Damian didn't believe in love, but he needed a wife to claim the inheritance his uncle left him. Amelia needed to take revenge on her ex-husband, and what better way to do it than a marriage of convenience with his worst enemy? There were only two rules in their fake marriage: no entanglement or sexual relationship, and they would go their separate ways after the arrangement was over. But their attraction for each other is more than they bargained for. When feelings start to get real, and Noah wants Amelia back, will Damian let her go? Or will he fight for what he believes is his?
AMELIA'S POV
"Yes. This is Amelia Carter speaking," I said as soon as the person on the other end picked up. "I would like to make a reservation for two tomorrow in one of your private booths."
"Alright ma'am," said the woman. "Please hang on."
I heard the rattle of computer keys in the background and kept my fingers crossed. I wanted my anniversary to be perfect so I couldn't afford any disappointments.
The restaurant I had called was a very fancy, very exclusive one, usually booked weeks in advance.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
A moment later, she said, "We have a spot just for you."
I told her the time my husband, Noah, and I would be arriving, and went through other details for the evening. The woman assured me I would be getting the VIP treatment when I told her my husband and I were coming to celebrate our second wedding anniversary.
I began humming a tune as soon as I hung up. I stood up to get my computer and caught sight of my reflection in the mirror.
There was an excited flush on my cheeks, and a sparkle in my eye. I looked like a school girl who had just gotten her first date to the prom. Only this was better. It had been two years since I married Noah, two years of bliss and perfection.
I got my laptop and surfed the net. After about an hour, I found the perfect gift for him online: a Patek watch worth $25,000. I ordered it, paid and gave the exact time that I would want it delivered.
I wasn't bothered about the price because I knew Noah would get me something more expensive and would even send me a weekly allowance.
After preparations for the next day was done, I didn't know what to do with myself. In order to resist the temptation of staring at the clock every few minutes, impatiently waiting for Noah to come home, I went downstairs and started setting up the dining table for dinner.
I was so attuned to Noah that I knew the moment he walked through the door. In a flash, I dashed to the front door. With a huge grin on my face, I ran towards him. My steps faltered a bit when I noticed that he looked rather grim. But I didn't let that stop me from going in for a hug. Perhaps he just had a really stressful day at work.
Just as I reached for him, he moved away and gave me look that sent a chill up my spine. His lips curled in disgust. It was like he had smelled something bad. I froze, frowned, and sniffed myself. I smelled of perfume and strawberry shampoo, and there was nothing offensive about that.
"Honey, what's wrong? What's the matter?" I asked.
Noah looked at me but didn't respond. He moved as far away from me as possible and dropped his suitcase. I stood rooted to the spot, my mind in a whirl. We hadn't had a quarrel. I had done nothing to offend him, so what was with his sudden coldness?
The sight of the front door opening again interrupted my thoughts. My best friend, Lucy, sashayed into the house like she owned the place.
"Lucy? You didn't tell me you were coming," I said.
Lucy's baby blue eyes regarded me with contempt. She casually flicked her long, perfectly styled, blonde hair over her shoulder and took a seat. I gaped at her. Talk about rudeness! And in my own home too! What was with her? What was with everyone's weird attitude today?
Deciding to leave Lucy's attitude for later, I walked up to Noah, pitched my voice low so that she couldn't hear. "Honey, listen. I don't know what... this is about, but if I've offended you in any way, I apologize. If there's a real problem, we can talk about it after our anniversary-"
Noah let out a short, bitter laugh.
"Anniversary?" he sneered. "I thought you were smart enough to read the handwriting on the wall, Amelia. But you're dumber than you look. There isn't going to be any anniversary celebration. Not for you and I anyway." While I stood in stunned silence, he bent, pulled out a sheaf of papers from his briefcase and threw them in my face. "Here. Take a look."
Slowly, I bent and picked them up. A glance was sufficient to tell me that they were divorce papers and he had already signed them. I instantly felt a tear in my chest and the entire room started spinning around me. I clutched my chest, my breath hot and tears streaming down my face.
"Why?" I wailed when I finally found my voice. "Why do you want a divorce? What have I done?"
"I would have thought it was fairly obvious. We've been married for two years and we have no kids. You can't even boast of having a miscarriage at least. Who's going to inherit all this wealth I built after I'm gone. Huh?"
"Noah. Noah. Please. Think about what you're about to do. I can still give you children-"
He made an impatient gesture. "There's no need for that. I already have a child on the way. Lucy-" Noah's eyes lit up when he said her name. "Lucy is carrying my child as we speak."
I had entirely forgotten about Lucy after Noah had dropped the bombshell. I stared right at her, hoping and praying that she would smile, laugh and tell me that it was all a sick joke, a prank. She met my stare and deliberately rubbed her stomach.
I felt a stab of almost physical pain stab through my heart when I realized this was all true. My best friend and husband had been sleeping together. The shock made me stagger back a step. Tears fell unchecked down my cheeks, blurring my vision.
"But why... how?" I croaked. The pain was eating right through my heart and I thought I would die immediately.
Noah raised a brow. "Want me to describe the whole process of making a baby to you?" Lucy giggled at his joke. "Amelia, we're done. Let's look at it this way, Lucy here is even better suited to bear my children. She's a fast rising fashion designer from a respectably wealthy background. She's wouldn't be a liability like you. You're a nobody. You have no talents, no personality, no charisma. Now, look at Lucy and you'll see a woman with the looks and the poise to carry on the Carter name."
And though what Noah had done hurt so bad that it felt hard to breathe, I loved him so much and I could not bear the thought of letting him go. I divested myself of my last shred of pride and fell on my knees before him. I put my hands together in a gesture of entreaty.
"Noah. Please. It's just been a couple of years. We can still sort this whole thing out. I'm hopeful that I can still get pregnant. I'll go see a fertility doctor, I'll eat right. I'll do anything, anything at all. Just give me a little more time."
"Two years is more than enough time," he retorted hotly. "Just sign those papers and get out of my life."
I heard a snigger and turned once more to Lucy.
"You two faced backstabber," I cried, scrambling to my feet. "What did I ever do to you? How could you do this to me?"
Lucy let out a laugh and shrugged. "No hard feelings, friend. I just did what needed to be done. I gave Noah what you couldn't give him after two shitty years of marriage."
"Lucy-" I began.
"Alright. Alright. That's enough," Noah interjected. "Amelia, go upstairs, pack your things and leave my house."
"Noah. Please-"
I approached him. He jerked back, swore, and ran upstairs. In a couple of minutes, he returned with suitcases crammed full of my clothes. He added the divorce papers on top and wheeled them outside.
I fell on the floor, sobbing. He came back, pointed at me. "Get out," he thundered.
"No, Noah listen-" He grabbed me by the arm, cutting short my protests. "Please, don't do this to us. Noah, please.."
"There is no us!" he barked as he shoved me outside. No matter how hard I cried and struggled, I couldn't break his hold. He dragged me outside the gates, gave me a shove that had me stumbling and I fell to the ground, bruising my elbow and knee.
"Get out and stay out. Don't ever come back here," he yelled, and then shut the gate in my face.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Reader's discretion is advised, this book shouldn't be read by anyone below the age of 18 as it contains sexual perverseness, gun violence, and strong language. "In your eyes, I see the entirety of paradise, from your soul I want to drink from, eternally, as I thrust my big wand between your long towers". "Jessica Gaucho, the daughter of a dangerous American mob boss. Everyone admired her beauty, she was the talk of every young man in her neighbourhood. At nineteen, she had a perfect figure and striking grey eyes, just like her father's but the fear of her father made it hard for young men to approach her because they knew how much father cherished and was ready to kill anyone that dared approach her. Jessica looked kind-hearted and carried herself well, but she was also known as a top assassin and seductress in the underworld of crime. Her looks caught the attention of both men and women, including Alberto, the son of her father's business partner. Alberto, heir to the Italian Mafia, was known for his ruthlessness. He had a cold heart with no feelings. But everything changed when he met Jessica. He felt drawn to her, and he couldn't resist the temptation."
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
"Let's get divorced, she's back." On their second wedding anniversary, Adrian asked Eva for a divorce. "I can live well without you." Eva found out she was pregnant and decided to raise the child alone. Feeling like he must have been crazy, Adrian couldn't stop missing Eva every day after the divorce. He searched all over the world until one day he saw the woman he had been searching for walking happily with a child. "Whose child is this?" Adrian was shocked.
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
Nancy replaced her sister to marry Charlie. She originally thought it would be a widow-like marriage. But Charlie who had disappeared for three years suddenly came back. She was so scared that she turned around and ran, but was cornered by him. ”What, are you so excited to see me?” Nancy forced a smile, “Yeah, I've been looking forward to your return every day.” ”Hmm...” Charlie raised her chin with his slender fingers, “If so, then let me satisfy your need.” After saying that, he was about to forcefully kiss her. But Nancy blocked her face, “Don’t forget you’re my brother-in-law. I shouldn’t have said that...” Charlie gently interrupted her, “The one who married me, who got the marriage certificate with me, is you. I’m not your brother-in-law. I’m your husband. Call me darling, I can die for you.”