Everyone believed that Leyla, inheriting a slyness from her aunt, adeptly drew in married men while presenting an innocent front. Unexpectedly, she became the infamous playboy Colton's wife after just one intense encounter, causing many to speculate about the motives behind their rushed marriage. Initially perceived as a mere transaction, the nature of their relationship took a turn at a party where an emotional Colton grabbed Leyla's wrist and, with a voice laced with raw vulnerability, asked, "Can you love me a bit more?" It was then she realized the truth-he had been pulling the strings of their relationship from the very beginning.
"Wanna do it?" Leyla Stanley asked, wrapping one leg around the man's waist.
Leyla was leaning against a door as she spoke.
A corridor separated the two of them from the lively banquet hall next door.
In that hall, Leyla's ex-boyfriend was celebrating his engagement with his new partner.
The man heard her clearly and emotion flashed in his narrowed eyes.
He gripped Leyla's waist, seized one of her wrists, and threw her onto the soft bed.
Then he leaned over her with his head lowered. His voice was thick with seduction. "Yes."
Leyla's long hair lay sprawled across the pillow. She leaned in and pressed her rosy lips against his.
The sweet scent of her perfume mixed with the deep aroma of wine, filling the room.
His breath caught in his throat. He held her chin with one hand and his voice grew low and tempting. "Leyla, open your eyes and look carefully... Who am I?"
Wait a minute... Who exactly was he?
The tipsy Leyla blinked her eyes open.
The man was incredibly handsome. His long lashes framed striking eyes, and he had a strong nose and refined features.
What a devilish charmer.
Leyla moved closer, her breath warm against him.
Wrapping her slightly cool arms around his neck, she leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"You are..." Her voice was seductive. "Colton."
He was indeed Colton Quinn.
He was the infamous playboy of Valston, known for his reckless ways. He was a romance expert who never let himself get too attached to any woman.
Colton was also the head of the influential Quinn family.
Colton hesitated for a moment.
Then he kissed her passionately, and the kiss seemed to last forever.
The next morning, Leyla woke up from a nightmare.
Her head was pounding, and she buried her face in the blanket.
What Theo Higgins, her ex-boyfriend, had said last night at the engagement party echoed in her mind, haunting her dreams.
"Leyla is just as loose as Rachael. It was only a fling. I would never marry someone like her."
And just like that, Theo had gotten engaged to someone else.
After the Stanley family had faced tragedy, Leyla had become an orphan and went to live with her aunt, Rachael Yates.
Rachael had married into the Higgins family, so Leyla had moved in with the family.
Over the years, Theo had pursued her without giving up.
Rachael encouraged her to accept him; after all, he treated her kindly.
Feeling a bit moved, Leyla had said yes to Theo's courtship, even though she didn't love him.
In Theo's eyes, she had become loose.
The mocking laughter from the crowd last night still echoed in her mind.
A wave of bitterness washed over her, making it hard to catch her breath.
She forced out a bitter smile.
Tears flowed down her cheeks.
Suddenly, the edge of the blanket was lifted, bringing in a rush of fresh air. A relaxed voice reached her ears.
"Miss Stanley."
Leyla looked up quickly and found a handsome face looking back at her.
His long lashes framed his eyes, and a small mole rested at the corner.
Colton?
Noticing her surprise, Colton spoke in a rough voice, a teasing tone lacing his words. "With that expression, it's as if you you've forgotten what happened last night."
He gently brushed a stray hair from her cheek.
His fingers were slightly cool against her skin, causing her to shiver.
When she noticed the suggestive marks on his neck, her expression changed, and she felt herself blush.
Colton was known as the most carefree playboy in the Quinn family.
And he was... Theo's cousin.
In a moment of reckless abandon fueled by alcohol, she had slept with him.
She frowned slightly, her long hair cascading loosely over her pale shoulders.
Her eyes, which had sparkled with allure last night, were now clear and cold. No longer drunk, she seemed completely indifferent and distant.
To her, sex was just a casual affair.
She wanted nothing to do with Theo.
"Let's just pretend last night never happened, Mr. Quinn." Her tone was cool.
Colton's eyes sparkled with amusement. A carefree smile spread across his face as he suddenly grabbed her chin, compelling her to meet his gaze.
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
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!"
What happens when a hook-up gets complicated by a baby? Can she hide the secret from him? Or will he show her how possessive he can be when he learns she's carrying his child? "Seven years ago, I had a one-night stand with my brother's best friend, who also happened to be my lifelong crush. The next day, he vanished leaving me pregnant. Now, I am a single mom raising our son in the same small town. Recently, he returned to attend my brother's wedding and the truth about our son was finally revealed. As he reclaims his place in our lives, the sparks between us reignite. However, danger from his past threatens to shatter our newfound connection. I am torn between my love for him and my fear of getting hurt again, especially now that I have two hearts to protect - our son's and my own."
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.”
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"