It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
"Divorce."
A mere pair of delicate paper sheets marked the conclusion of a four-year marriage.
Hannah Moore's slender fingers touched the inked name of her husband on the document. Raising her eyes to meet Declan Edwards's, a tearful glint was unmistakable.
"Is there no chance for us?"
Her voice wavered slightly, strained from emotion and the exertion of household chores. Beads of sweat clung to her forehead, sticking to her thick black eyeglass frames, making her appear awkward and plain.
Anticipating his return tonight, excited to discuss their future, she had gotten up early, handpicked fresh produce, cooked, and tidied the house. Her efforts felt futile upon hearing the gut-wrenching news.
"Our marriage was essentially a business arrangement," Declan snapped, flicking ash from his cigarette. "Plus, Eliana will return soon."
So that was it.
Eliana Patel, the woman who occupied his heart, was the one he could never let go of.
With her tongue pressed to her palate, Hannah felt a familiar ache. She bowed her head, her mind a bit cloudy. Whenever Eliana showed up, Declan disregarded everything, even his own principles.
Back then, he married her out of obligation. Throughout their years together, his devotion never strayed from Eliana.
After a seemingly endless silence, Declan glanced at the woman before him.
Hannah was undeniably beautiful, her skin smooth, her nose finely shaped, and her lips akin to rose petals. Even behind thick-framed glasses, her eyes sparkled now and then in the light.
Yet, she was unexciting, almost to the point of being boring.
Her demeanor was always mild. The dutiful wife persona she had maintained for so long was as uninteresting as a glass of water.
She fit the role of Mrs. Edwards just fine, but she could never be the woman he truly wanted.
Cigarette in hand, Declan stubbed it out in an ashtray and began, "You once..."
Pausing, his eyes flicked towards Hannah's expression. She kept her head bowed, making him inexplicably feel she harbored both complaint and flattery.
Switching gears, he said icily, "Given your background, you might face difficulty finding a job in the future. So, beyond the property agreements, you'll get three more villas. You can also keep the limited-edition Ferrari, and I'll personally throw in fifty million dollars."
Once, when Eliana had moved abroad, Declan had followed out of love. The patriarch of the Edwards family was so incensed that he nearly disowned Declan. Only a dramatic act by his mother, a suicide threat, had pulled Declan back into the family fold.
To reclaim his family's favor, he had agreed to marry Hannah, who was rumored to have recently been released from prison.
Though he felt nothing for Hannah, he was willing to offer her a generous settlement, acknowledging her years of service and trouble-free relationship with the Edwards family.
It was akin to keeping horses for pleasure but knowing there was a cost involved.
Declan gestured to the contract with his long index finger, on which was a meaningful ring that had remained on that finger for four years. Hannah's eyes stung momentarily.
"You have three days to think it over. But don't keep me waiting. My patience has its limits."
"No need."
Hannah picked up a black pen beside her and signed her name at the designated area.
"I'm clear-headed. I'll move out today and won't be in your way anymore."
"Very well," Declan acknowledged, unfazed.
He had to admit, even now, Hannah remained poised and sensible, never causing him concern. It should be called a twist of fate that he had always loved another woman.
In truth, as Mrs. Edwards, she was arguably the most suitable wife among society's elite.
Unfortunately, love was not something that could be dictated.
Just as Declan was about to speak further, the door burst open. Sadie Edwards, Declan's younger sister, stormed in, blurting out, "Declan, I heard you're parting ways with the jailbird today. Mind if I take that limited-edition Ferrari?"
Her eyes met Hannah's, who had just turned to look, and she rolled her eyes dismissively at Hannah.
Annoyed, Declan said, "How many times must I remind you? When I'm discussing business, you need to knock before entering. Your behavior hardly befits a socialite."
Leaning against the table, Sadie grinned slyly. "Alright, got it. Now, give me the car keys. I've got plans with my friend to go for a drive."
Always indulgent of his headstrong sister, Declan nodded towards Hannah. "Give her the keys."
Hannah's eyes lowered, her voice even. "I thought you said that car was mine."
Her words were soft as ever, but Declan sensed an unfamiliar chill.
Infuriated, Sadie lunged at Hannah and shoved her forcefully. "What are you talking about? Everything here belongs to my brother. What do these things have to do with you? Hand over the keys!"
For all her years as part of the Edwards family, Hannah had always been good-hearted toward Sadie.
Sadie was nothing but a magnet for trouble, always running to their mother when things went awry.
Once, Sadie had provoked the youngest daughter of the Mitchell family, finding herself held captive at the top of a tower by Bryson Mitchell, the family's third son as well as the patriarch. If not for Hannah's intervention, Sadie might have been crippled for life in a fall from that height.
But Sadie repaid her kindness by labeling her a jailbird.
"No."
Hannah was resolute, locking eyes with Declan. "I want the car. You did promise, Mr. Edwards. You've always been so generous. It's just a car after all."
Yet, in that moment, Declan felt as if the woman before him was a completely different Hannah than the one who had been picked on all the time before.
Taking a brief pause, Declan coolly addressed Sadie. "We have plenty of cars at home. Go to my garage and choose one for yourself."
Sadie, however, was a pampered girl with a stubborn attitude. Except for that one time she'd crossed Bryson, nobody ever dared to challenge her, especially not a woman with a criminal history like Hannah.
Pointing an accusatory finger at Hannah, Sadie demanded, "Answer me. Are you giving me the car or not?"
"No..."
Clap!
A stinging slap landed on Hannah's right cheek.
"You've got some nerve, acting so audacious here. Who do you think you are? You're not even fit to serve me!"
Declan's eyes flickered momentarily before resuming their neutral expression. "Sadie, watch your language."
Cradling her slapped cheek, Hannah cast a sideways glance at Sadie. "Clearly, someone failed to teach you manners."
Sadie's arrogance grew; she lifted her chin in defiance.
"So what... Ah!"
Ignoring the flowers still in it, Hannah grabbed a nearby vase and drenched Sadie's head with its water.
"Consider it a lesson from someone who cares enough to teach you."
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”