Alicia was a miserable wife for three years. All she got from her so-called husband was indifference. A chance union sparked hope within her that Erick had finally changed his mind. Sadly, his true intentions were to reconcile with his lost love. Both love and patience had an expiry date. Alicia threw divorce papers in his face. Surprisingly, instead of signing them immediately, Erick pressed her against a wall. "You want to divorce me? Not gonna happen!" Regardless of his unwillingness, Alicia decided to turn her life around. She began climbing up the ladder of success and soon attracted many admirers. When they bumped into each other one day, Alicia was in the company of some kids. Something drove him to act out of character. "Let me be their father," he offered. Alicia rolled her eyes at him. "No need, Mr. Ellis."
Lightning lit up the sky, followed by the deep rumble of thunder outside the window.
The bathroom's frosted glass door, touched by a soft, uncertain light, showed the outlines of two figures.
A tall man and a woman, both delicate and graceful, stood behind it.
Steam clouded the air, making it hard for Alicia Ellis to see. Her hands pressed against the glass, the pattern of her palms clear against it.
Around her waist, the man's arms held her tight, strong as iron.
A whirl of emotions filled her. Confusion and happiness tangling together, she felt like a feather tossed high into the air before falling.
Today, she celebrated three years of being married to Erick Ellis.
In the past, Alicia always reminded Erick, but he never remembered. He even seldom came home.
Though they were married, they felt like strangers.
This intimacy, typical for a couple, was new to them.
Three years of marriage, and Alicia remained untouched.
But she never held it against Erick.
Finally, the bathroom door opened. Erick, dressed in a bathrobe and immersed in steam, stepped out.
His robe hung open, showing his chest, marked with Alicia's nail scratches.
Alicia was bursting with excitement, like a hyper little animal. In her eagerness, she accidentally scratched his skin a few times, unable to contain her wild energy.
Erick, wearing a cool smile, took a seat and casually lit up a cigarette.
After a bit, Alicia came out, gripping her bathrobe tightly. Her cheeks were pink, a blend of shyness and nerves showing. She was trying hard to look composed. "You seem pretty happy today," she remarked, somewhat hesitantly.
In their marriage, Alicia had always been the more submissive one, partly out of guilt.
Three years back, her stepsister Michelle Singh had orchestrated a car accident that had almost killed Alicia. Erick, who was very fond of Michelle, had stepped in to mediate.
Erick's lips curled into a charming smile. "What would make you forgive Michelle?"
At that time, Alicia was recovering in a hospital bed, barely surviving. Even raising her hand was tough. She struggled to lift her head, staring at Erick's lips, then finally met his gaze.
"I want you," she declared, each word weighted with determination.
Her demand was clear. She wanted Erick to marry her and send Michelle away to Faylea.
She decided to let go of any grudges.
She was surprised when Erick actually said yes.
A marriage made from such a deal seemed like it would be dull.
But today was different. He returned early, and they made love with passion, igniting the faint hope in her heart.
She went to him, hopeful, even daring to wish for an embrace.
After their passionate encounter, her legs were still shaky. Her bathrobe, loosely tied, revealed a scar running from her ankle to her knee, thin and delicate yet seemingly ready to break.
It was the reminder of her almost fatal car accident, closed up with more than ten stitches.
It was a sign of her struggle to be with him.
Erick sat across from Alicia, outlined against the light, his gaze cold. "Michelle got back from overseas yesterday. She's unwell and wants to stay with me to get better. Your thoughts?"
His cigarette glowed intensely, and with a flick, the ash fell onto the plush carpet.
What grew cold next was Alicia's heart.
In that moment, she realized everything.
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
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."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Traversing back to the ancient Prime Martial World from modern age, Austin finds himself in a younger body as he wakes up. Yet, the young man he possesses was a miserable dimwit, what a bummer! But it doesn’t matter as his mind is sound and clear. Possessing this younger and stronger body, he will fight his way to become the God of martial arts, and rule the whole Martial World!
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.