"If you think that you have been living in hell all your life, let me break that illusion for you," Adrian said. He spoke slowly, his voice full of menace. "This place–this is true hell, right here, where I am. His statement, "In this place, death is not an escape, no matter how much you may yearn for it," was enough to make the audience shudder, but all that tiny figure did was raise her lifeless, dull eyes. "Then help me, so I can remain here." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper. There was a hint of a smile as she continued, "If I can't escape, then I should learn how to live in hell without getting burnt." ********************************** In a world ruled by loyalties and bloodlines, Kira, the first daughter of the strongest family in the American mafia, finds herself entangled in an unexpected twist of fate. She was betrothed since childhood to the second son of the Italian mafia's don, due to a blood alliance between both families. She was raised alongside him and always considered him as her everything, while joyfully waiting for the day they would finally get married. To her, their love story was set in stone. However, on the day of the wedding, Kira's world as she knows it comes crumbling down when receives a shocking revelation - instead of her betrothed, a different groom appears at her wedding. And to top it off, he was dressed in a prison uniform. What happens when Kira finds herself thrust into the clutches of Adrian Vasillos the infamous 'devil' of the Italian mafia? Will she be able to navigate this world of danger, intrigue, betrayal, tested loyalties, and forbidden desires where she must come face to face with her deepest fears? Or will she finally discover the true meaning of love and get her happy ending? Read on to find out more in this twisted romance series...
PROLOGUE...
KIRA'S POV
The morning sun spilled its light through the stained-glass windows of the wedding hall,
The air was thick with the scent of roses and lilies, and the soft hum of a string quartet filled the space with a romantic melody.
I stood at the back of the hall, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't tell if it was due to my nervousness or the overwhelming excitement of finally being able to get married to Dylan. My hands trembled slightly as the large double doors slowly opened. Today, I would marry Dylan, the man I had loved even before I knew what love was.
My father stood in front of me, his hands akimbo, waiting for me to take his arm. I couldn't help the shiver that ran through my body as our skin made contact.
"Stop shaking like a fool and smile," he instructed, his tone sounding more like a warning than encouragement.
The veil over my eyes blurred my sight, but the sound of the orchestra playing was enough to make me giddy and momentarily forget my father's intimidating presence.
As we reached the altar, my father released my hand. I stepped forward and bowed my head slightly.
"We are gathered here today for the union of this couple," the priest began. "If anyone has a reason to object to this marriage, let them speak now."
There was total silence after that, and I concluded no one objected to our union, not that anyone could.
My father was the Don of the American mafia while Dylan's father was the Don of the Italian Mafia, our wedding was not an ordinary union, it was a blood pact, meant to pay back a debt that my family owed to Dylan's family more than a hundred years ago an-
"Do you Adrian Vasillos take Kira Neel as your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest's voice broke me out of my thoughts.
"I do," he responded. His voice sounded different but before I could think anything of it, the priest spoke again.
"Do you Kira Neel take Adrian Vasillos as your lawfully wedded husband?"
Wait....
I slowly replayed the priest's words in my mind.
He had said Adrian Vasillos.
Adrain Vasillos, not Dylan Vasilios?
Adrian Vasillos? As in Adrian... Dylan's elder brother?
My heart raced as I yanked the veil from my face, my eyes wide. "Adrian?!" I whispered as I looked up in confusion to see the person standing before me, it wasn't my fiancé Dylan, but his elder brother Adrian, dressed in an orange prison uniform instead of a wedding suit.
"W... What's going on here?" I stammered, looking at Adrian, his eyes already fixated on me. "Why are you standing here? Where is Dylan?"
The priest shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat. "Is there a problem, my child?" he asked and I shot him a narrowed look before returning my gaze to Adrian.
"Tell me where Dylan is?!" I said, my voice louder than before.
"He is right behind you." Adrain scoffed. I turned around to see Dylan standing next to an unfamiliar man. He wore the best man suit that was totally different from what I had specially picked for him for our wedding.
"Dylan!" I rushed over, grabbing his face in my hands. "W... What's going on? Why are you here? Why aren't you standing with me at the altar?"
He removed my hand from his face."Please don't make this difficult, Kira. Just go say 'I do,'" he muttered, his gaze avoiding mine.
"I don't understand what's going on. What do you mean I should just go and say I do? He's your elder brother. I'm supposed to marry you. We've been engaged since we were twelve. Why are you pushing me to him?" My voice cracked as I felt warm tears stream down my cheeks.
"I can't marry you, Kira," he said, his voice laced with anger and something else I couldn't place.
"Why? You love me, don't you? It's me and you remember," I pleaded, my heart shattering with each word.
"Please go back to him, Kira," he said, turning his back to me.
"Dylan, look at me. Are they forcing you to do this? Are you being threatened? Please tell me. Don't do this to me. You're the only one I've got. Don't let them win, please. I love you, Dylan," I whispered the last part, desperation choking my voice. "Come on, let's go." I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him with me, but he yanked his hand away, and I stumbled back.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my shoulder, and I looked up to see my father, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me. "Enough, Kira," he growled. "Stop your tantrums this minute!" I felt my body shake at his voice.
"W... What's going on, father?" I cried
"You'll not be getting married to Dylan. Wipe your eyes and go stand at that altar."
"What about the deal you made with the Vasilios?" I asked. "What about the blood pact an
"Don't ask me any question, just do what I say." He growled, cutting me short.
"Why do you hate me this much? You would even stoop this low to see me break? Why are you so heartless?!" I screamed.
His eyes widened at my sudden outburst. He raised his hands, ready to hit me. I stiffened my body, getting ready for the impact. I waited for any sign of pain or sting but it never came.
I opened my eyes to see a huge figure in front of me, his hand grasping my father's hand.
"Don't you dare lay your hands on her?" I heard Adrian say. I looked up at him to see him staring daggers at my dad. The sight of him in his prison jumpsuit did nothing to wipe away my anger. They didn't even bother to get him a suit.
My father yanked his hand away, turning to face me. For the first time, I saw a hint of fear in his eyes.
Suddenly, I saw my stepmother and step-sister coming towards us. My stepmother began to say something but all I could hear was my sister calling Dylan. She held his hands and smiled genuinely at him before facing me. I saw the way she rubbed her thumb on his hands and the way he looked at her, not once halting her actions.
"Dylan" I called him once again, hoping the scene before me wasn't real.
"I'm sorry, Kira, but I can't marry you."
"Wh... Why?" I looked at him, expecting him to say he was being blackmailed, or this was a figment of my imagination and I needed to pinch myself to step out of the horrible dream.
But hearing my sister say, "We're in love and I'm carrying his child." was the last thing I expected.
My leg almost gave out but I held my ground not willing to believe her but when I looked at Dylan, I knew every word she had spilled from her mouth was nothing but the truth.
I looked around, hoping for someone to say this wasn't right or that this was injustice but I was all alone. Not even the look of sympathy from my aunt was able to comfort me this time.
I felt the adrenaline rush in my veins as I picked up my dress and ran. I heard Sophia, my stepmother, call my name but I continued to let my leg fly across the tiled floor of the church wanting to be far away from them.
I grabbed the door handles, ready to bolt out of the church. I opened the door but stepped back when I saw two large men blocking my path, their guns pointed at me.
"If you try to leave, I won't hesitate to pull the trigger," one of them warned, his voice cold and steady.
"I'll take my chances. Death seems more promising," I shot back, my voice trembling.
"Kira," a familiar voice called my name softly. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to see my Aunt, tears streaming down her face, and a gun pressed against her head.
"You move an inch, and a bullet goes through her skull," my father hissed, his voice booming across the church.
Nila Amanda Hendricks, a young lady, is a tech prodigy who is stuck working as a janitor in a high-profile company. Her true potential is hidden from the world. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she catches the eye of her boss, billionaire CEO Silas Hayes. What starts as a professional relationship blossoms into a deep, forbidden love, leading to marriage. But as fate would have it, their happiness seems to be short-lived by an unfortunate accident that leaves Nila in a coma. When Nila awakens, she finds herself thrust into a nightmare of betrayal and loss. Her world has turned upside down, as she discovers the unthinkable—her husband and her sister have betrayed her in the worst possible way. As she digs deeper into the mysteries surrounding her, Nila uncovers shocking truths that shake her to the very core. Each revelation is more startling than the last, leading to a dramatic confrontation that will determine her future. What happens when Nila tries to end it all but gains an unexpected ally? Will she finally find the courage to face her enemies or will she succumb to depression and despair? Read on to discover the treacherous bridges and bumpy roads that await Nila in this heart-pounding novel filled with betrayal, suspense, shocking twists, and an insatiable hunger for revenge.
The reporters and paparazzi swarmed towards me as soon as they spotted me, "Mr Antonio, Mr Antonio, any words about your recent divorce process?" one reporter asked. Yeah, go to hell! "Mr Antonio, can you say something about the rumours circulating about your divorce this time around?" Another asks. Ask Chloe, I am sure she has a lot to say! "Mr Antonio, what do you have to say about the allegations circulating about you on the internet?" Yet another asked, pointing one of those tiny microphones in my face. "Mr Antonio, is it true that you were born as a woman and underwent transitioning alongside cosmetic surgery to become a man?" "That's a new one!" I muttered to myself, with a smile. "Mr Antonio, why aren't you ever the one who files for a divorce, is it true it's because you are impotent?" another reporter said and it took all my manpower not to punch the idiot in his face. The nerve of these reporters! The questions kept coming from all directions, and they all kept flashing their lights to catch a picture of me for their front pages. The flashes of their cameras will surely earn me a migraine later. My guards tried to ward them off, but they were so fucking persistent. "Mr Antonio, are the rumours about you lacking a penis true?" one of them asked. That made me stop in my tracks. I wanted to get a glimpse of the reporter's face and make sure he could never work in America again, but they kept flashing their cameras violently, eager to get everything they could from my frame. I said nothing and turned, ignoring my prior plan. "Lucky bastard," I hissed as I continued into the building. ****************************** Damien Antonio Don-Russo is the CEO of Don-Russo Empire, he is a cold and heartless man who battles with childhood trauma and dilemma which is coupled with social rumours, drama, and trolls about how a rich, successful, and handsome young billionaire like himself is incapable of maintaining and sustaining any of his past marriages. As if that is not enough, he has to deal with his overbearing, condescending, and selfish father who cares about no one else but himself, and a rival cousin who he just cannot stand. To raise his social status as a political and public figure, Damien's father forces him into yet another arranged marriage with Missy. (Melissa Cole), a complete opposite of Damien's personality and nature, with an equally self-centred mother. In a world of power, deceit, betrayal, unhealthy affairs, and competition, it's up to these two to make this marriage work! The question is, after Damien's already three failed marriages, would they be able to? Even more so, when Missy discovers a shocking truth about Damien, would they be able to leave it all in the past and move on? Read on to find out.
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!
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
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?
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"