
Life Beyond I Do
Marianna · Completed · 210.8k Words
Introduction
"Bastard," I gasped, but my pussy was clenching around him, pulling him deeper. "You're such a bastard."
"Say it." He reached between us, finding my clit, circling it with his thumb in that way he knew drove me crazy.
"Say you're mine and I'll make you come."
From college sweethearts to getting married at the end of sophomore year, Lily thought she was the happiest bride in the world. She was so in love with Ryan that she missed the worried looks from her friends and parents. She ignored the fact that their marriage was a secret, the smell of other women’s perfume on Ryan, and how he always left when his phone rang. For two years, Lily held the marriage together by herself. She even spent her whole senior year secretly helping Ryan’s company with her technical skills, using a false name.
She gave everything—her love and her talent—but only got disappointment in return. Ryan said he missed her graduation because of traffic, but Lily saw him on the news with another woman at the hospital. Lily wanted to leave, but Ryan’s apologies and their physical closeness kept pulling her back. As her love faded, the baby growing inside her became the one thing holding her to him.
Will Lily find the courage to leave and start over, or will she stay trapped in her golden cage?
Chapter 1
Lily's POV
The ivory silk felt cool against my skin as I turned slowly before the three-paneled mirror. The boutique's VIP fitting room smelled of expensive fabric and possibility—the kind of place I'd only ever walked past before. Now here I was, watching a girl in a wedding dress spin in the reflection, her face flushed with happiness that felt almost too bright to be real.
"I can't believe this is happening," I whispered, smoothing down the simple A-line skirt. "It feels like a dream."
"Lily, sweetie." Megan's voice carried that careful tone she used when she was trying not to hurt my feelings. She knelt beside me, adjusting the hem with practiced hands. "Are you absolutely sure about this? You're only twenty..."
"And you barely know him." Ellie crossed her arms, her frown deepening the tiny crease between her eyebrows. "Two years isn't that long, Lily. Plus this whole secret wedding thing—I can't even tell my parents? That's just weird."
My fingers tightened on the delicate lace of my sleeves. I'd known this conversation was coming. They'd been dropping hints for weeks, gentle at first, then increasingly worried. But they didn't understand. They hadn't seen Ryan's face when his grandfather died, hadn't held him through those endless nights when the weight of Carter Industrial threatened to crush him. They didn't know what it was like to be someone's only safe harbor in a storm.
"He has his reasons," I said softly, meeting their eyes in the mirror. "Family complications. You know how it is with these old money families—everything has to be timed perfectly."
The lie tasted bitter on my tongue, but what else could I say? That I didn't really understand it myself? That sometimes late at night I wondered why the man who said he loved me needed to keep me hidden?
Megan exchanged a look with Ellie. "Lily—"
The door burst open.
Ryan stood in the doorway, and my breath caught. He looked exactly like what he was: a man who belonged in boardrooms and private clubs, not boutique fitting rooms on a Tuesday afternoon. His charcoal suit was perfectly tailored, his cedarwood cologne mixing with the room's floral air freshener, but his eyes—his eyes looked haunted.
"Ryan?!" Megan and Ellie gasped in unison.
"You can't be here!" Ellie practically shrieked. "It's bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding!"
Megan was already pulling Ellie toward the door, shooting me a worried glance over her shoulder. "We'll just... give you two a minute."
The door clicked shut. Suddenly the spacious fitting room felt impossibly small, filled only with the sound of my heart hammering against my ribs and the rustle of silk as I turned to face him fully.
"Ryan?" My voice came out smaller than I intended. "What are you doing here? I thought we agreed—"
He crossed the room in three long strides and pulled me into his arms with a force that knocked the air from my lungs. His grip was almost desperate, like he was trying to anchor himself to something solid. I could feel his heart racing against my cheek, could feel the tremor in his hands as they pressed against my back.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Lily." His voice was rough, muffled against my shoulder. "You know I love you, right? You know that?"
I froze. The question itself wasn't strange—we said it to each other all the time. But the way he asked it, the raw desperation in his tone, made my stomach twist with an emotion I couldn't quite name.
"Of course," I whispered, my arms coming up to hold him back. "Of course I know—"
"No." He pulled back just enough to look at my face, his hands gripping my shoulders. His eyes were wild, almost fevered. "I need you to say it. Tell me. Tell me that I love you."
The fitting room tilted slightly. This wasn't right. People didn't ask to be told they loved someone—they just did. But looking at his face, seeing the desperation there, I felt my heart crack open with a tenderness that hurt.
He was under so much pressure, I thought. The company, his family, everything. He just needed reassurance. He needed to know I believed in him.
I cupped his face in my hands, forcing him to meet my eyes. "Ryan Carter," I said slowly, clearly, "you love me. I know you love me."
His shoulders sagged like I'd cut some invisible string holding him upright. "I'm sorry," he whispered, pulling me close again. "God, Lily, I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?" I tried to pull back to see his face, but he held me tighter. "You haven't done anything wrong. You don't need to apologize to me."
He didn't answer. Just held me like that for what felt like hours but was probably only minutes. Then his phone buzzed—once, twice, three times. He ignored it until the fourth buzz, when I felt him glance at the screen over my shoulder.
In that brief moment, I caught a glimpse of the name on the display: Chloe.
My heart stuttered. I didn't know who Chloe was—he'd never mentioned that name before. But something about the way his whole body tensed, the way his grip on me tightened for just a fraction of a second before he let go, sent a chill down my spine.
First he'd broken the wedding superstition, showing up when he shouldn't have. Now a woman I didn't know was texting him urgently enough to make him look like that.
"I have to go," he said abruptly, releasing me so suddenly I stumbled slightly in my heels. "There's an emergency. I'll—I'll make it up to you. Tomorrow. I promise."
And then he was gone, leaving only the ghost of his cologne and the imprint of his fingers on my shoulders.
And that name, burning in my mind like a brand: Chloe.
I stood there in my wedding dress, staring at the closed door, trying to understand what had just happened. The silk suddenly felt too tight, too heavy, like it was trying to suffocate me.
The door flew open again. Megan and Ellie rushed in, their faces a mixture of concern and something that looked almost like anger.
"Lily." Ellie's voice was sharp. "Did you smell that?"
I blinked. "Smell what?"
"The perfume." She crossed her arms. "Ryan reeked of jasmine. Women's perfume, Lily. Not just a little bit—a lot."
Last Chapters
#190 Chapter 190
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#189 Chapter 189
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#188 Chapter 188
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#187 Chapter 187
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#186 Chapter 186
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#185 Chapter 185
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#184 Chapter 184
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#183 Chapter 183
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#182 Chapter 182
Last Updated: 4/13/2026#181 Chapter 181
Last Updated: 4/13/2026
You Might Like 😍
After the Affair: Falling into a Billionaire's Arms
I’d appreciate all your support, thank you so much!
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."
Offside With You
At the hospital, Asher falls into a coma. His scans reveal bruises, internal bleeding and signs of prolonged physical abuse. Broken and furious, Aveline vows to expose the cruelty hidden behind the prestige of Crestwood Academy.
Cutting off her hair and disguising herself as her brother, Aveline infiltrates Crestwood Academy and fights her way onto the hockey team determined to unmask those responsible. Revenge should have been simple until she meets Kieran Hampton, the team’s arrogant and sharp-eyed star player. From their first clash, tension ignites. Aveline is certain he’s guilty and has no problem making his life miserable, but their undeniable chemistry only draws them closer with every confrontation.
While Aveline focuses on the wrong target, the real threat stands closer.
Cassian Thorne seems strange at first, his interest in her uncomfortably personal yet he gradually becomes her friend. Meanwhile, Kieran despite believing Aveline is male finds himself drawn to “him” in ways he can’t understand. When he uncovers her true identity, he chooses to protect her at all costs even as she refuses to trust him.
Revenge turns to grief when Asher dies, leaving Aveline drowning in guilt for falling for her brother’s supposed tormentor. Questions remain unanswered, and the truth is far darker than she imagined because Asher Carter was never just a victim. The bullying wasn’t just random.
As secrets unravel and loyalties shatter, Aveline must face one devastating question: what happens when the brother you were ready to destroy the world for isn’t who you thought he was?
From Substitute To Queen
Heartbroken, Sable discovered Darrell having sex with his ex in their bed, while secretly transferring hundreds of thousands to support that woman.
Even worse was overhearing Darrell laugh to his friends: "She's useful—obedient, doesn't cause trouble, handles housework, and I can fuck her whenever I need relief. She's basically a live-in maid with benefits." He made crude thrusting gestures, sending his friends into laughter.
In despair, Sable left, reclaimed her true identity, and married her childhood neighbor—Lycan King Caelan, nine years her senior and her fated mate. Now Darrell desperately tries to win her back. How will her revenge unfold?
From substitute to queen—her revenge has just begun!
A PRINCESS IN DISGUISE; BOUND TO THE ENEMY KING
I fell to my knees, the cold marble digging into my skin. I had studied for years in the flickering candlelight, memorizing every herb and poison to pass the healer's exam. I wanted freedom. I wanted to save my mother from the servant's quarters. I placed second. I thought I had won my life back.
But the King didn't give me a badge of honor. He gave me a death sentence.
"Raven Thorne shall be wed to the King of Grok," he announced, his voice echoing in the silent hall. Princess Ellie, the woman who had tormented me for years, slapped her hands over her mouth to hide her cruel laughter. She was supposed to marry the Beast. Now, I was the lamb being sent to the slaughter in her place.
They say King Liam drinks the blood of his enemies. They say he is more monster than man. And now, I have to walk into his bedroom, wearing the Princess's silk gown, and pray he doesn't tear me apart.
I looked at the King, tears streaming down my face. "I'll do it," I whispered, my voice trembling. "But my mother must be safe."
I sold my body and soul to a monster to save her. But when the carriage door opened and I finally looked into the Beast's golden eyes, I realized the terrifying truth...
He wasn't a stranger. He was the man I met in the woods.
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother
"What is wrong with me?
Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?
It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.
He’s my boyfirend’s brother.
This is Tyler’s family.
I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.
**
As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.
Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.
When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.
I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.
**
I hate girls like her.
Entitled.
Delicate.
And still—
Still.
The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.
Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.
I shouldn’t care.
I don’t care.
It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.
It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.
I’m not here to rescue anyone.
Especially not her.
Especially not someone like her.
She’s not my problem.
And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.
But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
Tempted By The Enemy
She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath.
The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years?
What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
Part of the Temptation Series. Can be read as a standalone.
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
Let Them Kneel
Cast out by her pack. Forgotten by the Lycans.
She lived among humans—quiet, invisible, tucked away in a town no one looked at twice.
But when her first heat comes without warning, everything changes.
Her body ignites. Her instincts scream. And something primal stirs beneath her skin—
summoning a big, bad Alpha who knows exactly how to quench her fire.
When he claims her, it’s ecstasy and ruin.
For the first time, she believes she’s been accepted.
Seen.
Chosen.
Until he leaves her the next morning—
like a secret never to be spoken.
But Kaelani is not what they thought.
Not wolfless. Not weak.
There is something ancient inside her. Something powerful. And it’s waking.
And when it does—
they’ll all remember the girl they tried to erase.
Especially him.
She’ll be the dream he keeps chasing… the one thing that ever made him feel alive.
Because secrets never stay buried.
And neither do dreams.
The CEO's Unspoken Love
Before I could answer, he moved closer, suddenly looming over me, his face inches from mine. I felt my breath caught, my lips parting in surprise.
"Then this is the price for speaking ill of me to others," he murmured, nipping my lower lip before claiming my mouth in a real kiss. It began as punishment but quickly transformed into something else entirely as I responded, my initial rigidity melting into compliance, then active participation.
My breathing accelerated, small sounds escaping my throat as he explored my body. His touches were both punishment and pleasure, drawing shudders from me that I thought he felt reverberating through his own body.
My nightgown had ridden up, his hands discovering more of mine with each caress. We were both lost in sensation, rational thought receding with each passing second...
Three years ago, to fulfill the wish of his grandmother, I was forced to marry Derek Wells, the second son of the family that had adopted me for ten years. He didn't love me, but I had secretly loved him all along.
Now, the three-year contractual marriage is about to end, but I feel that some kind of sentiment has developed between Derek and me that neither of us is willing to admit. I'm not sure if my feelings are right, but I know that we can't resist each other physically...
The Alpha & The Vampire Queen
Whips crack against her skin, blood pooling on the cold stone floor, while her mother's pleas fade into silence, abandoning her to the monster's wrath. Xander's protective cries turn to accusations under Penny's dark spells, fracturing their sibling bond into shards of mistrust and isolation.
Cursed Fates
The Alpha King's Human Mate
“I have waited nine years for you. That’s nearly a decade since I’ve felt this emptiness inside me. Part of me began to wonder if you didn’t exist or you’d already died. And then I found you, right inside my own home.”
He used one of his hands to stroke my cheek and tingles erupted everywhere.
“I’ve spent enough time without you and I will not let anything else keep us apart. Not other wolves, not my drunken father who’s barely holding himself together the past twenty years, not your family – and not even you.”
Clark Bellevue has spent her entire life as the only human in the wolf pack - literally. Eighteen years ago, Clark was the accidental result of a brief affair between one of the most powerful Alphas in the world and a human woman. Despite living with her father and her werewolf half-siblings, Clark has never felt like she really belonged in the werewolf world. But right as Clark plans to leave the werewolf world behind for good, her life gets flipped upside down by her mate: the next Alpha King, Griffin Bardot. Griffin has been waiting years for the chance to meet his mate, and he's not about to let her go anytime soon. It doesn't matter how far Clark tries to run from her destiny or her mate - Griffin intends to keep her, no matter what he has to do or who stands in his way.












