"Fuck it, Amery, I can't let him touch you, you know that. The thought of you with my brother pisses me the fuck off!" His eyes blazed with lust, his voice low and urgent. "What will you do then?" I smirked and enjoyed seeing his outburst. "I will stop this wedding from holding, I'll do anything to have you in my bed again" _____________________________________ Amery Everson's world was shattered when her father passed away, and her estranged mother returned, taking everything Amery held dear. With no choice but to save her family's property, the only thing her father had left for her. Amery was forced by her mother to agree to an arranged marriage with a stranger. The day she lost everything, she met a mysterious man who she ended up having a passionate night with, but it only left her longing for more. Little did she know, her wedding was about to bring them together again - but as brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Torn between duty and desire, Amery must decide: resist the attraction or give in to her heart's desire. Read on to find out...
Amery's POV
My eyes blazed with anger as I watched my mother shed fake tears as she said her eulogy during my father's funeral.
I tried to shut out her words, but they pierced through my soul like a dagger. I wished I could lash out at her, and make her feel the pain she had caused us.
"..If I'm feeling this sad, God knows how much pain our daughter will be in. After all, you raised her while I went away to get a better life for us.."
Oh God, this bitch!
I had to leave before I did something crazy. As I stormed out of the church, I could feel the eyes of the congregation on me, their whispers and gasps following me like a shadow. I didn't care. I had to get out of there, away from my mother's hypocrisy and lies.
As I opened the entrance door of my father's house, I couldn't help but break into tears. Everything reminded me of him: the way the house smells, every single thing has his memory still in it.
I walked into his small winery at the corner of the house, this was where he spent most of his time when he got back from work.
My father loved wine so much that he used to own a vineyard where he met Mom, who was a wine distributor.
Unfortunately, when they got married, his company went bankrupt and my Dad was forced to stop. But he still kept his best collection of wine.
I grabbed his favorite off the rack, opened it, and grabbed a glass cup. I poured it in, and took a sip, taking my time to savor the taste. It smelled and tasted so good, now I know why this was his favorite.
Just then, I heard the front door open. I stood up to check hoping it was my boyfriend, Atlas. I didn't see him at church, and he had promised to come.
Instead, I saw my mother looking so elegant, she was clad in a black dress that stopped two inches below her knee. Her blonde hair was curled and styled elegantly. I didn't miss those diamond necklaces and rings and the heavy makeup she had on.
My mother was no doubt beautiful, and she still looked so young even though she'd clock fifty years in a bit.
"What are you doing here?" I snarled.
How dare she come here? When she arrived, she had gone to a fancy hotel to sleep in. Now she had the audacity to come into my home.
"Amery, what is wrong with you? Why did you leave the church like that?"
My anger boiled over. "You know exactly why, Mother! You're such a hypocrite! You didn't even care when Dad was sick and now you're pretending to grieve? How can you be so disgusting!"
"Pretending? He was my husband and you are my daughter!"
"No, I stopped being your daughter when you left, when you said we were a stumbling block to your career. Congratulations, you made it, together with your billionaire sugar daddy and your stupid daughter," I spat.
Her expression turned cold, the next thing I saw was her hand flashing out to strike me. I felt the sting of her slap on my cheeks, but I didn't back down.
"How dare you speak to me like that? Didn't your father teach you good manners?" she yelled.
As she mentioned my father, I flared up, unable to control my anger. I grabbed her hair, pulling her towards me as I spat out my anger.
"You dare mention my father, you bitch!"I growled, my body shaking with rage.
"Jesus! What are you doing?"
Jane, my step-sister, who has a striking resemblance with my mother, ran towards us and tried to get her mother away.
I released my grip on her as Jane pushed me causing me to lose my balance as I fell on the floor.
"Gosh, you're such a bitch. I would have beaten you up, but you're already miserable enough for today. If you cross my path tomorrow, I'll tear you apart! Hear me?" Jane threatened.
"Let's go, Mom." She grabbed her mom's hand and helped her up.
"Get your things ready, you are moving back with us to California. I can't have people call me a bad mother for leaving my daughter on the street. Even though, you're not worth the stress"
I scoffed. "I'd rather die than follow you anywhere "
As they left, I collapsed to the floor, my tears finally finding their release.
"Dad!" I wailed, hoping that he would appear and that this was all just a cruel joke.
This is my reality now, I admit.
The woman who just left is Christina Luther, a woman I detest so much.
I left my house to find my boyfriend, I was starting to get worried. Atlas wouldn't have left me alone on this day if something didn't happen to him.
I knocked on his door, and his mother was the one who opened it.
Instead of a warm smile, she'd always welcome me every time I visited. She was glaring at me. I expected her to give me a hug and offer me her condolences. Instead, she turned and left, closing the door on my face.
What?
I stood still in shock. What's happening?
Just then, the door opened and Atlas appeared. I sighed in relief and opened my mouth to speak, but a gasp came out instead as he grabbed my wrist, pulling me away from his house.
"What the hell is going on with you and your mom. What's this about?".
"Leave now!" He said looking down at his feet.
What?
"Why are you avoiding my gaze, look at me. I was expecting you at the burial but..."
"Let's break up. I can't do this again!" he dropped the bombshell.
I stood there in shock, my mouth hung open.
"Atlas.."
"Your Mom came here last night. And you know your mom and mine despise each other"
"Yeah, but what has this got to do with us?"
"She offered me money to stay away from you Amery, two million dollars. How dare she?"
"And..? Did you collect it?"
"What? Why would you even think that? Your Mom disrespected us, offering us money like we were some paupers"
"You know how my mom is, she's a bitch. You know I never liked her "
"She's your mom, and my Mom is my Mom. I have to listen to her"
"Babe.."
"I think you should follow your Mom's wishes as well. She's your cross, carry it and don't involve others," he said and walked away, leaving me in a frozen state.
I stood still in a daze. Pondering on our conversation again.
What just happened?
Three years of relationship is gone? Just like that.
I started walking, and to be honest, I was exhausted emotionally. To think I'll find solace here with my boyfriend, but I just got the shock of my life. I didn't know when I reached my workplace. Mrs Meyers, my boss, saw me as I entered the cafe.
"Amery, what are you doing here? You're supposed to take the day off sweetheart"
"I'm sorry, I just don't want to be alone at home. Do you mind if I stay here for some time?"
"No problem, take your time, dear." She pulled me into a quick hug and went on with her business.
"Amery!" I heard a familiar voice and my eyes widened as I saw my best friend enter the kitchen.
"What are you doing here?" Joey asked.
"I should be asking you" I glared at her.
Joey had told me she wouldn't be attending my Dad's burial because her aunt got sick, and she had to travel home to take care of her.
"I can explain.." she blinked at me.
"Then start!" I was starting to raise my voice.
Why is everyone doing this to me today?
"I'm sorry, I really wanted to come 'cause I knew you'd need me. But your mom came and offered me.."
That woman again. I should have known.
"And you chose the money over me?"
"I'm sorry, but that money will change my life. My aunt is really sick. I have to take care of her" she tried to defend.
"Good for you," I said and grabbed my bag from the counter.
"I think you should just listen to her and follow her back. It doesn't look like she'll stop tormenting you anytime soon and you know what's at stake if she digs deeper," she said, giving me a knowing look.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to say that to me right now. When you're helping her" I huffed angrily.
"I'm sorry Amery, I'm not planning to stop being friends with you. I promise we'll still be friends"
"If your friendship is what I'll need to be alive, I'd rather die. Goodbye, Joey," I said to her and stormed out.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
"Because of her stepsister’s tricks, Christine Stock had hated her husband, Franklin Brook, for so long. Whenever her husband tried to get close to her, she felt like being teased by a bastard. It’s not until almost the last moment of her life that she suddenly realized that her husband was the only person who loved her truly and sincerely in the world. She was so regretful about what she did to her husband, but she had left her husband alone. Fortunately, she got a chance to restart her love. At a business banquet, she met her husband Franklin again. Franklin, who is the CEO of a large company, is still handsome, gentle and humorous as he used to be. Immediately she saw him, Christian made a decision to win him back...as well as her title of Mrs Brook."
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her father's ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."
" Don't say anymore word than you already have, don't..." I stuck a finger out at him, sauntering away on my heels when a hand wrapped itself around my arm. Breathlessly he whispered, "You know that I do love you and...fine, what exactly was I supposed to do?" "Protect me and stand up for me. That is what you do for someone who you claim you love!" ************ Out to spite her ex-boyfriend after he had broken up with her on her birthday, Daphne slept with a stranger who turned out to be his uncle while trying to rebuff his words that she was unwanted by others. Was she ready for the wild chase that followed when he found out years later that she had been pregnant with his heirs and that she had been hiding the truth all this while? Faced with the ruthless CEO, known as the beast, who wasn't ready to back down, Daphne does everything possible to make sure her kids wouldn't be taken from her, but what happens when love gets in the mix of it all? Would she be able to conquer these weird feelings and give in her all amidst her scars? And with how deadly he turned out to be? And faced with her ex who still wants her back, what choice is she going to make?
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Cathryn, an orphan with no family ties to Grayson, regarded him only as family. He, however, valued her as a precious jewel. From their very first encounter, Cathryn's destiny was intertwined with his. Once lonely and desiring affection, she was ensnared by his love, unable to break free. Eventually, she managed to escape his emotional clutches. Shockingly, she had fallen for someone else. Grayson confronted her sharply. "How could you feel for another?" Unable to meet his eyes, she whispered, "You're family. I can't..." Looking down, he pressed further. "You can't, or you wouldn’t dare?"