/0/63364/coverbig.jpg?v=50f01eecf6aca5ecbb8a57b413d22758)
Serena has to accept her greedy father and evil stepmother's arrangement to marry a dying man, Matthew Harrington, in order to save her seriously ill grandmother. Everyone laughed at Serena, ridiculing her for becoming a widow at such a young age. But it didn't occur to those foolish people that after the marriage Serena was completely free and began a plan for revenge without a care in the world! What's even more unexpected is that her husband is the mysterious boss she's always admired! *** Matthew Harrington, rumored to be dead, is actually the heir to the richest family, the mysterious genius entrepreneur. Matthew was hoping to settle this ridiculous marriage with a two-year contract, but then he realized that Serena did seem to be different from other women... But just as he's delivering with all his heart, the woman actually disappears! *** (Sample) "Boss, when it comes to matters of men and women, we should be equal. Besides, even if you like me, it's unrequited love. I've declined your advances from the beginning. You had no right to inform Grandpa." Matthew responded with a mocking smile. "I like YOU?" In response to Matthew's mocking words, Serena clenched her teeth, took a deep breath, and was about to respond when the hospital door swung open, and the doctor entered the room. "Sir, please sign this document. If you're not comfortable, a family member can sign on your behalf," the doctor explained, holding out the paper. Given his weakened condition, Matthew had no desire to get out of bed. He glanced at Serena and indicated that she should sign. Serena, looking perplexed, turned her head to the doctor. "Why are you looking at me? The doctor said a FAMILY MEMBER should sign it, and I'm not your family." Matthew's lips curved into a thin, mocking smile, and a flicker of frustration passed through his eyes. "If you're not my family, then am I married to a ghost?" WHAT?!
In the hospital corridor, the atmosphere was like ice.
Serena felt her chest tighten and wondered how this sudden news would change her life.
"Are you deaf? I'm telling you again! THE WEDDING is in the THREE DAYS later!"
The women yelling angrily was Michelle, Serena's stepmother.
She stood there with distant and disgusted expression even on her exquisitely made-up face, her voice full of ruthlessness and mockery, looking very impatiently at the quiet and silent young woman in front of her.
Serena froze in place with her head down, the news like a pot of cold water suddenly poured over her head, catching her off guard.
She slowly looked up at the hideous woman in front of her and snapped softly,
"Me?"
Faced with Serena's insensitivity, Michelle couldn't hide her displeasure.
She scowled as if Serena was a lowly, insignificant person, her words filled with coldness and sarcasm,
"Don't you dare put on a pity face! Thank your good father for that! Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to marry Matthew Harrington, bitch!"
Harrington?
Serena knew that the Harrington family were the richest family in all of Hustleburg, if not the country, synonymous with wealth and power.
It sounded like the perfect marriage.
But it was Matthew.
Word on the street was that he suffered from a severe health condition and was on the brink of death.
It had been a long time since he'd been seen in public, and the rumors seemed to hold a grain of truth...
And the so-called 'good father' Michelle was talking about had no qualms about using her like a cheap commodity for a good cause.
Serena chuckled softly at the realization.
She had once believed that her father was deceived by her stepmother, and that he had distanced himself from her out of necessity.
But now, it was clear she had been overly naive.
Michelle noticed the change in her expression as she raised her hand to remove her sunglasses and looked at Serena with disdain,
"What, happy now? All right, it's as good as it gets for someone like you, a bitch."
Serena looked up with a mocking expression and retorted, "It's about time you fought for something good for your own daughter, isn't it?"
It was the first time Serena tried to fight back, she felt the fire burning inside her, but in the very next second...
SLAP--
A resounding slap struck Serena's face, causing her head to snap to the side and her cheek to burn for a brief moment.
Michelle didn't hesitate to raise her voice to threaten her, "Who the HELL do you think you are? The way you're talking to me RIGHT NOW, you should have been DEAD long ago!"
"I'm warning you. We've already promised them. When the time comes, even if we have to tie you up, we'll do that!"
Serena lowered her gaze, her hand gently caressing her numbing cheek, her courage and anger seemingly shattered by the blow.
Michelle, perhaps thinking that verbal threats were not enough, raised her chin slightly and swept her eyes in the direction of the hospital room,
"Bitch, I strongly advise you to be on time, and If you attempt to escape, I will have the dialysis tubes removed right now and then I will have Alex FUCK you!"
Alex, Michelle's son, had long lusted Serena's beauty.
If Michelle hadn't wanted her husband to get suspicious, she would have let Alex rape her!
Serena's fists clenched, a mix of anger and despair surging through her like a tidal wave, but with an underlying sense of powerlessness.
Michelle had a firm grip on Serena's vulnerability, and she couldn't fight back.
She needed their support to cover her grandmother's medical bills, which was the root cause of her inability to escape this hell.
Just yesterday, Serena had turned down the opportunity to pursue her J.D. to work and earn money more quickly.
But evidently, her grandmother couldn't wait any longer.
Serena gazed down at her shoes, took a deep breath, and finally gritted her teeth, accepting her fate. "I'll be there."
"Wouldn't it have been easier if you had been this reasonable from the start? That old woman in there might have suffered a little less, and it would have been easier for you," Michelle sneered, as if expecting Serena's capitulation, and she donned her sunglasses once more.
"After you get married, your punk husband will be responsible for the remaining medical bills."
With that, she turned and sauntered away, leaving behind an air of arrogance.
Only when Michelle's figure had completely vanished at the end of the corridor did Serena turn around.
Suddenly, her legs felt weak, and she bent over, leaning against the doorframe.
Through the window, she saw her grandmother on dialysis, barely clinging to life.
"Granny, I'm sorry."
She hadn't kept her promise, and yet she had given in...
***
Three days later, the wedding day finally arrived.
However, there was no wedding.
The Harrington family simply sent a chauffeur to pick up Serena.
There was no ceremony, no beautiful cake, no exquisite wedding dress, no well-wishing guests, and even the groom didn't show up.
But Serena didn't mind.
This marriage wasn't worth celebrating, and the fewer people who knew, the better.
It would make the impending divorce easier to handle.
The driver expertly stepped out of the car and took Serena's luggage from her hand.
He glanced behind Serena and asked, "Madam, is there any other..."
"No more luggage, that's all," Serena interrupted him matter-of-factly.
A hint of surprise flashed in the driver's eyes.
Even if Serena's family wasn't considered wealthy, they were still a business family.
How could she have only one suitcase?
Many girls would have 3-4 suitcases filled with luxury clothes for a trip, not to mention a situation like this...
Serena found it ironic to see the shock in the driver's eyes, as no one would believe the life she had endured all these years.
The driver sees Serena's indifferent expression and realizes that he's offended the new owner a bit, he quickly puts away his shocked expression and raises his hand,
"Madam, please"
Serena nodded gently and walked down the steps to get in, but that's when Michelle called Serena to a halt.
"Serena!" her tone was full of warning and threat, though she did her best to hide it.
She forced out a fake smile that looked like the driver's and said quietly,
"There's something I want to talk to her about."
The driver responded quickly, "Of course," picked up Serena's suitcase, approached the car, and promptly took his place in the driver's seat to avoid hearing any further exchange between them.
Michelle wiped away her false smile and spoke vindictively to Serena, "Do as you're told, or I can't guarantee your grandma's well-being!"
Serena stared coldly at the loathsome woman in front of her, her thoughts drifting to her cold and heartless father.
She knew exactly what they expected from her, but Serena had made up her mind.
She was leaving this place, and someone would take care of her grandmother's medical bills.
There was no reason to comply with their demands.
Thinking of her granny, Serena recalled something crucial.
With a spring in her step, she inquired, "Where's my mother's bracelet?"
Her granny had mentioned that her mother always wore a bracelet, a significant and cherished possession for Serena.
The bracelet held substantial value, but her mother had sold it to support her father Stephen when he was starting his business.
When her father's business had prospered, he had repurchased the bracelet.
It wasn't just a piece of jewelry.
It symbolized a significant part of Stephen's business belonging to Serena's mother, and one day she intended to reclaim it.
Serena had asked her father for it countless times, and he had promised to give it to her on her wedding day.
Now the day had come.
Michelle regarded Serena with disdain and callously replied, "The bracelet is missing.!"
"Missing?" Serena narrowed her eyes inquisitively.
Michelle remained unfazed by Serena's probing and continued to issue orders, "That's irrelevant. You..."
Recognizing Michelle's obstinate attitude, Serena realized that trying to obtain the bracelet today would be futile, and she didn't want to engage in a fruitless argument.
Without waiting for Michelle to finish her sentence, Serena rolled her eyes and briskly entered the black Spyker, commanding, "Just go."
The car quickly started, pulling away, and Serena observed Michelle's frozen expression in the rearview mirror, a small smirk playing at the corner of her mouth.
She is not going to be manipulated again, NEVER!
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
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!
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
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!"
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"