A Kiss Against Fate

At the wedding venue, Marlee Turner stood unsteady on the grand stage, her eyes locked in disbelief on Caleb Burch, who would soon be her husband.

Just before that moment, she found out that Caleb's family had acquired her family's company, the Turner Group.

The devastating news resulted in her father jumping off the building, her mother being taken to the ICU, and her brother being arrested for causing injury accidentally.

Facing the man responsible for this turmoil, Marlee couldn't comprehend why this was happening.

She struggled to keep her composure and tried to hold back tears. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Coldly, Caleb admitted, "I married you just because I wanted to seek revenge on your family. Since we've been together for ages, I guess you can still be my wife."

Marlee let out a mixture of tears and laughter, and without hesitation, she raised her hand and gave him a resounding slap. He looked at her firmly and didn't dodge.

Marlee, who had been pampered and sheltered by her family since she was a kid, was forced to depend on him to make a living.

But then, Marlee gathered the train of her expensive wedding dress. She descended the stage, head held high, tears and pride shining in her eyes as she approached the main table.

She halted in her tracks, finally coming face-to-face with the man seated at the head of the main table.

That man was Adonis Horton, who had recently returned from overseas.

About six years ago, the Horton Group faced a severe crisis and potential bankruptcy when he was just a young man in his twenties. Determined to save his family's legacy, he had ventured abroad, shouldering the burden alone.

Fast forward to the present day, Adonis had not only restored the Horton Group's former glory but also elevated it to become one of the leading financial groups in the country.

Adonis had now become a prominent figure in Nulbury, their country's capital city.

He had a formidable shadow over all, particularly his rival Caleb, who continually aimed to surpass him but consistently fell short.

It was a mystery to everyone why Adonis attended the wedding, especially since the Burch and Turner families were insignificant in his world.

As Marlee locked eyes with Adonis, nervously fidgeting with her wedding dress, she mustered the courage to ask, "Do you still want to marry me?"

Her words sent ripples of surprise through the room.

Meanwhile, on stage, Caleb's face twisted in anger as he yelled, "What are you doing, Marlee? Come back!"

Marlee couldn't tear her gaze away from Adonis, her heart pounding with nerves.

The evening before, she had received a mysterious call that lingered in silence. She assumed it was the wrong number.

Just as she was about to hang up, a voice finally broke the silence on the other end, saying, "Marlee, I'm Adonis Horton. Do you want to marry me?"

Brushing it off as a prank, she cursed and ended the call.

However, with Adonis now present at her wedding, she began to wonder if the call could have been genuine. She knew she had to take a chance.

The only hope for her family's future rested with the man sitting before her.

Adonis casually lit a cigarette, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. Remaining silent for what felt like an eternity, Marlee's eyes began to well up until he casually asked, "Do you dare?"

Marlee laughed, responding, "What's there to fear?"

She leaned in, lowered her head, and boldly kissed his lips.

As their lips met, tears finally streamed down her face, touching the corners of their mouths.

The entire venue fell into stunned silence.

Caleb's face flushed with embarrassment. Marlee's daring act in front of everyone left him wondering if she was seeking revenge on him.

Caleb hastily descended the stage to stop her. His sudden move caused her to stagger, nearly losing her balance.

Adonis pulled her close with a possessiveness that left no room for doubt.

Caleb clenched his jaw, saying, "Adonis, don't you think it's wrong to steal my wife in front of everyone?"

Remaining composed, Adonis replied, "You haven't completed the formalities or obtained a marriage certificate, so how can she be considered your wife?"

Adding a touch of mockery, he continued, "And what's more shameless than a wolf in sheep's clothing, climbing the ladder with her family's support only to betray them?"

Those words struck Caleb hard, draining the color from his face.

"Let's go, my fiancée." Adonis, flashing a charming smile at Marlee, steered her away, wrapping his arm around her waist.

Feeling shielded in Adonis' embrace, Marlee peered through the sea of judgmental glares aimed at Caleb, finding some solace in the brewing tension dissolving. With Adonis by her side, exuding a commanding presence, no one dared to interfere.

Once settled inside the car, Marlee sat in silence, her gaze fixed downwards.

Sensing her sadness, Adonis broke the silence, "Feel free to let it out if you need to cry."

In fact, they were not familiar with each other.

Shaking her head, Marlee replied, "I don't want to cry. Could you please take me to the hospital?"

Her mother had been rushed to the hospital and was still in the ICU.

And with her father already in an accident, she couldn't afford any more setbacks.

Trembling and barely audible, Marlee's voice shook as she spoke.

Observing her closely, Adonis noted the redness in her eyes despite her insistence on holding back tears. He also noticed the blood stains on her wedding dress from the injury on her palm because she was pinching herself too hard.

"To the hospital," he told the driver.

They arrived at the hospital ten minutes later.

Marlee was in a rush to get inside when Adonis stopped her. He quickly removed the long hem of her wedding dress and draped his suit jacket over her.

She sprinted towards the operating room.

The doctor gently informed Marlee, "Miss Turner, your mother has suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, and her condition is critical. Please brace yourself."

Marlee's world momentarily stopped. Clinging tightly to the doctor, she pleaded, "Please, save my mom."

With her father gone and her brother imprisoned, she couldn't bear losing her mother as well.

Overwhelmed, tears flowed down her face as she struggled not to crumble.

Adonis steadied her, saving her from collapsing.

"Adonis. No, Mr. Horton, please save my mom. You're so powerful. There must be something you can do, right? I'll do anything. Just save her."

Desperately, she turned to him, grasping his arm.

"I'll promise you anything if you save my mom! I still have my family's company shares. I can give them all to you. Please," Marlee continued, choked with emotion.

Adonis gazed at her intensely, his brooding eyes boring into hers. Her offer of family shares didn't sway him since it was too little for him.

Without a word, he made a call and called in experts from the Horton Group's private hospital.

The surgery dragged on for four painstaking hours.

The doctor finally emerged, drained of energy.

He informed Marlee, "Your mother needs to go to the ICU for further monitoring, but she's out of immediate danger."

With the weight lifted off her chest after hours of anxiety, Marlee's body finally let go of its tension. But the sudden release overwhelmed her, causing her to black out.

Adonis caught her as she collapsed and didn't hesitate to bring her back to his villa.

Marlee slowly regained consciousness that evening.

She found herself in a bright, airy bedroom overlooking the city lights from afar.

She was completely disoriented.

"You're finally awake."

A deep voice broke the silence.

Startled, Marlee turned towards the voice. In the dim light, she could barely make out the man sitting on the sofa.

Despite his obscured features in the darkness, his mere presence commanded attention.

It was Adonis.

Marlee jumped up and expressed her gratitude sincerely, "Mr. Horton, thank you for everything. I don't know how to repay you."

"Remember when you promised to marry me?" His nonchalant voice interrupted Marlee's thoughts.

She was thrown off guard. She had mentioned it before, but she never expected him to take it seriously. In the past, her family may have had some clout to consider a partnership with his family.

However, given the current state of the Turner family, Marlee could only manage a wry smile.

"Mr. Horton, I don't think I'm suitable for you now, I..." Marlee began, unsure of how to proceed.

"Are you backing out of our deal?" His tone turned icy all of a sudden.

"No, I'm not," Marlee rushed to clarify.

"Then come here and kiss me." His voice, commanding and compelling in the darkness, left no room for argument.

Marlee hesitated briefly, her body betraying her as she approached him.

She felt trapped and dared not oppose him.

Standing before him, she hesitated, then timidly leaned forward.

Adonis peered at her intensely, his gaze shrouded in enigma.

Marlee braced herself, planting a gentle, fleeting kiss on his lips.

Unimpressed, he asked, "Do you even know how to kiss?"

With those words, he took matters into his own hands, guiding her head down and kissing her hard.

Adonis planted a forceful yet clumsy kiss on her, showing his persistence but not much finesse.

Marlee winced a bit from the pressure before he finally let her go. Then, out of the blue, he asked, "How many times have you kissed him?"

It took Marlee a moment to figure out he was referring to Caleb.

"Just a few times," she answered hesitantly.

Adonis' voice took on a deeper tone as he probed further, "How many times have you slept with him?"

Even Marlee, not exactly known for her quick thinking, sensed the warning in his voice. He seemed a bit impatient and a tad bit intimidating.

Marlee wasn't too keen on kissing, and she and Caleb had agreed to wait until after getting married to be intimate.

Feeling flustered, she admitted, "I haven't slept with him yet."

"You haven't?"

Adonis tightened his grip on her waist, locking eyes with her as he asked, "Are you still a virgin?"

Blushing, Marlee nodded in confirmation.

Adonis seemed pleased, a small smile dancing on his lips as he guided her to the bed, keeping a firm hold on her waist. "This is how you can pay me back," he remarked.

Marlee quickly grasped that Adonis only desired her physically.

It made her feel a bit self-conscious, realizing that her appearance and body were the main things catching his eye.

It seemed like she didn't have much else to offer him.

However, she had some reservations.

Politely, she gently pushed him away and asked, "Can we slow things down a bit?"

She wasn't ready to jump into anything intimate with him just yet.

His expression darkened as he asked, "Why?"

Sensing Marlee's hesitation, he stopped.

"I just saved your mother today," he reminded her.

Marlee's face went pale, her voice trembling as she replied, "I'm aware of that."

She knew full well that she was indebted to him.

Despite this, with her father's recent passing, her mother's critical condition, and her brother's imprisonment, she was not in a mental space to be intimate with him.

However, the bombshell Adonis dropped next completely shocked Marlee.

"Marlee, six years ago, I showed up at your doorstep to propose to you."  Suddenly, he started to caress her face and neck gently, whispering with a hint of danger in his tone, leaving her stunned and vulnerable.

"You might have forgotten, but back then, your family completely shut me out. And you were too busy tangled up in Caleb's arms to even spare me a second glance."

It was a turbulent time in his life due to his family's issues. The Hortons had once shared a strong bond with the Turners, and in his time of need, Adonis sought help and even proposed to Marlee.

Marlee shuddered violently, staring at him in disbelief. She had no clue about this, as her parents had never mentioned it to her.

It struck her that Adonis had aimed to marry her as a form of revenge against Caleb.

A chill swept over her, fear gripping her entirely, as Adonis' true intentions became clear.

"Look at me, Marlee. Take a good look. I'm the one meant for you," Adonis' words carried a demanding edge.

In the next moment, a sharp pain seared through her as he entered her body gently.

Tears streamed down Marlee's cheeks as she struggled to contain her sobs.

But Adonis wasn't ready to let her off the hook easily. He continuously demanded she scream his name.

Pieces of his name fractured out of Marlee's lips as he wished.

Through broken sobs, fragments of his name escaped Marlee's lips as he desired.

The next morning, she woke up feeling achy all over, the sheets slipping off her and love bites marking her collarbone.

These were the signs that Adonis had claimed her.

Feeling devastated, Marlee cried silently. She had been sheltered and cared for by her parents for so long, never experiencing such pain before.

At that moment, she felt like nothing more than a possession.

"Does sleeping with me make you feel so wronged?"

As the bathroom door swung open from the inside, Marlee hadn't even had a chance to wipe her tears.

Adonis casually wrapped a towel around himself, water droplets gliding down his toned abs and vanishing into the fabric.

"No," came her simple response.

She turned away, wiping her tears. She could endure anything as long as it meant saving her mother and brother.

Adonis reached out, pinching her cheeks playfully and studying her tear-streaked face. He tenderly wiped her eyes with his rough fingers.

"Get ready in thirty minutes and be prepared to leave."

His gaze lingered on the bathroom door she closed as he tried to collect his thoughts.

Glancing down at the tears on his fingertips, he pondered whether being with him caused her such distress.

He couldn't comprehend her strong aversion towards him.

As the car pulled up at the City Hall, Marlee felt a surge of panic.

"Why are we here?" She asked.

"Miss Turner, haven't you remember our deal? You agreed yesterday to marry me as a gesture of thanks for saving your family. Are you planning to break your promise now?"