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?
My heels tapped lightly on the gallery floor as I made the final touches. The moonlight streamed through the tall windows, making shadows stretch across the polished concrete. I adjusted a painting slightly, making sure it was perfect for the late-night client I was about to meet.
"Everything has to be just right," I whispered, smoothing down my white blouse.
It had been five years since I left behind the name Aria Rossi and everything tied to it. Now, I was Emma Collins, a respected gallery owner in Miami. I had built this life carefully, piece by piece, just like the art I curated.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from my assistant, Mia: "Client's car just pulled up. Good luck!"
I took a deep breath. This wasn't just any client. The request had come through strange channels-hints of connections that made me uneasy. But the opportunity was too good to ignore, especially with the plans I had for the gallery.
The soft chime of the security system signaled the door opening. I put on my best smile and turned to greet the guest.
"Welcome to Lumière Gallery," I started to say, but the words got stuck in my throat when I saw who it was.
Time seemed to slow down. My heart pounded, each beat a painful reminder of a past I thought I had buried.
It couldn't be him. But there he was, looking as handsome as the day I left him at the altar. Lorenzo Caruso, heir to one of New York's most powerful crime families-the man I almost married.
"Hello, Aria," Lorenzo said, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "Or should I say... Emma?"
I tried to keep my face calm, my years of practice helping me stay composed. "I'm sorry, sir. You must be mistaken. I'm Emma Collins, the gallery owner. How can I help you tonight?"
Lorenzo's eyes locked onto mine as he walked closer, each step slow and deliberate. I stood my ground, even though every part of me wanted to run.
"Let's not play games, Aria," he said, stopping just inches from me. "Five years is a long time, but not long enough to forget the woman who was supposed to be my wife."
The smell of his cologne, a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him, brought back memories I had fought to forget-stolen kisses, whispered promises, and the engagement ring I left behind.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Mr. Caruso, I assure you-"
"Your eyes give you away," Lorenzo interrupted, brushing a strand of hair from my face. I flinched at his touch, and his expression hardened. "Even with the blonde hair and those contacts."
My carefully built world was falling apart. I took a step back, putting space between us. "How did you find me?"
Lorenzo's lips curled into a cold smile. "You're not as clever as you think, Aria. Did you really believe you could disappear without a trace? That I wouldn't find you?"
"You shouldn't have come," I whispered. "You have no idea what you've done."
"What I've done?" Lorenzo's eyes flashed with anger. "You left me at the altar. You disappeared, leaving me to deal with the fallout. Do you know what that did to my family's reputation? To me?"
Guilt gnawed at me, but I pushed it away. He didn't understand. He couldn't.
"I had my reasons," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh, I'm sure you did," Lorenzo replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And I'm here to hear every single one."
I glanced towards the door, wondering if I could escape. As if reading my mind, Lorenzo moved to block my way.
"Don't even think about it, Aria," he warned. "We have a lot to talk about, and I'm not leaving until I get answers."
My mind raced, searching for a way out. I had been so careful, covered my tracks so well. How had he found me? And who else might know where I was?
"Lorenzo, please," I said, letting a hint of desperation into my voice. "You have to leave. You don't know what you're getting into."
He raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly am I getting into, Aria? What was so bad that you had to run from everything-from me?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but I saw movement outside the gallery's windows. A black SUV had pulled up, its tinted windows hiding whoever was inside.
Lorenzo noticed it too, his body tensing. "Expecting company?"
"No," I breathed, fear creeping into my voice. "We need to go. Now."
Before Lorenzo could respond, the gallery lights went out, leaving us in darkness. The security alarm blared, red lights flashing in the room.
"What the hell?" Lorenzo muttered, reaching into his jacket. I saw the glint of a gun.
The sound of breaking glass shattered the silence. I ducked instinctively, pulling Lorenzo down with me as bullets whizzed overhead, smashing the art around us.
"This way!" I yelled, crawling towards the back of the gallery. Lorenzo followed, firing back as we moved.
We reached the storage room, and I fumbled with the keys, my hands shaking as I tried to unlock the door. Lorenzo pressed against me, protecting me as more shots rang out.
"Any time now, Aria," he growled.
Finally, the lock clicked open, and we stumbled into the room. I slammed the door shut and locked it.
"There's a panic room," I gasped, pointing to a hidden door in the wall. "We should be safe there until-"
My words were cut off by a loud explosion from the main gallery. The floor shook, and I nearly fell, but Lorenzo caught me.
"Until what?" Lorenzo demanded, his face close to mine. "Until whoever's trying to kill us breaks in? Who are they, Aria? What have you gotten yourself into?"
I looked into his eyes, seeing the anger, confusion, and hurt I had caused him years ago. I knew there was no going back. My life as Emma Collins was over.
"Lorenzo," I said softly, barely audible over the chaos outside. "There's something I need to tell you. The reason I left... it wasn't what you think."
His grip tightened on my arms. "Then what was it?"
I took a deep breath, preparing to reveal everything. But before I could, the storage room door exploded inward, splinters flying everywhere.
Smoke filled the room as dark figures appeared, their guns aimed at us. Lorenzo shoved me behind him, his gun ready.
"Well, well," a familiar, chilling voice said through the smoke. "Isn't this a touching reunion?"
My blood froze as the speaker came into view. It was a face I had hoped to never see again-the very reason I ran all those years ago.
Lorenzo's sharp intake of breath told me he recognized the man too. "It can't be," he whispered. "You're dead. I saw you die."
The man's laughter echoed in the room, cold and heartless. "Oh, Lorenzo. In our world, death is often just another illusion."
As the smoke cleared and the full horror of our situation became clear, one thought filled my mind: The past I had run from had finally caught up with me, and there was no escape.
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?
"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!
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
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!"
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"