LOGINSophia Lin’s dream of independence and accomplishment become abolished when she is forced into an arranged marriage with Ethan Gray, a cold hearted millionaire and the founder of DaeVille. An action taken by her husband, Ethan Gray, prompts Sophia to take a step and break free from her bondage. Her road to independence leads her to Alexander Dolan, an handsome billionaire who happens to be Ethan’s business rival and Sophia’s secondary school mate. What started as a partnership quickly escalates into a romantic attachment. But Ethan is possessive, he wouldn’t lose what is his to anyone, much less Alexander. The choice falls on Sophia. With Ethan having a bonding leverage on her, Sophia is torn between following her heart while leaving a broken home in her wake or saving a marriage that could ruin her future.
View More"Bri? It's Ethan. He's cheated again." Her friend's voice came through.
This wasn't the first time it was happening. Brielle sat still on the couch, surrounded by silence and loneliness, and her only source of light was the candles on the table. "It's all over the news this time around, Bri. Are you sure you still want to be with him? With a man that humiliates and disrespects you every damn time?" The frustration in her friend's voice was evident. With trembling hands, Brielle took her phone away from her ear to stare at the breaking news, and just as Luna had mentioned, the headlines were all about her husband. "BILLIONAIRE CEO KISSES YOUNG MODEL ON BROOKLYN STREET- LOVE IS IN THE AIR BETWEEN ETHAN RAYNE AND REINA FALLON." The picture was vivid..too vivid. Her husband, whom she had been married to for two years, was locked in a heated kiss with a younger woman whom she had never seen before, at least not before now. Their pictures were on every page, and they were even named the couple of the year. Ethan's smile was bright and mischievous. His six foot two self was dressed in a designer tuxedo as if he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Ethan was the kind of man whose presence could silence a room, and it didn't help that he had the looks of a Greek God mixed with a model. With his tousled hair and sharp jawline that made women adore him and beg for his attention. He had a reputation for parading different women, as none of them ever lasted by his side for a week. If only they knew he had a wife… Brielle ended the call and stared at the pictures one more time before releasing a long sigh. She didn't cry. She only turned to the elegant table she had spent all day setting and stared in silence- the burning candles, the food untouched, the bouquet of roses she had carefully arranged. All for their wedding anniversary. She wondered how her marriage had gotten here. Sure, he didn't love her as much as she loved him. The least she expected him to do was show no disrespect while they were still married. She had spent the entire two years of her marriage being woken up to news like this about her husband, and over time, she had grown a thick skin. But, for how long was she going to remain like this? For how long was she going to sit and wait while he slept with every woman he found out there? A sudden knock cut through the silence, bringing her back from her daze. Brielle rose and walked carefully to the door. She opened it and was immediately met by the pungent stench of perfume and alcohol. The woman from the photo, Reina Fallon, stood before her, her hair disheveled, her lipstick smeared, and her cheeks reddened. Her dress was a little too tight for Brielle, but she shut her mouth. Behind her was her husband, Ethan, who could barely stand straight. His hair was just as disheveled as the woman's, and his shirt was missing some buttons. "You must be the wife," Reina said smugly, mockery evident. "Sorry to bother you this late." She said with an exaggerated sweetness. "Ethan drank too much at my house, so I figured I should bring him home…to his wife." She said the last three words with a smirk dancing on her lips. "I couldn't just leave him at my place even though I know it would be what he wants. I just felt it would be best for him to spend the night with his wife." She said, widening her smile at Brielle and feigning innocence. Brielle didn't flick at her words. This wasn't the first time she had witnessed such a scene. The only thing that was new this time around was the woman. If only she knew that she was just one of Ethan's playthings. Brielle felt bad for her- she really did. She was bragging shamelessly about a man who wasn't hers and would leave her the second he found someone more interesting. But Brielle was in no place to judge. Not when she was the biggest fool for waiting every single time. Now, she wasn't shaken by his affairs, just disappointed. "You must be tired," Brielle said a little too calmly for the woman. "Thank you for bringing my husband back home. I'll have a driver leave with you to make up for the stress." She added and turned to her husband, her face void of any expression. As soon as they were about to step in, Ethan staggered forward and collapsed into Brielle's arm, almost knocking her off her feet with his body weight. His breath reeked of whisky; it made her gag. "Sorry, darling. I just cheated on you again," he mumbled into her neck with a charming smile that women would kill for. "It's alright, Ethan. I don't mind." Brielle answered in a calm voice. "I know you are the best." Ethan nuzzled her neck, and Reina's eyes widened. Reina blinked, clearly caught off guard by her reaction. That wasn't the normal reaction women gave when they found their husbands with another woman. She was expecting some tears, maybe yelling, screaming, or even a fight, but…this was definitely not what she expected. "Thank you once again. I'll take it from here." Brielle finished and threw the woman one final look. The moment the doors closed, Ethan didn't look drunk at all. He stood up straight, his eyes scanning the dining table. "What is all this for?" He asked in a scoff. Brielle took a deep breath, finally meeting his gaze with determination. "I want a divorce."Ethan raised his head the moment she entered, waited till she shut the door behind her before returning back to what he was doing.In his hands was a bottle of wine, dusty by the looks of it. He took a piece of cloth from beside him, using it to wipe it till it looked neat. It was an old wine. A very old wine.He looked up to find Sophia standing by the closed door. She didn't exactly know what to do. She scratched the back of her hair nervously. It wasn't until she finally decided to go to her wardrobe that he stopped her."Wait." Ethan said, stopping her in her tracks. She had stopped so suddenly it almost made him smile.He dropped the piece of clothes in his hand and stood up, the bottle still in his other hand.He walked up to her and stopped a few feet from her."They call this... Château Margaux 1900,” Ethan said, his voice softer than usual. Really soft.Sophia blinked at the label he gently revealed. The bottle was dark green, nearly black with age, and the once-white label
It was much later than expected when Sophia finally left the hospital. She had lingered, dreading the inevitable goodbye—not just to her father, but to the warmth of her mother’s stern but steady presence, and Abdul’s comforting silence.Saying goodbye had never felt so heavy.Abdul had been reluctant to let her go, standing by the hospital exit like a human anchor, but her mother had been quick to step in with a sharp reminder.“She’s married now. She has responsibilities as a wife, Abdul. She doesn’t get to slack on them.”Sophia had nodded dutifully, even though her heart still felt stuck in that room beside her father’s hospital bed.The taxi ride home was quiet. The driver didn’t speak, and she was thankful for it. Her thoughts were loud enough. She stared blankly out the window, trying not to think of how different life might be soon. Her father's raspy voice still echoed in her head, along with every single “what if” she was trying to ignore.When the car pulled up in front of
Sophia stepped into the dimly lit hospital room, her heart lodging itself somewhere in her throat. The soft mechanical beeping of the monitor was the first thing she noticed—steady, rhythmic, but fragile. Her gaze fell to the bed, and that was when her breath hitched.There he was—her father.He looked nothing like the man she grew up admiring. His strong arms, once so sure and steady, now lay limp at his sides, pierced with IV needles. Tubes ran across his body, connected to machines meant to keep him going. An oxygen mask covered his face, misting slightly with each strained breath he took.Sophia’s hand flew to her mouth to muffle the sob threatening to escape. Her knees buckled slightly beneath her, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse.Abdul didn’t try to hide his tears. They rolled freely down his cheeks as he sniffled and stepped toward the bed. The sight before them was simply too much.Sophia steadied herself and moved closer, dragging a chair from the corner of t
The cab driver must have sensed the urgency of the situation, because he sped through the streets like a man possessed. Sophia was almost certain he broke more than a few traffic laws along the way — but she didn’t care. Not tonight. Tonight, nothing mattered except seeing her father.The moment the cab screeched to a halt outside the hospital, Sophia shoved a wad of cash into the driver’s hand without bothering to count it. It was probably less than he asked for, but she couldn't bring herself to care. Without waiting for her change — or even a thank you — she flung the door open and sprinted into the hospital, nearly colliding with a nurse carrying a clipboard.“Sorry!” she gasped, barely slowing down.Her heart hammered in her chest as she scanned the halls, searching for familiar faces. It didn’t take long. Just down the corridor, she spotted her mother and Abdul standing outside a room.The sight of them froze her mid-stride.Sophia had never seen her mother looking anything less
"Oh, my dear. Oh, my God. Look at what he did to you," Carla whispered, rushing to Sophia’s side with tears brimming in her eyes. She crouched beside her, hesitating for just a second before cupping Sophia’s tear-streaked face in her hands. "I knew he was brutal and cold—but not to this extent. Thi
Sophia stared at the phone in her hand, her mother’s words still ringing in her ears. 'Get rid of that thought.'Why did her mother have to make her feel...wrong?Why did she have to do everyone's heart desire while she ignored hers?Why did she have to obey and behave like a puppy?'Get rid of t
"So… I heard something interesting, yeah? Figured I'd try it out on you."Alex’s voice held a mischievous edge as he lazily licked the side of his hand where his ice cream had dripped. He had already devoured the vanilla scoop and was about to dig into the chocolate layer.Sophia arched a brow but
Sophia swallowed hard, her mind racing for an answer that wouldn't ignite his temper. But she didn't get the chance to speak. Ethan rose from the chair in one fluid motion, the muscles in his shoulders tensing as he closed the distance between them. "You didn't answer my question," he murmured, r
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