In a world where love's course is never predictable, Anastasia Perry's life took a dramatic turn on her wedding day. Upon discovering her groom, Matthew Smith had been cheating on her through a video. She made a heart-wrenching decision: to run away, leaving her own wedding in chaos. Now, two years later, Anastasia returns. Anastasia is now married to Matthew's uncle, Harry Smith. Her unexpected reappearance rocks Matthew's world. Harry and Anastasia are involved in a secret contract marriage in order to save his inheritance. The question lingers: Can Anastasia prevent herself from falling for Matthew all over again? As Harry finds himself falling for Anastasia, can he convince her to make their one-year contract permanent? Will Matthew's secret plans to destroy his uncle succeed? With emotions running high and a web of complicated choices to navigate, their story unfolds in a captivating dance of secrets, forgiveness, redemption, and the ultimate question: Can love truly conquer all?
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My makeup artist had just finished my makeup, and very soon, I would be walking down the aisle. It all seemed like a dream, Matthew Smith would be my husband. I couldn't believe I would be marrying the most eligible bachelor. I just couldn't contain my joy as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. My engagement to Matthew had been on gossip blogs and magazines. It was a very romantic engagement.We had attended the Super Bowl together, and just as the halftime started, the camera landed on us, and I turned to Matthew, and there he was with a beautiful diamond ring. I accepted it with a continuous "yes." I had come into my hotel room to speak with Matthew. "In an hour, you'll be mine," Matthew had said, and I just couldn't wait.After talking to Matthew on the phone, I sprawled out on the bed and fantasised about our honeymoon. Images of us making love on the beach sent shivers down my spine, I was going to make sweet love to Matthew, and I just couldn't wait for the wedding to be over. My head was still in the cloud when my phone beeped, signalling an incoming message.It was a multi-media message from an unknown number. The message was short,For Your Eyes OnlyAfter the message was a video file. I opened it out of curiosity, and what I saw drew air out of my lungs. Matthew was on top of another woman. I recognized his bedroom because I had been there countless times. it wasn't an old video because I bought him the shirt he had on as a Valentine's gift.I couldn't stop looking. Tears formed in my eyes, blurring my vision. I saw my fiancé take off another woman's bra. I kept watching, and I couldn't tear my eyes away. I watched him feast on her breast, and then the video ended.I started sweating profusely, sweat dripping down my face and ruining my makeup.As I stared at myself in the mirror, I knew the wedding was over even before it had begun. The beautiful lace wedding dress, covered in tiny beads and crystals, felt incredibly heavy on me. How could things change so fast? "How could it have all been a lie?" I whispered, the words hanging in the empty air.I had loved him with all my heart, "where did I go wrong ?"I asked myself."How could he be cheating on me and still want to marry me, ", I asked myself.I wished it was on an old video if only it happened before we started dating, but I knew it wasn't an old video. Matthew was indeed a cheat.I laid down on the beautiful, luxurious bed, and the fancy hotel suite felt like it was closing in on me. Laughter and music from the next room, where my bridesmaids were celebrating, just annoyed me. I was supposed to be the bride, but here I was, alone, drowning in a sea of confusing feelings. Tears streamed down my face, ruining my carefully done makeup.Just a little while ago, I was excited to become Mrs. Anastasia Matthew Smith. Matthew had always been the one, the guy who I loved completely. I had built all my romantic dreams around him. But now, doubt and despair had taken over, replacing the happy excitement I'd felt earlier. I walked over to the bed, and the long train of the wedding dress was trailing behind me, feeling heavier with every step. I knew what I had to do. I removed the lace at the back of the dress one after the other, and I let it fall to the floor like old skin.I stepped out of the fancy wedding dress and threw on a pair of blue Palazzo pants and a crop top I had worn the night before. The sparkly Cinderella shoes were replaced by flat shoes that I could actually walk in. Grabbing my purse, I threw my phone into it and my belongings that were on the nightstand. I marched towards the door that connected to the room where the bridesmaids were."Anastasia!" Britney yelled, surprised when she saw me without the wedding dress.Britney Samuel was my best friend, but at this time, I couldn't listen to her, I had to go; I just had to leave town.There was no way I could continue with the wedding. Not after knowing he had been cheating on me.The other bridesmaids rushed in, their fancy dresses not really made for running."Anastasia, wait! What's going on?" they pleaded, but I kept going, the gap between us getting bigger as I raced towards the hotel exit.Outside, paparazzi were everywhere, taking pictures of me running away for the whole world to see.About an hour later I was out of my house, my suitcases were in my trunk, as I drove to the airport.While I waited for my flight, my phone started ringing. The calls started coming in. Matthew called several times, he sent messages, and my mother called too; but I didn't respond.Natasha, my sister, called countless times, but I didn't want anyone to stop me or talk me out of leaving. Then, the updates on social media started. I watched my life implode right in front of me. But there was no going back. I had to get away from Matthew Smith. I waited at the airport waiting area, hoping no one would spot me until I was gone.Anastasia sat on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling as she scrolled through her phone. The images of Harry and Camille were everywhere. Pictures of them coming out of a restaurant. Anastasia could not help but see how Harry held the beautiful actress. Anastasia felt sick to her stomach. Her heart pounded against her ribs. The pain was physical, a sharp stab that made it hard to breathe. " No, this can’t be real," Anastasia kept muttering to herself as she struggled to breathe. She had spoken to Harry just last night. He had told her he was busy and had an early meeting. And yet, here he was, on the front page of every gossip blog, wrapped up in another woman. Tears blurred her vision, and her body got weaker. The phone slipped from her fingers, crashing onto the marble floor. A wave of dizziness hit her like a storm, and before she could even cry out, the darkness consumed her. Miriam, one of the domestic staff, knocked lightly on Anastasia’s bedroom door. "Madam, y
Anastasia stretched lazily under the soft sheets, her body still heavy from exhaustion. The previous night had been a blur of discussions, strategy, and whispered theories with Natasha. They had spent hours poring over security footage, trying to make sense of who could have betrayed her. She had hoped to speak to Harry—to hear his voice, to feel some semblance of reassurance. But he hadn’t come home. She had waited. And waited. At some point, her eyes had grown heavy, and sleep had claimed her before she could hear the sound of his footsteps in the hallway. With a sigh, Anastasia pushed herself up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She stripped off her lilac-coloured nightwear and stood before the full-length mirror. The reflection staring back at her was different. Her waist was still trim, but her breasts—fuller than before—hinted at the new life growing inside her. A slow smile curled her lips. She was going to be a mother. Excitement coursed through her veins, but it w
The restaurant was dimly lit, the soft flicker of candlelight casting golden hues across Camille’s face as she sipped her wine, her gaze locked onto Harry. The tension between them was thick, like a velvet rope pulling them together. Harry, slightly tipsy, leaned back in his chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. He was fully aware of Camille’s game—she had always been a master of flirtation, using her beauty and charm like a finely honed weapon. “You’ve done a good job staying out of my reach,” Camille murmured, setting her glass down as she leaned in, her voice was as soft as silk. “Even when you know how much I’ve been dying to have you.” Harry smirked, shaking his head. “Camille, we’ve never seemed to be single at the same time.” Camille let out a soft, sultry laugh, her eyes gleaming as they travelled over him with deliberate slowness. “Oh, Harry…” she purred, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “You’re being coy. That’s not the real reason.” Harry arched
Anastasia sat on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her as she absently scrolled through her phone. She wasn’t reading anything—her mind was too clouded to focus. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the screen, the only sound in the vast, quiet living room. The clock on the wall ticked away, marking each second that passed as she waited for her sister, Natasha, to arrive. Anastasia had called her the moment Harry stormed off, demanding answers she didn’t have. How had Matthew heard about the divorce? The only two people she had confided in were Natasha and Britney, and she trusted them both with her life. Her chest tightened as she replayed Harry’s furious words in her mind. "Why did you tell your lover that we were getting a divorce?" Matthew. The man who had used her over and over again. There is no way she would have betrayed Harry like that. But somehow, he knew and that was what Anastasia was confused about. How did he know? A car door slammed outside, pulling her
Anastasia paced the length of her living room, her fingers gripping her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, and her heart pounded in her chest as the moment Harry had walked out replayed in her head. She had rushed up to him the second she heard his bedroom door open, desperate to speak to him, to explain, to beg—but he had walked past her as if she didn’t exist. No glance, no words, not even the flicker of an emotion in his eyes. She had watched from the window as he got into his car and drove away, leaving her standing there, crushed, shattered, and abandoned. Tears blurred her vision as she dialled Natasha's number. The call barely rang twice before Natasha picked up. “Anastasia?” Natasha’s voice came through the speaker, filled with concern. Anastasia couldn’t even respond—only a choked sob escaped her lips. “Stasia, talk to me. What’s wrong?” More sobs. “Anastasia! What is going on?” Natasha’s voice was sha
Anastasia lay still, her body wrapped in the soft glow of the bedside lamp. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioner. Her chest rose and fell with each deep breath, but she didn’t say a word. Harry shifted uncomfortably, his arm draped loosely over her waist as he studied her face. She stared at him, her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. “Anastasia,” he began, his voice trembling, “I need you to know… I love you.” Her expression didn’t change, and her gaze was still fixed on him. Harry’s heart ached at her lack of response. He shifted to sit on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his dishevelled hair. “I know i have already professed my love for you,” he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. “And I promised to wait. But my heart yearns for you, " he paused, swallowing hard—"I thought tonight meant something. But if it doesn’t, I understand.” Anastasia turned her head away
When Anastasia had gotten home, she got into the sitting room and sank into a chair. She was pleased that Harry wasn't there; she couldn't face him, not with her tear-streaked face. Anyone with eyes could easily tell that Anastasia had been crying. Her eyes were red and swollen. She rang for a maid, and one appeared. Anastasia asked for a bottle of wine. Shortly after, the maid came back with a tray. On it was a very expensive wine And a glass. Anastasia poured herself some and gulped it down. On the second glass, the alcohol had started kicking. She took two more glasses, and soon after, she started feeling numb to all the pain she had been feeling. By the time Anastasia got to her feet, she was tipsy. In the twilight of the evening, Anastasia walked into the bedroom, her eyes meeting Harry's in the soft glow of the bedside lamp. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Harry rose to his feet, his eyes reflecting a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. "I really needed to
"Matthew is a woman's man. Women love him, and he loves women. The lady in the video with him just happens to be one of his many flings, "Caroline said. Hearing the words spoken to her about a man she worshipped and adored felt like a knife was continually being plunged into her heart. Anastasia held her sister's hand a little tighter; Natasha, sensing her sister's pain, turned to her, "Would you like her to stop? You don't have to listen to this if you don't want to, "Natasha whispered to her sister. No,” Anastasia said, her voice steady despite the storm raging within. “Continue.” "Okay," Caroline said and continued, "Like I said earlier, another woman had walked into the two of them and made quite a scene. Coral is the name of the lady in the video. I was able to find her, and she was very open about her relationship with Matthew. " The two sisters listened intently, and Caroline divulged more of the information she was able to get from Coral. "She assured me that s
After her talk with Harry's mom, Anastasia had resolved to look deeper into her relationship with Matthew. When Paris had told her how she had found out from a friend that her best friend had drugged her fiancé and made it look like they had sex. Anastasia had also hoped that she would find out that truly the video was fabricated. When Natasha suggested employing the services of the private investigator she had used to investigate her husband, Anastasia reluctantly agreed, hoping Matthew would be vindicated. She clung to the belief that the video showing him with another woman was fabricated, as Matthew had insisted. While she waited with Natasha for the PI, Anastasia found herself replaying every beautiful moment she had shared with Matthew. She remembered how he had proposed, his eyes filled with love, and how he whispered, "I can't wait to marry you." His eagerness had been so contagious that they had rushed into a short engagement. Could the man who once seemed so perfec
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