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?
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"