Ava thought rekindling her love with Raymond would heal her heart, but his dark and dangerous world pulls her into something far bigger than she imagined. Determined to prove her worth, she steps into his empire, only to face betrayal, deadly enemies, and secrets that threaten everything. As trust shatters and love is tested, Ava decides to be reborn and learn the ropes of the Mafia world as she has always wanted to be a Mafia Queen. Love isn't always safe, and in Raymond's world, it could be fatal. Ava is about to blow our minds with her decision to get involved in the Mafia. Click on chapter 1 to see how Ava's story unfolds.
CHAPTER 1
The room felt too quiet, too still. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to block out the thoughts that wouldn't leave me alone. Raymond. His name was a whisper that echoed in every corner of my mind, refusing to fade. No matter how hard I tried to forget, every moment with him came rushing back, each memory sharper than the last.
I could still feel his fingers intertwined with mine, the way his thumb would lightly stroke the back of my hand. The way he smiled-God, that smile-it used to make everything else disappear. Now it was a ghost that haunted me. I shut my eyes tight, hoping the darkness would swallow the memories, but it didn't.
"I thought he loved me." The words slipped out, bitter and cold. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. My chest tightened as the pain clawed its way back to the surface. I bit my lip, trying to hold it in, but it was no use.
A sob escaped me, louder than I intended. I clutched my pillow, pressing my face into it as if that could muffle the sound, but it only made the ache worse. Before long, I was crying uncontrollably, the hurt pouring out of me like a dam that had finally burst.
I didn't even hear the knock on the door before it opened.
"Ava?" Mia's voice was soft. I felt her presence before I saw her. She and Sophie stood in the doorway, concern written across their faces.
"What do you want?" I snapped, not bothering to wipe the tears from my face.
Sophie stepped forward. "We heard you crying and just-"
"I don't need you hovering over me," I cut her off, sitting up abruptly. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone."
Mia exchanged a glance with Sophie. "Ava, we're worried about you."
I couldn't take it. The pity in their eyes, the way they were looking at me like I was some fragile thing about to break. I was already broken.
"I said I'm fine!" I shouted, shoving past them. I grabbed my car keys off the dresser and stormed out of the room, not bothering to look back. I needed air. I needed to get away from their worried eyes, from the memories that suffocated me.
The cool night air hit my face as I climbed into my car. I sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, trying to catch my breath. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn't shake ths weught off my chest. Raymond's name still echoed, taunting me.
With a shaky breath, I started the engine and drove aimlessly through the streets, hoping the movement would distract me. It didn't. I wasn't sure how long I'd been driving when my phone buzzed beside me. It was Sophie.
I debated ignoring it, but something in me relented. I picked up the call.
"What?"
"Where are you?" Sophie's voice was gentle. "Look, Mia and I are at this lounge. It's quiet. We thought maybe you'd like to join us, just for a drink. Nothing serious."
"I don't know..." My voice trailed off. The last thing I wanted was to be around people, but the thought of being alone with my thoughts was worse.
"Come on, Ava. It'll be good for you to get out. No pressure, just us girls."
I hesitated, but eventually, I caved. "Fine. I'll stop by. But I'm not staying long."
"Perfect! See you soon," Sophie said, sounding far too excited.
The lounge was dimly lit when I arrived, a warm contrast to the cold emptiness that clung to me. I spotted Mia and Sophie at the bar, waving me over.
"Hey," I muttered as I approached, sliding onto the stool beside them. The music was soft, the kind that filled the space without overpowering it.
"You made it!" Mia said, her smile too bright, too forced. She handed me a drink, and I took it, not really caring what it was.
As I took a sip, I looked around the room. More people than I expected were arriving, laughter and chatter filling the air. My grip tightened on the glass. "I thought you said this was just going to be a chill night."
"It is!" Sophie said quickly, exchanging a glance with Mia. "Just... a few more people showed up than we expected."
I narrowed my eyes at her, suspicion creeping in. "You could've told me it was a party."
Mia waved her hand dismissively. "It's not a party, Ava. Just relax. Let's have some fun."
I wasn't in the mood for fun. I wasn't in the mood for any of this. Something wasn't right, and I could feel it. My patience was wearing thin, and I could tell they were hiding something.
After a few forced attempts at conversation, I'd had enough. The walls were closing in on me again, the noise, the people-it was all too much. I pushed back my stool.
"I need some air," I muttered, standing up abruptly.
As I turned to leave, I collided with someone, my drink sloshing out of my glass and spilling all over their suit.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I gasped, reaching out to brush the liquid off his jacket. My hands moved instinctively, trying to fix the mess.
Before I could finish, a firm hand grabbed mine, halting my movements. The grip was strong but gentle. My breath caught in my throat as I felt myself being pulled closer. My heart raced, my skin prickling with unease.
"It's okay," a deep voice said, calm and steady.
I froze. That voice. It was familiar in the worst way. My eyes traveled up slowly, from the hand holding mine to the face that sent a shiver down my spine.
Raymond.
His eyes locked on mine, a faint smile playing on his lips. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. He hadn't let go of my hand, and I couldn't pull away.
"Long time no see, Ava," he said, his voice low, almost mocking.
The air around me felt thick, heavy with tension. I stood there, weak and helpless, unable to look away from the man who had shattered my heart.
In the dazzling world of wealth, Troy Williams, the playboy billionaire, discovers life's true meaning with Bella King. She's not the usual glamorous type, but she's got a rare gift – the ability to bring laughter even in tough times. For Troy, Bella is perfection, but there are shadows in their story. One, her looming fiancé; two, Bella's unwavering commitment to their friendship, despite her engagement. As she enigmatically puts it, "The line between a friend and a lover is not that thick." Bella's dedication to their connection, despite being engaged, adds suspense to their tale. Will destiny untangle their fates, or will the thin line between friendship and something more snap under the weight of unspoken desires? Join them in a story where love, friendship, and destiny collide in a captivating dance of passion and uncertainty.
Olivia Mason had everything perfectly in place for her summer vacation alongside her college boyfriend, Marcus. Her bags were meticulously packed, her passport was within reach, and her anticipation for a Hawaiian adventure was obvious. However, all her well-laid plans crumbled when Marcus abruptly ended their relationship just a day after their graduation. A heartbroken Olivia found herself unable to resist an invitation to spend the summer at her best friend Amelia's family beach house. Amelia, however, had one strict rule in place: absolutely no dating any of her brothers. Without hesitation, Olivia agreed to abide by the rule, as she had no intention of getting involved with another man anytime soon. That was until she crossed paths with Alex. Among Amelia's brothers, Alex had a reputation as a charming womanizer who could win over anyone. When his focus shifted towards Olivia, it ignited an unexpected and passionate connection between them. Caught up in a passionate affair filled with secret rendezvous and stolen kisses, Olivia found herself torn between two powerful emotions: the irresistible longing for Alex's touch and the fear of betraying her dearest friend. The question that lingers is, just how far will they be willing to go?
(18+. book contains mature scenes) In Joana's life, a complicated love story unfolds. Joana, a young woman scarred by a painful past, simply longs for love and affection. However, she finds herself stuck in a challenging situation, married to Fred Malcolm, a man with a girlfriend. Fred is determined to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend, and he resists any connection with Joana. But Joana's charm gradually draws him in, making their bond hard to ignore. The big question is: Can their growing love and attraction overcome the obstacles they face, or is this just another sad love story? This family realism drama explores the complexities of their hearts and the challenges they must confront in their unconventional love triangle.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
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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 never gave a damn about rules and laws, as he only liked 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?
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
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?