When her father is on the verge of losing everything, Aria sacrifices her freedom to save him by agreeing to a forced marriage with a wealthy man's vegetative son, Liam. Trapped in a loveless union, Aria faces resentment and disdain while caring for Liam, who begins to recover and eventually falls for her. But their fragile love is threatened by a dark secret-Aria was the one responsible for Liam's condition. As Aria navigates her way in the Sterling family, she must grapple with the secrets she finds and how to bring the truth to light. Can love truly overcome the shadows of the past, or will the weight of betrayal destroy them both?
Gregory Mitchell sat at his mahogany desk, his fingers drumming absently against the polished surface as he reviewed the latest financial reports. Outside the window of his modest home office, the winter sun cast long shadows across the neatly trimmed lawn. His business wasn't booming, but it was stable-steady enough to keep the bills paid and provide a comfortable life for him and his daughter. But things have not been looking up lately.
He leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a brief moment to relax. At sixty-three, Gregory had a life many would envy. A semi-successful small business, a warm home, and a daughter any father would be proud of. Yet, as he glanced at the framed photo on his desk-himself, his late wife, and a younger Aria smiling at the camera-he couldn't help but feel a pang of emptiness.
It had been seven years since his wife, Lillian, passed away, and in those years, Gregory had transformed into a man he hardly recognized. He had buried himself in his work, throwing every ounce of energy into his construction company. At first, it had been a way to cope, to keep himself too busy to feel the grief that threatened to consume him. But over time, it became a habit-a way of life.
And in the process, he had built a wall between himself and Aria.
-
Aria Mitchell tapped her pen against the dining table, her eyes scanning the handwritten list in front of her. It was Saturday afternoon, and she had spent the better part of the morning planning what she hoped would be a perfect father-daughter day.
She had chosen activities Gregory used to enjoy before everything changed-breakfast at their favorite diner, a walk in the park, and maybe even a stop at the art gallery downtown. She had put so much thought into it, certain that this time he wouldn't say no.
She folded the list and slipped it into her pocket, determination flickering in her chest. She marched to his office and knocked softly on the door.
"Come in," Gregory's voice called from inside, distracted as always.
Aria pushed the door open and stepped inside, her smile tentative. Gregory glanced up briefly, his face softening when he saw her.
"Hi, sweetheart," he said, but his eyes quickly dropped back to the papers on his desk.
Aria took a deep breath. "Dad, I was thinking... maybe we could spend some time together today? It's been a while."
Gregory looked up again, frowning slightly as if the idea were foreign to him. "What do you mean?"
"I made a list," she said, pulling it out of her pocket. "We could grab breakfast at Ruby's Diner, then go for a walk in the park. And there's a new exhibit at the gallery I think you'd like. It'll be fun."
Gregory leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck. "Aria, I'd love to, but I have a lot of work to do. There's a project deadline coming up, and I-"
"You always have a project deadline," Aria interrupted, her voice tinged with frustration. "Can't you take one day off? Just one?"
"Aria, you don't understand," he said, his tone firmer now. "If I don't stay on top of things, this business could collapse. And then where would we be?"
She opened her mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped her. It wasn't anger or annoyance-it was fear. Fear of failing, fear of losing what little control he had left.
"Fine," she said softly, tucking the list back into her pocket. "Forget I asked."
She turned and walked out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her. Gregory stared after her, guilt twisting in his chest. But instead of calling her back, he picked up his pen and returned to his work.
The years passed in much the same way. Aria, ever hopeful, would plan ways to spend time with her father, only to be met with the same excuses. At first, she had fought back, arguing and pleading with him to prioritize their relationship. But eventually, she stopped trying.
Their interactions became polite but distant, like two strangers sharing the same house. They spoke about practical things-groceries, bills, the occasional update about her college classes-but the warmth and connection they once shared had vanished.
Aria couldn't help but resent him for it. She had lost her mother too, but she hadn't buried herself in work or shut him out. All she wanted was to feel close to him again, to know that he cared. But Gregory seemed incapable of giving her that.
And Gregory? He told himself he was doing what was best for both of them. If he worked hard enough, if he provided enough, it would make up for the emotional distance. But deep down, he knew it was a lie. Every time he saw the sadness in Aria's eyes, every time she walked away with slumped shoulders, the guilt gnawed at him.
It was a chilly Sunday morning when Gregory finally realized how much he had lost.
He was sitting in the kitchen, sipping his coffee and reading the newspaper, when Aria came downstairs. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater, her hair pulled back in a casual ponytail.
"Good morning," he said, his voice cautious.
"Morning," she replied without looking at him. She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and started heading for the door.
"Going somewhere?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, pausing briefly. "I'm meeting some friends for brunch."
Gregory nodded, but something about the way she said it felt off. She didn't sound excited or happy-just... resigned.
"Have fun," he said, forcing a smile.
"Thanks," she muttered, and then she was gone.
He sat there in silence, staring at the empty doorway. The house felt impossibly quiet, and for the first time, Gregory felt the full weight of the distance between them. He had missed so much-her first heartbreak, her triumphs, her struggles-all because he couldn't face his own pain.
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. He couldn't let this continue. He had to fix things.
Gregory grabbed his coat and car keys, determined to catch up with her. He would take her out to lunch, listen to her, and finally make an effort to bridge the gap he had created.
But as he reached for the doorknob, his phone buzzed on the counter. He glanced at the screen and froze.
It was a notification for an urgent meeting with Hugh Sterling.
Gregory stared at the phone, torn between two choices. If he skipped the meeting, it could jeopardize his business. But if he didn't go after Aria, he might lose his chance to make things right.
For a long moment, he stood there, his hand hovering over the doorknob, his thoughts a whirlwind of regret and indecision.
Then, with a heavy sigh, he turned back toward the kitchen and picked up his phone.
When Jasmine Thompson's sister is brutally murdered, revenge becomes her sole purpose. Her target: Hayden Russell, a powerful and enigmatic tech billionaire she believes is responsible. To destroy him, she enters his world through a calculated contract marriage, determined to bring him to his knees. But as passion ignites and buried truths come to light, Jasmine discovers she may have targeted the wrong man. Bound by love and lies, she must untangle a web of deceit before it consumes them both. In a game of vengeance and redemption, can Jasmine uncover the truth-or will her obsession destroy the only man capable of healing her shattered heart?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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.
In the eyes of the public, Elijah was ever the gentleman, always distant and reserved. But behind closed doors, he was an animal who relentlessly ensnared Ashley in a web of lust. No one knew of their secret relationship, yet at the same time, no one dared to bully her again. Then one day, she was hit with morning sickness right in front of everyone. To everyone’s shock, the aloof and domineering Elijah quickly knelt in front of her and caressed her pregnant belly. “Babe,” he crooned, “let’s go public with our relationship. I will give you my everything.”