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Isabella "Bella" Rossi thought she had her life all figured out, running her family's struggling Italian restaurant while balancing her love life with her devoted boyfriend, Marco. But when her father's gambling debts threaten to destroy everything they've worked for, Bella faces an impossible choice: marry the enigmatic billionaire, Damien Sinclair, or lose everything. Damien offers a lifeline, a marriage of convenience until his grandmother passes away, allowing Bella to divorce him without losing everything. Reluctantly, she agrees, hoping to save her family's legacy. But as she navigates the unfamiliar world of wealth and privilege, Bella finds herself drawn to Damien's quiet strength and hidden vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Marco's secret past comes to light, revealing him to be a wealthy heir in his own right. Desperate to win Bella back, he challenges her newfound relationship with Damien, igniting a fierce rivalry. Just when Bella starts to find happiness with Damien, his manipulative ex-girlfriend resurfaces with shocking news: a child, claiming Damien as the father. As doubts and insecurities threaten to tear them apart, Bella must confront her feelings and decide where her heart truly lies. Bella discovers that love can be found in the most unexpected places. But will she have the courage to follow her heart, even if it means risking everything she holds dear?
*BELLA'S POV*
The kitchen was alive with the sounds of sizzling pans and clattering dishes. The savory aroma of garlic and basil filled the air, mixing with the comforting scent of freshly baked bread. It was another busy night at Rossi's, our family's beloved but struggling Italian restaurant. I moved quickly, my hands a blur as I plated the last order of the night.
Bella, table five needs more bread," Maria, our waitress, called out over the noise.
Coming right up," I replied, grabbing a basket and filling it with warm rolls. As I handed it off to her, my father walked in. His face looked more lined than usual, his shoulders slumped.
Bella," he said softly, a hint of desperation in his voice. "We need to talk."
I glanced at him, noting the deep worry in his eyes. "Can it wait, Papa? I need to finish up here."
It can't," he insisted, his voice trembling slightly. "It's important."
I sighed, nodding. I handed off the last plate to Maria and followed my father into the office. The small space was cluttered with papers, the faint smell of old wood lingering in the air. My father closed the door behind us and turned to face me, his eyes filled with fear and guilt.
"Bella, we're in trouble. The restaurant...it's worse than I've let on."
My heart sank. "How bad?"
He hesitated, then took a deep breath. "We're deep in debt. If we don't do something, we'll lose everything."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. "What can we do?"
He hesitated, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Bella, there's something I need to tell you. Something I've been hiding."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "What is it, Papa?"
"I...I've been gambling. For years. And now, the debts have caught up with me."
I stared at him, stunned. "Gambling? Why didn't you tell me?"
''I thought I could handle it, that I could win it back. But it's gotten out of control." His voice broke, and he looked at me with pleading eyes. "Bella, the mafia is involved. They're threatening to take over the restaurant if we don't pay."
My knees felt weak, and I sank into the nearest chair. "How much do we owe?"
Hundreds of thousands," he whispered. "I've been trying to keep it from you, trying to protect you. But now they're demanding payment, and we don't have the money."
I felt a surge of anger and fear. "Why, Papa? Why didn't you come to me sooner?"
I was ashamed," he said, tears welling up in his eyes. "I didn't want you to know what I had done. I thought I could fix it."
My father sank into the chair opposite me, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his confession. The office felt smaller, the walls closing in as the reality of our situation settled over me.
''We can't let Mama find out," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Her heart...it's too fragile. She wouldn't be able to handle the stress."
I nodded, my mind racing. "We'll keep it between us. But we need a plan, Papa. We need to figure out how to get the money."
"I've been thinking," he said, wiping a tear from his cheek. "We could try to get a loan, maybe ask some friends for help..."
"We've already borrowed so much," I said, shaking my head. "And who would lend us more? We need something more concrete."
He sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "I don't know, Bella. I'm at my wits' end."
I leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling as if the answers might be written there. The restaurant was everything to us, the heart of our family. I couldn't bear the thought of losing it, of seeing my parents broken by this.
"We'll figure something out," I said finally, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. "We have to."
My father looked at me with a mix of hope and despair. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I never meant for any of this to happen."
I reached across the desk and took his hand. "We'll get through this, Papa. We always do."
He squeezed my hand, his eyes glistening with tears. "Thank you, Bella. I don't know what I'd do without you."
We sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of our predicament hanging heavily in the air. The sounds of the restaurant bustling outside seemed distant, like a world away from the turmoil we were facing.
"I'll start looking into our options," I said, standing up. "We'll find a way to keep the restaurant."
My father nodded, his expression weary but grateful. "I'll do whatever it takes, Bella. I promise."
As I left the office and returned to the kitchen, the familiar sounds and smells provided a small comfort. Maria gave me a questioning look, but I forced a smile and nodded, indicating that everything was fine. At least, for now.
That night, as I locked up the restaurant and headed home, my mind was still racing. The thought of the mafia taking over our restaurant was terrifying. We needed a solution, and fast. But for now, all I could do was keep moving forward and hope that an answer would present itself.
When I got home, my mother was already asleep, her breathing steady and peaceful. I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching her, and felt a pang of guilt. She had no idea of the storm brewing around us, and I was determined to keep it that way. I couldn't let this burden fall on her shoulders.
I slipped into my room, closing the door quietly behind me. As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts returned to my father's confession. Gambling. Debts. The mafia. It all felt surreal, like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.
But this was real, and we had to face it. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. We would find a way to save the restaurant. We had to. For our family. For our future.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to relax. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but I was ready to face them. We were Rossi's, and we didn't give up easily.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
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?"
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
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?