LOGIN“Why is Elara always better than me?” The night before her wedding, Hannah Graham vanished, leaving behind a bitter note blaming her sister, Elara, for her death. Damon Blackwood, the cold and powerful CEO of Blackwood Corp, lost the woman he loved—and in his rage, he married Elara instead. Not out of love. Out of hate. For five years, Elara lived in misery. Damon ignored her, let his family humiliate her, and made sure she never forgot she was unwanted. She stayed only for their daughter. Then Hannah came back. Alive. Smiling. And with a son she claimed was Damon’s. Overjoyed, Damon turned his back on Elara completely. He gave all his care to Hannah and the boy, while Elara and her daughter were left to suffer. Even when Elara begged him to believe their child was sick, Damon’s words cut her to pieces: “You’re disgusting, Elara. Using our daughter just to get my attention.” Broken, Elara signed the divorce papers. On their fifth wedding anniversary, she said her final goodbye. But tragedy struck when her car went off a cliff, mother and daughter…gone. Too late, Damon realized the truth: He had fallen for the woman he swore to hate… and destroyed her with his own hands.
View MoreChloe POV
“What?” I screamed, my food almost dropping from my mouth as my spoon went clanking on the plate.
My parents are not actually serious about this.
I stared back and forth from my mother to my father then back to my mother again in disbelief, and I felt a breath stutter out of my chest.
They really weren’t going to do this to me, I don’t even want to be married yet, I’m good with being single as I was happy and don’t have anything but myself to worry about.
“Yes,” my father spoke huskily, “we’ve chosen a man for you.” He added and I looked at him in disgust, I had a lot of things to say to him but I knew that would only be a waste of time.
My parents are stubborn and sometimes, I feel like I got my stubbornness from them.
“You can’t be serious, how do you expect me to get married to someone I don’t even know, someone I haven’t even met. I’m very sure I won’t be happy with him but you both don’t care?” I snapped, I knew the answer to the question I’d just asked.
They really didn’t care whether or not I’ll be happy with the marriage or approve of it, all they ever cared about was their own selfish interest.
“You’ll be happy when you get to his house, trust me.” My mother butted in and that was the stupidest thing anyone had ever said to me.
“We’ve made this choice for you since you were a kid and who knows better if not the parent?” My father added with a big smile playing on his lips.
Was he really trying to be sweet right now? I knew about this and every day I pray that they change their mind or—
Something bad should probably happen to him, the one I was betrothed to. Was he even okay with the fact that he would be getting married to someone he doesn’t know?
Different thoughts played through my mind as I kept shooting stares like daggers at my parents, why would they even do this to me?
The silence was painful but not as painful as the fact that I had no say in this, I couldn’t disobey them and I also couldn’t argue with them. They usually end up doing things their own way anyways.
I gave them one last glance, as I picked up the napkin and slightly dab my mouth with it before leaving the dining table.
I kept muttering to myself as I made my way to my room with my father’s voice replaying in the back of my head. It sounded like a broken record, one I had no control over, I just had to listen to it every time.
“You’re getting married soon, I hope you’re prepared?” My father’s voice kept ringing and that got me even angrier.
I had tried to shut his voice out but nothing I did worked as I couldn’t concentrate. Throwing the pillows on my bed against the wall and smashing the flower vase that was right by my bedside table.
I still couldn’t get myself to stop being mad at my parents, I didn’t like them right now but neither do I hate them. How do I stand up to them? How do I tell them I didn’t want this?
The thought of me being betrothed to a man even before I was born sounded disgusting and the more I thought about it, the more disgusted I got.
I heard a knock on my door and I knew who it was, it was my mom, she’d probably thought she could cajole me to accept this ill fate of mine.
“Go away.” I groaned and without protesting, I heard her receding footsteps and I was grateful.
Still fuming, I spotted my phone on the bed, it was on and when I’d picked it up to check what it was, it was a notification from my best friend.
I didn’t realize when I smiled as I read her message, she’d asked how I was and I needed to vent so I decided I was going to text back.
I know my best friend, she’d call back immediately after I send the message.
‘I’m going crazy, I have no idea what is going on. It’s like I have no control of my life and now my parents just told me I have my wedding coming up soon. I’m going mad, I swear to you.’
I typed the message swiftly and proofreading it, I hit send as I put the phone in the back pocket of my jean.
Seconds later, the sound of my phone ringing jolted me out of my thoughts and without looking at the caller ID, I already knew who it was.
“Chloe, Baby.” She called and I closed my eyes as I groaned in frustration, I really am going crazy.
“I have no idea what to do, I have a wedding coming up soon and I HAVEN’T EVEN MET HIM YET!” I yelled as I spoke and I could immediately feel my best friend take the phone off her ear for a while as that was what she does whenever she’s getting scolded or yelled at.
“I honestly do not know what to say,” she finally spoke after a while of silence, “but I must say this, your life really sucks.” She added with a laugh that made me roll my eyes before also bursting into laughter.
She says things to me that if a stranger had said, I could hit them and their teeth would fall off.
“I have a suggestion, you know to get you out of this dilemma.”
“What suggestions do you have and it better not be stupid.”
“What do you say when we go to the club? Trust me you’ll feel better. Have a few shots and you know dance it off with some of the hot dudes?”
My best friend had just suggested we go to the club and I on the other hand wanted to leave this hell hole, I needed to think.
“Okay.” I answered after carefully thinking about it.
I dropped the call and went to prepare for my night out with my best friend, I’d decided I was going in all black.
I took out my black strapless gown and a black purse with my stilettos.
I’d gotten to the club when I realized I forgot to hold my jacket and it was freezing cold, I know I’d be fine after a few shots though.
“Hey girl.” My best friend shrieked in excitement as she saw me approach the bar.
I settled to have my seat beside her as I ordered my own shot and the bar attendant had gone to get me my order at once.
“I don’t know what to do.” I groaned as I winced in pain as a result of the burning sensation from the tequila I’d just had.
“You know what? Let’s not talk about it.” She suggested and I nodded in agreement.
I needed to get out of my head and hopefully some shots and a dance would help me do that. I downed my fifth glass of tequila and my head was starting to feel light.
I laughed as I watched my best friend make her way to the dance floor, she was dancing and entertaining me, I needed the laugh when I saw my best friend act like a stripper.
“Join me.” She shouted over the blaring music as she pulled me to the dance floor with her, I soon started to feel the music and had decided to dance my life away, after all I’m in the club now. I have to make the best of it.
“You dance really well.” I heard an unfamiliar voice say behind me, his breath reeks of beer that made my stomach churn.
What was more disgusting was the fact that he thought he could touch me. I'd wanted to land a slap on his face but a scandal is what I didn’t want.
Letting out a fake smile, I slowly moved away from the dance floor and ordered my sixth shot of tequila from the bar attendant who hesitated at first.
“Do you need an ID to get me my drink?” I snapped as I rolled my eyes, my head aches and I knew I probably shouldn’t be taking another drink. But, I needed it so I didn’t care.
The bar attendant who was taken aback by my reaction went ahead to get me my drink and I apologized for being mean to him.
“You should probably take it easy with those.” I heard a husky voice say followed by the cream of the chair as he decided to sit beside me.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?” I asked and he shook his head negatively. I asked what he wanted with me and soon our conversation got heated, if I never expected that I would be so comfortable with a stranger.
I stared at him for what seemed like hours and I gulped down spit as hard as I could, he was gorgeous and his hair style was one of a kind, I looked down at his plump lips that made me bite mine and he seem to know what he was doing because he bit slightly on his lips too.
Making my pussy throb and leaving me yearning for him.
“Wanna dance?” He asked seductively and I couldn’t say no to him. He stood up already and offered a hand. I looked at him for a while again before taking his hand and we both walked back to the dance floor, I was free and I cared less about anything.
Heaven definitely has angels and he definitely is one of them.
“Is this your first time here?” He murmured as he spun me around and I staggered, he caught me immediately and we were just inches away from each other.
“What does it matter if it is?” I answered his question with another question, I know what he’s doing but he isn’t the only one that could play the game.
He smirked as he pulled me up and I could feel the burning pleasure pulsating through my body, how possible is it for a stranger to make me feel this way?
“Is it possible for a human to be this sexy?” He asked as he stared directly into my eyes.
“Don’t flatter me.” I replied, tucking my hair behind my ear shyly.
“I do a lot of things but flattering isn’t one of them. I’m just appreciating the beauty in front of me.”
“What do you do?”
“Asides telling special girls about how special they are?”
“You think I’m special?”
“I think ‘Special’ isn’t the right word to describe you as that would be an understatement.”
He pulled me closer to him before I could think properly, his grip was tight and his cold palm traced my shoulder blade up to my lips, he was caressing my lips with his finger, I could smell his strong cologne, If heaven had a smell then I’m sure it smelled like him, looking into my eyes, he leaned closer to me that our lips were just few inch away from each other.
“How badly do I want to kiss you?” He breathed and I had no idea how much of his flirting I could take.
“How can a person be this gorgeous?” He breathed again, he was making me go crazy already, how does he know just the right to say. He was turning me on and I liked it.
His hands were spanning every espamse of my waist and my hips. My front was plastered tightly against his and it felt like I was being engulfed with so much desire right now.
Burying his face in my shoulder, he took in the smell of my hair. I'd decided to use my strawberry scented shampoo tonight, and hearing his pleased sigh was indication enough that it has paid off.
“Mmm.” He groaned and I felt goosebumps on my skin, I wanted to hear more of it.
It’s weird but I want this man, mentally cleaning off the imaginary drool that was forming beside my lips, he leaned further and supported my face with his hand, and then with his piercing blue eyes staring into mine, he leaned down and kissed me.
He kissed me.
It was a sweet, passionate kiss and he tasted like cherry. I tried to suppress my moan but I couldn’t as he explored my mouth with his tongue, I released a hushed moan into his mouth as my fingers clutched on his bulging biceps.
They had a mind of their own.
“Let’s get out of here.” He murmured against my ear after finally breaking the kiss.
He bit my earlobe before sucking it into his mouth and another stuttered moan spilled past my lips.
“O- okay.”
I want to deny everything she’s saying.I want to say, No, you’re wrong. I never meant any of those things.But I can’t. I’m not able to.No matter how badly and desperately I want to deny her claims, she isn’t entirely wrong.I did treat her that way. I did consider her helpless.In fact, I was the one who asked her parents to cut all ties with her, to make sure she understood what it meant to be left alone in her new life—just like Hannah would have felt when she ran away from the marriage, just like Hannah would suffer without her family—without me—out there in a foreign world.Now that I think about it, I was such a jerk.Because whatever happened back then, Elara had nothing to do with it. She never bullied Hannah, never made her life miserable. It was all lies that Hannah and her family made me believe. They all pretended in front of me as if Elara was some kind of villain who deserved every miserable thing that was happening to her.And I believed it too. I believed she didn’t
[Damon]When Elara enters the café, I can’t take my eyes off her.It’s hard to—almost like the first time I saw her at the school event. Her long, dark hair frames her face beautifully, and her eyes… they literally sparkle under the café's soft lights.I’m not done taking in every stunning feature of her when she reaches the table I reserved for us and stops.Jerking myself out of the stupor, I quickly rush to the other side and pull out the chair for her to sit.“Thank you for coming,” I say, glad that she didn’t lie just to dismiss me.I wonder if that means something—if what I’m doing is finally up to her expectations, and if things go smoothly from here on, she won’t be able to stay mad at me for long.I hurry back to my side and take a seat.“I already ordered an iced tea for you. It used to be your favourite, right?”She looks at me for a second and then shakes her head, smiling. “I hate cold beverages, Damon. Hannah was the one who liked iced tea or whatever.”My throat tighten
[Elara]When I wake up in the morning, I’m glad to see the other side of the bed empty.Though I feel a little…off too, as if something inside me is sad to know that he left without a word.But knowing myself, and our obvious circumstances, I quickly push that feeling to the back of my mind and focus on the day that’s already waiting for me.I jump out of bed, shower, and change first.Then I head to Cora’s room to see if she’s awake.She isn’t.So I pause and gently wake her up.“Good morning, love. Come on, get up. It’s already 8. Your aunt Nora will be here any moment now.”The mere mention of Nora is enough to get a rapid response out of my daughter. Her eyes open too fast, and she sits up even faster.“Oh, no. We had plans to see the science museum today. Mommy, I can’t be late. Please help me get ready.”I chuckle at her excitement and enthusiasm, nodding. “Of course. I have already prepared the water; all you have to do is take your bath. Until then, I’ll get your clothes ready
[Griffin]When I wake up the next morning, Elara is still asleep by my side.I reach across the bed and tuck a loose strand of her hair out of her face, wondering how long it will be before she admits that this thing between us has no expiration date.I know she thinks this is temporary. I know she thinks we have no future together.But that’s where she’s wrong.She is my future. My present. And my past.She has always been.The vibration of my phone pulls me away from my thoughts. I sit up straighter, grab my phone and my clothes, and head out of her room.Lucas’s name flashes on the screen.For a moment, I pause and wonder if he called to scold me as Elara’s elder brother.The man does have some serious protective instincts, and if not for his parents approving of my relationship with Elara, I wouldn’t be surprised if he punched me in the face and still expected me to apologise.Surprisingly, I’m relieved I’m not on his bad side.It would have been brutal to be at odds with someone
[Elara]Before letting me into the cell, Officer Bentley allows me to make two calls.One to Jazz, and the other to Gwen.While Jazz sounds calm and collected after hearing my situation, Gwen is full of frantic questions, fussing over me.If it were up to her, she would have taken another hour for
[Damon]I watch as she gets into the police car and drives away.For a long moment, I just stand there, staring into the darkness, fighting with a strong emotion that has never surfaced so fiercely before.I don’t know what’s happening. I can’t explain it.My head hurts, but my heart aches worse.Si
He turns to Damon. “I’m sorry, son, for not raising my daughter properly. This is… this is all my fault.” He pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head. “Elara has always been money-minded. She pretends she doesn’t care, but money is the only thing she’s ever cared about. Even as a child, s
[Griffin]When I was eight, my cousins dragged me out of my room and locked me in the basement. They called it a game—something meant to be fun, something to laugh about later.It wasn’t fun for me. Not even close.It felt like being trapped inside a horror movie, one I desperately wanted to end.I












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