Chapter: Chapter 14Arielle didn’t return home until late the next evening. Her work had dragged on, and by the time she finally stepped through the door, it was close to nine. She sighed, kicking off her shoes, but the sight in the living room stopped her in her tracks.Crystal was pacing back and forth, her expression fraught with worry. The moment she saw Arielle, she grabbed her hand."Ari, save your husband!" Crystal exclaimed, her voice filled with both exasperation and concern.Arielle’s heart sank. "Maa, is Zach okay?" she asked, panic rising in her chest.Crystal shook her head, her brows knitting together. "I don’t know! He wanted to read one of your books, and since Mom and Estelle had taken all the other copies, The Last Kiss was the only one left in my library. I didn’t realize it until I saw him reading it."She did not know what ghost the entire family was possessed with! They hated reading and she was the only reader in the house. And suddenly, all of them wanted to read something. Ariell
Last Updated: 2024-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 13Maya cleared her throat, her smile warm but carrying a hint of teasing curiosity. "Ahem… looks like we were worried for nothing. You two are doing good."Arielle met her gaze with a soft smile. "I told you, Maya. Zachary is a good man."Maya raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "But he broke your heart once, didn’t he?"Arielle’s smile faltered briefly, but then she shook her head with a thoughtful expression. "Maya, can I really hold onto the pain and forget all the good he has done for me? Just because we broke up doesn’t erase the years we shared. We were young and, honestly, a bit clueless."Her voice softened as she continued, a touch of nostalgia creeping in. "Do you know why we lasted almost ten years back then? It was because we were in boarding school together. We had each other every day, through every moment, good or bad. But when college came… things changed. We couldn’t find time for each other anymore. We were juggling intense schedules, trying to meet our ambitions and li
Last Updated: 2024-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 12That night, when Zachary stepped into the house, a heavy silence greeted him. He walked straight to his bedroom, expecting to find Arielle sitting on their bed with her laptop, as she usually did. But the room was empty. The absence of her presence felt odd, unsettling even.It was strange how they had been married for a month and yet they were so attached to each other. Or shall he say that he had gotten attached to her and she was always like a mean cat to him? Not that he minded her acting like a mean cat. He hadn't realized when he had grown accustomed to their quiet evenings together—sharing coffee, exchanging small talk, or simply sitting in comfortable silence. Now, the room felt too still, and an unexplainable restlessness crept into his chest.Where was she? He was missing her. Frowning, he left the room and headed downstairs where he found his mother, Crystal, arranging the cushions on the sofa.“Maa, where is Arielle?” he asked, his tone sharper than he intended.Crystal d
Last Updated: 2024-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 11Meanwhile, in the car, Maya glanced over at Arielle, who had been on her phone since they left.“What are you doing?” Maya asked curiosity mingled with frustration.“Calling Gabriel,” Arielle replied without looking up. “He called me after the wedding using this number, so I’m trying it. I have been leaving texts and calls. I know he will pick up eventually.”Maya frowned. “And why, exactly, do you think he will bother answering? He has been avoiding everyone else.”“Guilt,” Arielle said matter-of-factly, her voice steady. “Guilt is a strong emotion, Maya. If he has any sense of it, he will take my call.”Maya opened her mouth to argue, but before she could say anything, Arielle’s phone lit up. “The call’s connecting,” Arielle whispered, sitting up straighter in her seat.There was a pause, and then a groggy voice came through the line. “Hey, Arielle.”Arielle’s grip on the phone tightened. “Gabriel,” she said, her voice sharper than she intended. “We need to talk. Now.”“What happened
Last Updated: 2024-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 10“Madam, someone is here to meet Arielle Madam,” the maid announced, bowing slightly as she stood at the door.“Who is here to see me?” Arielle asked, puzzled.Before the maid could respond, Maya burst into the room, her face full of relief and urgency. She ran straight to Arielle, wrapping her in a warm hug.“Maya! I’m so happy to see you!” Arielle exclaimed, her smile lighting up the room.“I’m happy to see you too, Ari,” Maya replied, but her smile faded quickly, replaced by a serious expression. “But right now, we are in trouble.”Arielle’s face fell, and concern clouded her eyes. “What happened?” she asked, stepping back slightly to look at her friend.Maya took a deep breath. “The manuscript for your new book has been leaked,” she said, her voice tinged with regret. “I’m so sorry, Ari. I tried everything I could to do damage control, but it wasn’t enough. Someone stole your manuscript, and now another author has published a book with the same idea.”Arielle’s breath hitched. “Wha
Last Updated: 2024-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 9When they arrived in Chicago, the Hawthorne family organized a few small functions with only close relatives in attendance. Arielle felt relieved that she didn’t have to face large crowds or deal with overwhelming social interactions. The first two days were spent in these family functions, catching up with close relatives, and participating in various small gatherings. It was a flurry of introductions and polite conversations, but nothing too exhausting for Arielle, who preferred quieter moments.By the third day, Liam dragged Zachary to the family hospital. Arielle later learned that her new husband had decided to join the family business and work at the hospital. This marked the beginning of a new routine for him, and soon enough, their days started to settle into a rhythm.Over the next month, Arielle and Zachary’s relationship shifted. They didn’t fight as often as they had before, and to everyone’s surprise, including her own, she managed to keep her temper in check. It was a qui
Last Updated: 2024-12-16
Chapter: Epilogue EpilogueThree Years Later“Dr. Hart?”Abella turned around to see a nurse hurrying toward her.“The patient in the NICU is responding to the medication,” the nurse informed her. “Could you check on her?”Without hesitation, Abella rushed to the NICU, her heart throbbing fast. That morning, the baby girl’s condition had been critical, but now, as she looked into those tiny, bright eyes, she felt a wave of relief.“Hey there, sweetheart,” Abella cooed, smiling warmly. “You’re such a fighter. You fought so hard to be here with your mom and dad.”The baby stared up at her, and Abella’s heart melted.“Yes, you’re such a strong, big girl,” she whispered, gently touching the baby’s hand.Outside the NICU, the parents expressed their gratitude; their tearful smiles reminded Abella why she had chosen this path. In moments like these, she was reminded of how beautiful it was to help save these little angels. But there were also the heartbreaking days, the ones where some angels didn’t make it.
Last Updated: 2025-03-01
Chapter: Forever Together Meanwhile, Kate and Rhys were sitting with Anne.“Why is Aunt suddenly changing colors?” Rhys asked.“Because she knows she was wrong and wants back what she lost,” Kate said matter-of-factly.Anne chuckled. “Kate, as much as I love your straightforward attitude, I’d appreciate it if you toned it down in front of Emery. She is… well, very touchy and fussy.”Kate shrugged. “MIL, I have a complaint. Coco and Sia had a girls’ day without me! Can you imagine? I’m trying to be as cool as them, but they left me out!”Rhys suppressed a chuckle. “Yes, Mom, they left my dear Kate out.”Anne played along. “That’s terrible, I’ll scold them,”“Yes, scold them well,” Kate agreed, then added mischievously, “but don’t tell them I snitched. Just say it was Rhys.”Anne smiled. “Alright, dear.” Then, she glanced at Kate. “I saw you have been spending time with Abella. How’s that going? I know you two weren’t close.”Kate sighed. “Everyone coddles her too much. She is living in disillusionment. Coco and
Last Updated: 2025-02-28
Chapter: The Family It was a beautiful day that was filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Anne and Nicholas’s wedding anniversary had brought the entire family together, and the house was buzzing with warmth and joy.Nicholas turned to Anne as his eyes were soft with affection. “We have been together for forty years,” he said, a gentle smile on his lips.Anne smiled back, a touch of nostalgia in her gaze. “Yes, we made it this far.”Leaning in, Nicholas pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “Thank you for giving me the chance to be your husband.”Anne’s voice was barely above a whisper as she responded, “Thank you for fighting for us.”Just then, Leon and Coco appeared out of nowhere while wrapping their arms around their parents in a tight hug. “If anyone deserves the credit, it’s us!” Leon declared with a grin. “We made sure you two ended up together.”Nicholas and Anne exchanged amused glances before nodding. “Yes,” Nicholas agreed, “and we’re very thankful for your scheming. Turns out, it w
Last Updated: 2025-02-28
Chapter: Reunion (2)“Did you match into your preferred branch of residency?” Madam Facci asked, excitement filling her voice.Abella swallowed. “Ma, I’m still checking the results,” she admitted. “I’m scared.”“You have nothing to be scared of, my dear. Just look,” she heard. With a deep breath, Abella entered her credentials for the residency match. Her eyes darted across the screen as the words appeared before her.“I…” Her voice caught in her throat.“What is it?” Madam Facci asked eagerly.“Pediatrics…” Abella whispered in disbelief.A joyful gasp came from the other end. “Oh my god! I am so happy for you, dear!”Abella’s chest tightened as she read the rest. “With NYU…” she murmured. “If I accept it, I will have to stay in New York.”Was she ready for this?Madam Facci’s voice was warm and reassuring. “Whatever you choose, we are proud of you. You’ve worked hard for this. Don’t overthink it, just enjoy this moment. You did it, Abella. I’m so, so proud of you.”That evening, the entire family gather
Last Updated: 2025-02-28
Chapter: Reunion (1)Augustus Hart was born a healthy, chubby baby with a bald head, looking absolutely perfect in every way. His arrival was so sudden that only Callum and Estelle were present at the hospital when her water broke. They barely had time to inform anyone, but Abella rushed over as soon as she found out.The moment Callum stepped out of the delivery room and saw his sister waiting outside, a wave of emotions hit him all at once. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight hug.“Congratulations, brother. I’m so proud of you,” Abella whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek.Callum let out a shaky breath, still overwhelmed. “When did you get here?”“Just now,” she said with a smile. “How’s Estelle?”“Tired,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Still cursing me.”Abella chuckled. “And the baby?”“Just perfect,” Callum said, his eyes softening. “Come inside. She is going to be so happy to see you.”When Estelle saw Abella, she let out a small gasp before pulling her into a long, tight
Last Updated: 2025-02-28
Chapter: A New LifeAfter her divorce, Abella didn’t leave the country. Cillian had given her a staggering sum in alimony, even going as far as naming half of his assets to her, but she refused to take a single dime. She had her own inheritance. More money than she could ever need. But what could wealth do? It couldn’t buy her happiness. It couldn’t fill the void in her heart.Cillian knew her too well; he didn’t push her to accept anything. He let her go, even when it shattered him.When her mother lived in Italy with Coco and Leon, alongside her uncle Nate, she had bought a beautiful bungalow. It had never been sold, left untouched over the years. When Abella married Cillian, Leon had given her the key to that house as a quiet token of their family’s past. There were two bungalows beside each other, one where her mother had raised her two older siblings, and the other where her father had stayed, the place where her parents had met and reunited. One had been passed down to Charlotte, the other to Leon.
Last Updated: 2025-02-28
Contract Marriage: The Billionaire's First Love
What do you do when your first love, who crushed your heart into a million pieces, crashes your engagement party and proposes a marriage?
Certainly you would would show her the door and slip a ring on the fiancé's finger like a sane person. But Damien Callahan?
He did the exact opposite.
—------------
Time stopped for Damien Callahan eight years ago when Anastasia, his first love, left him without explanation and moved to another continent and left him with nothing but their heartbreaking memories.
Giving in to his family’s demands, he eventually agreed to marry his best friend. But on the day of his engagement, Anastasia returned and proposing marriage– A Contract Marriage to be exact.
Damien is done playing the lovesick fool. If she wants a contract marriage, she will get it but he will make sure she regrets every second of it.
The contract might be hers but terms and conditions would be his.
………….
Anastasia Spencer fled her home years ago to escape the schemes of her stepmother and stepsister. Their betrayal cost her not just her first love, but also her mother, her only true family. Now, after years of planning, she’s back to reclaim everything that was taken from her—her wealth, her revenge, and the man she never stopped loving.
Her Plan is simple:
Step one: Steal Damien from her wicked stepsister.
Step two: Reclaim her father’s fortune.
Step three: Make them all pay for what they did.
It seemed simple, right?
Except she didn’t count on Damien flipping the script.
In the end, it is a game where love, power, and revenge are at stake, who will win and who will be left with nothing?
Read
Chapter: The End“Aunt Des, you’re not supposed to cry over a boy,” little Dove Callahan said seriously as she wrapped her small arms around her heartbroken aunt, who was sobbing over a recent breakup. “If he made you cry, then he is a bad person. And we shouldn’t like bad people. But… it’s okay if you still like him. Daddy says we can’t control who we love, but it’s better to be sad than to stay with someone who doesn’t treat us right.” She looked up, her eyes big and soft. “You’re a good person, Auntie. I love you.”Destiny clutched her niece closer and cried even harder. “D, you’re my favorite person. Why don’t you marry me instead?”Dove made a face. “I’m not a boy, Auntie! I can’t marry you, but I can stay with you forever and love you lots.”Adeline, watching from across the room, wiped a tear and cooed, “Anna, I swear, I would give everything to have her marry my son one day.”“Not happening,” Regina said. “You are not her mom,”Adeline shot back. Regina rolled her eyes with a laugh. “She’s my
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
Chapter: Epilogue (3)Anastasia and Damien were forty years old when their lives were turned upside down in the most unexpected way.Anastasia was sitting on the couch, tears streaming down her face, clutching a cushion like it was a life raft. Damien stood beside her, rubbing her back with one hand and holding a glass of water in the other, his own face a mixture of guilt and panic.“Please don’t cry, baby… Please…” he begged softly, clearly at a loss for how to fix what he had done.“What did you do, Damien?” Anastasia snapped through her sobs, glaring at him as if he had committed a war crime.“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “So, so sorry.”Across the room, Adeline and Regina stood watching with tired expressions and arms crossed, while Abel and Ronan were casually eating popcorn like they were watching the season finale of a soap opera.“Seriously, stop crying,” Damien pleaded again, looking like a man desperate to stop a train with his bare hands.“What’s going on?” Asher asked, entering the living room wi
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
Chapter: Epilogue (2)“Wait… wait—hold on—is that Asher Callahan?!”Anastasia turned to see a boy with wide eyes and an expression that screamed starstruck.“You know him?” Ashton asked, slightly confused.“Gosh, who doesn’t know him? He’s basically a legend around here. His photo’s up in the main hall—Professor Stark’s prized student… until he ditched him for some B-grade uni.”“Oxford,” Damien said, clearly offended.“Yeah. Whatever,” the boy shrugged. “Let me text T. She’ll owe me big for this.”Asher paled. “Kid—no. Don’t you dare tell her I’m here.”Too late. The boy had already texted. “Hey, T. Guess who is at the hostel gate? Asher freaking Callahan. Get here before he escapes.”Then, the boy turned to Anastasia. “Miss Beauty, can you hold him here for a bit? His girlfriend’s on her way.”Anastasia blinked. “He has a girlfriend?”The entire parental unit snapped to attention, eyes wide like they had just discovered classified information.“She’s not my girlfriend!” Asher groaned.“She trapped me!” h
Last Updated: 2025-06-29
Chapter: Epilogue (1)“Max, make sure you finish your meals,” Anastasia said gently, brushing her son’s collar flat for the third time that morning. “You have to eat properly, okay? Don’t skip anything just because you are in a hurry. And please, don’t hang out with bad company. It’s going to be cold there, so wear warm clothes and layer up. Take care of yourself, alright?”Ashton smiled and nodded, then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his mother. She looked tiny and delicate in front of her now-taller teenage son, and for a moment, she just held him like she used to when he was little. He kissed her cheek and whispered, “I love you, Mommy. I’m going to miss you terribly.”“Excuse me,” Damien said with offence, raising an eyebrow. “And what about me?”“You too, old man!” Ashton said with a grin.Then, before anyone could interrupt, he added, “So Dad… about that Aston Martin… when are we going to talk about it?”Damien stared at him. “Seriously?”“I mean, I’m fifteen now,” Ashton continued with a
Last Updated: 2025-06-29
Chapter: Man and WifeEveryone expected that Regina and Anastasia’s relationship would improve after the truth about their birth and family history finally came to light but the truth is, there was never a relationship to repair. At twenty-eight, with the gentle guidance of Fiona who was slowly stepping into her role as a mother to them both, they were simply learning how to exist in each other’s lives, no longer as enemies but as sisters.After Harold’s death, both women began to heal at their own pace. When the will was finalised and Claire was officially prosecuted and sentenced, Anastasia took a quiet step that surprised everyone. Though she was Harold’s only legal heir, she shared her inheritance equally with Regina, who had been deliberately excluded. Anna didn’t want money or power to become another wedge between them. She knew what it was like to grow up feeling robbed of love and belonging, and she refused to let the past write their future.Though she remained half-owner of Spencer Industries, An
Last Updated: 2025-06-29
Chapter: Truth is out“Hi, Anna!” Abel called out brightly as soon as he spotted her stepping into the house.“Wow, Abel,” Anna said with a playful grin, “You look unusually happy today.”Abel laughed. “Of course I am! My wife is finally home, and the babies are happy, which means Daddy is the happiest man alive!”Regina stood nearby, quietly smiling at the scene playing out in front of her. It was something she never thought she would have, and now it was here.“Did you two finally pick names for the girls?” Anna asked, eyeing the twins still snuggled against their mother’s chest.“We’re still deciding,” Regina and Abel said in unison, their voices overlapping. They shared a sheepish smile.“So, what did you do all morning, Anna?”Anna blinked at the random question but humoured him. “Let’s see... I forced the boys to bathe because they were stinking, baked cookies and bread, answered some emails, fixed Maxey’s toy truck, and watered the herbs. Why?”Abel and Regina exchanged a subtle glance.So she hasn’
Last Updated: 2025-06-29
Chapter: Chapter 213Scarlet’s POV“Luna, there’s an injured soldier,” someone called out behind me.I turned to see a woman staggering toward the medical tent, dressed in tattered soldier’s uniform, blood seeping through her sleeve. They kept calling me Luna even though Dante and I weren’t married yet. Even though I wasn’t officially anything. But to them, I was already their Luna. The war had been raging for almost two months now. Most of the civilians—families, elders, children—had been moved into the deep bunkers scattered across Phantom Moon’s territory. As head of the medical organization, I had stayed behind in the safe zone alongside the other doctors, treating the wounded, the old, the dying. I couldn’t leave for outside to help other soldiers in unsafe areas.And truth be told, no one would let me leave even if I tried.I was twenty-five weeks pregnant now, and the protectiveness around me was so much. But I understood it. In war, women and children were often the first victims—kidnapped, assa
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
Chapter: Chapter 212Rome arrived with the remaining soldiers just as I collapsed beside Ace. They carefully lifted him from the ground, his body bloodied and broken, and carried him to the medivac unit.“Alpha, are you alright?” Rome asked as he supported my arm, seeing the torn flesh, deep bruises, and claw marks covering my body.I didn’t answer his question. I only asked one of my own, my voice hoarse. “What’s the situation?”Rome’s expression darkened. “Worse than we expected. The Moonlord and Blood Moon Pack has joined forces with the rebels. Our borders are on fire, literally. Entire watchposts have fallen. If we don’t hold them back now, they will take the southern gate by dusk.”I nodded grimly, the pain in my body secondary to the one ripping through my chest.“Take me to Ace,” I said, my voice hard and strained.We reached the hospital, and I stood like stone as I watched doctors and nurses rush him into the ICU. Tubes and wires snaked around his body. He looked so still. So pale. As if death w
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
Chapter: Chapter 211Hector.And the other wolf, bloodied, beaten nearly to the edge of death, his breathing ragged but still fighting, was Ace.I didn’t think. I just pounced.I threw myself at Hector, slamming him into the rocks, my fangs ripping into his flesh with a fury I didn’t know I possessed. Blood splattered the snow around us as we tore at each other.But even as I fought, I heard Hector’s voice through broken gasps.“He’s dead,” he groaned, laughing between cracked ribs and spit. “I killed him.”I snapped his shoulder out of place, but he kept talking, a madman who wouldn’t stop. “So what if I failed to kill him at birth? I did it now. I finally did it.”I ripped into him, but he laughed again, a cruel, high-pitched sound.“You think you’ve won?” Hector spat blood. “My reinforcements are coming. You won’t survive. I’m too strong for you. You think this is over? You took the girl from me. You stole the woman I wanted. This time, I killed the boy. Next time, I’ll kill you, your bastard daughter,
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
Chapter: Chapter 210Dante’s POV“Scarlet,” I said quietly, my voice more serious than I intended. “Have you ever felt that sudden drop in your stomach? Like something bad is about to happen, even though you don’t know what?”She looked up from where she was folding baby clothes, her brow creasing. “What happened, Dante?”“I don’t know, honey,” I admitted, trying to brush it off but unable to shake the unease crawling under my skin. “Just a really bad feeling. Something’s off.”I was supposed to head to the office for a regular meeting, but before I left, I grabbed her hand and looked her in the eye. “Don’t leave the house today, okay? Please. Stay here. If you can, call Ves and ask her to bring the kids over. I’ll feel better if everyone’s in one place, safe.”Her eyes widened. “Did something happen?”“No,” I said slowly, “not yet. But my gut’s screaming at me, and it never does that without a reason.”She nodded. “Okay. I’ll call Vespara right now.”I left the house with my heart tight in my chest, like
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
Chapter: chapter 209Dante’s POV“Scarlet, do you feel like something’s off with Ace lately?” I asked as I leaned back, watching her run her hand across her growing belly.She turned to me, her brows drawn together. “No… What happened?”“He has been distant,” I said slowly. “I mean, really distant. He doesn’t banter with me like he used to. Doesn’t even roll his eyes when I annoy him. Just gives these clipped answers. Yes or no, nothing in between.”Scarlet tilted her head, genuinely confused. “Dante, he literally talks to my bump every day like it’s already born. He tells this baby bedtime stories, and you know what else? He spends extra time with Amy, especially now that I can’t do as much. He even gives her mini speech therapy lessons. That boy’s got a heart made of gold.”I sighed. “I know. But still… It feels like he is pulling away from me, specifically. Not you. Not Amy. Just me.”She was quiet for a moment, considering my words.“Maybe he’s just growing up,” she said. “You know… boys change. One d
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
Chapter: Chapter 208After some time, Dante quietly stepped out into the lounge area to check on Amy, only to pause at the unexpected sight that greeted him. There, curled up in Violet’s lap, was his little girl, fast asleep, her tiny hands tucked under her cheek, her breathing soft and even. Violet, for her part, was gently stroking Amy’s hair and caressing her face with a tenderness that mirrored Scarlet’s every gesture.“She fell asleep,” Dante said softly, breaking the moment. “I’ll carry her inside. It’s a new place, and Scarlet cried a lot today… Amy will get restless if they are not close all night.”Violet looked down at the little girl resting against her, then back up at him. “Are they really that attached?” she asked quietly.Dante gave a small smile. “Very much so.”The king, who had been standing nearby, finally spoke. His voice was low, contemplative. “I deeply regret my short-sightedness. Scarlet has been nothing but kind and dutiful toward our family. Julian’s actions were inexcusable. He
Last Updated: 2025-06-30
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