madeline story

Madeline “Maddie” Brownwood is a nineteen-year-old college student juggling part-time jobs and the weight of unpaid debts. After losing her mother to illness, she lives with her aunt. That is, until the day a mysterious man appears, turning her world upside down with a shocking request to come with him to the Divenson Mansion and prepare for her wedding. Hunter Divenson, the enigmatic and strikingly handsome CEO of Divenson Mining Corporation, is a brilliant engineer—and a man who always honors his promises. When his longtime driver dies tragically in a car crash caused by a drunk driver, Hunter is left with the man’s final wish: to take responsibility for his estranged daughter, Madeline, by marrying her. Left with no other choice, Maddie is swept away to the world of the elite—a world she doesn’t belong to. At the Divenson mansion, she is met not with kindness, but cold, judgmental stares from Hunter’s parents, who make it clear she is not welcome. Her future sister-in-law despises her. Her future brother-in-law’s eyes make her skin crawl. The only warmth she finds comes from a sweet twelve-year-old girl in the household who clings to Maddie like a little sister and makes the overwhelming luxury a little more bearable. Then she meets Hunter. He’s everything she didn’t expect—charming in front of others, but distant and cold when they are alone. Maddie falls for him despite herself. How could she not? His presence commands attention, and his rare moments of gentleness feel like stolen sunshine. But her heart shattered when he told her the reason for their marriage. “We’re married on paper, nothing more. I don’t have time for love. And I can’t love someone like you. Don’t expect that just because we are married, I’ll ever love you. All I need is an heir to my empire.” The words cut deeper than she thought possible. Maddie was humiliated, heartbroken, and trapped. And she made a decision to divorce her husband. But her request jolts something inside Hunter he didn’t know he could feel, the fear of losing her. As she begins pulling away from him, he realizes the truth he’d been too blind to see: he loves his wife. Can Hunter win back the woman he once dismissed? Has Maddie’s love for him truly faded or is she simply trying to forget what she can’t let go? Will she give her cold, distant husband one last chance or walk away from the only man who ever made her feel something real? Gold Tier Winner of WFP#35 - Female Lead: In-Laws (Warning: This novel contains mature themes in the later chapters.) —————————————————— Book 2 – The Hot Chef and The Wicked Sister Jack Morigan was in love with Madeline Brownwood. But she was engaged to Hunter Divenson. Heartbroken, Jack started dating Maddie’s best friend, Gina—but deep down, he never stopped loving Maddie. When Gina ended things, he knew he had only himself to blame. Charlotte Divenson—Hunter’s infamous “wicked sister”—was known for her arrogance and sharp tongue. But beneath the designer clothes and icy attitude was a girl desperate for her parents’ approval, always living in Hunter’s shadow. After losing her father and younger brother, Charlotte shut out the world. Overcome with guilt, she blamed everyone—especially Madeline. She hid away in isolation, angry and broken. To ensure his wife’s safety, Hunter made an unusual offer to Jack: become the private chef for his reclusive sister. Jack wanted to say no—he couldn’t stand Charlotte. But the pay was too tempting to walk away from. With her fortune dwindling and her household falling apart, Charlotte was stunned to find Jack at her doorstep, offering help. Neither of them expected what came next.