Sophia Lancaster has spent years hiding her true identity, seeking love that sees her for who she truly is, not for her family's wealth. After a devastating betrayal by her fiancé, Ethan, she impulsively accepts a marriage proposal from a powerful stranger, Alexander Reid. What begins as a vengeful arrangement quickly turns into a dangerous game of attraction, power, and secrets. As their contract nears its end, both Sophia and Alexander must decide if they would continue playing games, or will they embrace the unexpected love that’s grown between them?
Lihat lebih banyak"You Gold digging low life! Are you still sleeping at this time of day?" Mrs Carter's voice boomed in my ears as she whipped off the little blanket that barely covered my body.
Sitting up in a sleepy mood, I rubbed my eyes with my palm before opening them to take in her furious face, the wrinkled arch on her forehead very visible. "Good morning, Mother." I greeted politely disregarding her initial insult
"I am not your mother, you silly girl. Will you not go to work? Or are you waiting for my Son to provide for your lazy ass?" she asked folding her arms beneath her breasts
"I won't be going to work today; tomorrow's Valentine's Day ma Ethan and I have plans," I said letting a small smile creep up my face at the thought of spending tomorrow with the love of my life, but the thought was cut short by a croaked laughter
"You think my son will spend his hard-earned money on you all for Valentine's Day? You must be delusional"
I smiled and then said, "Mother, is there something you would like me to do? I have an errand to run for Ethan by noon."
"Make me coffee, no sugar, just black and bring it to my room, since you won't be going to work, why not include taking care of the house today, so you'd be useful and pay back my son for being a freeloader." with that she sighed and walked off
"If only she knew." I smiled harder before getting out of bed.
The joy in my heart had no rival. I picked up my phone and played my favorite music, "Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sharan". Humming and twilling to the song as I hit the showers
The moment the waters dropped on my body I couldn't help but fantasize about the life that waited for me, my father's voice screamed in my head.
"You have three years, Sophia, three years to finish this stupid fantasy of yours and return with the man, or you will be forced to marry Alex."
I smiled sheepishly as I imagined the look on my father's face when he saw me home with Ethan in two weeks.
Putting on a floral knee-length, Sleeveless dress, I pulled my hair in a pony, and with one last look in the mirror, I blew myself a passionate kiss and laughed hard before turning to my heels.
Serving Mrs Carter the Coffee she demanded she kept throwing me suspicious looks and as I was about to leave her voice stopped me in my tracks
"Why do you look overly happy today?"
I turned, smiling harder with my set of white dental,l outside as if on display. "What do you mean, mother? I'm always happy you know?" I said
She gave me a suspicious look before going ahead to size me up, and then, with a wave of the hand, she dismissed me.
Mrs Carter had never liked me, but she tolerated me for the sake of Ethan. Once out of the house I stood at the gate and called Bruce
"Hello, Ms Lancaster." Uncle Bruce, our Butler spoke immediately he answered the call
"I need a ride into town; I'm at Ethan's place; meet me at the canteen near the house."
"At your service ma'am," the line went dead.
***
"Hello Ma, Welcome to RJ Jewelry Stores, how may we help you," the cashier said smiling at me
"I want one of your most expensive Diamond rings for my fiancée," I announced
"Follow me Ms, we have the best you can find in the entire New York"
I followed her without hesitation. Ethan deserved the best, and I would not hesitate to offer him the very best.
After hours of going through the selections the sales rep had made, I finally picked the best and finest of them all, an elegant 8.5-carat green diamond,
As the Sales rep went on to package it as she requested, Bruce, an elderly-looking man with white hair, walked up to her and cleared his throat.
"Uncle Bruce, say what's in your mind, I know you have something to say," I said turning to him with a small smile on my face
"Ms Lancaster, are you sure of this? Shouldn't he be the one engaging you?" he asked with a concerned look etched across his face.
"Uncle Bruce, Ethan loves me; I have witnessed it. He wants to propose, but he doesn't have enough money for the kind of ring he wants."
"Here's your gift, ma; let's head to the registry for payment," the sales rep interrupted.
After payment and we returned to the car, Uncle Bruce asked, "Where to?"
"Ethan's workplace."
The ride there was a haze, all I had in my head was just his expression when he saw this and the line I plan on using
"Ethan, you have been the best thing that has happened to me in three years; you have loved me regardless of who I was, and now I want to spend the rest of my life with you! Ethan Carter would you be the man of my dreams for life, marry me"
I had repeated this line for almost a month now, but it still sounded so cocky to me but I loved him enough to be Cocky beside him.
I didn't know when we got there, but all I knew was Uncle Bruce staring at me, saying, "We are here."
I looked around, and indeed, we were here Reid Industries. I had used my influence to get him a job as a Finance head in Reid Industries. But he didn't know.
Mustering up courage, I got into the building clutching the gift bag, which contained the diamond ring box, a flight ticket to Maldives, and reservations at Lancaster Hotels and Suites.
Greeting the receptionist who had always been friendly with me all these while and walking by, the elevator ride was so quiet, building up the nerves I had thought I had gotten rid of, the elevator kept stopping at floors and picking up people.
Finally, I was on his office floor. As I walked in, the employees greeted me heartily as I was more of a regular visitor, and they knew I was dating Ethan Carter. When I stopped by his assistant's desk she wasn't there.
"Where could Valerie be at this time?" I thought briefly but brushed it off and headed on, getting to his door I stopped inhaled, and exhaled before finally pushing the door handle and walking into the office
"Surp....." the sound died in my throat as before my eyes were Ethan and his assistant Valerie in each other's arms, kissing and canoodling.
In that instance, the gift box slipped off my hands slapping softly on the floor but enough to gain their attention
"Sophia?" Ethan said as shock spread across his face while Valerie still sat on his lap looking down as if scared to meet my gaze
"Sophia... I can..." I didn't wait to hear him; the only thing my insides screamed was to run! And I obeyed, picking up the gift
bag, I turned and bolted
This was a horrible nightmare; maybe if I ran, I'd wake up from it.
I knew better than to stand and exchange words with Ariel. A couple of years back, I wish I had followed my instinct. I had always suspected her to be jealous of me. But what I never knew was that she’d go as far as harming my father? To what extent?Just to take revenge because of something someone told you, and you didn’t deem it fit to confirm if it was true or not?“So you think my father was responsible for the death of your parents?” “Yes. And I’ll stop at nothing to make him pay back. I’ve always waited for this day,” Ariel replied, a mocking smile plastered to her face.“And by the time I’m done with him, he’d wish he never killed my parents,” she added before walking away, even before I could say any more words.Words failed me as I blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall out of my eyes. My father was one of the mafia in the country, and I find it very surprising that I knew nothing about it till now.“My life is messed up,” I whispered, before dashing out of
As soon as Sophia left, I signaled the guards to pave the way for me.Luckily for me, the guard whom she had used to prevent anyone from seeing the doctor who was to operate was someone I knew. I wasted no time in letting the guard know that no one was allowed until I was done talking to the doctor.I made my way to the ward where the nurse had directed me, and finally, I was in the ward to see the man Ariel had lied about, saying he was being operated on.“He went into a coma after the accident,” the doctor answered, adjusting his drip.“So, do you think he’s going to wake up?” I asked, trying to make sure nothing happened to him.“Yes,” the doctor replied with a nod, sounding somehow uncertain.“But, it might take a very long time,” The doctor replied, asking me to come with him.“How safe is he?” I asked, staring at the doctor.“We don’t allow anyone into the hospital. The securities are tight here.” The doctor assured me.“I think I still want some of my guards to be here, though
I looked behind me to see who it was, but I was surprised to see Ariel walking towards us majestically.With the whole reporters and nurses watching us carefully, I knew we weren’t supposed to throw tantrums.But right now, I cannot promise that. Alexander held my hand tighter, as I shivered in anger.“What gives you the right to tell the doctor not to allow me to see my father, Ariel?” I started in whispers, my voice inaudible for people to hear.I never believed a day would come when I would have to stand in front of my friend and do this. This is still coming from a place of shock, because I’m yet to believe that my friend would betray me.First, she dated my father without my consent, and now she is with Sean?That criminal fucking mafia guy whose family disowned for the underworld?“He’s in the theatre room. Undergoing his operation. So I ordered that no one sees him till they are done,” Ariel answered with her hand folded across her chest.“Right,” I heaved a sigh. “We’ll wait
By the time I opened my eyes, I felt dizzy and weak. My whole body ached, and I just lay there, staring up at the blank ceiling. Then I heard the door creak open. Alexander stepped in, followed by a maid holding a cup of tea.“Are you awake?” He asked, signaling to hand the tray to him.“You can leave,” he commanded.Just after the maid left, he came closer, helping me up so I could rest my back on the pillows, which he tucked behind me.“How are you feeling?” He asked, but I wouldn’t even answer. My reputation has been ruined, and revenge doesn’t even matter to me anymore.I’m sure wherever Ethan is right now, he’d be happy that such a thing befell me. “I asked the maid to make a cup of tea for you to help with the hangover,” He said, staring at it with a teaspoon“I don’t need it. I can take care of myself, Alexander Reid.”“I love it when you call my name in full, Mrs. Reid.”“Don’t call me that. You need to know this marriage ain’t real. And it’s going to end as soon as the con
The buzzing of my phone has jolted me out of my slumber. Judging by how dark the room was, I was certain it had just finished drizzling.Just then, I scoffed upon seeing who the caller was. It was no one but the betrayal.“Marcus,”“Boss, I think you need to see what is–”“I’ve curbed it, Marcus. Is there something else you want to tell me?” I questioned softly.Hoping he might say something that might interest me. Something that may warrant my forgiving him.“Nothing,” he answered before heaving a sigh.“If that’s all, then…”“Boss,” Marcus called again, causing me to pause.My patience was getting out of control, and I was praying I did not flare up.Right now, I must act along so he won’t even notice the slightest change in me.“Anything else?”“I’ll resume back to work tomorrow. Thanks for everything,” he replied.I clenched my fist in anger, my eyes rolling to the back of my head as I heaved a sigh. “You are welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”With that, the call ended. Staring
My legs went numb almost immediately. My body quivered as I shivered in fear.This can’t be possible? My father can never be one of them. I need to hear this from him directly.“You are lying, ain’t you?” I seethed with a clenched fist.“And why would I lie about something like that, huh?” Alex ran his hands through his hair.Even though he looked sincere enough, I still didn’t believe him. Or maybe I just don’t want to.“I don’t know. I mean…I–” I took a pause, before sinking into one of the chairs nearby.My eyes darted from one end to another. This is not just right. My father will never be involved in scandalous things like that. And he wouldn’t have placed my life on the line.“I need to see my father,” I muttered, panting heavily as I reached for my iPhone to dial Ariel’s number.Just then, I paused. Staring at her number, I reconsidered and stood on my feet.“I need to see my father,” I said, making my way to the door.“You cannot go out there alone, it’s dangerous. You need t
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Komen