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Marco Ricci knew nothing except lies about his life. Marco, seventeen years old, finds a secret rifle and a mysterious notepad in his father's desk, therefore destroying his cozy suburban life overnight. His father has been arrested, not just absent. The family business is structured crime rather than insurance. And the Ricci family name isn't just a name-it's a dynasty he's now expected to protect. Forced to flee his home with the protection of his father's fearsome lieutenant, Marco's life takes a dramatic turn when he meets Ellie Lia at a gas station in the dead of night. Smart and beautiful, Ellie is not only his chemistry lab partner but also his secret crush. To his shock, she is revealed to be Elena Donato, the daughter of his family's most dangerous enemy. The look they share in that pivotal moment hints that Ellie may be just as trapped in this long-standing blood feud as he is. With both families on the verge of war and his father imprisoned, Marco is faced with an impossible decision: to accept the criminal legacy he has tried to escape or risk losing everyone he holds dear. Some family secrets are written in blood-and some ties can't be broken.
Marco Ricci tapped his pencil against his chemistry notebook, stealing another glance at Ellie Lia across the lab bench. She was focused on their titration experiment, her dark hair falling forward as she carefully measured drops of solution into the flask. The blue liquid swirled and Marco forced himself to look away before she caught him staring. Again.
"You're supposed to be recording the color changes," Ellie said without looking up, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Right. Sorry." Marco quickly scribbled down the observations they needed for their lab report. Chemistry was usually his best subject, but lately, he found his attention wandering whenever they worked together.
Ellie had transferred to Westlake High just last semester, but she'd quickly risen to the top of their class. Marco had been paired with her for the spring semester project, something about acid-base equilibrium that would count for thirty percent of their final grade. He wasn't complaining.
"I think we're seeing the transition now," Ellie said, her voice dropping to an excited whisper. "Look."
Marco leaned in as the solution changed from blue to a pale violet. Their heads nearly touched over the beaker, and he caught the faint scent of her shampoo-something citrusy and clean.
"Perfect," he said, noting the exact number of drops. "We should get an A on this for sure."
Ellie smiled, a rare full smile that transformed her usually serious face. "You sound surprised."
"With us? Never." Marco grinned back. "Science dream team, remember?"
The bell rang, signaling the end of seventh period. Around them, their classmates hurriedly packed up their materials, eager to start their weekend. Mr. Brennan called out reminders about the lab report due Monday, his voice barely audible over the shuffle of backpacks and closing textbooks.
"You want to work on the analysis section this weekend?" Marco asked, trying to sound casual as he packed his notebook away. "I could come over to your place, or you could come to mine."
A shadow passed over Ellie's face. "I can't. Family stuff all weekend."
"Everything okay?" Marco asked.
"Just my dad. He's... strict about family obligations." She hesitated, then added, "Maybe we could video chat Sunday night? Around eight?"
"Sure, that works." Marco nodded, hiding his disappointment. In the six months they'd been lab partners, he'd never been to her house, and she'd always declined invitations to his. He'd begun to wonder if maybe she was embarrassed-not that she had any reason to be around him.
The Ricci house was impressive by anyone's standards-four bedrooms, pool in the backyard, and a view of the hills from the kitchen window. His father had worked hard to provide for them, often traveling for business with his insurance company. Marco never wanted for anything material, though sometimes he wished his dad was around more often.
As they cleaned up their lab station, Ellie asked, "Did you find your birth certificate? For the genealogy project in History?"
Marco groaned. "Not yet. My mom swears it's in my dad's office somewhere. I'm supposed to look tonight."
"Better you than me. My family history is... complicated." Something in her tone made Marco curious, but before he could ask, she continued, "Text me if you want to chat before Sunday."
She shouldered her backpack and was gone before Marco could respond, slipping through the crowd in the hallway with practiced ease.
Outside, Marco spotted his best friend Javier waiting by his locker.
"Dude, you're still doing that thing where you stare at Ellie Lia like she's a chemistry equation you can't solve," Javier said, punching him lightly on the arm.
"Shut up," Marco muttered, spinning his combination lock.
"Just ask her out already. Worst she can say is no."
Marco shook his head. "It's not that simple. We have to work together for the rest of the semester."
"Excuses, excuses." Javier leaned against the neighboring locker. "You coming to Tyler's party tonight? His parents are out of town."
"Can't. Dad's coming home from his business trip, and Mom's making his favorite dinner. Family thing."
Javier rolled his eyes. "Your loss. There'll be girls there who actually want to socialize."
Marco closed his locker. "I'll try to stop by later if I can."
"Sure you will." Javier didn't look convinced. "Later, Ricci."
Marco watched him disappear down the hallway, then headed for the student parking lot where his sixteenth birthday present-a sleek black Audi-waited. Another perk of being the son of a successful insurance executive. Most of his classmates either drove beaters or didn't have cars at all.
As he pulled out of the lot, Marco spotted Ellie waiting at the corner. She stood alone, arms crossed, scanning the street as if looking for someone. He briefly considered offering her a ride but remembered her reaction the last time he'd suggested it. Something about her father not wanting her to ride with people he hadn't met. Marco had found it strange-most parents at Westlake were pretty relaxed-but he respected her boundaries.
The drive home took less than fifteen minutes. Marco pulled into the circular driveway of the Ricci house, noting his mother's white Mercedes already parked in front. The landscapers had been by; the scent of freshly cut grass hung in the air.
"Mom?" he called, dropping his backpack in the marble-floored entryway. The house was quiet except for the distant hum of the pool filter.
"In the kitchen, honey!"
Marco found his mother arranging flowers in a crystal vase. Maria Ricci was still beautiful at forty-five, her dark hair showing only the faintest strands of silver at her temples. She wore slim-fitting jeans and a cashmere sweater that probably cost more than most people's monthly car payments.
"How was school?" she asked, kissing his cheek.
"Fine. Hey, I need to find my birth certificate for that history project. You said it was in Dad's office?"
"In the filing cabinet, I think. Or maybe the desk." She frowned slightly. "Actually, why don't you wait for your father to help you look? He's very particular about his office."
"Dad won't be home until dinner, and the project's due Monday." Marco grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. "I'll be careful, I promise."
His mother hesitated, then nodded. "All right. But don't disturb anything. You know how he gets about his work things."
His mother hurried with what was she was doing.
Aria Rossi was moments away from marrying into one of New York's most powerful crime families when she fled, leaving behind a devastated groom and a deadly vendetta. Five years later, she's built a new life under an assumed identity in the sun-soaked streets of Miami, believing she's finally safe. As the owner of a thriving art gallery, Aria has buried her past beneath layers of carefully crafted lies and exquisite paintings. But when a mysterious new client walks into her gallery, Aria comes face-to-face with her past-and the man she left at the altar. Lorenzo Caruso, now the head of his family's criminal empire, has never forgotten the woman who broke his heart and tarnished his honor. As old feelings reignite, so does the danger that forced her to run. With enemies closing in from all sides and secrets threatening to unravel everything she's built, Aria must decide: Can she trust the man she once loved with her life, or will their second chance at romance be her ultimate downfall? Just as she makes her choice, a shocking revelation changes everything-and nothing is as it seems. An intricate web of betrayal, hidden identities, and long-buried secrets begins to surface, forcing Aria to question everything she thought she knew about her past, her present, and the man she's never stopped loving. In a world where loyalty is everything and trust can get you killed, will Aria and Lorenzo's rekindled passion be strong enough to overcome the lies that tear them apart, or will their love become another masterpiece in her gallery of deception?
After her late husband's debts leave her poverty-stricken, Sarah Jenkins finds herself with no choice but to agree to her in-laws arranging her marriage to billionaire developer Lachlan Reid. Thrust from her struggling existence into his world of opulence and luxury, Sarah is overwhelmed by the drastic change in her circumstances. As she navigates high society events and lavish vacations, she discovers a side of Lachlan hidden beneath his cold exterior. Against all odds, an unexpected affection blossoms between them. But can Sarah truly trust her growing feelings, or is she merely swept up in the allure of wealth and security? Just as she begins to embrace her new life, a shocking revelation threatens to unravel everything...
Title: THE PLAYBOY CHALLENGE Genre: romance Trope: billionaire, play boy. Blurb: Lenora's life was going downhill quickly. From being fired at her work to being about to be evicted from her apartment, she is exhausted with her life of utter misery. The icing on the cake is when a dangerous man sends his two goon sniffing after her and her sister. They can either find a way to get five thousand dollars in three days or become shark food. A miracle comes in the form of a billionaire's daughter with a bruised ego. The plan is simple, if Lenora can keep billionaire playboy Ian O'Malley's attention for sixty days followed by a humiliating, public break up, she gets enough money to turn her life around. It's supposed to be a simple plan, and she's never meant to start feeling things for the charming billionaire. She can't mix business with emotions, but she's never felt this way before. What happens when a money making scheme with a looming end date begins to feel too real?
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."