In the city of Ashwood, where the streets whispered secrets and the night hid truths, the Moretti family ruled with an iron fist. For generations, they had built their empire on loyalty, power, and bloodshed. But when Don Marco Moretti, the ruthless patriarch, was found dead in his mansion, the very foundations of the family began to crumble. The once-unshakeable Moretti dynasty was now on the brink of collapse, as the vultures circled and the rats scurried for cover. The time of reckoning had come, and the shadows would claim their own. In this world of treacherous allegiances and deadly rivalries, one man would rise to claim his birthright. Alessandro "Alex" Moretti, a former soldier and the rightful heir, would have to navigate the treacherous landscape of his family's legacy to become the new Don. But at what cost?
THE SHADOW DON
Chapter 1: The Heir
In the city of Ashwood, where the streets whispered secrets and the night hid truths, the Moretti family ruled with an iron fist. For generations, they had built their empire on loyalty, power, and bloodshed. But when Don Marco Moretti, the ruthless patriarch, was found dead in his mansion, the very foundations of the family began to crumble.
Alessandro "Alex" Moretti stood at the edge of his father's grave, the cold rain soaking through his clothes. The former soldier had returned to Ashwood to claim his birthright as the new Don. His father's legacy was one of loyalty, power, and bloodshed.
Victor, Alex's uncle, approached, a false smile on his face. "Alex, my boy, welcome home." Alex's instincts screamed warning. Victor had always been a snake, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. "I'm not here to make friends, Victor," Alex said. "I'm here to claim what's mine." Victor's smile faltered, revealing a glimmer of ruthless ambition. The once-unshakeable Moretti dynasty was now on the brink of collapse, and the shadows would claim their own.
His uncle, Victor, had already begun to consolidate power, whispering lies and half-truths to the family's loyalists. Alex's own sister, Sophia, seemed torn between loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for Victor's son, Michael.
As the funeral ended and the mourners dispersed, a figure emerged from the shadows. Maya Ramos, a mysterious and deadly assassin, watched Alex with an intensity that made his skin prickle. What did she want from him?
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
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.
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?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.