After his mother's death, his father lost all reasons why his son shouldn't be a part of his ruthless and brutal lifestyle, being the founder of the Potenza family "organization" his father didn't spare him, and after five years of training to be deemed fit as a Potenza, Elia Potenza runs from his father's grasp. For a few years, his father has sent men to hunt him and bring him back, they didn't care about any damage caused to Elia, and after 4 years of his father's attempts at getting him back, his father suddenly stops, until five years later... What happens when the reason for his father's change of behavior comes breaking into his home and threatening Elia's friends, leaving him no choice but to marry him...
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Rosario Barone and Elia Potenza in matrimony..." I tune out the officiant's speech, glancing to my right to see all of these strange faces, I know none of them, well except for my father's but he's as much of a stranger as the rest of his guests.
I look back at the man who's soon to be my husband, holding both my hands in his, his eyes dark as a bottomless abyss, his face unreadable.
How did I end up here? I put this kind of life behind me when I left nine years ago, I swore to myself that I wouldn't return to this place, that I wouldn't return to this life, no matter the reason.
I guess I got too comfortable.
I focus my attention back on the officiant who happens to be one of my father's men.
I bite the corner of my mouth, trying to stop myself from smiling at the stupidity of it all, this was a last-minute wedding, so I shouldn't be surprised if the officiant has used Google to figure out what to say, "please repeat after me," I clear my throat to stifle my laugh, my soon to be husband arches his eyebrow, but lets it go to repeat after the officiant, "I, Rosario Barone,"
"I, Rosario Barone" repeated Rosario in his deep voice.
"Take you Elia Potenza,"
"Take you Elia Potenza,"
"To be my husband,"
"To be my husband,"
"To have and to hold from this day forward,"
"To have and to hold from this day forward,"
"For better or for worse,"
"For better or for worse,"
"For richer, for poorer,"
"For richer, for poorer,"
"In sickness and in health,"
"In sickness and in health,"
"To love and to cherish;"
"To love and to cherish;"
"From this day forward until death does us part."
"From this day forward until death does us part."
Once done, the officiant turns his head to me, "please repeat after me, I, Elia Potenza," the officiant begins.
"I, Elia Potenza,"
"Take you, Rosario Barone,"
"Take you, Rosario Barone,"
"To be my husband,"
"To be my husband,"
"To have and to hold from this day forward,"
"To have and to hold from this day forward,"
"For better or for worse,"
"For better or for worse,"
"For richer, for poorer,"
"For richer, for poorer,"
"In sickness and in health,"
"In sickness and in health,"
"To love and to cherish;"
"To... to love and to cherish;"
"From this day forward until death does us part."
"From this day forward until death does us part." I make sure to look at my father when I said the last part.
"Time to exchange the rings," the officiant says and our best men came closer with their hands extended holding the rings out for us to take.
Rosario puts the ring on my finger first, then it was my turn to do the same thing for him, once we are done exchanging the rings, the officiant says, "By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may now kiss".
Rosario leans in and my body goes rigid, he continues to lean in but turns his head and angles it, so he's now blocking the guests' view, he puts his lips right around the corner of my lips and my cheek, and he lingers there for three seconds before pulling away.
It felt a lot longer.
Before I could overthink this kiss the officiant says, "I present to you, Mr. and Mr. Potenza."
Still holding my left hand in his, Rosario turns around to face the guests, and I do too.
The guests stand and upload as Rosario and I step down the Isle, on our way to begin this fucked up life again.
God, I wish I didn't go home that night.
Ivy Rosalia Jones, a young and beautiful doctor working at a suburban hospital, is determined to marry a man she met through a blind date, even though he is paralyzed. Actually, the marriage was meant to be symbolic, with both of them intending not to interfere in each other's affairs after the wedding. However, Ivy never expected that she would end up marrying the most influential man in the world. Shawn Dyxon Tate, Ivy's husband, has no intention of letting his beautiful wife go. Once she entered his life, he made a decision to spoil her and gave her the world she never had.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
" Don't say anymore word than you already have, don't..." I stuck a finger out at him, sauntering away on my heels when a hand wrapped itself around my arm. Breathlessly he whispered, "You know that I do love you and...fine, what exactly was I supposed to do?" "Protect me and stand up for me. That is what you do for someone who you claim you love!" ************ Out to spite her ex-boyfriend after he had broken up with her on her birthday, Daphne slept with a stranger who turned out to be his uncle while trying to rebuff his words that she was unwanted by others. Was she ready for the wild chase that followed when he found out years later that she had been pregnant with his heirs and that she had been hiding the truth all this while? Faced with the ruthless CEO, known as the beast, who wasn't ready to back down, Daphne does everything possible to make sure her kids wouldn't be taken from her, but what happens when love gets in the mix of it all? Would she be able to conquer these weird feelings and give in her all amidst her scars? And with how deadly he turned out to be? And faced with her ex who still wants her back, what choice is she going to make?
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.