PROLOGUE AND BLURB "How could you do this to me, mom?! Why does it have to be him? And why so soon?" I sobbed, my voice trembling with anger and disbelief. My mother sat calmly in her usual spot on the balcony, stitching clothes for the upcoming winter season. I couldn't understand why she was so focused on her mundane task while my world was falling apart. Her silence was unnerving as she focused on the cloth fabric and ignored me. As a result, I turned to my father, who was sitting beside her engrossed in his book, then, I shrieked, "Dad! How can you expect me to marry that man? Do something about it! It's ludicrous to think I would agree to marry someone whose family we don't even know and who you brought into our home out of the kindness of your heart--" "That is enough, Stefani Carter!" Summer Carter, my cold-hearted mother, thundered, making her point clear. "You can beg all you want, but you can't escape this marriage. You will marry him, whether you like it or not!" My mot
Stefani’s Point of View"Damn it! You don't get to dictate my life choices! You're just—""I'm your husband," he coldly interjected, pulled me back, and pushed me to the bed. "You're a married woman now, not some teenager. If you want to go out, do it while it's still daylight, not when it's already dark.""You can't control what I want to do with my life, Jacob Hansley!" I stood up from the bed once again, ready to confront him.But before I could make a move, he firmly grasped my arm and gave me a dangerous look. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, an anger passed though his eyes. "You're going out dressed like that?"I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his judgment on my outfit. I was wearing a white backless top and a knee-length skirt, nothing too revealing. Checking that there was nothing wrong with my choice of clothing, I met his intense gaze with a sneer. "And what's wrong with what I'm wearing?"He stared at me in disbelief, then slowly released his grip on my arm. Jus
Piolo Fitz, Stefani's ex-boyfriend was taken aback when he laid eyes on her, but her shock surpassed his own. Of all the places, this was the last one on her list where she expected to see him. After all, he had been a nerd during their college and high school days."Stefani..." Piolo called out, his voice trembling with nervousness. He was now completely transformed from his previous self. His eyeglasses had been replaced with brown contact lenses, his once neatly hair now styled into messy brown color, and his shy demeanor had been replaced with newfound confidence due to these changes."Paolo?" Stefani asked, seeking confirmation. "Is that really you?"His face turned red as she grabbed his shoulder and examined him closely. Behind this confident man, there was still a trace of the once nerdy boy who had fallen in love with this playful girl. However, he quickly adjusted his demeanor upon realizing this. To match her nature, he knew he had to change based on her preferences."Yea
"Mom, please! I can't live with that man. He is arrogant and tyrant. He doesn't allow me to do anything and it's suffocating me! I went to the bar a few days ago, but guess what he did?" Stefani complained."What?" Summer replied lazily, her focus on the clothes she was sewing, not even bothering to look at her daughter."He dragged me out of the bar and forced me to go home, and then he hired a bunch of bodyguards to watch over me and report everything I do. Didn't you see them?" Stefani pleaded, kneeling in front of her mother, looking pitiful. "Please, I don't want him. Let me divorce him. I can't take it anymore. He is so cruel—""Cruel?" Summer set the cloth down on her lap and looked down at her. "I know Jacob, and I know he wouldn't do that to you."Summer was well aware that despite Stefani's hatred towards Jacob, he would never mistreat her. Although he was reserved and distant, when it came to her children, he acted as a protective older brother. Therefore, she found it hard
‘Why is she here?’ Stefani asked herself as her eyes darted behind Jacob.Shaina and Shaira were her two cousins from her father's side. Shaina, the younger one, was always around, but Shaira, the older one, had been absent for five long years. So, when she spotted Shaina's car in the parking lot, she never expected to see Shaira there too. The sight of her cousin after all this time sent a wave of fear rushing through her heart.Shaira and Jacob had a history together. Stefani was just eighteen when they ended their relationship, and Shaira decided to leave New York and explore other countries. She completely cut off all ties and disappeared from their lives. That's why it was such a shock to see her standing there again.As Stefani watched Jacob release the grip he had on her and exited the elevator, she couldn't help but notice the shock on his face. It weighed heavily on her heart, making her wonder if he still had feelings for Shaira. After all, she had no clue why they had broke
Stefani was taken aback by Shaira’s words. She stared at her in shock, unable to move as she processed what had just been said. Meanwhile, Shaira eagerly awaited her response, knowing that she couldn’t refuse. Stefani and Shaira weren’t as close as Shaina, but they had a strong bond. However, Shaira often boasted about how well Jacob treated her, which sometimes made Stefani feel distant. This became one of the reasons she hated Jacob. She believed he was intentionally trying to make her feel insecure while treating her cousin well. She desperately wanted to divorce him, but now that she had a valid reason to remove him from her life, her heart suddenly felt heavy. She was at a loss for how to respond to Shaira. “Stefani, you know, Jacob used to be willing to cancel all our plans whenever you asked him to stay home. I must admit, I used to dislike it when you would suddenly request his presence on our dates...” Shaira’s smile grew as she reminisced about the past. “But now, seeing
Shaira's heart skipped a jealousy as she witnessed Jacob's possessive gesture, his hand firmly clasping Stefani's waist. In that moment, she realized that their bond had transcended mere siblinghood and evolved into something deeper and more profound. Something more...The upcoming days had Shaira filled with anticipation for Sunday. She had a plan in mind - to convince Jacob to stay the night. In order to make that happen, she needed to take action. Shaira grabbed her phone and dialed Stefani's number. After a few rings, Stefani answered the call."Shaira?" Stefani said, confirming her identity."Hey, Stefani! How have you been lately? I went to Aunt Summer's and Uncle Steven's villa, but they mentioned that you no longer live with them. I was wondering where you're staying now," Shaira asked cheerfully.Stefani, feeling a sense of panic on the other end of the line, didn't know how to respond. "Uh... why do you want to know?""What do you mean why? Wouldn't it be great if we could
Stefani's mind was in a state of chaos. She felt annoyed by Shaira's persistence, and as she contemplated her personality, she couldn't help but reflect on the movie she had just watched. In the story, there was a happy ending, but the female protagonist didn't receive the ending she deserved. Instead, the male lead ended up with the second female character. The reason behind this outcome was that the second female character consistently expressed her love for the male lead.... just like what Shaira was doing these past few days.Stefani shook her head and let out a sigh as she returned her phone to her bag. "There's no point in comparing, Stefani. You're not living in some romance novel, you fool!" she scolded herself.Stefani decided to visit her parents.Upon arriving at her parents' villa, she was greeted only by the maids and fortunately, the twins. She immediately sought out Betsy and asked, "Where is mom and dad?"Betsy, the cold and nerdy girl, simply shrugged her shoulder