Twelve Minutes

I'm lina, a young girl of 23 years old. My parent died when I was twelve years old in a plane crash, leaving me empty with nothing. After my parent's death, my anuty. My mum's younger sister took me in as she is the only person in my mum's family alive. She was more than an anuty to me. She was my only family. The day that was supposed to be my happiest day turned into pain as she left me leaving behind my nephew whom she gave birth to. I took it upon myself to take care of my handsome nephew but one thing is the problem. A secret, I'm yet to know. one was to find out who the father of my nephew was, and two were able to avoid them. Since some people seem to be looking for my nephew. Another one was to find out the person responsible for my parent's death but one thing that I promised myself was never to fall in love with any man after the last thing that happened to my anuty, left by her supposed boyfriend after he found out. She was pregnant which I believed was one of the reasons. She couldn't survive. To me, love was a scam but after one nightstand after I drank myself stupor in a club to calm myself. I realized. I had a one-night stand. I looked around the room and sighed in relief and picked up my clothes to leave but was shocked when I heard a magnetic voice behind me just before my hand touched the doorknob. " Where are you going lady?" I froze. What have I gotten myself into? I asked myself Since that day my once peaceful world was turned upside down and some mysteries and dark secrets were revealed.

He was supposed to be hers. He chose a crown instead. When Cole Winters rejected Mara Voss in front of the entire pack council to marry the Lycan Chairman's daughter, she told herself she could survive it. Rejection hurt. Betrayal healed. Life moved forward. Then he dismantled her father's business piece by piece. Then he showed up at her door with a bottle of wine and a quiet smile, expecting her to become his secret, as if a soul bond could be folded and hidden inside expensive hotel rooms. Mara looked at him and said the truest thing she had ever spoken. "I would rather be with your father-in-law than waste one more second on you." She said it to wound him. Fate heard it as a direction. Caden Holt does not do second looks. He built his entire life around that rule after grief hollowed him out. He runs empires. He settles pack disputes that have lasted generations. He has never in twelve years met a woman worth a second night. Then a she-wolf with amber eyes and nothing left to lose walks into his private study and refuses to apologize for existing. He tells himself it is curiosity. By the third time she crosses his path, he has stopped telling himself anything at all. But Cole is still watching. And as Mara steps deeper into a world of lycan politics and old money, she begins to uncover something that changes everything. Her rejection was not an accident. It was arranged. Someone needed her away from Cole before the bond could complete. That someone has been inside her life the entire time. She walked into his world with nothing left to protect. Now she is the most valuable thing in it. And the most hunted.

Yerin had always been a cold and self-centered woman, preferring to keep her distance from others. She believed emotions were a trap, something she could easily avoid. Her life was structured, predictable, and safe from the chaos of human entanglements. However, all this began to change when Elliot, her first love from high school, appeared at her workplace. Twelve years prior, Yerin had been a silent observer, watching Elliot from the shadows, captivated by his charm and warmth. She yearned for more than just friendship, but her timid nature kept her from expressing her feelings. Instead, she treasured the moments they shared as friends and buried her hopes deep within her heart. The unexpected reunion with Elliot stirred emotions Yue thought she had long buried. Their friendship rekindled, and Yerin found herself hoping once again for something beyond friendship. However, her hopes were dashed by the appearance of Hazel, Elliot's ex-girlfriend. Hazel and Elliot had a tumultuous yet enduring romance since college, a cycle of breaking up and reuniting that seemed unbreakable even after 7 years. Yerin realized she was on the outside looking in, and it seemed impossible for her to enter Elliot's heart when Hazel occupied such a significant space in it. Jayden, a handsome and charming man who was also Hazel's childhood friend suddenly approach her. With his keen perception, quickly caught on to Yue's secret, long-lasting crush on Elliot. Then, with a perceptiveness that caught her off guard, he quietly remarked, "I noticed the way you look at Elliot. You care about him a lot, don't you?" He offered a surprising proposition: for Yue to join him in becoming a third wheel in Hazel and Elliot's relationship.

Scarlett; Minutes after I had given birth to his kids, he walked into the ward and announced our divorce, claiming that I betrayed him. Accused of infidelity, I was heartbroken when he chose to disbelieve me even when it was obvious that I was framed. Despite giving birth to his twins, I was forced to part with one of my children. As if that wasn't enough, even my own family discarded me, revealing that I was adopted. In a state of irreparable heartbreak, I managed to flee to New York with my remaining child, eager to start afresh. But that decision I made changed my life forever. I uncovered my true heritage and it turns out I'm a part of Hollywood royalty, a celebrity heiress with a legacy of stardom. One stunning twist threw everything off balance. I crossed paths with Ethan once again and this time around, he's desperate to correct all his wrongs. But can I ever forgive him? Ethan: Despite our marriage being arranged, I've grown to love Scarlett. I've come to develop feelings for her, but she ended up betraying me. I divorced her and took my son away from her but I regret my actions. I searched the entire city for her but my efforts to find her were futile. My son was desperately sick and needed a maternal figure. With no other option, I had to agree to Jasmine's proposal so we could provide the parental support he needed. Just as I thought she'd vanished from my life forever, she walked into that event, and the revelation of her true identity left me stunned – a famous celebrity and the long-lost heiress of the iconic Scott family. Now I want her back but will she ever forgive me? Or will I lose her forever?

13 years ago, she was a naive, innocent, bubbly girl who fell in love with her senior and wrote a love letter to him in her diary, 'You are the most handsome person I've ever met. Uhm... My brother is also handsome but he is my brother. So, let us get back to the point. Since you are so good-looking, I feel like I'm in love. How about I marry you after growing up? Won't you consider yourself lucky?' 13 years later, she was referred to as a demoness; she was way too cold, no longer the naive girl she used to be, she has become a mystery that people spoke of but no one has ever seen. But in all these circumstances, what remained the same was that the little girl in her memory was as narcissistic as the adult who proposed to a stranger, 'Let's get married, I'm a goddess, you know?' So, where did her usual aloof self go? Was it because handsome men were her weakness? Or was it just that one man?! ... Out of nowhere, Tang Li proposed marriage to a stranger she’d met just 15 minutes ago. Confident and quirky, she called herself a one-in-a-million goddess and offered him a carefree life as her househusband. Stunned but intrigued, he asked, “Why me?” She simply said he pleased her pretty eyes. His heart skipped a beat as he replied, “Only if you take no concubines.” Tang Li, a beautiful woman with breathtaking black long hair and hazel eyes, everyone talks about but no one’s seen, just stunned Mo Yuhan, the hot and happening CEO of Mo Empires and the most eligible bachelor...Cold? No, he is a thousand-year-old iceberg..... But what happens when Miss Mystery proposes to Mr. CEO...?

The day of our Mating Ceremony finally arrived. As the Elder stood before the pack, his voice booming as he announced the exchange of our soul-binding rings, Julian—the man standing across from me—suddenly spoke. "Actually," he said, his voice cutting through the sacred silence. "I’ve been fucking Chloe." I froze. He didn't even blink as he watched the color drain from my face. "While you were busy trying on your ceremonial gown, we were in the dressing room right next to yours," he continued, his tone chillingly conversational. "She couldn't help but scream when she climaxed. You actually thought she was falling ill; you spent ten minutes checking on her through the door, worried sick." "Later, while she stood by your side helping you pick out jewelry, her legs were shaking so hard she could barely stand." In that instant, I felt the blood turn to ice in my veins. Stiffly, I turned my head toward the woman standing in the front row, wearing a radiant smile. Chloe. She was waving her bouquet, cheering my name at the top of her lungs. Just an hour ago, she had been brushing tears from her eyes as she straightened the train of my dress, squeezing my hands and telling me I deserved all the happiness in the world. "Even just now, while you were preparing for the ritual, she was riding me," Julian added, his voice dropping to a low, rough growl. "She got so worked up her claws shredded the skin on my back." He looked down at the silver band in his hand—the ring he had yet to slide onto my finger—with total indifference. "I’m laying it all out there, Elara," he said. "Whether you still want the title of Luna is entirely up to you."

My future mother-in-law, Diane Grant, loved setting rules. On the day I proposed, she sat there with that smug, superior look and told me if I wanted to marry her daughter, Olivia Grant, I had to pass her so-called "son-in-law training", which was three months working as a food delivery driver. She said she wanted to test whether I could handle hardship. For my fiancee's sake, I kept my identity hidden. I was the heir to one of the most powerful families in Crestfall City, and I agreed without hesitation. For three months, I shed every trace of privilege. I worked from dawn to night, delivering orders across the city. My parents didn’t understand. My friends disapproved. Mrs. Grant watched me like a hawk, picking me apart every single day. "Three minutes late? That’s a $3,000 penalty. The wedding shall be delayed by a month!" "Wrong unit delivery, bad review? $8,000 penalty. You don’t get to see Olivia this week!" Even then, I never gave up. Until the final day. I received an urgent order with a massive tip. The note was in bold: "Lifesaving medication. Immediate delivery." I sped through the streets, pushing myself to the limit. Just as I was about to enter the residential compound, Mrs. Grant stepped in front of me, blocking my way, her face full of disdain. Her voice shot up sharply. "The wedding gift goes up to $200,000. Not a cent less." I looked at her look of absolute certainty and suddenly laughed. My finger slid across the screen. The recipient of that urgent order was her precious son, Christopher Grant. I slowly put away the unlimited card in my pocket, along with the check I had prepared for a million-dollar wedding gift. Originally, I had planned to reveal my identity that day to give her the surprise of a lifetime. It seemed there was no need.

Le mariage avant l'amour… le héros et l’héroïne à l'esprit purUne grande souffrance à la poursuite de sa femmeL'attrait extrêmeLa force et la violenceLe jour du divorce de Cynthia Lambert, un accord de divorce est soudainement apparu sur l'internet. Larecherche est devenue virale en quelques minutes avec de nombreux commentaires.Parmi eux, la raison du divorce était marquée d’un stylo rouge : L’homme souffrait d’un dysfonctionnement sexuel et était incapable de remplir les obligations fondamentales du couple.La nuit, elle était coincée dans la cage d'escalier.La voix de l'homme était basse : « Je vais prouver que je n’ai pas de dysfonctionnement. »Après son divorce, Cynthia est passée d'une petite employée de bureau à un statut d’experte la plus jeune et la plus talentueuse dans le cercle de la restauration des biens culturels.Elle s'est alors rendu compte que son ex-mari, Michel Perrier, qui avait l'habitude de rester constamment hors de la maison, apparaissait de plus en plus souvent devant elle.Lors d'une soirée, on a demandé à Cynthia ce qu'elle pensait de lui à présent. Elle s'est plainte paresseusement et a dit : « Ennuyeux et méprisable, il n’aime que celle qui ne l'aime pas. »Michel s'est approché et l’a prise dans ses bras : « Peu importe à quel point je suis méprisable, je ne vois pas que tu as un soupçon de pitié. »

I stare at the email on my screen, unable to move my fingers. Tomorrow is our company's crucial product launch, and I just learn that the patent for the algorithm I spent three years developing is now filed under Matthew Ashford's new assistant, Sophie Bennett. I storm into Matthew's office to confront him. Sophie sits on his desk with her legs crossed, looking completely innocent. She claims that she filled out the form by mistake. "It's just a clerical error. The patent still belongs to the company. What's the big deal?" Matthew stands up from his chair, positioning himself in front of Sophie. I can't believe what I am hearing. "Matthew, this is my research!" "Emma, you're thirty-five. Why are you picking a fight with a twenty-three-year-old intern?" He frowns. Then, he turns to Sophie. "Starting tomorrow, you're the new CTO. Emma needs… some time off." I'm utterly stunned. A decade of marriage and five years dedicated to building a company together have been shattered by a few casual words from him. Thirty minutes later, Sophie posts a photo on social media of herself sitting on Matthew's lap. They are both clinking champagne glasses. "So lucky to have the best boss ever. I'll make sure to be his loyal kitten." Below that, Matthew leaves a comment—three red heart emojis. I shut my laptop and pick up my phone. "Hello. Is this Mr. David Langley from Novara Group of Sundale Valley? This is Emma Whitmore. I've changed my mind. I'm ready to join you." I pause. "And by the way, about that unreleased algorithm upgrade, I have the complete technical blueprint. Make me an offer." Later, I fly to Tallisport with an eight-figure check in hand, while Matthew goes frantic trying to find me.

On the day of my wedding, the video I had painstakingly prepared was suddenly replaced with intimate photos of my fiancé and my foster sister, Lindsey Remmington. Within minutes, it hit the top of the trending list. Overnight, I, a celebrated actress, became the abandoned bride of a wealthy family and a public laughingstock. Just when I thought I'd reached rock bottom, Connor Presley, the heir of Elluel City's most powerful family and the boy I'd grown up with, returned from abroad. In front of flashing cameras, he knelt with a diamond ring and proposed, silencing every rumor and every sneer. After we married, we appeared inseparable, our affection the picture of perfection. The only flaw was his infertility—his condition made it nearly impossible for me to conceive. For three long years, I underwent countless rounds of IVF. At last, I became pregnant. Connor was overjoyed. To celebrate, he threw an extravagant party in honor of our long-awaited child. But in the middle of the revelry, one of his closest friends, drunk and unguarded, muttered in Russian, "Connor, you've gone too far. Just because Lindsey was afraid pregnancy would ruin her figure, you put the zygote into Rachel's body and let her carry the baby for you two? If she ever finds out the truth, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Connor's expression didn't waver. "This was Lindsey's only wish. I had to grant it," he replied coolly. "Besides, having a child with Lindsey has always been my dream. Only her child deserves to be the heir of the Presley family. The days ahead are long—I'll make it up to Rachel, eventually." I stood frozen, my body trembling uncontrollably. That night, I made an appointment for an abortion. When Connor stormed into the hospital, raging like a madman, I looked up at him with chilling calm and said, "I understand Russian."