Gloria_Atueyi_9155

Real Hearts

By Glowie. A

When love is promised to one, but fate binds another… whose heart truly wins?

Raymond Carter is a 28-year-old billionaire heir — cold, arrogant, and bound by legacy. He’s a man used to getting his way, except when it comes to the one thing he truly wants: Stephanie, a kind-hearted 23-year-old college student studying literature, whose gentle spirit melts his icy exterior. Their love is fierce but forbidden — his powerful family will never accept her.

Forced into a one-year contract marriage with Dina, a seemingly quiet and respectful woman from an influential family, Raymond assumes the arrangement will be nothing more than paper. But when kindness turns to obsession, and a year stretches into danger, Dina’s growing affection for Raymond takes a dark turn. Meanwhile, Stephanie tries to hold onto the promise he made: to return to her after it all ends.

As hearts grow closer and trust deepens, secrets from the past begin to stir — secrets that connect their families in ways no one saw coming. And in the shadows, Andre — Raymond’s best friend — battles his own feelings for Dina.

Real Hearts is a sweeping romance full of passion, betrayal, longing, and a love that fights to survive despite the odds. Can true love conquer duty, lies, and the scars of history?

Real hearts

Stephanie sat hunched over her laptop in the library, eyes stinging from hours of reading. The cursor blinked mockingly at her unfinished project. Microbial reactions felt like a foreign language, and Professor Klein's brutal comments last week still echoezd in her head.

"Your research is weak and outdated," he had said flatly in front of the entire class.

Now, she had three days to submit a revised proposal or risk failing the course — and potentially losing her scholarship.

She pushed the laptop away with a sigh. Her stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten all day.

Grabbing her bag, Stephanie made her way across campus toward the café. Her mind buzzed with ideas — or at least fragments of them — until she turned the corner and came face to face with someone she was trying to avoid:

The ever-flawless, ever-arrogant Business Admin student stood laughing with two of her friends by the courtyard steps. When her eyes landed on Stephanie, her smile curled like smoke.

"Well, if it isn't the library ghost," Vanessa said loudly.

Stephanie clenched her jaw. She kept walking.

"I heard Klein nearly flung your project into the trash," Vanessa called out. "Word travels fast."

Stephanie stopped in her tracks. She turned slowly and said, calmly, "Better my project than my dignity."

That hit a nerve. Vanessa's friends gasped.

"What did you say?" Vanessa asked, stepping forward.

Stephanie didn't back down. "You've been talking behind people's backs since first year. Maybe if you focused more on your grades and less on gossip, you wouldn't have to repeat Marketing last semester."

Gasps again. Even a few bystanders perked up at that.

"You little—" Her voice shook with rage as she raised her hand, ready to slap Stephanie right across the face.

But her hand was stopped in mid-air — caught by someone swift and confident.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said a cool voice.

A girl stepped into the space between them. Tall, sleek ponytail, dark jeans, flawless posture — the kind of energy that drew attention without trying.

"Who the hell are you?" Vanessa snapped, struggling to free her wrist.

"Someone who's not afraid to embarrass you further," the girl replied, her grip unrelenting. "And for the record, slapping someone after being humiliated by the truth? Very desperate."

Vanessa jerked her hand away and sneered. "Whatever. Enjoy your pity friendship, nerd."

She turned and stormed off with her entourage.

The girl turned to Stephanie. "You alright?"

Stephanie nodded, stunned. "Yes. Thank you."

"I'm Jasmine," she said casually, tucking her hands into her pockets. "Final-year Business Admin. You?"

"Cool. You've got guts, Stephanie. I like that." Jasmine smiled. "But maybe work on the comebacks — you nearly earned a broken jaw."

Stephanie chuckled weakly. "I wasn't thinking."

"Obviously," Jasmine said with a grin, slinging an arm around her shoulder. "Come on. You owe me coffee. Or a really good muffin."

Stephanie glanced at her in surprise. "You don't even know me."

"True," Jasmine shrugged. "But I hate bullies. And I like underdogs."

chapter fifteen- A hand raised,a stranger's shield