Beautiful, kind and loyal. Who would have thought this would happen to her? When Piper steps in to help a friend, she would never expect she would land in serious trouble. Abused, broken and used as a pawn in a conspiracy to bring down her best friend's husband's company, her life takes on a sudden somersault. Will she ever walk out of this living hell, or will the temptation of evil draw her within?
It feels like just yesterday I was still a prisoner back in that horrible den. But for another day, I, Piper Taylor survived. For three years I was running, hiding and escaping from my horrible fate, but my abuser continued to chase me, no matter where I went. Even the man who had sworn protection for me with his life, Jacques Jones, couldn't save me from Lenard Lee's pursuit.
But now I made up my mind. I was going home, resuming my identity and seeking a way for revenge.
I promised myself, they would suffer in my hands. Especially Lenard Lee. I would kill him with my hands one day.
.....
"Meal reservation, Miss?"
I looked towards the flight attendant with two weary eyes. This was the second time I was travelling on such a long-haul flight. The male passenger beside me appeared mysterious, but I wasn't inclined on knowing more, especially about a member of the opposite sex.
On his opposite side, his female companion was engrossed in trying to get his attention. She was the perfect definition of artificial: plastic surgery, false eyelashes, and a fake attitude, which I caught easily. Fortunately, I had a seat near the window, so I could watch the view outside without a care for either of them.
I shook my head. She turned to the man.
"Whatever." He didn't seem to care at all.
The flight attendant checked her clipboard and returned with two trays filled with meals. I understood that travellers with allergies could pre-book meals, but right now, that wasn't my priority. I just wanted to get home.
Hearing the woman's artificial voice again, I just wanted to cover my ears. I seized the inflight earphones and plugged them into my ears, turning the volume of the music player in full blast.
Until I heard the song playing on the radio. I had tuned in automatically to the local music station of my city, but I hadn't expected to hear that song.
It was a song that Syl had sung to me before, the View on the Mountain. It depicted one's undying love for his female partner after reuniting on the mountain. Syl was the love of my life, yet I had to let him go after my abuse in the hands of a mysterious man they called the Master, Lenard Lee. After my abuse, Lenard Lee would hunt me down occasionally and rape me. Again. And again. Later, I married Jacques Jones, but I didn't love him.
It was all a long story.
That song just drove pain through my heart. I looked down at my lower body and thought of what I had experienced in the past few years, and reflected on the words of the gynaecologist during my screening.
"Madam, due to extensive use of contraceptive drugs, I'm very sorry... it might be very difficult for you to conceive in the future. I would suggest you go for fertility treatments, if you insist, but chances are slim..."
I had walked out of the doctor's room immediately and bawled my heart out inside the clinic's toilet. I fathomed this was why Jacques had not wanted me to see a gynaecologist, but I had to. As we were married, I wanted to at least give him a child of his own. But the moment they infused me with date rape drugs, my fate was sealed.
Whether it was Syl S or Jacques Jones, it was pointless for me to have a child with either of them.
"Miss, beef or chicken?"
The courteous voice of the stewardess earlier broke my reverie. I returned her polite gesture with a smile.
"Chicken."
They were serving lunch now. I accepted the tray and set it on the folding tray table. The man beside me was asleep, and his female partner had her head leaned against his shoulder.
Just what I wanted to see. If only they could get a room. It was revolting, I thought, and pretended I hadn't seen anything. It just turned me off from enjoying the meal.
At the same time, I realised I was missing Jacques' cooking already.
I finished what I could and crumpled the remnants of my meal inside the aluminium foil disposable container it came with, stuffing it inside the open compartment in front of me. Once I got home, I told myself, I would need to slowly plan my revenge. Revenge wasn't achievable in just one night. I had learned the hard way when I thought the local triad had my back when they abducted me and sent me to Lenard. They had tasked me with killing Lenard, which I mistook as my chance for revenge. I ended up losing more due to their ploy. At that time, Jacques had been my guarding star. He rescued me, and I pledged myself to him in marriage.
After a year and a half of lying low, I figured that for me to break into Lenard's den, I needed a strong backing and sufficient strength. I couldn't, in the state I was in. I slowly plotted for revenge. But without money, it didn't seem a feasible plan for me to charge into their den and probably die at the filthy hands of the guards. I swallowed, remembering how they had tainted me with their grime. I had to focus on the bigger picture.
It was an eighteen hour flight, which might take even longer considering the weather. I closed my eyes and contemplated what step to take first.
Exhaustion consumed me. I hadn't slept at all the night before, and my inner voice took the reins once I fell into a deep sleep.
I was walking in a thick forest. By now, I had got used to seeing the creepy crawlers in the canopy overhead and the darkness no longer impacted me. Even the eerie sounds in the distance were just background music in my head. Red vines twisted under my feet, and I just stepped over them as if they were invisible.
I wasn't afraid of anything right now, just that I wouldn't be able to get revenge.
"Piper, I know you can."
"What can I do?"
I heard the voice slowly evolve into Milanda's voice, and her figure became clearer as I walked nearer to her.
"I have faith in you. Tempt your way into Lenard's den."
"Wait, Milanda. Are you dead or alive?"
"I am..." She paused.
"I am... I am.. You."
.....................................................................
Continued: Chapter 17
18-year old undergraduate Ally Shale struggles with her job as a reporter in the competitive city. Forced by her perverted boss on a task that none of her coworkers would risk their lives doing, she crosses paths with the wealthy and notorious Tyler Banks. Accidentally discovering one of Tyler’s shady dealings, Tyler nabs Ally to his secret hideout for interrogation. 25-year-old Tyler, the young CEO of Zeusolutions has a secret double identity as the only son of Zeus Banks: an about-to-retire mafia leader, ready to pass on the role to Tyler. While Tyler has all the women he wants, his obsession with Ally makes him desire her more than how he has wanted any woman in his life. Marking her as his possession, he provides her an option to survive: To be his concubine. Facing the women in Tyler's harem, it's Ally against the world. Will Ally survive the threats of his many women, or fall in the name of survival?
Xiyu was born during a blood moon and harnessed great power. But with such power, love doesn't exist in her dictionary. Hurt by her best friend and companion, she isolates herself from the other residents of the island. Until one day, when a stranger and his companions enter the island magically, she finds herself entwined with a fate she never asked for - a one with a cursed man. Can the curse on this trespasser's body nullify her pain of being left behind?
She was once a statue molded into a human woman, sent to accompany a man the goddess thought she loved. Instead, she suffered a tragic end while being denied the very fate she was commanded to fulfil. Now reincarnated suddenly without her memories into the body of a woman who resembles her entirely, Chu Xin Ran must fulfil the destiny she is reborn for and find out her host's connection with the strange but handsome man who has brought her to hospital, Jing Yue.
When a botched attempt at love ends with Jake, Myra's crush of five years embracing an unknown woman at a party, fate allows her to meet and spend a night with a charming older stranger, Hart. Believing that being with Hart will help her forget the pain of her failed love, Myra decides to take a second chance at love, only to be pulled into Hart's unordinary life filled with twists and struggles. Just as Myra starts believing in fate again, Jake reappears in her life with a secret between their families: a secret she needs to fulfil. Read along to find out who is the destined prince of Myra's love story.
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"