
The Marriage Bargain
Ifeanyi Debbie · Completed · 281.6k Words
Introduction
That was my first warning.
Rowan Vaughn hadn’t smiled at me like that in years. Not since the cheating. Not since the Cold War between us began.
"Hi," he said, like I was a stranger.
And just like that, I knew.
He didn’t remember.
Not the marriage. Not the fights. Not the night I begged him to sign the divorce papers.
But then she walked in, Gigi.
And he remembered her.
I stood there, invisible again, while he held her hand and called her name.
He remembered the woman he almost left me for.
But not me...his wife.
Now I wish I had let him die in that operating room.
When Remi's world is shattered by her cousin's leukemia diagnosis, she's forced into a loveless marriage with a billionaire CEO, Rowan Vaughn - a man she once had a crush on.
But Rowan, haunted by a past betrayal, sees Remi as a gold digger. Trapped in a toxic marriage, Remi longs for the man she thought Rowan could be.
She wanted an escape, so she offered the best thing for herself
Divorce.
Chapter 1
Remi's POV
I stood in front of an ornate mirror in the bridal suite, adjusting the lace on my wedding dress for the hundredth time. My hands trembled slightly, not from excitement, but from the nerves gnawing at my insides. I bit my lips in fear, again I was scared. I should be happy right? I was getting married to the man that I have crush on for years.
But I wasn't. Because he didn't love me. No, he hated me. He looked at me as if he wanted to strangle me. But yet, here I am, getting married to said man.
“Remember, Remi,” Aunt Victoria's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and cold. Her blue eyes held no emotions as she tightened the corset. “Behave yourself. This is your chance to make something of your miserable life. Don’t screw it up.”
She acted as if she was putting a necklace around my neck but I know that her plan was if I mess up she would strangle me to death.
I bit back a retort, swallowing the bitterness that rose in my throat. Aunt Victoria’s words were a familiar sting, her face in its usual frown. I should have think nothing of it, already use to it but it stung. Like a bee.
I nodded mutely, knowing any response would only provoke her further.
I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes, emerald eyes shobe underneath the golden light, my blonde hair wad curled and pinned in all the right places.
An angel. That's what my mother use to call me.
But I didn't feel like an angel. More or less, I felt like a loss sheep.
Uncle Jacob's massive frame darkened the doorway, his bulk seeming to suck the air out of the room. "It's time," he growled, his voice like a rough scrape on wood. His gaze crawled over me, lingering on the lace of my dress, the pale oval of my face, the fingers I couldn't keep still. His eyes narrowed, his eyebrows beetling together in a scowl that made my skin prickle.
Then he said something that I couldn't hear. But I knew it was just spiteful words that's best known to himself.
I followed them out of the room, my legs moving mechanically as if they belonged to someone else. Each step down the hallway echoed in my ears, a countdown to a life I wasn’t sure I wanted. Rowan was probably waiting at the end of that aisle, the man I had admired from a distance, now the man I was bound to marry not by choice but by situation.
My aunt and uncle gave me one last look like a warning.
Then, without a word, they turned and disappeared into the chapel, leaving me alone in the bridal room. The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the soft creak of the chapel door as it swung shut behind them.
I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest, as I waited for the door to open again. The seconds ticked by with agonizing slowness, each one stretching out like an eternity. And then, I heard it.
A soft giggle escaped from the partially open door down the hallway, followed by a low, husky murmur that sent a shiver down my spine. My feet seemed to root themselves to the spot, refusing to move forward as. I tried my best not to move, I really did but curiosity got the better of me, and I moved closer, carrying my wedding gown with me, peeking through the crack.
What I saw made my stomach twist into a knot. Rowan, my soon-to-be husband, was entwined with two women, their bodies a tangled mess of limbs and lips. One woman's mouth was fused to his, her hands grasping his face as if she'd never let go. The other trailed kisses down his neck, her fingers digging into his skin like claws. Their laughter and the soft, wet sounds of their kisses filled the small room, making my skin crawl. For a moment, I forgot to breathe.
The world tilted, and I gripped the doorframe to steady myself, my mind reeling with shock and betrayal. I searched desperately for an explanation, some way to rationalize the scene in front of me, but there was no mistaking the truth. Rowan, my husband-to-be, was cheating on me, and just hours before our wedding.
He was having a threesome, tears, I could feel them in my eyes as my breath caught up in my throat. It can't be.
I thought I'd prepared myself for a loveless marriage, but nothing could have prepared me for this. The sight of Rowan, my soon-to-be husband, in a compromising position with not one, but two women, was a betrayal of a different kind,
And in a room so close to the chapel, where the priest and our guests waited, it was a slap in the face. I tried to blink back the tears, but they pricked at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. My breathing came in short gasps as I struggled to process the scene before me.
Rowan was oblivious to the risk of discovery, too caught up in his own desires to care. He devoured the woman on her knees, his mouth claiming hers with a ferocity that made my stomach turn.
Suddenly I felt a shake. Aunt Victoria’s voice snapped me back to reality. “Remi! What are you doing? People have been waiting-” Her tone was a sharp whisper, full of venom, stopped as she followed my gaze and froze. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of panic. But it was quickly replaced by her usual cold composure.
“We’ll deal with this later,” she hissed, grabbing my arm and pulling me away. “You will walk down that aisle and marry him, do you understand? Men cheat, you don't love him anyways. You know why you want to marry him, so hide those tears and say those vows. Do you understand?”
Numbly, I nodded. My thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, but I let Aunt Victoria’s grip guide me towards the door.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and a sob burst forth from my throat, despite my attempts to stifle it.
The sound was like a wild animal, escaping from a place deep within me. Aunt Victoria's grip on my arm constricted, her fingers digging into my skin like talons. "Control yourself," she hissed, her voice low and urgent. But I couldn't. The scene before me was too much to bear. Rowan's betrayal, the women's laughter, the chapel's solemnity just a stone's throw away... it all combined to shatter my composure. I felt myself trembling, my vision blurring as tears streamed down my face.
"Remi, don't make a scene," Aunt Victoria hissed, her voice cold. Devoid of any emotions. "You'll ruin everything."
But I was beyond control. Tears poured down my face like a torrent, my body shaking with sobs as I stood there, paralyzed by shock and heartbreak.
Aunt Victoria's grip on my arm tightened, her nails digging into my skin like ice picks. "Remi, do you want your cousin to die?" she spat, her voice devoid of any warmth or compassion. “Would you be able to live knowing that it was your fault she died?”
I felt a fresh wave of tears rising up, but I forced them back, my throat constricting with the effort.
Two million dollars. That's what my dignity and self-respect were worth to Aunt Victoria and my so-called husband.
"You're a disgrace, Remi ," Aunt Victoria spat, her eyes flashing with anger. "You're embarrassing us all. Pull yourself together and let's get this over with. Stop being a wuss."
I nodded numbly, my mind racing with thoughts of escape, of fleeing this toxic situation and starting anew. But for now, I was trapped. Because she was right, I would never be able to live with myself.
If this marriage didn't kill me, the guilt would.
I stepped into the aisle, the guests’ eyes turned towards me, their faces a blur. The organ played on, and I forced one foot in front of the other. Rowan stood at the altar, looking every bit the dashing groom.
His lips held that smirk, that I have come to hate, his dark eyes, intense, was watching me like a wolf hunting his prey. His eyes moved down my body and then back to my face. His eyes met mine, and I saw no hint of the man I had just seen. His expression was calm, almost indifferent.
Cold.
I couldn't read him.
I didn't want to.
I had learned to keep my mouth shut during my years with my aunt and uncle. To be quiet. Silent like a bird even though you were dying.
My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. I wanted to scream, to run, to do anything but walk towards him.
But the more I think about my cousin on that sick bed, the more I step forward.
With each step, memories flashed in my mind. The years of neglect and abuse, the nights I cried myself to sleep, the moments I dared to hope for something better. And now, this. Marrying Rowan was supposed to be an escape, a chance at a new life.
But that illusion shattered the mom
As I reached the altar, Rowan took my hand. His touch was cold, devoid of any warmth or affection. The officiant began speaking, but the words blurred together, meaningless in my face.
“I do,” Rowan’s voice cut through my daze. I blinked, realizing it was my turn to speak.
The words caught in my throat. I looked up at Rowan, searching for something—anything—that might reassure me. But his eyes were hard, his smile forced.
“I...” My voice wavered. Aunt Victoria ’s gaze burned into me from the front row, a silent threat. “I do.”
The ceremony continued, a series of motions and vows that felt hollow. When Rowan kissed me, it was brief and cold, a mere formality. The guests cheered, but their applause felt distant, like it belonged to another world.
As we walked back down the aisle, hand in hand, I felt a strange detachment, as if I were watching someone else’s life unfold through a TV screen.
The chapel doors closed behind us, and the noise of the guests faded.
In the car, silence stretched between us. Rowan stared out the window, his expression unreadable. I wanted to ask him why, to demand an explanation for what I had seen. But the words wouldn’t come.
“Did you enjoy the scene?”
I blinked looking at him, “What?”
“You seemed to enjoy watching me sleep with other women, did it turn you on?”
I narrowed my gaze, “You are sick.”
Rowan smirked, “But yet you fell in love with me. I saw the love letters, the diary, your aunt showed them to me. I think you are the one that's sick cara mia.”
I turned away from him, saying no more as I twirled the ring on my finger.
The car started moving, taking us to the reception, to the rest of our lives.
As the city blurred past, I made a silent promise to myself. No matter how hard this life became, I would survive. For Jules, for the faint hope of something better, and for the woman I still believed I could be.
It's just six years. I can do it.
Last Chapters
#228 The Final Goodbye
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#227 Happy For You
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#226 One Last Twist
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#225 Birthday Celebration
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#224 I Loved Her Mother
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#223 Never Hurt You
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#222 One Word: Freedom
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#221 Come To The Estate
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#220 Game On
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#219 Wrong Family
Last Updated: 1/21/2026
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The woman on the bed was Calista - that girl who grew up with us since we were kids. And that hand caressing her skin was wearing the wedding ring I had personally put on Matteo's finger.
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Those sweet words I knew so well completely destroyed me.
Everyone said we were the perfect couple, but who knew this marriage was built on nothing but lies?
Since he's so good at acting, I guess it's time I gave him a show of my own. I'm going to make sure everyone sees what this "perfect husband" really is...
He Thought I'd Never Leave
When he said he was being bullied, I believed him. When he kissed me on that rooftop, I thought he felt the same. When he asked me to transfer schools with him, I said yes without hesitation.
Then I heard him bragging to his friends: "She'd save her first time for me. Hell, she'd still be thinking of me on her wedding night."
The bullying was staged. The kiss meant nothing. He just wanted me gone—so his new girl could feel more comfortable.
He thought I'd beg. He thought I'd cry. He thought I'd never actually leave.
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And ran straight into his stepbrother.
I Died While They Threw Her a Party
Their real daughter came home. She'd only been back two years. That's all it took to erase twenty-four.
When kidnappers grabbed us, I used my body as a shield. They beat me until something inside me ruptured. I was dying from internal bleeding, but no one could tell.
My parents wouldn't even look at me. "This is your fault! None of this would've happened if it weren't for you!"
"Get downstairs and apologize to your sister. If you can't, pack your things and get out."
They threw her a party at a downtown hotel while I died alone in my room.
I thought they'd be relieved. Maybe even glad. I thought they'd just move on like I never existed.
But when they finally learned the truth, they fell apart.
Bury Me in His Regret
The kidnapper pressed the gun to my temple and asked, "Choose your wife or your sister-in-law?"
Zachary didn't hesitate. "Let Valerie go," he said.
He actually chose to save his sister-in-law! In that moment, even the baby in my belly seemed to stop kicking.
Later, they locked me in the basement. Drugs to delay labor were pumped into my veins over and over. Zachary wanted to save the "firstborn son" status for his sister-in-law's child.
When warm blood finally soaked through my skirt, I dialed the number I knew by heart with shaking hands.
"Zachary," I whispered into the phone, "our child... can't wait any longer."
The Kidney That Killed Me
A few months ago, my sister was hospitalized with kidney failure. The doctor said she needed a transplant. My family's first thought was me—the backup daughter they'd kept around all these years.
When my husband Allen took my hand with tears in his eyes and said, "Only you can save her," I agreed without hesitation.
When the doctor explained the surgical risks and potential complications, I smiled and nodded my understanding.
My parents said I'd finally learned what sisterly love meant.
Even Allen, who'd always been cold to me, held my hand gently and said, "The surgery's safe. You're so healthy, nothing will go wrong. When you recover, I'll take you to Hawaii."
But they don't know that no matter how the surgery goes, I won't be around to celebrate.
Because I just got my own test results—I have terminal brain cancer. I'm going to die anyway.
After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms
From first crush to wedding vows, George Capulet and I had been inseparable. But in our seventh year of marriage, he began an affair with his secretary.
On my birthday, he took her on vacation. On our anniversary, he brought her to our home and made love to her in our bed...
Heartbroken, I tricked him into signing divorce papers.
George remained unconcerned, convinced I would never leave him.
His deceptions continued until the day the divorce was finalized. I threw the papers in his face: "George Capulet, from this moment on, get out of my life!"
Only then did panic flood his eyes as he begged me to stay.
When his calls bombarded my phone later that night, it wasn't me who answered, but my new boyfriend Julian.
"Don't you know," Julian chuckled into the receiver, "that a proper ex-boyfriend should be as quiet as the dead?"
George seethed through gritted teeth: "Put her on the phone!"
"I'm afraid that's impossible."
Julian dropped a gentle kiss on my sleeping form nestled against him. "She's exhausted. She just fell asleep."
Alpha Nicholas's Little Mate
What? No—wait… oh Moon Goddess, no.
Please tell me you're joking, Lex.
But she's not. I can feel her excitement bubbling under my skin, while all I feel is dread.
We turn the corner, and the scent hits me like a punch to the chest—cinnamon and something impossibly warm. My eyes scan the room until they land on him. Tall. Commanding. Beautiful.
And then, just as quickly… he sees me.
His expression twists.
"Fuck no."
He turns—and runs.
My mate sees me and runs.
Bonnie has spent her entire life being broken down and abused by the people closest to her including her very own twin sister. Alongside her best friend Lilly who also lives a life of hell, they plan to run away while attending the biggest ball of the year while it's being hosted by another pack, only things don't quite go to plan leaving both girls feeling lost and unsure about their futures.
Alpha Nicholas is 28, mateless, and has no plans to change that. It's his turn to host the annual Blue Moon Ball this year and the last thing he expects is to find his mate. What he expects even less is for his mate to be 10 years younger than him and how his body reacts to her. While he tries to refuse to acknowledge that he has met his mate his world is turned upside down after guards catch two she-wolves running through his lands.
Once they are brought to him he finds himself once again facing his mate and discovers that she's hiding secrets that will make him want to kill more than one person.
Can he overcome his feelings towards having a mate and one that is so much younger than him? Will his mate want him after already feeling the sting of his unofficial rejection? Can they both work on letting go of the past and moving forward together or will fate have different plans and keep them apart?
Omega Bound
Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life.
Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination
The Human Among Wolves
My stomach twisted, but he wasn’t finished.
"You're just a pathetic little human," Zayn said, his words deliberate, each one hitting like a slap. "Spreading your legs for the first guy who bothers to notice you."
Heat rushed to my face, burning with humiliation. My chest ached — not from his words alone, but from the sick realization that I had trusted him. That I had let myself believe he was different.
I was so, so stupid.
——————————————————
When eigteen-year-old Aurora Wells moves to a sleepy town with her parents, the last thing she expects is to be enrolled in a secret academy for werewolves.
Moonbound Academy is no ordinary school. It's here young Lycans, Betas and Alphas train in shifting, elemental magic, and ancient pack laws. But Aurora? She's just...human. a mistake. The new receptionist forgot to check her species - and now she's surrounded by predators who sense she doesn't belong.
Determined to stay under the radar, Aurora plans to survive the year unnoticed. But when she catches the attention of Zayn, a brooding and infuriatingly powerful Lycan prince, her life gets a lot more complicated. Zayn already has a mate. He already has enemies. And he definitely doesn't want anything to do with a clueless human.
But secrets run deeper than bloodlines at Moonbound. as Aurora unravels the truth about the academy - and herself - she begins to question everything she thought she knew.
Including the reason she was brought here at all.
Enemies will rise. Loyalties will shift. And the girl with no place in their world...might be the key to saving it.
Surrendering to Destiny
Graham MacTavish wasn't prepared to find his mate in the small town of Sterling that borders the Blackmoore Packlands. He certainly didn't expect her to be a rogue, half-breed who smelled of Alpha blood. With her multi-colored eyes, there was no stopping him from falling hard the moment their mate bond snapped into place. He would do anything to claim her, protect her and cherish her no matter the cost.
From vengeful ex-lovers, pack politics, species prejudice, hidden plots, magic, kidnapping, poisoning, rogue attacks, and a mountain of secrets including Catherine's true parentage there is no shortage of things trying to tear the two apart.
Despite the hardships, a burning desire and willingness to trust will help forge a strong bond between the two... but no bond is unbreakable. When the secrets kept close to heart are slowly revealed, will the two be able to weather the storm? Or will the gift bestowed upon Catherine by the moon goddess be too insurmountable to overcome?
Shattered Girl
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Emmy Nichols is used to surviving. She survived her abusive father for years until he beat her so severely, she ended up in the hospital, and her father was finally arrested. Now, Emmy is thrown into a life she never expected. Now she has a mother
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When her stepbrothers and their best friend finally find her, will they pick up the pieces and convince Emmy that they will keep her safe and their love will hold them together?
Oops, Wrong Girl to Bully
My back hit the desk. Pain exploded through my skull.
"Girls like you don't get to dream about guys like Kai." Bella's breath was hot on my face. "You don't get to write pathetic love letters."
She shoved me again. Harder.
"Maybe if you weren't such a desperate little—"
I fell. My head cracked against the corner.
Warmth trickled down my neck. Blood.
Their laughter turned to gasps.
The door slammed.
I tried to stand. Couldn't. The room was spinning, fading to black.
Someone... please...
Angelina, the most powerful Alpha who conquered forty-nine packs, dies in a yacht explosion—only to wake up as Aria Sterling, a fifteen-year-old Omega's daughter who just died from bullying.
The original Aria's life was a nightmare. Humiliated when golden boy Kai Matthews posted her love letter online, then shoved to death by his girlfriend Bella Morrison. But that's not all her family faces:
"You got until Monday," the tattooed gangster sneered at Aria's mother. "Ten grand cash. Or I'm taking collateral—your kids' organs fetch top dollar. That pretty daughter of yours? She could make us money another way too."
Now Angelina's lethal combat skills awaken in this fragile body. No more hiding. No more fear.
Armed with an Alpha's ruthlessness and a mysterious blood-red pendant, she'll dismantle everyone who hurt this family—one calculated move at a time.












