Before We Knew It

The fifth time we went to the courthouse, James Ceasar and I still weren’t officially married. We had picked a good day for it, but right before it was our turn, he got a call and rushed off in a hurry. With my eyes turning red, I pointed at the screen showing the waiting numbers, trying to stop him. “We're next. It won't take more than ten minutes. We can get it done fast. Once we’re officially married, you can go and deal with whatever’s so urgent. It won’t take long.” James was the CEO of his company, so he had full control over his schedule. That was why I said it like that, not thinking it would be a big deal. However, he just glanced at the screen, handed me the ticket with our number on it, and looked annoyed. “I can marry you anytime,” he said. “But right now, I’ve got something I need to take care of. Don’t make a fuss.”

A gas explosion kills both me and my wife, Riley Sawyer. When I open my eyes again, we have both returned to our lives before we ever got married. In our previous life, Riley and I grew up together. We were inseparable as kids, and after we married, our relationship only deepened. People envied how well we got along. But in this life, she doesn't choose me. She accepts the romantic pursuit of Benjamin Prescott, the son of the wealthiest man in the city. I quietly erase every trace of her from my life and act as if she never existed. Five years later, the two of them announce their engagement in the grandest way possible and invite all our former classmates. When I show up wearing the same custom suit Benjamin has on, a diamond ring in hand, Riley's face tightens with anger. "Jared, it's been years. Why can't you let me go?"

I no longer recognize myself. Not recognizing who I have turned to. Maybe it was meant to be this way. I don’t know how within the space of five years I and Noah turned into something that was never in my imagination. We turned to strangers. At this time four years ago, we were the newest couple, the Hollywood upcoming celebrities that everyone was rooting for, our relationship was the envy of the whole Hollywood… then everything changed. Then I threw it all away… even though I knew that he was ’it’ for me. I got greedy. I tried to match up his fame which was silly. You can’t compare a god and a prodigy. I was a prodigy but Noah…. He was a god.

The biggest shock of my life? I was mated to my mates' cousins too. *** I was born an orphan. Still, I thought I had a perfect life- I had the triplets: Michael, Lucas, and Alex-the future Alphas. I had Rose, their sister and my best friend. We were a family. Until the night everything burned. Rose was murdered right before my eyes... and the blame fell on me. In an instant, the people who once loved me became my monsters. The triplets who once swore to protect me became my tormentors. And I was branded a killer. But I endured it all-because I knew the truth. Rose's murderer wasn't me. It was her father. Alpha Robert Sterling. And the day I finally shifted, after years of resisting it, fate laughed in my face- The triplets, my enemies, were my mates. And instead of rejecting me... they vowed to destroy me. But fate wasn't done with me yet. Because the moment I shifted, I felt it- They weren't my only mates. There were three more. And they were the most unexpected twist of my life.

I became the ultimate simp for Shannon Seay, the school's notorious flirt, and everyone assumed I was head over heels for her. When she skipped classes to pick fights or chase thrills, I'd copy notes and homework for her. When she tangled in ambiguous flings with other guys, I'd provide alibis to cover her tracks. For three grueling years, I poured my heart and soul into transforming her into an academic star, securing her spot at a top university. But right before orientation, she dumped me. Towering over me, she declared, "I know you've had a crush on me forever, but you're all books and no spark. Compared to Hunter, you're too rigid. We're done. I'm with him now." The crowd held its breath, anticipating my meltdown. I peeked at my phone, confirming a $50-million transfer, and replied with genuine nonchalance, "Alright, congrats." No one knew my unwavering devotion was purely because her father had paid handsomely for it. Now that the pay had been secured, it was time for me to vanish.

“If we were both in danger, who do you think Jared would save first?” She suddenly asked. “What?” I didn't have the opportunity to process her words because the next minute, I felt a push on my back and lost balance, skidding off the stairs to land at the base of the stairs. ***************** Arielle had it all – a thriving career as a talented chef and a successful marriage to a Billionaire. While her husband was aloof by nature, she believed he cared for her deeply. She was content with their relationship, and appreciated what they shared. A day to their third wedding anniversary, she discovered she was pregnant and was filled with excitement and hope. She eagerly anticipated sharing this news with her husband, certain it would bring positive changes to their family and perhaps even soften his reserved demeanor. However, fate had other plans. Before she could reveal her pregnancy, an unexpected figure from her husband's past emerged – his “old friend”. As this newcomer made her way into their lives, unbeknownst to Arielle, this unexpected arrival would challenge everything she thought she knew about her marriage, her husband, and herself.

Love is all we need but sometimes Love is not enough. She loved him for so long. She waited for him when she knew he didnt love him. But when he declared his feelings for her she felt special. She trusted him but was he worth it? Will he do everything to keep her or will he lose her? Its romance and thrill with a hint of powerful Mafia man.

"Pregnant patient, corpus luteum rupture, heavy bleeding! We need a consent form signed—now!" I stood there holding the clipboard, waiting, when a voice I knew way too well cut through the chaos. "I'm here!" Jimmy. My husband. The same guy who vanished on our anniversary—now signing off on emergency surgery for another woman. He didn't even blink before writing "husband" on the form. Still had our wedding ring on, too. He didn't recognize me behind the mask. Just grabbed my hand and begged. "Please save her. It's my fault. She's pregnant. I messed up. I love her. I can't lose her." His grip tightened. My wedding ring slipped off and hit the floor. I didn't say a word. Just turned and walked into the OR. A doctor beside me, totally clueless, beamed and said, "Dr. Meyer, your test results came back—twins! Your husband's gonna be so happy. Congrats!" I smiled, barely. "Schedule the termination after surgery."

When we were only kids, Sam Harris and I made a promise we'd marry each other if we were still single when we turned thirty. Well, my thirtieth birthday has come and gone and I'm still as single as ever. And as far as I know, so is Sam. But it's been ages since we've seen each other, and after what he did to me our senior year of college, I wouldn't put his ring on my finger even if he begged me to marry him. Never mind his devilish good looks. Or the fact that the playboy partier is a doctor now. Nope, I'm sticking to my guns with this, and when I go back to my hometown of Silver Ridge for the first time in years, I won't pay him the slightest bit of attention. Well...until he convinces me to go out for drinks to catch up. I knew it was a bad idea the moment I agreed to it. And then he brings up our childhood promise. It might be fun and games to him, but it's not to me. Because as much a I don't want to admit it, Sam has always been my first choice. And I don't want to be nothing more than his backup plan.

"We will never come back here next summer. We won't." Kuya Dusk's voice sounded with finality. I heard my brothers sighed heavily. They both kissed me in my forehead, and the next thing I knew, my vision were blocked by darkness. I am to reckless for giving trust. I am a foolish when I gave love. It's all absurd, but I did all that. For him, for the man I thought of never gonna hurt me. I want to forget you. I hope I could wake up tomorrow with no worries, tomorrow that I will no longer remember you, Trevor. I wish I could forget how I gave my whole stupid heart to you.