"No one can please you like I do, Amorina." He whispered against her lips. "Don't go to any other man unless you want to attend his funeral." *** Janet Corrigan left behind her life in New Orleans and ventured to Springfield in search of her father, who served as the Capo of the infamous Italian Mafia family. Unfortunately, she became a target for her father's adversaries and was abducted to be sold to the Russian mafia. Just when she was about to give up hope of escaping the darkness, the future Mafia King appeared in her life like a knight in disguise. Sebastian Genovese was arranged to marry Larisa Sherian, a mafia princess, to solidify his dominance and power. However, everything fell apart when Janet came into his life and completely derailed his plans. Her allure was akin to a forbidden fruit, and his irresistible affection knew no bounds. She was his heaven in hell. But one fateful night, everything changed when Janet watched Sebastian ruthlessly murdering her father. She realized her father's warnings about him were true and she vowed to destroy the Genovese family. In the dead of the night, Janet vanished, taking something precious from Sebastian Genovese: his unborn child. Will destiny reunite them again, or is this the final chapter of their story? Find out for yourself!
~ Janet ~
"Janet, time is running out! Get out of bed!"
The sound of my aunt's voice echoed through the room, and as she opened the curtains, the bright sunlight momentarily blinded me. I groaned while trying to pull the duvet up to my face, only for it to be heartlessly ripped away from my body.
"Isabella!" Sitting on the bed, I shouted and watched the little bundle of trouble rush out of my bedroom, holding the duvet in her hands and giggling uncontrollably.
The sound of my Aunt Sophia's laughter filled the air, and my gaze immediately shifted to her. She fixed my bed while I glared at her, my frustration mounting. "No, seriously, you once yanked the duvet off me, and now your daughter has picked your behaviour." I twisted my tousled golden hair into a bun.
Another burst of giggles escaped her lips. "The country will be endangered by your enlistment!"
"That's so rude!" I hurled a pillow at her.
"I mean, people would call you for help and you'd be like, just give me five more minutes to snooze."
As I rolled my eyes, they inadvertently caught sight of the digital clock on my study table. My heart began to race with panic. "It's 10:30 already!"
"Yes!"
I hastily dashed into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, and I felt a creeping sense of discomfort. I wondered what my dad's reaction would be. Would he support me? What if he demands I give up my dream?
The more I contemplated it, the more my mind was flooded with questions, and my heart began to pound in my chest. As I brushed my teeth, I couldn't help but think about my father's absence over the past three years.
Sometimes the thought that he doesn't love me is like a dagger through my heart, but the comfort of my loving parents helps me through it.
Aunt Sophia once recounted to me he was in a state of tremendous shock when my mother passed away. The burden of her death was too much for him to bear alone, and he left me at the adoption centre, hoping I would find a loving family.
After he admitted he couldn't take care of me to Aunt Sophia, she and her husband John sprang into action, scouring all the orphanages until they finally found me- a six-month-old baby girl.
They became my adoptive parents, and we headed back to New Orleans. After a few days, my father came to see me and as he held me, tears streamed down his face and he asked for my forgiveness. He wanted to take me back to Missouri, but Uncle John didn't trust his instincts and vetoed the idea.
And he was right.
The news we received three years ago left us profoundly shaken. Rumours suggested he had been promoted to the rank of Capo of Anton Genovese, the notorious mafia and the number one target of the authorities in the United States.
"Quick, get ready or you'll miss your flight!" I heard my aunt knocking on the door. "But I wouldn't mind if you miss it."
"Ten minutes more!" I shouted.
"Fine, I'm gonna go make something for you."
As I finished my shower, I slipped into a pair of blue high-waisted jeans and a black crop top, feeling ready for the day. I applied moisturizer to my skin and lined my amber eyes with kohl. I applied berry lip balm, which gave my lips a gentle touch of colour and left my damp hair hanging loose.
Making my way down the stairs in a rush, my eyes landed on my luggage, positioned by the door, with my black hoodie neatly folded on top.
"Breakfast is ready!" I caught Isabella's twittering voice and pivoted towards the direction of the kitchen. Aunt Sophia's Ravioli was my favourite, and just the sight of it made my mouth water.
I sat down for breakfast, and she pushed the plate towards me with a soft smile, the fork and spoon already in my hand. "Umm.... It's amazing!" I looked up at her. "You're the best!"
"I don't think you should go to Springfield. Would your father back you up?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow as I ate. "God, dammit! He's involved with the mafia, and you're going to tell him that you're joining the police force? What if the authorities find the link between you two?"
After I finished eating, I took a sip of water and cleared my throat before answering her. "I want to tell him that he could leave everything and come here to stay with us..."
"And do you think it's that straightforward?" She cut me off.
"As soon as I become a police officer, no one would dare to cause any harm to him. I will take on the world for him." I ardently yearned to convey my intention to her, yet she shook her head in dismay.
"If your uncle were alive today, he would not have allowed you to endanger yourself." She sat down heavily on the empty chair, causing a loud thump that caught my attention. I looked over at Isabella, who had the same kind eyes as Uncle John.
I got up and walked behind Aunt Sophia. I could feel the tension in her shoulders slowly melting away as I massaged them. "Sometimes a man commits a mistake, not knowing the result of his actions. I have an intuition that something is amiss with him and I battle the apprehension that creeps up whenever he doesn't pick up my call. This constant fear is suffocating me. Maybe he's dying to leave that world and come back to us? Maybe he is waiting for someone to rescue him?"
Aunt Sophia stood up and swivelled to address me.
"I'm curious about what could have happened three years ago that caused Dad to become distant from us. Did the Genovese family coerce him into committing crimes? Or is there something more to it? Who is this infamous Sebastian Genovese that the Genovese family is keeping hidden from the public eye? I want to know everything!"
"Promise me you will keep yourself safe!" Aunt Sophia cradled my face in her hands. "Isabella and I will wait for you."
"Yes!" I flashed a smile at her, and Isabella clasped her hands around my waist as we hugged.
"Also, you must refrain from trespassing the Genovese territory. Stay away from the Genovese family and get in touch with your father before making any moves."
I nodded and was about to leave when she firmly grabbed my arm, stopping me instantly. "And stay away from Sebastian Genovese too!" she warned, her voice filled with a mix of fear and concern.
***
Australia
The water streamed down his well-defined physique, accentuating the contours of his muscular figure. His skin was adorned with droplets that sparkled like morning dew on leaves.
His arms, strong and capable, moved with a grace that belies their power. The serene expression on his face reflected a quiet confidence, and even in this simple act of showering, there was an undeniable sensuality to his movements.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror. His black eyes, deep and enigmatic, held stories untold. They carried a quiet intensity, a reflection of a soul that had known both the shadows and the light.
As the water ran through his hair, it darkened the strands to a rich chestnut hue, giving him a look of effortless charm as they clung slightly to his forehead before he pushed them back.
After turning off the shower, he reached for a towel, wrapping it around his waist as he stepped out of the steam-filled sanctuary. As he entered his room, he heard a knock on his door. "Sebastian, your cousin Dario is here to see you," the old butler, Mr. Francis, shouted.
Slipping into a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, Sebastian shouted, "Coming!" Brushing his damp hair, he made his way downstairs of his lavish studio apartment.
"Oh, Sebastian, my dear brother! The next in line Mafia King of Cosa Nostra!" Dario, Sebastian's cousin on his mother's side, greeted him with a big smile and stood up from the comfortable couch to embrace him.
Sebastian gently pushed him back. "You smell booze and sex!" He sat on the lone couch.
"Come on! It's been three years." Dario was disappointed. "Just this morning, Dad told me about your wedding... Fuck, are you marrying Larisa Sherian for real? She's just super plain. Bummer, man!"
"What makes you so well-informed about Larisa?" Sebastian acknowledged Mr Francis as he served him his morning coffee.
"It so happened that I bumped into her at a party where she was accompanied by her stepsister, Mia. I tried my hands on her but she looked puzzled all the time and then she continued to play cat and mouse with me."
As Sebastian gave a nod, his eyes glazed over, lost in deep thought. Even he wasn't very much interested in the unison. He didn't feel attracted to Larisa. She had no spark, just a dullness in her demeanour that confirmed Dario's observation. No life. Sebastian didn't find any excitement in marrying a sheep and taming her.
Right then, his attention was captured by a ping of notification on his phone. He received a text notification from Larisa, wishing him a good morning, but he didn't give it a second thought and left it unopened.
"What convinced you to marry her?"
The moment Dario asked his question, Sebastian felt as if he had been transported back in time to that evening three years ago.
Playboy, Casanova and Heartbreaker were some adjectives used by the paparazzi to describe the brilliant interior designer and the hottest CEO of Grayson Group Of Hotels, Aries Grayson. But that quickly changed when his eyes landed on his best friend's perfect girlfriend, Cara Silencio. The moment their eyes locked for the first time, her innocence took his world by storm. Cara was everything Aries secretly wished for in his life, but she was off-limits, and Aries chose to abide by the rules of BroCode. Cara Silencio has her own fair share of secrets that could destroy her. Somewhere between hiding her real identity from the world and struggling to meet end needs, Cara was exhausted. She wanted to marry the Knight of her life, Keith Wilson, and lead a peaceful life. But the demons of her past destroyed everything, and she was pushed into the endless tunnel of darkness. Years later, when Aries found her at the infamous strip club, his desires came back to life and this time he was aiming to claim her. A night of passion didn't satiate his craving for her. He wanted to worship her body every night. Aries came back to the club to find her, but Cara was gone, leaving no traces behind. Aries called his most competent informer to dig about Cara Silencio, only to stumble upon the shocking truth. "Mr Grayson, the woman you're looking for is the heiress of New York's biggest business empire!"
In a blink of an eye, Cara Silencio lost everything in her life. She was kicked out of her family at the young age of eighteen and since then she is working hard to make a place for herself in the world. During her zest to do something in life to make her dad proud, she met Keith Wilson, the charming police officer, whom Cara truly believed was the soulmate that god assigned to shield her from the demons of her past. But destiny deceived her again, forcing her to leave everything behind and disappear into an endless tunnel of darkness where she had to sell her shame to afford two meals a day and, as always, Cara had no choice but to survive in the cruel world. What will happen when the country’s notorious playboy and heartthrob Aries Grayson will officially mark his entry into her life? Will Cara ever be able to cross the dark tunnel and fight for her justice? Who is Cara Silencio exactly and why Aries is determined to expose her every secret before the world? Who will be Cara’s Knight in disguise? The playboy or the cop? Let’s find out in the story! COPYRIGHT ©️ 2021 AUTHOR ANIKA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Christian Knight was about to marry Andrea Donovan and start a fresh life. Andrea was a gorgeous and respectable woman. She liked Christian since her college days but couldn’t muster the courage to express her feelings to him, as she knew that Christian was interested in Diana Roger, the mute girl. Years later, destiny played cupid for Andrea and Christian, and their families fixed their marriage. Andrea was over the moon, and it was hard for her to believe that Christian was finally going to be her forever. To escape the haunting nightmares and hallucinations about one particular woman, whom he thinks he has never met before, Christian agreed to marry Andrea as she was beautiful, smart, and a generous woman, completely compatible with his status, but little did he know that meeting with a stranger at Cafe Coffee Day will change everything for him. What will happen when destiny plays its cards? Would Christian be able to accept that he had been married before? Will he choose his present over his past or follow his way back to his former wife? Would Mishka be willing to give another chance to Christian or she has already moved on in her life? Will their love pass the test of time and commitment to come out victorious or their love story ended long ago? Follow the other half of Christian and Mishka’s tale to witness if second chances really exist or healing a broken heart is beyond repair. Copyright © Author Anika All Rights Reserved This book is a sequel to MY INDIAN WIFE Book one needs to be read before this book.
Meera and Aahil were head over heels in love with each other despite knowing that their religious differences. They were ready to fight against the world for their love and to prove people’s theory on inter-religion marriage wrong. All they needed from each other was love and support. Everything was going great in their relationship when the circumstances take a flip in a blink of an eye and Aahil went to Meera's place to meet her parents to convince them about their marriage. But what went wrong that forced Meera and Aahil to part their ways? Will these star-crossed lovers unite against all odds or forever burn in the fire of separation? "A heart-wrenching love story of two souls who were destined but torn apart” *Update on every Saturday*
Never in her wildest dreams did Mishka imagine that her life would be turned upside down as soon as she stepped into London. "Marry my grandson!" Grandpa Leo's demand threw her off guard. Marriage was not part of her plans, yet she accepted the proposal to marry the most eligible bachelor in London, leaving her dreams behind. Christian had everything planned out in advance. He intended to propose to his girlfriend right after securing the position of CEO at the Knight Group, but a woman derailed all his plans. "If you want to become the CEO of Knight Group, you must marry the girl I have chosen for you!" Grandpa Leo's firm decision put Christian's future at risk, but he quickly devised a plan. "Sign these papers!" Christian demanded in a deep, authoritative tone, extending the file towards Mishka. "What is this?" She narrowed her eyes, taking the file. "Read and I'll explain everything," Christian answered. His cold eyes stared at her, and as soon as Mishka opened the file, her face lost all colour reading the bold letters. "CONTRACT MARRIAGE" Will she give into Christian's demand, or will her masterstroke change the dynamics of the trap he set for her? What will happen when Christian and Mishka's entirely different worlds crash? Will love find its way through the web of lies, deception and mysteries? Let's find out in the story! COPYRIGHT ©️ 2020 AUTHOR ANIKA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Die in Water and Revive in Fire Ji Hanyue was born of a general. On the evening when she married the Crown Prince, she was framed and pushed into a lake. Before she died, she was told that both her father and sister had been murdered. When she woke up in a fire, she found herself reincarnated as her cousin Qu Moying, a blind daughter of the Vice Minister of Works. With a hateful stepmother and sister, the poor girl lived in forsaken circumstances and used to be timid and isolated. The fire gave Ji Hanyue a new life and changed Qu Moying’s life. The vengeance started. In the previous life, Ji Hanyue married the Crown Prince, while in this one, she took the fancy of his uncle. What kind of marriage was waiting for her?
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?
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!"
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? 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.
Scarlett was left betrayed and broken beyond repair when her best friend Megan set her up with the male escort who stole her virginity...Or at least, that's what she thought he was. There was something odd about the strong and strikingly beautiful man that she spent a night with. Despite the pure hatred she felt for him, the deals he ended up offering wasn't one she could refuse. Scarlett always thought she'd marry her soulmate but turns out, that won't be the case for her. But could her mysterious husband make his way through her broken heart and fix it? It's hard to imagine but love has funny ways to manifest in places where it's least expected....