Ariel Richmond's life was shattered the night she was betrayed. Drugged by her fiancé and sister, she woke up to a reality she had never chosen-humiliated, abandoned, and unknowingly carrying the child of a stranger. Fleeing in Spain, she built a new life, determined to leave the past behind. Alexander Lucas never forgot her. The ruthless billionaire, known for his cold detachment, spent years searching for the woman who vanished after their one fateful night. Fate brings them back together in the cruelest way possible-Ariel, desperate to save her son, enters a contract marriage with Johny Lucas... only to discover that his stepbrother is none other than Alexander. "You still smell the same... You must like this cologne that much." Alex whispered behind her ear, his warm breath sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. "You don't remember me," he murmurs, his fingers tilting her chin until their eyes locked. "But I never forgot you." Ariel's breath hitches. His touch is hauntingly familiar. Then he leans in again, his voice a dark whisper. "I assumed only I could make you feel this way." Now, trapped between the man who unknowingly changed her life and the husband she never wanted, Ariel must navigate a tangled web of secrets, power, and a past that refuses to stay buried.
"How dare you speak to me like that?' The woman lashed out at Ariel.
"Madam, don't get the wrong impression, I was only following the rules given to us." Ariel smiles, trying her best to hide her fear.
"I'm going to test these heels, and there's nothing you will do about it!" The woman tried to poke Ariel with the heels of the stiletto.
"Ma'am." Ariel held onto the shoes. "You can't put them on."
"What's happening here?" A voice came from behind the scene. A slender model-like figure appeared. Her pink blazers spoke well of her position.
"Are you the manager here?" The woman asked in a furious tone. "Where is the manager?"
"Yes, ma'am. Good day; what's the problem?" The boss asked with a bright and delightful smile.
"I want to make a purchase but your rude worker won't let me test them out!
"Madam, I was only trying to follow-"
"You have no right to speak when a customer is in the middle of her complaint!" The boss cut her off, giving Ariel a deadly glare, her tone sharp and cautious.
She turned her attention to the customer. "Madam, I am so sorry for any inconvenience." Ariel's boss lamented as she bowed her head for the woman.
The woman glared at Ariel and she dropped the shoes noisily. "I'm not buying, good day." She stormed out of the store.
Amongst the crowd was a young man standing at approximately 6'2 tall, his ocean blue eyes and his lustrous black trimmed hair spoke well of him. His two huge bodyguards are beside him.
All this while, He had his eyes on Ariel, who was publicly humiliated for something she had no fault in.
"Meet me in my office now, you this useless stinky thing!" Ariel's boss spat as she strode out of the scene. Her tone was huffy and commanding.
The man was still there; he didn't move an inch. He scanned Ariel with his emotionless eyes as he was mesmerized by Ariel's beauty
"Hmmm.......this beauty should not be treated like trash." He murmured to himself.
He then signaled one of his bodyguards and whispered in his ear. "Give her my card." He commanded.
As the guard approached her, She wheeled her head up to see the huge masculinity in front of her. "Reach out if you want a life-changing opportunity, you have four days to think it through." The bodyguard said and left a confused Ariel who couldn't stop staring at him.
Ariel tucked the card away and went up to her boss' office. Would she ever have peace in the store? Her boss disliked her, and any little chance to punish her, she wouldn't let it slide. Each step she took reminded her of how loathsome her boss was.
"Knock knock." Ariel summoned up courage.
"Come in," Ariel's boss voiced from the inside.
Ariel entered and stood at her boss's table. Her hands at her back as she folded them tightly as if she was about to receive a death sentence.
Her boss stared at her silently without uttering a word.
"My sincere apolo-"
"Do not speak!" Her boss was pissed. "We lost a valuable customer."
"Ma-" Ariel's statement was cut short in her throat as her boss shushed her up. Leaving her no room for continuation.
"Ariel.....I have warned you several times not to get on my nerves. Do you not want this job anymore?" Her boss asked. Her tone was calm yet cautious.
"Ma'am please forgive me, it won't happen again." Ariel pleaded. Desperately praying silently for her boss's mercy.
"Don't beg me, Ariel; you chased one of our best customers; how do you want to make up for the loss you've caused my store!?"
"I am-"
"No paycheck this month, now get out of my office." Ariel's intended statement was cut short in her throat as she heard her boss's decision.
She stood there, not moving an inch, hoping to find any lingering favor in her boss's eyes.
"Do you have gums in your ears? Leave my office, I want fresh air!?" Her boss said, glaring at her like her presence was a contagious virusAriel wheeled around without uttering a word. Outside was Anya who had been eavesdropping the whole time.
As Ariel came out with teary eyes, Anya hugged her tightly. "It's okay...it's fine..."
"How am I supposed to care for my child if things continue like this? I have been saving up to pay for his tuition fees, but everything seems to be going wrong." Ariel lamented as she sobbed on her friend's shoulder.
"It's okay girl...I'm here for you, you're not alone in this." Anya comforted her as she rubbed her back for ease.
"Let's go, it's closing time," Anya said as she picked up their bags from the locker. They changed into their casual outfit and left the store.
Ariel got home with her last strength, hoping to dive and sink into her bed. However, her legs crumbled as she was welcomed with a more disheartening scene. Two men in the company of the caretaker had made their way into her room.
"What are you doing?" She rushed to them, trying to stop them from throwing her belongings away. "Leave that!
"Your rent has been overdue for two fucking years! The caretaker flung her hand away. She reeked of poverty. "You're leaving this house today."
All her pleas fell on deaf ears, they kept taking out her belongings until the room was empty. The caretaker put a big lock on the door. "When you have your money, let me know."
Chapter 1 ONE
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Chapter 2 TWO
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Chapter 3 THREE
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Chapter 4 FOUR
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Chapter 5 FIVE
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Chapter 6 SIX
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Chapter 7 SEVEN
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Chapter 8 EIGHT
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Chapter 9 NINE
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Chapter 10 TEN
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Chapter 11 ELEVEN
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Chapter 12 TWELVE
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Chapter 13 THIRTEEN
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Chapter 14 FOURTEEN
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Chapter 15 FIFTEEN
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Chapter 16 SIXTEEN
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Chapter 17 SEVENTEEN
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Chapter 18 EIGHTEEN
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Chapter 19 19
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Chapter 20 TWENTY
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Chapter 21 TWENTY-ONE
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Chapter 22 TWENTY-TWO
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Chapter 23 TWENTY THREE
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Chapter 24 TWENTY-FOUR
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Chapter 25 25
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Chapter 26 26
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Chapter 27 27
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Chapter 28 28
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Chapter 29 29
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Chapter 30 30
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Chapter 31 31
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Chapter 32 32
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Chapter 33 33
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Chapter 34 34
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Chapter 35 35
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Chapter 36 36
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Chapter 37 37
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Chapter 38 38
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Chapter 39 39
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Chapter 40 40
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