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I've loved Alfred from the first day I saw him in university. Alfred did not notice my existence for years. Alfred was also into a lady which made me so jealous. Just when we were about to graduate, I heard Alfred had broken up with his girlfriend. Could I say that that was a chance for me? Well...maybe. Turned out Alfred had actually noticed me. His vulnerability led us into a one-night stand. And this incident results in marriage. I know that Alfred isn't in love with me. He got married to me because of his family. Four years after our loveless marriage when our daughter was three. Alfred suddenly brought a divorce document and urged me to sign it. I disagreed but when I realized why he wanted a divorce, I agreed and fled, leaving my daughter with him. Alfred will never love me because he loves that woman. Two years later, I returned with a better status, only because of my daughter. But I don't know what's happening because Alfred is acting strange and lovingly to me. Is he perhaps in love with me? If so, then it's unfortunately late because I already have a fiancee.
That afternoon was calm and warm. The refreshing autumn air flowed in through the windows, creating a low-humidity atmosphere that made one feel a little lazy.
The atmosphere at the time significantly improved my mood, making me feel more at peace as I helped my daughter with her lunch. Julianna, my three-year-old daughter, sat in her chair at the side of the dining table and served herself from the food I had prepared.
I fed my daughter before feeding myself. We did share a tight bond even though she loved her father more.
I am Penelope Patridge. After marrying Alfred Grayson, I became Penelope Grayson. I am twenty-eight years old.
There is more to know about me, but I'll reveal it gradually.
My husband, Alfred, came home while I was having lunch on October 15, 2020. How can I ever forget that day?
I had put my daughter to bed as she typically nodded off after lunch, a common behavior for children her age. After ensuring she was sound asleep, I proceeded to have my lunch.
Alfred walked in while I was eating. His demeanor and the way he entered the house carried an unmistakable aura that day. I felt a sense of unease as he came in, with his expression clearly indicating irritation and dissatisfaction.
I suspected that he had a rough day and was in a foul mood, a really bad one. Concerned, I stood up to attend to him. I thought that perhaps removing his suit jacket and loosening his tie might help ease his tension, but when I tried, he pushed my hand away.
"Alfred," I called out to him that afternoon.
If only Alfred knew how deeply I loved him. If only he understood the sacrifices I was willing to make because of that love.
The way he had treated me in the past four years of our marriage wasn't that bad. Even when he was kind to me, I could sense that he wasn't in love with me, but I endured.
At least, I loved him. Did it have to be mutual?
Yes, it had to be. One-sided love hurt and made a person too blind to see themselves.
Before I could ask what might be wrong with him, Alfred dropped a file on the table and opened it, revealing some documents.
"I know you'll have to take a share of my property, but I'm ready for the divorce. I just need your signature, Penelope," he said, his voice harsh.
Hearing his words and realizing the purpose of the documents in his hands, I wanted to cry.
I wanted to cry and ask him why he would want a divorce. We were doing fine. I never begged him to love me, so why the sudden need for a divorce?
"Why?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper, as I stared at the documents he'd brought out.
"We never discussed this. How long have you been planning to divorce me?" I asked again.
"Since the very first day of our marriage. It should never have happened. I was foolish. I was emotionally distressed, and I didn't know what was going on around me. When I sobered up, I just wanted you out of my life, but I couldn't. I was lonely, and you were there. I took advantage of you, Penelope, and I think it's time we stop pretending. I'll also take custody of our child. We should go our separate ways, and you'll be a free woman, Penelope."
Alfred's words and actions were cruel, and it was even crueler when I realized what was going on. I couldn't believe how he could look into my eyes and admit to taking advantage of me. I was naive and foolishly in love with him.
With a heart full of pain and grief, I addressed him.
"You sound so happy to tell me this, knowing how much it'll hurt me. You just don't understand or appreciate my feelings for you," I said and turned away from him.
"I don't want to sign the divorce. You can't force me, can you?" I added.
Upon hearing my words, Alfred abruptly seized my wrist and pulled me closer to his body. It happened so swiftly that I couldn't resist.
"Sign this document, Penelope. You have to!" Alfred's desperation was palpable in each word and visible in his gray eyes.
"Why the sudden desire for a divorce?" I asked him once more.
"I never loved you, Penelope!" He yelled, releasing his grip on my wrist. It hurt-both my wrist and my slowly breaking heart. What did he mean by this? Why was he suddenly saying all of this after all these years with a child, and why now?
"I saw how you looked at me, how you must have been fantasizing about me. When I was broken, I found you just when I needed someone, and it was all a mistake..."
"Don't tell me, Alfred," I said, covering my ears, unwilling to hear any more. I hated that he was revealing and reminding me that the lovely night I cherished was a mistake.
It crushed my soul, and I found it difficult to breathe.
He knew he had taken me as his woman. He knew he had made me his. He knew he was the first man. Alfred knew that I had never loved anyone the way I loved him, but he neglected everything and pushed me away.
I understood Alfred. My heart loved him, but he wasn't in love with me. I forced-no, I naively entered his life as his wife.
Honestly, I was the foolish one because I was aware that Alfred didn't love me, but I let him show me a new world, a new experience. I allowed him to lift my legs and take me.
It was lovely and so much more. It was the most beautiful night of my life, but apparently, it was just a normal one-night stand to my husband.
When I found out that his family wanted me because of my baby, I didn't think twice before entering the marriage. They all took advantage of me.
I was a fool. I was too naive and desperate to be with him. I was blinded by love. I restrained myself and stayed locked with the people who only wanted to take advantage of me."
Surprisingly, I didn't regret anything. People often feel that when they get hurt by others, they should have never been there, but I didn't feel that way.
There were dark moments, but I chose to remember the beautiful times I had spent with Alfred and his family. The cheerful lunches, the wonderful trips, the fun games we played together, and every positive moment.
I wiped my tears and returned to eating. Alfred was glaring at me for being stubborn, but I ignored him. I hated ignoring him because I knew how it felt to be ignored.
It hurt, and I didn't want to hurt Alfred, but it seemed he didn't care whether I was hurt or not.
Alfred had never considered my feelings, and he had never understood how I felt. If he couldn't understand, there was no way he would care.
Eventually, Alfred left the table, giving off the vibe that he'd be back and that he'd keep trying until I signed the documents.
Would I ever agree to this?
For three years, Nathan and his family treated me like I was an empty can because I wasn't able to conceive a child. I watched Nathan get close to my cousin but I couldn't do anything. He wanted her first. When I finally received the news about my pregnancy, I wasn't happy about it but I hoped it would save my marriage. However, just when I was about to tell Nathan, my husband, I found out that my cousin was also carrying his child. Nathan divorced me and I chose to keep the baby a secret from him and started a new life after the divorce. Five years later, I am now a famous fashion designer in London. Seeing this and my daughter, Nathan wants me back desperately, apologizing for all he has done but I can't think of accepting him because I am now into a man who I eventually learn is his uncle. Mateo is my savior and sponsor, but when things become very intense, I see myself wanting him, but my ex-husband returns, and now I'm stuck between a hard place and a rock. I want to be with Mateo, but Nathan shows that he has really changed; who...who now?
After finding out that her sister and fiance were having an affair, Tabitha fled and attended the party her best friend invited her to. In pain, she got heavily drunk and blacked out only to wake up in bed with a man. At first glance, Tabitha recognized the man as the second son of one of the most prominent companies in State Z. However, that night was a mistake, and Tabitha left with the intention of putting it behind her. Tabitha arrived home, only to find herself locked in her room by her family, forced to marry her fiance. But what happens when the second son of BlueDiamonds Enterprise comes to claim Tabitha as his own? Even more, this man, Silas, isn't just a billionaire, but a powerful person who is the future Alpha of Cerulean Moon Park.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
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."
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.