"In the shadowy streets of Manhattan and Milan, a deadly game of power and passion unfolds. When artist Aurora 'Rory' Thompson witnesses a brutal murder, she's forced into a fake marriage with Leonardo De Luca, the ruthless Mafia kingpin behind La Ombra Noir. Their explosive one-night stand has become a toxic obsession, fueling a dangerous dance of loyalty and deceit. As Rory uncovers Leonardo's dark secrets, she must choose between her art, her freedom, and her soul. Will their twisted love redeem him, or will it destroy them both?
The city never slept, its pulsing heartbeat echoing through the concrete canyons of Manhattan. Neon lights danced across the rain-soaked pavement, casting a gaudy glow over the crowded streets. Amidst the chaos, a lone figure emerged from the shadows.
Rory Thompson stepped out of the downpour, her long, raven-black hair plastered to her pale skin. Water droplets clung to her lashes as she gazed up at the towering skyscrapers, their peaks shrouded in mist. The city's energy coursed through her veins like lifeblood.
She slipped into the crowded subway, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and exhausted dreams. Rory's eyes scanned the sea of strangers, her gaze lingering on a young couple embracing in the corner, their love radiating like a beacon. A pang twisted in her chest, a familiar ache she'd grown accustomed to.
The train lurched forward, and Rory grabbed the pole, her fingers brushing against the cool metal. The advertisement plastered above the seats caught her attention: "Artistic Visionaries Wanted." The words seemed to pulse, beckoning her toward the unknown.
At the next stop, Rory pushed through the throng and emerged into the crisp night air. The rain had slowed to a gentle patter, casting a mystical spell over the city. She walked, her boots echoing off the buildings, until she reached the unassuming door of the Red Door Gallery.
A small, elegant sign creaked in the breeze: "Closed for Private Event." Rory's heart skipped a beat. This was it – her chance to showcase her art, to prove herself among the city's elite. She smoothed her damp hair, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.
Inside, the gallery transformed into a sophisticated haven. Soft jazz floated through the air, accompanied by the clinking of champagne glasses and polite laughter. Rory's eyes adjusted to the warm lighting, and she spotted him – Leonardo De Luca, the enigmatic patron of the arts, standing amidst a circle of admirers.
His gaze locked onto hers, piercing and intense. For an instant, the room melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a world of their own making. Rory's pulse quickened as Leonardo's lips curled into a subtle smile, inviting her into his realm.
"Welcome, Miss Thompson," he said, his voice low and husky, as he extended his hand. "I've been expecting you."
Rory's fingers touched his, a spark of electricity igniting at the contact. As she met his gaze, a whispered warning echoed deep within her: "Beware the beauty that hides the darkness."
I am Raven Blackwood, the daughter of the esteemed Asher and Astrid Blackwood. My parents died in a rogue attack, and the only hope I had was my chosen mate, Caleb Flynn. I thought I got all the happiness in the world when I got married to him, but on my wedding night, he brought his fated mate to our wedding room. The mate, he couldn't reject. I would've let go of her if she hadn't provoked me, and naturally, I did what anyone would've done in a situation like this. I attacked her. There's a rule that if any person attacks another person without a reason, then he/ she is punished with 20 whippings, but since I am the Luna, I was given another option: apologize to my husband's fated mate. Bow down and apologize to the person who took away my happiness. He must be joking. Rather than bowing, I took not 20 but 50 whippings to remember this humiliation for the rest of my life. Feeling tired, I decided to leave, as my father also thought that Flynn was the better alpha than me. But as I was leaving, I came to know that my parents' death wasn't just a normal rogue attack case. It was more than that. The plan was simple. Avenge my parents, the humiliation I suffered, and start afresh, but what am I supposed to do when the Lycan king starts tailing me? How the hell am I supposed to react when he says he wants to marry me, and that he will destroy everything in my world if I keep refusing him? Not to mention how he hates me. "I can't marry you because I hate all the males with the alpha syndrome, and I am already married," I barked at him. "And? I don't see why that's a problem. Let me make it clear, Raven. I want you, and I will do anything to get you, even if it means I will have to turn this world upside down," He smirked. How am I supposed to get on with my plans like this? Not to mention the rogue head who is strangely interested in my matters more than I am. Oh, and did I mention I had to go through a process of awakening my powers that even I didn't know of?
Rumors swirled around Jason Wood, the captivating billionaire, and his sudden interest in Kayla Rence, the seemingly insignificant daughter of the Rence family. "They say Jason's lost his mind," one gossipmonger whispered. "That Rence girl is ugly, stupid, and yet... she knows things." Countless anti-fans rose, determined to expose Kayla's "true face" and save Jason from her supposed clutches. But as they dug deeper... "What? The pianist Lily is Kayla Rence?" "What? The mastermind behind ZN, the international hacker organization, is Kayla Rence?" "What? The enigmatic agent ruling the entertainment industry is also Kayla?" "And she's a gaming genius?" Anti-fans' scathing comments transformed into awestruck whispers: "What useless idiot, who are you trying to deceive? She's my idol!" Just as the public reeled from these revelations, three imposing figures emerged: the young Masters of the Reynold family. "Let me introduce our sister," one growled, eyes flashing. "If you want to live, get lost!" The crowd trembled, cowed by the family's formidable presence. Kayla's multifaceted persona left everyone wondering: How many more secrets did she conceal?
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and 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!"
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!"
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
"I am flawed in every way possible," she said. "Good, I never asked for perfection," he replied immediately. When Sapphire Conrad, the wayward daughter of the Conrad Family, was called back to New York after running away from home to Gisborne, she only had a plan. Appear at the mansion, listen to whatever nonsense she had to say and say no to it, put up a strong font, then go back to her kids in Gisborne. Using her energy while trying to get revenge on all of them is a total waste of time even though they deserved to be trampled upon for what they did to her. It sounds like an easy enough plan until she got there and was asked to get into a marriage of convenience. Staying at New York was risky, she would be forced to face her ex-fiance who she had a nine years relationship with, the ex-best friend who snatched her fiance, her sister and mother who hate her with passion, and the list was longer than just that. But she couldn't leave her twin brother who is in danger there and there is this tiny little fact that Mr. Alexander Antonio Aldine, the CEO of Triple A Group definitely won't let her go.