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

The deafening pulse of the club's music reverberated through my skull as I downed another glass of alcohol, the burn offering a fleeting distraction from the tormenting thoughts that clawed at my mind. Alina's betrayal echoed in my head like a haunting refrain. 


I had earnestly tried to be a better person for her, to rise above the shadows of my past, and yet here I was, drowning my sorrows in a sea of alcohol. The images of her deceit played on a loop in my mind—a cruel slideshow of betrayal that fueled my desperate quest for numbness. From anyone she could have chosen, she chose fucking Nathan! Just why! Especially when I told her to stay away from him! 


31. Drunk