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.
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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?
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."