My son returned home late from his engagement party, bringing his mistress with him. He tried to use intimidation to force his fiancée to call off the engagement, but I wasn't swayed by his tactics. I successfully removed him from the Xu family, only to discover that my loyal husband was also involved with the mistress. In the end, my daughter-in-law and I teamed up to gather evidence, leading to the failure of their scheme. At the wedding ceremony, my son not only ran away from the wedding but also brought home a woman who was five months pregnant that same night. "Mom, let me divorce Xiang Wan, and I'll let Jiajia keep the baby." I looked at my useless son with a cold, piercing gaze. "Freeze all his assets and reclaim all properties under his name." "I want to see what this good-for-nothing can achieve without the Xu family."
At the wedding ceremony, my son, Korbin Barton, ran away. Moreover, he brought back a woman who had been pregnant for five months that very night.
He said, "Mom, let me divorce Janice Hughes, and I'll let Kayla give birth to the baby."
My gaze was icy and sharp as I looked at Korbin, who disappointed me greatly.
I said, "Freeze all his assets and reclaim all his properties. I'd like to see what he can achieve without the Barton family."
1
At the wedding ceremony of the Barton and Hughes families, it should have been a harmonious occasion. But now it was filled with tension.
I glared at the butler and asked, "Repeat what you just said?"
"Korbin said he wouldn't set foot in the Barton family again unless the wedding was canceled."
Janice was supposed to be my daughter-in-law. But she sat before the makeup mirror with a somber face.
I narrowed my eyes and slammed my hand heavily on the mahogany chair beneath me. "The only daughter-in-law for the Barton family is Janice. If he wants to leave, let him."
The butler lowered his head with a tremble. He dared not utter a word.
I hired a high-end designer at a high cost to set up the venue six months ago.
Janice's face was pale, accentuated by her exquisite dress. Her red lips were devoid of blood. "Mrs. Barton, Korbin and I haven't gotten married yet..."
I interrupted her before she could finish her words. "Since Amanda entrusted you to the Barton family, I certainly won't let you get hurt."
I deleted my son's contact from my phone.
That very night, he rushed back to the Barton family's house still in the suit I had specifically chosen for him. Such an outfit meant he was attending a grand banquet.
But the only difference was the young woman standing beside him.
She looked to be about twenty years old.
She had long, flowing hair. She looked at me with a pitiful expression and lively eyes. She used one hand to support her back, while the other lovingly caressed her slightly protruding belly.
Her features seemed familiar, but I couldn't remember her as I thought through the social circles I knew.
"Korbin, it's late. You'd better send the unfamiliar friend home as soon as possible." My intention to send the young woman away was clear. And I gave Korbin an excuse.
After all, Janice was sensitive, and she was composed so far, which only highlighted the Barton family's failure in educating Korbin.
Unfortunately, Korbin didn't understand my good intentions.
He said, "Mom, Kayla is carrying my baby. I want to marry her."
Kayla's eyes were already brimming with tears. Both her hands were clutching the hem of her nightgown, and her fingers were pale. "Mrs. Barton, Korbin and I are truly in love. You can't separate us."
On the wedding day, the groom ran away and even brought a pregnant woman to flaunt.
I let out a cold laugh. "She is a woman of unknown background. Even though she is somewhat beautiful, such tactics won't work on me."
Korbin didn't expect me to be so blunt, and his face turned dark. "Mom, Janice can't bear children. If you want the Barton family bloodline to continue, cancel the engagement between her and me. Otherwise, I'll have Kayla abort the baby."
2
Janice was the only daughter of the Hughes family. She was good in each aspect.
But the only downside was that she had undergone surgery recently.
The doctor warned her not to get pregnant in the coming five years. Otherwise, it would affect her recovery.
I'd been in charge of the Barton family for so long and rarely lost my temper. "Leave this house immediately. We don't want a baby of unknown origin in the Barton family."
Korbin looked embarrassed. He was always proud, but now he remained silent and refused to leave.
I glanced disdainfully at the woman whose smile froze on her face. She looked pitiful, but she was poking Korbin's palm secretly and forcefully.
She was an unworthy woman but managed to captivate Korbin, whom I raised with great pain.
I snapped, "If it weren't for Amanda saving your life, do you think you'd still be alive now?"
The Hughes family was a prestigious family, and Amanda was my close friend.
Janice had feelings for Korbin, which was a blessing for him.
But he didn't think so.
Korbin said with a stiff neck, "You did so just for your reputation. In your eyes, I'm just a pawn, not a living person. Can't I decide the life I want for myself?"
Even my husband, Michael, voiced his opinion at that moment, although he was usually low-profile. "This is about Korbin's marriage. As parents, we have no right to decide for him. We should stay out of it."
He had a point.
When the Barton family was prestigious back then, and I was the eldest daughter, I was expected to marry someone of equal status.
But I met Michael, a young man from a poor family, at college. He was reliable and ambitious.
So I fought against my parents for days and nights so as to get married to him.
Korbin was as stubborn as me, which neither pleased nor displeased me.
Ultimately, my expression softened a bit.
Korbin seized the opportunity to soften his stance, but I could clearly sense how proud his voice was. "Mom, Kayla is carrying the baby with the Barton family blood. Since Janice and I haven't gotten married, let Kayla stay for now."
In his eyes, it seemed to be a big achievement to have a son.
Kayla looked at Korbin with admiration, making him feel very pleased.
Korbin said, "Whether you agree or not, it is how it's going to be."
I didn't respond, and my heart ached with anger at Korbin's stupid behavior.
Kayla twirled a strand of her hair and raised her chin.
She smiled provocatively at Janice. "Janice, I know you love Korbin, but the baby is innocent. You don't want the baby to be fatherless at birth. More importantly, you and Korbin haven't gotten married."
Janice disliked being touched, and she evaded Kayla's touch emotionlessly. "Stay away from me."
Kayla's figure was slightly bloated, and her steps were unsteady.
But Korbin was quicker. He stepped forward to catch Kayla securely.
A crisp slap landed on Janice's face at that moment. "You wicked woman, Kayla is pregnant. What if she falls?"
Janice said, "I didn't do anything. She just didn't stand properly."
Korbin was about to slap Jenice again, but I stopped him with a stern voice.
I scolded him in a low voice, "Enough. The Barton family will not allow a woman of dubious reputation to have a baby. You take her to abort the baby."
A faint handprint appeared on Janice's face, which pained me deeply.
Janice had grown up around me, and the marriage between the Barton and Hughes families was my idea.
My intention was to keep Janice close to me.
Korbin seemed incredulous. Perhaps he didn't expect me not to mind the baby. He looked at me with a complex expression. "Mom, it is your grandchild. I won't let Kayla abort the baby."
Anger burned within me as I gestured towards the door. I shouted, "Both of you, get out."
Even Michael, who was usually meek, opposed my decision. "Korbin is your son, and Kayla is carrying the Barton family's baby. It would be better to let them stay with us for a while to avoid gossip."
His words irritated me.
Kayla let out a sharp scream, then her face turned pale, and she clutched her lower abdomen. "Korbin, my belly aches..."
Korbin shot a glare at Janice before holding Kayla and rushing into the room.
No one reacted to the sudden events, and Michael quickly called the private doctor.
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
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. .