One casual visit to her father's study; an unplanned collision with the malevolent Russian Bratva mafia boss plunged her life into a downward spiral. Forced to marry him for an alliance that bordered on keeping her family's business stronger, she had no choice but to accept her fate after an unsuccessful attempt at absconding right before the wedding. But with each new discovery about him, she realized that the masked husband she despised so much had several layers that tugged at her heartstrings, giving her no choice but to fall deeply for him. However, what happens when the dreary and dark secrets from his past resurfaces and threatens to disrupt not just their blooming relationship and his position as Capo, but their existence as well?
Chapter 1
Ariel
The sound of the annoying alarm on my bedside jolted me up from my sleep and I hissed loudly, letting out a string of cusses while I found my way out of the bed groggily.
My eyes darted to the huge clock on the wall and a gasp elicited my lips. I had a baking class to attend and the only thing I could do was sleep like a log of wood?
Father would so have my head if he realized that I was lazing around by this time of the morning when I was supposed to be up and about. So I rushed to the bathroom to do some cleaning and then I joined my mother in the kitchen.
"Good morning, mama," I kissed her cheeks, throwing my arms around her.
She squinted her eyes with a questioning look, stirring a cup of steaming coffee she just made with the coffee maker.
"You seem excited this morning, can you share the reason for your excitement?" She smiled and put the coffee on a saucer and handed it over to me.
With a big grin on my face, I said, "No, mama. Or maybe I'll tell you when I'm back from my baking class," I giggled.
Her smile turned into a wry one and I rolled my eyes, moving away from her. She had always been against my intentions to bake for reasons unknown to me but thankfully, I had the support of my father.
"Look, honey..." Her eyes blared with wariness as if she had some truth to reveal.
Well, I didn't want to hear any of it. I was already running late.
"See you later, mama. Bye."
I blew a kiss at her and headed for my father's study where I'd formed a habit of going to every morning, serving him a cup of strong black coffee while enjoying a few hours of chitchat with him.
It was during one of those days that I relayed my intentions to learn to bake professionally and in his usual loving manner, he supported me.
Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to speak at length this morning, I sighed. I reached for the doorknob, turning it downwards and the door creaked open.
I barreled into his office-no, into a solid rock that smelled more like a human and the hot coffee splashed on him. The glass cup slipped from my hands and shattered on the ground, the shards flying about in different directions.
My heart raced and I palmed my lips in horror.
"Oh my. I'm so sorry," I gasped, lifting my face to peer at his face and blood drained from my body.
He wore a dark plastic mask that only revealed his dark orbs but kept the rest of his face concealed. My eyes did a scan on his black outfit made up of a well-tailored suit and a pair of black boots that did nothing to hide how huge and intimidating he was.
Dressing formally wasn't for a man like him.
Suddenly, my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to know who this man on a black mask, emitting a scary aura that was strong enough to make anyone do his bidding was, and why he was coming out from my father's study by some minutes around 8'o o'clock.
"You're too clumsy for someone about to become a wife," His husky voice tore through my reverie and I frowned.
What the hell was he rambling on about? A wife? I wasn't ready to become one yet.
"Well, I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't expect that my father would be having a visitor this morning. It's quite unusual..." I explained.
He was having none of it as he grabbed my arms and held it so tight it was almost painful.
A scowl formed on my face and I glared hard at him, hoping that he would see how angry I was and let me go. Sadly, he didn't care about my discomfort and none of the guards stationed at the door post cared about my situation.
"Let me go!" I roared with my shrill voice, struggling hard to get out of his grip.
He did eventually and straightened his jacket then walked away without another word.
I tried to hold down my breathing which had become erratic, inhaling deeply to stop myself from screaming. Then I stormed into my father's study, fuming and raging at the assault that just took place outside.
Why would I be treated like that because of a silly mistake I made?
But something felt off the moment I entered and found my father standing in front of his bookshelf; his rear facing me with his hands behind him.
However, I shook the weird feeling aside.
"Dad, who was that ill-mannered man that exited your office?" I whined, crossing over to where he stood while baring my arms which had turned red to him. "Look at what he did to my flawless skin. Aren't you going to do anything to that man?"
"My hands are tied, Ariel," He said after a moment of silence, his voice brimming with resignation.
My eyes flitted around in confusion and I held his hand. He rarely called me by my name apart from when I offended him, but then he'd be sitting behind his desk and scolding me softly.
He'd never sounded so distant and tired like this.
Trepidation grew rapidly in my chest while waiting for an explanation but none came.
"What do you mean, Dad? Your hands can't be tied. Aren't you ruthless Capo of the Famiglia? Surely, you can pass an order and that scary-looking man would be locked up in our cell,"
He chuckled rather darkly, shaking his head and training his gaze on me. "It would be erroneous to lock up your soon-to-be husband in our cell, don't you think?"
My legs staggered backward and my heart thumped hard against my chest. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach and a loud wheezing sound in my ears.
And then I felt my body being lifted onto his soft furry couch which I used to enjoy sitting on, but right now, it felt so uncomfortable.
"I'm here, baby," He croaked, blowing some air on my face until the fainting spell disappeared and I felt better.
Then the reason for my panic attack flooded my mind again and my heart squeezed painfully.
"I... I don't understand what you all are talking about, Daddy. Just before I came here, mama said she had something to tell me but I ignored her and ran all the way here to give your coffee when I ran into that man who scolded me for bumping into her while hinting how he wouldn't want his wife to be clumsy all the time. Now you're saying that he's going to be my husband. How is that even possible?" I was close to tears.
He lowered his lashes, something he rarely did as my father was one man who never cowered in front of anyone or any situation, no matter how scary it was.
But here he was, avoiding my gaze.
"Please, father..." I trailed off, my throat tightening.
He swallowed and cleared his throat then stared at me. "That man you bumped into is the Capo Dei Capi of the Russian Bratva and he is to be your husband in three days. The engagement will take place tomorrow so get ready to go shopping for a dress with your mother. You have to look extremely beautiful for him," He announced.
My gaze lowered to his lips which were moving but I couldn't make out anything he was saying.
The only thing that rang in my head was the dreaded word 'Husband'. It was at that point that everything began to make sense; the constant business trips that made him absent from the house for days and the long calls even at dinner.
I sprang to my feet, my eyes glistening with tears.
"No, Father, I can't get married and even if I'm interested in becoming a wife, it will never be to that man." I protested as shivers ran down my spine.
I couldn't imagine getting married to the malevolent, unfeeling and callous Capo who had no single emotions. His evil reputation preceded him and word had once gone around that he crushed a woman's skull with his bare hands when he was fifteen because she attempted to steal from him.
If he could do that to a woman when he was much younger then what would be my fate?
"You have no choice here, Doll,"
I scoffed and sank onto the chair. "You really want to give me out to a man on my eighteenth birthday, Father? What happened to getting married at twenty-one?"
"That is my decision to make and right now I'm telling you nicely that you have no other choice but to get married to that man. His name is Dmitri Mikhailov so get used to calling him that!" He thundered, walked to his desk and picked up his car keys and stormed off.
"Tell me, how much do you want me?" "I... I don't know, Prince Gradel." I couldn't think straight, my body ached and my soul sang with an overwhelming need for one thing. His touch. ***** Iris Damine had the whole universe conspiring against her. From being a wolfless omega, to being framed for theft and eventually being sentenced for taking the Prince's heirloom, she had sins stacked against her like a pack of cards. Gradel, prodigal prince of Grey Rock pack and son of Alpha Cronus, has zero interests in anything that concerns the pack. But with his father's health declining and the pack on the verge of collapse, he's charged with new responsibilities. And only the wolfless omega he despises can help him. What happens when their forced union threatens to unravel the other feelings they struggle to hide? Would the moon goddess step in and save them from themselves or would the end of this forbidden romance be filled with heartache and sadness?
"After what you did, I'd like you to know that I can't stand you, but this marriage cuts across our hateful feelings for each other. It's something you will never understand." His eyes turned dark and vengeful immediately, causing me to take a step back. "This is my life, Dexter. You won't ruin it for me with your so-called marriage contract." I protested. He shook his head, and immediately the vengeful glints I saw were replaced with an unreadable expression. "If you don't marry me, then your life will be completely ruined, dear Lorraine. And don't forget that you have a lot of enemies, especially your step father. ************** Fate brings two former high school enemies back together in an unreasonable situation and for some reasons, Lorraine has to marry Dexter, the man she despises. But when she signs the contract, she discovers that there are several secrets that are hidden from her and it becomes worse when her husband isn't who she thinks him to be. Amidst the trials and challenges, they'll find themselves falling for each other again even though reality keeps reminding them why they shouldn't. Will their love conquer all? Will Lorraine be able to forgive Dexter despite knowing his hideous past? Will she be able to survive all the deadly arrows thrown at her by her stepfather?
Returning from work to discover that her parents were murdered by a dead Capo, Aurora seeks answers from her uncle. He tells her the truth and that strengthens her resolve to get revenge from the children of her parent's murderers. Finally she gets to the Capo's house to get Vendetta from his children, especially Matteo the first son and Capo of the Outfit. But is it possible when she realizes that the man she wants to kill might be the only man she could ever love?
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.