Before We Get Married Novels & Stories

By day, Annabel Walter is just another junior concierge at the prestigious Valenrose Suites—smart, quiet, and invisible. To the world, Jake Daniel is the cold, commanding CEO of the luxury hotel empire. Ruthless in the boardroom, unreadable in public, and untouchable to everyone… except her. But behind closed doors, he’s not just her boss—he’s her secret husband. Married in Paris under the stars, their love was supposed to be private, sacred, and temporary. A promise made when they had nothing but time and hope. But two years later, Annabel is still hiding in the shadows, pretending to be a stranger to the man she shares a bed with. In public, he’s terrifying. At home, he’s her clingy baby boy, obsessed with cuddles, jealous of attention, and desperate to be seen—by her, and eventually, by the world. But secrets don’t stay buried forever. As tensions rise at the hotel, scandals brew, and coworkers start to whisper, Annabel is forced to ask: How much longer can love survive in the dark? And what happens when the cold CEO everyone fears decides he’s done hiding his soft side? A romantic, steamy, and emotional tale of hidden love, power games, and the sweetest kind of duality—where the man feared by many is secretly ruled by the woman he calls his home.

I cooked an entire dinner spread to celebrate the day I was supposed to marry my girlfriend. Then, I called her to ask when she would be home. However, I heard her jeering about me with her friends the moment the call connected. "Lydia, Owen is way too easy to fool. That fake marriage certificate didn't even have an official seal, and he still bought it, believing he was your husband. We wouldn't have had to pretend to work at the City Hall if you and Trevor hadn't already gotten the real one." Lydia let out a careless, mocking chuckle. "Husband? Please. He's just a desperate fool who follows me around like a lovesick puppy. The only he's good for is being my free live-in maid. Trevor and I grew up together. He's the one who's always mattered most to me." My fingers tightened around the fake certificate as tears blurred my vision. I had loved her with everything I had for five whole years. Yet, my devotion meant nothing to her. I had never even been considered as a candidate as her future husband. I had only been free help. The woman I had wanted to spend my life with had never loved me at all. Fine. I called my childhood friend instead. "Are you free? Let's go get married."

My boyfriend and I had been together for eight years. We were already discussing marriage when Robbie suddenly asked me to wait a little longer. He said he needed to hold a grand wedding with his first love before he could marry me. Because, as he explained, for his first love—who struggled with anxiety—marriage was her greatest wish in life. He couldn't bear to see her spiral into self-harm under the weight of her illness, so with tears in his eyes, he promised to give her a home. Stunned, I asked what would happen to me. Instead of answering, he snapped impatiently, "Can't you show some empathy? It's just a year or two more. Are you really that desperate to get married? "And another thing… lend me your ring. Let Lucy wear it for now. You won't be needing it anytime soon." I stared at the man before me, someone both familiar and suddenly a stranger, and felt only a cold, hollow ache in my chest. But at last, I saw his true face behind the mask. Later, I chose to attend their wedding. I brought with me a very special blessing.

I return to the country after attending an international anesthesia academic conference. That's when I see the news of my boyfriend and twin sister getting married. I'm anxious to verify its authenticity, but my sister drugs me and induces me. "A substitute's child will only be an unwelcome bastard even if it's born. I'm just helping it move on to a better life." Then, she slices me open with a scalpel. She gouges my womb out, causing me to die from significant blood loss. Meanwhile, my boyfriend believes her lies. He's sure he's not the father of my child. He ignores my messages begging him to save me. Instead, he spreads the word about me eloping with someone else. He even wipes all traces of me from his life. "I will never see her again, forever and ever." Five years later, surveillance footage of my sister cruelly murdering me surfaces.

* "Marry Me! Stranger." I shout for the whole hall to hear and I pull him in for a deep kiss to the loud gasp of my supposed adopted parents at their first daughter's wedding. What is she doing?! Master cannot be kissed by just anybody! He'll have allergic reactions almost killing him! But what is he doing? He's holding her waist and pulling her further and kissing her back! * Samantha Stiles, denied of her marriage to her long time lover and boyfriend by a well planned and executed scheme by her mother and sister who claims to the world she is adopted, but a fact which remains unknown whether it's a lie or truth. Claude Whyte, a mega trillionaire who recently came to New York to attend an acquaintances wedding but a series of events which include a nightstand and a public proposal is making him stay back. For someone who can't kiss or touch just anybody, he seems quite comfortable with that cheeky woman kissing him in the public.

Restaurateur and self-exiled heir Lucien Lenault's first look at the breathtaking young chef trainee for his trendy Chicago restaurant is a shock. She’s Elise Martin, daughter of a wealthy French fashion designer. She’s also the holder of a secret that could explode his carefully laid plans. Notorious for her flagrant exhibitionism, and for flouting the respectable façade of her aristocratic background, the coquine’s wild streak shocked most people. Not Lucien. He was tempted by it. It was a deliriously punishable offense as far as Lucien was concerned. But taking on Elise is more than a game. She’s a catastrophe waiting to happen, an inferno that’s burned many a lover. Lucien isn’t most men, however, and he won’t allow her to manipulate him. In order to control the defiant beauty—in order to see her submit—he’s going to have to willingly walk in the flames…

“Shut the fuck up Carter, I don’t give a damn about you.” Mariah spat at him with her eyes blazing and Carter only smiled. “You do give a damn about me sweetheart, your body still remembers her lord.” Carter replied with a smug look on his face. “You are lying, and don’t call my sweetheart” Mariah fired back and Carter stepped a little too close, making the sirens go off in her head. His closeness was doing thins to her body. “With this” He smirked before he smashed his lips against hers, all anger melting out of her body. ______ Mariah had one wish, never to meet Daniel Carter anymore for the rest of her life. After her marriage of barely three months crashed, Mariah picked up what’s left of her broken soul and she went home to Mama. She never wanted to be associated with the Carter name anymore or get involved with the man bearing the name. Five years after Mariah had brought the jewelry line of her grandfather back to life, it was about to be taken away from her. Her grandfather had given the entire company to Daniel Carter as their wedding gift and now she is about to lose the only thing keeping her sane to the same man who took away her sanity in the first place. Daniel Carter had a simple offer for her in exchange for the jewelry line; she had to get married to him again!

He was arrogant, wealthy, and cold-hearted the last person I ever thought I’d end up married to. But when desperation knocked on my door, and I needed a sponsor to stay in school, he was the only one who answered. The contract was simple: no feelings, no drama, no strings attached. But in a house filled with secrets, stolen glances, and unexpected touches, lines began to blur. I swore I wouldn’t fall for him. He swore he didn’t have a heart. Now we’re married for the world to see… But what happens when the fake starts to feel real? I thought I signed a contract. I didn’t know I was signing my heart away.

In Reychelle City, a contest was held to crown the most beautiful woman. After my cousin scarred my face, she seized first place with ease. What she never expected was that this year's contest wasn't for fame; it was to select the future wife of the Third Prince, a ruthless, bloodthirsty eunuch. That very afternoon, gifts poured in by the cartload. My betrothed panicked. That night, he tore up our engagement contract and carried my cousin into the bridal chamber. The next day, she trailed her lacquered fingertips across my cheek and sneered, "Alicia, with your ruined face, who would ever want you? Perhaps the beggar at the street corner might take you in." I caught her wrist, let out a cold laugh, and said, "Who told you I would marry a beggar?" Before her stunned eyes, I pushed open my parents' chamber doors. "Mom, since Maggie doesn't wish to be the prince's consort… let me take her place." Three years later, before the eyes of a shocked court, the Third Prince entered the grand hall with me at his side, with two children in tow. No one had foreseen it. This body of mine, blessed with the rarest gift of fertility, was the perfect match for a man believed incapable of siring heirs.

“Get out now!” He roared, rage, hate and bit of self-loathing swirling in his eyes. She flinched as she immediately inched back in shock. He turned away from her and stared down at his legs that had become lean, purplish and veiny due to his condition. His hand and body were shaking so much and he couldn’t stop it no matter what. Suddenly, he felt a soft and warm hand touch his face and wipe the tear away. Normally, he would have immediately recoiled from the touch but he found himself leaning into it. His whole body also stopped shaking and he looked up and into her eyes, unsure of why he couldn’t find an ounce of disgust for him in there. “I will heal you.” He raised his brow unsure if he heard her right and before he could ask her, she continued. “I will make you walk again and regain all that you lost but in exchange, you’ll be my sword. Do we have a deal? He watched her, confused at how someone who was so cowardly and quiet could change into such a confident person in the blink of an eye. “Deal.” Alecia Crest, a lowly omega who was ignored, abused and scorned suddenly found herself in an arranged marriage with the crippled ex Alpha . Using the healing powers she possessed, she made a deal with her cripple husband in exchange for revenge on her abuser and her freedom. It was meant to be a clean cut but what is she to do when she suddenly finds herself unable to resist the lust, attraction and passion that is the mate bond? Will she able to find love or will all the forces against the union succeed?