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CHERRY Before I got married, I found my mate and I tried hard to make my parents see that I couldn’t be with Dylan but they insisted. I didn’t even get the chance to get to know him before he rejected me saying that I wasn’t good enough. His rejection hurt me more than anything. And seeing me hurt didn’t deter my parent’s decision about wedding me off in the slightest. So I got married with a grudge and was furious with everyone. I was glad at the time that Dylan shared the same hatred for me because he didn’t want to be tied down to a woman who wasn’t his mate simply because his parents betrothed her to him when he was a child. But it didn’t take me a lot of time to fall head over heels in love with him despite his distaste for me. He used to hate when I would stare at him, he still does and even now as I’m seated next to him in the car, I couldn’t help but admire him. Dylan was a handsome man, and I wanted to believe that he was a good man to others even if he wasn’t to me. We were on our way to our anniversary party, the venue was to be at the pack house. I would have spent the day like any other but the Alpha insisted on throwing one. When we arrived at the party, pack members came around to congratulate us and not once did Dylan smile or answer them. It was a reminder that no matter what I tried to do to win his heart, he was never going to love me. “And know ladies and gentlemen, the couple will have their first dance of the night.” Dylan’s father announced. My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know that I could have to be close to Dylan in that way but I was thrilled by it. My palms got sweaty pretty fast as I shuffled behind him to the dance floor. When we faced each other, he begrudgingly pulled me in his arms and I swear I could feel myself falling in love with him all over again. My heart soared at his warmth and I didn’t mind it if we were told to dance forever. “This is nice isn’t it?” I said trying to make small talk because it started to get awkward especially with everyone staring at us. “You look nice by the way.” “You look better with your mouth shut, and your body a million miles away from me, but here we are.” He said coldly as we continued to move. His body was stiff; he was forcing it to move for the dance. My heart clenched at his words, trying not to let them get to me. So I forced a smile and looked at him. “If you could only give us a chance, you wouldn’t hate everything so much.” I said calmly, my expression soft. “Plus our parents think it’s about time we have children and I agree with them. We’ve been married three years but have nothing to show for it.” “You simply don’t get it do you?” he started, his grip tightening, so much I knew it was going to leave a bruise. A whimper escaped my lips, “You think the world revolves around whatever fantasy you have. I don’t love you Cherry, I never have and I never fucking will. If I had my way, I would have divorced you a long time ago.” Dylan pushed me off him making me stagger backwards. I looked at him in utter shock as he went to the stage and took the microphone from his father. “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time but I’ll say this again for everyone to know. I don’t love Cherry, I never have and I never will. I have a mate that I intend to be with and she and I have been seeing each other for almost three years now.” Tears pulled my eyes, and I tried my hardest not to let them fall, not in front of everyone. Each word held a sword in hand and pierced my heart. His eyes focused on me and like him, I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. “You will never be good enough to be my Luna. And now that you know that I have a mate, I do hope that you won’t let this drag more than it already has.” He then shoved the microphone down and stormed off the stage. I felt small and completely humiliated. The stares turned to murmurs and soon I knew I was going to be the main topic of gossip around the pack. I knew he didn’t want me, but why couldn’t he just give us a chance? My broken heart and hurt turned to resentment. I chuckled, realization finally hitting me. I was at the edge of the cliff he was trying to push me over. I was done trying to make things work between us. I snapped out of my thoughts and I pulled myself together. I heard movements beside me and I knew that it was the Alpha and Luna. But do I dare look up? With the courage I had left, I walked off to the bathroom. I had felt like I couldn’t breathe, I wanted to splash some water on my face and I didn’t care that the makeup took hours to finish. I didn’t care about a lot of things anymore After taking a few deep breaths, I walked back into the party and kept my distance from anyone, especially my parents and Dylan. After an encounter like this, I should run away somewhere, anywhere no one would find me but I stayed, unsure why. Maybe it was because I didn’t want him to see just how broken he had made me. I wanted him to know that I could be fine without him. I didn’t know how but I could feel him glaring at me. And by the time the evening came to a close and we were getting ready to head back home, Dylan walked tried to walk past me but I grabbed his arm. “Where are you going?” I asked. I didn’t even know why I stopped him. A disgusted expression plastered across his face as he looked at where my hand was on his arm. I instantly withdrew my hand and waited for an answer. “I’m going where I don’t have to see your disgusting face, even if it’s for a few hours.” He said walking away. I watched with a broken heart as my husband drove away like he didn’t just throw my heart to the floor and stomped on it.002Dylan’s povThere were two things I hated right now, first was my life and what’s left of it and second was Cherry. Getting married to her was the biggest mistake of my life and I hated it.I hated that I couldn’t live my life like I had always planned to or be with the one I actually wanted.I didn’t understand why she thought it was a good idea to even try to pursue me in this helpless marriage, one that I was fighting hard to get out of.All I wanted, truly was my mate Phoebe. Yes I did have a mate and yes I loved her more than anything. I found her a few months after I got married to Cherry. It was as thrilling as it was excruciating. I was glad that I found her but I couldn’t be with her in the ways that I wanted.But ever since then we had been seeing each other and she was understanding of my predicament. She told me she would wait until after my divorce with Cherry on the condition that I never touch her to which I immediately agreed.As I drove to her house, I could feel
003CHERRY’S POVMy parents dropped me off after Dylan drove off to goddess knows where. I took the chance to freshen up for bed but couldn’t seem to sleep off. Today wasn’t the first time Dylan was harsh towards me and each time I was able to go to bed without any sort of concern.Today however proved different. Even when I shut my eyes, I just couldn’t get myself to fall asleep. I tossed and turned, worry creeping over me. There was something about the way he said that he didn’t love me and wanted a divorce that made me question how depressed he was in our marriage and if he was having an affair.At the thought of him being with another woman, giving her himself he never did with me, my heart dropped first before squeezing itself in my chest. Did he by any chance find his mate?I didn’t want him to find her, it was a selfish thought but I was allowed to be selfish in my mind aren’t I?I also didn’t like the fact that he would have rights to divorce me when he finds her.My phone rin
004Rated 18+CHERRY’S POVI didn’t know what I was feeling. It was unlike anything I had ever felt before. From our kiss I could tell that we were both trying to show the emotions we were feeling.Anger, frustration and lust.Dylan had his hand plastered at the back on my neck to hold me in place. His body was already flushed on my, pressed firmly as he devoured my mouth. What is this feeling? My back arched and I pressed my chest onto his, pulling him by the collar impossibly closer. I heard Dylan groan and his hips grinding onto mine. He was already rock hard and I was glad to see that I was the reason for it, even though he was drunk. Did I care though? Absolutely not.He’s been the one I’ve wanted all this while. I finally was going to have him. Dylan pulled away from the kiss abruptly with a frown on his face. I thought that he had sobered up and the thought made my body tense. His eyes bore into mine as he stood frozen. I was confused and I felt vulnerable, what was he g
005CHERRY’S POVI stirred awake sore to my bone. Memories of last night made me smile and made my heart clench at the same time.Dylan was still fast asleep on the couch beside me. Well more like I was on top of him. After our wild session last night, he refused to let me go and insisted that he was going to cuddle me to sleep. I couldn’t tell if he was still drunk or sober when he said that. But I had to wake up and leave before he did. I didn’t know what to expect and I feared that he was going to tell me that everything was a mistake. But it was wasn’t it? After all we were both drunk and didn’t mean to have sex.He looked so peaceful, I couldn’t help but touch his face. What I would do to get him to fall for me too. But he wouldn’t want me.He stirred when my fingers grazed his lips. Another image of us kissing last night flashed and I swear I could feel butterflies roam on my insides. I snapped out of my thought fear gripping me that he was going to wake up.I gently pushed mys
**Cherry’s POV** When Selena ran to Dylan, my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I felt as if someone had pierced my chest with an invisible dagger. Warm sweat trickled down my face, soaking the edges of my collar. My breaths came in short, shallow gasps, but the next question shocked me to my core. “Who is she?” Dylan’s voice was cold, sharp, and unfamiliar. I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out. My voice was trapped in my throat, choked by the weight of his question. My hands trembled at my sides, and my knees threatened to buckle. Depression, frustration, and a sense of being utterly stranded wrapped around me like a suffocating fog. “It… It’s not what you think,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. Before I could say more, Jake stormed in, his face contorted in anger. His usually warm brown eyes now burned with a fire I had never seen in all the years of our marriage. “What?!” he barked, his voice echoing in the room. “How could she call him
**Cherry's POV** The moment we landed, Selena's excitement was palpable, her tiny fingers gripping mine as her eyes darted around, taking in the busy airport. Kiva, her nanny, walked quietly beside us, holding Selena’s backpack. I could feel exhaustion tugging at me, but I pushed it aside. There was too much to do. Once we arrived at the hotel, I arranged for two separate rooms—one for Selena and Kiva and the other for myself. I handed Kiva the key to their room. "Make sure Selena gets settled and rests a bit," I instructed, a faint smile touching my lips. “Yes, ma’am,” Kiva replied with her usual calm efficiency, guiding Selena down the hall. The moment my room door clicked shut behind me, I sighed in relief. Dropping my bags, I sat at the desk, pulling out the stack of documents I needed to review. Being an interior designer came with its perks, but the workload was relentless. I dove into the files, analyzing layouts and sketches, making mental notes to adjust some designs.
Dylan’s POVI had spent the last decade torturing myself, haunted by Cherry’s absence. The memories of her smile, the way her hair would fall in waves over her shoulders, the warmth of her touch—these were the things I couldn’t escape. My mind replayed every argument, every moment I could have made things right, but never did. My heart ached for her, even after all these years.I knew it was my fault. I had been too proud, too stubborn. She was the one person who could have understood me, but I had let her slip away. I still couldn’t bring myself to forgive the things I had said to her, the things I had done. And yet, I couldn’t stop searching for her, either. I combed through every corner of the internet, trying to find a trace of her, but I always came up empty-handed.Still, something deep inside me told me I would find her one day. That intuition had always been with me, like a whisper in my soul. I couldn't explain it, but I felt it. I told myself, "Soon. I will see her again." A
**Selena’s POV**From the very beginning, I knew Mr. Jake—my mom’s ex-husband—wasn’t my father. There was always something missing, something that couldn’t be explained by the man who merely provided a roof over our heads. Deep down, I always believed my real father was out there somewhere. And today, as I stood in this grand hall filled with computers, judges, and contestants, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was closer than ever to finding him.Joining the AI competition held by Legacy Company had been a secret dream of mine. Ever since Mom gave me a tablet, I’d been consumed by the world of technology. While she wanted me to become a doctor, I couldn’t imagine anything more exciting than coding and creating. Mom didn’t understand. “Selena,” she’d say, her tone firm, “doctors save lives. Engineers just sit in front of computers.” She didn’t know how much I wanted this—how badly I needed to prove myself to her.Two weeks ago, while scrolling through Instagram, I saw the announceme
Nancy sat on the edge of the bed, her heart still thudding from her daughter’s unexpected words. Find a prince of your own, Mommy.It wasn’t the first time her ten-year-old had said something like this. In her little girl’s innocent world, happy endings were simple: a prince and a princess fell in love and lived happily ever after. But for Nancy, real life wasn’t a fairytale. She had convinced herself that she was fine without a man, that she didn’t need love to complete her life.Yet, her daughter’s words echoed in her mind, lingering like an unshakable shadow. Was she really okay? Or was she just pretending?A notification pinged on her phone, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from George.George: Room 605. Urgent. Bring the contract.Nancy hesitated before replying. Working late hours wasn’t new to her, and meeting George alone in his hotel suite wasn’t something she found unusual. But tonight, she felt… unsettled. Maybe it was her daughter’s words, or maybe it was
Cynthia’s heart ached with every failed attempt. No matter how hard she tried, nothing seemed to get his attention. She had poured herself into making every possible effort, hoping that somehow, he would see her, desire her, and give her the attention she craved. But all her attempts were in vain. He didn’t even spare her a glance anymore, let alone the affection she so desperately sought. Every time she thought there might be a chance, it was always snatched away, leaving her feeling smaller, invisible.Her eyes flickered to the clock. He was leaving. And she could feel that it was happening again—another moment, another chance slipping away. But Cynthia wasn’t going to let him walk out without her.She had never been one to simply step aside and let things happen. This was her chance, and she wasn’t going to let it slip through her fingers like everything else had. As she watched him grab his jacket, preparing to leave, the cold knot of desperation twisted in her stomach. Without th
Cynthia paced back and forth in her bedroom, her hands clenched into fists. Frustration twisted her features, her lips pressed into a tight line as she tried to steady her breathing. Nothing was going as planned. Every single move she made seemed to backfire, and worst of all, George remained indifferent to her struggles.She had expected him to help her, to show even the slightest bit of favor, but he had done the exact opposite. He was distancing himself from her—cold, detached, and completely uninterested.Her jaw tightened at the thought of Hassan, the boy who had been nothing but a nuisance. He was her son, yes, but his existence did nothing but remind her of the biggest mistake of her life. Instead of being a bridge between her and George, he was more of a barrier, refusing to listen to her and always ruining things for her. He wasn’t even making an effort to help his mother win George’s heart.Yet, Cynthia had been stunned when George had come to her with a request—a custody ag
Cynthia’s chest tightened the moment she heard Nancy’s name. Could it be the same Nancy? Her mind raced, trying to piece things together.No. It can’t be. There were thousands of women named Nancy. This had to be a different one.Still, unease coiled inside her like a snake. She couldn’t ignore the possibility.And then, Anthony dropped the bombshell.Nancy was the lawyer handling their case.A sharp jolt shot through Cynthia’s body.Her grip tightened around the edges of the agreement. Her fingers dug into the paper, creasing it, but she barely noticed.She had spent years ensuring that no one—no one—knew about her arrangement with George. And now, Nancy of all people was going to find out?Her throat dried up. Her heart pounded against her ribs.Panic swirled in her gut, but she masked it with a soft, almost uncertain laugh.“Oh, a lawyer named Nancy?” she said lightly, forcing a small smile. “Well, there’s no need to call her. This is a personal matter, and I think it’s best we kee
Cynthia’s hands trembled as she clutched the custody agreement in front of her, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, sending waves of rage coursing through her veins. Her eyes darted across the words on the paper, and with each passing second, the meaning of George’s actions sank deeper into her consciousness.Her breathing grew uneven. “Honey…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to mask the panic in her tone. She forced a smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “Can we… Can we talk about this? You don’t have to do this, please.”George sat across from her, his expression calm, unreadable, as if he had already anticipated her reaction. He exuded the kind of indifference that made her stomach churn with frustration. He leaned back in his chair, fingers interlocked, staring at her with a look so impassive that it sent chills down her spine.Cynthia swallowed hard. “You can’t expect me to—”“To take responsibility for you
George’s jaw tightened as Nancy’s words echoed in his head. “My ex-husband is actually better than you.”He had laughed it off at first, convincing himself she was joking, but the way she constantly compared him to that man, mentioning him so casually, gnawed at him. It wasn’t just once. It was again and again, always referring to him as her ex-husband instead of just his name. George had never met this man, yet he was being measured against him like some unworthy competition.And when he finally gathered the courage to ask Nancy outright if she truly believed her ex-husband was better, she had simply fallen asleep, leaving him with his thoughts and a dull ache in his chest.But that wasn’t the only storm brewing in George’s life.The next morning, as he walked into his office, Mr. Anthony’s face was tight with concern. He handed George a tablet.“I think you need to see this,” Mr. Anthony said, his voice grave.George took the device, his stomach twisting into knots. The footage play
Nancy stormed into the Birdman Bar, her heart pounding with rage and desperation. She had come here for a confrontation, ready to demand justice for her daughter, but instead of the people she had expected to see, only Mr. George was inside.She frowned, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the nearly empty room. The other people present informed her that the meeting had already ended, leaving only George behind. That only fueled her frustration."Are you kidding me?" she hissed, her hands clenching into fists. "I came here to demand answers, not to be dismissed like an afterthought!"George, leaning back in his chair with an air of calm control, watched her with a raised brow. "Nancy, I understand that you're upset, but yelling at me won't change what happened."Nancy scoffed. "You have no idea how upset I am!" She took a shaky breath before speaking again. "The worst part is, I don’t even know who did it. But I do know this—my daughter and that boy had the same bags, and they were swit
Nancy wasn’t joking when she found out that her daughter wasn’t feeling well. In fact, she had already suspected something was wrong the moment she saw Kayla standing outside the school gates. The little girl wasn’t her usual lively self. Her shoulders were slumped, her lips pressed into a thin line, and there was a distant, almost vacant look in her brown eyes.Nancy had dismissed it at first, assuming Kayla was just exhausted from a long school day. But something gnawed at her, a mother’s instinct whispering that this was more than just tiredness. Still, she didn’t press too hard on the drive home.The silence in the car was unnerving. Kayla wasn’t the type to sit quietly for too long, yet she barely responded to Nancy’s attempts at small talk. Even when asked, “Kayla, is everything okay?” the girl simply forced a weak smile and muttered, “Yes, Mom, everything is fine… I just had too many lectures today.”Nancy’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. Too many lectures? That was a fl
After the encounter with the teacher, everything moved so fast that Kayla could hardly believe what was happening. For the first time, she was vindicated—by Mr. George, no less. No one had ever stood up for her like that before.All her life, she had been bullied, not just at school but even in their neighborhood. People looked down on her and her mother, mocking them for their financial struggles. Her mother had always tried to protect her, standing up for her whenever she could, but Kayla knew deep down that her mother could only do so much.But now… now she had Mr. George on her side. The way he had defended her today—it felt like, for the first time, she had a father figure looking out for her. That thought made her chest tighten with emotions she didn’t quite understand. It was strange, almost comforting, to think of Mr. George that way.Still, she wasn’t entirely happy. She didn’t like that her teacher, Ms. Bella, had been fired, even though the woman had brought it on herself.