Brennen finally got the divorce he desired from Ariella. Drenched in blood, she wore a haunting smile as she sliced Brennen's heart with her parting words. Only then did he realize what he had lost. He had devised a scheme to make her his wife. Seeing it as yet another of his whims, she could only play along. People claimed that Brennen loved Ariella deeply because she could take him like no other. But only Ariella knew that Brennen hated her. He could easily cast her out into the wilderness and push her to the limit.
"Good day, I'm here to apply as a waitress."
"We're currently not looking for more staff. You might want to try elsewhere."
"32-23-33. Surely, I fit the bill, right? Could you make an exception? I'm ready to start tonight."
The receptionist's dismissal was cut short as she glanced up, taken aback by the woman standing before her.
Ariella Fletcher was undeniably stunning. Her long, dark hair cascaded down like silk, her skin was smooth, and her eyes were an unusual shade that set her apart. Her features were refined beyond those of an average woman, giving her an exotic allure.
Noticing the receptionist's gaze, she offered a smile. Her presence was magnetic. Clad in just a simple white dress, with no hint of makeup, she exuded the elegance of a woman accustomed to the finer things in life, like sipping wine in upscale venues.
The receptionist's attention was drawn to the diamond necklace gracing Ariella's neck, leading to disbelief. "Are you serious about applying for the waitress role?"
With a carefree gesture, Ariella removed the necklace and grinned. "It's just an imitation. A keen eye would see through it if they looked closely. I'm here to earn some money for the real deal."
This cleared up the confusion. Why would someone adorned with diamonds need an escort job? The receptionist looked at her with a mix of skepticism and disdain. "Do you have any references?"
"Lainey sent me," Ariella responded.
"Then you're aware of how things work around here," the receptionist began, her tone carrying a hint of warning. "As a 'waitress,' you don't get to pick who you serve. You'll attend to any client we assign and cater to their demands without complaint. Is that clear?"
Ariella was half-listening, as her mind was elsewhere. She wasn't genuinely here for a job interview. Regardless of what was said, her response was always a nod accompanied by a smile. "I understand."
The phone interrupted their exchange. The receptionist answered, "Hello, this is Phoenix Nightclub."
After a brief conversation, she turned back to Ariella. "A client has arrived."
A flicker of disgust crossed Ariella's face, quickly replaced by a polite smile. "Okay."
After a few more words into the phone, the receptionist hung up and handed Ariella a card key. "You're in luck. A client is available at 8 pm. Impress him, and there might be a generous tip. Wait in Room 502."
With the card key in hand, Ariella headed towards the stairs. She paused after a few steps, turning to flash a grateful smile at the receptionist. "Thank you. The necklace is yours to keep."
It was then the receptionist noticed the necklace left casually on the desk. She picked it up with a sneer, believing it was a fake. Though it was not important to her, it bore a striking resemblance to a genuine diamond necklace.
Ariella located Room 502, swiping the card to enter. A strong scent hit her immediately, causing a momentary frown which she quickly smoothed away. She retrieved a bathrobe from the wardrobe and headed into the bathroom for a shower. Emerging over ten minutes later, she was clad in just the bathrobe.
Barefoot, she moved towards the window, her footsteps leaving a damp imprint on the floor. Peering outside, she caught sight of a car she recognized slowly pulling into the underground garage.
A slight smile curved her lips. She had no doubt he would come.
As she soaked in the nighttime view, intending to draw the curtains closed, the sound of the card key sliding in and the door opening caught her attention. Before she could turn around, someone wrapped their arms around her from behind in a swift embrace.
The distinct scent of tobacco filled her nostrils. Before Ariella could react, her bathrobe was abruptly opened, and a chilly hand explored her waist.
Ariella shivered, the man's deep voice echoing in her ear. "What were you thinking coming to a place like this? Ariella, are you trying to provoke me? Have you forgotten who you belong to?"
Realizing she was wearing nothing underneath, the man's demeanor grew even colder, his caresses more forceful.
Struggling to maintain her balance, Ariella leaned back into him, feeling the warmth of his chest.
She caught her breath and chuckled, "Whose fault is it? You're the one who's been avoiding me. Ignoring my texts, my calls. I even went to your office, only to be told by your secretary you were on a business trip. It's been nearly a month. I missed you, so I had to draw you out somehow."
She paused, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "See, my plan worked, didn't it?"
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.”
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."
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.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"