"I own you now, Isabella. There's no escape." I never imagined one night could ruin my entire life. But it did. One desperate choice led me into the lion's den-a night with a stranger, a pile of blood-soaked sheets, and a murder I don't remember committing. Now, the most powerful mafia boss in Coverland, Lorenzo Santoro, is hunting me down. And when he finds me? "You took everything from me. Now, I'll take everything from you." I thought death was the worst thing that could happen. I was wrong. He didn't kill me. Instead, he forced me into marriage-his prisoner, his wife, a pawn in his twisted game of revenge. I lost my freedom. I lost my child. I lost everything. "I'll make you suffer every single day, Isabella." But what happens when the ruthless mafia king starts to fall for the woman he swore to hate? When the chains he put on me start to feel like his own prison? And what happens when I discover the truth-when I realize that the real killer is closer than either of us ever imagined? Would he still want to break me... or would he burn the world to protect me? A dangerous love. A deadly secret. And a war that will leave no one unscathed. Because this time, I'm not running. This time, I'm coming for revenge.
Chapter 1
Isabella's POV
His lips moved over mine, slow and gentle at first, teasing, exploring. Then, the kiss deepened, turning urgent, hungry. His hands roamed my body, pulling me closer, making me shiver under his touch. The heat between us was intoxicating, making my heart race as he trailed soft, wet kisses down my neck.
I melted into him. Every touch, every breath he took against my skin sent a shudder through me. I wanted him-no, I needed him. No one had ever made me feel this way before.
"I love you," I whispered in his ear, my voice barely audible, my heart pounding.
A slow smile tugged at his lips. "Tonight, I'll show you that I'm a man. I'll make you scream my name," he murmured, his voice low and sultry. "Are you ready?"
I bit my lip, teasingly dragging my fingers over his toned abs. "I'll be waiting," I said, my voice laced with anticipation.
Without another word, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms, carrying me to the bed. His touch was both rough and tender, sending waves of electricity through my body. My breath hitched as he lowered me onto the mattress, his weight pressing against me in the most delicious way.
His hands caressed my body, tracing every curve as if memorizing me. I gasped when his lips found my skin again, trailing kisses lower, lower-until all rational thought escaped me.
My moans filled the room as pleasure coursed through me, his touch setting my body on fire. I arched against him, lost in the sensation, the overwhelming need consuming me.
But in the midst of it all, a thought lingered at the back of my mind. Was this love? Or just another temporary escape?
I had always been alone. My parents had abandoned me and my younger sister, Ashley. They were wealthy, but money never filled the emptiness they left behind. I had to grow up too fast, taking care of Ashley while they lived their lives as if we didn't exist.
Tonight, I had told the housekeeper to watch her-I wouldn't be coming home. I needed this. I needed him.
His fingers moved with expert precision, making me gasp. My body tensed, ready to unravel, and when I did, he didn't hesitate.
"So sweet," he whispered against my skin, his tongue tracing where his fingers had just been.
"F-fuck me," I begged breathlessly, my body trembling from the intensity of it all.
His eyes darkened with desire as he pulled out his length. I had seen it before-felt it before-but every time, it still amazed me.
"God, you're perfect," I murmured, my fingers trailing down his chest.
He positioned himself at my entrance, teasing me before finally pushing in. A sharp gasp escaped my lips as he filled me, stretching me completely.
We had always done it raw. He liked it that way. Afterward, I'd take the necessary precautions to prevent any surprises.
"Go faster," I whimpered, gripping the sheets beneath me.
His thrusts became more urgent, more desperate. The pleasure was unbearable, my moans uncontrollable. The heat between us built to an unbearable peak until, finally, we both came undone, collapsing onto the bed, breathless and spent.
I turned to him, touching his face, tracing the sharp angles of his jaw. "Did you enjoy it?" I asked softly.
He nodded, but something felt... off. His answer lacked the warmth I expected.
"Do you love me?" I whispered.
His hesitation was almost imperceptible, but I noticed it.
"Of course," he said, but the words felt hollow.
A strange feeling settled in my chest-something I couldn't quite place.
He soon drifted off to sleep, but I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing.
I heard a noise.
A whisper.
At first, I thought I was imagining it. But then, I heard it again-low and urgent.
I turned my head. He was gone.
Confusion turned to unease as I quietly slipped out of bed, following the sound. My heart pounded in my ears as I crept toward the door, pressing my ear against it.
And then, I heard his voice.
"I'm sorry, babe. I don't like her. She's just a sexmate-someone I use to pleasure myself."
The words sliced through me like a knife. My breath caught in my throat.
No.
No. I didn't just hear that.
But I did.
My entire world tilted as I stood frozen in place, listening to the man I had just given everything to, confessing that I meant nothing to him.
"It's you I love. Please don't leave me," he continued, his voice desperate.
A hot tear slipped down my cheek. My hands trembled as I reached for the doorknob.
I couldn't stop myself.
I pushed the door open.
He stood there, phone pressed to his ear, his back turned to me. He didn't even realize I was there.
"That's all I am to you?" My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.
He spun around, his expression shifting from shock to guilt.
"Isabella-"
"That's all I was? A fucking sexmate?" My voice broke. "Everything you said to me... it was all a lie?"
His lips parted, but no words came out.
I shook my head, stepping back. "I gave you everything, and you-" My voice cracked as anger replaced the devastation. "You fucking bastard."
I turned away, grabbing my bag with shaking hands.
"Please, babe. I didn't mean it-"
I yanked my arm away before he could touch me. "Don't. Don't fucking touch me."
My chest rose and fell rapidly as I stormed toward the door, my mind a whirlwind of betrayal, heartbreak, and disgust.
And then-
My phone rang.
I barely heard it over the sound of my own shattering heart.
I swallowed hard before answering. "Hello?"
A pause. Then, a voice I didn't recognize.
"Isabella?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry, but we need you to come to the hospital immediately. Your parents... they've been in an accident. It's critical."
My breath hitched.
"You need to get here as soon as possible."
The words felt distant, unreal.
"No," I whispered. My vision blurred. "No, this isn't happening."
A long silence. Then-
"They... they're gone. I'm so sorry, Isabella. Your parents are dead."
The phone slipped from my hand.
I felt the floor beneath me disappear.
And then, nothing.
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!