mrs. Brooks." The warmth in Ethan's expression disappeared, replaced by a glacial stare that sent a chill down her spine. Nyla's heart sank as he let out a mocking laugh. "I've been too soft on you," he said coldly. "You think that gives you the right to ask for something like that?" Nyla bit her lip, "Callie's back, isn't she? You're planning to marry her, aren't you?" Callie Higgins--the name itself was enough to twist Nyla's gut. She was Ethan's first love--the woman who had once saved his life from kidnappers when he was eighteen. After the incident, their families agreed that Ethan and Callie would get engaged when the time was right. Ethan's expression flickered, just for a moment, but it was enough for Nyla to know she'd struck a nerve. She'd been with him for two years; she knew him well. "I just want a status. You know how hard it is for me in the Brooks family. Without protection, I--" "Protection?" Ethan cut her off, his tone sharp. In a flash, he was in front of her, gripping her chin firmly. His dark eyes bored into hers, fierce and unyielding. "Do you think I don't see through you, Nyla? You think you're worthy of being Mrs. Brooks?" Chapter 2 Time To Let Go "Ethan Brooks, you haven't changed a bit--still as cold-hearted as ever," Nyla snapped. The warm atmosphere had long since turned to ice. Nyla's expression was calm, though her intentions were anything but hidden. Tears glimmered in her defiant eyes. "If you're not willing to give me what I want, then this is it. From today, we're done. Beyond being my step-uncle, you have nothing to do with me anymore." Ethan's sneer was sharp, cutting through the tension like a bl*de. "You're the one who climbed into my b*d back then. And now you want to walk away? Nyla, do you really think I'm that easy to deal with?" It had been a while since the Green family's sudden collapse. Overnight, Nyla's world unraveled. Her father, Lorenzo Green, took his own life to prove his innocence, and her brother was thrown behind bars. Her mother, desperate to survive, became the mi**ress of Ethan's elder brother, Ryland Brooks. When Ryland's wife passed away, Nyla's mother--pregnant with Ryland's child--married him. The Brooks family made no secret of their disdain. Nyla had always known her place, keeping her distance from the Brooks family whenever possible. But they never intended to stop tormenting her. Out of options, she had turned to Ethan. As the current leader of the Brooks family and one of the most powerful men in Ulares, Ethan was the only one who could offer her protection. "So, what do we call this... arrangement?" Her voice was low, almost mocking. Ethan's gaze lingered on her face--dangerously beautiful, the kind that brought chaos wherever it went. "If you want something else, I might consider it," he said, his tone indifferent as he released her. The implication was clear: he wasn't letting go, not yet. Bitterness rose in Nyla's throat. She could endure being his b*dmates, but she wouldn't let herself become the other woman. That was one boundary she refused to cross. "Ethan, I'm tired. This... whatever it is, it's over." The word "over" felt hollow--Ethan had never acknowledged what they had in the first place. She pulled her torn dress over her body, her hands trembling but her resolve firm. Ethan's expression darkened. "What are you trying to prove with this tantrum?" Nyla paused, holding herself together with every ounce of willpower. She stood tall, meeting his gaze. "Mr. Brooks, if you can't give me what I want, then let's not waste any more time. I need to move on." Her words struck a nerve. Ethan grabbed her arm, "Move on? To who?" His voice dripped with menace. "Who else could ever satisfy you like I do? Don't act like this was all some mistake. You crawled into my b*d, Nyla. Don't think I'll let you forget that." Nyla's composure cracked as anger flared in her chest. She glared at him, tears brimming. "So what if I did? I regret it! You're going to marry Callie, and I'm supposed to sit here and wait for your scraps? I may be shameless, Ethan, but I'm not that pathetic." The air between them was suffocating, heavy with unspoken truths and unbearable tension. A sudden ring shattered the silence. Ethan glanced at his phone, irritation flickering across his face. He was about to ignore the call until he saw the name. Callie. He released Nyla and answered without hesitation. Nyla watched in silence, her heart sinking at his gentle tone. He'd only ever used it with her in b*d. She felt the humiliation settle deep in her ch*st. "I'll be there soon." Ethan finished the called and then dressed. He turned to Nyla. "I'll have Jackson transfer the money to your account. Don't even think about leaving." The door clicked shut behind him. Nyla sat still, staring at the empty space he left behind. Then, with a bitter laugh, she wiped her tears away. If she couldn't have what she wanted, then she'd take back what little was left of her dignity. It was time to let go. Chapter 3 So What If I Am? Nyla, now in her senior year of college, had already begun her internship while managing her own studio--a venture she had started during her junior year. She specialized in fashion design, and her studio was her pride and joy. But lately, the pressure from competitors had been relentless. Someone clearly wanted her out of Ulares. Despite the frustration, Nyla refused to back down. After a restless night, her body ached as she got ready for the day. She couldn't bring herself to wear her usual professional attire, opting instead for a casual outfit. Even in simple clothes, her elegance and charisma turned heads wherever she went. As she walked into the studio, her receptionist hesitated before approaching her. "Miss Green... um, your mother is here," she said nervously. "We tried to stop her, but... she's holding a baby, and we didn't want to risk anything." Nyla gave her a reassuring smile. Her mother, Vicki Brooks, was difficult to deal with. "It's fine. I understand. You can get back to work." Relieved, the receptionist nodded and returned to her desk. Nyla's studio wasn't large, but every inch of it reflected her touch. She had designed the interior herself, favoring a minimalist elegance that radiated sophistication. In the lounge area, she spotted her mother cradling a baby in her arms. Nolan Brooks, a premature baby, had come into the world when Vicki was in her forties. His arrival had nearly cost both their lives, and since then, Vicki's world revolved entirely around him. Standing silently in the doorway, Nyla observed her mother. Vicki's expression softened as she gently rocked Nolan, her maternal warmth unmistakable. For a fleeting moment, Nyla saw the woman Vicki used to be--a gentle, understanding wife and mother, back when the Green family was intact. But that version of her mother was gone. Now, Vicki was only a mother to Nolan. The thought stung, but Nyla pushed the feeling aside and walked into the lounge. She sat across from Vicki, who glanced up briefly before returning her attention to Nolan. Nyla's assistant quickly brought over a cup of coffee and slipped away without a word. Picking up the cup, Nyla stirred it slowly, the clinking of the spoon breaking the silence. "Why are you here?" she asked, her tone even. Vicki's gaze flickered disapprovingly over Nyla's casual outfit. "You're going out dressed like that? Don't you realize you're representing the Brooks family now? Everything you do reflects on us." Leaning back on the sofa, Nyla replied with a calm, measured voice, "My last name is Green. I've never been part of the Brooks family." Vicki's lips tightened, her frustration evident. "You--" She stopped herself, glancing down at Nolan, who stirred in her arms. Lowering her voice, she continued, "Ryland has arranged a date for you tomorrow at Delight Restaurant. You'll be meeting the second son of the Fowler family. He's from a respectable background, and it's time you start thinking about your future." Nyla raised an eyebrow, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. The second son of the Fowler family had recently been released from prison. Ryland certainly had a knack for picking matches. "I don't have time," Nyla replied dismissively, taking a sip of her coffee. Vicki's composure cracked. "No time? You didn't go to school or your studio yesterday. And you didn't come home last night either. I heard you were at a bar." She had done her homework. Nyla's late-night escapades and partying were the reason Vicki had stormed over. That kind of behavior was unacceptable. If it weren't for Nolan dozing off in her arms, she'd have already started yelling. Then Vicki's sharp eyes zeroed in on a faint red m*rk on Nyla's neck. Her expression darkened. "What's that on your neck?" she hissed. "I'm warning you, Nyla. If you're fooling around, I won't tolerate it!" Nyla paused mid-sip, setting her cup down deliberately. She met Vicki's glare with calm indifference. Her mother still looked youthful despite her age. Money sure did wonders, Nyla mused. "And what if I am?" she said, leaning back. "You haven't cared about me in years, so why pretend now? Take your precious son and leave." Chapter 4 Family Dinner "Nyla!" Vicki shot to her feet, her sudden movement jolting Nolan awake in her arms. The baby let out a wail that pierced through the studio. "It's okay, Nolan. Shh, you're okay," Vicki murmured, turning her attention to him and pointedly ignoring Nyla. "We'll go home soon, sweetheart. Be good for Mommy." Nyla rubbed her ears, the irony of the scene grating on her nerves. Without a word, she turned to leave. "Don't forget." Vicki's strained voice rang out behind her. "I've always been the one begging for help for your brother. Do you have any idea how much he's suffered in prison? And your sister-in-law? I've been the one sending her money to survive. If you had even a shred of consideration for me, you'd listen to what I say!" Nyla froze mid-step, her gaze drifting up to the ceiling as a wave of helplessness rolled over her. After the incident all those years ago, her brother had been jailed, and her pregnant sister-in-law had been so traumatized she ended up hospitalized. The baby--already five months along--couldn't be saved, and her sister-in-law's health had never recovered. The family sold everything they owned, borrowed from anyone who'd listen, and still came up short. Eventually, their options ran dry, and even close relatives cut ties. Nyla's sister-in-law finally gave up, saying she didn't want to be a burden. Vicki's marriage into the wealthy Brooks family had brought temporary relief, but her sister-in-law's lingering illness had turned into a lifelong battle--one that drained both money and hope. And Vicki, to her credit, had been the one subsidizing the expensive treatments. Nyla's fingers curled and relaxed along the edge of her sleeve--a quiet gesture of powerless compromise. "Fine. I'll go." Vicki let out a relieved sigh, her tone softening. "There's a family dinner at the Brooks Mansion tonight. Leave work early and make sure you're there. You can't miss it." Nyla felt an immediate headache brewing. She'd planned to avoid Ethan for at least a little while longer, but her plans were thwarted before they'd even begun. "I know you hate going to these things, but think about me. Think about your little brother. He's just a child, Nyla. If you don't look out for him, who will? Please, just do this for me." Vicki's words left no room for refusal. Nyla was at a loss for words. Her mother asked her to protect Nolan, but who would protect her? The Brooks family wore their civility like sheep's clothing, but beneath it, she knew better. They were wolves--every single one of them--and none would spare her if given the chance. And yet, Nyla never voiced these grievances to Vicki. It would only be pointless. Vicki would call her immature, blame her for the Brooks family's hostility, insist that Nyla brought it all upon herself. So Nyla could only swallow her resentment. Later that afternoon, Nyla left work early as instructed. She took her time getting home and changed clothes, knowing Vicki would nitpick if she didn't look the part. She settled on a gray, short tweed jacket over a black skirt--poised, polished, and appropriately elegant. Nyla despised the cold. If it weren't for the Brooks family gathering, she would have bundled herself in two down jackets and called it a day. These social charades were a performance she loathed--hollow and suffocating. But Vicki insisted she need to integrate. Half an hour later, Nyla stepped out of the taxi in front of the imposing Brooks Mansion. Just as she turned to head inside, a sleek Maybach pulled up beside her. Nyla didn't intend to acknowledge anyone--until the license plate caught her eye. Ethan's car. The tinted window rolled down slowly, and two faces came into view--elegant, pristine, and altogether too perfect. "Hello, Nyla." A woman's voice broke the moment. "I'm Callie." Chapter 5 Rivals In Love Nyla had imagined meeting Callie in countless scenarios. Maybe it would happen during one of those stolen moments with Ethan, where they'd be caught red-handed. Or perhaps at Callie and Ethan's engagement party, where Nyla would dutifully offer her congratulations as a younger member of the Brooks family. But never like this--never with Callie deliberately approaching her. Nyla glanced at Ethan, suspicious. Was he behind this? But Ethan's gaze remained locked on her, his dark eyes betraying nothing. Those eyes had a way of pulling people in. She quickly looked away, her voice cold. "Hello. Did you need something?" Nyla didn't like the Brooks family, and she liked Callie even less. Callie was, after all, a rival in love. "Oh, nothing at all. I'd just heard Ethan had a breathtakingly beautiful niece, and I couldn't resist coming to meet you. I hope that's all right," Callie replied, her voice soft and syrupy, the kind of tone that made others instinctively want to protect her, a stark contrast to Nyla's cool tone. "You're exaggerating. I'm just an ordinary person." An ordinary person who was all too easy to manipulate. The moment the words left her mouth, Nyla felt Ethan's gaze on her--sharp, teasing. She met his eyes, her expression frosty, but he didn't look away. Instead, his lips parted, and his cool voice cut through the air. "Let's go. Don't waste time on people who don't matter." Callie offered an apologetic smile. "We'll head in, then. Would you like to join us? It's a bit of a walk." The words "people who don't matter" stung more than Nyla cared to admit. Last night, Ethan had been so close--so possessive he wouldn't let her leave--and now he was acting like a stranger. Huh. If Ethan chose acting as his career, he would win the Best Actor award, and Nyla would gladly be the one throwing tomatoes at his acceptance speech. Plastering on a bitter smile, she replied, "No thanks. I don't feel comfortable riding in a stranger's car." Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away. Behind her, the sleek Maybach sped off, its icy wind brushing her cheeks and nearly drawing tears from her eyes. But she refused to cry--not here, not at the Brooks family estate. The sprawling Brooks Mansion loomed ahead, its gardens and private villas spread across more than seven thousand square feet. It was the largest private residence in Ulares and an unyielding symbol of the Brooks family's influence. The family dinner was held in the main house of the estate, and by the time Nyla arrived, the room was already packed. Her eyes immediately found Ethan, standing beside Callie, who was chatting amicably with the wife of Ethan's second brother. They looked disturbingly at ease with one another. "Why are you so late? Didn't I tell you to leave work early?" The voice belonged to Vicki, who appeared beside Nyla in a black gown and white mink shawl, exuding effortless grace. Nyla forced a smile, though she detested the way Vicki had shed her real self to fit into the Brooks family mold. "It's a long drive. Besides, I'm here now, aren't I?" Her eyes roved over the crowd. Faces turned her way, some barely hiding their disdain. "Honestly, we shouldn't have bothered coming." Vicki tightened her grip on Nyla's hand, her voice dropping to a whisper. "If you listened to Ryland and made connections with the Fowler family, we wouldn't be in this position." Nyla's tone sharpened. "If you're in such a rush, feel free to go see my blind date yourself." "Don't be ridiculous!" Vicki hissed, glancing around nervously. The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene here. "Then stop nagging me," Nyla retorted. "Unless you want me to make a real fuss." Vicki bit back her frustration, unwilling to press further. Nyla slipped away and found an empty corner, determined to stay invisible until the endless family dinner wrapped up. But, of course, the peace didn't last. "Nyla, why are you sitting here all by yourself? Are you feeling out of place?" Callie's sugary voice rang in her ear. "I can show you around if you'd like." Chapter 6 Definition Of Decorum "Thank you, I appreciate your concern, Miss Higgins, but that won't be necessary." Nyla blinked leisurely, suppressing a yawn. The previous night had been relentless and exhausting, and as she sat in the quiet corner, weary and disinterested, she had thought no one would disturb her. Unexpectedly, Callie had come over, initiating conversation. As Nyla observed the gentle expression on Callie's face, a sardonic grin took root in her thoughts. She now understood Ethan's distaste for her; he evidently preferred someone more like Callie. "Leave her be, Callie. That woman is nothing but trouble. Who knows who she'll charm next? You're too good for her." These words came from Stella Brooks, the daughter of Ethan's second brother. Nyla turned toward Stella, her expression teasingly challenging. "Perhaps you're right. Maybe I should seek out Lukas for an enlightening chat in his bedroom. He'd probably appreciate it. And perhaps tomorrow I'll drop by Austen's place--I still know how to get in." Lukas Brooks, Stella's younger brother, had been captivated by Nyla from the start, wanting nothing more than to stay by her side. His family, convinced of Nyla's manipulative charm, met her with cold disdain. Consequently, Lukas found himself transferred to a distant boarding school. Austen Mitchell, the focus of Stella's unrequited affections, had grown up next door to Nyla. Their families were intertwined, and he always saw Nyla as kin, a fact unknown to many. This was the root of Stella's vehement animosity toward Nyla. Originally, Nyla endured her insults, but Stella's escalation to physical threats forced Nyla to retaliate. "Shame on you!" Stella seethed, her cheeks burning. "Don't think for a moment you belong in the Brooks household just because you share our roof! You're no better than your mother. It's clear now why your family crumbled--you thrive on being a shameless intruder!" Shadows flickered in Nyla's eyes, her fist tightening inside her sleeve, though her expression remained calm. "Has Austen actually accepted your advances? You seem to be the one relentlessly pursuing him. He freely opens his door to me. Can you say the same? Your efforts seem futile. He shows no interest in you." Stella's eyes welled up, her hand lifted for a slap, but Callie intervened just in time. "Stella, that was uncalled for. Why would you say such things?" Callie's voice carried the weight of a mentor scolding a student. Flushed and tearful, Stella bit her tongue following Callie's sharp scolding. With a restrained smile but firm voice, Callie maintained her composed aristocratic air. "You're under the Brooks' roof now, Nyla. It's high time to leave your old ways behind. We expect decorum in a family of the Brooks family's standing." Nyla noted Callie's attempt to shame her and wondered about her motives. Her secret with Ethan was safe. What was driving Callie's hostility? Was it just a personal dislike? Nyla's lethargy vanished, replaced by simmering annoyance. "Stella called me a shameless intruder and hurled insults, yet you don't accuse her of indecorum. I merely stated some facts, less harshly than her, and yet here you are, Miss Higgins, accusing me of impropriety." Nyla's voice was measured as she locked eyes with Callie, her laughter tinged with scorn. "So, this is your definition of decorum, Miss Higgins? Your upbringing must indeed be exemplary." Chapter 7 Lecture Me On Callie's Behalf? Callie's expression shifted, her eyes softening with a tinge of apology. "I didn't mean it like that," she said gently. "I just thought… it might help you to fit in better with the Brooks family." Nyla's gaze swept over the two women in front of her. Stella still looked like she was ready to tear her apart, while Callie's carefully composed friendliness had started to crumble. Suddenly, the family dinner didn't seem so dull after all. One person warned her not to dream too big about the Brooks family, and the other subtly reminded her of her place as an outsider. How delightfully amusing. "And what does that have to do with you, Miss Higgins?" Nyla asked, standing abruptly. A sly smile curved her lips as she added, "Stella does have a point, though. Who knows who I'll charm next? Maybe one day… Ethan will end up in my b*d too. Instead of worrying about me, Miss Higgins, you might want to keep an eye on yourself." The smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Without waiting for a response, Nyla turned and strode toward the garden. "You b**ch! How dare you even think about Uncle Ethan!" Stella's shrill voice pierced the air. "Callie, see? She doesn't deserve your kindness. She's shameless!" Callie's eyes lingered on Nyla's retreating figure, all pretense of kindness gone. Her voice was cold and measured. "Just an outsider. Does she really think the Brooks family will protect her? Let's see how long she lasts." The garden, though chilled by the winter air, offered a quiet sanctuary to Nyla. Dinner still hadn't been served--Roger Brooks, Ethan's father, hadn't arrived yet. Nyla was grateful she wasn't particularly hungry. Otherwise, she might have had an outright clash with Vicki and left. Most of the flowers had withered, leaving the once vibrant landscape barren and forlorn. She studied the decayed flowers, finding an odd comfort in their desolation. Settling onto a swing tucked in the corner of the garden, Nyla pushed herself back and forth lightly, lost in thought. The Ethan situation was spiraling. If things ended between them now, her carefully laid plans would collapse. When she first approached Ethan, she'd told herself it was all calculated--a means to an end. But somewhere along the way, her emotions had betrayed her. She'd been starved of love for so long that the taste of it--however fleeting--had made her greedy. She didn't want to let him go. "Do you think you can hide out here after stirring trouble?" Ethan's voice cut through the stillness, sharp yet calm. "Do you think the Brooks family is that forgiving?" Nyla froze for a second before resuming her lazy swaying. The light from the house spilled onto her figure, casting her in an ethereal glow that made her seem almost otherworldly--a delicate flower in a crumbling garden. She tilted her head slightly, her hair spilling across her chest, and smiled faintly. "So, are you here to lecture me on your future fiancée's behalf?" Her eyes, glimmering with playful defiance, locked onto his. Ethan hated and loved those eyes--the mischievous glint that made her look like a sly little fox, always drawing him closer. "You're getting bolder." "If that's your reason, you can save your breath," Nyla retorted, bitterness threading her words. "I won't apologize. And you don't have to remind me of my place either. Whether the Brooks family hates me or not is none of your concern. After all, I'm just… insignificant, right?" Ethan's expression darkened instantly. He crossed the distance between them in a few long strides and pulled her down onto his lap as sat on the swing, its frame gr*aning under their combined weight. "Have you already forgotten who was in my b*d yesterday, pleasing me?" Nyla's eyes widened as she struggled against him, "Let go of me! Ethan, this is the Brooks Mansion. Someone will see!" ...... 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) &3& | LEARN_MORE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/67687322-fb_contact-e | Hello Read | https://www.facebook.com/61550873765205/ | 1,009 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/67687322-fb_contact-ena255_2-0130-core2.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=331118&accid=638434121690371&exdata=C46BD16AC307897527EED4152EB041A415B5B48AFACB8F0F | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/475399492_1037930611430784_8463005202441800714_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7ZfbgxJuXbQQ7kNvgEOtX19&_nc_oc=Adg6if3eRN5exppx3mYW-iwz1Ymb_9AGb2xjwupju9hwELfXnFPPlabCJRDZaXXVfedaeyxcpl49-givvrtaO8iK&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=ATFvmXYPHQw3fmdqgM-eJgG&oh=00_AYBW3L95vWfa27tGI8LpMp2V61qOCkDS4FRmZXDshKmIjg&oe=67C2EF44 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Hello Read | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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America's Thrift Stores Grand Opening - Knoxville, TN | 🎉 Grand Opening Celebration! America's Thrift Stores - Knoxville, TN 🎉 A Thrift Experience Like No Other 📅 Date: March 13th 🕒 Time: 8:00 AM EST 📍 Location: 9123 Executive Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37923 Get ready, Knoxville! It's time to celebrate the grand opening of America's Thrift Stores in your neighborhood! Join us on March 13th for a day packed with lots of fun and fantastic deals! 🌟 Event Highlights: 💳 $100 Gift Card Giveaway: Visit us on Grand Opening Day and enter our giveaway for a $100 gift card to America's Thrift Stores! Come one, come all, and let's make this grand opening a day to remember! Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for an unforgettable shopping experience filled with savings. See you there! 🎈 Visit www.americasthrift.com/knoxville to learn more about how we deliver an elevated thrift experience! | EVENT_RSVP | https://www.facebook.com/events/1142167953728761/ | America's Thrift Stores | https://www.facebook.com/americasthrift/ | 44,083 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | INTERESTED | 0 | America's Thrift Stores Grand Opening - Knoxville, TN | EVENT | 🎉 Grand Opening Celebration! America's Thrift Stores - Knoxville, TN 🎉 A Thrift Experience Like No Other 📅 Date: March 13th 🕒 Time: 8:00 AM EST 📍 Location: 9123 Executive Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37923 Get ready, Knoxville! It's time to celebrate the grand opening of America's Thrift Stores in your neighborhood! Join us on March 13th for a day packed with lots of fun and fantastic deals! 🌟 Event Highlights: 💳 $100 Gift Card Giveaway: Visit us on Grand Opening Day and enter our giveaway for a $100 gift card to America's Thrift Stores! Come one, come all, and let's make this grand opening a day to remember! Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for an unforgettable shopping experience filled with savings. See you there! 🎈 Visit www.americasthrift.com/knoxville to learn more about how we deliver an elevated thrift experience! | https://www.facebook.com/events/1142167953728761/ | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481998659_1146117316955135_3909131377001403140_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iAISTZT-T5wQ7kNvgEPH95S&_nc_oc=AdjRlmRE44-P1f_bNhPi1zs6EKj-SpKe1zjIbwPpyCCh9o-23RuV8jXurWgdQfI_Jpw&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Al5s9uW5z-V_h09TxPgTXQm&oh=00_AYCE3Ynefh1B2cWc_7tqGyy--ZPoQHwwNuPsSqiHXWfvMA&oe=67C4128F | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | America's Thrift Stores | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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LEARN_MORE | https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scibor/bad-gu | Scibor Monstrous Miniatures | https://www.facebook.com/100064424480382/ | 74,629 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn More | 0 | kickstarter.com | CAROUSEL | https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scibor/bad-guys-vol-2 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480388446_2984338678401034_6288673245541058668_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_ZUjdriQqcYQ7kNvgEoDBFN&_nc_oc=Adhuk-R7JdsNkJvtWex40nxIbqx1y-dafi-0jc0RNjryvtgr_kKerGDpbLcm4Y9fEmXcg3pP1xuv76Usuf7BrjdW&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A5Jw4hpYZ3gSSsinRn_A36l&oh=00_AYDxsxHvB6yw6eDYjszGpPYHj0AW9oTqCQ4U1jGn5U7SFA&oe=67C4202D | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Scibor Monstrous Miniatures | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2025-02-25 16:51 | active | 2627 | 0 | Survival isn't just luck—it's strategy. | INSTALL_MOBILE_APP | http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.r | Dark War Survival Mobile | https://www.facebook.com/61566393095967/ | 469 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Install now | 0 | play.google.com | VIDEO | http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.readygo.dark.gp | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/470193171_907920798133679_8280753333951724123_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qyy7nSYPZhAQ7kNvgE1gxLB&_nc_oc=AdgdjHXm8BUHdxzTZLUmFrG6hmHUUuRxyXo_JwIVS0nqNJjEy1RHgxXMFZdUiQHPA4T9uIbj662jbnET0PRD5xR2&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=ASfzDTKEMZbbbSfMBTnXagU&oh=00_AYCdRVEOP6aaCXPo8Yivf8iAwRAGxxR8bzm1ms8bjEAvhQ&oe=67C426A5 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Dark War Survival Mobile | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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☕ Estero Businesses, This One’s for You! ☕ We’re keeping the caffeine flowing with our Alive & Awake Free Coffee Giveaway! 🚀 Each week, we’re delivering freshly roasted coffee to a local business—on us! ✅ How to enter? 1️⃣ Like our page 👍 2️⃣ Comment with business name below 📩 🏆 This week’s winners: 🏌️♂️ West Bay Golf Club kicked off with a Swig Box! 🩺 Houck Dermatology stayed energized with their free brew! Who’s next? Comment business name below and we might be showing up at your office next week with FREE COFFEE! ☕🔥 #EsteroBusinesses #FreeCoffee #AliveAndAwake #AliveCoffee #CaffeineOnUs #smallbusinesssaturday | MESSAGE_PAGE | Alive Coffee and Plants | https://www.facebook.com/61570342267122/ | 83 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Send message | 0 | IMAGE | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481778479_1184099086383844_8013323192534526416_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NqEzxB7-5mgQ7kNvgGusApN&_nc_oc=Adgzj6eCoZ1GyuHuCGoQpyT0aNe_xf_T5J55uOrOEw7nhxyM9bFXJjpDvZXaFoaxQpM&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A62ELMaOTl2t_8WmYHzS5WF&oh=00_AYAUOL4GdRoxl3djvV9ZoJgYC5nL7NwqxHzLC8dyUYjmFQ&oe=67C413AD | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Alive Coffee and Plants | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Yes | 2025-02-24 19:42 | active | 2625 | 0 | Rewire Your ADHD Brain & Unlock Your Potential | Adults with ADHD may find it challenging to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and low productivity. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger. Effecto personalized plan helps to: ✔️ Improve focus ✔️ Achieve goals ✔️ Boost productivity ✔️ Improve mood Want a proven, personalized plan to improve focus, manage the overwhelm and create your ultimate routine? Take this short quiz 👇 | LEARN_MORE | https://effecto.app/start?lp=ad5&locale=EN_US | Effecto | https://www.facebook.com/100087423606578/ | 15,541 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | effecto.app | VIDEO | https://effecto.app/start?lp=ad5&locale=EN_US | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/468285542_1117324980101865_3567068353359441125_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OIV0m-rjTJcQ7kNvgHJOcWl&_nc_oc=AdjAhEW-Xv1kSqFz4ntNZPDHXjeVYbqW20lkqJDLQ67Sln4VH5Yyl23YfLoTHu2BlBo&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AfT9s9r4sATv8RqcIX06aen&oh=00_AYC9WndBn4VSFOyi3qtxUEILTGqHFqaXorpyCz_Ix7RUEA&oe=67C2F39C | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Effecto | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Read next chapter | She gave her husband back to his first love and focused on developing her acting career. Then she took back everything that belonged to her and stepped onto a bigger stage. However, to her surprise, among the frenzied fans, there was her scumbag ex-husband! ===== "Saved! They've been saved." Firefighters emerged from the smoldering inferno, carrying Carrie Campbell to safety at the roadside. Her features, usually refined and expressive, were now smeared with soot; her sparkling eyes dimmed to a vacant gaze, hollow and lost. As reality seeped back into her consciousness, Carrie felt a rush of gratitude overpower her usual composure. Her voice, hoarse and weak, conveyed a profound "thank you" to her rescuers. Shaking, she fumbled for her phone, her fingertips quivering as they found the familiar number. "Hello, the person you are trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please try again later..." The automated message played after a few rings, leaving her with a lump in her throat, her unvoiced frustrations and sorrow welling up inside her. Bang! With a deafening roar, the explosion abruptly silenced the cold, mechanical voice echoing through the line. Carrie's head snapped upwards, shock painted on her face as she witnessed the apartment she had just exited erupt into flames. Chunks of debris were hurled into the air by the force of the blast, scattering across the sky. Panic engulfed the crowd as survivors, freshly rescued, screamed in terror. They huddled together, seeking solace in each other's arms, their cries piercing the tumultuous scene. In stark contrast, Carrie lay alone on a stretcher, her isolation magnified amidst the chaos. "Kristopher..." Fighting the dread creeping up her spine, Carrie pressed her lips together tightly and dialed her husband's number again, her resolve unwavering. Yet, the call disconnected after a few short rings, leaving her with a haunting silence. Just then, a Twitter notification flickered on her phone screen. The gossip feed was alive with the latest gossip: #LiseNash #MysteriouBoyfriend. According to the tweet, a producer from a well-known variety show had invited the renowned star Lise Nash to a dinner, which had quickly soured when she declined to partake in a toast. This act of defiance had sparked a confrontation, only to be interrupted by Lise's domineering boyfriend. He stormed into the private dining room, dismissing the producer with a dismissive wave and escorting Lise away. The tweet described the scene vividly, painting a picture of a powerful man defending his beloved partner. Yet, perhaps due to his prominence, only the back of the man was visible in the accompanying photos, preserving his anonymity. Meanwhile, Lise, donning an oversized suit jacket, beamed a smile, reaching out to clasp his hand as they departed together. Carrie's eyes were glued to the screen, her stare intense and unblinking as she absorbed the image before her. There he was--Kristopher Norris! The suit jacket draped carelessly over Lise was a dead giveaway. Every piece of clothing Kristopher owned had been meticulously tailored by a master craftsman abroad, a detail Carrie knew all too well. Her grip on her phone tightened, her knuckles blanching to a stark white, as if her very soul were being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain sharp and acid-like in its intensity. In her most desperate moment, Kristopher had coldly disconnected their call, choosing instead to be at Lise's side. What was the worth of their two-year marriage? The tears she had been holding back now overwhelmed her, streaming down her face. Even as she tilted her head back in a futile attempt to stem the flow, the tears continued to escape. Lise had always been Kristopher's first love, a fact whispered and gossiped about among their circles. The Norris family had never approved of Lise, seeing her ordinary background as unfitting. Forced apart by family pressures, it had been Lise who ended things, but the past, it seemed, was not easily left behind. Kristopher had diligently pursued the leadership of the Norris family, harboring dreams of finally being with Lise. Yet, when he reached his goal, he discovered that Lise had already chosen another. In defiance of his family's expectations and perhaps out of bitterness, Kristopher turned to Carrie, a woman equally devoid of wealth or status, to become Mrs. Norris, thereby blocking any matchmaking attempts by his relatives. At that time, Carrie faced immense pressure from her father, Tristan Campbell, who was pushing her towards a marriage with a playboy, the son of a business associate, to cover her grandmother's steep medical expenses. Both Kristopher and Carrie, driven by their personal motives, consented to a marriage of convenience. Originally set for just one year, their contractual marriage stretched beyond its term, sustained by a shared understanding between them. Over time, Carrie began to believe in the authenticity of their union, never suspecting that it was merely an extension of her hopes. Just moments ago, a fire had nearly claimed Carrie's life. In that critical moment, she reached out to Kristopher, only to be twice rebuffed as he spent his time with Lise. This harsh reality shattered Carrie's illusions, revealing that her perceived transition from pretense to genuine relationship was nothing but a facade maintained by her own desires. Carrie wasn't even a temporary substitute in Kristopher's life but merely a pawn used to spite his family. After a poignant pause, tears welled up in Carrie's eyes, unstoppable and poignant. It might be time for her to release herself from the shackles of her own hopeful delusions--to stop deceiving herself. Chapter 2 Trending Topics The overwhelming number of injuries from the fire was staggering, straining the already frantic doctors and nurses as they tried to provide aid. Carrie had been merely grazed by a splintered clothes rack, which left a deep, jagged wound on her calf. In comparison to the chaos around her, her wounds seemed almost negligible. She managed to get basic care--a brisk cleaning and a quick wrap of bandages--at a local hospital before catching a cab back to her house. Bayview Villa, a grand property under Kristopher's name, was technically their matrimonial residence. Living alone had become the norm for Carrie, as Kristopher was hardly ever around. She had bid farewell to the housekeeper, discovering that her life could be quite adequately maintained with just takeout, deliveries, and the occasional visit from a part-time cleaner. Now, she found herself the sole occupant of the sprawling living room, sinking into the sofa, her gaze drifting across the empty space. The stark, monochrome decor did nothing to imbue warmth into the atmosphere. A chilling realization crept up on her: this vast, elegant space felt more like a colossal tomb, a silent grave for her lost years of youth and a love that had quietly slipped away. In this cold, echoing house, would anyone even notice if her breath ceased one day? Carrie exhaled a weary sigh, her frame heavy as she leaned against the cold wall for support, struggling up the stairs to her bedroom on the second floor. Each step was a battle, sending stabbing pains shooting through her from the surface of her skin down to her aching bones. The house, stark and hollow, echoed even the smallest sounds, magnifying her sense of isolation. It was today, amidst this profound silence, that Carrie truly grasped the all-encompassing nature of her loneliness--it was almost tangible, enveloping her senses with its texture and mournful whispers, tightening around her heart like a vice, producing a dull, relentless ache. Upon reaching the sanctuary of her bedroom, she collapsed onto the bed, the very embodiment of exhaustion, feeling it both physically and spiritually. Just as she surrendered to this weariness, the sharp ring of the phone pierced the silence. "You reached out to me earlier. What do you need?" Kristopher's voice cut through the line, cold and distant as ever. Carrie was caught off guard by his unexpected call. Words failed her as she parted her lips to respond, but before she could collect her thoughts, a soft, feminine voice floated through from the other end. "Kristopher, will you join me to..." A surge of emotions tightened Carrie's grip on the phone, her heart thumping louder with each second. Overwhelmed and unable to contain her rising panic, she demanded, "Who's there with you?" Kristopher gave no answer, merely stating in a flat, disinterested voice, "If there's something you need, let's catch up when I'm back. I have pressing engagements right now, so I must disconnect." He promptly ended the call, cutting off any chance for Carrie to reply. As the harsh beep of the disconnected line filled her ears, Carrie's lips twisted into a rueful grin. How utterly foolish she felt! Deep down, she knew his response all too well, yet she had clung to the hope of hearing his voice confirm it. With a sense of self-inflicted irony, Carrie activated her tablet and scrolled through the day's hot topics. One headline caught her eye: "A female star shielded from harassment at a dinner by her formidable partner." A wry smile twisted her lips. Carrie knew all too well what it was like to face harassment at those kinds of dinners. She vividly remembered her first major audition after her entering the showbiz; her agent had escorted her to a dinner with the influential director and producer of the drama series "Serene Sighs." As a novice in the dizzying world of showbiz, Carrie had felt incredibly vulnerable, uncertain of how to navigate the murky waters of such gatherings. The producer had eyed her shamelessly, sneering as he asked, "Is this the new talent you're introducing? She appears presentable, but I'm curious to see how she fares with a drink. Here's the deal, if you can gulp down this bottle in one go, I'll secure you an audition for the lead role." Carrie was inclined to decline, but under the relentless pressure from her agent, she found herself compelled to consume the entire bottle. As the evening wore on, she was hurriedly taken to the hospital suffering from a severe stomach ailment. Her agent, fretful about the prospect of the role slipping away to another, quickly settled the hospital charges and departed. At that time, Carrie found herself isolated in a hospital bed for several long days. Yet, even before Carrie could be released from the hospital, the media was abuzz with the announcement that Lise had secured the lead role in "Serene Sighs." Subsequently, her agent rebuked Carrie for her lack of ambition, complaining, "You are more appealing than Lise, so why can't you show more drive? She cozied up to Mr. Norris and hardly had to make an effort. She's surrounded by people eager to cater to her every need. I've heard that Mr. Norris personally orchestrated her landing the lead role in this production!" When the show premiered, Lise was catapulted into stardom, swiftly ascending to the elite echelons of the acting world. From that moment forward, Carrie let her acting aspirations wane and chose instead to devote herself entirely to supporting her husband, Kristopher. After all, no matter her efforts, she could never get the same career opportunities that Lise seemed to receive effortlessly with Kristopher's offhand remarks. At that time, Carrie had believed she was filling the role that was meant to be Lise's as Mrs. Norris, which meant she owed Lise. By giving up the career opportunities to Lise, Carrie thought they would settle their unspoken debt. However, Carrie hadn't foreseen that Lise would claim both the coveted career and Kristopher's affections. As Lise's professional and love life blossomed, Carrie came to the painful realization that she had been overly consumed with her romantic pursuits, at the expense of her career, and now, she found herself bereft of both love and professional fulfillment. With tears streaming down her face, Carrie viewed her past two years as tragically misguided. Given another opportunity, she resolved she wouldn't be so unguarded, letting her heart recklessly fall captive to Kristopher's charm. "Ms. Spencer, the new copyright contract is prepared. Please review it for any discrepancies." Her phone buzzed with the alert, snapping Carrie out of her reverie. She gazed at the PDF file attached in the message, her mind briefly overwhelmed. Under the pseudonym Katrina Spencer, Carrie had once made a name for herself as a budding screenwriter, selling numerous scripts in her early days. During her early career as Katrina, Carrie often sold her work for a pittance, compelled by her urgent need for immediate cash. Over the years, these scripts transformed into blockbuster films and hit series, catapulting Katrina's reputation to new heights. By this time, Carrie had married Kristopher and was no longer plagued by the financial woes that had once driven her to desperation--her grandmother's hefty medical bills were a thing of the past. With her financial crises resolved, Carrie's life had pivoted to domestic responsibilities, striving to be an exemplary wife to Kristopher. Amidst these changes, her pseudonym, Katrina Spencer, gradually receded into the background. However, her past as Katrina wasn't ready to be shelved just yet. Recently, an interested buyer had come forward, ready to pay a handsome sum for one of her old scripts. Carrie, however, was hesitant to sell. She raised several concerns about the contract presented to her, and to her astonishment, the buyer was genuine enough to revise it accordingly. Holding the revised contract in her hands, Carrie inhaled deeply, her resolve hardening. She seemed to have reached a crucial decision. Her fingers danced over her phone's keyboard with swift precision, typing out a firm command. "Create a divorce agreement following my terms and ensure it reaches Kristopher Norris at the Norris Group." Without pausing for a response, she placed her phone aside and limped toward the bathroom, each step echoing a blend of determination and newfound independence. Chapter 3 Exchange Of Conveniences Thirty minutes had passed, Carrie finally heaved herself up from the bathtub, her limbs feeling heavy and uncooperative. As she lifted her gaze, her own image in the mirror halted her movements--her skin appeared as smooth and impeccable as fine porcelain, glowing with an unblemished radiance. Her eyes, deep pools of allure, sparkled with an enchanting, soft warmth, inviting anyone who dared meet her gaze. Despite edging into her late twenties at twenty-five, she reveled in the fact that time had yet to etch its marks upon her flawless complexion. Surely, a woman with such a visage had no place for self-pity. Absorbed in her contemplation, Carrie carelessly extended her right leg onto the cold floor, forgetting it was the very limb she had injured. Wrapped excessively in cling film to shield it from moisture, the tight encasement had stifled her circulation, rendering her leg eerily numb. As her foot touched down, it betrayed her, slipping forward unexpectedly. "Ah!" Carrie gasped, her arms flailing in a frantic ballet, searching for a lifeline in the void. Just as she teetered on the brink of a painful rendezvous with the floor, the bathroom door burst open. Kristopher stood at the entrance, his suit immaculately tailored, creating a striking figure. As their eyes locked, he paused, visibly taken aback, then quickly closed the distance with brisk strides. Carrie's breath caught as Kristopher swept her up in a graceful bridal style, an unexpected tightness wrapping around her waist. Caught off guard by his sudden appearance, Carrie realized with a jolt that she was completely b*re. A flush of embarrassment washed over her as she instinctively clutched her hands over her ch*st. This was their first moment of such intimacy since their wedding, and the discomfort made her toes curl inward, her skin blushing a delicate shade of pink. Kristopher looked down at her with a mischievous grin. "Let's be honest, there's not much to see," he teased gently. Feeling both mortified and slightly irritated, Carrie snapped back, "Oh, Mr. Norris, after all you've seen, I suppose nothing can impress you anymore." She carried her C-cup curves with understated charm, a touch of sen**ality that outshone Lise's painfully flat, almost awkwardly rigid build. Yet Carrie knew well that without love, even the most perfect physique paled in comparison to the charm of one dearly cherished. Nonchalantly, Kristopher reached for a bathrobe hanging behind the door and draped it over her. His frown deepened at her comment. "What are you talking about, Carrie?" A thought seemed to strike him, and his expression grew even more impatient. "Tell me, did you send those divorce papers in the dead of night just to lure me back here--to catch you completely b*re?" His tone was a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "I told you I was swamped with work. Was this dramatic display really necessary?" Carrie's temper flared at his accusatory tone, reigniting the tension between them. He was always so quick to lose patience with her. She wasn't the type to throw around words like divorce or breakups lightly. In fact, this was the first time she'd ever mentioned divorce in their two-year marriage, yet he seemed indifferent to her turmoil. He simply dismissed her concerns as if she were overreacting about trivial matters. Despite the throbbing pain in her leg, Carrie mustered her strength and said, "Put me down." Kristopher, however, paid no heed, his eyes scanning her leg swathed in bandages. His brow furrowed slightly. "What happened to your leg? Is this some elaborate ploy to lure me back?" At his words, a bitter laugh escaped Carrie. It seemed he viewed her as merely seeking attention, and in failing to capture it, she had likely concocted a story to draw him back, allowing her to dramatize her plight in his presence. With a blank face, she replied untruthfully, "It's a beauty treatment that shouldn't get wet." "Why did you suddenly decide to undergo such a treatment?" Kristopher inquired, his tone casual as he carried her outside, not pressing the issue further. His frame was large, and through his thin shirt, she could distinctly feel the warmth of his body and the defined shape of his ch*st muscles. The closeness created an uncomfortable tension for Carrie, who had resolved to end things once and for all. Her voice climbed involuntarily, sharper this time. "Oh, since when have you been concerned with such minor things, Mr. Norris?" For the first time, Kristopher witnessed her using biting sarcasm; it struck him as peculiarly amusing. With a calm demeanor, he responded, "You're my wife, it's only natural I'd be concerned about your well-being." "Really?" There was a somber note in Carrie's voice now. "It seems like you've never really regarded me as your wife. I'm scared that if I were to die, you wouldn't even know until much later." After all, at that very moment, Kristopher had been distracted, lost in moments with his first love, too consumed to lend an ear to her desperate pleas. Caught off guard by her accusation, Kristopher's eyes widened with surprise before he let out a disbelieving chuckle. "Carrie, what's brought on this sudden outburst of anger? Just because I was tied up this afternoon and missed your call? Perhaps I've been too indulgent with you lately, and it's made you a bit too presumptuous?" Carrie froze, startled. Was he accusing her of being too presumptuous? She realized their marriage had always been lopsided. In his eyes, she was nothing more than a transactional partner, a woman who had bartered her freedom for financial security. Their union was meant to be a mere exchange of conveniences, yet she had, quite foolishly, fallen deeply in love with him. In the tricky terrain of romance, the one who fell first invariably found themselves at a distinct disadvantage. Kristopher's dismissive reaction left Carrie reeling, her emotions dismissed as trifles, a tight knot of suffocation rising in her chest. "I said to put me down this instant!" Carrie exclaimed, jerking her head to the side, her voice laced with a sharp edge of impatience. Kristopher remained mute, effortlessly carrying her towards the bed before suddenly releasing his hold. Carrie felt a jolt as the support vanished, her heart skipping a beat as she instinctively grasped for him. Their bodies collided on the bed, her bathrobe teetering on the brink of decency, threatening to unravel with any minor shift. Propped on one elbow, Kristopher gazed down at her, his lips curled into a sly, teasing grin. "You wanted to be let go, didn't you? So why cling to me now?" His eyes, deep and sparkling like a midnight lake speckled with stars, captivated her. In those celestial depths, Carrie caught a glimpse of her own reflection. At times like this, she was misled into believing he harbored a deep affection. Sadly, his heart was a fortress reserved for Lise, and all Carrie had left were empty fantasies. "Boring!" she exclaimed, her voice devoid of any enthusiasm as she attempted to rise, her hand inadvertently brushing against something unexpected. "Don't move, or I can't promise what might happen next," he warned in a deep, gravelly voice. With a frown, Carrie internally cursed upon hearing the statement. It was an undeniable fact. Primal instincts steered the actions of men. Absence of affection didn't quell their basic d**ires. Yet, she dared not agitate Kristopher. Angling her face away, her body remained rigid, frozen in place. Carrie, feeling irked, shot back. "Didn't you say there's nothing here to see? What's with the reaction now, Mr. Norris? Are you really that easy to impress?" No sooner had her words flown than she grasped the potential repercussions of her sharp tongue. A wave of regret surged through Carrie, but instead of anger, Kristopher responded with a chuckle, "You are my wife, after all. Since that's something I can't alter, I might as well embrace it. Besides, it's been years since we became husband and wife--it would be a shame to neglect you completely." Chapter 4 Are You Out Of Your Mind? Kristopher leaned in close to Carrie. The fabric of his suit brushed lightly against Carrie's cheek, releasing a mix of scents: a familiar woody aroma intertwined with an unexpected zesty twist of lemon. It was unmistakably Jo Malone's Blue Agava and Cacao--Lise's signature scent. A surge of nausea overwhelmed Carrie at the realization. Heat crept up her neck, coloring her cheeks a bright scarlet as indignation took hold. Without thinking, her hand flew up and delivered a stinging slap across Kristopher's face. All her suppressed grievances from the day ignited in that swift motion. The impact of her sl*p had left a light, crimson mark on Kristopher's cheek, marking him with her outrage. His eyes, wide with disbelief, met hers. "Carrie, are you out of your mind?" Out of her mind? Yes, she was clearly insane to ever fall for him in the first place. Carrie fumed silently, her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly, the sharp buzz of the phone on the table cut through the mounting tension, its vibration bringing a brief respite from their standoff. Kristopher cast a fleeting glance at the message, shut off the phone with a snap, and strode towards the door, his back rigid with tension. Her voice, firm and unwavering, chased after him. "We're getting a divorce! Make sure you sign those papers before you walk out that door!" Kristopher paused briefly and said sharply, "I have something to do now. When I return, do whatever pleases you." With that, he forcefully shut the door. Carrie's eyes followed his unwavering exit, feeling an oppressive weight compressing her chest once again. She disregarded the sharp sting in her leg and hobbled determinedly toward her tablet. Fingers trembling, she hastily navigated to Lise's Twitter page. Lise had just uploaded a new tweet. The photo showed her lying down with a fever patch adhered to her forehead, still enveloped in Kristopher's familiar jacket. The caption read, "Being sick makes me extra clingy. Wishing I had someone here. Stay cozy and take care, everyone!" The simultaneous timing of these two events made it almost impossible for Carrie not to suspect that Kristopher had dashed off to tend to Lise. Carrie's instincts loudly proclaimed that this was no accident; Lise had deliberately sought to tug at Kristopher's heartstrings. It appeared her tactics were effective. Not even Carrie's stark threat of divorce could overshadow Lise's theatrical display of vulnerability. Lise didn't have to lift a finger, and Carrie had already fallen, utterly broken and beyond redemption. Seething with fury, Carrie quaked like a leaf swept into a storm. She had arrived here with nothing but a suitcase and a heart full of dreams, and now she was leaving, dreams crumbled, utterly alone. It was time for her to pursue her acting career and give it her all... ...... ==== It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him... 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/65282322-fb_contact-e | Fun Novels | https://www.facebook.com/61563251196448/ | 2,592 | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Learn more | 0 | fbweb.moboreader.net | IMAGE | https://fbweb.moboreader.net/65282322-fb_contact-enp26_6-1226-core3.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=157725&accid=838348565123505&exdata=5B1DB594F30166BB210A6DE14660A603F917DDA43C8A90AE | 1969-12-31 18:00 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/476104076_1674092100170330_645529060323597928_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=imDbRn3Mjd4Q7kNvgGrQiDT&_nc_oc=Adi3Y8YCFXeCwa5hNJ5F8u6D-tfMTVmx_m28jS-T3GhQoHV7Fpi5oT9CPlQ2uUFJEAw&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A_gOLaiEhqfF1ZdCUNM-9dC&oh=00_AYAEa09C8UsAB9_J365OM-Spsv5V599XlwDlnz6jMu3Wzg&oe=67C407B2 | PERSON_PROFILE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fun Novels | 0 | 0 | 1969-12-31 18:00 | View Edit Delete |
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