When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
Corynn Harper let out a moan as her nails bit into the skin of Elliot Andrews' back. Her body was drenched in sweat, as if she had just got out of a bath.
Her parted lips found the curve of Elliot's shoulder as the crescendo approached. She bit down, her eyes fluttering as her hips bucked against his. A moment later, she loosened her grip and fell back on the bed, her eyes closed, her breathing slow and deep.
Corynn felt hot, but she liked the warmth of Elliot's body far too much to pull away from him.
In the end, it was Elliot who let go and stood up. He grabbed the gray robe hanging at the foot of the bed and put it on.
His voice was still a little hoarse when he spoke, but his tone was cool. "I'm getting married, Corynn."
She felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head. Corynn was rudely jolted out of the afterglow of the intimacy they just shared. She sat up in bed, her previously flushed face now pale.
"So let's break up," Elliot added before she could say anything.
Corynn didn't even have the time to compose herself. Her eyes, which had been bright with passion and desire a few minutes ago, dimmed. Her hands balled into fists at the sheets.
Her body was still sore and aching from their hours of lovemaking, and here Elliot was, breaking up with her like he was ordering a kitchen maid to fetch the tea.
In all fairness, his behavior was true to his nature-ruthless and decisive.
She really should have known better.
In the three years that they had been together, Coryn had never really managed to thaw Elliot's ice-cold heart.
Well, it was her who had approached him first. At the end of the day, when the chips fell, she had no one to blame but herself.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Corynn tilted her head back and swallowed the bitter taste that rose in her tongue. It wasn't easy, but she did her best to sound normal. "Is it the lady from the Willis family?"
Elliot lit a cigarette and took a drag. "Yes," he said slowly after exhaling a smoke ring. "My family has been good friends with hers for generations. This marriage will benefit me in numerous ways."
Corynn bit her bottom lip and turned to her side to keep from looking at him. Her shoulders and back were dotted with fresh hickeys.
"Look, we've been together for three years. I will compensate you for your time. Just name your price-money, a house, a car, anything."
"I am not selling my body, Elliot!"
Elliot flicked the cigarette over the ashtray and took a deep breath. "I know, but I intend to be fair. I don't want any loose ends, either. Just take whatever compensation you want, and we'll call it quits. A clean break."
"I already told you, I'm not selling my body. I don't need any compensation."
Elliot sighed. "Don't be unreasonable now, Corynn."
A sharp retort was on Corynn's tongue, but really, she did this all to herself. It was her who had chosen this man.
Elliot had always been notorious for his aloof nature and general indifference toward women, but Corynn was too stubborn and delusional to believe it. She slept with him on the same night that they met. He had never explicitly acknowledged that they were dating, but he never denied it, either. Things just fell into place, and they were soon living together.
It all happened so naturally that Corynn thought she had become the exception to his rule. It turned out that it was all wishful thinking on her part.
She sneaked a peek at him and found that he had turned away from her as well. So he wouldn't even look at her now?
A deep sense of grievance rose in her chest. She wiped her tears away and took a deep breath, only to feel a sudden wave of nausea. Corynn scrambled out of the bed and rushed to the bedroom to puke.
Elliot frowned and followed her. "Are you pregnant?"
Corynn heaved and heaved, but nothing came out. She had actually been experiencing this for the past two days, but she dismissed the symptom, thinking that she had simply eaten something that didn't agree with her.
But after hearing Elliot's question, her heart began to pound.
If she was really pregnant, then maybe...
But what Elliot said next shattered her fantasies before she could even think them through.
"Get it checked, and we'll deal with it immediately. I don't want any illegitimate children."
Of course, he would say that. Ever the heartless tycoon.
Corynn inhaled slowly. "That won't be necessary. I already went to the hospital yesterday. This is an old ailment of mine."
Elliot's frown deepened. "Are you saying you won't take a pregnancy test?"
"I know my own body, all right? Don't worry, this has nothing to do with you. Your wedding will proceed as planned. I know my place."
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"