Sam Shelly

Theodore Maxwell, a ruthless business tycoon driven by vengeance, plots to marry Alina Roosevelt to kill two birds with one stone: get revenge on her father and inherit everything that was rightfully his. Alina, a budding author with a heart as pure as her prose, was blissfully unaware of Theodore's ulterior motives when she said, "I do."

As Theodore's cunning plan unfolded, he found himself captivated by Alina's charm and kindness. Despite his initial intentions, he couldn't help but admire the woman he had married. But just as unexpected love began to blossom, everything crumbled with Alina’s father, who devised a cunning scheme that shattered the fragile peace in their marriage. Consumed by rage and betrayal, Theodore divorces Alina, blaming her for her father's deceit. 

It's too late to realize that Alina was a mere pawn in her father's malicious game. Regret gnawed at his heart as he desperately searched for her, but she had vanished without a trace. Haunted by the memory of his cruel actions, Theodore is set to find Alina and make amends. And he will stop at nothing. How long will Alina be successful in keeping her little secret hidden?
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“I’m not your wife anymore, Theodore!” I yelled, shoving him away from me. He had absolutely no right to march back into my life. 

“Here’s where you are wrong, Alina,” he took dangerous steps towards me until I was pushed against one of the walls, as he held me captive. “You were mine, then. You are mine now. And you, most definitely, will stay mine in the future. Not even you can separate yourself from me, Alina, because you were born to be mine!” And that’s when he smashed his lips against mine in a furious kiss. 



Theodore's Regret

Dread seeped into my veins as I glanced at the chilling text notification on my phone: "Transfer Complete: $50,000,000 to Nathan Summers account." My office, once a fortress of power, now felt like a cage closing in on me. 


I handed my credit card to Alina last week. I laughed at myself. The moment I started to trust another woman, she gave me a reason to not by stabbing me just like her. My mother's betrayal still haunted me, a wound I thought Alina could heal. Now, that wound was ripped open anew. 


As I stared at the text, my fingers squeezed the device in my hands, and my mind raced. "How could this happen?" I questioned myself. The last vestiges of trust I had placed in Alina were crumbling. The images sent by an unknown number intensified my anguish. Each photo portrayed Alina and Nathan in seemingly carefree moments—shopping together, Nathan holding her hand, and sharing a meal as if my world hadn't just shattered. 


24. The Betrayal