loveaftermarriage

To the world, Princess Ilaria of Caelwyn is a bride of duty. To her heart, she is a woman desperately chasing the love of the husband who will not look her way. All she ever wanted was for him to care; for him to turn his gaze toward her with the same fervor she carried in her heart. No matter how many times he pushed her away, no matter how cold the silence between them became, she never gave up. Not once did she allow herself to see him as someone unworthy of her love. To her, he was always worth it. And when love at last took root, when it bloomed against every storm that tried to tear them apart; when two hearts finally found each other and dared to beat as one… fate, as cruel and merciless as it is, reminded them that there were forces even love could never conquer. --EXCERPT-- Levan pressed his lips to her temple, his lips trembling as though the kiss itself might shatter him. One hand cradled her face with the kind of gentleness he had never shown anyone, while the other threaded weakly through her hair, trying futilely to soothe the sobs wracking his wife's body. His breath break unevenly, his eyes were shut tight, as if by closing them he could pretend this moment would never come. As if the world might let them stay this way forever. As if the reality of it all could be discarded just so that they could live however they wanted. He let his mouth fall against her cheek and linger there, tasting the salt of her tears as though they were his own. He did not move for a long while… because if this sorrow was the final piece of her he was allowed to carry, he wanted to etch it into his very soul. He wanted to remember the way she shook in his arms. He wanted to remember the sound of her muffled cries. He wanted to remember the warmth of her skin pressed so desperately against him. He wanted to remember her as his wife; his beloved. "Live, my love," he whispered, his voice raw and breaking, the words choking out of him like a prayer he could barely force past his throat. He buried his face against her hair so she would not see the tears spilling freely down his cheeks. "Even if it's far from me… live." --×-- >> Tags: [soft comfort • fluff • slow-paced *very* • angst • sweet • romance • slow burn • comedy • fantasy] >> Here if you like SLOW BURN angsty romance. >> Main conflict starts wayyy later. >> Word count per chapter: 1.5k ~ 2.3k

“Please, let me touch you,” his voice breaks, pleading. I laugh, overwhelmed by the irony of the situation. Because the very man who persecuted me so much is now the one reduced to nothing before me. His hair is a mess, eyes baggy with dark circles that note the sleepless nights. Those eyes once only reflected hatred for me, but now they’re begging desperately. “Why won’t you just let me come to you? Why does that bastard have to be near you all he wants but I’m not given any moment to even smell you?!!” His rage is laced with pain, his voice filled with bitterness and evident fear. Fear of losing me. “Why?” I ask. My voice is low, but steady. “Why should I let the man who’s abused me for so long come anywhere near me? Why should I give the man who’s watched his family and everyone humiliate me every moment of my life a chance?” My eyes burn with rage, tears welling up as I think back to the countless torture I had to endure. “Tell me why I should come back to the man who’s questioned my dignity and let another woman take my place!!!” “No, Lei, no,” his voice shakes, quiet as though every word costs him. The sound of his voice is barely audible, like it is drowning in regrets too heavy to undo. He draws near, hands trembling with eyes wide with guilt and regret. “It’s all over now. Sign the divorce papers if you still have a bit of a conscience left inside.” His quivering face turns tight with anger. “Why? So you can run off to those good for nothing goons who leer lustfully at you?!” His voice lowers, but remain steady and stern. “I will never let you go, Lei. Never!” I smile. My defiant eyes alone telling all there is to know. Because for me, there is never going back to him. •••••••• Leiara Rhys, the sole heiress to the Rhys Development, has always faced life head-on with one motto: “If it isn’t death, how bad can it be?” When she’s forced into an arranged marriage with Colson Hayes, heir to a rival company, she braces herself like always, determined to bury the fear, the pain, the grief deep inside. But nothing prepares her for the cold hatred in her husband’s eyes. A hatred rooted in a grudge she doesn’t understand. As Colson quietly vows to ruin her, Leiara becomes a pawn trapped between two powerful families and impossible expectations. Abused and subjected to all sorts of violence by her husband, family and his lover, Leiara’s carefully guarded heart begins to fracture. After all, the human heart isn’t a diamond that cannot break, nor a barrel that cannot overflow. When Leiara discovers that she isn’t the main character in this marriage but merely the mistress, the world she built on pain begins to crack. Forced to coexist with the main character, the true focus of her husband’s affection, she must remain in the background as she always has. But just when she’s ready to stop hoping and let go, something utterly unexpected happens. The very man whose eyes once reflected only her mistakes and imperfections now holds a tenderness and longing she doesn’t know how to trust. A boundless love she cannot seem to fully explore. And for Leiara, the irony of it all is just too cruel, yet too breaking to ignore. But one thing is for sure; she is no longer a puppet to be mistreated as they see fit.

Kang Hauen’s family is on the brink of ruin. To save them, she agrees to a contract marriage with Kim Suho, a cold CEO who demands a child within a year. The marriage is strictly business: no love, only duty. Yet, living under the same roof, Hauen discovers the man behind the icy exterior is more complicated than she imagined. But Suho’s heart belongs to another, the woman he truly loves. Trapped between obligation, desire, and jealousy, Hauen must navigate a world of luxury, secrets, and intimacy she never expected. In a marriage built on contracts, who will win the battle of hearts, and who will break first?

His lips hovered near her ear, his voice a dark whisper against her skin. "You may fear me, little bride, but I will teach your body to crave me… to need me, until I am all you ever want." --- Belle was never meant to be the bride. But when her parents cried to her about how her beautiful sister could not be married to such a man, she was forced to take her sister’s place. To prevent war between the two worlds of humans and vampires, the kings decided to sign a peace treaty with a marriage, but the only man they could offer for this marriage was a vampire said to be mad and completely heartless. When they said heartless, they meant really heartless, but Belle, being a naive girl her whole life, had no idea what she was stepping into by agreeing to this marriage. At first, he appeared innocent, a man completely opposite to all the rumors around him, until she slowly began to realize every single thing said about the mad vampire was true, or perhaps even worse! He was a man who walked in the path of darkness. He knew no light and showed no mercy, even to those who were not his enemies. He had no heart to love, no emotions but dark ones to feel for anything or anyone. But all of a sudden, when he set his eyes on her, he decided he wanted to keep her, and Belle's naive world began to take a different turn because the mad vampire was hellbent on tainting her innocent soul. Expect "Now, can we forget this happened and enjoy the night?" He arched an amused brow at her, making Belle's heart drop to her stomach as she recalled the so-called wedding night. She hurriedly pulled away from him, her face flaming with embarrassment. From everything she had heard about this night, she was not ready to experience it with this man. The women whispering about it in Mr. Marchant's shop had said one would hate their husband's presence after it and be disgusted by the act. It was not an act meant for pleasure for any woman but torture. Now that she realized her husband would do the same with her, she swallowed hard and nervously clutched her dress. "I...I am not feeling well, My Lord, I—" "Rohan," he cut her off with a tone of amusement. "Use my name when you address me, sweetheart. You looked quite energetic when you tried to go after the ring for someone who isn't feeling well, but," he sighed softly, "I've always been a generous man. I won't let you stress yourself tonight." Belle began to sigh in relief and smile in her mind that he wouldn't push her for the wedding night ceremony. She was even about to part her lips and agree that he was indeed generous and even offer him a thank you when he continued to speak, causing the momentary relief to be replaced by dread. "I will pamper you tonight, and you won’t have to lift a hand. I will give you all the pleasure since you are feeling unwell. Take it as the first lesson in my plan to make you forget love and welcome lust." "...!" "Lie on the bed for me, Isa." Belle felt her throat go dry at that strict command. "I...I..." She began but could not find any words to say to make him spare her tonight. What had she got herself into? Belle thought as a pit seemed to form in her stomach, a deep, gnawing dread. "Do you need me to carry you to the bed, or would you rather walk there yourself?" Rohan questioned with dark mirth in his voice and eyes as he watched her like a hawk. He could tell she was nervous, but what to do? She had brought herself into his world. Belle began to walk slowly to the bed at a snail’s pace, as if delaying it would help prevent the dreadful act from happening tonight. She could feel him following closely behind her. When she reached the bed, she used her shaky hands to move the drapes aside and carefully sat at the edge of it, her hands folded nervously on her lap. She felt his piercing gaze on her, but she dared not look up at him. "Lie down," he ordered softly. MATURE CONTENT, NO RAPE!!

Content Warning: Contains mature themes that may be unsuitable for underaged readers. Excerpt Ragnar finally looked up. His eyes roamed her face, then dropped lower and lingered just a second too long. “Careful, princess. Keep taunting me like that and I’ll start thinking you like our nightly sparring.” “And if I did?” Her voice was soft now. Almost playful. “Would you stop pretending that you don't like it when I challenge you?” He rose from his seat slowly until he stood toe to toe with her. “Tell me something, Circe.” She tilted her chin up. “What?” “If I kissed you right now… Would you slap me, stab me, or kiss me back?” Her breath hitched. “That depends.” “On?” “How good the kiss is.” A pause. Something hummed between them, something neither of them dared name. Ragnar’s gaze dropped to her mouth. “Do you want me to find out?” She smiled, slow and wicked. “Make it worth the risk.” **** She was forced to marry the man who led the attack on her people. After her father is murdered, Circe is forced to leave her home and become a prisoner of the enemy. When she is taken to the enemy territory, she expects to be tortured physically in every way imaginable. But what she hadn't expected was for the vampire king to offer her up as a bride to his illegitimate son, the very same man that had her people slaughtered. It was a fate worse than torture. With her little brother's life on the line and with nowhere to run, Circe is forced to succumb to her fate. Right then she vowed in the name of her dead father to bring her husband to his knees. She would have her revenge, even if it meant destroying herself in the process. From the first time Prince Ragnar laid eyes on Circe, he knew she was going to be trouble. But trouble had never looked so intriguing. She was a puzzle he couldn't solve and that fact only drew him closer. Like a moth to a flame, she threatened to consume him. She would be his very own demise. Circe's presence in Lamora awoke something sinister, a malicious entity roaming the lands. From dusk till dawn, the streets of Lamora becomes engulfed in a strange fog and from within the voice of a woman can be heard. Anyone who wanders out at night when the fog comes, vanishes seemingly without a trace. Never to be found again. what happens when Circe's brother becomes a victim of this evil presence? What happens when Circe has no other choice but to team up with her husband, who she despises, in order to find the truth behind the disappearances and the evil magic plaguing their lands.

Katherine has never had anything. Abandoned at birth. Raised in an orphanage she ran from at fifteen. Survived the streets. Became a stripper because it paid better than starving. So when a desperate wealthy family offers her a deal, she takes it without thinking twice. The deal: Pretend to be their daughter Elena till they find the real one and Walk down the aisle. Marry the man Elena was promised to. The man: Damien Corsetti. Billionaire. Ruthless. Rumored to have killed his first wife for betraying him. Katherine isn't scared. She's been through worse than some rich man with a reputation. Besides, she's not staying. She'll play the bride, take the money, and vanish. Except Damien doesn't let her vanish. Except Damien looks at her like he's been waiting for her to slip up since the moment she said "I do." Katherine thinks she's running a con. But Damien doesn't get conned. Damien doesn't get fooled. And Damien definitely doesn't let go of what's his. She wanted a fairy tale. She got a nightmare dressed in a three-piece suit. And the worst part? She's starting to like it.

Lyra Ashford, a young doctor, believed her life with her fiancé, Lucas Arden, was just beginning. But everything changed when Lucas suddenly left to go abroad, postponing their wedding without even asking her. He simply assumed she would wait for him to return. But Lyra, to protect her family, she agreed to marry Rowan Pierce instead—a man she never imagined she could love. At the altar, Rowan made it clear he would not accept a marriage of convenience. He wanted Lyra to choose him freely, not out of obligation.

she thought after graduation it’d be boring, like blazers and deadlines and maybe shitty coffee. not… this. not waking up next to someone who could buy a whole city just because he felt like it. fate probably packed its bag, booked a one-way flight, and said “good luck, babe,” because what kind of joke is marrying the man everyone whispers about but no one’s actually seen? he doesn’t talk much. he doesn’t need to. the room bends around him, and somehow she’s the idiot standing there pretending she’s not scared. he’s cold, or that’s what she tells herself, until he’s not. until the smile looks like danger and the touch feels like a threat dressed up as affection. and maybe it’s love. maybe it’s something uglier. maybe it’s both, tangled so tight she can’t tell which is choking her first. either way, there’s no running. not from him. not from what he is. Welcome to Lords of Obsession. Where love doesn't bloom. It bleeds. --- THE HUNTER LORDS OF OBSESSION BOOK ONE

How can Ruyan escape her shameless prince… when he won’t let her go and her heart refuses to listen? Will the dangerous prince make her fall for him, or will the secrets she hides drive him away?

DISCLAIMER‼️ This novel is a work of fiction. All names, cities, events, and characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people or situations is purely coincidental. Do not copy, paste, or redistribute any part of this story without the author’s permission. Follow IG: @cahyaniputeri95 ●●●●● Dewi thought marrying Topan—the coldest young CEO in all of Florentia—would mean a life full of rules and piercing stares. And she wasn’t wrong. The man is strict, unpredictable, and makes her heart work overtime every single day. But behind his icy attitude and that deep baritone that always sounds angry, Dewi starts noticing things she never expected: small gestures, rushed touches, and quiet protectiveness that slowly turns her world upside down. Just when their marriage begins to warm up, a storm from her family hits hard. A hidden truth about her parents is revealed. Merry is not her father’s biological daughter. Old affairs resurface, and divorce threatens to tear Dewi’s family apart. Before Dewi can breathe, Topan’s past shows up at their door—Marinka, the ex-fiancée who once ruined his life. And then there’s Ryuji, Topan’s older brother… the man from Dewi’s own dark past. The man who left her years ago for a model. Brotherly conflict, the Sagara family’s chaos, anger, miscarriage, and the fear of losing each other slowly eat them alive. Can Dewi and Topan keep holding on… when the world keeps pulling them in opposite directions? ......... “As long as you’re my wife, I’ll protect you. Whatever it is, just be honest with me. I’m here… and I won’t leave.” “Why don’t we just separate?! Why?! Don’t force something that’s already broken from the start!” .........

[Warning: Mature Content, R18+] [Detailed Smut] [Strictly for Adults Only] Mixed POV: 3rd & 1st POV Soundtrack available on YT, IG, & FB SONG TITLE: 1. Claim Me - Shiroi Nami (Claim Me Captain! I'm Addicted to You!) 2. Found My Home - Shiroi Nami (Claim Me Captain! I'm Addicted to You!) Georgia Lewis had a carefully planned future. Her longtime billionaire boyfriend proposed marriage, promising protection and financial freedom. But everything was shattered in an instant. Her brother’s tragic death at sea was initially pinned on a disgraced ship captain. Then, the case was closed and declared a drunken accident, but the wounds never healed on either side. Georgia was left to pick up the pieces: Left with an orphaned niece, a dying family business, and dealing with the angry people whom her father and brother owed money that was used to revive their agency… in fear. To make things worse, she was pushed overboard into the midnight sea before her wedding. Thought dead by everyone on the ship, she survives... barely... only to be rescued by the last man she ever wanted to see again— Captain Nicholas Knight, the man once accused of her brother’s murder. Georgia is forced to trust Nick as she recovers. He is intense, stoic, and shockingly kind—nothing like the killer she imagined. As the days pass, she learns more about who Nicholas really was, but Georgia remains haunted by betrayal and secrets. Nick risks his life for her, and despite his hunger for her, he vowed to protect her, not use her. He teaches her how to fight, how to survive—and how to trust again. Determined to protect Georgia, Nick finally steps into his destiny. But enemies are everywhere. As passion and danger collide, Georgia and Nick must fight for their future, outsmart powerful enemies, and uncover a murderous conspiracy hiding in plain sight. But revenge comes at a price, and so does love. Yet the more she resists him, the more addicted she becomes. And when the world wants to silence her… He’s the only one who’ll burn it down to save her. Excerpt: “Goddammit, wake up! Don’t you dare die on me! I swear, if you make me regret jumping from that fucking moving ship—!” Her lashes fluttered, blurred by seawater and tears. “Are you awake?” the voice came again. He was closer now, his breath warm against her cheek. “Can you hear me?!” “I’m begging you… Don’t tell anyone you found me… Someone tried to kill me…” His brows furrowed. “What…? Were you pushed overboard?” Georgia barely managed to nod. But her body had had enough. “Yes…” Then the memories crashed back. Salt water, freezing winds, her body going numb in the ocean… “Don’t come any closer!” she hissed. "I swear to God, I’ll scream if you come one step closer, you pervert!” “I know you...” Nick stiffened. “What now?” “You murdering son of a bitch!” she roared. Georgia grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it at him. “What the hell? Are you insane?!” he barked, dodging the pillow. “You’re Nicholas Knight! You killed my brother!” Seeing her trembling, he lifted her effortlessly. “Let go of me!” she shrieked, squirming violently. “Stop—shit!” Nick lost his balance. “Maniac!” she declared. That’s when he felt it. Something soft. Plush. His head dropped like a guillotine blade, fast and sharp. His eyes locked on his right hand, which was currently cupping her like he was holding a fragile fruit from the gods. His soul left his body. But his body betrayed him. He was as hard as rock in an instant… Eyes bulging, jaw dropping, Nick choked on a curse. “Fuck.” Too bad he whispered it directly into Georgia’s face. Georgia's knee rocketed upward like a heat-seeking missile. “How dare you touch me, you Captain Pervert! Murderer!” she hissed like a vengeful sea witch. Nick wheezed in pain, clutching his groin. “I saved your life…”

Marriage is sacred and or so Emily thought until the night when her adoptive parents gave her away in marriage to a street kingpin to pay off their debt. The next morning she was at the marriage registry, for fear not to lose her life...First stroke, second stroke and the marriage was sealed. Who would have thought that few days later, her cold face boss would stop by her table "Wife, Haven't you calmed down enough to come home?" Emily met his gaze "Mr. Lucian, you don't make such jokes, my husband wouldn't take it lightly." Lucian clicked his tongue "Wife, do you have another husband aside from me?Maybe you should take a look at this." Emily "...."

California has two sides: the glittering elite and the forgotten poor. Seraphim Stones lives on the wrong side — a 25-year-old woman juggling dead-end jobs while caring for her dying grandmother, the only family she has left. Desperate to save Nana’s life, Seraphim agrees to a deal that shatters her pride and chains her to the ruthless billionaire, Grey Williams. Cold. Arrogant. Calculating. Grey doesn’t believe in love — but he believes in control. And Seraphim is the perfect pawn for his selfish games. But what happens when his puppet starts pulling on his own strings? Bound by contract, torn between survival and self-respect, Seraphim must navigate a dangerous world of lies, power, and forbidden desire… and discover whether her heart can survive the price of saving the only person she loves.

It all started with a contract. They wanted her to pretend that she loves them in an exchange for the informations she wanted. And yet.. Renzille Drayne Thillion was one of the hailed war heroes after she helped put an end to a brutal war of five years. However, this war hero was shattered by betrayal when she discovered her husband naked with her half-sister in their shared bed. Then, to make matters worse, Renzille unexpectedly faced an execution by her father's hand after witnessing her husband's infidelity. She expected that it was truly her end, that she was forsaken to experience all of this no matter what, but she awaken to two days before her coming-of-age ceremony, six years before the war ended. She was still hurt about the act of infidelity in her last life so she ended up entering a contractual marriage instead. After getting married, she quickly entered contracted relationships to those who can offer something about her enemies and those who has something against her father— the only person who had tried to make her first and second life a living hell. But oh, her trouble didn't end there. Over time, she had noticed that her former husband had started pursuing her relentlessly in her second life. Her contractual relationships came in clutch in the instances when he appears and decided to push himself on her— the beastmen helped keep him at bay. However.. Why did it feel like those beastmen were actually aiming to drive not only him away, but also the future possible suitors?

On the night of her engagement, Stella Norton, the adopted and unworthy second daughter of James Norton, is accused of infidelity and replaced by her own sister. Humiliated and heartbroken, Stella is cast out of the hall under her father’s orders while her mother looks on. In a daze of pain and betrayal, she wanders into a club, desperate to drown her sorrow—only to fall into the arms of a stranger ~Adrian Carter~ whose presence feels dangerously magnetic. By morning, she wakes to a shocking reality. Adrian holding out a marriage certificate. “Mate, we’re married,” he said. "What mate?" What marriage?" "We were never school mates, how do you call me mate?" She shrieked. Adrian Carter, the cold and mysterious heir of the Carter Empire had a secret no one knows…he is the Alpha of the most powerful pack in Crown City. But fate doesn’t stop at secrets. As their worlds collide, Stella discovers that her own past is far from ordinary. Hidden truths, prophecies, bonds, and dark forces begin to rise—testing not only their love but their very fate. Will their marriage survive the storm of destiny? Can love survive when destiny itself demands blood and truth? Or will it consume them both?

The rules were simple: marry Damian Cross, play the perfect wife, and never let him see the truth. To the world, Ava Sinclair is the picture of elegance poised, wealthy, untouchable. But behind the mask lies a woman on borrowed time, driven by one obsession: uncover what happened to her sister, Lily, who vanished after crossing paths with Damian a year ago. Damian Cross is everything the rumors promise ruthless, brilliant, and dangerously captivating. He built his empire on secrets and shadows, and when Ava steps into his world, he recognizes a liar in his arms. Yet instead of exposing her, he binds her closer, offering her a contract that turns her hunt for answers into a deadly game of proximity. In his fortress of glass and stone, every smile hides a trap, every kiss blurs the line between truth and deception. Ava swore she would never fall for the man who might have destroyed her sister’s life but the deeper she digs, the more she realizes Damian Cross may be the only man who can shatter her… or save her. Because in this marriage built on lies, one truth is undeniable: No one leaves Damian Cross unscathed.

He is the legendary king that rules the business empire with formidable power and influence. She is just a normal female student. A deal is made between them—a paper marriage with a validity of four years. Four years later, she turns away from the relationship without a backward glance. At first, she imagines that their worlds will never collide again, but he keeps bearing down on her, occupying her everything as he refuses to let go. Why is he interfering when she gets a bit closer to another man?! "Ethan Laurent, we've already split up! We're done! It's over!" “Oh really? Then you'll have to ask for his opinion first.” With that, he pushes a little bun into her arms with an indifferent expression. The adorable little bun looks at her with big, sparkling eyes.

(This is a love story disguised with abuse!) "Mia Lowder is just a waste!" "Mia Lowder is too vicious, she framed her sister and even hit her own mother." "A person like her should just get out of Falwood." At a banquet, everyone surrounded Mia Lowder, who was sitting in a wheelchair, and cursed her. Suddenly, the cold and ruthless Mr. Grant appeared, protecting her in his arms, "She is my wife, damn it! Anyone who dares to touch her, try it!" Four years ago, she became crippled because of him and left Falwood in despair. Four years later, she insists on marrying him. Everyone was waiting for Benjamin Grant to abandon her again, but no one knew that Mr. Grant had set a trap for a full four years, just so she could return to his side. Soon after, he spoiled Mia Lowder to the extreme, to the point of obsession. Only then did the people of Falwood realize that Mr. Grant was unwell, and pampered his wife recklessly!

She's a photography genius. However, she finds herself bullied by her stepmother and stepsister, and thus, isn't able to showcase her talent. He's the young master of Sharp Edge Group, cold and ruthless. However, he fancies her. With a marriage certificate, he forces her to marry him. She goes from a fallen Cinderella to an enviable Young Madam Lu. He supports her as she soars freely in the world of photography. Oppression and anti-oppression, hunting and fleeing. They are destined to be entangled for a lifetime.

[Pure • Sweet • Enemies-to-Lovers • 1v1] Yun Ran—master physician, poisoner, and martial artist—was living her best life until lightning rewrote her résumé: now she’s the abused eldest daughter of a noble house. Forced into a wedding sedan by her scheming sister, she lands beside Highness Nangong Mo, rumored blind, crippled, and dying. Wedding-night script: Highness: “I’m a broken man; divorce me and be free.” Yun Ran (tearful): “I’ll stay till your last breath.” Inner monologue he hears: [Divorce? Why? Free mansion, endless gold. Once you croak, I’ll bury you and keep it all. Chef’s kiss.] Highness smiles thinly: “Charming plan, my dear.”