How'd You

Eighteen-year-old Ayesha dreams of pursuing her education and building a life on her own terms. But when her traditional family arranges her marriage to Arman, the eldest son of a wealthy and influential family, her world is turned upside down. Stripped of her independence and into a household where she is treated as an outsider, Ayesha quickly learns that her worth is seen only in terms of what she can provide—not who she is. Arman, cold and distant, seems to care little for her struggles, and his family spares no opportunity to remind Ayesha of her "place." Despite their cruelty, she refuses to be crushed. With courage and determination, Ayesha begins to carve out her own identity, even in the face of hostility. As tensions rise and secrets within the household come to light, Ayesha is faced with a choice: remain trapped in a marriage that diminishes her, or fight for the freedom and self-respect she deserves. Along the way, she discovers that strength can be found in the most unexpected places—and that love, even in its most fragile form, can transform and heal. Why Me is a heart-wrenching story of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of standing up for oneself, set against the backdrop of tradition and societal expectations. is a poignant and powerful exploration of resilience, identity, and the battle for autonomy. Set against the backdrop of tradition and societal expectations, it is a moving story of finding hope, strength, and love in the darkest of times.But at the end she will find LOVE.

In the eighth year of helping Keith Hunter pay off his debts, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I tested the waters and asked him, half joking, "If I got cancer, would you save me?" He laughed, saying I was overthinking it. Then he added firmly, "If it ever came to that, I would sell my blood to pay for your treatment." I lay awake all night, tossing and turning, still feeling like I couldn't drag him down with me. Before taking a sleeping pill, a notification popped up on my phone about a social media post. [How do I dump an older woman who paid off my debts for eight years without too much drama?] The profile picture looked eerily like Keith's silhouette from behind. He wrote, [Eight years ago, my family went bankrupt. She stuck with me, living off dry toast and squeezing into a rented apartment. She helped me pay back over 600 thousand dollars in debt. [Back then, I thought she was innocent and cute. Now, I feel like she's just a materialistic woman putting on an act. [Last month, she even asked whether I would save her if she got cancer. How does someone even ask that? [Obviously, she was trying to get money out of me. Good thing I didn't tell her that my family recovered three years ago. [Now, my family has arranged a fiancée for me. She's the daughter of a publicly listed company. [I want to cut things off with my girlfriend, but I'm afraid she'll cling to me. After all, she wasted a lot of her youth on me.] By the time I finished reading, I had crushed the stomach cancer diagnosis in my hand into a wrinkled mess.

The classified project I was working on wrapped up ahead of schedule, so I made sure to get back on my daughter's birthday. When I walked in, a girl I had never seen before was wearing my daughter's princess dress, a crown perched on her head. She sat in front of a cake as tall as she was, eyes closed, making a wish. I frowned and stepped closer. "Who are you? Why are you wearing my daughter's dress? Where's Heidi?" Before she could answer, two housemaids rushed out and started yelling at me. "Where the hell did you come from? How dare you talk to our boss's daughter like that? If you know what's good for you, get out! When the boss gets back, you won't like what happens." I stood there, confused. Boss? The boss's daughter? In this house, wasn't it just me and my daughter, Heidi Foster? I barely had time to speak before they shoved me toward the front door. In the middle of the pushing, something caught my eye. Off to the side, chained to a pillar, was Heidi. The girl I used to hold like she was the most precious thing in the world was now sprawled on the ground, digging through a dog bowl for food. A thick iron chain was locked around her neck, and her body was covered in bruises. My vision tightened. "Heidi, what happened to you?" The moment our eyes met, her hollow gaze filled with tears. She shrank back, then let out a soft bark at me, like a frightened dog. The maids looked at her with open disgust. One of them sneered, "Our boss said that that little thing was born to live like a dog. You have to keep her chained up if you want her to behave."

Talking to a stranger can really be scary. I know that and I'm also aware of the consequence of doing that. But, I felt like its different than the stories that I heard. There's no fear or uncertainty while I am being lulled to comfort by someone.

When the names for the overseas study placements were announced, my boyfriend's childhood sweetheart Jenna Lane grabbed me in front of the entire class and refused to let go. Her eyes were red as she said, "Ruby, who do you think you are? How could someone with that worthless brain of yours have scored higher than me without finding out the exam questions beforehand? Two years ago, you stole my boyfriend. And now, you've stolen my spot for studying overseas too? You're nothing but trash!" Faced with her accusations, I instinctively shook my head in denial. With tears in her eyes, she continued indignantly. "A thief would never admit to being one! I have irrefutable proof that you cheated! Trash like you thinks she deserves to go abroad? Don't go overseas and disgrace our country!" My boyfriend Fred White stood behind Jenna with a dark expression. "No wonder you said you would definitely rank first on exam day. To think you would do something this despicable... Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting! Give the placement back to Jenna right now!" The entire class and our teachers watched coldly, condemning me for academic misconduct. "I knew she wasn't a good person from the very beginning..." "She stole someone's boyfriend and then the placement? She's rotten to the core!" "Trash like her should be expelled!" I stood there, finding the entire situation utterly absurd. I did what now? How could someone who had never even entered the examination room have cheated?

Abigail Kinsington has lived a shelter life, stuck under the thumb of her domineering and abusive father. When his shady business dealings land him in trouble, some employees seeking retribution kidnap her as a punishment for her father. But while being held captive, she begins to fall for one of her captors, a misunderstood guy who found himself in over his head after going along with the crazy scheme of a co-worker. She falls head over heels for him. When she is rescued, she is sent back to her father and he is sent to jail. She thinks she has found a friend in a sympathetic police officer, who understands her. But when he tries turns on her, she wonders how real their connection is? Trapped in a dangerous love triangle between her kidnapper and her rescuer, Abby is more confused than she has ever been. Will she get out from under her father's tyrannical rule? Will she get to be with the man she loves? Does she even know which one that is? Danger, deception and dark obsession turn her dull life into a high stakes game of cat and mouse. Will she survive?