Marriage for Revenge
"How can you smile like that when neither of your fathers are here at your own wedding reception?" Pond asked, eyeing Dunk, who stood in the gallery, smiling towards his newly-wedded husband.
Dunk's smile didn't waver, but his eyes darkened. He turned to Pond, voice sharp, "Do you think I don't care? That I'd go against them on purpose?"
Pond responded without hesitation, "Aren't you doing exactly that?"
"No, I'm not," Dunk snapped. His voice dropped lower, colder. "I'm standing here for my pride-the same pride he crushed. I'm not a child who goes crying to his parents. He destroyed me, P'Pond. Now it's my turn. I'm going to destroy his life-completely."
Pond looked shaken. "You can't marry someone for revenge, Dunk. I told you-I'm here for you. I'll never let anyone from the Guthithanan family hurt you again."
Dunk's voice cracked as he exploded, "But he crossed the line that night!" He scanned the room and quickly pulled Pond into a quieter corner.
His voice was low and furious. "He shattered everything I had. And now, with this marriage, I'm going to make him live with the consequences. He's trapped with me now-forever. I won't let him walk away so easily."
His gaze flicked across the room-directly to Joong, who stood beside Sarawat, calmly speaking to a business partner. Joong caught Dunk's stare and instinctively looked his way.
Dunk raised his champagne glass with a mocking smile. A toast to war.
Joong clenched his jaw, returning the gesture coolly-but his burning eyes slid to Pond, full of rage and warning.
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Chapter 3
Pond guided a stumbling Dunk through the front gates of the Jamornhum mansion. Dunk's voice rang loud and cheerful despite his glazed eyes. "Hey, Uncle Lam..." Pond said.
"Hello, Uncle Lam..." Dunk greeted his father after Pond.
Lam's brow furrowed as he folded his arms. "How drunk is he? Can't even tell I'm not his uncle but his father?" he muttered. But his eyes shifted toward Pond, who wad avoiding Beam's piercing stare.
"Uncle, it's his graduation year." Pond explained evenly. "He partied hard, had some drinks, a little marijuana. Don't worry-he'll just have a headache. Give him these tablets when he wakes up." He handed the pills to Lam.
Dunk blinked at Lam's stern face. "Uncle, where are we going?" A light smack to his arm increases his whining. "Pond, save me!"
Pond turned to leave, but Beam's voice cut through the air. "Stay here. It's already late."
"I'm going home." Pond replied without turning.
"Home is where family lives together." Beam said.
"Family is built on trust." Pond countered sharply, his voice low. His eyes burned as they met Beam's. In his thoughts, the words cut deeper: (That's all you ever do Paa-force people into things they don't want.)
From the hallway, Forth watched silently. He knew the two men's tempers all too well: Beam's unyielding pride, Pond's stubbornness. Neither would bow, not when old wounds still festered.
Forth finally stepped forward, a warm smile breaking the tension. "Hey, kiddo..."
Pond's face lit up. He forgot the previous argument he had with him and embraced his father. "Hey, Dad. I missed you." He said.
"Me too. Stay a few days, huh? Let me at least share breakfast, lunch, and dinner with my favorite son." Forth teased. He knew Pond would not get angry with him. He always likes to have his parents only for him.
Pond chuckled. "Pretty sure P'First won't like hearing that, Dad."
"Then we just won't tell him. Pinky promise?" Forth held up his little finger. Pond laughed openly at the sight.
"I'm not a kid anymore. And honestly? I can't wait to see P'First's face when I tell him you called me your favorite son." He settled into the couch with a faint grin.
"Munchies?" Forth offered.
Pond shook his head. "I've got surgery early in the morning. But... since I'm already here, I'll stay for a few days. So you get to eat your meals with your favorite son, and Uncle Lam won't kill Dunk. Win-win." He stood "Goodnight, Dad." and disappeared down the hall without sparing Beam a glance.
Forth turned to Beam, resting a hand on his shoulder. "He'll come home for sure one day, Beam. Don't worry." But Beam's unease lingered. In his gut, he felt it: a storm was on the horizon, and it was headed straight for their family.
Far from the mansion, at top a secluded hillside under a vast expanse of stars, Techno let out a soft sigh. "Wow... I've never seen a sky like this. Why doesn't anyone know about this place?"
Kengkla smiled, his fingers intertwining with Techno's. "Because my dad owns it. My private hill... my escape when the world feels too heavy."
"Thank you, Nong. This is exactly what I needed." Techno leaned back as Kla lowered the seat.
They lay side by side, staring at the night sky.
"I like being with you, P'No," Kengkla said quietly.
Techno turned, gently placing a finger to his lips. "I know what you're about to say. But don't. I can't think about something that can never happen."
Kengkla removed the finger and pulled Techno close by the waist. "Don't you trust me? I'll make it happen. Just don't give up on us."
Techno sat up, his voice firmer now. "Do you know why my father hates Technik, you and Mix? Why he's beaten Technik since we were kids? Technik never wanted his money, his rules. Your friendship gave him courage to rebel. My father blames you for that." He met Kla's solemn gaze. "You're not at fault. Neither any of you. But us being together? That's a declaration of war between our families." Resting his head on Kla's shoulder, Techno closed his eyes. "It's peaceful like this. Perfect, even."
"And how long can it stay like this?" Kla's patience cracked. His love for Techno was no secret, but his resolve was wearing thin. "What happens when your father tries to marry you off tomorrow? Will you tell him you can't because you love me? Or will you marry the person of their choice and ruin three lives in one time?"
Techno's lips tightened. "Please, Nong. Let's not fight tonight."
Kengkla rose, frustration and devotion warring in his chest. "I love you, P'No. My whole life revolves around you. You know that. You study, work, and live independently so you don't owe your father anything. So why? Why can't you choose us over him?"
Techno whispered, "It's not that easy. My father is powerful man, Kla."
Kengkla's voice was resolute. "So does my. I'll protect you, our family-everyone. Just trust me once, P'No." His gaze held nothing but hope.
Techno knew Kengkla's feelings weren't a passing phase. First, he'd assumed it was a teenage crush. Then, just fleeting attraction. But years later, Kengkla's devotion hadn't faded.
Technik's words echoed in Techno's mind: If you love him, show him. If you don't, end it. Don't leave him hanging. If that rope of hope snaps suddenly, it'll kill him. You are my brother P'No and Kengkla is my best friend. It will hurt me more if any of you get hurt.
Kengkla's heart pounded as Techno finally met his eyes, sighed, and leaned forward-pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
Kla blinked in surprise. "What...?"
"We kissed. So... does that mean we did it?" Techno asked earnestly.
Kengkla nearly laughed. How can he be Technik's brother? "No, P'No. It's just a peck. But... we'll get there. Soon." He gently guided Techno down onto the seat, smiling as he imagined a future beyond the stars. Not tonight, not here-but one day, he'd announce Techno his, without fear or secrecy.
Morning light broke with a buzz of Pond's phone. First's face appeared on the screen.
"So, you're finally home?" First smirked.
"Dad wanted his favorite son. How could I refuse?" Pond teased.
"His favorite son is working his ass off here. Don't get cocky."
"The youngest one is always the favorite, no matter what." Pond quipped.
"I'm the firstborn, kid. You'll never take my place." First replied with a smirk. But Pond's faintly sad expression sobered him. "Hey, I was joking."
"Yeah... sure. Firstborn's always first." Pond muttered, voice heavy.
"Hey. Stay there a while, okay? I'll be back soon-the work here is almost wrapped. I want you, Boom and Dunk to meet someone."
Pond narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me you got married over there."
First grinned. "I Got a kitten."
Pond smirked. "You didn't answer me but anyway. Those bite marks on your neck definitely screams 'kitten.'"
"Stay out of trouble-both, you and Dunk. Give Boom my love. Bye." The call ended, leaving Pond staring at the blank screen, his thoughts heavy with unspoken doubts and tangled loyalties.
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8.4
I signed a prenuptial agreement with a cold-blooded Wall Street predator just to unlock my trust fund and fight my greedy stepmother.
We were nothing more than legal roommates bound by a strict three-year contract.
But to survive the corporate war at my family's company, I skipped my mandatory university finance class and paid a guy to answer the roll call for me.
The stand-in was immediately caught and kicked out by the notoriously ruthless new professor.
That night at dinner, I complained to my contract husband about the professor.
"He's an unreasonable, arrogant dictator who gets off on torturing his students," I complained bitterly.
My husband just calmly cut my steak and listened as I bragged about how I was going to fake-cry and manipulate the professor the next morning.
I even rushed to the faculty office the next day and performed a desperate, tearful apology to an elderly man I assumed was the tyrant.
I thought I had perfectly balanced my corporate war and my academic life. I thought I had fooled everyone.
But when I confidently sat in the front row of the massive lecture hall, the heavy wooden doors pushed open.
The terrifying new professor walked onto the podium and aggressively wrote his name on the chalkboard: Elliot Dillard.
It was my contract husband.
He looked down at me with cold, merciless authority, knowing every single lie I had told, and slowly called my name.
7.8
My abusive ex was threatening a lawsuit that would destroy my father's career and wipe out my PhD. I was completely out of options.
That night, Graham, the boy from next door I hadn't seen in a decade, showed up at my apartment in the middle of a hurricane. Now a wealthy orthopedic surgeon, he offered a transactional marriage: he needed a local wife to keep his family away while he cared for his sick mother, and in return, he would make my ex disappear.
I thought it was a simple deal. But the morning after we signed the marriage license, Graham didn't just scare my ex off—he ruthlessly dismantled him. Then, Graham turned to me. His eyes were dead as he pulled out his phone, showing me a high-resolution photo of the night I illegally sold lab samples to pay off my ex's initial blackmail. He had hired a private investigator to stalk me. If that photo leaked to the FDA, I wouldn't just lose my degree; I'd go to prison.
"I needed a guarantee," he said flatly.
I was shaking with rage and terror. This wasn't a rescue. It was a hostage situation. Why did he hunt me down? Why use my darkest secret to trap me in this twisted marriage?
I couldn't live like this. I demanded an immediate divorce. But at the courthouse, the clerk dropped a bomb on us: state law required a mandatory thirty-day waiting period. Thirty days trapped with a ruthless, manipulative stranger. I had to find a way to break his leverage before the month was up.
7.6
AKARI TANAKA didn't know she was a werewolf until she inherited a murder.
Summoned to a remote Carpathian town, she learns she's the last heir of an ancient alpha line-and her great-uncle's suspicious death has thrown the local packs into a war for succession. As her own latent power violently awakens, Akari is caught between a ruthless rival alpha who wants to control her and a fanatical uncle whose faked death masks a plan to sacrifice her in a ritual that will rewrite reality.
To prevent a genocide of her own kind, Akari must forge an alliance with her enemy, master the wolf within, and confront the monstrous truth of her bloodline.
The price of leadership is sacrifice. The cost of failure is annihilation. But in Lupinara, the greatest predator isn't the wolf... it's the past.
9.6
Nelson Smith has been struggling for survival due to kidney failure. Without a transplant, he has less than four months to live.
No one in his family matched after tests were done. Not even his siblings, parents or cousins, except for one person, Janice Capuno, his wife.
Janice used to be the darling of a wealthy Dynasty, until she hid her identity and married the man she loves, Nelson Smith, against her parent's wishes.
Instead of getting love, she was treated like a servant by her mother-in-law, mocked as a gold-digger by her sister in-law, but for her husband, his love towards her remained unshakable. He'd never ceased defending and protecting her from his family, that's why when the doctors confirmed her to be a match, she didn't hesitate to get herself cut open to save Nelson's life.
****
There was barely thirty minutes to the surgery, and Janice was already in her hospital gown, waiting to get cut and her kidney given out to save her husband's life, when the reality of everything she had believed in came changing in her eyes.
"Babe....my phone...switch it off...battery." Nelson pointed to his bag weakly before the sedative took full action on him. Just before she'll put the phone off, a WhatsApp notification suddenly popped up. It was from Tricia, his University ex-girlfriend.
"Baby, has the fool gone into the theatre yet? I can't wait for this to be over. Once you get the kidney, we're done with her." The message read.
9.6
For ten long years, Gloria put up with Victor' Anderson's cold heart, his cheating, and the shame of being a wife he didn't want anymore all to protect their daughter, Annabel. Then one day, she snapped. "I want a divorce," she said. Victor laughed at her, like a cruel joke. To him, Gloria was nothing without his name, his money, his control. Her family depended on him for survival. She came from poor roots and would go back to nothing. "You'll come crawling back," he said with a mean smile. "You always do." But this time, she didn't. With no money, no job skills, and a child to care for, Gloria left her fancy life for a hard, unknown world. She promised to start over, no matter how tough it got. The real world was dark and cruel. Jobs turned her away. Money ran out. Bills piled up. Fear for Annabel's future choked her like a tight grip. In her desperation, she went to the one man she knew was dangerous Lukas Anderson. Victor's younger stepbrother. He was a rich boss, a famous womanizer, a man who broke hearts as easy as he signed deals. For years, he had wanted Gloria, staring at her body, dreaming of her in secret ways. Helping her was simple. Owning her? Even better. "You need money. I need you," he whispered, his voice low and tempting, his hands brushing her skin. "Work for me... and I'll give you what your husband never did. Safety. Power. And pleasure you can't imagine." Now Gloria is stuck between two bad men: the husband who broke her... and the stepbrother who wants to take her body and soul in a storm of dark, hungry sex.
8.9
Trigger and Content Warning
This story contains mature themes and explicit content intended for adult audiences
(18+). Reader discretion is advised.
It includes cheating, revenge sex, explicit BDSM dynamics, toxic family relationships,
possessive and obsessive behavior, strong language, and occasional violence.a
This is not a fluffy romance. It is filthy, messy, and deliciously dark.
*
Freya thought the worst thing in life was losing herself... until she discovered she had
already lost her marriage too.
And just when her world collapses, he walks in.
Steve Hayes.
The new man in town with the body of a fighter.
He wants her.
Not softly. Not politely.
Obsessively. Possessively. Completely.
Freya doesn't trust herself anymore, let alone a man like him. But Steve doesn't care
about what she thinks she deserves. He cares about one thing: her. And he will tear
through anything, or anyone, that stands in his way.
**
"You're crying?" he growled, and something dormant inside Freya woke up snarling.
She is done being the forgiving wife.
She is done apologizing for her curves, her stretch marks, her softness.
And she is dangerously, deliciously tempted to let this beautiful tattooed stranger
ruin her in all the ways her husband never bothered to.
**
Freya is shattered by Mark.
Tempted by Steve.
And this time... she won't break alone.