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2,731,896	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	What if there was a way to relieve neuropathy without pills?	If you’re struggling with burning, tingling, or numbness in your feet, you’ve probably tried everything. But what if there was a way to relieve neuropathy without taking pills? Dr. Jeff Norman, a leading neuropathy specialist, reveals a breakthrough treatment that’s changing lives—the NeuroRevive™ Cold Laser Therapy Wand. This FDA-approved device uses advanced cold laser technology to improve circulation and heal nerves from the inside out—without medications or side effects. ✅ Drug-free solution ✅ Clinically tested and doctor-approved ✅ 90-day risk-free guarantee 👉 https://checkout.norelie.co/sp2-fb	LEARN_MORE	https://checkout.norelie.co/sp2-fb	Norelie	https://www.facebook.com/100071550435649/	4,407	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	checkout.norelie.co	DCO	{{product.description}}	https://checkout.norelie.co/sp2-fb	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481909637_941971561257700_7326395873105585761_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ls-V2szjwD0Q7kNvgGY7vQw&_nc_oc=Adg6w3NZiHydfwgyyV4a1bDsclU_ctLWVo-nc3jLmNUEtHcSE0lM4--Nq5Oat4HrVMSH4MqskVnGyU-tgnDBXuho&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=AMvivkLdXuTY7CpfTIHPqkS&oh=00_AYDbDJL3AJTJR2lnRgzeslPCXgoPA6tTA2_NKpjkfq3wTQ&oe=67CB38CF	PERSON_PROFILE	Norelie	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,731,929	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	⏰Wake up! It's Novel Time!	Judy’s POV Today was supposed to be the day my fated mate and I got engaged. But now I’m watching him kiss another woman. Marrying her could make him the future Alpha because she’s the daughter of Gavin Landry, the most powerful Lycan chairman in the world. A couple of months ago, our Alpha died during a battle, and now all the candidates are competing for that position, including my mate, Ethan. Everyone knows the Lycans control the werewolf population. And Gavin? He could singlehandedly appoint everyone the new Alpha. So, Ethan made his choice. Her, not me. “Get me a whiskey and a martini for the lady,” A deep voice sounded from nearby. “Is it the future bride, or the future groom that’s got you in a mood?” “I’m just not into parties,” I decided to say. “Nor am I,” he murmured. “I’m here out of obligation.” The bartender placed my drink in front of me and I immediately took a sip, sighing in contentment. I waited for it to do its job and finish numbing the pain. Every time Ethan kissed her it destroyed me a little more. How had my life taken such a devastating turn? How could my fated mate do this to me? Did our 2 years together truly mean nothing? Did the mark on my neck mean that little to him? “Thank you for the drink,” I told the man. I took one last sip of my martini and started to get down from the stool, except my blouse snagged on the corner of the counter and just as I heard a tearing sound, I began to fall to the ground. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact, but it never came. Instead, I felt strong arms wrapping around my body, lifting me into the air. I opened my eyes and peeked up at the man who caught me, and my breath hitched. He was so handsome. He held me with ease as if I weighed nothing and I could tell from the feeling of his arms around me that he was muscular. He smiled down at me and a dimple appeared on his right cheek. I wanted to lick that dimple. “Madam, are you falling for me?” He asked teasingly. I stared at him for a heartbeat longer before I squinted my eyes at him, seeing what he did there. “You’re a funny one, aren’t you?” He grinned. Then he looked at my shirt and immediately frowned. “Let me take you to my suite upstairs,” he said, making my heart skip a beat. “What?” I said in barely a whisper. His eyes met mine and I got lost in their beauty for a moment. Goddess, his good looks were sinful. “Your shirt is ripped. I have one you can wear upstairs in my VIP suite,” he explained. I blinked a couple of times and gave a nervous chuckle. “Oh, alright. Thank you,” I managed to sputter. He turned to the bartender. “Charge our drinks to my suite,” he ordered. “Yes, sir.” I allowed the man to carry me out of the room. His arms were so warm that I found myself resting my head against his broad chest, breathing in his minty scent. My wolf was practically purring in my mind. She’d been quiet for most of the evening while she licked the wounds the broken mate bond had caused. But right now, it was as if she had forgotten she was heartbroken. “Take off your shirt,” he instructed once we were in the suite. He had released me and was walking to the closet. “Excuse me?” I squeaked. “So, you can put on a new shirt,” he explained. “Right,” I breathed. I lifted my ripped shirt over my head and threw it onto the bed, leaving me in only my innerwear from the waist up. Once he found a shirt, he turned around to face me, and his entire body froze as his eyes trailed down my body. I was too busy checking him out to notice him staring at me but the longer I stared at him, the more I started to recognize him. Then, realization struck me, and I gasped. “It’s you…” I breathed, taking a step back. His eyes shifted upward and met mine; his brow arched. “You know me?” He asked. “I know of you,” I clarified. The corner of his lips tipped upward as he walked towards me, slowly, as if he were stalking his prey. I could practically hear the sounds of my heartbeat. “And what do you know of me?” “Only what I’ve heard…” I admitted. “And what have you heard?” “You’re Gavin Landry, Lycan Chairman. You’re a heartbreaker. You have a new woman each week and you never sleep with the same woman twice.” He raised his brows. “Is that so?” He asked. “Tell me more about myself.” Heck, he's the father of the bride and Ethan's future father-in-law? I'm confused, I don't know what I should do. But I'm not surprised I didn't recognize him at first. The Lycan family isn't high profile, they're more used to staying behind the scenes than becoming politicians and celebrities like werewolf Alpha. Should I tell him who I am? But that would be foolish at this moment. He continued to walk towards me, and I continued to walk backward until my back hit the wall. “What more do you want to know?” I asked, my voice coming out breathy. “Everything.” I’m not sure if it was the martini speaking or me, but I decided to be bold. If Ethan can indulge himself in someone new, then so could I. I lifted my gaze to meet his as he neared closer. “Your eyes…” I started to say. “I’ve heard that they were mesmerizing, and I must agree.” “What else?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “When you smile, you have this adorable dimple on your cheek…” I whispered. He was only inches from me now, staring so intently at me that I thought I would burn up under his scrutiny. He licked his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth. “And your lips…” Before I could finish that sentence, his mouth crashed into mine. His kiss was anything but soft and sweet but filled with hunger and possession. I kissed him with just as much eagerness. His tongue made its way to mine, tasting every inch of me. He lifted me into the air, my body pinned between the wall and him. Instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist and allowed him to deepen the kiss. His tongue trailed down the nape of my neck and warmth spread across my body as I felt him nibbling my soft flesh. All self-control and common sense left my mind the moment we kissed. All I could think about was Gavin; he consumed my mind, body, and soul entirely. I pulled at his tie, wanting to take it and his shirt off. He helped me undo his tie and then lifted his shirt over his head, tossing it to the ground. I let my fingers explore his body; they roamed over his torso and up his broad shoulders. I moaned into his mouth as his tongue found mine again. “Are you sure you want this?” He asked between kisses. “Yes,” I rasped out. “We are both willing adults, so why not?” We kissed again and just as he was about to take off my innerwear, I received a tearful mindlink from my adoptive mother. “Judy! Please, come home!” She sounded panicked; my mother never panicked. Hearing her voice was like cold water being dumped on my head and I gasped. I let my legs fall from around him and I pressed against his chest. “Stop,” I said breathlessly. “I have to go.” He frowned. “I don’t have much patience; stop joking,” he says, a hint of anger in his tone. “I’m so sorry. But I’m sure you have plenty of other options,” I said and started to run towards the door, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me. I whirl around to face him, my own anger rushing to the surface but before I can say anything, he points to the bed. “Your shirt is ripped, remember?” I looked down at my innerwear with a frown. “Oh…” He sighed, grabbing his shirt and putting it over my head. I inhaled deeply and warmth spread throughout my body; it smelled like him. …… The moment I stepped into the house; I could hear my mother sobbing. “Judy?” My mother sobbed; I could hear that she was in the kitchen and my heart stuttered at the sound of her broken voice. “Your father was taken away by the Gammas tonight.” Chapter 2 Judy’s POV My heart fell into my stomach. “What?!” I gasped. We lived in a decent-sized house; my adoptive father, being a successful businessman and a Delta of the Redmoon pack, had a lot of money. “He was arrested,” she explained. “He made a bad investment for the company, and he ended up losing all the money. He went completely bankrupt and now he owes the pack so much money. Until he pays it, they put him in jail.” “They can’t just come and take him away like this,” I said, standing to my feet, hardly able to contain my emotions. “Without any warning? That’s not fair!” “They can do whatever they want. The Beta is under the jurisdiction of the Lycans, and it was his decision. Loan sharks are ruthless, and nobody wishes to deal with them. It’s easier to just get rid of the problem and right now… your father is the problem.” Before I could say anything more, my phone started to ring. I reached into my bag and pulled it out. I frowned when I saw the name flash across the screen. “I heard about your father,” Ethan’s voice was soft as he spoke, and my traitorous heart skipped a beat. I hated how my body responded to him still; it was because of this foolish mate bond. Even though he rejected me, and I accepted it, that didn’t mean it severed our bond. It won’t be severed until he marks someone else.“I might have a suggestion though. But I’d like to tell you in person. Come outside.” I quickly left the kitchen and walked out of the house. Ethan was leaning against his car with his arms folded across his chest. Goddess, I hated how good he looked. I had been in love with him for longer than 2 years. He was my friend, my confidant, my fated mate. When he rejected me, it destroyed everything I had dreamt of. I wrapped my arms around my body, desperately trying to hold myself together. “Why are you here?” I asked him after a long and awkward silence. “I wanted to talk to you,” he replied. “Why?” The corner of his lips tipped upwards as he stared at me; I nearly melted under his scrutiny, and I had to shift my gaze to look at the ground. “Because I can help you,” he answered. “Your father’s funding chain is broken, and he now owes a lot of money. I know for a fact that he doesn’t have that kind of money, especially now that his business has gone under. But I do.” I lifted my gaze to meet him; he was serious. “Are you saying you’d pay my father’s debt?” I asked him. He nodded. “Yes,” he answered. “And what would we have to do in return?” I asked, almost afraid to ask. He smirked, which gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. “There is a condition,” he confessed. I waited silently for him to continue, my eyes never leaving his. “After I get married, I want you to drop out of school and become my mistress.” I couldn’t have heard him correctly; I stared at him with my jaw practically on the ground. “Excuse me?” I managed to sputter. “You want me to what??” “Drop out of school and become my mistress. I already have a luxurious home for you to live in. You would never have to want for anything. I’ll pay off your father’s debt and give you more money than you could dream of.” “How… how could you ask me to do such a thing?” I asked in a choked whisper; tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I kept them away, not wanting him to see my break. He stepped closer to me, and I felt rooted to the ground, unable to move away. My wolf was whimpering about his request; she couldn’t believe our mate could ask such a thing from us. She was gutted and I hated that she was put in this position. “Because we’ve always been so good together, Judy,” he said, reaching out and touching my arm gently. “We will always have this strong connection, even if I mark someone else. You and your family would be set for life… all you have to do is say yes…” He was rubbing his fingers up and down my arms and I felt sick to my stomach. I finally found the strength to step away from him, my body trembling. “No,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I would never become your mistress.” His eyes darkened. “I’m about to become the Alpha, Judy. You must get with the times. Becoming my mistress would only benefit you and plus, don’t you want your father out of jail?” “I will find another way,” I said through my teeth. “If that’s all you came here to say, then I’ve heard enough. You can leave.” He raised his brows as he stared at me. He studied me for a moment longer like he expected me to change his mind at any moment. “You’ll change your mind,” he told me as he stepped away from me and towards his car. “And when you do, I’ll be here. But until then, your father will remain in prison.” “I’ll figure it out,” I said to his retreating back. “We don’t need you, Ethan!” He chuckled as he opened his car door and then he turned back to gaze into my eyes. “In order to get him out of prison, you’ll need at least 5 million dollars. When you realize that there’s no other option, you’ll come to your senses. I’m sure of it.” Without another word, he got into his car. I watched as he drove away, disappearing into the night. It was only when he disappeared that I allowed myself to fall to the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks before I could stop them. 5 million dollars? How was I going to come up with that kind of money? —————— I had two classes this morning and one later in the afternoon. My first class was warrior training, and my second class was shifting, both of which I excelled at. I was going to college for Gamma training so that once I graduated, I could prove myself to the Gamma force and become a warrior. Then I would easily be able to pay off my father’s debt and save my family. “You look terrible,” my best friend, Nan, pointed out as I sat beside her against the large Oaktree; the very tree we always met up at. “It was a rough night,” I admitted as I took out my textbook to study. “Where did you go last night? When I returned, you were gone. Did you leave early because of the engagement party?” I bit my lower lip as I thought about what to say to her. If I lied, she’d be able to see right through me. I was a terrible liar initially, but Nan could read me like a book. “I ripped my shirt, and someone brought me into his room to change,” I said, feeling my cheeks growing warm at the memory. She raised her brows, and I could barely look at her. “You went to someone’s room?” She asked. “Whose?” I was quiet for a moment, and she grabbed my arm, getting my attention. “Judy, who did you leave with?” She asked, now her voice was filled with alarm. I knew there was no getting out of this conversation. I bit my lip and peeked up at her through my lashes. “Gavin Landry,” I squeaked. Chapter 3 Judy’s POV “Shut up!” She gasped. “Are you serious?? You went to Gavin Landry’s VIP suite? As in THE Gavin Landry?!” I nearly tackled her; she was being so loud! “Keep your voice down!” I scolded, attempting to cover her mouth with my hands but she was too quick and dodged me. “How can I possibly keep it down when my best friend went to Gavin Landry’s hotel room last night and waited until now to tell me!” She exclaimed. Nan was a waitress at the hotel restaurant the engagement party was at last night. The hotel, called Carter Resorts, was in the human territory, and it was owned by Patrick Carter, the Delta of the Silver Crescent pack. Which happened to be Gavin Landry’s pack. I wasn’t surprised to see Gavin there last night, especially considering his daughter was the bride-to-be. I was less surprised to see that he had a VIP suite at the hotel. I sighed. “It all happened so fast, and I had a bit too much to drink,” I admitted. “I forgot when I got home because other stuff happened.” I wrapped my arms around my body and looked up at her concerned eyes. “What else happened?” She asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. I took a deep breath, and I told Nan everything that happened, right up until Ethan came over and asked me to be his mistress in exchange for him paying off my father’s debt. By the time I finished talking, Nan’s jaw had dropped. “The nerve of that scum!” She hissed. “How dare he! He rejected you and now he wants you to be his bit on the side?! He has zero shame.” “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, Nan,” I whispered. “There’s no way I could come up with 5 million dollars to pay off my father’s debt.” We both fell silent as our thoughts consumed us and then her face lit up. I knew that look well and it grew nervous as a smile spread across her face. I knew right away that she had an idea, and I also knew that I wasn’t going to like it. “You said that he gave you his shirt to wear?” She asked. I nodded. She gasped and grabbed my arm. “Isn’t it obvious, Judy? Gavin is into you. That’s the only reason he’d give you his shirt. He wanted his scent on you! He's very picky. In all my time as a waitress, you're the first woman he's ever offered.” I gawked at her. She had officially lost her mind. “Gavin’s not into me,” I said, shaking my head. “He gave me his shirt because mine ripped. There was nothing to it.” “Why would he even care?” Nan asked, folding her arms across her chest. “He’s Gavin Landry and doesn’t need to care about any of this. Besides, you mentioned that he kissed you heatedly. You were ready to go all the way with him, which is huge because you were planning on waiting until after you were married. There had to be some kind of connection last night.” I glanced at my hands. “Or maybe I was just hurting and wanted to get back at Ethan,” I murmured. “Plus, I had a little too much to drink.” “Drunk actions are sober thoughts or something like that,” she said, waving away my words. Then, she smirked. “You could use this to your advantage. Do you still have that lingerie you bought for your wedding night? You should pay Gavin a little visit and make him an offer he can’t refuse.” ___ I knew it was a bad idea the moment she spoke the words, but her words continued to replay in my mind for the remainder of the day and night. When I woke up the next morning, my mind was made up. I went to my closet and grabbed my red lingerie. I had only tried it on once and I felt a little self-conscious wearing it, but I knew the night of my wedding when I finally gave myself over to Ethan fully, it wouldn’t matter what I was wearing. My heart ached at the thought, and I quickly brushed it out of my head before I started to cry again. I dressed in the lingerie, and I grabbed a long trench coat, wrapping it around my body. I left my hair down and I put on a little makeup to make my features pop. For the last day or so, my mother had either been speaking on the phone to lawyers, visiting my father in prison, or in her room. I had barely seen or spoken to her since I told her Ethan wasn’t going to help us. I hated knowing I disappointed her, but hopefully, this would fix all our problems. It was no secret where Gavin’s office was; everybody knew the famous Gavin Landry Corporation. When I walked through the front door, the receptionist was typing on her computer. She barely spared me a look as I approached the desk. “Good morning, I’m here to see Gavin Landry,” I said as politely as I could. The receptionist looked upward at me and blinked a couple of times, looking less than amused. “Do you have an appointment?” “Uh, no, but—” “Look, I don’t have time for this. Countless women come in here and request to speak with Gavin and I’m going to tell you what I tell them. Mr. Landry is incredibly busy, and he doesn’t have time or patience to be dealing with another fan girl,” she said bitterly. “And what gives you the right to turn away those who come to see me?” A deep voice boomed. Chapter 4 Judy’s POV “Mr. Landry,” the receptionist said, quickly standing to her feet. She suddenly seemed disheveled, and I wanted to smirk with satisfaction, but I kept it held in. “I asked you a question, Laura,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. “What gives you the right to send away guests? You know the protocol. You are to call my office, and I am the one who decides whether or not I will see them or not. Not you.” She swallowed and glanced at the ground as if staring directly at him physically hurt her. “Come with me.” It took me a second to realize he was speaking to me, but when I saw the receptionist glaring at me and Gavin’s retreating back, I nearly stumbled over my feet to catch up to him. He walked through a luxurious waiting room until we reached a glass elevator. It was very high-tech with a touch screen attached to it. He brought up a keypad and typed in some sequence before pressing the floor number. He stood so close to me that the elevator felt almost cramped, despite it being a wide space. I could smell his incredible minty scent, mixed in with his aftershave and my heart skipped a beat. He didn’t bother looking at me though and I was starting to doubt this plan would work. Maybe he didn’t like me as much as I thought he did. I felt awkward knowing that under this coat was nothing but lingerie. The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened. It was an extremely large space with marble flooring and granite walls. “Where exactly is your office?” I asked, staring around the gorgeous area. He glanced at me; his face kept indifferent. “This is my office.” My eyes grew large at his words. He continued walking until he rounded the corner and sure enough, there was his desk right in front of large windows that overlooked the human city. It was gorgeous and my stomach twisted with nerves. He didn’t bother sitting on his desk chair. Instead, he turned to face me, leaning against his desk and folding his arms across his chest. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I took him in. He wore a white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up halfway, showing off his incredible muscles and his dark dress pants hugged his waist perfectly, showcasing his incredible form. My wolf purred with satisfaction, and I found myself staring at him for way longer than I intended to. He cleared his throat, making me nearly jump out of my skin as my gaze shot upward and met his. He was smirking at me, as if to say, “Caught you.” My cheeks burned from the embarrassment I felt. “So, what did you come here for?” He asked, breaking the tension between us. Oh. Right. The reason I’m here. “I have a problem, and I need your help,” I said in a rush. He raised his right brow. “What kind of problem?” I cleared my throat before continuing. “My father was arrested the other night,” I blurted. “His business went bankrupt, and he owes a lot of money. Roughly 5 million dollars.” He was silent as he stared at me; I realized he was waiting for me to continue. Probably wanted to know how I needed his help. “I was hoping you’d be able to help him and maybe pay the debt for my father so he could get out of prison?” I asked, biting my lip. He was quiet for another moment, processing my request before he ran his hands over his face. “And what would I get in return for helping your family?” He asked. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Confidence: I needed confidence. I held my head up high and looked him right in the eyes. It was known as a challenge to look an Alpha directly in the eyes, even worse so looking a Lycan directly in the eyes. But Gavin wasn’t as angry as I thought he would be, instead, he looked intrigued. “Well,” I began, I dropped my voice low as I stepped closer to him. “At the party the other day, we obviously had a connection…” I felt my cheeks growing hot as I spoke those words. “And I thought maybe…” I took a deep breath and undid my coat, revealing a portion of my lingerie, but not all of it. Not yet at least. His eyes darkened as he gazed over my body, and I nearly melted under his scrutiny. I suddenly had a surge of confidence, and I reached my hand out to touch his arm. “I thought maybe I could do some favors for you in return,” I said in a sultry voice. “I’m a college student and very clean. I haven’t done it before, but I’m on birth control, so you don’t need to worry about anything.” His breathing grew heavy as he straightened his posture, closing the small gap between us. His nearness was intoxicating, and my heart started to race against my chest. His scent enveloped me, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this delirious. He reached his hand up and I felt his fingers glide down my cheek, sending a wave of warmth throughout my whole body. We were so close together that I thought I was going to pass out from the heat that consumed me. His eyes were dark like they were the night in the VIP suite. He swallowed hard and I watched his Adam’s apple move slightly. I closed my eyes, preparing for him to kiss me. I could feel his breath on my lips and just as I leaned in close to him, getting ready for his embrace, it never came. Instead, I felt him adjusting my coat, covering my body. My eyes flew open, and I looked at his stern expression. “Do you really think I need to pay a woman for her body?” He asked, breaking the silence. “You said it yourself that I have many options.” My cheeks flushed immediately. “I just thought—” “You thought you could use your body to pay for my help,” he said, interrupting me. “You are still young, Miss Montague. You will regret taking such shortcuts in the future.” How did he know my name? I hadn’t told him. Had he looked into me? My heart skipped a beat at the thought, but his words were slowly crushing me. He didn’t want me. I lowered my gaze, hating how hot my face was getting. I knew he could see just how embarrassed I was. When he spoke next, he softened his voice and spoke with compassion. “Look, I have a daughter,” he told me. “I would never teach her to use her body as a transaction. I want more for her and her future, and I expect better from her.” He reached his hand and caressed the nape of my neck with his fingertips; my breath hitched as I gazed into his eyes. “I expected better from you,” he added; my heart fell into my stomach and disappointment consumed me. He was right. I was better than this. I nodded my head and opened my mouth to speak, but I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see a couple of security guards standing nearby and I whipped around to look at Gavin with wide eyes. “I’m afraid my time is up, and my patience has run out,” Gavin said, looking at me briefly before glancing at the security guards. “Accompany Miss Montague out of the building, please.” “Yes sir,” they both said. They stood on each side of me, and I stared at Gavin with shock. I didn’t fight or argue with the security guards as they told me to come with them. “Thank you for your time,” I managed to say before I turned and left the office. I wanted to cry because of the shame, but I knew more importantly I needed a new job. …. “I’m so excited we get to work together,” Nan said with a wide smile. “And you look great in that uniform.” I looked down at my uniform. I felt ridiculous in this thing; it was a short skirt and a crop top that showed way too much bosom. I felt like I was on display. Especially at night when this place pretty much turned into a club. These men are wealthy and would tip generously. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up when I was struggling for money. “That’s what friends are for,” she said, nudging my arm with hers. She looked behind me and sighed. “Looks like we are getting a group of guys. Good luck,” she said. I sighed and turned to greet the customers but then I froze when I saw who was amongst them. Ethan. Chapter 5 Judy’s POV “You were right,” I heard one of his friends saying. “She does work here. This is going to be so good.” “Hey, call girl, can we get a table, or are you just going to stare at us?” Call girl? I placed the menus on the table for them and waited for each of them to take a seat. “I’m not a call girl. Please, take your seat.” As I leaned over the table to put the beer in front of each of them, one of them grabbed my rear end. I felt my entire body freeze. “I like this little uniform on you. How about you take it off and see what’s underneath.” My entire body went hot as I stepped back from the table, forcing his hand to drop. “Do not touch me,” I said loudly to each of them. “Oh, come on, Judy. Aren’t you here to satisfy men?” Another of his friends asked. “So come here and satisfy us. Sit on my lap.” I pressed my lips together. “I’m not a call girl,” I told them for the final time. “I’m a waitress.” “You got this job because you’re hot,” one of them chuckled. “The manager didn’t care about your skills. He cared about whether or not you could flirt with the customers and make him a lot of money. I’m willing to give you a good tip if you let me see what’s underneath your uniform and sit on my lap.” I felt my blood going cold from his words. “Come here baby girl,” he said, patting his lap and winking at me. I just stared at him, disbelieving. I looked at Ethan who was watching me, waiting to see what I would do. How could he just let his friends speak to me like this? At one point, he would have never allowed this. He would have punched anyone who looked at me with desire in their eyes. Now, he was acting as if he didn’t care. “I’ll give you 10 thousand dollars if you drink this entire beer,” one of his friends asked. My mouth nearly fell open. “What?” I asked. “You heard me,” he answered. “Drink this whole beer and you’ll get 10 thousand dollars.” “We’ll all give you 10 thousand dollars each if you drink all of our beers,” another one said. I stared at the beer and then at the men. My eyes landed on Ethan once more; he raised his brows, waiting for my answer. Swallowing my pride, I stepped towards the table and grabbed one of the glasses. I really didn’t like beer, but money was money, and I knew Ethan’s friends were rich and could pay that kind of money easily. I needed the cash to get my father out of prison and pay off his debt. I brought the cup to my lips and let the liquid run down my throat. I winced at the bitter taste, but I kept pushing myself until the cup was empty. His friends were cheering and chanting as I drank the contents of the cup. I slammed the cup on the counter and looked at the next guy who slid his beer at me, winking as he did so. I chugged his beer as well. I only got halfway through the third glass when I felt a firm grip around my wrist and I was yanked away. I heard Ethan’s friends booing and telling him he was a party pooper. I had no idea where Ethan was taking me; he was quiet until we reached outside and then he whipped around to glare at me. “Accept my offer and stop this foolishness,” he ordered. “I won’t be your mistress, Ethan,” I told him, narrowing my eyes, my head fuzzy from the beer. “You can forget about that.” “You’d rather act like a little call girl instead?” He asked through his teeth. “You looked ridiculous in there!” “Why do you care? You have your fiancé. This is my private business, and my private business no longer includes you.” “You are still mine, Judy. You will always be mine,” he growled. I wanted to laugh at his ridiculousness, but I also wanted to cry. He was so sweet at one point; I spent more than 2 years loving this man. Now as he stood before me, I realized he was a stranger. “I am not yours,” I told him, glad that my voice came out stronger than I felt. He let out a bitter laugh. “Fine, be a call girl for all I care,” he growled. “Spread your legs for money because that’s all you’re good for—” Before I could stop myself, my hand swung and made contact with his cheek, causing a loud slap. He didn’t flinch but he did grow angrier as he went to grab my throat. He froze though when he looked at my neck and I watched the color draining from his face. “What the heck,” he hissed. He grabbed my chin and yanked my head to the side. “Is that a lovebite?” I realized when getting dressed this morning that the lovebite Gavin left on me the other night was still there. It was fading, but visible. “So, what if it is?” I asked. He released my chin and glared at me, his gaze icy. “Who the heck have you been with?” “That’s not your concern,” I retorted. I turned to walk away, but he gripped my arm, making me whimper in pain as he whipped me around to face him again. “Answer my freaking question, Judy! Who have you been with?!” Through gritted teeth, I answered, “Gavin. Your future father-in-law. Happy now?” He released me and let out a bark of laughter. “Are you kidding me? You don’t have to make up such a ridiculous story,” Ethan said through a fit of laughter. I heard more laughter from nearby and I realized Ethan’s friends were crowding around. “Is she talking about Gavin Landry? He has standards. He would never go for a girl like, Judy.” “Yeah, Judy is a call girl and Gavin is a Lycan chairman. There’s no way,” another friend laughed. “I’m being serious,” I told them, folding my arms across my chest. This time Ethan did grab my throat, and his gaze turned almost deadly. “Stop playing me for a fool and tell me the truth,” he growled. “Gavin would never want someone like you. You are nobody. You don’t fit into his world. ” I couldn’t breathe as his hands tightened around my throat, so I couldn’t respond. “Now, how about you do as I say and move into the house I bought? Once I get married, I’ll see you frequently at night and you can spread your pretty little legs for me only—” There was a loud honk from nearby, making Ethan drop his hold around my neck. I coughed and rubbed my sore neck as he glared at the person interrupting us. I glanced at the black limo and frowned when the door opened. I gasped when I saw Gavin seated in the back, his eyes on me. “Get in,” he ordered. I stared at him, disbelieving. “I won’t ask you again, Judy,” he said through his teeth. I felt Ethan’s shocked eyes on me as I quickly hurried towards the car and got in, closing the door behind me. “Drive,” he instructed the driver. “Yes, sir.” The car started to move; Ethan stood on the curb; his mouth nearly dropped. His friends were equally shocked. Gavin glanced at me, and I felt my cheeks redden. “Using me to make your ex-fiancé jealous, are you?”	LEARN_MORE	https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=16927&u	Werewolf Novel	https://www.facebook.com/61560470905590/	778	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	getokn.com	VIDEO		https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=16927&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-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/476849443_1157400892416182_5565411566396635523_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1w1a-aa3WzcQ7kNvgG7A9Ns&_nc_oc=Adgl1LDfYc0GRlRdTFDMPbp3ANCBiGE_3D_ksYMBxcZGI33pB30H87c_ofiaZbCc-rJuBrEFIHx_B6dTyi6szQPe&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AC9hB8h2qkoVSouoR_Md_kF&oh=00_AYAQAWCowMOak6sLt40eUyaTptQwbhmYVq-y_Mry-37CIw&oe=67CB4705	PERSON_PROFILE	Werewolf Novel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,221	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Flash sale ends today!	Experience relief and wake up refreshed with the Orthinex Pillow, designed to alleviate sciatica pain and improve your sleep posture. Perfectly contoured for support, it cradles your head and neck, promoting proper alignment and long-lasting comfort. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to better mornings with Orthinex.	SHOP_NOW	https://orthinex.com/products/orthinex-premium-erg	Orthinex	https://www.facebook.com/61568048379894/	541	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop now	orthinex.com	VIDEO	Pay safely with PayPal	https://orthinex.com/products/orthinex-premium-ergonomic-pillow	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481170997_9278386315609075_3154854226643793825_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ElKmKNCLtiYQ7kNvgGjzMHv&_nc_oc=AdhX6KHaGmwuXyrQhFUv6YUpc1v2JkoDpDFrXJkzA9IjrAUyQ2uQv-78q9aZ7WKV8GEIf66Ctn58Kg3Cey6lBa9K&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A1eRDkXuY6PNJhTqNQ8kgsp&oh=00_AYDOXYdnHE17246f-Op_qtmLPZZBwBmnUOyiICIElflRFg&oe=67CB4F37	PERSON_PROFILE	Orthinex	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,731,813	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	🥰Only Download HoneyReels to watch All Video 🎬👉	😡Anthony Campbell colluded with his wife's bestie to murder his wife, Kate Nelson. ✊On the day of the funeral, however, "Kate" returned, catching everyone off guard. 🤩🤩Stella Scobell disguised herself as her sister Kate to investigate the cause of Kate's death and seek revenge for Kate. Just as the revenge was about to succeed, Kate, who had lost her memory, returned and sided with Anthony⁉️🎬👉	LEARN_MORE	https://ad.honeyreels.com/landing/fbindex.html?id=	Shortseries APP	https://www.facebook.com/61572467040449/	163	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	ad.honeyreels.com	VIDEO		https://ad.honeyreels.com/landing/fbindex.html?id=9772&style_id=1&album_id=20970&sex=woman&utm_source=FB&media_app_id=1158676719205135&episode_id=77083&align=1&af_adset={{adset.name}}&af_ad={{ad.name}}&af_ad_id={{ad.id}}&af_adset_id={{adset.id}}&af_c_id={{campaign.id}}&auto_seconds=8	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481899178_1702526863671773_219065469256690598_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=acCAyI275foQ7kNvgHjjPLP&_nc_oc=Adi9DOHVLxEXSBw1xaYPjyAhCpxStH5WD5m0LODlM4VnNLbvqREuXoNQiWZ5X7i70nOBZdmf-hQSBE4PDodADpzK&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A7bNejYtdD8KA083a__HPmS&oh=00_AYB2zlh7MHe5cKt1atxmmJUPIxycXHr1CrU4d1UQ9BJxow&oe=67CB5B8E	PERSON_PROFILE	Shortseries APP	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,731,800	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	I Beat Neuropathy in 15 Seconds—Here’s How...	Every night, I’d lie awake, feet burning like they were on fire… no position was comfortable, and painkillers barely touched it... It started with tingling—like pins and needles that wouldn’t go away. Then, the burning, the stabbing pains, the numbness… and the fear that it was only getting worse. I thought I was out of options. But then, I found out something shocking—new research shows nerve pain isn’t just about damaged nerves. It’s actually caused by a hidden ‘nerve choke’ blocking blood flow and nutrients from reaching the nerves. A doctor in Japan discovered a 15-second method to release this choke and restore normal nerve function. I figured, what do I have to lose? Within days, I noticed the burning wasn’t as intense. The stabbing pains faded. And for the first time in years, I actually woke up feeling rested. If you’re suffering from nerve pain, don’t wait. Tap below to take a quick quiz and see if this could help you too.	LEARN_MORE	https://lp.greatnerves.club/67b8a8d05d0a44eda9be0a	Debbie Taylor	https://www.facebook.com/61553076994345/	241	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	greatnerves.club	VIDEO		https://lp.greatnerves.club/67b8a8d05d0a44eda9be0a30?sub1={{ad.id}}&sub2={{adset.id}}&sub3={{campaign.id}}&sub4={{ad.name}}&sub5={{adset.name}}&sub6={{campaign.name}}&sub7={{placement}}&sub8={{site_source_name}}&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481074110_981507546911150_7614137823698878019_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E39h5dhPOiYQ7kNvgFNIFv8&_nc_oc=AdgkH23hzS6ZuPD8_2nC0NcRy3dkgdXgltCsbrvCLvWXRP9i-z6bfsKEsjboOKa6eRAD_UEnBZxjySfm4TRDVXAD&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AmPhwEZe9QG3vs6yhCfQJz9&oh=00_AYC_5XYoeEOsbRAgUR_HbZeHyzFiUC8pgXhkHO0nQLqnNQ&oe=67CB2F3C	PERSON_PROFILE	Debbie Taylor	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,284	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Watch more episodes on ShortMax🎬	😹This series is so incredible! I can't stop watching! Next episode is amazing!	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=live.	Short Max	https://www.facebook.com/61573656003603/	44	1969-12-31 18:00	Install now	play.google.com	VIDEO		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=live.shorttv.apps	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481275084_618245274336197_1550896709359854102_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=A5YT704AdEcQ7kNvgFbnQ8G&_nc_oc=AdhOdEcBCny785uKTWCGvkOKMjuMPlUOiSgYZXF8BHqlY8LDEw2O9WayAwK-4UE0jjZAlbq5DrZWLvvqs7Kqr8OQ&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AVWV6eea8qDoOMvV1QDI0tk&oh=00_AYB-YhJIdub5Kus2SiKlFtMu8F_SINW62JdCJtMH3_nO3Q&oe=67CB2E56	PERSON_PROFILE	Short Max	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,093	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	A simple vitamin...	My Nerve Pain started with pins & needles, then the burning & tingling kept me up at night… but it was when I lost all feeling in my feet that it tore through my life… No more driving, no more long walks with our dog, no longer being trusted to care for the grandkids. I felt like a prisoner in my own body! I turned to creams & cold compresses but the burning sensation just kept coming back worse. I was exhausted by the doctors telling me there was little hope, but they always had another expensive med for me to try. And when I started refusing… they scared me with amputation. Then at home the talks about me going into care were getting more serious! Just as I lost all hope, I thank god for an old friend reaching out. They sent me the video below and the simple vitamin that changed my life as I know it. It pointed to the surprising root cause of my nerve pain, a little known link that even my doctor wasn’t aware of. “Doctors treat symptoms, not the root cause” makes total sense to me now. The video showed me the simple fix that takes me less than a minute a day in the comfort of my own home… that has drastically turned my numbness, burning and tingling around. The best part… I feel normal again! My daily limitations disappeared, I could feel the carpet under my feet and I didn’t have to depend on others anymore! No more talks of care homes, now we talk about how I can care for the grandkids again! Please take the burning and tingling seriously while you still have the chance. Tap “Learn more” now	LEARN_MORE	https://fl.lf.thepapertomorrow.com/67ba1a1635e0d32	Smart Daily Decisions	https://www.facebook.com/61561838588847/	54	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More	fl.lf.thepapertomorrow.com	DCO	{{product.description}}	https://fl.lf.thepapertomorrow.com/67ba1a1635e0d329dec7f1d0?sub1={{ad.id}}&sub2={{adset.id}}&sub3={{campaign.id}}&sub4={{ad.name}}&sub5={{adset.name}}&sub6={{campaign.name}}&sub7={{placement}}&sub8={{site_source_name}}&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481803666_1160666018920542_3450911243861037114_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=H9BP1bOGZJQQ7kNvgHj7ByO&_nc_oc=Adgpl0e5obOLk_cns-42ur4BIwYN4uznZrFhAn7JAqSJO-rcugkswXbmFsRDzO2YiO9rM-Nv6pfL7pY9MiXWyQRG&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=AxVQ33cixlC6usphzuKzYMB&oh=00_AYB-uta7lNzSQDt4qr6WhJGnytGUw80lTxIQk1cIoCE9JA&oe=67CB33FC	PERSON_PROFILE	Smart Daily Decisions	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,731,780	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Take back your life and start living pain-free.	Struggling with neuropathy, pain, and sleepless nights?Struggling with burning, tingling, nerve pain, and sleepless nights? Whether your discomfort is due to diabetes, age, or underlying health conditions... nerve pain can disrupt your life and sleep. It's essential to find a solution before another night of pain and discomfort takes its toll... Mama Bear Nerve Relief Lotion harnesses the power of magnesium to offer relief from neuropathy, pain, and sleep disturbances almost instantly. This special blend seeps deep into the skin, targeting the root cause of your nerve pain discomfort. Just a dab before bedtime is all it takes, and you can drift into a peaceful, deep sleep, free from nerve pain. Mama Bear Nerve Relief Lotion also comes with FREE Shipping & a 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Experience pain relief and restful nights or get your money back, guaranteed. ✅ Alleviates nerve pain ✅ Natural magnesium blend for effective pain relief (no harsh chemicals) ✅ Endorsed & loved by those suffering from nerve pain across the country for its effectiveness	SHOP_NOW	https://nervanora.com/pages/copy-of-nervanora?_ab=	Mag Serenity	https://www.facebook.com/61571848267243/	17	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop now	nervanora.com	IMAGE	I Went From Choking Down Pills Just to Be Able to Fall Asleep… To Walking, Standing, and Playing With My Grandchildren Again	https://nervanora.com/pages/copy-of-nervanora?_ab=0&key=1740830676934	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481074481_631135089532969_2640044095453495420_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Kum3HGoHPL8Q7kNvgHzLO4Z&_nc_oc=AdhAb8WHGZ4aYWEHxuSo68IjBXQ9lbalpLnAf0vwhUHX7OGoESIdgH_G9jeexL4TCqoU_VJKQ4EZ2-TLvygCn2fB&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A9NmoXbVyG7IaXNxF8EFdhr&oh=00_AYDU7TF4excnRTCJrx2pgWujaGdToTVlQvJwwz7aP9M9Jw&oe=67CB346B	PERSON_PROFILE	Mag Serenity	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,307	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	I thought our arranged marriage had turned into love for both of us. I discovered how wrong I was the day when I heard him calling his mistress and saying that he would divorce me soon. -- "It's sorted." "She has no idea. I've got it all in hand." He's on the phone. My stomach swoops low, something uneasy slithering down my spine. Before I choose between flight and freeze, he hums softly, a hint of softness creeping in. "Silvia, you need to trust me." The fangs sink deep into my skin, making my heart lurch in my chest. Silvia was his friend, someone he's grown up with, someone who hated me on-sight and has taken every opportunity to slice at me with her razor-sharp tongue. "I'll get her father to sign the papers when I'm back. I told you all of this before we left. Once everything's in my name, I'll end it. Silvia, for Christ's sake," he suddenly grunts out, frustration leaking through. "Look, I can't talk about this right now. I'll meet with you as soon as we're back. I've already put plans in motion that will cut our trip short 'unexpectedly'." He chuckles, but nothing about it sounds familiar. It feels like I'm listening to a stranger, not the man I promised forever to. "I'll see you in a few days, sweetheart." My throat feels so thick, as if it's closing up. I suck in a rough breath, taking another step out into the hallway and slowly easing the door closed. Spinning on my heel, I practically run for the elevator, mashing the button until the doors slide open and revealing an empty car. Relief spikes, but it barely dents the adrenaline and panic racing through my system. I hit the button for the lobby and then lift my phone, pulling up my contacts. Scrolling frantically through them, I find the one I want and press it, listening to it ring once before a voice answers. "I need help." _____________ Lily "You sure you don't want to come with me?" My husband–because I can call him that now–lies back on the massive bed, legs crossed at the ankle and arms tucked behind his head. He's wearing dark sweats, but is shirtless, the heat of the day combating the A/C in our suite. My eyes linger on him, unable to believe that this man is mine, and his lips curl up into a lazy grin, flashing white teeth at me. Butterflies take off in my belly, as strong as they were the day I met him just over a year ago. "I'm sure, baby," Declan tells me smoothly, his voice like honeyed whiskey stroking each nerve-ending. "I'm sick of sand, honestly. And I didn't sleep well last night." He shoots me a saucy wink, and I flush with a mixture of embarrassment and arousal. Before him, I honestly thought something was wrong with me. Love was just something you did with someone, but it was never anything to brag home about. But now... as soon as Declan puts a finger on me, or as soon as he whispers his dirty words in my hair, I feel like I lose my mind. Even now, the ache between my thighs isn't enough to tempt me away from crawling into bed with him, except I can see the faint bruises lining his eyes. He's not lying about being tired. "Alright." I tug my beach tote up onto my shoulder, sliding my flip-flops on. "I'll be back in a couple of hours, but I have my phone if you need me." He tips his chin at me, eyes already heavy-lidded, but I can't resist leaning over the bed for one last peck. Almost immediately, his hand curls around the back of the head, holding me firmly as he takes over, his tongue dipping into my mouth and tangling against mine with sensual promise. When I finally drag myself away with a reluctant groan, his lips are shiny, his tongue trailing over the bottom one as if chasing the taste of me. His eyes are molten and dark, pools of melted chocolate drawing me in like a magnet. He chuckles, a husky sound, his hand letting me go to trail a soft hand over my cheek, his thumb pressing into the corner of my mouth. "Sorry, baby. Stubble burn." "It's okay," I murmur, adding dryly, "It's not the only place you got me." His eyes dip down, tracing over breasts covered in my yellow sundress and then further down, to where the hemline playfully flirts with my upper thighs. Swallowing thickly, I take a step back. "I'd better go." He nods, hand dropping away, his eyes tracking me as I leave the bedroom. I half-shut the door, checking I've got my room key on me and then head out, looking forward to lounging in the sun for the third day in a row. It's only the first week of our two-week long honeymoon at a resort in Hawaii. After the stress of planning a wedding for over a hundred guests, it's been heaven to relax, cocooned in our little bubble together. From almost the first moment of meeting Declan, I knew he was it for me; that he was the one. It'd been a cute meet–me leaving the Sugar Bean, and him going in with his eyes on his phone. We'd crashed into each other and my hazelnut latte had gone everywhere, luckily cold enough that it hadn't burned. Dec had apologized profusely, insisting on trying to clean me up and buying me a fresh coffee. I'd been late for a yoga class at Sasha's studio, but he'd convinced me into sharing a table with him and then he was giving me his phone number and demanding I call him so I'd have his. Lurching out of my daydreams, I frown in front of the elevator, trying to remember if I'd actually grabbed my phone before I'd left, or if it was still on the side table near the door. A quick search through my bag doesn't turn it up, so I head back and quietly edge the door open, not wanting to wake him if he's already asleep. My phone is right there, so I reach out to grab it just as I hear his voice from the bedroom. "It's sorted." I pause, unused to hearing such a dispassionate tone from him. I open my mouth to ask what he's talking about, sure he must have heard me come back in, but then he keeps talking. "She has no idea. I've got it all in hand." Lily He's on the phone. My stomach swoops low, something uneasy slithering down my spine. It almost feels like a scaly snake, looking for a place to sink its fangs, and I debate whether to leave or keep listening to a conversation I'm a thousand percent positive I'm not supposed to be hearing. Before I choose between flight and freeze, he hums softly, a hint of softness creeping in. "Silvia, you need to trust me." The fangs sink deep into my skin, making my heart lurch in my chest. Silvia was his friend, someone he's grown up with, someone who hated me on-sight and has taken every opportunity to slice at me with her razor-sharp tongue. I mentioned it to Declan once. Not anything bad, just that she made me uncomfortable, but he'd just dismissed my worries, telling me it was all in my head. After the third time, he'd snapped, telling me my insecurities were not Silvia's–or his–problem and she was one of his oldest friends, so I needed to find a way to get on with her. I'd learned real quick to keep my mouth shut, terrified of rocking the boat. Even when I'd heard her cackling with her friends about my lack of class, my gap-toothed smile, and the fact I was reaching by thinking I could ever keep someone like Declan Masters. Declan, who'd always said the gap between my front teeth was endearing. I was so in love with him, I'd been blind to every single red flag, but I'm seeing them now. Why is he talking to her on our honeymoon? And what don't I know? Because he was talking about me. I'm not naive enough to believe otherwise. "I have it all under control, sweetheart." The endearment has my heart thundering so hard, I'm concerned I'm about to reenact a scene from Alien when the organ just bursts out of my chest. There's a long pause and a muffled step, like he's moving around the bedroom. I shuffle backwards, tucking myself behind the door and spinning wildly for an excuse for if he suddenly comes into the other room and finds me there. "I'll get her father to sign the papers when I'm back. I told you all of this before we left. Once everything's in my name, I'll end it. Silvia, for Christ's sake," he suddenly grunts out, frustration leaking through. I can almost see him thrusting a hand through his blond hair as he glares off into space. "Cut the dramatics, would you? You know that this is the way it had to be done. He was never just going to hand the company over to me, not when there's so much bad blood between him and my father." Another pause, but then he sighs. "Look, I can't talk about this right now. I'll meet with you as soon as we're back. I've already put plans in motion that will cut our trip short 'unexpectedly'." He chuckles, but nothing about it sounds familiar. It feels like I'm listening to a stranger, not the man I promised forever to. "I'll see you in a few days, sweetheart." My throat feels so thick, as if it's closing up. I suck in a rough breath, taking another step out into the hallway and slowly easing the door closed. The click of the lock engaging sounds like a gunshot, and I trip backwards, staring at the wooden paneling, waiting for it to open and for my husband to appear, his eyes cold and accusing. A minute later and nothing happens. I can't stay here, though. I can't face him when I don't understand what's happening, but I know it's not good. He's lied about everything, and now I'm lost, unsure what I should do. Spinning on my heel, I practically run for the elevator, mashing the button until the doors slide open and revealing an empty car. Relief spikes, but it barely dents the adrenaline and panic racing through my system. I hit the button for the lobby and then lift my phone, pulling up my contacts. Scrolling frantically through them, I find the one I want and press it, listening to it ring once before a voice answers. "I need help." Lily The waves roll gently against the sand, the sounds of people laughing and splashing reaching my ears. The breeze is warm, tangling in my loose hair and the palm fronds shading me from above. I dig my toes into the warm sand, feeling the gritty texture and letting it ground me in the present. In my ear, Sasha asks quietly, "Did you misunderstand?" We've been on the phone for two hours, talking everything out–and racking up an enormous phone bill–but I still feel just as lost as when I first called. "You need to be sure about this. Especially if you're thinking of doing something drastic." Like divorce him, I supply silently. That's pretty darn drastic. "Declan is..." she falters, but pushes on, "he loves you. Anyone can see that. Do you really think he's this good of an actor? To fool you and everyone else?" It's not the first time she's asked, but I understand her reticence. She didn't hear what I heard. "It was pretty hard to misunderstand." I'm not proud of the bitterness in my voice, but I'm giving myself some grace. I fall silent, waiting for a couple to pass in front of me, their hands tucked around each other's waists and their smiles bright. "He called her sweetheart," I remind Sasha. "He promised to meet with her as soon as we get back. You know, after he unexpectedly cuts our trip short." She hums her agreement, unable to argue with the facts. She knows how Silvia has treated me over the past year, and how Declan has brushed my concerns off. "Are you going to tell your dad?" I've been turning this over and over in my mind, wondering what the right thing to do is. If I tell my father about Declan's duplicity, he'll cancel the sale of Hi-Tech immediately. I'm his only child, and it's been just as for a long time after my mother packed up and left when I was four. He's always had my back, and this won't be any different. But... "He's planning on retiring, Sash. He's over the moon that he's gained a son in Dec and has someone to pass the company on to. You know I never wanted that, and he hid it well, but he was always a little disappointed about that." "I know," she murmurs. "But if he finds out he sold it to Declan and you didn't tell him? That'll kill him, Lily." "He'll still have the money, though." I know Declan is paying a fair price for Hi-Tech, just a little under market value. But Dad had insisted on that, calling it a family discount. "You dad doesn't care about the money," she argues. "If only I'd picked someone to marry who was like him," I muse. "Isn't that what usually happens? You marry someone who reminds you of your father?" "You thought you did. Are you sure–?" "Sasha," I interrupt, "If Declan wanted the company so badly that he would fake a relationship with me for a year and then marry me, he's welcome to it. I know Dad loves Hi-Tech, but there's more to life than the business." I pause, swallowing past the thickness in my throat. "But what do I do right now?" I hate the lost note to my question, knowing she'll hear it. We've been friends since middle school and, apart from my father, no one knows me better than Sasha Delware. She sighs softly, and I wish so badly that she was here right now, talking me down in person. "You get you in order, Lily, and fake it til you make it. Put his acting to shame, and pretend nothing is amiss until you get home." "And then?" "And then you get away from Declan Masters." I sniffle quietly, my emotions finally overwhelming me. My left hand lies limply in my lap, the diamonds on the silver bands gleaming at me. Mocking me. "I thought he was my forever," I whisper, clenching my hand into a fist and looking away. "I thought–" My voice cracks and I clamp my lips shut, unwilling to give in to the swell of emotion, knowing if I do, I won't be able to lock it back down. "I know," she says soothingly. "It's going to be okay. We'll get you through this." My phone buzzes in my hand and I pull it away from my ear, finding a new message from my husband. Declan: Hey baby, where are you? Our reservations are in an hour. Putting the phone back to my ear, I murmur, "I have to go. He's looking for me." Sasha firms up her voice, telling me, "You have this. He doesn't know who he's messing with." "It doesn't feel like it, Sash. I feel like a crumpled, broken doll." "Well, you do and you aren't." She sounds huffy now, and I can't help the smile. "And as soon as you get back, I'll tape you together–" "I thought I wasn't a broken doll," I interrupt, but she ignores me. "And we'll drink tequila until our faces are numb and we're puking our guts out. And when you don't even remember that scumbag's name, you'll get under some hot new thing." Her voice turns sly, "You know, Justin will be thrilled about this new development." I wince. "We're just friends," I remind her. "Babe, if he ever looked at me the way he looks at you, my underwear would actually catch fire." I splutter out a laugh. "Thanks for that visual," I tell her dryly. "You're welcome to him." "He doesn't want me, Lily. He was devastated at the wedding, I could tell." "I know the feeling." Thankfully, she lets the subject go; the conversation turning a little lighter as we chat for a few more minutes. My phone vibrates again, another message from Declan telling me he's getting worried, so I reluctantly end the call, feeling all the hopelessness and devastation rush back in. He was the first person I'd truly trusted with my heart, and he'd callously crushed it. And for what?	LEARN_MORE	https://b.ficsworld.com/ad/Zmljd29ybGQvNDQ0MjY2LzI	World002	https://www.facebook.com/61551823504143/	115	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	b.ficsworld.com	VIDEO		https://b.ficsworld.com/ad/Zmljd29ybGQvNDQ0MjY2LzIwMjUwMzAxMTUwNDAyL3BhZ2U=?adid={{ad.id}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481682429_1355598535435836_4710405245180437636_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2oYQNTtskdgQ7kNvgEvA2MH&_nc_oc=AdgSiA1kqYDOb31lY3C2BO-j2CXmXLSICxjedqV6QJBNEOWxgBh_Vt1pHhan1M-jsT1zJi0qcDAixVTC0TiZ9NKz&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A_ShewKxJxQDwlV1-_m3Ur0&oh=00_AYABBz29MSheW0mDC0oXpv8zWv-3q_U_fsTwfJ1nRL9xiQ&oe=67CB47F5	PERSON_PROFILE	World002	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,102	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	😎Click here to Read on More Spicy Chapters👉	Chapter 1 She's Back At dawn, Odalys Stone cracked open her eyes, the sunlight pouring through the window making her squint. For a moment, she stared blankly, her mind groggy, before her gaze fell on the crooked calendar on the wall. A bitter smile tugged at her lips. She was back. Back to this godforsaken day—the day her life had been ripped apart. The day she was sold into a marriage from hell, betrayed by the very people she had called family, and ultimately killed. Hatred boiled in her veins, rising like a tide that threatened to drown her. But just as quickly, she forced it down, letting icy calm take its place. Her past life had already wrung every last drop of emotion out of her. Not this time. This time, she wasn't that naive, helpless girl. She was alive. And she was here to make them pay, every single one of them. The sound of heavy footsteps snapped her out of her thoughts. A sharp knock rattled the door, followed by louder, more impatient banging. Before Odalys could even move, the door burst open with a deafening crash. A tall figure stormed in, grabbing her arm roughly and yanking her up. "Odalys Stone, are you fucking deaf?" Henry Bennett barked, his grip bruising, his expression one of pure rage. Her face turned glacial, her lips curling into a sneer. Without hesitation, she twisted his wrist sharply and shoved him away with enough force to make him stumble. As he regained his balance, blinking in stunned disbelief, Odalys calmly reached for her phone, pressing the record button without missing a beat. Henry gawked at her, his jaw slack. This wasn't the meek, obedient sister he knew—the one who flinched at his every word. She wasn't cowering or apologizing. She had fought back. "What the hell's gotten into you?" he spat, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "Do you think this is some kind of joke? The Stewarts are coming today, and you're still lying in bed? Do you want them to take Sophia instead? Is that it?" Odalys's gaze hardened, her voice cutting through his tirade like a knife. "Why, Henry? Isn't she the one engaged to him? Or is it because their son is dying that you want me to take her place? You're scared she'll end up a widow, but me? I'm just expendable, right?" His mouth opened and closed, his face turning an ugly shade of red. "Sophia is different," he muttered, his eyes darting away. "If people find out she's been married before, her life will be ruined." A bitter laugh escaped her lips, sharp and cold. "Oh, I see. Her reputation is sacred, but mine? That's disposable? How fucking convenient." Henry's fists clenched at his sides, his face twisting with anger. Before he could lash out, a frail figure appeared at the doorway. "Henry, stop," Sophia Bennett said, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. She looked heartbreakingly pitiful, her wide eyes shimmering with sorrow. "I'll do it. I'll marry him, okay? If he dies, then... then I'll..." Her voice broke into sobs, her frail body shaking as though she might collapse. "Enough!" Hannah Bennett's voice sliced through the room like a whip. Odalys turned her gaze to her mother, who stood at the doorway flanked by her two brothers, Caspian and Atlas Bennett. Their faces were etched with fury, their contempt for her palpable. "Odalys," Caspian snapped, his fists tightening, "how can you be so heartless? Sophia is your sister. Are you really going to let her face this alone?" Atlas crossed his arms, his tone dripping with disgust. "We're not asking you to die. Just marry him for a while. Once he's gone, you'll come back safe and sound. What's the big deal?" Their audacity was almost laughable. Before her time travel, this might have broken her. She might have screamed, begged them to see reason, only to be crushed under their blackmail and cruelty. She had been drugged, stripped of her dignity, and forced into that cursed marriage. And when it became too much, she had ended it all in despair. But not this time. "Fine," she said coolly, her tone so steady it was almost unnerving. "I never said I wouldn't marry him." Taking a deep breath, Odalys straightened her shoulders, her lips curling into a calm, almost serene smile. Without a word, she walked to her desk, picking up a pen and paper. Her phone, still recording, caught every calculated move. The room fell silent. They exchanged confused glances, trying to figure out what game she was playing. A moment later, she turned back to them, holding out a document she'd just written. "Here's the deal—you're all signing this agreement to sever any and all family ties with me. I want it airtight, legally binding, and notarized. No bullshit, no loopholes. Once that's done, I'll marry the guy. Simple as that." Their stunned silence quickly turned to outrage. Atlas grabbed the document with a sneer, his voice dripping with mockery. "You? Cut ties with us? Who the hell do you think you are? Spit it out—how much do you want?" Henry didn't even hesitate. He pulled a sleek black card from his wallet and tossed it onto the table with a cold, detached expression. "Thirty thousand dollars. Take it and get out. Stop playing the victim—it's just a goddamn wedding. You're acting like we're sending you to the gallows." Sophia's eyes flickered with a momentary spark of relief when she saw the agreement, but she quickly smothered it with crocodile tears. "No, no, don't do this, sister!" Her voice cracked as she shook her head, her tone full of exaggerated despair. "I'll go. I'll marry him if that's what it takes. Please, don't fight with Mom and the boys because of me. It's my fault—I should've left the house the moment you came back if I'd known you felt this way." She spun around dramatically, her frail frame trembling with grief, and collapsed conveniently into Henry's arms. "Sophia," Henry murmured, holding her close like she was made of porcelain. He shot Odalys a glare filled with venom. "Is this what you wanted? To tear this family apart?" Odalys met his fury with icy detachment. "I'm not tearing anything apart. Just sign the damn agreement, get it notarized, and I'll go play your sacrificial lamb." Their angry, incredulous faces only fueled her inner amusement. 'Why did I waste so many years trying to please these people? Why did I beg for affection from people who wouldn't piss on me if I were on fire?' Once, she'd been their discarded daughter, tossed aside like trash while they paraded around their "replacement" — a shiny new girl they'd adopted to fill her spot. Meanwhile, Odalys had been left to fend for herself in the streets, barely surviving. If not for her mentor, she'd have been dead long ago. And yet, despite all that, she'd come back, hoping to earn their love, only to be betrayed in the cruelest way imaginable. But this time? This time, she wasn't here to beg. "You'll regret this!" Hannah's shrill voice snapped through the tension like a whip. She turned to the nearest servant and barked, "Get the lawyer. Now!" Her desperation was almost laughable—she wasn't worried about principle, only about Odalys backing out. The brothers exchanged uneasy glances but stayed silent, too afraid to challenge their mother. "Uh... yes, ma'am," the servant stammered before scurrying off. Henry stood frozen, his jaw clenched as he processed what was happening. "Mom, you're not seriously doing this, are you?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. But before he could get an answer, Sophia's soft sobs stole the spotlight. "Mom, let's not take it this far," Caspian chimed in, playing the concerned brother. "She's still family." Hannah's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes flashing with pure disdain. "This ungrateful brat thinks she can just walk away? Fine. Let her try. Without the Bennett name, let's see how far she gets in this world." The lawyer arrived moments later, looking thoroughly confused but professional as ever. Hannah shoved the document at him without hesitation, watching as it was officially notarized. Odalys took the signed agreement, her face calm and unreadable. She snapped a photo of it with her phone before slipping the papers into her bag. Without a word, she turned and walked toward the door, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. "Move," she said coolly, her voice like a blade. "You're in my way." Hannah stood frozen, her fury simmering beneath the surface. Finally, she grabbed her phone and hurled it toward Odalys's retreating figure. "You selfish little bitch! Are you trying to kill me?!" But Odalys didn't even flinch. Her voice floated up the staircase, steady and sharp. "Are those the wedding gifts from the Stewart family?" "Yes, ma'am," a servant replied hesitantly. Everyone froze, their confusion quickly morphing into curiosity as they followed her downstairs. There, Odalys stood in the entryway, surveying the piles of lavish gifts stacked neatly by the door. She pulled out her ID and handed it to the nearest servant. "Go to the bank. Open a safety deposit box and store everything there." The servant blinked, visibly stunned. "Pardon me, ma'am?" Odalys arched a brow, her lips curving into a smirk. "What's the problem? Aren't these gifts for me?" "Y-yes, ma'am," he stammered, nodding quickly. At her command, a team of guards began loading the extravagant gifts back into the trucks. The grand Bennett estate erupted into chaos as workers scrambled to carry out her orders. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Hannah screamed, her voice hoarse with rage. Chapter 2 Wedding Gifts The Stewart family—everyone knew their name. They were the pinnacle of power, dripping in wealth, and way out of anyone else's league. The wedding gifts they sent weren't just generous—they were mind-blowing. Even without counting, it was obvious they were worth billions. For a family like the Bennetts? Getting tied to the Stewarts was nothing short of a miracle. They weren't even in the same universe. But fate had handed them a golden ticket. William Bennett and Evander Stewart had once fought together, shoulder to shoulder, in life-or-death battles. Somewhere along the way, they'd sealed a promise: a marriage pact between their future children. Initially, the Bennetts planned to marry off Sophia. It was a straightforward enough plan until bad news hit. The man she was supposed to marry was at death's door, and the whispers said he didn't have much time left. No way were they going to send Sophia into a marriage that'd turn her into a widow before it even began. Luckily—or unluckily, seven months ago, the Bennetts had found their long-lost biological daughter, Odalys Stone. And just like that, they had a perfect solution: send Odalys instead. She'd secure the Bennetts' connection to the Stewarts, widow or not. Sophia would be off the hook, and the family would still come out on top. It was a win-win—at least for everyone except Odalys. "What am I doing here?" Odalys said, her voice calm but laced with a sharp edge as she glanced around. She raised an eyebrow, her smirk growing. "Well, obviously, I'm here to collect what's mine." She didn't bother hiding the amusement in her eyes. Watching the Bennetts fume while the Stewart family bodyguards loomed nearby was too satisfying. "What's wrong? Were you planning to keep it all for yourselves?" Her voice turned mockingly curious, her tone dripping with fake innocence. "Oh, wait—I get it. You're trying to screw me over because you think I'm just the backup bride, right?" Her words hit like a grenade. The bodyguards immediately paused their work, sharp eyes locking onto the Bennetts with unspoken suspicion. Hannah's face went pale, her heavily made-up features twisting in barely contained rage. She spat through gritted teeth, "If the Stewarts gave it to you, then fine. Take it. It's yours." "Damn right, it's mine." Odalys tilted her head, smirk still firmly in place. "Let's go, guys. Load it all up." The bodyguards didn't need to be told twice. They began reloading the boxes of gifts onto the waiting trucks. One of them rattled off the inventory under his breath. "Three boxes with three million dollars each. Two boxes of gold and diamond jewelry, 200 pieces total. One small box containing six property deeds for Crystal Cove villas. One small box with keys to 11 luxury cars." Sophia's fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging so hard into her palms that she almost drew blood. Those gifts were supposed to be hers. Sure, she didn't want to marry into the Stewarts, but she'd never said she didn't want the spoils. And now, she thought Odalys was walking out with everything. Every last thing. Her chest tightened with rage, her breaths coming quick and sharp. 'Why? Why does she get to take what should be mine?' "Odalys Stone, don't you have any shame?" Hannah snapped, stepping forward with a trembling hand pointing at her. Her voice cracked with the effort to keep her anger in check. "Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you? Taking all this—it's disgusting." "Laugh? At me?" Odalys turned, her expression cool, her voice calm and mocking. "For what? Taking what my husband gave me? No, Mrs. Bennett, people aren't going to laugh. They're gonna be jealous as hell." Her lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes glinting with something dangerous. "Or is it you who's jealous?" Her gaze swept across the room, pausing on each familiar face. To her surprise, she didn't feel the anger she thought she would. The Bennetts didn't deserve her rage. What she felt instead was an eerie calm. She'd been here before, in another timeline. This time, she wasn't here to please anyone. This time, she was here to cut ties, burn bridges, and take what was hers. "These gifts belong to me because the Stewarts are marrying me. You got a problem with that?" Her voice was soft but carried an unmistakable edge. Each word hit like a slap. Her eyes scanned the room, finally settling on Sophia. Slowly, deliberately, she stepped forward. Sophia froze, her eyes darting nervously to the side as she stumbled back a step. Her gaze flickered to the boxes of gifts, jealousy and frustration swirling in her tear-filled eyes. She'd never wanted this to happen. Sure, she'd agreed to let Odalys take her place in the marriage, but she hadn't agreed to give her everything. And now, Odalys was walking away with it all. The thought made her stomach churn with rage and humiliation. "Odalys, how could you do this?" Sophia's voice wavered, trembling with fake sweetness as she bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. "You're upsetting Mom. If you take everything, what will the Stewarts think of our family?" Odalys Stone chuckled coldly, her hand gripping Sophia Bennett's chin with just enough force to make the other woman flinch. Leaning in, she lowered her voice, her tone dripping with venom. "And just who the hell do you think you are? A nobody foster kid, and you've got the balls to come at me?" Her lips twisted into a smirk, her gaze sharp and mocking. "What the Stewarts think of you? That's your problem, not mine." She added with a scoff, "Jealous, huh? Pathetic little bitch." Sophia froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. The insult landed like a slap, and for a moment, she couldn't even process it. She wanted to lash out, but with the Stewarts' people watching, she bit her tongue. All she could do was stomp her foot in frustration, her chest heaving as she struggled to keep her composure. "Odalys Stone, what the fuck is your problem?" Atlas barked as he stormed forward, his expression dark. He pulled Sophia behind him protectively, glaring at Odalys like he wanted to snap her in half. Odalys raised a brow, her smirk deepening. Without a word, she turned on her heel and strode toward the door. When she reached it, she pulled a key from her pocket and flung it onto the floor. The sharp clink echoed through the room. Pausing in the doorway, she tossed a cold glance over her shoulder, her voice dripping with mockery. "And what are you gonna do about it? Or better yet, maybe she should be the one marrying instead?" The room fell into stunned silence as she walked out, her ponytail swishing in time with her confident strides. The Bennetts could only stand there, fuming, as the Stewarts' bodyguards continued hauling out the extravagant betrothal gifts without a care in the world. Hannah staggered, her face pale as she watched millions—billions—of dollars in gifts disappear. Her instincts screamed at her to do something, to stop them, but before she could act, Sophia grabbed her wrist in a panic. "Mom, don't! She's just trying to piss you off!" Sophia's voice cracked, panic lacing her words. "Once she calms down, she'll bring everything back. She's just throwing a tantrum—nothing more." But even as she said it, doubt flickered in Sophia's eyes. The truth was, everyone in Crownridge knew the situation with the Stewarts. Their patriarch was already at death's door, with the hospital issuing what was essentially a countdown to his final moments. Years ago, the Stewarts and Bennetts had been close, and the marriage was supposed to strengthen their bond. But now the Stewarts were rushing the wedding to bring some semblance of good fortune to a dying man. There wouldn't even be a ceremony. They'd sent the wedding gifts today with plans to take the bride immediately. The Bennetts, unwilling to let Sophia marry into such a grim situation, had shoved Odalys into the role instead. After all, she'd only recently been found after years of being lost and had no real connection to the family. The plan was simple: send her off, let her deal with the mess, and once the Stewart patriarch passed, bring her back. It was, in their minds, the perfect solution. Henry snorted, his tone filled with contempt. "She really thinks she can pull this shit? That's what happens when you let someone think they're equal to us. Time to remind her where she stands." Caspian leaned lazily against the wall, his lips quirking into a cruel smile. "Relax. Let her have her little moment. Once the bridegroom kicks the bucket, we'll drag her back here and teach her a lesson she won't forget. Let's see if she still thinks she's hot shit after that." But as they watched Odalys climb into the waiting car without so much as a glance back, a cold wind swept through the courtyard, sending a shiver down everyone's spine. The atmosphere shifted, the air growing heavy and unnervingly still. For the first time, an inexplicable unease settled over the Bennetts. In the backseat of the car, Odalys sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the rearview mirror. The Bennett mansion shrank in the distance, shrouded in swirling clouds that seemed to darken the skies around it. The house looked cursed, like it was being swallowed whole by its own greed and malice. A soft, bitter laugh escaped her lips as she leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. Her mind was flooded with memories from her past life—memories that stung like open wounds. She could still feel the humiliation, the betrayal. The people she had once trusted—her own family—had stripped her bare, literally and figuratively. They'd recorded her, used the footage to blackmail her, and forced her to take Sophia's place. All for their own selfish gain, all to secure their position with the Stewarts. Chapter 3 You're Dying After her death, Odalys's soul drifted aimlessly, trapped in a limbo that felt endless. She couldn't move on, couldn't reincarnate—until an unknown, powerful force yanked her back into the living world, slamming her into a reality she wasn't sure she wanted. The memory made her fists clench tightly, her nails biting into her palms as her jaw set with cold determination. The sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of a sprawling courtyard mansion, its grandeur weighed down by an eerie stillness. The house seemed more like a relic than a home, its walls steeped in secrets and shadows. "Madam, Mr. Stewart is waiting for you upstairs," the butler, Dorian Huxley, said as he stepped aside, gesturing politely for her to follow. His tone was calm and measured, but it carried a quiet urgency. Odalys didn't respond. She stepped out of the car and into the courtyard, the oppressive silence pressing down on her like a physical weight. As she crossed the threshold, her gaze swept over the carefully arranged antiques in the living room—each piece meticulous, imposing, and completely lifeless. Her heels clicked against the polished wood floor as she climbed the stairs, each step reverberating in the stillness. At the top, she paused. A tall figure stood inside the room, his back to her, framed by sunlight filtering through the window. The light scattered across his broad shoulders, softening the harsh lines of his frame. She couldn't see his face, but his presence was unmistakable—commanding, unyielding, and suffocating. "You're Percival Stewart?" she asked, her voice steady, but low and cautious. The man turned slowly, deliberately. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Those eyes were cold, bottomless, and completely detached, like looking into a frozen void. He held her gaze for a beat longer than necessary before shifting his eyes away, the indifference in his expression sharp enough to cut. The silence stretched between them, heavy and tense, before he finally spoke. "This marriage? It's just my grandfather's dying wish," he said, his voice deep and rough, every word laced with disdain. "Don't waste your time thinking it means anything. There won't be a ceremony, no legal documents, nothing. Once I'm gone, you're free to leave." The bluntness of his words caught her off guard, but she didn't flinch. She just stared at him, taking in the man who had been a shadow in the past. In truth, she knew next to nothing about Percival Stewart. Before her time travel, she had died before the marriage ever happened. All she'd heard was that he was twenty-eight, the head of the Stewart family, and dying from some incurable illness. Beyond that, he was a mystery—a figure hidden behind the impenetrable walls of the Stewart dynasty. He was like an invisible king, ruling from the shadows, unchallenged but utterly alone. Before she could respond, a harsh, violent cough broke the silence. Percival's tall frame trembled slightly, and the sharp, metallic tang of blood filled the air, cutting through the faint scent of scented candle burning in the corner. "Mrs. Stewart, perhaps it's best if you retire to your room," Dorian said, stepping forward quickly. His voice was polite, but the urgency in his movements was impossible to miss. Odalys didn't move. Her sharp gaze stayed locked on Percival, ignoring the butler entirely. She took a step forward, her eyes narrowing as the scent of blood grew stronger. It wasn't just a hint—it was thick, suffocating, and impossible to ignore. Percival felt her approach and shot her a warning glare, his expression hardening. "Go back to your room," he said, his voice rough and authoritative. He turned abruptly, his steps hurried and uneven as if trying to escape her scrutiny. But just as he moved past her, Odalys reached out and grabbed his arm. He froze instantly, his body tensing under her touch. He made a move to pull away, but she was faster. Twisting her grip, she held him in place, then reached up and grabbed his collar without hesitation. The sound of fabric tearing cut through the room like a slap. Percival's shirt split open, revealing a chest sculpted like stone, his bronze skin catching the fractured sunlight pouring in from the window. The room fell silent. Even the air seemed to hold its breath. Dorian stood frozen, his jaw slack with shock, his gaze darting between his mentor and the woman who had just ripped his shirt like it was nothing. No one saw it coming. Odalys, without hesitation, tore open Percival's shirt with a single, fluid motion. No one had ever dared to get this close to him before—let alone touch him. The speed and boldness of her actions left everyone in the room frozen, mouths agape. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Percival growled, his hand shooting up to clamp around her wrist with an iron grip. Her wrist was locked in his grasp, but Odalys didn't so much as flinch. Her eyes stayed locked on his chest, unblinking, studying his skin with laser focus. Beneath the smooth surface, something was moving—twitching, writhing, almost alive. It looked ready to tear through at any second. His veins bulged unnaturally, pushing against his flesh as though ready to explode. The air grew thick, the metallic tang of blood sharp enough to taste. Percival's body was a battleground, wracked with excruciating pain. It felt like shards of glass were tearing through him, breaking him apart piece by piece. His skin stretched taut, veins pulsating beneath it as if threatening to burst, and every nerve in his body screamed for relief. "Shit," he hissed through gritted teeth, sweat dripping down his temples. His face had gone pale, his jaw tight as he tried to suppress the pain. With great effort, he turned his icy glare on Dorian, who was frozen in the doorway, and the bodyguards lingering nearby, too stunned to move. "Take her back to her room," he ordered, his voice rough but unwavering despite the agony gripping him. "Yes, sir!" Dorian stammered, snapping into action and rushing toward Odalys, his face pale with fear. But before Dorian could reach her, Odalys made her move. She ignored the butler completely, her free hand lifting to press lightly against Percival's chest. The touch was almost playful, her fingertips tracing slow, deliberate patterns on his skin. Then, without warning, she shoved—hard. Percival froze, his entire body locking up. The moment her hand made contact, it sent a shockwave through him, like a current of electricity surging through his veins. The chaos beneath his skin—veins ready to rupture, blood cells fighting a violent war—suddenly stilled. The energy that had been raging inside him recoiled, like a storm abruptly silenced. His blood, moments away from tearing through his flesh, began to reverse its course. Thickened, frozen, and pushed back as though retreating from an unseen force. His heart seized painfully in his chest. "Ugh!" The sound ripped from his throat as dark blood spewed from his lips, splattering onto the floor. The black, foul-smelling liquid dripped from the corner of his mouth, its acrid stench filling the room. He staggered back a step, his pupils blown wide, his body trembling like it was ready to break apart. And then, suddenly, everything stopped. The agony gripping him moments ago faded to a dull ache. The sharp, relentless pressure vanished. His breathing steadied, his chest no longer heaving in pain. Slowly, cautiously, he glanced down at his body, expecting to see the usual horrors: split skin, torn veins, blood pouring from open wounds. But his skin was intact. No ruptures. No shredded flesh. No rivers of blood pooling at his feet. Aside from the dark blood he'd coughed up, he was fine. Whole. The pain, the chaos, the destruction that had always followed these episodes—it was gone. Percival's eyes snapped back to Odalys, shock flickering across his normally stoic face. She stepped back, her hand falling away as she regarded him with a calm, almost clinical detachment. Her gaze swept over him like she was piecing together a puzzle. "So the rumors are true," she said, her tone flat and disinterested. "You really are knocking on death's door." As she spoke, she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and began wiping her fingers clean. "But since you already made it clear this marriage is just your grandfather's idea to 'ward off bad luck,' and you don't actually want to marry me, that works out perfectly. I wasn't planning on getting married anyway." She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sharp and calculating as they locked onto his. "Let me guess. Your doctors told you you've got less than a month to live, didn't they?" His lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't deny it. Odalys smirked faintly, the corner of her mouth curving upward in a way that was both confident and infuriating. "So, here's the deal. I'll keep you alive for the next month. In return, you let me walk away when it's over. No strings attached." Percival's eyes narrowed, suspicion mingling with disbelief. "You're saying you can keep me alive for a month?" "That's exactly what I'm saying," she replied, her tone as steady as her gaze. She stepped closer, reaching out again. This time, her fingers brushed against the corner of his mouth, wiping away the blood that still lingered there. She brought her fingers to her nose, sniffing lightly before speaking again. "You're not dying as fast as they think. You're poisoned—badly—but it's not terminal yet. I can stabilize you. Give you some time." With that, she wiped her fingers clean on the handkerchief and tossed it into a nearby trash can, her movements smooth and deliberate. She met his gaze again, her expression unreadable but unshakable. "Clock's ticking, Stewart. Your move."	LEARN_MORE	https://website.metronovel.com/share/middle_new/lv	Love stories and books	https://www.facebook.com/61563510724242/	70	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	website.metronovel.com	VIDEO		https://website.metronovel.com/share/middle_new/lv2jyrpkmxi3aioozhlfmsnj?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481199604_1610986283121109_7220776872726546916_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FLJDPUX-ltIQ7kNvgEiV_7M&_nc_oc=AdhTDG3ahZBK6qX5xnc0ATn6mG0fOQIZC5YiNmiJ_r3dqYN1SuQUWzJ03sp0CV2xgOECVU6b_tfIg-HgIht4xk_7&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AOMxfFrmfrHC-bM-4xHwYWW&oh=00_AYDG8RYs4RfEK8Z-WVbhhY22QhcAT_LOpZIreSxDJCOZBA&oe=67CB592C	PERSON_PROFILE	Love stories and books	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,731,600	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	🔥🔥 Click to Read 👉🏻👉🏻	"Mine." The dangerous and menacing voice demanded in front of everyone in the room. "You are mistaken. Her father has already promised her hand to me in marriage. Once she turns 18 we will be marked and mated." Mason announced proudly and another menacing growl erupted from that man's throat. "You are not touching my mate." He growled out through gritted teeth. "He's your mate." Bella whispered. "Who are you?" I asked. "Tyler Lowe. Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack." He announced. And my mouth almost dropped open. __________ I was covered in black and blue bruises and fresh cuts from that beating. But also bruises under the new bruises that were yet to heal. I was malnourished and didn't heal as fast as werewolves. But I was used to it. Ever since my mother died when I was 6 my father has been getting progressively worse until it finally got to this kind of abuse. Which was the worst kind. Where I could barely walk or even look at myself in the mirror. I had a quick shower because the water stung my skin too much and I washed my length snow blonde hair and I came out of the bathroom and walked into my wardrobe. I got dressed into a pair of black tights, a loose fitting shirt and a hoodie over the top. It was pretty much my signature look. When I was putting my books in my bag my bedroom door slammed open and I jumped almost to the ceiling because it scared me so badly. Dad was standing there and I was surprised that he was actually able to stand. "Hurry up. The pack breakfast is starting." He demanded still slurring his words. How was he going to explain that to the pack elders? This was going to be interesting. But I really didn't care. I grabbed my bag and went downstairs and we left our side of the packhouse and walked through long corridors together and when I couldn't keep up with dad's pace he grabbed my arm and dragged me along which only hurt my ribs even more. "Quit your complaining. What is the matter with you?" He snarled at me. I wasn't surprised that he didn't remember. He was too drunk to remember. But when we got to the main part of the pack house he made sure that his clothes were neat and his balding gray hair and goatee weren't disheveled and we walked into the large dining room where a lot of important pack members had breakfast every morning. Including the Alpha, his daughter Bella, the pack elders and other influential people around the pack. Like the doctor ect. There were several tables set out and a buffet where you could eat all you wanted. And I was practically drooling at the food as dad approached it and he piled one plate up with heaps of food and then gave me the second plate with only toast and a pancake on it. I found Bella sitting at a table by herself next to the window. She was the Alpha's second born and only daughter. And my best friend. We're the same age and we've known each other since we were in diapers. "I see you've brought the hoodie out again." Bella whispers as I try to sit down without drawing any attention to myself at how much pain I was in. We all know what it means when we see the hoodie - It's for covering the bruises. "I didn't realize that I ever put it away." I say. "Well, I'm glad that I don't have to wear mine today." She commented. "Yeah. Your dad has eased off of you. Is there a reason why?" I asked curiously and a little jealous. "Yep. Because my brother is coming home today." She beamed at me. And a huge smile spread across my face as well. "You're kidding. Ethan is finally coming home." I say. And she nods her head. I could tell that she was trying everything to hide her excitement. "I can't believe that. That's fantastic." I said. I noticed Bella looking around at the room but she didn't say anything. So I glanced around as well and when I did everyone quickly stopped looking at me. Dad tried to hide his evil side. But he wasn't fooling anyone. When he got drunk, he would always start fights with people and become unbearable. And he was getting drunk a lot more lately. People had an idea of what was going on in our apartment. But no one was willing to go up against the Beta. Because they all knew that the Alpha would be there to support him and they would be kicked out of the pack. Or worse. A lot of pack members lived in fear of our Alpha and Beta. It was a horrible way to live. But if they tried to leave then the Alpha would send warriors after them to kill them. He's done it more than once. The warriors were ordered to kill entire families that were fleeing. Which included children. That's what made this pack the strongest on the East Coast. Because no one was game enough to leave so it was a huge pack and all the warriors trained relentlessly. The only problem was that girls weren't allowed to train. We basically lived in the stone ages. The Alpha believed that she-wolves are only here to find their mates and produce pups for their mates to keep the pack going strong. It was barbaric and insulting. But he was the Alpha. His word was law. "How long do we need to stay here to be respectful? I hate everyone staring at me." I whisper to Bella. "Just a couple more minutes. Then we can leave for school." She whispers back. I then saw the head warrior Mason walk in with his two sidekicks Levi and Lockie trailing behind him and Mason's eyes set straight on me. They got themselves some food and then invited themselves to join me and Bella. Mason sat right next to me and moved his chair over so he could be closer to me, but I squirmed away from him as much as possible. He was big and good looking but he was a horrible person. And I knew that from first hand experience. He was the one that they always called to track down those families that ran away. And I know that he personally killed a child of those fleeing families. I wanted nothing to do with him. "I have exciting news for you Tessa." Mason says, looking at me. "And what is that?" I asked, exhaling while drinking a little coffee. "I have you're fathers blessing." He said slowly. And my head snapped towards him. "What?" I almost shouted and a few people looked our way before they went back to what they were talking about. And Mason was smirking at me. "As soon as you turn 18, I am taking you as my mate." He says. "And what about my true mate? My goddess given mate? What about him? He's out there somewhere." I say. "Who cares. He'll find someone else. Or he'll just wither and die after you reject him. I really don't care. But you will be mine. That's all I've wanted for years." He says lightly while playing with my hair. And I look at Bella pleading with my eyes. "Yeah. We have to get to school now. It was good seeing you Mason." Bella says standing up and I stood up as well. They stayed sitting at the table as us two grabbed our bags and left the dining hall as quickly as we could and we didn't even stop to say goodbye to anyone. Least of all our fathers. But we weren't that lucky. "You two will be home straight after school. We're having a party here tonight with a lot of visiting Alpha's." The Alpha shouted across the room. We both stopped and nodded to him before leaving the house. "I can't believe that your father promised you to that sack of prick." Bella yelled as we were walking down the road. "I can. My father knows his own kind." I say. "I am so sorry Tess. What are you going to do?" Bella asked sympathetically. "I don't know. But I'll figure something out. Even if I have to run away before it can happen. I will definitely do that." I declare. "Well, tell me before you do. I'm coming with you." She says. "Sounds like a plan." I say. And then a black BMW stopped right in our walkway and we stopped before we hit the car and we both stepped back not knowing what to expect right now. Then a 6 foot 4 man with short brown hair and cleanly shaved with muscles that looked like they were going to rip his shirt off his body got out of the driver's seat and smiled at both of us. "What? Don't I even get a hug?" He asked. "Ethan." Bella yelled, jumping into his arms. And the other door opened to reveal an equally big man with dirty blonde hair and a little facial hair got out of the passenger seat. That was Ethan's best friend Wyatt. When Bella finally let Ethan go he walked over to me and hugged me and I winced a little in pain but tried to hide it and then I hugged Wyatt. And I had to do the same thing. "Are you hurt?" Ethan asked. "Yeah. It was stupid. Rough housing with a couple of the warriors and this is what happened. I should know better." I lied through my teeth. "Girls aren't allowed to train. Why are you rough housing with warriors?" Wyatt asked. "I don't know. It seemed like a good idea at the time." I shrugged. " Come on Bells, we're gonna be late." I say. "We'll see you tonight." Bella says hugging Ethan again and we start walking off down the road again. But when I looked to the side I could see Ethan and Wyatt leaning against the side of their car watching us and talking about something. I was afraid that they didn't believe my rough housing with the warrior's excuse. "Bella. What would Ethan do if he found out about my dad?" I asked nervously. "You know Ethan as well as I do. What do you think he would do to your dad?" Bella responded confidently. "Just wait until he finds out that your dad gave you away to Mason. Ethan has always hated Mason. I don't think that mating will go through if Ethan is here. That's a good thing." Bella says. "Yeah. I'll take your word for it." I say skeptically. My father always had his way of getting his own way. No matter what it was. If he wanted me to mark and mate with Mason, then it was pretty much as good as done. When we got to school we walked inside and we went to Bella's locker first and then mine. Everyone obviously knew who we were but they kept their distance from us. Both of our fathers were known for being crazy. And no one wanted to mess with the Alpha or Beta's daughters. So we only had each other at school. Which was fine with us. The further we stayed away from people, the least likely they were to find out about what was actually happening in our house. When we got to our first class we sat at the back of the classroom as usual and I pulled out my notebook and pen and started scribbling on the page in front of me. When our geography teacher arrived and started the class I just sat there with my head on my hand scribbling in my book and barely paying attention. When I was 6 years old I woke up in the morning to my 26-year-old mother and my 48-year-old father screaming at each other in our old house. The one that we had before we moved to the packhouse. I stayed in bed for ages because I couldn't find the courage to get out of bed and go out there to see what was going on. I could hear things smashing and my mother screaming at my father. I then heard the slap that he gave my mother while yelling at her. And that's when I got out of bed. I opened my door and slowly crept down the hallway and stood at the kitchen doorway and my mother was on the floor holding her face and dad was standing over her. She saw me standing there and scrambled to her feet. "It's alright sweetie. I'm alright. Hey, why don't you go and get dressed and then you can go outside and play with Bella. How does that sound?" My mother asked, crouching down to my level. But I just shook my head and looked at my father before I turned back to my room and I closed the door. I started getting dressed but their fight wasn't over. I could still hear them screaming at each other and I was shaking while I was buttoning up my shirt. But I managed to get dressed and I walked back to the kitchen. My father was storming out the backdoor from what I could see and my mother was holding a rag to her bloody nose. "Why does daddy get so angry all the time?" I asked. "I don't know sweetie. He just does. Hey, are you all ready? I think Bella is alright outside. I saw her playing in the playground earlier. Why don't you go and find her while I clean up this mess and all the broken glass." Mummy says to me. "Okay mummy." I say. And I hugged her before I walked outside and Bella was still at the playground. I got on the swing next to her and she looked at me and then back to the house. "I could hear your daddy screaming from here." Bella says. But I just nod my head. She knew that meant that I didn't want to talk about it. " Do you wanna go and annoy Ethan. He's with his friends." She says. And I smile at that and shake my head. So we jumped off the swings and went running to find Ethan so we could annoy him. Something that we loved to do all the time. And it always cheered us up. I was snapped out of my thoughts by Bella nudging me so I looked at her and she pointed down at the picture that I was absent mindedly drawing. It was a big snarling wolf attacking a woman and child. I quickly changed the page and started paying attention to the class that we were in. Try to get my mind to concentrate on what needs to be done at school. The day went by pretty quickly and before we knew it, it was time to head home. But we always took our time before going home. We slowly went to our lockers to get our things and then we headed outside but we saw that same black BMW sitting out the front waiting for us. "Ethan. What are you doing here?" Bella asked. "I'm giving you guys a lift home." He responded with a beaming smile. "It's alright. We can walk. It's not that far." I say. "Too bad. Get in." Ethan ordered. So we got in his car and he actually took us into town instead of taking us home. "The Alpha told us to get home straight after school because of that party tonight." I told Ethan. "Don't worry. Dad and the Beta know that you girls are with me. I told them before I picked you guys up. Don't worry. You won't get in trouble." Ethan assured us. Ethan took us to an ice cream store downtown and took us inside. "You do know that we're not 10 years old anymore, right?" I asked Ethan. "I know. But I thought we could all sit down and talk." He says. "A coffee shop would have been better." I say sitting down. The other two got ice cream but I didn't order anything. "So Tessa, how are the ribs going?" Ethan asked. "Pretty good. I think they're just bruised. They'll be back to normal soon." I say. "Yeah. Thank goddess for werewolf healing." Ethan says. And I just smile at him. "So Bells, how has dad been since I left? Has he gotten any worse?" Ethan asked. "About the same, I guess." Bella says eating a bit of her ice cream and then she side eyed me. But unfortunately, Ethan managed to see us. But he didn't say anything about it. I had a really bad feeling that he only brought us here to fish for information. He was asking too many questions and I didn't really like it. So I kept quiet for most of that ice cream adventure and Bella and Ethan just kept talking like always. Like they were just talking about old times. When we got back to the packhouse Ethan said that he needed to go run some errands for his dad before the party so Bella and I went inside. Both of our dad's were sitting in the living room waiting for us and we knew that couldn't be good. "We are having people here in a few hours and you two have been out galavanting with Ethan." The Alpha says. "He picked us up from school. What did you want us to do? If we didn't go with him then he knew that something would have been up." I defended us while Bella sank back a little. She was never able to stand up against them. "Well, now you two have a lot of work to do, don't you. There's cooking that needs to be done and all the bedrooms in the packhouse need to be ready in case anyone decides to stay over." My father says. "I'll go and help Bella with the rooms and then I will get started in the kitchen." I say. "There's not enough time. Bella can clean the bedrooms. That means scrub the bathrooms, change the sheets, vacuum, everything. In every bedroom in this packhouse. And Tessa, you need to get started on appetizers, then the first course, then the second course, then the main course and then dessert." The Alpha ordered. "Yes sir." I say. I looked at Bella and we had to head in separate directions. I went to the kitchen and there was no one there. Hardly any omega's worked at the packhouse because the Alpha and dad made us two girls do everything. It was a wonder that we were even allowed to go to school most of the time. But I grabbed some ingredients out and I started making the main course because it would take hours to cook and then I got started on several different appetizers to give the guests some variety. While I was in the kitchen my father walked in and he lingered behind me and I could feel my whole body tense up but he stood behind me watching me. He didn't even try to move any closer to me. He was just intimidating me. That's all it was to him. A game. He thought it was funny. By the time everything was ready the omega's arrived because they had to serve the food and I went up the backstairs to our apartment and I went straight to my bedroom. I had a shower and I couldn't even bear to look at myself in the mirror this time, so I just had a quick shower and I got out and went to the wardrobe. I got dressed into a floor length gown with a white strapless bodice with a light pink floral lace over the top that also went over my shoulders to make the straps and black the skirt of it was plain black and black strappy high heels. I then brushed my length snow blonde hair and I put on a silver and diamond bracelet and matching earrings. But I kept my neck out, except for my hair hanging down. And then I started to walk downstairs. I made it to the main area of the house and I stopped at Bella's room just as she was coming out and she was looking a little nervous about this party. "Alright. Just relax and greet a few people. There's nothing to worry about. Once we do that then us two can sit at one of the tables in the ballroom and everyone else can do whatever it is that they do." I told her. "Alright. You know I hate these parties. Getting all dressed up. It's like our father's are putting us on display." She says. "That's exactly what they're doing. And they know it too. Come on, before they get pissed at us for being too long." I say hooking my arm around hers and we started walking down the hall. We walked down the staircase and off to the right was the living room but all the furniture had been cleared out of it and the rooms adjacent to it so people would walk around freely and talk and have a good time. And the main ballroom was set up for dancing while the dining room had been lined with four very long tables that could easily seat a couple hundred people. Walking to the living room was really nerve wracking but I made sure that I held my head high and people did look at us. "It's only because we are the hottest ones here. Just remember that." I whispered to Bella as I felt her tense up. And we continued walking into the room. Alpha's from other packs would come over and introduce themselves and of course we needed to be on our best behavior and represent the pack well and we were nice and polite to everyone and we would have light conversations with people. I noticed that there were older Alpha's with their teenage sons who were obviously learning the ropes to becoming Alpha's themselves and there were others in their 20's and 30's that were there with friends or even their Beta's. I wasn't sure. We had been at the party for about 20 minutes mingling when a familiar scent filled my nose and strong arms wrapped around my waist and I knew immediately that it was Mason. "Take note of the people that you like in this room sweetie. We can invite them to our wedding." Mason hissed in my ear while smelling the crook of my neck. I tried to unravel his arms from around my stomach because I was now in a lot of pain with the broken ribs but he wasn't letting go for anything. I didn't have the strength to get him to let go. All of a sudden there was a growl that ripped through the room and the band stopped playing and I heard something smash. Like it was a wooden chair or something. Everyone looked in that direction and there was a man standing there that I had never noticed before. He would have been in his early 20's, brown hair to his shoulders, a brown goatee, 6-foot 6 at least and very defined muscles that were now tense as his intense gaze was staring directly at me and Mason. But I didn't know who he was. I was frozen in the spot and this man was just staring at us with pure hatred in his eyes. But then I realized that the hatred was for Mason. Not me. "Mine." He demanded. "Mine." The dangerous and menacing voice demanded in front of everyone in the room. All the Alpha's from nearby packs and even ones that have traveled long distances to be here. Mason finally loosened his grip around me and I noticed the woman standing next to that stranger with a horrified look on her face. She tried to grab his arm but he shook her off and marked towards Mason and me. I very subtly pushed Bella to the side away from where this man was coming for us. Just in case anything happened, she could be ready to duck and cover. "You are mistaken. Her father has already promised her hand to me in marriage. Once she turns 18 we will be marked and mated." Mason announced proudly and another menacing growl erupted from that man's throat. "You are not touching my mate." He growled out through gritted teeth. "He's your mate." Bella whispered. "Who are you?" I asked. "Tyler Lowe. Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack." He announced. And my mouth almost dropped open. They were a large pack. They were known for their strength. They were not to be messed with. I knew of their pack, but I had never met their Alpha and didn't know what his name was. "She is not your mate. She has been promised to me." Mason gritted out. This was going to get out of hand. Really quickly. But another man stood in and placed his hand on Tyler's shoulder. "My name is Cade. I am Tyler's Beta. And I'm sure you know young man that it is against werewolf rules and nature to come between a wolf and his mate. Especially that of an Alpha wolf." Cade educated Mason. "I know the laws. And I don't care. Her father promised her to me. And she will be mine." Mason insisted and Cade had to hold Tyler back after that.	LEARN_MORE	https://b.chaptersapps.com/ad/L0NoYXB0ZXJzLyR7bGlu	Hut001	https://www.facebook.com/61550056771112/	194	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	b.chaptersapps.com	VIDEO		https://b.chaptersapps.com/ad/L0NoYXB0ZXJzLyR7bGlua0lkfS8xNzQwMzc1NTYxODEzL3BhZ2V3YmFqcQ==?adid={{ad.id}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481221648_1312533933132310_3135480120942436205_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TfIYLu7qlLsQ7kNvgHE4TDA&_nc_oc=AdgRRWGdv9pL7gOlypdsBxokYdo8eOHbtdyv6VSWtElgg2dql8SOt6aEyow74BNS1kRR1jgKjygAAfPdjUdpcacW&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A6qPBRj0lu00BPyzq5H4d37&oh=00_AYBp7n_uiSTl1UEvE2WmG8-C3UFgRv19sJrUAHHKdTRVNQ&oe=67CB37FE	PERSON_PROFILE	Hut001	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,008	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747		The family was happy that the real daughter had returned. As she prepared to leave, the real daughter accused her of copying her designs. Everyone expected her to be humiliated, but unexpectedly, she stunned everyone by revealing her ownership of billion-dollar design patents, striking back and turning the tables. ===== "Take this for your journey. You're set on returning to your original family, and I won't hold you back. It is just that the place you're headed is impoverished and I doubt anyone will even be there to greet you..." Liam Gill, whom Harlee Sanderson had addressed as dad for years, pressed a few hundred-dollar bills into her hand. Downstairs at the Gill family villa, a spirited celebration filled the hall, while upstairs, Harlee quietly folded her clothes into her suitcase. Liam sighed. Just three days earlier, Adelina Gill had shown up holding a DNA report, proving she was his biological daughter. The revelation had sent the entire Gill family into turmoil. Follow-up tests had confirmed that Harlee, the girl who'd been part of their family for years, was not related to them by bl*d. Now that Adelina had returned, the Gills poured all their affection on her, making up for lost time. They treated her like a treasure, eager to erase the suffering she'd endured over the years. Meanwhile, Harlee's last name had been changed that very night. Liam quickly dispatched people to the countryside to locate her real parents. So far, there had been no replies. Today was all about Adelina. The festivities focused on welcoming her as the genuine daughter of the Gill family. "You have such soft skin, and these clothes have been selected with care..." Liam said softly, feeling mixed emotions as he helped Harlee sort through her wardrobe. "You should take these outfits. They're high quality. But when you go back to the countryside, I suppose..." According to the hospital, Harlee's biological parents had visited Adenarora when she was born. They left the next day and returned to their small village. To make matters worse, her parents lived in Osemery's notorious slums, a place infamous for its poverty and crime, where people were often unfriendly and violence was common. Liam surmised Harlee's future there didn't look bright. She wouldn't just lose the luxury she was used to. It seemed, soon enough, she'd be given in marriage to some country bumpkin without any say in the matter. Harlee looked at the cash Liam had pressed into her hand with a blank face. She set the money down on the bedside table. "I'm heading out now." After saying this, Harlee grabbed her suitcase and walked past the people loitering in the hallway. She moved on without glancing back. Averie Gill, Liam's wife, frowned with disdain. "What's with that attitude? Is she upset because it's not enough money for her? For God's sake, we've spent so much on her over the years, especially those beautiful, pricey clothes! How dare she act this way now? Humph! Once she walks out that door, the future ahead of her is nothing but dismal." "Mom, please don't take Harlee's attitude personally. It's only normal for her to be upset about losing her comfortable life abruptly. She's just throwing a little fit. There's no need to be mad at her," Adelina said softly, her tone filled with feigned concern. Adelina knew a bit about Harlee's background after the investigation. Harlee's biological parents were the poorest in the village with their family grave being defaced yet lacking money to fix it. Worse, Harlee's biological parents had five hungry sons, with a sick mother and a disabled father to care for. Harlee wasn't just returning to a rundown area. It was more like a nightmare. Adelina smiled gently, masking her glee. "I'll go say goodbye to Harlee." Once Harlee was out of sight, Liam let out a sigh and turned to Averie. "We raised her. She's leaving everything she's ever known. Don't be too harsh on her." "Harsh? Come on!" Averie shot back. "Her worthless parents might have switched babies on purpose to make our precious daughter suffer. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. How could I possibly feel sorry for Harlee?" Harlee took the side exit, trying to steer clear of the banquet hall altogether. Adelina caught up with her, wearing a sugary smile. "Harlee, I really need to apologize about my thing with Collin. I know you were supposed to marry him, but he just fell head over heels for me." It felt less like an apology and more like a brag. Collin George came from a powerful family that matched the Gills. He had been engaged to Harlee, but now, with everything that had happened, the future bride had changed. "Collin has always been so sweet and caring. Honestly, I hate to flaunt our love in front of you, but he can't help it. Harlee, I hope this hasn't upset you too much," Adelina said, feigning concern. Harlee raised her eyebrows, wearing an indifferent smile. "Watching two fols date is hilarious. Why would I be upset?" Chapter 2 The Kind Real Daughter And The Vicious Fake One "Harlee!" Adelina shouted, her face bright red with anger. Harlee had just insulted her and Collin. Such audacity! Harlee's grin widened. "You and Collin are just perfect together. One kicks people when they're down, and the other follows the money." Adelina had just returned to the Gill family for only three days, and Collin appeared to be already smitten. Harlee found it all hilarious. Just as Adelina was about to lose her temper and hurl insults at Harlee, she noticed Averie coming down the stairs. In an instant, Adelina pressed her lips together, tears threatening to spill from her eyes as she adopted a pitiful expression. She quickly wiped away her fake tears. Averie took in the scene, her anger boiling over. She hurried over and yelled, "Harlee, it's unsurprising that your biological parents are impoverished rustic individuals. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Your lack of manners is quite apparent! You couldn't leave without taking one last jab at Adelina? Should I just throw you out?" "No manners? Maybe it's because that's the way you raised me," Harlee shot back, her smile dripping with sarcasm. Harlee had never met her real parents. When Averie claimed that Harlee lacked manners after so many years of living with the Gills, she was actually insulting the Gill family. Averie had never seen Harlee so sharp-tongued before. She pressed her hand to her chest, as if she might faint from anger. Adelina's eyes turned red, her face showing feigned concern. "Harlee, I understand you're upset. Though you are no longer part of the Gill family, I found you a job in the countryside. If you work hard, you can support yourself." Adelina held up a recommendation letter, which Harlee glanced at. It was for a cleaning job at a motel in a small town. Adelina attempted to place the letter in Harlee's hands but accidentally knocked Harlee's bag to the floor, sending a small sketchbook tumbling out. The guests in the banquet hall spotted it, their eyes growing wide with disbelief. Everyone knew Adelina had recently been celebrated as a genius in fashion design. She always carried her sketchbook with her. Soon, she would become the creative director at the Gill family's fashion company. Adelina's face twisted in mock shock as she covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes. "Harlee, why do you have my sketchbook in your bag?" Harlee frowned, feeling annoyed. Once again, Adelina had set her up. "How could you steal Adelina's design sketches?" Averie's expression darkened, and she raised her voice at Harlee. "You cold-hearted thief! Were you trying to rob Adelina of her future? With those designs, you could get into any fashion company! You really have some nerve. You're just a thankless snake!" At the commotion, Liam frowned and walked over. "What's going on here?" Adelina's eyes filled with tears. "Mom, dad, please don't hold it against Harlee. She must have been reluctant to leave the Gill family and therefore did something desperate. It's fine. I can always come up with new designs." "Those designs are essential for you to take over as director! Our family depends on them, too! Harlee stealing them isn't just hurting you. She's putting our whole family at risk. She's just heartless. Stop trying to defend her!" Averie snapped, her voice dripping with anger. "Mom, I'm sure Harlee didn't mean to do it..." Adelina tugged at Averie's sleeve, her voice sounding calm and compassionate. Adelina then turned to Harlee. "Harlee, I know you're afraid of having nothing once you leave the Gill family, but I can't let you keep these sketches. Yet, I will help you get a job at a clothing factory in your hometown. Please work hard and no more thieving. Just stop these sneaky tricks, okay?" The bystanders couldn't help but watch the scene unfold, each of them praising Adelina. "Adelina is simply amazing. She's not only gifted in design but also incredibly magnanimous. She's a true Gill all the way." "What's the use of stealing Adelina's sketches? Does Harlee even know how to design? She's just trying to grab what doesn't belong to her. How could she stoop to this low?" "Everyone knows how much Adelina values her designs. Even with her future at stake, she still defends Harlee. Adelina is way too kind, while Harlee is just vicious!" Amid the guests' praises, Adelina raised her head, looking gentle and virtuous. "After all, Harlee was once part of the Gill family. If I can help her, I will." The guests kept on voicing their thoughts, their opinions of Harlee sinking while their admiration for Adelina grew. They noted that while Adelina might not have been as stunning, her heart was far kinder than Harlee's. Harlee's eyes swept over the guests surrounding her. Most of them appeared to watch the situation unfold with interest, more eager to voice their opinions than uncover the truth. Eventually, Harlee's gaze landed on Adelina, who donned a smug face. Harlee had actually gone through this particular sketchbook. On Adelina's very first day back home, she had taken it out during dinner, sketching dramatically in front of everyone, eager to show off her talent for fashion design. Not satisfied yet, Adelina aimed to boost her own reputation as a design genius by misleading the guests into believing Harlee had stolen her sketchbook. Harlee scoffed. Did Adelina really not see who she was imitating, or was she just that foolish? Adelina's sketchbook held over two hundred designs, but the funniest thing was that the fifty best ones were outright copies of the latest collections from top brands. Adelina had taken beautiful, high-end designs and twisted them into complicated, tasteless mixtures, robbing them of their original grace and simplicity. Instead of couture, it resembled homework wrapped up in haste from some design major students. Worse, Harlee even spotted some of her own designs that she had previously shared online. Clearly, Adelina had been living in a fantasy for so long that she might have started to believe herself to be a design genius. Harlee's lips curled into a sarcastic smile, and her intense gaze locked onto Adelina, seeing through her antics. At Harlee's charming smile, an unshakeable feeling of unease washed over Adelina. ...... How will Harlee fight back? Can Harlee successfully find her biological parents? 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) &4&	LEARN_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreader.net/65237322-fb_contact-e	Fun reading A	https://www.facebook.com/61569549552159/	23	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	fbweb.moboreader.net	VIDEO		https://fbweb.moboreader.net/65237322-fb_contact-enj94_2-1207-core1.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=060236&jump=0&exdata=F174D85A3D691970703E9ABC1863CF8418E15D8C1450F4D2	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/482274348_9221802181241415_943562216515699448_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4Vh3vduL-XQQ7kNvgFscmxw&_nc_oc=Adh6e9fMWNiQsAMtXAh60TUgbL7hGZX2D-ruZ7W8_yQqk2u9p79oLybQiKBvaleTVuCRtme02Rctcf7_eoIe5Fmt&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=Aq7tEc2RDk5HvzWEZKWmWxn&oh=00_AYAGfTSo61dnBw7HvquK5Bwrv7s0JT8dcB7faqDKJPuD7g&oe=67CB5BA9	PERSON_PROFILE	Fun reading A	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,232	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	🔞Attention! Do not read in public！📖	Today was supposed to be the day my fated mate and I got engaged. But now I’m watching him kiss another woman. Marrying her could make him the future Alpha because she’s the daughter of Gavin Landry, the most powerful Lycan chairman in the world. A couple of months ago, our Alpha died during a battle, and now all the candidates are competing for that position, including my mate, Ethan. Everyone knows the Lycans control the werewolf population. And Gavin? He could singlehandedly appoint everyone the new Alpha. So, Ethan made his choice. Her, not me. “Get me a whiskey and a martini for the lady,” A deep voice sounded from nearby. “Is it the future bride, or the future groom that’s got you in a mood?” “I’m just not into parties,” I decided to say. “Nor am I,” he murmured. “I’m here out of obligation.” The bartender placed my drink in front of me and I immediately took a sip, sighing in contentment. I waited for it to do its job and finish numbing the pain. Every time Ethan kissed her it destroyed me a little more. How had my life taken such a devastating turn? How could my fated mate do this to me? Did our 2 years together truly mean nothing? Did the mark on my neck mean that little to him? “Thank you for the drink,” I told the man. I took one last sip of my martini and started to get down from the stool, except my blouse snagged on the corner of the counter and just as I heard a tearing sound, I began to fall to the ground. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact, but it never came. Instead, I felt strong arms wrapping around my body, lifting me into the air. I opened my eyes and peeked up at the man who caught me, and my breath hitched. He was so handsome. He held me with ease as if I weighed nothing and I could tell from the feeling of his arms around me that he was muscular. He smiled down at me and a dimple appeared on his right cheek. I wanted to lick that dimple. “Madam, are you falling for me?” He asked teasingly. I stared at him for a heartbeat longer before I squinted my eyes at him, seeing what he did there. “You’re a funny one, aren’t you?” He grinned. Then he looked at my shirt and immediately frowned. “Let me take you to my suite upstairs,” he said, making my heart skip a beat. “What?” I said in barely a whisper. His eyes met mine and I got lost in their beauty for a moment. Goddess, his good looks were sinful. “Your shirt is ripped. I have one you can wear upstairs in my VIP suite,” he explained. I blinked a couple of times and gave a nervous chuckle. “Oh, alright. Thank you,” I managed to sputter. He turned to the bartender. “Charge our drinks to my suite,” he ordered. “Yes, sir.” I allowed the man to carry me out of the room. His arms were so warm that I found myself resting my head against his broad chest, breathing in his minty scent. My wolf was practically purring in my mind. She’d been quiet for most of the evening while she licked the wounds the broken mate bond had caused. But right now, it was as if she had forgotten she was heartbroken. “Take off your shirt,” he instructed once we were in the suite. He had released me and was walking to the closet. “Excuse me?” I squeaked. “So, you can put on a new shirt,” he explained. “Right,” I breathed. I lifted my ripped shirt over my head and threw it onto the bed, leaving me in only my innerwear from the waist up. Once he found a shirt, he turned around to face me, and his entire body froze as his eyes trailed down my body. I was too busy checking him out to notice him staring at me but the longer I stared at him, the more I started to recognize him. Then, realization struck me, and I gasped. “It’s you…” I breathed, taking a step back. His eyes shifted upward and met mine; his brow arched. “You know me?” He asked. “I know of you,” I clarified. The corner of his lips tipped upward as he walked towards me, slowly, as if he were stalking his prey. I could practically hear the sounds of my heartbeat. “And what do you know of me?” “Only what I’ve heard…” I admitted. “And what have you heard?” “You’re Gavin Landry, Lycan Chairman. You’re a heartbreaker. You have a new woman each week and you never sleep with the same woman twice.” He raised his brows. “Is that so?” He asked. “Tell me more about myself.” Heck, he's the father of the bride and Ethan's future father-in-law? I'm confused, I don't know what I should do. But I'm not surprised I didn't recognize him at first. The Lycan family isn't high profile, they're more used to staying behind the scenes than becoming politicians and celebrities like werewolf Alpha. Should I tell him who I am? But that would be foolish at this moment. He continued to walk towards me, and I continued to walk backward until my back hit the wall. “What more do you want to know?” I asked, my voice coming out breathy. “Everything.” I’m not sure if it was the martini speaking or me, but I decided to be bold. If Ethan can indulge himself in someone new, then so could I. I lifted my gaze to meet his as he neared closer. “Your eyes…” I started to say. “I’ve heard that they were mesmerizing, and I must agree.” “What else?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “When you smile, you have this adorable dimple on your cheek…” I whispered. He was only inches from me now, staring so intently at me that I thought I would burn up under his scrutiny. He licked his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth. “And your lips…” Before I could finish that sentence, his mouth crashed into mine. His kiss was anything but soft and sweet but filled with hunger and possession. I kissed him with just as much eagerness. His tongue made its way to mine, tasting every inch of me. He lifted me into the air, my body pinned between the wall and him. Instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist and allowed him to deepen the kiss. His tongue trailed down the nape of my neck and warmth spread across my body as I felt him nibbling my soft flesh. All self-control and common sense left my mind the moment we kissed. All I could think about was Gavin; he consumed my mind, body, and soul entirely. I pulled at his tie, wanting to take it and his shirt off. He helped me undo his tie and then lifted his shirt over his head, tossing it to the ground. I let my fingers explore his body; they roamed over his torso and up his broad shoulders. I moaned into his mouth as his tongue found mine again. “Are you sure you want this?” He asked between kisses. “Yes,” I rasped out. “We are both willing adults, so why not?” We kissed again and just as he was about to take off my innerwear, I received a tearful mindlink from my adoptive mother. “Judy! Please, come home!” She sounded panicked; my mother never panicked. Hearing her voice was like cold water being dumped on my head and I gasped. I let my legs fall from around him and I pressed against his chest. “Stop,” I said breathlessly. “I have to go.” He frowned. “I don’t have much patience; stop joking,” he says, a hint of anger in his tone. “I’m so sorry. But I’m sure you have plenty of other options,” I said and started to run towards the door, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me. I whirl around to face him, my own anger rushing to the surface but before I can say anything, he points to the bed. “Your shirt is ripped, remember?” I looked down at my innerwear with a frown. “Oh…” He sighed, grabbing his shirt and putting it over my head. I inhaled deeply and warmth spread throughout my body; it smelled like him. …… The moment I stepped into the house; I could hear my mother sobbing. “Judy?” My mother sobbed; I could hear that she was in the kitchen and my heart stuttered at the sound of her broken voice. “Your father was taken away by the Gammas tonight.” Chapter 2 Judy’s POV My heart fell into my stomach. “What?!” I gasped. We lived in a decent-sized house; my adoptive father, being a successful businessman and a Delta of the Redmoon pack, had a lot of money. “He was arrested,” she explained. “He made a bad investment for the company, and he ended up losing all the money. He went completely bankrupt and now he owes the pack so much money. Until he pays it, they put him in jail.” “They can’t just come and take him away like this,” I said, standing to my feet, hardly able to contain my emotions. “Without any warning? That’s not fair!” “They can do whatever they want. The Beta is under the jurisdiction of the Lycans, and it was his decision. Loan sharks are ruthless, and nobody wishes to deal with them. It’s easier to just get rid of the problem and right now… your father is the problem.” Before I could say anything more, my phone started to ring. I reached into my bag and pulled it out. I frowned when I saw the name flash across the screen. “I heard about your father,” Ethan’s voice was soft as he spoke, and my traitorous heart skipped a beat. I hated how my body responded to him still; it was because of this foolish mate bond. Even though he rejected me, and I accepted it, that didn’t mean it severed our bond. It won’t be severed until he marks someone else.“I might have a suggestion though. But I’d like to tell you in person. Come outside.” I quickly left the kitchen and walked out of the house. Ethan was leaning against his car with his arms folded across his chest. Goddess, I hated how good he looked. I had been in love with him for longer than 2 years. He was my friend, my confidant, my fated mate. When he rejected me, it destroyed everything I had dreamt of. I wrapped my arms around my body, desperately trying to hold myself together. “Why are you here?” I asked him after a long and awkward silence. “I wanted to talk to you,” he replied. “Why?” The corner of his lips tipped upwards as he stared at me; I nearly melted under his scrutiny, and I had to shift my gaze to look at the ground. “Because I can help you,” he answered. “Your father’s funding chain is broken, and he now owes a lot of money. I know for a fact that he doesn’t have that kind of money, especially now that his business has gone under. But I do.” I lifted my gaze to meet him; he was serious. “Are you saying you’d pay my father’s debt?” I asked him. He nodded. “Yes,” he answered. “And what would we have to do in return?” I asked, almost afraid to ask. He smirked, which gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. “There is a condition,” he confessed. I waited silently for him to continue, my eyes never leaving his. “After I get married, I want you to drop out of school and become my mistress.” I couldn’t have heard him correctly; I stared at him with my jaw practically on the ground. “Excuse me?” I managed to sputter. “You want me to what??” “Drop out of school and become my mistress. I already have a luxurious home for you to live in. You would never have to want for anything. I’ll pay off your father’s debt and give you more money than you could dream of.” “How… how could you ask me to do such a thing?” I asked in a choked whisper; tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I kept them away, not wanting him to see my break. He stepped closer to me, and I felt rooted to the ground, unable to move away. My wolf was whimpering about his request; she couldn’t believe our mate could ask such a thing from us. She was gutted and I hated that she was put in this position. “Because we’ve always been so good together, Judy,” he said, reaching out and touching my arm gently. “We will always have this strong connection, even if I mark someone else. You and your family would be set for life… all you have to do is say yes…” He was rubbing his fingers up and down my arms and I felt sick to my stomach. I finally found the strength to step away from him, my body trembling. “No,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I would never become your mistress.” His eyes darkened. “I’m about to become the Alpha, Judy. You must get with the times. Becoming my mistress would only benefit you and plus, don’t you want your father out of jail?” “I will find another way,” I said through my teeth. “If that’s all you came here to say, then I’ve heard enough. You can leave.” He raised his brows as he stared at me. He studied me for a moment longer like he expected me to change his mind at any moment. “You’ll change your mind,” he told me as he stepped away from me and towards his car. “And when you do, I’ll be here. But until then, your father will remain in prison.” “I’ll figure it out,” I said to his retreating back. “We don’t need you, Ethan!” He chuckled as he opened his car door and then he turned back to gaze into my eyes. “In order to get him out of prison, you’ll need at least 5 million dollars. When you realize that there’s no other option, you’ll come to your senses. I’m sure of it.” Without another word, he got into his car. I watched as he drove away, disappearing into the night. It was only when he disappeared that I allowed myself to fall to the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks before I could stop them. 5 million dollars? How was I going to come up with that kind of money? —————— I had two classes this morning and one later in the afternoon. My first class was warrior training, and my second class was shifting, both of which I excelled at. I was going to college for Gamma training so that once I graduated, I could prove myself to the Gamma force and become a warrior. Then I would easily be able to pay off my father’s debt and save my family. “You look terrible,” my best friend, Nan, pointed out as I sat beside her against the large Oaktree; the very tree we always met up at. “It was a rough night,” I admitted as I took out my textbook to study. “Where did you go last night? When I returned, you were gone. Did you leave early because of the engagement party?” I bit my lower lip as I thought about what to say to her. “I ripped my shirt, and someone brought me into his room to change,” I said, feeling my cheeks growing warm at the memory. She raised her brows, and I could barely look at her. “You went to someone’s room?” She asked. “Whose?” I was quiet for a moment, and she grabbed my arm, getting my attention. “Judy, who did you leave with?” She asked, now her voice was filled with alarm. I knew there was no getting out of this conversation. I bit my lip and peeked up at her through my lashes. “Gavin Landry,” I squeaked. Chapter 3 Judy’s POV “Shut up!” She gasped. “Are you serious?? You went to Gavin Landry’s VIP suite? As in THE Gavin Landry?!” I nearly tackled her; she was being so loud! “Keep your voice down!” I scolded, attempting to cover her mouth with my hands but she was too quick and dodged me. “How can I possibly keep it down when my best friend went to Gavin Landry’s hotel room last night and waited until now to tell me!” She exclaimed. Nan was a waitress at the hotel restaurant the engagement party was at last night. The hotel, called Carter Resorts, was in the human territory, and it was owned by Patrick Carter, the Delta of the Silver Crescent pack. Which happened to be Gavin Landry’s pack. I wasn’t surprised to see Gavin there last night, especially considering his daughter was the bride-to-be. I was less surprised to see that he had a VIP suite at the hotel. I sighed. “It all happened so fast, and I had a bit too much to drink,” I admitted. “I forgot when I got home because other stuff happened.” I wrapped my arms around my body and looked up at her concerned eyes. “What else happened?” She asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. I took a deep breath, and I told Nan everything that happened, right up until Ethan came over and asked me to be his mistress in exchange for him paying off my father’s debt. By the time I finished talking, Nan’s jaw had dropped. “The nerve of that scum!” She hissed. “How dare he! He rejected you and now he wants you to be his bit on the side?! He has zero shame.” “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, Nan,” I whispered. “There’s no way I could come up with 5 million dollars to pay off my father’s debt.” We both fell silent as our thoughts consumed us and then her face lit up. I knew that look well and it grew nervous as a smile spread across her face. I knew right away that she had an idea, and I also knew that I wasn’t going to like it. “You said that he gave you his shirt to wear?” She asked. I nodded. She gasped and grabbed my arm. “Isn’t it obvious, Judy? Gavin is into you. That’s the only reason he’d give you his shirt. He wanted his scent on you! He's very picky. In all my time as a waitress, you're the first woman he's ever offered.” I gawked at her. She had officially lost her mind. “Gavin’s not into me,” I said, shaking my head. “He gave me his shirt because mine ripped. There was nothing to it.” “Why would he even care?” Nan asked, folding her arms across her chest. “He’s Gavin Landry and doesn’t need to care about any of this. Besides, you mentioned that he kissed you heatedly. You were ready to go all the way with him, which is huge because you were planning on waiting until after you were married. There had to be some kind of connection last night.” I glanced at my hands. “Or maybe I was just hurting and wanted to get back at Ethan,” I murmured. “Plus, I had a little too much to drink.” “Drunk actions are sober thoughts or something like that,” she said, waving away my words. Then, she smirked. “You could use this to your advantage. Do you still have that lingerie you bought for your wedding night? You should pay Gavin a little visit and make him an offer he can’t refuse.” ___ I knew it was a bad idea the moment she spoke the words, but her words continued to replay in my mind for the remainder of the day and night. When I woke up the next morning, my mind was made up. I went to my closet and grabbed my red lingerie. I had only tried it on once and I felt a little self-conscious wearing it, but I knew the night of my wedding when I finally gave myself over to Ethan fully, it wouldn’t matter what I was wearing. My heart ached at the thought, and I quickly brushed it out of my head before I started to cry again. I dressed in the lingerie, and I grabbed a long trench coat, wrapping it around my body. I left my hair down and I put on a little makeup to make my features pop. For the last day or so, my mother had either been speaking on the phone to lawyers, visiting my father in prison, or in her room. I had barely seen or spoken to her since I told her Ethan wasn’t going to help us. I hated knowing I disappointed her, but hopefully, this would fix all our problems. It was no secret where Gavin’s office was; everybody knew the famous Gavin Landry Corporation. When I walked through the front door, the receptionist was typing on her computer. She barely spared me a look as I approached the desk. “Good morning, I’m here to see Gavin Landry,” I said as politely as I could. The receptionist looked upward at me and blinked a couple of times, looking less than amused. “Do you have an appointment?” “Uh, no, but—” “Look, I don’t have time for this. Countless women come in here and request to speak with Gavin and I’m going to tell you what I tell them. Mr. Landry is incredibly busy, and he doesn’t have time or patience to be dealing with another fan girl,” she said bitterly. “And what gives you the right to turn away those who come to see me?” A deep voice boomed.	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2,731,757	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	🔞🔥Click to Read more about📜Ellison And Joycelyn: A Love Beyond The Rules📜	💖🔞💋Joycelyn Maynard slept with her boss after the company retreat. Now, watching him sleep beside her, her eyes traced the contours of his perfect abs as she swallowed nervously. 'Does this mean... I'm gonna be fired?' she wondered. Ellison Grant's piercing gaze met hers. "We're getting married. I'll take responsibility." Her mind went blank. 'Since when did successful men become so old-fashioned? One night together, and he's already talking marriage?' she thought. *** "Joycelyn, you're now twenty-six. Don't tell me you're still a virgin?" The teasing words from her colleagues at the company retreat echoed through Joycelyn's mind as she leaned against the hotel corridor wall. Having never been kissed, she'd dodged their questions by downing several drinks, then excused herself, claiming intoxication. Now she fumbled with her key card, the door stubbornly refusing to open. Frustrated, she pressed her flushed face against the cool surface, only to stumble forward as it suddenly swung inward. Ellison stood before her, his chiseled features cast in shadow. Joycelyn blinked in confusion. 'Why is he in my room?' she wondered, mesmerized by his commanding presence. 'This has to be a dream.' "Is there something on my face?" His eyes narrowed, voice rough with barely contained desire. "Mhmm." The sound escaped her lips before she could stop it, soft and breathy. Standing before this usually untouchable man, she recalled her colleague Selene Whitmore's whispered words. "A man like Mr. Grant must be incredible in bed," Selene had said, and now here he was, larger than life. Joycelyn's tongue darted across her lips as heat bloomed through her body. 'If I can't have him in real life,' she thought, 'at least I can enjoy this dream.' She launched herself forward, pushing the door shut behind her. "Mr. Grant, they say any woman who gets to spend a night with you must be very lucky." Her lips curved into a playful smile. "Care to test that theory?" The air crackled between them as their eyes locked. Ellison, his own judgment clouded by alcohol, felt his control slipping as her soft curves pressed against him. Instead of pushing her away, he pulled her closer. "Is this what you want? Huh?" he murmured against her ear, his proximity sending shivers down her spine. "Yes," she breathed, the word barely a whisper. Her eyes, glazed with desire and wine, held him captive. Up close, his features were even more striking than the glimpses she'd caught at the office. She found herself tracing every perfect line with her gaze—from his sculpted brows to his straight nose, finally lingering on his parted lips. Her expression shifted from seductive to innocent as their eyes met again. The way she looked at him—he knew exactly what was going on. In one fluid motion, he took control, pressing her against the wall. His fingers guided her hand to his belt, his voice husky with restraint. "Help me with this." Before she could respond, his lips claimed hers in her first kiss. She melted into him as he deepened the kiss, her inexperience yielding to his expertise. Her heart thundered in her chest. The kiss was both tender and commanding, more real than any dream could be. Every nerve ending sparked with electricity as she fumbled with his buttons and zipper, following his lead. Perhaps because she believed it was a dream, there was no pain—only pleasure. Under his gentle guidance, she even found herself taking initiative, discovering that the normally stern boss was surprisingly tender and skilled, though his stamina proved overwhelming. * The next morning, Joycelyn drifted between sleep and wakefulness as footsteps approached. 'Why does this dream feel so real?' she wondered, her brow furrowing as Ellison's voice reached her ears. Reality crashed in as she opened her eyes to find him approaching, a towel slung low on his hips. Her gaze traced involuntarily over his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and the tempting V-line disappearing beneath white terry cloth. Memories of the night before flooded her mind, each more explicit than the last. Color rushed to her cheeks, then drained away just as quickly. "Mr. Grant! Why are you here?" She clutched the sheets tighter. "Last night, we... we..." The words stuck in her throat as his eyes studied her flustered expression. "What exactly are you trying to ask?" He was curious. "I mean, last night, did we..." Her tongue tied itself in knots. "We did." His simple confirmation hit her like a thunderbolt. Clinging to one last thread of hope, she stammered, "But did we actually..." "Yes, we did," he replied firmly. Her sharp intake of breath echoed in the sudden silence. "Having regrets now?" His expression remained unreadable. She wrestled with her answer. Objectively speaking, her first time with a gorgeous, skilled partner had been incredible. But sleeping with her direct superior? That was career suicide. "Well, Mr. Grant," she began carefully, "I was drunk last night and barely remember anything. We're both adults—can't we just forget this and go back to normal?" His lips curved into a dangerous smile as he studied her. "You're still in my bed and already trying to pretend this never happened?" Catching sight of the hickeys she'd left on his collarbone, she pulled the sheets higher. "Then at least turn around so I can get dressed." Instead, he moved toward the bed, his weight making the mattress dip. Her breath caught as his handsome face loomed over hers. She tried to retreat, but he caught her wrists, pinning them above her head. In their struggle, the sheet slipped to her waist. Skin met skin, sending tingles of electricity through her body. A shiver ran down her spine. "Mr. Grant—" Her protest died in her throat. Her heart raced as heat flooded her face. His weight pressed her into the mattress, the position simultaneously thrilling and mortifying. The tension in his features as he held himself in check only made him more irresistible. "You said you couldn't remember anything," he murmured, his intense gaze holding hers. "Then let me refresh your memory." Her blush deepened as she tried to look anywhere but at him. A glimpse of his taut muscles reminded her exactly how well-equipped he was. Even as a novice, she knew that desire, once unleashed, was impossible to contain. His masculine form pressed against her once more. His teeth grazed her pale collarbone, drawing a soft whimper from her lips. "Mr. Grant!" She meant to stop him, but her breathy moan betrayed her. Now fully sober, she found him even more overwhelming than before. This was the final day of the company retreat—they were supposed to head back after lunch. If they delayed much longer, her colleagues would surely notice. But he seemed intent on taking his time. "Please," she whispered urgently. "Soon," he promised. She was losing her mind. Biting her lip, she fought to contain the embarrassing sounds threatening to escape. Just then, a knock at the door interrupted them, followed by the sound of executives laughing in the hallway. "Mr. Grant, lunch is ready. We'll be departing for the office afterward," a voice called out. Joycelyn grabbed this chance like a lifeline. "Mr. Grant, we need to go. We can't be late, and it would be terrible if anyone found out." Her earlier boldness had vanished completely, replaced by panic. Frustration flickered across Ellison's features at the interruption. Rolling away, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand and made a call. A ringtone sounded from the hallway. Taking advantage of the distraction, Joycelyn clutched the sheet to her chest. Spotting a white shopping bag with women's clothing beside the bed, she snatched it up and hurried to the bathroom. "Go ahead without me." He spoke into the phone. "I'll be down shortly." The voices outside soon faded away. Joycelyn dressed as quickly as possible, wincing slightly at her tender muscles. As she emerged, another phone rang in the room. Ellison was buckling his belt when he reached for it. "Yes?" Joycelyn froze in the bathroom doorway, noticing that was her phone in his hand. She lunged forward in panic, forgetting her soreness. Her legs betrayed her, and she stumbled. Still on the call, Ellison caught her effortlessly with one arm. "Hello?" He spoke into the phone. Joycelyn snatched it away, ending the call. Her stomach dropped as she saw the caller ID—Selene Whitmore. Meanwhile, in the hallway outside Joycelyn's room, Selene exchanged shocked looks with their coworkers. "Did a man just answer Joycelyn's phone?" She paused, eyes widening. "And that sexy voice... it sounded exactly like Mr. Grant." .............................................................................. Joycelyn stared at her vibrating phone, her nerves jangling as Selene's name flashed across the screen. She shot up like a startled rabbit, her usual composure shattering. "This is a disaster. They must be suspicious." Her typically clear head spun as she faced this unprecedented situation, her delicate features pinched with worry. Ellison extended his hand for her phone. "What are you doing?" Her face crumpled with alarm as she instinctively pulled back. "Let me handle it," he said, his deep voice brooking no argument. Though she resisted, his commanding presence made her fingers loosen their grip. "Just... don't say anything weird," she pleaded, watching with bated breath as he answered. "This is Ellison Grant. I found this phone last night and will have my assistant return it shortly." His gaze swept over her anxious face. "As for the owner..." Joycelyn's breath caught in her throat as she watched him, terrified that one wrong word would destroy her career. His deliberate pause had her muscles coiling with tension. Her eyes desperately telegraphed: 'Say something—anything!' Noting her distress, he deliberately prolonged the moment, privately amused by her reaction. His lips curved slightly as he continued smoothly, "I'm unaware of her whereabouts." Relief flooded through her. She'd narrowly escaped catastrophe. "I'll have the phone delivered to your colleague." After hanging up, he set it beside his own. "Okay, so when should I go downstairs?" She raised worried eyes to his. "Won't people notice?" Her cheeks burned with mortification. Already shy about romantic matters, sleeping with her boss made her want to crawl into a hole and disappear. He studied her expression carefully, maintaining his composure while she fidgeted. "Everyone's in the restaurant now. Wait here and leave later," he said calmly. "Okay." She perched on the bed's edge, twisting her fingers together. Without hesitation, he began dressing right in front of her. His model-worthy physique and chiseled features moved with practiced elegance. Each glimpse of him sent her heart racing. 'Selene wasn't wrong,' she thought. 'These cool, composed types really are something else behind closed doors.' "I'll take responsibility for this," he stated while fastening his buttons. Her head snapped up in surprise before she shook it vigorously. "No, no, absolutely not! We're both adults—this was mutual. You don't need to take it to heart." She was just an ordinary office worker fresh out of college, while he was a powerful and wealthy man—way out of her league. She repeated variations of "no need," her expression screaming resistance. His brow furrowed slightly. Her reaction made him wonder if he seemed like some villain forcing himself on an innocent girl. "But I'm serious," he emphasized. "So am I! Let's just never mention this again. My only request is that no one else finds out." She dropped her gaze to her feet, wilting under his intense stare. After studying her silently, he relented. "Fine. I'll head down first." "Mm-hmm." Her relief at his departure was palpable. He cast her a final glance before leaving with both phones. Alone at last, she flopped onto the bed with a groan, pummeling the comforter in frustration. "You've lost your mind, Joycelyn! Of all the men in the world, you had to sleep with Ellison?" After wallowing sufficiently, she reasoned enough time had passed for her colleagues to be downstairs. She washed her face, donned a mask, and carefully checked the hallway. Finding there was no one outside, she slipped out quietly, opting for the emergency stairs over the elevator. Linda Lorne stood by the stairwell, frowning as she watched Joycelyn emerge from Ellison's suite. After descending several flights, Joycelyn reached her room and quickly packed. She loaded her luggage onto the bus before heading to the dining hall. As a Fortune 500 powerhouse, Grant Group employed countless talented individuals. Though brilliant women filled its ranks, Joycelyn stood out. Her presence was like morning mist—ethereal, pure, refreshing—carrying an enigmatic grace that set her apart. Sharp-eyed Selene spotted her immediately. "Joycelyn, over here!" she called, waving enthusiastically. As Joycelyn returned the wave, she felt an intense gaze upon her. Turning slightly, she met Ellison's eyes. His sculpted profile and penetrating gaze—the same eyes that had devoured her the night before—sent her pulse racing. 'Why is he still at the entrance?' she wondered. 'Wasn't he supposed to be downstairs already?' "Sweetie, are you still drunk?" Selene asked, rushing over to link arms. "You're walking funny." "Oh, I twisted my ankle in these heels yesterday," Joycelyn mumbled, heat rising to her cheeks. After last night's abandon and this morning's encore, her legs felt like jelly. "Hmm..." Selene's knowing smirk widened. "One night away and you're all shy like a blushing flower." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Don't tell me you got tipsy and jumped our Mr. Grant? That walk screams 'too many positions, too much fun.'" She had a sly grin plastered on her face, as if to say, "You can't fool me, I've got my eye on you." Joycelyn nearly collapsed at her friend's astute observation. "Keep your voice down!" she hissed, her face flaming. "People can hear you!" Seeing Joycelyn's unusual embarrassment only encouraged Selene further. "Am I wrong? You got drunk, ran into our gorgeous boss, and thought 'I'm 26 and still haven't experienced a man.' Next thing you know..." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "That would explain why he answered your phone this morning!" Joycelyn's already scarlet face darkened further. Each of Selene's guesses hit frighteningly close to home. "That's ridiculous," she protested weakly. "What romance novel are you living in?" Noting Joycelyn's guilty yet defensive expression, Selene's grin widened. She spotted Ellison approaching, surrounded by executives. "If you won't tell me, I'll just ask Mr. Grant himself." Selene raised her hand in greeting. "Hi, Mr. Grant!" Joycelyn's heart stopped as she stared at the approaching Adonis, panic threatening to overwhelm her. She worried that if Selene brought it up, he would use the chance to expose their fling and make her "take responsibility." Her stomach dropped as she realized her carefully constructed denial was about to come crashing down. .............................................................................. "Last night—" Selene began, but Joycelyn swiftly stepped forward, cutting her off with a sincere nod to Ellison. "Thank you for finding my phone, Mr. Grant," she interjected smoothly. "Those documents in my phone are irreplaceable. I can't tell you how grateful I am." Joycelyn's matter-of-fact attitude and effusive thanks over a mere phone made Selene's words die in her throat as she stared in confusion. "Just a small matter," Ellison murmured, his gaze flickering momentarily. "We shouldn't keep you from your meal. Please, go ahead, Mr. Grant." Joycelyn tugged Selene aside, her forced smile not quite reaching her eyes. Her gaze locked with his, silently pleading for his discretion. After several long beats of eye contact, he moved toward the dining table without another word. Only when his group had passed did Joycelyn release her breath, her body damp with nervous sweat from those few tense moments. Selene had intended to gossip, but she found herself completely captivated by Ellison's charm. "God, he's even more stunning up close," she sighed, watching him go. "Any woman who lands him must have been born under a lucky star." A genuine laugh escaped Joycelyn. "If your parents knew what was going on in your head, they'd probably blow a gasket!" "Whatever." Selene rolled her eyes. "Let's eat. I need to get home to my man." Relief washed over Joycelyn as her food-loving friend got distracted by the arriving dishes, dropping all questions about the previous night. The retreat ended after lunch. While executives took their luxury cars, staff boarded the company bus. From her window seat, Joycelyn's thoughts drifted until Selene's squeal snapped her attention forward. "Look! Mr. Grant's Rolls-Royce is incredible." Selene pressed her face to the glass. "Why couldn't I be so lucky? I wouldn't mind snagging a guy that hot and rich!" Studying the million-dollar vehicle, Joycelyn felt the stark divide between their worlds. Her phone buzzed insistently with messages from her mother. Before the retreat, her family had attempted to set her up with a short, older man offering a hundred-thousand-dollar engagement gift. She'd refused, hoping it would blow over like previous matchmaking attempts. Instead, the marriage pressure had only intensified. To delay the inevitable confrontation, Joycelyn haunted the library until well past 10 PM before finally heading home. Taking a steadying breath outside her door, she turned the key. The scene inside stopped her cold—her belongings strewn across the floor while her mother Iris Mercer wept on the couch. "Who threw my things?" Joycelyn's fists clenched at her sides. "Look who finally graced us with her presence," her stepsister Octavia Mercer drawled without looking up from her game. Joycelyn's stepfather Phineas Mercer immediately threw down his cigarette on the balcony and stormed in, his palm cracking across her face. "We raised you, and this is how you repay us?" he roared. "We found you a good match with a generous offer, and you stood him up. Where were you? Out whoring around until this hour?" Only her mother's intervention prevented a second blow. The harsh slap left Joycelyn's cheek throbbing, her eyes wide with disbelief. For years, she'd endured their abuse and insults, surrendering most of her salary to support them while subsisting on a few hundred dollars a month. Her dutiful sacrifice had earned her nothing but an attempt to sell her off like cattle. Something inside her snapped. She swung her bag at his face with all her strength. "How dare you hit me! Not even my real parents raised a hand to me!" "Your father's dead!" Phineas stumbled back, spitting the words. "I'm your father now. If I hadn't pitied you and your mother, I wouldn't have taken in such worthless burdens." "You dare?" Ice crystallized in Joycelyn's voice as she stood tall, unflinching. "I worked my way through college with loans and part-time jobs. My mother works herself to exhaustion supporting you. Who's the real burden here?" Her entire frame vibrated with rage. "You manipulated my mother into signing over my father's house. You'd be on the street without us!" The fury in her eyes promised retribution for every moment of suffering he'd caused. .............................................................................. "Joycelyn, please." Iris's soft voice carried a subtle rebuke. "Phineas wants what's best for you—a stable future." Her swollen eyes betrayed hours of tears, yet here she was, still playing peacemaker. Exhaustion swept through Joycelyn as she closed her eyes and drew a steadying breath. "That hundred-thousand-dollar engagement gift—why not sell off your own precious daughter instead?" "God, I wouldn't marry that troll," Octavia drawled from her perch on the couch, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "You should grab the offer while you're young enough to command a decent price. Once you hit thirty, you'll be damaged goods." Cold fury settled in Joycelyn's chest as she met her mother's eyes. "Mom, is that really what you think too?" Her mother's averted gaze spoke volumes. The message was clear—Joycelyn had no real place in this family. "Octavia." Iris's weak protest earned only a contemptuous eye roll from her daughter. "Either marry him tomorrow or get out of my house!" Phineas's voice thundered through the room. "Mom." Joycelyn's voice cracked with disappointment. "What was the point of all these years?" Iris opened her mouth, but Phineas cut her off. "I'm your man now—your lifelong partner. A married daughter is like water under the bridge. You can't count on her anymore." "Listen to your father, dear," Iris whispered, thoroughly cowed. "My father is dead." Joycelyn's words could have frozen hell as she stared at Phineas. "Then get out!" he roared. "Get out of my house, you ungrateful snake. Let's see how long you last on your own, you worthless parasite!" Something died in Joycelyn's heart as she watched her mother's passive acceptance. Without a word, she stuffed her clothes into a suitcase and strode toward the door. "Don't worry, I'm going." Her defiance caught Phineas off guard. "And don't bother coming back!" he shouted at her retreating form. With no glance backward, Joycelyn took her suitcase and got into the elevator. *** Rain hammered the streets as Joycelyn came out. She plunged into the downpour, each icy drop another strike against her skin. Tears mingled with rain on her face as she dragged her suitcase through puddles, her clothes plastered to her trembling frame. Lightning split the sky. Thunder crashed overhead. She dropped into a crouch, hands clasped over her head. These storms had haunted her since the rainy night that claimed her father's life. Finding shelter beneath a bus stop, she huddled against the plastic wall. The wind howled, driving sheets of rain sideways. Tonight, even basic survival seemed an impossible task. Her eyes burned from all the crying as she checked her phone—5% battery. 'They say God never closes a door without opening a window,' she thought bitterly. 'But my life's just one slammed door after another.' With a hollow laugh, she pulled up the company directory and found Ellison's contact. Her fingers moved before her brain could object, sending a message..[Mr. Grant, I'm Joycelyn Maynard. Does your marriage offer from this afternoon still stand?] The moment she hit send, self-loathing crashed over her. She'd rejected him twice today already; she had no reason to think he would agree to help her now. .............................................................................. Ellison stood by his grandmother's hospital bed, concern cracking his stoic mask as he watched her breathe through the oxygen mask. His phone's vibration broke the sterile silence. A message lit up his screen—his eyes sharpened with recognition as he read it. He then sent a one-word response. [Yes.] The speed of his reply caught Joycelyn off guard. Wiping tears away, she typed with trembling fingers: [Could you pick me up? We need to talk.] His terse agreement felt like salvation. Maybe a marriage of convenience wasn't the worst option. She had barely sent her location when her phone died, taken by either rain or drained battery. 'If he comes, I'll marry him,' she decided. 'If not, be it.' As Ellison moved to leave, his grandmother's fragile grasp caught him. "You stubborn boy," Isolde Grant whispered. "I didn't mean to worry you, Grandma. I've found someone—we're getting married tomorrow. No more stress, okay?" His voice held rare tenderness. Hope flickered in Isolde's tired eyes. "Really?" She struggled to sit up. Gently easing her back down, he tucked her blankets close. "Really. I'm going to get her now. You'll meet her in the morning. Rest now." "Promise you're not lying to me." "Never." The world knew Ellison as ruthless and driven, but for his grandmother, his patience was infinite. After briefing the nurses, he grabbed his keys, ready to head out. "Mr. Grant, there's a Category 3 hurricane today. It wouldn't be safe for you to drive," the bodyguard reported promptly, stepping forward as he saw Ellison preparing to leave. "It's fine." Brushing off his warning, Ellison left for the parking lot. His black Maybach cut through the storm like an avenging angel, driving toward its destiny. Fierce wind battered Joycelyn's small frame beneath the bus shelter. She clung to her suitcase, the tempest offering no real protection. Fear of missing Ellison kept her rooted despite the need for better shelter. Rain hammered the roof like buckshot while trees thrashed in the gale. Just as despair settled in her bones and she was about to find another shelter, headlights pierced the darkness and a black car approached through the pouring rain. The Maybach pulled up smoothly. Ellison stepped out, ignoring the storm's fury. Rain instantly plastered his suit to his frame, but his focus remained on the girl before him—lost, hurt, like an abandoned kitten in the storm. "Get in," he said simply, taking her suitcase. His voice cut through chaos. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "I thought you weren't coming," she whispered, swollen eyes meeting his. Though the storm had left her trembling, his presence sparked something warm in her chest, like dawn breaking through the endless night. Her tears of desperation turned to relief, hope kindling in her gaze. Seeing her drenched state, he took her icy hand. "Inside. Now." She stared at his sharp profile, finding unexpected comfort in his grip. The wind chose that moment to tear the bus stop sign loose, sending it hurtling toward them. In one fluid motion, he pulled her against his chest. His body became her shield, steady and immovable. She felt his sharp flinch and heard his muffled grunt of pain. "Are you hurt?" she asked, voice tight with worry. "It's nothing." Ignoring his injured arm, he guided her to safety. Once he put the suitcase away, he climbed into the car, soaked to the bone. The sealed doors created their own world apart from chaos. "You must be injured. Let me look at your arm," she insisted, remembering the metallic crash. "Home first," he said curtly without much explanation. The drive passed in tense silence, Joycelyn gripping her seatbelt like a lifeline. Forty minutes brought them to his private garage. "Here we are." He lifted her damaged suitcase with his good arm. "Mr. Grant?" Her voice came congested from the cold. "Shouldn't we discuss terms?" She stood by the car door, her reddened eyes watching him with uncertainty. "Change your clothes first." He carried her suitcase and strode toward the elevator. She followed like a shadow, head down—worlds away from last night's bold drunk girl. He stopped, waiting for her cautious approach. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the black leather shoes and dripping hem of his suit pants. Looking up, she found him waiting for her. "State your terms," he said, authority rolling off him. "Or we do this my way." Sniffling, she spoke directly. "Marriage to appease my family. Your identity stays secret. No announcements. Divorce in six months to a year. Separate bedrooms." Unable to meet his intense gaze, she looked away and added weakly, "You... you said you'd take responsibility." They both knew she had no leverage. "First three points accepted. We'll discuss divorce later." He tilted her chin up. "Explain the separate rooms." Forced to meet his eyes, wet hair dripping, she stammered, "I want my own space, in case you... in case..." Her pale face flamed crimson as words failed. His subtle smile and rain-slicked hair radiated raw magnetism. "In case I want you, I come to your room?" His deep voice held dangerous promise. "Is that what you're trying to say?" .............................................................................. "Well, if there's a need, both of us should cooperate," Joycelyn murmured, her cheeks flushing pink. "Okay, let's go," Ellison said, his voice steady and sure. He turned and walked toward the elevator, Joycelyn trailing behind him, her heart pounding. As they stepped inside, Joycelyn kept her head down, her wet hair dripping onto the floor. She looked like a lost puppy, shivering and small behind his commanding presence. Despite his expensive suit being soaked and her broken suitcase in hand, Ellison maintained an air of calm composure as if nothing could ruffle him. Relief washed over her. He had pulled her out of despair, after all. No woman could resist being cared for in her darkest moments, even if they both had their own motives. "We're here," he announced as the elevator doors opened. He carried her suitcase out, glancing back at the girl, who still stood there, dazed. "Oh," she murmured, quickly following him. The villa was stunning, with cool gray tones that made the space feel crisp and refreshing, much like Ellison himself. Every detail was meticulously crafted, like a piece of art. She had never entered such a beautiful, spacious home before. "The guest room hasn't been used. I'll get you bedding from my room. Go take a shower and change your clothes," he said, handing the suitcase to her. His every word carried the authority of a superior. His voice was cool and commanding, brooking no argument. She didn't dare look at him, only nodding obediently. "Okay." She dragged the suitcase with its broken wheel into the guest room. The space boasted a new bed and sofa, far nicer than her small room at home. Clean and bright, it was several times larger than her previous space, with its own bathroom. She felt a flutter of excitement. Opening the suitcase, she froze. No wonder it felt so heavy—the broken case had let water seep in. All her clothes were soaked. She rummaged through everything, finding nothing wearable. "All wet?" he asked, looking at her suitcase. She bit her lip in frustration. "Yeah, I'll use a hairdryer later." "I'll get you something to wear," he said and left the room. She crouched on the floor, watching his soaked pant legs, her heart racing. Her skin felt hot enough to dry her wet clothes by body heat alone. As she gathered her clothes to wash, he returned with a black shirt. "Use my bathroom. There's no hot water or shower gel here," he said. She looked at the black shirt, lifting her wet face to reveal red, swollen eyes filled with timidity. She stood there gazing at him, clearly hesitating. "Don't catch a cold. I'll help wash your clothes," he said, tossing the shirt at her and scooping up everything from the suitcase. The strength difference between them was stark—she had struggled to lift them. Watching his wet figure, her face flushed deeper. Holding the black shirt, she hesitated but remembered his gentlemanly behavior. 'We're not even officially married yet,' she thought. 'He should still behave.' But she misjudged how men could be. Or perhaps Ellison misjudged his own limits. He put her clothes in the washing machine along with his shirt. Returning, he saw her cautiously moving toward his room. His clear eyes narrowed slightly. She entered the master bedroom in amazement. 'Money sure is good,' she thought. His bedroom alone was as big as a three-bedroom apartment. Unsure where the bathroom was, she stood there, dazed. Ellison approached from behind. As she pushed open the bathroom door, he wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her inside. The door closed with a soft click. She stood there wet and sticky, looking up at him in shock. "What... what are you doing?" she stammered. The previously composed man was now shirtless, standing in the bathroom with her. "To avoid catching a cold, we'll shower together," he said calmly, making her blush deeply. "No, you go first. I'll wait," she struggled to escape. Ellison, seeing her embarrassment, let go but lifted her onto the counter, standing close. "Embarrassed?" he asked. "No." She shook her head, water dripping from her hair onto her pale face, making her look soft and vulnerable. He cupped her face. "You bit and scratched me yesterday. Today, you'll wash me as punishment. Fair, right?" His deep voice in the quiet bathroom was mesmerizing. She blushed deeply, her eyes flickering over his bare chest. He had a perfect body, tall and well-built. Rainwater dripped from his hair, tracing the contours of his muscular frame, down his throat, and across his broad chest. She saw the bite mark she had left in retaliation for the pain he had caused her. Perhaps it was the first time she had seen a man so closely. She couldn't look away, her eyes lingering on his wet, defined abs, remembering the feel of his hard muscles. Her body grew hot. He took in her every expression. "Don't I look better without clothes? Hmm?" She covered her face with embarrassment. "I don't want to answer that." He carried her under the shower, the warm water making her already hot skin even hotter. He guided her hand to his pants. "Help me take them off."	LEARN_MORE	https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/fwjibt1jf	Novel Yang Booming	https://www.facebook.com/100077426966140/	113	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	www.novel-oasis.com	VIDEO		https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/fwjibt1jfi3mkphu4rk4uebe?ad_id={{ad.id}}&sid=120217146022620690&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/482005153_637255905515095_4082191904897834954_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mc2vHXGTl0wQ7kNvgFA1rAF&_nc_oc=Adj8srQ4jdQXuafETtrzZZD76CCkS1F9boBnccPcPUlkHtpx7WUYvJDoSMjzjTgx6fIol_mfWLZLgtTbNzQVqwxl&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=And1EdA2IEbikeeaRxpOOAK&oh=00_AYBzPmbYMB8wyQLlM3MlCfVq5T7bXzs2jTKp9Y-K36z7tg&oe=67CB4747	PERSON_PROFILE	Novel Yang Booming	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,057	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Download the app to watch more exciting episodes	Madalyn's boyfriend cheated on her. She got drunk and ended up sleeping with Nicolas, who was thirteen years older than her. As a result, they entered into matrimony. Madalyn believed it to be a loveless marriage, however, she had unknowingly fallen into the trap set with Nicolas's love. He was waiting for her to love him back.	WATCH_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreels.com/16675322-fb-en-xy35-co	Dreame TV	https://www.facebook.com/61569251063289/	73	1969-12-31 18:00	Watch more	fbweb.moboreels.com	VIDEO		https://fbweb.moboreels.com/16675322-fb-en-xy35-core1-video.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=235613&jump=0&exdata=A66DDB89487E764AF9B1500D9E07ACF38FDCC950A3220B8A	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481335892_1577879282728236_7267338630839094187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dUZhDhBvlvIQ7kNvgGZiW-M&_nc_oc=Adj6pbo1OXKM4d6i-kVFFJYGTMDOfy87pS2Vs1I9kJ0yiVandXCfScLSVnnGvkCZuVy0SRmngVTPjts2ZFP0xu9o&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AxXuWDjcUZVUZhM2a-RFM_z&oh=00_AYAZVoPQ9Fse12K1MSkxcaP09Sl6Jcf6teLGVp3LDUv0qA&oe=67CB2FE8	PERSON_PROFILE	Dreame TV	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,261	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Harvard Exposes: 5 Nerve-Damaging “Toxins” Causing Neuropathy in Seniors Across the U.S.	My Nerve Pain forced me to watch my grandkids dance from my chair, until I discovered the “true” cause of my pain… Now just last month I danced through my grandson's entire wedding reception, from first song to last. "Grandma, why can't you dance with me anymore?" Little Emma's innocent question brought tears to my eyes that Sunday afternoon. The Burning in my feet was so intense, I could barely stand… Let alone dance with my precious granddaughter. It felt like I was Walking on Hot Coals... every single step pure agony. How do you explain to a 6-year-old that Grandma's feet feel like they're on fire? That the same feet that used to chase her around the yard, tend to my garden, and dance at family gatherings... were now betraying me? I smiled through the pain. "Just a little tired, sweetheart." But we both knew it wasn't that. The burning had started slowly – just a slight tingling at first. The kind you brush off, thinking it'll pass. Then came the numbness The thousands of needles The shooting pains Soon, I couldn't even walk to the mailbox without gripping my cane for dear life. But the worst moment? When I had to cancel hosting our weekly dinner because I couldn't stand long enough to cook anymore. The tone in my daughter's face when I called to cancel...that mixture of worry and pity... it broke something inside me. I tried everything the doctors recommended: Medications that left me feeling like a zombie The expensive creams that did nothing to help Even those special socks they said would help Nothing worked. The burning just kept getting worse. "This is just part of aging," they said. "You'll have to learn to live with it." But how do you "live with" feeling like your feet are being blow-torched every single day? How do you accept becoming a prisoner in your own home? Then one Sunday after church… I overheard my friend Martha talking about how Nerve Pain had nearly confined her to a wheelchair. I couldn't believe it – Martha, who now ran the church bake sale, who danced at her grandson's wedding last month… Had suffered from burning feet worse than mine? I cornered her after service, desperate for answers. "Oh honey," she said, seeing me lean heavily on my cane, "I know exactly what you're going through." What she told me next shocked me to my core... She explained how a neurologist had discovered that certain foods we eat every day were creating something called "toxic plaque" in our nerves. This plaque was literally suffocating our nerves from the inside out, causing that terrible burning sensation. "Karen," she said, lowering her voice, "Did you know that one of the most common breakfast foods is actually the worst culprit?" Then she told me about this weird “Pepper” Hack that was helping people flush out these nerve-destroying toxins. I was skeptical at first. After all, I'd tried eliminating everything from sugar to gluten... But Martha grabbed my hands and said something I'll never forget: "Before I learned about this, I was just like you - trapped in my rocking chair, missing out on life. Now look at me! The difference is understanding what's really happening to your nerves." That hit home hard. When she explained how this toxic plaque builds up over time, everything started making sense... Why the pain got progressively worse... Why normal treatments weren't working... Why doctors couldn't seem to help... So I decided to give it a try. After all, what did I have to lose? The first few days, I didn't notice much difference... But by the end of week one, something changed. I realized I'd made it through an entire day without reaching for my pain pills. Then I noticed I could feel the carpet under my feet again. By week three, the constant burning had reduced so much, I actually slept through the night for the first time in months. But the real miracle? Last weekend, when Emma ran up to me asking for our special dance... I was able to take her little hands and twirl her around the living room, without fear, without pain, and without my cane. The look of pure joy on her face – being able to dance with my granddaughter again – I couldn't hold back the tears. But this time, they were tears of joy. My husband says I'm like a different person now. My daughter can't believe the change. And me? I feel like I've gotten my life back. I can garden again. I can cook again. I can be the grandmother I want to be. I'm sharing this because I know there are others out there suffering like I was. Watching their independence slip away... Living in constant fear of every step... Missing precious moments with their family... If that's you, please know there's hope. I've shared a link below to article that explains everything. It's a short read, but it might just change your life like it changed mine. Don't let burning feet steal any more precious moments with your family. You deserve to feel like yourself again. Take Care and God Bless	LEARN_MORE	https://trk.skatrk02.com/67b42a69b88b44fbc273aff9?	Mandy Rogers	https://www.facebook.com/61572661484060/	3,085	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	read.americanhealthjournal.org	IMAGE	THIS IS AN ADVERTORIAL AND NOT AN ACTUAL ARTICLE, BLOG, OR CONSUMER PROTECTION UPDATE.DISCLAIMERThis website is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician. Visitors are advised to consult their own doctors or other qualifi...	https://trk.skatrk02.com/67b42a69b88b44fbc273aff9?v1=%7B%7Bad.id%7D%7D&v2=%7B%7Badset.id%7D%7D&v3=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&v4=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&v5=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&v6=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&v7=%7B%7Bplacement%7D%7D&v8=%7B%7Bsite_source_name%7D%7D&utm_source=MD-fb-nerve&utm_medium=paid	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481104270_1038152294831394_157432600185939905_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WyV_qRDNoLEQ7kNvgE3nye4&_nc_oc=Adj44OeLwP1W0bD_6a6yROcPJyBmbdmCoc38dsunRDxGswOs1BP6UfjHvtcSZrWf5chgZT3pUFvlMdk6EkW-NS4p&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=AWJ6lr5UTziQpBKFVIqpY7W&oh=00_AYDWiWVVetdVzWgXwyYf0WcBM_gNcuV_10ZofZcNWHijXg&oe=67CB544B	PERSON_PROFILE	Mandy Rogers	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,731,955	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	🔥Top novel👉Click to read more chapters	"I was wondering if you'd like to go to homecoming with me," I ask Maddox, the school popular guy. My evil cousin and her friends forced me to do that. Now they are snickering and laughing with their hands over their mouths. "Okay," he says in his semi-familiar deep voice. "Well, I tried," I mutter before I suddenly went rigid. "Wait, what did you say?" "I said okay," he repeats as if annoyed. "O... Okay...?" The guy who turned down every girl at school? After I accidentally spilled my lunch all over him? "Wear red, it's your color." he responds. Great, my cousin’s gonna end me in my sleep tonight. Prologue "You must be Olivia," the blonde in front of me speaks in a bored manner, brushing a strand of wavy, blonde hair over her shoulder. I nod, trying to ignore the fact that she's nearly a foot taller than me. She's definitely grown up quite a bit since the last time I've seen her, given that was almost nine years ago. I'm sure I grew as well...a couple of inches at the most. "You must be Vivica," I smile at my cousin. She doesn't exactly smile back; instead she shifts her cheer-leading bag on her shoulder and looks at her mother. Rude. "Chelsea and Tracy are coming over at five. Can we get a pizza?" she inquires as she traces her long, manicured nail. Her mother nods. "Yeah, can Olivia hang out with you guys?" my aunt asks and I immediately feel my face go red. I spent the time Vivica wasn't home preparing for when she arrived. I got a drink and a snack just so I wouldn't have to engage in conversation with my stuck-up cousin. Now my aunt's just throwing me into the fire. "No, it's fine! I can, uh, I can make my own friends," I attempt to dismiss in an attempt to not make Vivica hate me anymore than she apparently already does. I have a feeling that I left quite the impression on my cousin all those years back. Vivica glares at her mother with narrowed eyes. When my parents told me that I was going to be coming here for the rest of my junior year, I tried to keep an open mind. However, the day before I was dropped off, my mom decided to let me know what exactly I was going to face. She warned me about my cousin's personality and her "impoliteness," as my mother called it. Basically, my mom said that she was spoiled and ungrateful. Well, she didn't exactly say the words, but she said something along those lines. A few years back, when I was around eight years old, I had to come and stay with Aunt Genevieve, Uncle Thomas, and Vivica during the summer. Vivica, however, went to a day camp; I remember her yanking me aside and demanding that I stay out of her room. I also remember hitting her and telling her not to touch me. And then I remember my father coming back to get me a few hours later, even though I had been there for only a week. "No, Vivica won't mind, right, dear?" Aunt Genevieve asks, looking at her daughter with the pointed expression that I know too well. My mother has the same one, probably because the two are sisters. Honestly, I don't want to hang out with Vivica and her friends. But I also remember my mother telling me to treat my aunt well and to not take advantage of her kindness, seeing as her daughter already does. "Of course not," Vivica says with a flat expression. I feel awkward as I stand between the two with my gaze locked on my feet. I hear footsteps and a door closing quite aggressively. Knowing that it was Vivica throwing a tantrum because of me, I hold back a sigh. My father won't be coming to get me anytime soon. "I'm sorry, she's just been having a bad week," my aunt excuses, trying to rack her brain for a potential reason as to why her daughter has been experiencing a bad few days. "She, uh, failed her French test." I nod and, with a short lived smile, head towards my room. Not all of us can be good at French, you know? "She'll warm up to you, I promise!" my aunt calls from behind me and I nod again before opening and closing the door to my new room. I'm sure she will...when I'm leaving. And who knows when that will be? And who knows if I can keep my cool until then? - + It's approximately 5:26 when Chelsea and Tracy appear and my mood immediately drop. I'm fetched from my room, where I'm hiding and unpacking my things, by a light knock on my door. Aunt Genevieve insists that I hang out with the girls no matter how much I protest. "No, I think I'll just unpack. And I need to study my schedule and the school map so I won't get lost." "No, it's okay I'll just stay in here." "I'm tired from the car ride; I'm going to take a nap." I'm going to punch your daughter in the face if she says something to me. Well, of course I didn't say that last one. I mean, my parents taught me some manners. The point is that no matter how many excuses I conjure up, there's no way I'm getting out of this. As my aunt drags me down the hall to Vivica's room, I'm thinking up excuses as to why I could leave early. Obviously, Vivica won't want me there, and I doubt her friends will. I feel like an intruder- a violent, reluctant intruder. We reach the door and a loud honking from outside jolts my aunt. "That's the pizza, I'll be right back. Stay here," she tells me before running off to the kitchen. As I stand outside of the door, I hear faint voices from inside, followed by laughter. "Well, on Friday, he crashed Adrianna's party. They got so drunk and they were trying to drive the four-wheelers around in the woods but the cops came," a voice I recognize as Vivica's relays. "Anyway, back to what I wanted to tell you guys, I asked him." "Don't tell me you asked him when the police arrived," one of the other girls responds in a joking voice. "No, Chelsea. I asked him before everything went down. I left as soon as the cops showed up. The last thing I need is my mother breathing down my neck about nearly getting arrested," Vivica retorts sourly. "But I asked him and he said no! In front of everyone!" "In front of everyone?" a different voice inquires curiously. I lean in a little closer to hear better. Now I'm kind of interested... "Did I not just say that, Tracy?" Vivica snaps in her familiar high-pitched tone. "He said no and his friends laughed! Those goth freaks had the nerve to laugh at me! I assumed that popular people go to homecoming with popular people; I didn't even stop to think that he might've said no. I mean, it's an honor to be asked by me, right? I was so embarrassed so I just called for my ride. He showed right when the cops did." "Maybe, he only said no because he had a few too many drinks," the same girl as before suggests hopefully. "I messaged him this morning before practice and he didn't respond. He read my message. He still hasn't replied," Vivica sighs. "How'd you get his number?" the girl Vivica called Chelsea inquires. "One of his friends gave it to me," Vivica confesses. "She gave it to me. And I know it's the right number because she showed me the contact, and it was actually him. I don't know how I'm going to face him on Monday." My aunt's footsteps sounds up the steps and I immediately retract from the door. Though I didn't know who or what they were talking about, I couldn't help but grow intrigued. Who had the nerve to turn down Vivica? Don't they know how rude she is? Aunt Genevieve appears carrying a large pizza box and she motions for me to open the door, so I do. "Hey girls, this is my niece, Olivia," my aunt introduces as she places the pizza box on the dresser not too far from the door. The girls are smiling, despite the fact that we've just interrupted an in-depth conversation. "Be nice to her. She's new in town." And with that simple statement, she closes the door, leaving me to stand there like an idiot. Like I predicted, Vivica's room is pink and purple. All of the girls are on the white carpet, and one of them motions for me to grab the food and sit down. She's brunette and is the only dark haired one of the three. She's a lot shorter than them, too. I can tell because even with her perfect posture, she can't sit up taller than the slouched girls. "I'm Tracy," the brunette introduces as I slowly and cautiously sat down, trying not to drop the large box of pizza. "Chelsea," the blonde announces. I smile nervously at both of them, noticing that they're both wearing cheerleading uniforms, much like what Vivica was wearing when she first walked into the house. She changed, though, into a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. "Olivia," I introduce with a nod. I guess they don't seem that bad. They're sort of amicable, as far as I can tell. "We know," they respond in unison. Vivica keeps her hands on her phone and texts away. "We were just playing truth or dare, weren't we girls?" Vivica ask with a smirk. She slowly tucks her phone away. I want to sigh as the words leave her mouth. "I thought it was dare or dare," says Tracy with a grin. I stare at the carpet, urging to just get up and leave. Amicable, yeah right. "Oh yeah," Chelsea nods her head. "It's your turn, Olivia." "But—," I don't want to play, especially not with people that I barely know, and already don't like. They lied straight to my face. "You have to go. We all went," Tracy adds sharply. Vivica stares at me with narrowed eyes, as if scrutinizing me. I can tell that they're judging me based off of whether or not I'll agree to take my turn. Refusing to come off as wimpy, I nod. "Okay," I state. "Maddox Finnegan," Vivica smirks broadly. The other two girls' eyes go wide. I simply quirk an eyebrow. What the heck is a Maddox Finnegan? Is that who they were talking about only moments ago? "That's a good one!" Chelsea coos. "Okay, so on Monday, you have to ask out Maddox Finnegan." "To homecoming!" Tracy adds with a mischievous grin. "Yeah!" Chelsea nods excitedly. "W-who's that?" I ask as I look between the three girls with a lost and embarrassed expression plastered on my face. It better not be the guy who rejected Vivica. If he rejected Vivica, he'd surely reject me. Vivica scoffs and the other girls simply grin knowingly. They refuse to say anything else and I can only sit there and watch as they snicker and laugh at my expense. This is going to be a great year. Chapter 1: The Mighty Fall Embarrassing. That's the one word I'm going to use to describe my first day at my new school, Gregory H. Peters Preparatory High School. Everyone keeps staring at me like I'm an alien. I'm betting that they don't get new kids very often. I stick out like a sore thumb. And the fact that I have no choice but to trail behind Vivica and her friends doesn't help whatsoever. So far, I've made no friends. I miss my old school. I didn't think I'd miss my old school, to be honest. I had a few friends there, most of whom I still talk to via text message and social media. I received a few "I miss you already" tweets this past weekend but I didn't bother to respond because that's just who I am, I guess. Distant is what my friends called me. Wild is what my parents called me, which is the entire reason why I'm here, in Harrington. Parties, parties, parties. That's all I did according to my parents. In actuality, I went to school, ate, slept, occasionally partied, watched television, and read. I also hung out with my younger brother, Charlie, pretty often. Speaking of Charlie, I miss him a lot, probably more than I miss my parents. I was out of 'control and needed a change of scenery'. I think my father was just embarrassed of having to break up parties that I threw, or was attending. He said that he made the decision to send me to Aunt Genevieve's as a father, not as a cop. But for some reason, I don't think that's the case. By the time lunch comes around, I'm unsure of where I'm going to sit. I don't want to be around Vivica and her toxic friends but I have nowhere else to go, really. My eyes scan the cafeteria once, twice, and three times before I notice Chelsea waving at me in the left, back corner of the large room. Should I just ignore her and pretend I didn't see her? But then where would I go? Hesitantly, I make my way over there, drawing eyes as I do. I let out a sigh. I wish I had spoken to someone, anyone, just so I wouldn't have to sit at my cousin's table. Today, I learned that she's popular, very popular. I just assumed that she was just a snob, but no, she's a very popular snob. So popular that she manages to split crowds just by getting in a room. If that didn't make me uncomfortable, the way she's whispering at the table does. I stop in my tracks, uncertain of whether or not I should actually go to the table. I can lie and say that I have to change my schedule, which is actually fine. I only have one class with Vivica and it's my first period class, which I can handle it. On Friday, when I was forced to hang out with Chelsea and Tracy, they demanded I give them my schedule. I have one class with Tracy and two with Chelsea, but I realized that she usually skips those classes. She said so in the car ride this morning, which I was also forced into taking. As I stand a few feet from the table, I decide that I'll just leave. I hastily turn around and slam into someone. The loud cafeteria falls silent as the sound of two people colliding and falling to the ground wafts through the air. I hear a deep voice swear and I feel my face immediately warm up. I waste no time in formulating my apologies. I'm such an idiot. I was just standing in the middle of the cafeteria staring at the table like a doofus. I stand up and look down at the guy that I bumped into. The ketchup that I retrieved for my fries is now a stain on his black uniform shirt. I continue to apologize as I look around for napkins; no one offers any. Instead, they all stare at us. By the tense aura of the room, I can tell that whoever I just bumped into isn't someone to be messed with. I'm guessing the people around us are expecting him to lash out at me by the way they stare at him, waiting for a reaction. "I'm sorry," I apologize again when I can't offer him any napkins. My lunch lay abandoned on the floor, as does his unopened soda bottle. I immediately pick it up and hand it to him. He stares at my outstretched palm before grabbing the soda. His green eyes stare at me as I try to explain the situation. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bump into you. I was just going to go change my schedule. I didn't mean to embarrass you. If it's any comfort, I'm pretty embarrassed, too," I continue to rant as my cheeks become more and more red. When you're the only one talking, it gets pretty awkward. Especially when you have over two hundred listening ears. My words are practically echoing off the walls. I may not know this guy, but I know enough to say that he's intimidating. His broad shoulders basically overshadow my entire existence. His tapering eyes and messy hair are the only things I cam focus on. My stomach is clenched and knotted as I stare up at his tall figure. I wouldn't be surprised if he stepped on me. In fact, I kind of wish he would. He watches me with furrowed eyebrows. His eyes fall to his shirt and his jaw clenches slightly. "Watch where you're going," he hisses. It's barely audible but the words rattle around my head, bouncing from wall to wall. He's capable of making the four words sound like a threat. Without another word, he turns on his heel and exits the cafeteria. The breath I was holding is immediately released and I feel my stomach untie rapidly. I slowly made my way towards the lunch table I was avoiding once the janitors shoo me away from the dropped lunch. I let out a slow. shaky breath as I sit down. The stress of that situation has wrecked my nerves. "You know who that was?" Chelsea asks with a smirk. "Maddox Finnegan- the guy you're going to be asking to homecoming," Tracy grins proudly. Can this day get any worse? - + Because I know his name and his face, Maddox Finnegan has popped up in two of my last few classes. During roll call, his name is called and he answers with a raise of his hand. I feel my stomach twisted into yet another knot when the last period bell rings and I have to leave the safety of the classroom to wait at Vivica's car. "You have to ask him now," Vivica informs me once I reach her vehicle. His car is parked directly beside Vivica's and he's leaning against it, as if waiting for someone. Chelsea and Tracy look at me expectantly. "Can't I wait until he forgets about how I bumped into him today?" I ask in a quiet voice as I rub my inner elbow nervously. "You either ask him now or you don't get a ride home," Vivica explains louder than I would've liked. Had I made a friend with a car, this wouldn't have been a problem. The drive here was about twenty five minutes, so walking would probably be triple the time. And since I don't know the way, it'd probably take me hours to find my way back to Aunt Genevieve's. I stare at them in annoyance. I'd say something but they'd think I was refusing to do it. And I wouldn't get a ride either way. I sigh. "He's going to say no and embarrass me...again," I concur as I glance over at him. "You won't know until you try," Chelsea grins encouragingly. I could tell that that is what they wanted: my embarrassment. I scoff and look at the car beside ours. He's leaning on the driver's side door, talking to a group of people excitedly. A guy says something to him and he laughs, which is something I didn't think he was capable of doing. At least he's in a better mood. I glance at my cousin, who looks unrelenting. "Can't I wait until the crowd disperses?" "You have five minutes," she announces as she glances at her phone. Luckily for me, the group slowly thins out and instead of it being five people, it's only two: Maddox and a guy with blonde hair. I slowly walk around his car and approach him nervously. My palms begin to sweat so I rub them against my skirt. His friend spots me first and nudges Maddox in the side. He glances up when his friend elbows him and turns his gaze on me. He takes on a threatening stance as if I'm going to throw all the condiments in the world at him. His shirt is changed into a white button up, another uniform option. I wonder what he did with the black one that I wrecked. His friend mutters something to him before walking away and I let out a sigh of relief. The less people who see my embarrassment, the better. "Hey, I just wanted to apologize about earlier," I nod awkwardly as I stare at the floor. I feel his eyes on me and I nervously brush my hair from my face. I wait for a response but come up short so I look up, notice that he's staring at me, and immediately look down again. "I also have a question." I glance up at him and find him scrutinizing me. I look the other way and try to count the amount of seconds until my rejection. "You know what homecoming is, right?" He didn't respond so I sigh. "This is like talking to a brick wall," I mutter as I kick at the gravel beneath my feet. "Anyway, I was wondering if you'd like to go to homecoming with me," I inquire as I glance behind him. I watch as my cousin and her two friends hold their hands over their mouths as they snicker and laugh. He peeks over his shoulder before looking back at me. My face is bright red and I can feel my palms growing sweatier and sweatier with each shaky breath I take. I really shouldn't stress it this much. I know he's going to say no. I don't want him to say yes. "Okay," he says in his semi-familiar deep voice. "Well, I tried," I mutter before I suddenly go rigid. "Wait, what did you say?" "I said okay," he repeats as if annoyed. "Okay as in...?" I ask as I quirk my eyebrows upward in slight shock. "Okay as in I'll go with you," he responds. I peek over his shoulder and see Vivica's eyes widen as Chelsea and Tracy turn to look at her. I simply nod a few times before walking around the car and back to Vivica, who looks angry. "Did he say yes?" she inquires even though she already knows the answer. I slowly nod, still shocked myself that he agreed. Her eyes narrow at the ground as her mouth purse together. "Uh, we can't give you a ride home. We have cheer-leading practice at a nearby school," Chelsea states and I stare at her, slightly stunned. Like clowns, they all pile into the car and speed out of the lot. I swear under my breath as I take out my phone and dial my aunt's number. There's no response so I groan. I have no money for a cab, and even if I did, I don't even know the address. It's difficult to remember. My old one was simple: 12 Taverness Drive. This one has a list of numbers and I'm not sure if it's a lane or a drive or what. Rubbing my eyes, I sigh and prepare to go into the office to ask where my aunt even lives. "They left you?" a low voice from behind me asks. I turn around and nod, feeling embarrassed. "Yeah, they did," I mutter. He looks hesitant as he bites his mouth. "Do you need a ride?" he asks, appearing unsure as to whether or not he even feels up to giving me a ride. I'm surprised at the fact that he asked me so I slowly nod. "Yeah." "Come on," he grunts as he kicks off his car and opens the door for himself. I shuffle over to the side and tug open the door, in fear that he'll leave me if I tell him that I have to run inside for a minute to get my new homes' address. As he starts the car, I grow curious. "Aren't you waiting for someone?" I wonder as I look back at the large building we were just released from. "Nope," he concludes as he backs out of the parking space and drives out of the lot. "We have to stop and get gas." "Okay," I nod at him. As we reach the gas station, he gets out of the car. Before he closes the door, he leans forward and looks at me. "Don't touch anything." "No promises," I murmur as I look around at the clean interior. He harshly stares at me and I roll my eyes. "I'm joking!" Maybe I shouldn't do that with him. When he gets back into the car after filling up the tank, he turns to look at me. "What's your address?" he asks as he prepares to leave the lot. "I don't know," I answer after a moment of trying to pull the location from thin air. He stares at me and blinks a few times. I look back at him and awkwardly meet his eyes. He has very pretty eyes. The thought causes my face to burn so I avert my gaze and peer out the window. Hopefully he sums it up to me being embarrassed at his staring. He probably thinks I like him. I mean, I'd understand if he does. I asked him to homecoming and I barely know him. And whenever I look at him, I blush like an idiot. "What do you mean you don't know?" he asks with slightly narrowed eyes as he drags me back to reality. "I just came to live with my aunt on Friday," I clarify with a meek shrug. "I didn't have time to memorize the address." "Do you even know the street name?" he questions in bewilderment. "No. I just know that it is twenty five minutes from school...and the house is blue...and the number of the house has a five in it," I inform him as I purse my mouth in thought. He stares at me before letting out an exasperated sigh. I try to think of something he may know. "Do you know where Vivica lives?" "No, why would I?" he retorts with a slight scowl. I have a feeling that he doesn't like Vivica very much. "Don't get an attitude with me! This is a particularly small town; I just assumed that people know people!" I respond as he parks the car outside of the gas station. "I think I might be able to retrace the drive from the school." He sighs yet again and makes his way back to the school. I can tell he's thinking that I'm more trouble than I'm worth. I can't help but think that, too. - + Thirty minutes later and we're still driving around. "Left?" he wonders as he stops at another similar looking street. "Yeah," I respond and he turns. "Wait, no! I meant right!" He groans noisily and glares at me. I notice how his knuckles turn white on the steering wheel. "I'm wasting gas on you," he repeats once again. "I'll pay for it," I tell him for the third time. I stare at my cell phone and see a response from my aunt. It's the address. I quickly read it out to him and he slowly turns to look at me. "We're a half hour away from there. You took us in the opposite direction of your house," he snaps with an irritated look on his face. "I've been here for, like, three days, okay? I don't have the entire town memorized," I retort defensively. He glares at me and I sigh quietly. "How much do you need for the gas?" He doesn't respond and we sit in silence for a good block of time. As we get closer to the house, I turn to look at him. "You know, we don't have to go to homecoming together. I-I, uh, I was dared to go. I didn't expect you to say yes, and the girls didn't either. You probably have other stuff to do." He remains silent. If every moment spent with him will be this tense, then I don't want to spend four straight hours with him. I wait for a response but he doesn't say anything. Instead, he keeps his eyes narrowed as he reads street signs. A few moments later, he pulls onto a recognizable street and slows down. "Which house?" he questions me. I nod to the blue one at the corner, which is covered in wind chimes that are twinkling here and there. He pulls up to a stop in front of it. The white porch swing is empty, as is the driveway. Hopefully, my aunt's car is parked in the back. I don't like being home alone, especially in a house that isn't mine. "I'll give you the gas money tomorrow. I'm not completely unpacked and my piggy bank is still in a box somewhere. Will ten dollars cover it?" I wonder as I look to him curiously. Again, he withholds his words so I awkwardly unbuckle my seatbelt. "Well, thanks," I mutter as I close the car door. "Tell Vivian to lose my number," Maddox calls once I reach the sidewalk. I turn to him and nod. Vivica, I want to correct him but decide against it. As I continue up the steps to the house, he yells out to me again. "What?" I respond as I turn around with a confused look on my face. He couldn't have said all this when I was still in the car within hearing range? "Wear red," he repeats. I furrow my eyebrows as he drives off down the street. Homecoming, I remember. So he actually wants to go. Chapter 2: Take My Money I spend an hour looking through my boxes to try and find my green piggy bank. I come upon it and find that it's barely full. I wish my mother would've told me that she and my father would decide to send me off to my aunts so I could've saved up from my old job. Instead, the week before I left, I spent almost two hundred dollars on worthless items like party food and plastic bowls. I could've saved that until I managed to get a job here. I barely have fifty bucks to my name, and I already owe someone ten dollars. I sigh, take out a ten, and put it on my bedside table as I climb into bed. I wake up the next morning with a jolt. My aunt pushes open my door and tosses a bag onto my bed. "Morning, sunshine!" she greets me in her slightly nasally voice. I look at the bag, which landed on my legs, and groan. I sit up, open the sack, and allow my shoulders to slump. School uniforms. I guess my parents bought these for me. Yesterday, I used one of Vivica's old ones from her freshman year. It was one of the few that wasn't hemmed and stitched so the skirt rose a few inches, and the shirt actually still had buttons. After I shower and get ready, I meet my aunt and cousin downstairs. My aunt's making breakfast, which smells delicious. With half lidded eyes and damp hair, I sit down at the table. My cousin picks at a piece of toast, looking primped and preened. She has an annoyed look on her face, which appeared the moment I plopped down in the seat beside her. "Why'd you need to know the address yesterday?" my aunt wonders when her eyes settle on me. "I needed a ride home but I didn't know where I lived," I confess as I shove a piece of bacon into my mouth. "You needed a ride?" my aunt repeats as she looks between the two of us at the table. Yawning and rubbing my eyes, I blink a few times before nodding. "Why didn't Vivica give you a ride?" Aunt Genevieve questions more to her daughter than me. "She had cheer-leading practice at a different school," I admit flatly, not bothering to hide my annoyance. "We're going to talk later," my aunt glares at my cousin. "How'd you get home?" "I got a ride from Maddox," I explain, getting cut off in the middle of my sentence by a yawn, which causes my eyes to close slightly. Speaking of Maddox, I pat my pocket to make sure I have the money for gas. Vivica's eyes widen as a look of anger overtakes her face. Why's she so angry? She's the one that left me stranded in the school parking lot without a ride. "You're going to give her a ride to and from school from now on," my aunt demands. I don't bother speaking. Instead, I just eat a forkful of eggs and remain silent. When Vivica announces that we're leaving, I grab a napkin and load it up with the rest of my bacon. I make a move to wash my dish but my aunt stops me and smiles, nodding towards the door. I force a smile back and grab my bag from the floor, shoveling bacon into my mouth as I go. The car ride is tense and everything Vivica does seems angry. She punches the radio buttons until a song she approves of comes on; she brakes rather hard; she turns fiercely; and she doesn't warn me whenever she's taking a sharp turn. I'm guessing that's how she takes out her anger: by beating up the passenger. After arriving at school, I make a beeline for the bathroom. As I'm walking towards the toilets., which I found yesterday after a ten minute search, I spot a familiar guy standing at a locker. He carelessly shoves books into his bag. I slowly approached him, unsure if it was a good time. "Maddox," I state as I dip my hand into my pocket. He turns around with that natural sour look on his face- the narrowed eyes and the set frown. "What?" His pretty green eyes are conical and his mouth is set in a line. I feel my face heat up when I realize that I was just staring into his eyes for a good minute. "I-I have the money," I concur with him as I hold out the cash. "Is that bacon?" he asks with furrowed brows. His eyes are locked on the napkin in my other hand. "Yeah, want some?" I offer as I hold it out as well. He shakes his head and I shrug, retracting my bacon-filled hand. "And I don't want the money," he tells me bluntly as he slams his locker. "But I searched through my boxes for an hour for this," I grumble unhappily. I know what you're thinking- take the money and walk away. If he doesn't want it, be grateful. You're ten dollars richer (or maybe just not ten dollars short). But I can't help but feel like I owe him. He gave me a ride home even though I couldn't even provide him with an address until forty five minutes into town exploring. "That's not my problem," he informs me. Without a second glance at me, he walks away with his hands tucked in his pockets. I glare at his back, fold up the money, and shove it into the slits of his locker. I, Olivia Ortega, refuse to owe anyone anything. I walk towards the bathroom and get in, listening as the bell rings, signifying that the day has just begun. - + It takes me a minute to realize that I have five of eight classes with Maddox. And it wasn't until American Literature, which is directly after lunch, that he comes up to me and places the money on my desk angrily. I shove it back towards him, lifting it when he doesn't accept it. "Take it," I demand. "No," he states as he stands on the other side of my table, refusing to take the money. I keep my hand extended towards him. "Take it," I repeat as I examine his face; his defined jaw is clenched and his long eyelashes create shadows on his cheeks in the bright lighting of the classroom. The green of his eyes is flashing as he blinks impatiently, trying to shrug off my attempts to give him the money. His pale, pink mouth is set in a line as he represses the urge to, most likely, swear at me and call me names. I pushed the money towards him again, cutting off his path to the back of the class. "Maddox, have a seat," Mr. Harvey announces with a fleck of impatience in his tone. Maddox looks around and grits his teeth when he notices that the seat beside me is the only available chair. Everyone's eyes are on us as they wait to see what he'll do. He grumpily drops in the only open seat, giving me a glare when he realizes that this is the third time I've embarrassed him in a two day span. He shoves my hand away and I tuck the money into my pocket with a plan of slipping it into his bag once the bell rings. Maddox ignores me the entire class period. Even when I attempted to ask him for help on a question, he disregards me. The teacher didn't explain it to me well enough and I didn't want to ask again, so I just shut up and pretended I knew what I was doing. In my old school, we didn't get this far into this lesson. In fact, we barely got into the lesson before this one. Was my old school behind or is this school ahead? Maddox also ignores me when I ask him what time class ends. And I know he heard me. I mean, he made eye contact with me for a few seconds before he looked away. And the moment the bell rang, he jumped from his seat and dove out of the classroom, not bothering to retrieve the homework on the way out. - + In my Pre-Calculus class, which I have absolutely no friends in, I'm surprised when two girls take the seats beside me. I just assume that there's a shortage of seats until they introduce themselves to me. I recognize them; they'e two of the people who followed Maddox out of the cafeteria when I attacked him with my lunch. "I'm Cassidy," the redhead introduces herself. She has several piercings on her ears, mouth piercing, and an eyebrow piercing. I smile at her and nod, still confused as to why she's talking to me. "I'm Winona," the dark skinned one greets me. She doesn't have any piercings but her makeup is dark and smokey, like something I've seen in a tutor. I smile at her as well, nodding my head again. "You must be Olivia." My eyes flicker from Cassidy to Winona in slight confusion. "Uh, yeah, how'd you know?" I ask. "Maddox," they reply in unison. "We're his friends." "Oh," I mutter. "Well, yeah, I'm Olivia." The girls start a conversation with me and I politely engage, though still confused as to why Maddox told them about me. I don't bother to ask. - + "You're going to homecoming with a boy?" my aunt gasps the second I get in the house with my bag over my shoulder. I nod slowly. "Yeah, how'd you know?" I wonder as I slow to a stop in front of her. "Viv was talking about it on the phone when she came in," my aunt smiles. "Do you have a dress?" I shake my head. "No," I answer in short. I don't even have money for one, if we're being honest. I really didn't think this through. "Well, homecoming's this Friday! We need to go get you a dress," my aunt explains happily. "Now?" I mutter when I see her grabbing her car keys. "Yeah, or they'll all be sold out, if they aren't already!" she smiles at me. I can tell how excited she is to finally have a teenage girl to spend time with. "Let me just run upstairs and get my money," I conclude when I realize that I may not be able to pay Maddox back after all. "No need, I'll pay for it," she concurs with a dismissive hand wave. I return the grin this time. "Thanks, Aunt Gen." "No problem," she announces as she leads the way outside. I leave my bag on the living room floor as I shut the door behind us. As we drive to the mall, I think about what Maddox said. Should I wear red? Or should I wear what I want to wear? After much contemplation, I decide that I'll wear what I want to wear, unless I find a cute, red dress. Then, I guess I'll get that. Upon our arrival, I notice a few things. There are a lot of teenagers and a lot of stores. This mall's definitely larger than the one from my old town, almost twice the size. "Let's look around," my aunt suggests as she looks at the different stores. I follow behind her and peer around at the variety of shops that dot the aisle. "They have dresses." We cut across the large hall and get in the aforementioned store, where we're hit with a blast of heat. I immediately notice a red dress on a rack so I approach it and examine it. "So you want a red dress?" "What?" I wonder as I tear my eyes from the dress. "Your eyes darted to that red dress faster than my eyes dart to purses," she comments with a small chuckle. I look down, feeling slightly embarrassed. At least she doesn't know my reasoning for wanting red. "It's cute, don't you think?" I ask her as I wave the garment around. "Yeah, do they have your size?" she wonders. I survey the rack more and frown, giving a slow shake of my head. "We'll keep looking, then." There isn't much to look at in that store so we keep it moving. Two stores later, we finally find a dress that's cute and has my size. After purchasing it (I thanked my aunt repeatedly for doing so), we exit the store. "Do you have any shoes?" my aunt wonders as her eyes fall on yet another girly store. I stare at the floor and shake my head again. "Nope." "No problem, we'll get you some!" she insists with wild eyes. "Vivica hates going out with me. It's good to have someone around that I can shop with." "Thanks, Aunt Gen," I say for what seems to be the fifth time today. "Anytime," my aunt responds. "When was the last time you talked to your mom?" "Not too long ago, three days I think," I estimate. To be honest, it wasn't much of a talk. She just called to make sure I knew the rules, which she shouted at me repeatedly on the way here. 'Don't do anything disrespectful. Follow all of your aunts' rules. If she has a curfew different than ours, follow it without complaint. Don't get into trouble with the police. No parties, at all. Don't hit Vivica. I mean it, Liv; don't hit her...' My mom's voice drones on in my head. "She told you the rules again, right?" my aunt grins at me. I chuckle and nod. "Yeah, she did," I admit. "Don't worry about it. You're doing just fine here." I give my aunt a half smile. Maybe this year won't be so bad. At least my aunt won't be. Chapter 3: The Happier Brother I'm sitting in last period with a tapping foot. I look at the clock and sigh. When does the bell ring again? I just want to get out of school, but I don't exactly want to go back to my aunt's house. Vivica's probably going to have Chelsea and Tracy over so they can get ready together. Then, at eight o'clock, we'll just come back to school for homecoming. I'm not exactly excited for it. I barely know Maddox, and he doesn't seem very fond of me. However, he hasn't cancelled on me and I have a feeling he would've by now if he felt like he wasn't going to show up. Unless he wanted to wait until the last minute so I'd feel like absolute and utter crap. Then again, if he said he didn't want to go, I wouldn't be that sad. I guess I just don't want to spend four hours with him, especially because I'm depending on Vivica for a ride home, and if she sees that I'm having a bad time, she'll refuse to take me home until the school staff kick us out at eleven o'clock. She's still mad at me for many things, most of which I'm unsure about. I stopped caring after Wednesday. As long as she brings me to school and back, I'm fine. Even if Maddox ditches me, I still have to go. My aunt bought me a dress and shoes and as far as she's concerned, I really like this boy. I don't know how she came to that conclusion seeing as I've been here for barely a week but I don't ask questions. Simply put, it'd be embarrassing if he cancels on me. It's worse because I won't know until I get to homecoming. He could've already decided he's not going to go without telling me and just stand me up. Now that I think about it, I bet he won't show up. We haven't talked since Tuesday, and he didn't seem very happy with me then, probably because I led him on an unintentional wild goose chase to my house on Monday. Or maybe it was the fact that I bumped into him. Once the bell rings, I immediately begin packing up my stuff. Everyone else does the same. Mrs. Reanna is the type of teacher to yell at you if you make a move to put something back in your bag before the bell rings, even if it's an eraser. I jolt in surprise when a voice speaks in the quiet classroom. "Are we still on for tonight?" Maddox wonders in a strained voice. I turn around as I swing my bag over my shoulder. Cassidy and Winona stand behind him with large grins directed at me. "Yeah," I confirm as I give both girls a confused look. He groans and Winona elbows him in the side. Through gritted teeth, he questions: "Do you need a ride?" I think about it. Would I rather sit through a tense, awkward ride with Maddox or a loud, obnoxious ride with my cousin and her friends, where they'd make fun of me and I'd have to refrain from ripping the door off its hinges and slapping them all across their faces with it? It isn't much of a competition, to be honest. "Yeah," I agree since he's offering. "What's the address again?" he questions and I have a feeling Cassidy's pinching his side by the way he's cringing away from her. "I'll write it down," I tell him as I reach for my bag. "Or she'll just text it to you," Winona suggests quietly. "Or you can text it to me," he blurts and I feel myself cringing for him. The two girls are using him like a puppet, poking and pinching him to get him to speak. "I don't have your number," I state the obvious. He digs into his pocket and retrieves his phone. I guess Winona pinched him a little too hard because he tosses it at me as he lets out a girlish squeal. I shuffle to catch it, almost dropping it several times. He has a terrified look on his face as he watches me fight gravity to grab the phone. I notice that his phone doesn't have a lock on it. Huh, unusual. "Don't touch anything," he tells me in his normal, threatening voice. I glance at him and watch as his back arches in reaction to Cassidy pinching him. "Or touch whatever you want." His voice raises with each word he says. I take my time adding a contact, glancing up at him judgmentally every so often to give off the idea that I'm reading his messages. At one point, I did look up at him with genuine judgment when I saw that he had several different female contacts; he had four Emma's and five Jessica's, if that gives you an idea of the lengthy list he had. When I finish, I hand him back his phone and he snatches it, which earns a pinch from Winona. "I'll just text you when I'm going to leave my house. Reply with the address then," he informs me me. Winona and Cassidy drop their hands and he sighs in relief, hunching over. "I'll see you later," I grunt as he leaves the classroom. He doesn't bother to acknowledge my farewell as he shuffles out. Cassidy, Winona, and I exit the classroom and begin walking in the same direction. "What was that about?" "He didn't want to talk to you about your plans," Winona explains with a shrug. "So we had to use some force to get it out of him." "Oh," I mutter in a slightly disappointed manner. If he didn't want to go with me, why didn't he just cancel? I'd rather go alone than go with someone who'll just constantly complain about my presence, which is something I think Maddox would do. When I reach my cousins car, I find her waiting impatiently. She mumbles something about not waiting on me again as I buckle my seatbelt and I huff noisily in response. Halfway home, I turn to look at her. "I don't need a ride to homecoming." "Why? Did he cancel on you?" she smirks in a somewhat satisfied manner. I roll my eyes at her. "No, he's bringing me." She doesn't bother to respond and only continues driving in her angry, dangerous manner. - + I get ready much quicker than the other girls, who arrive at the house at four thirty. I started getting ready at six and was completely prepared at 6:30. Given, I showered at 3:30 and curled my hair at four o'clock, but I wasn't in my dress. It wasn't until six that I got into my outfit, put on perfume, and then packed a small purse. I didn't put on makeup, mainly because I never learned how to. I only have an older brother and a younger brother, and my mother never wore makeup. There was no one to teach me. And I don't want to try and end up looking silly because I followed a professional YouTuber's tutorial. I planned on watching a movie until 7:30 or so, which is when I thought Maddox would come and get me, but he came a lot earlier than I expected. At 6:40, I get a text from him telling me that he's leaving his house so I respond with the address and put on a few finishing touches. I grab my jacket, put it on, and walk downstairs with my purse over my shoulder. "You look so pretty!" Aunt Gen announces when I come into her view. I smile at her, wondering if she only believes that because she helped picked it out. "Thank you," I comment awkwardly. "Red is your color," she winks at me. I hear a car honking outside and assume it's Maddox. I starts towards the door and she quirks a brow. "That for you?" she wonders as she glances out the front window. "Yeah, I've got to go," I tell her. I know Maddox will get frustrated and drive off if I'm not outside in a minute or so. "You're to be home by twelve!" she calls to me as I approach the front door. My eyes widen as the number leaves her mouth. My mother and father would've given me until nine on a good day. Of course, I was never home by nine, but I usually gave them the satisfaction of letting them set a time without me arguing in response. I nod at my aunt before exiting the house. As I walk towards Maddox's car, I'm surprised to find him in an actual tuxedo. I don't know what I was expecting him to wear, but it wasn't anything remotely formal. It was probably all black and leather because he seems to be fond of that. From what I've seen so far, his uniform is always accessorized with the two. When I get into the car and admire his outfit, he glares at me. "Don't say anything." "A tuxedo?" I ask with a small smirk on my face. I can't help but to tease. He glowers at me before he pulls off down the road. "Do you live far from here?" "I'm not telling you where I live," he scoffs as if the idea of saying his address is preposterous. "I probably won't know where it is, anyway. I was just assuming because it took you barely ten minutes to get here," I mutter as I stare out the window. We're silent as I continue to think. We never really introduced each other. I know his name thanks to Vivica and he knows my name... "Wait, do you even know my name?" He looks at me with narrowed brows. "Yes, I'm not brainless." "Oh, really, what is it then?" I inquire. He has to know, right? I mean, his friends knew. "Olive," he announces confidently. "It's Olivia," I correct him. At least he was close... "I know. But Olive is better. It's a food," he mutters as he takes a left turn. Unlike Vivica, he turns normally, not with too much force or the goal of giving me a minor concussion. "I don't like that nickname," I reply in hopes that he'll revert to using my real, birth name. "It's not a nickname," he concurs with a slight head shake. "You have to like the person to give them a nickname." We fall into silence again as he continues to drive towards the school. "Why'd you say yes?" I wonder aloud. "You talk so much," he sighs. "Answer the question and I won't talk again until we get to school," I propose as I pull at the end of my dress to yank it down. I forgot how uncomfortable these things are. Instead of responding, he reaches for the radio. When I go to speak over it, he looks straight at, turns up the music, and rudely silences me. I dont bother to speak to him again.	LEARN_MORE	https://moonstories.readlife.mobi/1ciqjjpmt00.html	Top Romance Novels	https://www.facebook.com/61573021893545/	2	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	moonstories.readlife.mobi	IMAGE		https://moonstories.readlife.mobi/1ciqjjpmt00.html	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481118046_627269160005256_9067227855649948893_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3dqIO9BPZAIQ7kNvgHBRIzz&_nc_oc=Adjm1yAgVqDHntfl5M_SgmtDtYHkBu0tTgpzmr5FimGw3xsEATGbiFp6tfJwA3Prz8ZQQGo5wQ3kOVVtdAi1-Nh7&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AnNjG9AAjRnSPXN9cCv1NjY&oh=00_AYDcr36LXn91kfg5OmsYYLuMuosMDMkoUZmCistKKZLdCA&oe=67CB2D36	PERSON_PROFILE	Top Romance Novels	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,731,943	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Download the app to watch more exciting episodes	Madalyn's boyfriend cheated on her. She got drunk and ended up sleeping with Nicolas, who was thirteen years older than her. As a result, they entered into matrimony. Madalyn believed it to be a loveless marriage, however, she had unknowingly fallen into the trap set with Nicolas's love. He was waiting for her to love him back.	WATCH_MORE	https://fbweb.moboreels.com/16675322-fb-en-xy35-co	Enjoy Read Now	https://www.facebook.com/100083816409996/	23,998	1969-12-31 18:00	Watch more	fbweb.moboreels.com	VIDEO		https://fbweb.moboreels.com/16675322-fb-en-xy35-core1-video.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=235613&jump=0&exdata=A66DDB89487E764AB5CC64D24CD4375F2178CA0B20085FB8	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480830571_4053495131601853_9157617314632418706_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F5Wma4mUthoQ7kNvgH7JHhK&_nc_oc=Adjydc1vSMVCWUT0GqJjTnbuYoDGvAPb94ye43O3HxqcTJH2T68CITqm_Cj9qiB4ADTjbPOMNYk1gkSR0MIr1Vl4&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Aa0OWlCLG7HfTad8yrpOK2f&oh=00_AYAxgKViSasVf_W7G6xDAJDtRE_OKmnuuKCe9p6_BoYvQA&oe=67CB4C8B	PERSON_PROFILE	Enjoy Read Now	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,263	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Excited and eager, Emma wastes no time and enters the office without knocking. But as soon as she steps inside, the smile on her face vanishes. Her excitement evaporates when she sees her husband in the arms of another woman.	Emma Taylor is on her way to the office of her husband, Matías White, the man she married two years ago. She wishes she could say he is the perfect husband and that their marriage is wonderful, but it’s far from the truth. Her life is in chaos, and her marriage is a complete disaster. Emma married Matías, deeply in love with the man she thought was perfect for her. But reality hit her hа'rd-on their wedding night when he left her alone, telling her she was the most unpleasant woman he had ever met and that he would never have anything to do with her. Their marriage only happened because Matías’ grandfather, on his deathbed, had asked him to marry Emma, the woman he wanted as his beloved grandson's wife. To fulfill his grandfather’s dying wish, Matías married Emma so that his grandfather could see the wedding before he passed away. Today marks two years of marriage, and Emma is on her way to Matías' office at his company. Like a fool in love, she’s eager to make their marriage work, but deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever get her husband to notice her. Despite two years of marriage, Matías has never touched her, not even once. Emma steps out of the elevator and heads toward Matías White’s office. She wants to surprise him and see if they can have a romantic dinner tonight. Emma is tired of waiting for Matías to decide to be intimate with her, so she has resolved to seduce him tonight and finally get what she has longed for since the day she married him. Their marriage isn’t in a good place, and it’s never really been, but all she wants is to make things work between them. When she arrives at her husband’s secretary’s desk, the secretary looks up with a surprised expression, which strikes Emma as odd. “Good morning, ma’am. How can I help you?” the secretary asks, somewhat nervously. “Oh, nothing much, I just want to see my husband,” Emma replies. “Okay, let me inform Mr. White that you’re here,” the secretary says as she quickly picks up the phone to notify him of Emma’s arrival. "Don't bother telling him. I want to surprise him," Emma says, stopping the secretary from notifying Matías of her arrival. Unsure of what to do, the secretary drops the phone and remains silent. Excited and eager, Emma wastes no time and enters the office without knocking. But as soon as she steps inside, the smile on her face vanishes. Her excitement evaporates when she sees her husband in the arms of another woman. She stands there, frozen, staring at the scene without saying a word. "Emma," Matías says, quickly wiping the lipstick from his mouth. "What are you doing here?" he asks, his tone offended by her unannounced arrival. But Emma just continues to stare at him, shocked yet not entirely surprised, as she had suspected for some time that he was cheating on her. Without a word, driven by a sense of dignity and self-respect, she turns and leaves the office that now feels suffocating and oppressive. In a situation like this, one might expect their spouse to chase after them, to apologize or at least try to explain. But not Matías. He doesn’t follow her, nor does he try to offer any explanation. Angry and heartbroken, Emma leaves the building, desperate to get as far away as possible. This moment is a crushing blow for her. For two years, she tried everything to make their marriage work, but now it seems more impossible than ever. Feeling devastated, Emma heads to a nearby café, taking a seat at a table by the window that overlooks the street. She watches the world go by outside, her mind swirling with the painful truth she can no longer deny. She had always suspected Matías was deceiving her, but she clung to the hope that it was just her imagination, that she was wrong. Sadly, she now knows the truth—she was right all along. As Emma sits in the café, watching people pass by, she tries to clear her mind. An hour goes by, and as she starts to feel calmer, she decides it's time to leave and head back home. But as she approaches the parking lot where her driver is waiting with the car, she’s met with an unwelcome surprise—the woman with whom her husband is having an affair. Emma tries to ignore her, walking past without giving her the slightest attention. "Emma!" the woman shouts, making her stop and turn around. It’s clear that her husband’s lover isn’t about to let this opportunity to provoke her slip by. "What do you want?" Emma asks curtly, her patience wearing thin. "I just wanted to see your face while I tell you how much I've enjoyed your husband's kisses. And let me tell you, in bed, he's an absolute beast," the woman says with a smug smile, her words dripping with malice, clearly aimed at making Emma angry. Emma takes a deep breath, determined not to fall into the trap of this woman’s manipulation. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. After all, you're just the lover, and I'm the wife," she replies, flashing a calm smile. The woman's expression quickly changes to one of fury. Enraged, she storms toward Emma, grabbing her arm and shaking her violently. "Let go of me!" Emma yells, struggling to free herself from the woman’s grip. But just as the situation spirals out of control, something unexpected happens—a car comes speeding into the parking lot and crashes into both women. *** Emma feels a sharp, stabbing pain that overwhelms her, making it difficult to move. Her heart pounds heavily as she struggles to open her eyes, but the effort is almost unbearable. The noise of people around her is deafening, causing an intense headache that only adds to her misery. "Ma'am, listen to me! Can you hear me?" a voice calls out, trying to reach her through the fog of pain. “Mmmm,” she gasps, barely able to respond. "You’re okay. Let me help you sit up," says a man’s voice, gentle but firm. He helps her sit up from where she’s lying on the ground. "What happened?" Emma asks, wincing from the pain as she finally manages to open her eyes. She’s startled to find herself staring into the face of a handsome man with brown hair and striking gray eyes. "You were just in an accident," he explains. The memories come flooding back, and Emma looks around in panic. She sees the woman she had argued with being attended to by others. "The car didn’t hit you both too hard. You’re going to be fine," the man reassures her. Without a word, Emma tries to stand, bracing her hands on the ground, but a sharp pain shoots through her left arm. “Aaaargh!” she cries out, the pain intense and sudden. "It looks like your arm is dislocated," the man says, gently helping her to her feet. Just then, Matías appears. He glances briefly at Emma but quickly shifts his focus to his lover, completely ignoring the fact that his wife is injured. Tears well up in Emma’s eyes, and as the pain in her arm worsens, she feels even more miserable, both physically and emotionally. The sound of an ambulance siren cuts through the chaos, and paramedics arrive to assist both women. After a quick check-up, they decide to transfer them to the hospital for further treatment. Matías still pays no attention to Emma, his concern solely focused on the other woman. "Thank you for your help," Emma says quietly to the stranger who has stayed by her side, his presence a rare comfort in the turmoil. "There’s no need to thank me," he replies with genuine concern. "If you’d like, I can accompany you to the hospital, especially if there’s no one else to go with you." "I don’t want to be a bother. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine," Emma replies, embarrassed. She’s painfully aware that her husband has been there the whole time and hasn’t even asked if she’s okay. The paramedics lift her onto the stretcher, and both women are transported to the nearest hospital. By a coincidence or the irony of life, Emma and her husband's mistress are in adjoining rooms, which places them close to each other. Emma has her eyes closed when she hears the footsteps of someone entering the room. She slowly opens her eyes and sees Matías, who has just arrived. "Matías," she says, somewhat surprised to see him there. But then she remembers the scene of the accident and how he ignored her to be with his lover. "You must be happy about what you've done," he says in a cold tone. "What do you mean?" she asks, confused. "Don't play dumb. You know very well what I'm talking about. It's more than evident that after seeing the two of us kissing in the office, you decided to wait for the right moment to take revenge on us and deliberately had a car run over them. Of course, nothing went as planned." "Are you going crazy?" she tells him, offended by his accusations. "I'm only going to warn you about one thing: if something happens to her and she loses my son, I'll never forgive you," he says, and leaves Emma, who is left surprised in the room. It didn't take long for tears to come to her eyes and roll down her cheeks. Emma takes off the serum she is wearing and goes to the next room, where, to her surprise, she finds her mother-in-law accompanying the woman with whom her beloved son is cheating on her. "What are you doing here?" Sofia, Matías' mother, says, giving Emma a look full of rejection. "I'm also admitted to this hospital." "I can't believe you have the guts to come to this room after what you did to Silvia. Aren't you ashamed?" "I haven't done anything, and that's why I'm here now." "Do you say I'm a liar?" Silvia says, pretending to cry. "You were the one who tried to hurt me, and now you're pretending so that everyone thinks I was the cause of everything," Emma says, trying to clarify the situation. A loud "paf" echoes as Sofia slaps Emma while she tries to explain. Emma holds her face on the side that received the slap and watches as Silvia laughs at her misfortune. Footsteps approach the room, and an angry Matías enters. "Why are you here?" "Mati, darling, please tell her to leave. She hates me and came to make fun of me," Silvia says between false tears. "Emma, go away and don't try to get any closer to Silvia," he says in a cold tone. Emma just stares at him in silence. "Get out of here, you're just causing trouble," Sofia tells her. "I thought I had married a great man, but apparently, I made a big mistake for which I am now paying the consequences. Trying to win your love is not worth it," Emma says, filled with anger and feeling helpless. "I'm sorry I wasn't what you expected." "I want us to divorce as soon as possible," she replies, and leaves the room without looking back. She is already resigned and determined to distance herself from the man and his family who despise her so much. As she walks toward the exit, she bumps into someone entering the hospital. "Excuse me," the man says. "Excuse me," she responds, looking up at him. Standing before her is the handsome man with gray eyes who had helped her during the accident. "You again," she says, surprised. "You're better now?" he asks, noticing that she is leaving the hospital and observing that his arm is still in bad condition and hasn’t been bandaged. "I've decided to leave. I don't have anything recorded, and I'll seek medical assistance elsewhere." "Do you want me to accompany you?" he asks, concerned that something might happen to her on the way. "No need. I'll call my family to come for me. Thank you anyway," she says, and leaves him behind. Emma exits the hospital as quickly as possible and takes a taxi. As she rides, she laments and cries without restraint. "Miss, are you alright?" the driver asks, worried. "Don't worry. Just take me to this address," she says, handing him a piece of paper with the address written on it. Emma sheds the last of her tears, her only desire now is to separate from Matías and distance herself from his family. The taxi driver drives for almost an hour before arriving at a huge mansion. "I think we've arrived," he says, uncertain if this is the right place. "Okay," she replies, rolling down the window and leaning out to speak to the security guard at the gate. "Hi, Max." "Hello, Miss Emma. It's a pleasure to see you here again." "Thank you. Please open the gate; I want to enter." "Of course." The taxi enters the grounds of the mansion, and after Emma pays the driver, she gets out and heads to the entrance. She rings the doorbell, and the family butler opens the door. "Miss Taylor, welcome. Please come in," he says, holding the door open for her. She enters the house and goes to the living room, where she finds her brother Cristian on the phone. "Hello, brother," she says. He looks at her with a surprised expression, having not seen her for over two years. "Emma, you're back," he says with a smile, recalling the day she left the house. That day, she had told him she would only return if her family accepted her spouse, but here she is now. "Please tell me you’re back to stay." "Yes, I'm here to stay. I've decided to divorce and come back to my family." "I’ve wanted to hear that for a long time. You don’t know how happy I am to have you back here," he says, moving toward her and giving her a huge hug. "Aaargh!" she cries out in pain. Her brother has unintentionally hurt her arm while hugging her. "Are you okay?" he asks, worried. "I hurt my arm, but don’t worry. I’ll be fine," she says, trying to reassure him. She doesn’t want him to know the full extent of what happened or to seek revenge. "Let’s go to your room so you can rest. I’ll call the family doctor to check on you," he says, still concerned. "Okay, let's go." They head upstairs to Emma's room, which has been kept tidy and clean despite her absence. Once in the room, Emma lies down on her bed. "It feels good to be back," she says, feeling comforted by her familiar surroundings. "You should never have left. I wonder what you saw in that i'mbeci1e that made you choose him over your family." "I know I made a mistake, but you know that I am only human and can make mistakes. What matters now is that I’m here." "You're right. We should celebrate the return of my dear sister. For now, I'll call the doctor. Stay here quietly while the doctor arrives; in the meantime, I'll ask for something to eat." "Okay," she replies, and Cristian leaves the room, leaving her alone. Lying on her bed, Emma closes her eyes, trying to hide the discomfort in her arm. While she rests, she thinks about Matías and wonders what he is doing now that she is no longer in his life. Matías has spent a lot of time in the hospital with Silvia and her mother, who seem to get along very well, unlike Emma. The two women were always at odds and argued frequently. At this moment, he is heading toward the house to discuss his divorce petition. His driver has just arrived to pick him up. "Carlos, I want you to take me home," he says, noticing a package next to him. "What is this?" he asks, picking up the package. "It's something the lady bought. She was excited because she had something special planned for both of us, according to what I heard," Carlos replies, and Matías feels a pang of guilt as he remembers how she had spoken to him. "Do you know what happened today in the company's parking lot?" "I heard that the lady was run over along with another woman. I hope she’s alright; she’s a very good person," Carlos says, and Matías looks at him in surprise. Never before has Matías heard any complaints about her from the staff. On the contrary, they all speak highly of her, and she feels comfortable with them. He decides not to ask any more questions and remains silent until they arrive at the house. Matías enters and goes up to Emma's room to talk to her calmly, but to his surprise, she is not there. Remembering her words, he checks her closet to see if she has left and taken all her things. Everything appears to be in place, so he decides to search the house for her, but she is nowhere to be found. He then goes outside and calls his driver. "Tell me, sir, do you need something?" "Did Carlos take my spouse somewhere?" "No, the lady didn't come with me, but I remember seeing her get into a taxi," Carlos replies. "Where could she have gone?" Matías asks, growing increasingly worried. He picks up his phone and tries to call her repeatedly, but she doesn’t answer. At that moment, Emma's voice telling him that she wants a divorce echoes in his mind. "Has she really left me?" he asks himself, feeling a deep emptiness inside. The Taylor family doctor has finished examining Emma and providing the necessary medical care. Fortunately, her arm hasn’t suffered any fractures; she only has contusions and a twisted nerve, which causes pain. The doctor has prescribed medication for the pain and inflammation, and she should be fully recovered in a few days. Feeling much better, Emma is eating something when she hears her father’s voice in the distance. "I want to see my daughter!" he calls out as he opens the door to her room, accompanied by his sister. "Dad," Emma says, feeling ashamed for having been a poor daughter and abandoning her family for someone unworthy who has never truly loved her. "Daughter, my love, you’re here with your family," he says, embracing her. "Yes, Dad, I'm back." "Sister, you don’t know how happy I am that you're here. I’ve missed you very much." "I’ve missed all of you too," Emma says, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Your brother told me you should divorce that man you married." "If it's true, I've decided to get a divorce." "That guy is not up to the level of a Taylor. I don't know how I allowed you to marry him and compromise your identity to be part of a family that is beneath our standards," her father says. Emma smiles and snuggles into her father’s shoulder. The Taylor family is one of the most powerful and influential in the country. Her spouse’s family will never match the wealth of the Taylors, who own countless hotels and shopping malls, as well as several companies. "Dad, I’m a little tired now, and I just want to rest." "That’s fine, my dear. We’ll discuss your divorce later. For now, get some rest." "Thanks, Daddy. You’re the best," she says, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Everyone leaves her room, and she is left alone. Emma takes out her phone from her bag, which has been on silent, and finds several missed calls from Matías. It’s clear to her that he has called to discuss their separation, but at this moment, the last thing she wants is to argue with him over the phone. She decides to go to sleep and will call him tomorrow when she feels better. Two days have passed since Emma returned to her family. Matías has tried to communicate with her, but she has refused to answer his calls. Her anger and disappointment are stronger than she had imagined, and now the only thing she wants is to be away from him. It's Saturday, and Emma is in the garden of her house, taking a walk while she observes the flowers and contemplates the beautiful morning. "What are you doing here alone?" he asks as he stands next to her. "I just want to contemplate how beautiful this garden is." "You haven't been here for a long time. I understand that you want to be outside, but it would be better if you stayed in your room and rested. I want you to recover soon." "If I stay locked up there, I'm going to have an anxiety attack, and that's the last thing I want." "You're thinking about Matías," she asks, and this takes her by surprise. "You're curious about what's going on in my mind, aren't you?" "The truth is, the only thing that interests me is that you are happy, but above all, that you stay away from those people who hurt you." "Don't worry about my brother. I've already spoken with my lawyer, and today Matías will receive the divorce papers. I'm determined to leave him, and there's no going back." Emma is more than determined to leave her spouse and does not intend to back down. Even though she loves him, her self-love must be greater, so she must prioritize her happiness above all else. "That being the case, in a week we will have a welcome party for you. I'm thinking of inviting your ex to the party. It's time for him to realize the big mistake he made by despising you." "Okay, I think that's perfect." Emma returned to her room a few minutes later, where she received another call from Matías. This time, she decided to answer the call and find out what he wanted. "Hello," she replies indifferently. "Emma, you finally answer. I've been calling you, and you haven't responded." "What do you want?" "Where are you? Why haven't you come home?" "I have nothing to do in that house, and I already told you that I want a divorce." "So you meant it." "Of course I did. The best thing you can do is sign the divorce papers in good faith, or I will be forced to annul our marriage." "You don't have to threaten me or be so abrupt. Send me the documents, and I'll sign them." "Well, this afternoon my lawyer will come to see you so you can sign the divorce. Goodbye," he says and hangs up the call without giving her a chance to say anything else. Matías is incredulous to see how Emma has changed and the different way she has spoken to him. She had never behaved like this before. The woman who always sought his attention is now completely different and shows no interest in him. "My love, what are you doing?" Silvia asks as she enters Matías's office, accompanied by her mother. "I'm working. What do you want?" he responds coldly. "I'm just here to see you, darling. Does that bother you?" Silvia says, pouting. "Son, why are you behaving like this toward the woman who will be the mother of your child?" his mother demands. "Mom, Silvia is supposed to be recovering from an accident for the sake of our son, but she’s here when she shouldn’t be." "I'm fine, and the baby is out of danger. You don’t need to worry," Silvia says somewhat nervously. "What happened was more of a scare. Silvia didn’t suffer any harm. I think the angels protected her and freed her from the bad intentions of that woman," her mother says, referring to Emma. "That's right, the car didn’t hit me," Silvia adds with a smile. At that moment, Matías remembers seeing Emma lying on the ground due to the impact. He still hasn’t reviewed the security footage to understand what happened that day. "I’m busy right now. Please leave me alone," Matías says as he picks up some documents. "Alright, we’ll go do some shopping. You continue working," his mother says, and she and Silvia leave the office. Matías has doubts about what happened and wonders if he should check the footage from the park’s cameras to see what really occurred that day. Determined to clear his doubts, he calls his secretary. "Carol, I need you to contact the person in charge of the video surveillance and request the footage of the moment of the accident involving my spouse and Silvia." "Of course, sir. I’ll get back to you right away and ensure you receive it today." "You don’t need to rush. Just get the recording and then pass it to me." "Okay," she replies, and after that, he hangs up the phone and continues working. Almost an hour later, his secretary contacts him. "Yes, Carol?" he says while analyzing some documents. "Sir, Mr. McGregor wants to see you. He says he’s your spouse’s lawyer," she informs him. Matías is surprised to hear this. He had thought the divorce was just a tantrum from Emma, but it seems it is real, and she is determined to leave him. "Let it go," he says. The lawyer enters his office with a folder in hand containing the divorce application papers. "Mr. White, it is a pleasure to meet you," the lawyer says in a polite tone. "I don’t think this meeting is for anything pleasant," Matías responds, indicating that the lawyer should take a seat with a wave of his hand. "Well, whether the day is pleasant for you depends on how you receive my client’s divorce application. To be honest, it’s quite favorable to you since she doesn’t want anything from you other than to sign the documents." "So she intends to divorce me without demanding anything?" "That’s right. She has asked me to tell you that all she wants is for you to sign the papers immediately. Then she can become a free woman, just as you will be, and you can marry whoever you want," the lawyer says, handing him the folder with the documents. Matías takes it and quickly reviews the papers, confirming that the lawyer is telling the truth—Emma is not demanding anything from his money or property. "She really just wants to separate from me." "That’s right. Please sign so we can get this over with." Matías takes a pen and, feeling somewhat doubtful, stamps his signature on the documents. At the moment of signing, he feels a great weight on his chest, and something inside him suggests that he has lost something valuable. However, he ignores these feelings and finishes signing the papers. "I am glad to have cooperated with you. I hope we meet again under better circumstances," the lawyer says before standing up and leaving. Emma is in her room when she receives a message from her lawyer informing her that the divorce papers have been signed and that she can now practically declare herself a free woman.	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.d	Dreamnovel	https://www.facebook.com/dreamenovel66/	438	1969-12-31 18:00	Install now	play.google.com	IMAGE		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dreame.reader&referrer=utm_source%3Dapps.facebook.com%26utm_campaign%3Dfb4a%26utm_content%3D%257B%2522app%2522%253A0%252C%2522t%2522%253A1740846823%252C%2522source%2522%253Anull%257D	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480980277_1001479691911456_8454091971498346159_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GwrQcm3PyesQ7kNvgHP-TML&_nc_oc=AdiIjRcr0tXIKFzcOI_3N_2Mna2GCEP5yRwWRk9h1l5BKP9fkhR0tNRdWVv8LjaG8DnLdDXUaMxE6LYn3JaQ7eCD&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&_nc_gid=A_ALlnTahVzO2eRp0Rm9VLz&oh=00_AYDSgrahwIgJut-ie8fTQgNOtrARdHgw5IWsGsVbF2-KOg&oe=67CB4365	PERSON_PROFILE	Dreamnovel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,732,255	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-03-03 03:18	active	2747	Excited and eager, Emma wastes no time and enters the office without knocking. But as soon as she steps inside, the smile on her face vanishes. Her excitement evaporates when she sees her husband in the arms of another woman.	Emma Taylor is on her way to the office of her husband, Matías White, the man she married two years ago. She wishes she could say he is the perfect husband and that their marriage is wonderful, but it’s far from the truth. Her life is in chaos, and her marriage is a complete disaster. Emma married Matías, deeply in love with the man she thought was perfect for her. But reality hit her hа'rd-on their wedding night when he left her alone, telling her she was the most unpleasant woman he had ever met and that he would never have anything to do with her. Their marriage only happened because Matías’ grandfather, on his deathbed, had asked him to marry Emma, the woman he wanted as his beloved grandson's wife. To fulfill his grandfather’s dying wish, Matías married Emma so that his grandfather could see the wedding before he passed away. Today marks two years of marriage, and Emma is on her way to Matías' office at his company. Like a fool in love, she’s eager to make their marriage work, but deep down, she’s not sure if she’ll ever get her husband to notice her. Despite two years of marriage, Matías has never touched her, not even once. Emma steps out of the elevator and heads toward Matías White’s office. She wants to surprise him and see if they can have a romantic dinner tonight. Emma is tired of waiting for Matías to decide to be intimate with her, so she has resolved to seduce him tonight and finally get what she has longed for since the day she married him. Their marriage isn’t in a good place, and it’s never really been, but all she wants is to make things work between them. When she arrives at her husband’s secretary’s desk, the secretary looks up with a surprised expression, which strikes Emma as odd. “Good morning, ma’am. How can I help you?” the secretary asks, somewhat nervously. “Oh, nothing much, I just want to see my husband,” Emma replies. “Okay, let me inform Mr. White that you’re here,” the secretary says as she quickly picks up the phone to notify him of Emma’s arrival. "Don't bother telling him. I want to surprise him," Emma says, stopping the secretary from notifying Matías of her arrival. Unsure of what to do, the secretary drops the phone and remains silent. Excited and eager, Emma wastes no time and enters the office without knocking. But as soon as she steps inside, the smile on her face vanishes. Her excitement evaporates when she sees her husband in the arms of another woman. She stands there, frozen, staring at the scene without saying a word. "Emma," Matías says, quickly wiping the lipstick from his mouth. "What are you doing here?" he asks, his tone offended by her unannounced arrival. But Emma just continues to stare at him, shocked yet not entirely surprised, as she had suspected for some time that he was cheating on her. Without a word, driven by a sense of dignity and self-respect, she turns and leaves the office that now feels suffocating and oppressive. In a situation like this, one might expect their spouse to chase after them, to apologize or at least try to explain. But not Matías. He doesn’t follow her, nor does he try to offer any explanation. Angry and heartbroken, Emma leaves the building, desperate to get as far away as possible. This moment is a crushing blow for her. For two years, she tried everything to make their marriage work, but now it seems more impossible than ever. Feeling devastated, Emma heads to a nearby café, taking a seat at a table by the window that overlooks the street. She watches the world go by outside, her mind swirling with the painful truth she can no longer deny. She had always suspected Matías was deceiving her, but she clung to the hope that it was just her imagination, that she was wrong. Sadly, she now knows the truth—she was right all along. As Emma sits in the café, watching people pass by, she tries to clear her mind. An hour goes by, and as she starts to feel calmer, she decides it's time to leave and head back home. But as she approaches the parking lot where her driver is waiting with the car, she’s met with an unwelcome surprise—the woman with whom her husband is having an affair. Emma tries to ignore her, walking past without giving her the slightest attention. "Emma!" the woman shouts, making her stop and turn around. It’s clear that her husband’s lover isn’t about to let this opportunity to provoke her slip by. "What do you want?" Emma asks curtly, her patience wearing thin. "I just wanted to see your face while I tell you how much I've enjoyed your husband's kisses. And let me tell you, in bed, he's an absolute beast," the woman says with a smug smile, her words dripping with malice, clearly aimed at making Emma angry. Emma takes a deep breath, determined not to fall into the trap of this woman’s manipulation. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. After all, you're just the lover, and I'm the wife," she replies, flashing a calm smile. The woman's expression quickly changes to one of fury. Enraged, she storms toward Emma, grabbing her arm and shaking her violently. "Let go of me!" Emma yells, struggling to free herself from the woman’s grip. But just as the situation spirals out of control, something unexpected happens—a car comes speeding into the parking lot and crashes into both women. *** Emma feels a sharp, stabbing pain that overwhelms her, making it difficult to move. Her heart pounds heavily as she struggles to open her eyes, but the effort is almost unbearable. The noise of people around her is deafening, causing an intense headache that only adds to her misery. "Ma'am, listen to me! Can you hear me?" a voice calls out, trying to reach her through the fog of pain. “Mmmm,” she gasps, barely able to respond. "You’re okay. Let me help you sit up," says a man’s voice, gentle but firm. He helps her sit up from where she’s lying on the ground. "What happened?" Emma asks, wincing from the pain as she finally manages to open her eyes. She’s startled to find herself staring into the face of a handsome man with brown hair and striking gray eyes. "You were just in an accident," he explains. The memories come flooding back, and Emma looks around in panic. She sees the woman she had argued with being attended to by others. "The car didn’t hit you both too hard. You’re going to be fine," the man reassures her. Without a word, Emma tries to stand, bracing her hands on the ground, but a sharp pain shoots through her left arm. “Aaaargh!” she cries out, the pain intense and sudden. "It looks like your arm is dislocated," the man says, gently helping her to her feet. Just then, Matías appears. He glances briefly at Emma but quickly shifts his focus to his lover, completely ignoring the fact that his wife is injured. Tears well up in Emma’s eyes, and as the pain in her arm worsens, she feels even more miserable, both physically and emotionally. The sound of an ambulance siren cuts through the chaos, and paramedics arrive to assist both women. After a quick check-up, they decide to transfer them to the hospital for further treatment. Matías still pays no attention to Emma, his concern solely focused on the other woman. "Thank you for your help," Emma says quietly to the stranger who has stayed by her side, his presence a rare comfort in the turmoil. "There’s no need to thank me," he replies with genuine concern. "If you’d like, I can accompany you to the hospital, especially if there’s no one else to go with you." "I don’t want to be a bother. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine," Emma replies, embarrassed. She’s painfully aware that her husband has been there the whole time and hasn’t even asked if she’s okay. The paramedics lift her onto the stretcher, and both women are transported to the nearest hospital. By a coincidence or the irony of life, Emma and her husband's mistress are in adjoining rooms, which places them close to each other. Emma has her eyes closed when she hears the footsteps of someone entering the room. She slowly opens her eyes and sees Matías, who has just arrived. "Matías," she says, somewhat surprised to see him there. But then she remembers the scene of the accident and how he ignored her to be with his lover. "You must be happy about what you've done," he says in a cold tone. "What do you mean?" she asks, confused. "Don't play dumb. You know very well what I'm talking about. It's more than evident that after seeing the two of us kissing in the office, you decided to wait for the right moment to take revenge on us and deliberately had a car run over them. Of course, nothing went as planned." "Are you going crazy?" she tells him, offended by his accusations. "I'm only going to warn you about one thing: if something happens to her and she loses my son, I'll never forgive you," he says, and leaves Emma, who is left surprised in the room. It didn't take long for tears to come to her eyes and roll down her cheeks. Emma takes off the serum she is wearing and goes to the next room, where, to her surprise, she finds her mother-in-law accompanying the woman with whom her beloved son is cheating on her. "What are you doing here?" Sofia, Matías' mother, says, giving Emma a look full of rejection. "I'm also admitted to this hospital." "I can't believe you have the guts to come to this room after what you did to Silvia. Aren't you ashamed?" "I haven't done anything, and that's why I'm here now." "Do you say I'm a liar?" Silvia says, pretending to cry. "You were the one who tried to hurt me, and now you're pretending so that everyone thinks I was the cause of everything," Emma says, trying to clarify the situation. A loud "paf" echoes as Sofia slaps Emma while she tries to explain. Emma holds her face on the side that received the slap and watches as Silvia laughs at her misfortune. Footsteps approach the room, and an angry Matías enters. "Why are you here?" "Mati, darling, please tell her to leave. She hates me and came to make fun of me," Silvia says between false tears. "Emma, go away and don't try to get any closer to Silvia," he says in a cold tone. Emma just stares at him in silence. "Get out of here, you're just causing trouble," Sofia tells her. "I thought I had married a great man, but apparently, I made a big mistake for which I am now paying the consequences. Trying to win your love is not worth it," Emma says, filled with anger and feeling helpless. "I'm sorry I wasn't what you expected." "I want us to divorce as soon as possible," she replies, and leaves the room without looking back. She is already resigned and determined to distance herself from the man and his family who despise her so much. As she walks toward the exit, she bumps into someone entering the hospital. "Excuse me," the man says. "Excuse me," she responds, looking up at him. Standing before her is the handsome man with gray eyes who had helped her during the accident. "You again," she says, surprised. "You're better now?" he asks, noticing that she is leaving the hospital and observing that his arm is still in bad condition and hasn’t been bandaged. "I've decided to leave. I don't have anything recorded, and I'll seek medical assistance elsewhere." "Do you want me to accompany you?" he asks, concerned that something might happen to her on the way. "No need. I'll call my family to come for me. Thank you anyway," she says, and leaves him behind. Emma exits the hospital as quickly as possible and takes a taxi. As she rides, she laments and cries without restraint. "Miss, are you alright?" the driver asks, worried. "Don't worry. Just take me to this address," she says, handing him a piece of paper with the address written on it. Emma sheds the last of her tears, her only desire now is to separate from Matías and distance herself from his family. The taxi driver drives for almost an hour before arriving at a huge mansion. "I think we've arrived," he says, uncertain if this is the right place. "Okay," she replies, rolling down the window and leaning out to speak to the security guard at the gate. "Hi, Max." "Hello, Miss Emma. It's a pleasure to see you here again." "Thank you. Please open the gate; I want to enter." "Of course." The taxi enters the grounds of the mansion, and after Emma pays the driver, she gets out and heads to the entrance. She rings the doorbell, and the family butler opens the door. "Miss Taylor, welcome. Please come in," he says, holding the door open for her. She enters the house and goes to the living room, where she finds her brother Cristian on the phone. "Hello, brother," she says. He looks at her with a surprised expression, having not seen her for over two years. "Emma, you're back," he says with a smile, recalling the day she left the house. That day, she had told him she would only return if her family accepted her spouse, but here she is now. "Please tell me you’re back to stay." "Yes, I'm here to stay. I've decided to divorce and come back to my family." "I’ve wanted to hear that for a long time. You don’t know how happy I am to have you back here," he says, moving toward her and giving her a huge hug. "Aaargh!" she cries out in pain. Her brother has unintentionally hurt her arm while hugging her. "Are you okay?" he asks, worried. "I hurt my arm, but don’t worry. I’ll be fine," she says, trying to reassure him. She doesn’t want him to know the full extent of what happened or to seek revenge. "Let’s go to your room so you can rest. I’ll call the family doctor to check on you," he says, still concerned. "Okay, let's go." They head upstairs to Emma's room, which has been kept tidy and clean despite her absence. Once in the room, Emma lies down on her bed. "It feels good to be back," she says, feeling comforted by her familiar surroundings. "You should never have left. I wonder what you saw in that i'mbeci1e that made you choose him over your family." "I know I made a mistake, but you know that I am only human and can make mistakes. What matters now is that I’m here." "You're right. We should celebrate the return of my dear sister. For now, I'll call the doctor. Stay here quietly while the doctor arrives; in the meantime, I'll ask for something to eat." "Okay," she replies, and Cristian leaves the room, leaving her alone. Lying on her bed, Emma closes her eyes, trying to hide the discomfort in her arm. While she rests, she thinks about Matías and wonders what he is doing now that she is no longer in his life. Matías has spent a lot of time in the hospital with Silvia and her mother, who seem to get along very well, unlike Emma. The two women were always at odds and argued frequently. At this moment, he is heading toward the house to discuss his divorce petition. His driver has just arrived to pick him up. "Carlos, I want you to take me home," he says, noticing a package next to him. "What is this?" he asks, picking up the package. "It's something the lady bought. She was excited because she had something special planned for both of us, according to what I heard," Carlos replies, and Matías feels a pang of guilt as he remembers how she had spoken to him. "Do you know what happened today in the company's parking lot?" "I heard that the lady was run over along with another woman. I hope she’s alright; she’s a very good person," Carlos says, and Matías looks at him in surprise. Never before has Matías heard any complaints about her from the staff. On the contrary, they all speak highly of her, and she feels comfortable with them. He decides not to ask any more questions and remains silent until they arrive at the house. Matías enters and goes up to Emma's room to talk to her calmly, but to his surprise, she is not there. Remembering her words, he checks her closet to see if she has left and taken all her things. Everything appears to be in place, so he decides to search the house for her, but she is nowhere to be found. He then goes outside and calls his driver. "Tell me, sir, do you need something?" "Did Carlos take my spouse somewhere?" "No, the lady didn't come with me, but I remember seeing her get into a taxi," Carlos replies. "Where could she have gone?" Matías asks, growing increasingly worried. He picks up his phone and tries to call her repeatedly, but she doesn’t answer. At that moment, Emma's voice telling him that she wants a divorce echoes in his mind. "Has she really left me?" he asks himself, feeling a deep emptiness inside. The Taylor family doctor has finished examining Emma and providing the necessary medical care. Fortunately, her arm hasn’t suffered any fractures; she only has contusions and a twisted nerve, which causes pain. The doctor has prescribed medication for the pain and inflammation, and she should be fully recovered in a few days. Feeling much better, Emma is eating something when she hears her father’s voice in the distance. "I want to see my daughter!" he calls out as he opens the door to her room, accompanied by his sister. "Dad," Emma says, feeling ashamed for having been a poor daughter and abandoning her family for someone unworthy who has never truly loved her. "Daughter, my love, you’re here with your family," he says, embracing her. "Yes, Dad, I'm back." "Sister, you don’t know how happy I am that you're here. I’ve missed you very much." "I’ve missed all of you too," Emma says, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Your brother told me you should divorce that man you married." "If it's true, I've decided to get a divorce." "That guy is not up to the level of a Taylor. I don't know how I allowed you to marry him and compromise your identity to be part of a family that is beneath our standards," her father says. Emma smiles and snuggles into her father’s shoulder. The Taylor family is one of the most powerful and influential in the country. Her spouse’s family will never match the wealth of the Taylors, who own countless hotels and shopping malls, as well as several companies. "Dad, I’m a little tired now, and I just want to rest." "That’s fine, my dear. We’ll discuss your divorce later. For now, get some rest." "Thanks, Daddy. You’re the best," she says, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Everyone leaves her room, and she is left alone. Emma takes out her phone from her bag, which has been on silent, and finds several missed calls from Matías. It’s clear to her that he has called to discuss their separation, but at this moment, the last thing she wants is to argue with him over the phone. She decides to go to sleep and will call him tomorrow when she feels better. Two days have passed since Emma returned to her family. Matías has tried to communicate with her, but she has refused to answer his calls. Her anger and disappointment are stronger than she had imagined, and now the only thing she wants is to be away from him. It's Saturday, and Emma is in the garden of her house, taking a walk while she observes the flowers and contemplates the beautiful morning. "What are you doing here alone?" he asks as he stands next to her. "I just want to contemplate how beautiful this garden is." "You haven't been here for a long time. I understand that you want to be outside, but it would be better if you stayed in your room and rested. I want you to recover soon." "If I stay locked up there, I'm going to have an anxiety attack, and that's the last thing I want." "You're thinking about Matías," she asks, and this takes her by surprise. "You're curious about what's going on in my mind, aren't you?" "The truth is, the only thing that interests me is that you are happy, but above all, that you stay away from those people who hurt you." "Don't worry about my brother. I've already spoken with my lawyer, and today Matías will receive the divorce papers. I'm determined to leave him, and there's no going back." Emma is more than determined to leave her spouse and does not intend to back down. Even though she loves him, her self-love must be greater, so she must prioritize her happiness above all else. "That being the case, in a week we will have a welcome party for you. I'm thinking of inviting your ex to the party. It's time for him to realize the big mistake he made by despising you." "Okay, I think that's perfect." Emma returned to her room a few minutes later, where she received another call from Matías. This time, she decided to answer the call and find out what he wanted. "Hello," she replies indifferently. "Emma, you finally answer. I've been calling you, and you haven't responded." "What do you want?" "Where are you? Why haven't you come home?" "I have nothing to do in that house, and I already told you that I want a divorce." "So you meant it." "Of course I did. The best thing you can do is sign the divorce papers in good faith, or I will be forced to annul our marriage." "You don't have to threaten me or be so abrupt. Send me the documents, and I'll sign them." "Well, this afternoon my lawyer will come to see you so you can sign the divorce. Goodbye," he says and hangs up the call without giving her a chance to say anything else. Matías is incredulous to see how Emma has changed and the different way she has spoken to him. She had never behaved like this before. The woman who always sought his attention is now completely different and shows no interest in him. "My love, what are you doing?" Silvia asks as she enters Matías's office, accompanied by her mother. "I'm working. What do you want?" he responds coldly. "I'm just here to see you, darling. Does that bother you?" Silvia says, pouting. "Son, why are you behaving like this toward the woman who will be the mother of your child?" his mother demands. "Mom, Silvia is supposed to be recovering from an accident for the sake of our son, but she’s here when she shouldn’t be." "I'm fine, and the baby is out of danger. You don’t need to worry," Silvia says somewhat nervously. "What happened was more of a scare. Silvia didn’t suffer any harm. I think the angels protected her and freed her from the bad intentions of that woman," her mother says, referring to Emma. "That's right, the car didn’t hit me," Silvia adds with a smile. At that moment, Matías remembers seeing Emma lying on the ground due to the impact. He still hasn’t reviewed the security footage to understand what happened that day. "I’m busy right now. Please leave me alone," Matías says as he picks up some documents. "Alright, we’ll go do some shopping. You continue working," his mother says, and she and Silvia leave the office. Matías has doubts about what happened and wonders if he should check the footage from the park’s cameras to see what really occurred that day. Determined to clear his doubts, he calls his secretary. "Carol, I need you to contact the person in charge of the video surveillance and request the footage of the moment of the accident involving my spouse and Silvia." "Of course, sir. I’ll get back to you right away and ensure you receive it today." "You don’t need to rush. Just get the recording and then pass it to me." "Okay," she replies, and after that, he hangs up the phone and continues working. Almost an hour later, his secretary contacts him. "Yes, Carol?" he says while analyzing some documents. "Sir, Mr. McGregor wants to see you. He says he’s your spouse’s lawyer," she informs him. Matías is surprised to hear this. He had thought the divorce was just a tantrum from Emma, but it seems it is real, and she is determined to leave him. "Let it go," he says. The lawyer enters his office with a folder in hand containing the divorce application papers. "Mr. White, it is a pleasure to meet you," the lawyer says in a polite tone. "I don’t think this meeting is for anything pleasant," Matías responds, indicating that the lawyer should take a seat with a wave of his hand. "Well, whether the day is pleasant for you depends on how you receive my client’s divorce application. To be honest, it’s quite favorable to you since she doesn’t want anything from you other than to sign the documents." "So she intends to divorce me without demanding anything?" "That’s right. She has asked me to tell you that all she wants is for you to sign the papers immediately. Then she can become a free woman, just as you will be, and you can marry whoever you want," the lawyer says, handing him the folder with the documents. Matías takes it and quickly reviews the papers, confirming that the lawyer is telling the truth—Emma is not demanding anything from his money or property. "She really just wants to separate from me." "That’s right. Please sign so we can get this over with." Matías takes a pen and, feeling somewhat doubtful, stamps his signature on the documents. At the moment of signing, he feels a great weight on his chest, and something inside him suggests that he has lost something valuable. However, he ignores these feelings and finishes signing the papers. "I am glad to have cooperated with you. I hope we meet again under better circumstances," the lawyer says before standing up and leaving. Emma is in her room when she receives a message from her lawyer informing her that the divorce papers have been signed and that she can now practically declare herself a free woman.	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.d	Dreamnovel	https://www.facebook.com/dreamenovel66/	438	1969-12-31 18:00	Install now	play.google.com	IMAGE		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dreame.reader&referrer=utm_source%3Dapps.facebook.com%26utm_campaign%3Dfb4a%26utm_content%3D%257B%2522app%2522%253A0%252C%2522t%2522%253A1740846829%252C%2522source%2522%253Anull%257D	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481126617_9364433373613734_1882627966156884988_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PdDaOgl5emUQ7kNvgH_ScKj&_nc_oc=Adi4Qa3cPa_aCoJo8cl8jkZyWpiRo8uoMRZ_ao7cBXxJTNvtROmrZuDMQ4tP3PJCBsGvFNVnG4OCJgFFHds_je6P&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AZ4MQjKNB3wXiPM7MzpjH24&oh=00_AYD0c7LgbKN5PVttPsZMzGC5mp_AtsBZ3v27_nNa2iTO4g&oe=67CB4DDD	PERSON_PROFILE	Dreamnovel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete

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