The Snuggly Duckling

The sun hit my face through the window as I woke up, and reality crashed in—I lost my virginity to a stranger. My mind spun back to last night, to what I overheard outside the VIP lounge. My boyfriend’s voice, Liam’s laugh, Maya’s mocking tone—burned into me. “I can’t believe she actually thinks you’d date her. Such an ugly duckling thinking she could be a princess,” Maya sneered. And Liam… the man I gave five years of my life to… laughed with her. “When I’m tired of playing, I’ll let you know. I love this game, even if it’s taken so long.” Two years chasing him, five years dating him—just a stupid game. My love was never love to him. One drink. One dizzy stumble back to my hotel room. One man who felt both familiar and like a stranger. And one night that changed everything. Now, I don’t know his face. But I can’t forget the way it felt.

I'm not only ugly, I'm an idiot. Because, tell me, why would I think that the hottest guy at school would be interested in me? To make it even worse, he was dating my sister. My sister was perfect. She was the golden daughter—perfect at everything, beautiful. So why would I, in my right mind, think that Damien Salvatore would be interested in an ugly duckling like me? That was my first mistake. *** I couldn't believe Damien had just said that to me. Damien wanted me.... Me!? Inner squeal. He cupped my face and kissed me fiercely, catching me by surprise. My body sprang to life, answering to the need in his kiss until it became more, heated, too much. I tore away from him, shaking my head, even as my body throbbed with desire. “Wait...” Why was I stopping this? Am I an idiot? I have dreamt About this since forever.... I have never wanted anything so bad in my life. "Don't you want to kiss me??" He rasped out.

Daniel Knight lives for two things — running his empire and watching Sexy Red burn up the stage. The mysterious, red-haired dancer with a body made for sin is all he wants… and all he can’t have. The last thing he expects? His mother shoving him into an arranged marriage with Kelly Thompson… the plain, boring, mole-faced “ugly duckling” he insulted without a second thought. He hates her. She hates him more. “Marry you? Not in this lifetime,” he sneers. “Right back at you,” she fires back. But when the wedding ring is on, Danny still can’t get Sexy Red out of his head... until one night, he rips off her disguise and realizes the woman he’s been craving is the wife he swore to make miserable. Now, every touch feels like a lie. Every kiss, a dare. And the man who swore to ruin her… can’t stop trying to claim her. DISCLAIMER This book is a spin-off from A Whole New World but can be read as a standalone. *If you’re already following this story under A Whole New World, you don't need to read it here again.

Isang salita para ilarawan si Leah Olaer: Mataba. At dahil sa kanyang matabang katawan, nagtaksil ang kanyang fiancé na si Kyle at ang babaeng pinagtaksilan siya ay tinawag siyang ugly fat duckling. Hindi lang puso niya ang nasaktan kundi pati ang pride niya bilang isang babae. Kaya naman nang gabing nalaman niya na niloloko lang siya ng kaniyang fiancé, pumunta siya sa isang bar at nilunod niya ang sarili sa alak. That night, Leah was so down, hurt, in pain and depressed, then she came across Achilles Williams. Ang gwapong lalaki na walang kahihiyang hinalikan siya sa harap ng maraming tao. Sa sobrang kalasingan niya, naulit ang halik na nauwi sa mainit na pagtatalik. Saka lang niya narealize na mali ang ginawa niya ng magising siya kinabukasan at wala na ang kalasingan niya. So Leah did the most reasonable thing to do. Tumakas siya. At napatunayan ni Leah na ang kasabihang 'Kahit anong iwas mo, ang kapalaran ay hahabulin ka.' Dahil kahit saan siya tumakbo, naroon si Achilles at naghihintay sa kanya para akitin siya. Maniniwala ba siyang iba si Achilles sa manloloko niyang fiancé? Hahayaan ba niya ang puso na mahalin ang isang makisig at guwapong lalaki na alam niyang hindi bagay sa kagaya niyang ugly fat duckling? O babaguhin niya ang sarili niya para maging bagay siya rito?

My name is Mia, and I am the middle child of Don and Donna Costa. I am also the black sheep of the family. Or the ugly duckling, as my mother would call me. My shift ended a few hours ago, but it takes me long to get home as I do not have a car like my brother, Leonardo, the oldest, or my sister, Amara, the beautiful one and youngest in the family. As you may gather from my story so far, my parents do not care about me. I walk into the house with a sigh. I have seen the cars in front of our home, and I know my family has friends over. "You have nothing I want! You stole from us, and today I will kill your whole family," I hear an angry voice. I wonder what my father has done this time to piss someone off. "Godfather, give me another chance. You can have my beautiful daughter as your wife," My father begs. Holy shit! My father stole from the godfather? I know the godfather is about thirty, and his name is Riccardo Marina. The Marina family is the most powerful in the American mafia. "I do not like blond blue-eyed sluts. I prefer women with dark hair. Besides, Everyone in town knows Amara Costa! She has been around the block," Riccardo says with disgust. I do not know what to do. Shall I hide? Not many people know my parents have another daughter. I am never invited to their parties as my family is ashamed of me. I do not care for my family, and they can die for all I care. "I have another daughter with dark hair. Maybe you will fancy her," My father begs again. I sigh. Typical!

BOOK 1 & 2 BOOK 1: A WHOLE NEW WORLD ESSENCE I would’ve died for them. My husband. My son. But when I was drowning, they didn’t even blink. I gave them everything—my heart, my time, my life. And still, I wasn’t enough. “Will you be my mommy?” my son asked his father’s mistress right in front of me. “Don’t be so selfish, Essence,” my husband said. “You’re lucky anyone married you at all.” They broke me. But I didn’t stay broken. I walked away with just a vow to build something for myself. What I didn’t expect? Lucian Knight. The billionaire bachelor every woman wanted... on his knees, whispering, “Please marry me, Essence. I’ve waited for you my whole life.” I left betrayal behind. But I never knew love could feel this good... or this sinfully sweet. BOOK 2: ENEMIES TO SOULMATES Daniel Knight lives for two things — running his empire and watching Sexy Red burn up the stage. The mysterious, red-haired dancer with a body made for sin is all he wants… and all he can’t have. The last thing he expects? His mother shoving him into an arranged marriage with Kelly Thompson… the plain, boring, mole-faced “ugly duckling” he insulted without a second thought. He hates her. She hates him more. “Marry you? Not in this lifetime,” he sneers. “Right back at you,” she fires back. But when the wedding ring is on, Danny still can’t get Sexy Red out of his head... until one night, he rips off her disguise and realizes the woman he’s been craving is the wife he swore to make miserable. Now, every touch feels like a lie. And the man who swore to ruin her… can’t stop trying to claim her.