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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.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.