jessica woke the next morning with her head buried under a pillow, groaning at the memory of last night.
"What was I thinking?" she mumbled into the sheets. "Chicken feet? Horror dolls? Another date with a hotter guy?!"
She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling of her tiny studio apartment. The sound of traffic buzzed outside, mingling with the faint smell of fried chicken wafting up from the restaurant below.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Sophia.
Sophia: How did it go? Did you scare him off?
Jessica groaned louder. "I don't even know! He didn't storm out. He laughed at me. Laughed!"
Jessica: Your plan failed. He's... weird.
A reply came almost instantly.
Sophia: Weird how?
Jessica sat up, fingers flying across the screen.
Jessica: He didn't get mad when I was rude. He actually smiled. I think he liked it.
There was a long pause before Sophia replied.
Sophia: Uh oh.
"Uh oh? What do you mean, 'uh oh'?!" Jessica shouted at her phone.
But before she could demand clarification, her alarm blared, reminding her she had to rush to work. At Go Food. At the company where she was a researcher.
The company whose brand-new CEO she had just mocked, insulted, and abandoned at a hotel lobby.
Of course, she didn't know that. Yet.
The Go Food headquarters buzzed with tension that morning. Employees whispered in corners, straightened their ties, and adjusted their blouses as though preparing for judgment day.
"The new CEO is here," someone whispered near Jessica's desk. "He's in his office right now."
"I heard he studied abroad in the U.S.," another said. "And he's young. Ruthless, too."
Jessica tried to focus on her research reports, but her nerves buzzed. She had stayed out late, drunk too much wine, and now her head pounded. The last thing she needed was a demanding new boss breathing down her neck.
Then the elevator chimed.
All heads turned.
Ethan Maverick stepped out, tall and sharp in a tailored suit, exuding authority with every stride. His assistant, Rian Johnson, followed close behind, holding a stack of files.
Jessica 's pen froze in her hand. Her stomach plummeted.
It was him.
The blind date. The man she'd tried to scare off.
She nearly choked on her own breath, ducking her head behind her monitor. No way. No, no, no way. This is a nightmare.
"Good morning, everyone," Jessica said, his voice calm but commanding. "I'll be meeting each department this week. I expect efficiency."
His gaze swept the room like a searchlight. Jessica shrank lower in her chair, praying he wouldn't notice her.
But his eyes didn't linger. He passed by without a flicker of recognition.
Jessica let out a shaky sigh of relief. Maybe-just maybe-he hadn't recognized her under the harsh office lighting.
But then, as Ethan disappeared into his office, his lips curled into the faintest smirk.
He had recognized her. And he wasn't going to let her off so easily.
Inside his office, Ethan stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, looking out at the skyline. Rian placed a folder on his desk.
"You really intend to go through with this?" Rian asked carefully.
"Yes," Ethan said without hesitation. "I'm going to marry her."
Rian blinked. "Miss Sophia Wilson?"
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly. "That's who she claims to be. Regardless, she's the one."
Rian frowned. "You've only met her once. And you've already decided to marry?"
"I don't have time to waste," Ethan replied curtly. "My grandfather won't stop arranging blind dates until I settle down. If I marry her, the problem is solved. She's unpredictable, different from the others. She won't bore me."
Rian studied his boss quietly. "You seemed... entertained by her."
A faint smile touched Ethan's lips. "Exactly. She's the first woman who hasn't tried to impress me. In fact, she did the opposite. That alone makes her useful."
"Useful," Rian repeated with a sigh. "Does she know about this plan?"
"She will."
Ethan turned back to the window, eyes glinting with resolve. He had made up his mind. And when Ethan Maverick made a decision, nothing stopped him.
Later that afternoon, Jessica was in the cafeteria with her coworkers, poking at her lunch tray nervously. She kept her head down, praying she wouldn't run into Ethan again.
"Have you seen him up close?" one colleague whispered. "He's so handsome it's scary."
"Handsome? He's terrifying! He doesn't even blink!"
Jessica forced a laugh, though her stomach was still in knots. If anyone found out what she had done last night, she'd be doomed.
"Excuse me."
The cafeteria fell silent.
Jessica froze. That voice. That unmistakable deep, commanding voice.
She looked up slowly, dreading what she'd see.
Ethan stood there, perfectly composed, his gaze locked on her. Around them, coworkers gawked, whispering furiously.
"You," he said simply.
Her chopsticks slipped from her fingers, clattering onto her tray. "M-me?"
"Yes." He didn't break eye contact. "Let's talk."
He walked away, not waiting to see if she followed. The entire cafeteria stared at her in stunned silence.
Heart pounding, legs trembling, Jessica forced herself to stand and follow him out.
They ended up in a quiet corridor. Jessica turned, expression unreadable.
"Miss Sophia Wilson," he said smoothly, though his eyes gleamed with hidden amusement, "I'll be direct. Let's get married."
The world tilted. Jessica's mouth fell open.
"M-married?!" she squeaked.
Ethan's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Yes. You'll be my wife."
Jessica's vision swam. Her plan to scare him off had backfired spectacularly.
And thus began the disaster of her life.
The Bride He Cast Away on Their Wedding Night
In the glittering world of high society and cutthroat ambition, a single sentence shatters a marriage: "Let's get a divorce." For three years, Claire Thompson has lived in exile, her marriage to the powerful Nelson Cooper a hollow shell existing only on paper. Shipped abroad on her wedding day and utterly forgotten, she returns only to be handed divorce papers. But Claire is no longer the timid, heartbroken girl she once was. Behind her quiet facade lies a woman transformed, secretly rejoicing at her newfound freedom. However, freedom comes with a price. As Claire signs the papers with relief, a chilling phone call reveals a dark truth: the threats she faced overseas were no accident, and the trail leads shockingly close to home-to the family that raised her and the husband who discarded her. Just as she prepares to sever all ties, a twist of fate pulls her back into the gilded cage. Nelson, for reasons unknown, suddenly stalls the divorce. Meanwhile, the family that disowned her and the fragile, manipulative sister who stole her life are determined to ruin her reputation and drive her out for good. But Claire is playing a different game now. With a mysterious new identity, powerful allies, and secrets of her own, she is no one's pawn. As hidden truths unravel and loyalties are tested, a stunning question emerges: In this high-stakes battle of love, betrayal, and revenge, who is truly trapping whom?
Vows of Vengeance: A Bride Reborn
She thought she was happily married - until she was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. Then came the truth: her "devoted" husband Lucien had been poisoning her for years, all to avenge a dead lover. On her deathbed, Calliope made a vow: If life gave her one more chance, she'd rewrite every ending-starting with his. Now reborn seven years earlier, she tears off the wedding dress and walks away from Lucien's lies. To protect her family and reclaim her stolen legacy, Calliope proposes a marriage of convenience to Conrad: a cold, enigmatic firefighter with more power-and more secrets-than anyone realizes. But Lucien is also reborn. And just as cruel. But this time, she's not the naïve bride. She's a tech genius. A business queen. A woman with nothing to lose. And Conrad? He's not just fire and steel-he's the weapon she never knew she needed. They're not here to survive. They're here to win.
CEO's Temptress: Seducing My Sister's Fiancé
Denise Montgomery is drugged by her father and stepmother and sent to a client's bed-only to wake up next to Jason Harrington, the powerful CEO of the Harrington Group. Believing he's just a hired escort, she leaves behind a handwritten IOU for two hundred dollars as payment and walks away without a second thought. But Jason isn't just any man-he's her sister's fiancé. To get revenge on her manipulative family, Denise begins to seduce Jason, playing a dangerous game of temptation. What starts as calculated payback soon turns into a fiery entanglement neither of them can escape. And when Denise tries to leave, Jason makes it clear: she lit the fire, and now she has to face the heat.
The Mighty CEO Knelt Outside My Door After I Asked for a Divorce
Her daughter lay dying-her only chance at survival resting in a bone marrow transplant from her biological father. That man, the one Stella Johnson had once loved with all her heart, was nowhere to be found. While Stella made call after call, hands trembling with desperation, Charles Hart was busy building a crystal castle for the daughter of his beloved white moonlight-lighting up the entire city with fireworks in her honor. All Stella got in return was a cold, clipped response: "I'm busy." And then. silence. She waited. And waited. Until the warmth left her daughter's tiny hand. He never came. Cradling the small urn, Stella stepped into the streets-only to be greeted by a cruel spectacle. Every digital screen on the bustling boulevard played the same scene: Charles, his white moonlight, and their daughter, smiling under the fireworks as they sang "Happy Birthday," basking in a future built on someone else's grave. The love Stella once held for Charles didn't just die that night-it was burned to ash. And from those ashes, something far stronger rose: Hatred. Cold. Sharp. Unforgiving.
My Reborn Wife Wants Revenge and Power
On her way to her father's funeral, Elaine Foster was nearly killed by a hitman hired by her stepmother. But when she woke up, she had somehow become Audrey Parker, the wife of a powerful business tycoon. "Hahaha! Now I can cling to my CEO husband and crush those scumbags!" she thought gleefully. Before she could even celebrate, her so-called husband coldly tossed a divorce agreement in front of her. "Audrey Parker, sign this. It's your last chance." Divorce? Not a chance! She'd rather lose her life than her marriage. "My love for you is as boundless as the rushing river, as unstoppable as the Yellow River in flood! How could you bear to leave me?" The CEO's lips twitched, and after a long pause, he managed only one word: "Leave." Elaine took a step closer, batting her eyelashes as she playfully poked his chest. "Leave... and roll right into your arms?" "Shameless." She clasped her hands together in mock courtesy. "You flatter me." From that day on, she embarked on a fearless journey-backed by the mighty CEO, no ghost or demon could touch her.
Twisted Love: The Bride He Never Loved
Celestia was a proud heiress, adored by all. Until one drunken night ruined everything. Branded a homewrecker. Her father hospitalized. Her family empire stolen. And forced to marry Jareth - the cold, ruthless billionaire who destroyed her. On their wedding night, she stood alone in the rain, sick and shivering. His only words? "The game has just begun." He made her life a living nightmare - cold one moment, passionate the next. She tried to resist. She tried to escape. But the more he hurt her, the deeper she fell. Just when she thought he finally loved her... She discovered the truth - he never wanted her. He only wanted her eyes - eyes that reminded him of someone else. A twisted marriage. A secret past. A love born from vengeance.