Emilia's world is crumbling-her brother is in desperate need of a kidney transplant, and she's sold everything to keep him alive. She's on the verge of loosing it all when something unexpected happens at the hospital. Mistaken for the mother of a mafia lord's daughter, Emilia's life does a 180 turn.. Alaric Castillo, cold and commanding, demanded she became his daughter's nanny, and she agreed-on one condition. He'll pay for her brother's surgery. A tight bond forms between Emilia and the child. But the more time she spends with Alaric, the more she discovers a side of him that's buried beneath layers of control and power. What started as a reluctant partnership soon became something deeper, but in a world ruled by secrets and enemies, love is a dangerous game. Caught between her past, her present with Alaric, and the deadly feud that is trying to ruin them all, Emilia must decide-will she fight for her heart or walk away from the only family she's ever known?
Emilia's POV
I tapped my leg continuously on the floor, my hands pressed tight together as I tried to stop them from shaking. My eyes were locked on the doctor's and I could hear him talking but I wasn't even listening. All that was on my mind was thoughts of how I was going to get twenty-five thousand dollars for Matteo's surgery. Twenty-five thousand dollars! A shudder ran through me. And that wasn't all. I still had to pay for the other hospital bills apart from the surgery fee.
It seemed like my life was just going haywire at this point, and there was absolutely nothing that I could do to stop it.
"Miss Abramo?" The doctor called, snapping her fingers in my face twice. I jumped, and then gave her an apologetic smile.
"You were saying?" I asked.
"Are you okay, Miss Abramo?" She eyed me warily. "You've been zoning out."
"Yeah, I'm okay," I lied, nodding. My hands began to shake and I clasped them together once again, taking in a deep breath as she continued.
"Miss Abramo, it's getting too late. If you don't pay for your brother's surgery within this week and the next, I'm afraid you might loose your brother," she said, her tone sympathetic and warning at the same time.
My heart flew to my throat and tears welled up in my eyes. She sighed, shaking her head a bit. "I'm sorry, Miss Abramo, but sugarcoating it won't solve the problem. You have to hurry and get the money, if not, your brother might die."
My heart clenched as she spoke and I shut my eyes hard, feeling a tear slide down my cheeks. I shook my head and sighed, opening my eyes. "It's okay," I murmured. "You don't have to keep mentioning it. I get it."
She pressed her lips together, trying for a smile but it was a grimace instead. I could see the pity in her eyes. And I hated it. I absolutely hated it.
"Thank you," I said to her as I got up. "I'll be back to check up on him later in the evening," I added before stepping out of her office and closing the door behind me. I needed to find a way to get twenty-five thousand dollars in just a week.
I ran my hands through my hair and rubbed my eyes. God. I was so tired. I hadn't slept properly in days and I had so much on my mind. Matteo was the only family I had, I couldn't let him die. At the same time, I had no money at all. I had to pay for his fees, and I still had to pay for our house rent. I've even sold my small café just to pay up but still it wasn't enough.
"Mommy?" I heard from somewhere around the hall as I walked towards the elevator. And then there was a little tug on my skirt. "Mommy!"
I frowned, looking down just to see a little girl with silver hair tugging at my skirt. "Mommy!" She squealed, her eyes wide and her lips stretched in a grin. She kept tugging at my skirt, her eyes expectant.
I sighed and mustered up a smile as I crouched down to her level. "Sweetie, what's your name?" I asked, taking her hands in mine.
"But mommy, you know my name!" She mumbled. She couldn't he more than three years old. "It's Francesca!"
"Well, Francesca, sweetie," I began and bit my lip, wondering how I was going to break the heart of the cutest little thing I've seen today. "I'm not your mom. But where is your mom though? I can take you to her."
"But you're my mommy!" She insisted, shaking her head. Tears welled up in her eyes and her lips began to quiver. "You're my mommy," she murmured.
"Francesca, sweetie, I'm not –" she didn't let me complete the sentence before she shook her head furiously and began to cry.
"Francesca... I..."
"You're my mommy!" She insisted, rubbing her eyes as she cried.
"Okay, okay," I murmured, carrying her in my arms as I stood. "It's okay, baby. Let's go," I added.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, putting her head on my shoulder. She had stopped crying at last. I ran my hands through her hair and kissed her Her cheek while I headed for the elevator. I'd drop her at the reception and go. Her parents, or guardians would find her there.
"Mommy will you come home with daddy and I?" She asked in a tiny voice, raising her head from my shoulder to look at me with her big, green eyes.
I opened my mouth to speak, but what cut me off was the men who suddenly appeared in front of me as they came out from the corner corridor just before the elevator. One of them locked their eyes on me and raised the gun he was holding immediately, pointing it at me. The other followed suit, scowls on their faces as if they wanted nothing more than to blow my brains off with the gun.
I blinked, gulping as I took a step back, only to feel cold metal at the back of my head.
"Uncle?" Francesca murmured, raising her head from my shoulder once again. But she wasn't looking at the men in front of me. She was looking at the one behind me and I whirled around on my feet, my eyes going wide at the man who had held a gun to the back of my head.
His eyes narrowed on me and I opened my mouth to speak, to ask what exactly was going on when Francesca spoke again. "Daddy! Look who I found!"
I turned around again, seeing as the men parted to make way for someone. Their boss maybe. The first thing I noticed was his forest green gaze as he stormed towards me, his eyes going from me to Francesca and back to me.
"You dare to try take my daughter away from me?" He seethed, stepping into my personal space. I took a step backwards and felt the gun at the back of my head again. A warning.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," I whispered, my voice shaking.
"Where are you taking my daughter to?" He demanded with narrowed eyes. "You're trying to kidnap her?"
I shook my head. "No, of course not! I was just taking her to the reception, so her parents can come meet her there. I...I didn't know you're her dad."
His eyes narrowed again as he stretched out his hand and tried to snatch her away from me. She only tightened her hold on me. "Daddy, will mommy come home with us today?"
His gaze snapped to me instantly. "Mommy?" He demanded.
"I tried to tell her I'm not her mother but she won't listen," I rushed out, my eyes darting to the men, and then back to him. I was very aware of the one behind me because he wouldn't stop pressing his gun to my head. Who were these men exactly? I knew one thing though. They were probably the most dangerous people I've ever met in my life. I gulped again, looking at Francesca's father. Really looking at him.
Gods.
He had to be the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. He had dark hair, and eyes so intense that I felt like he already knew me inside out. He had the prettiest olive skin and broad shoulders that fit his muscled frame. He was about 6'5. He had this lethal aura around him and right now it was focused on me.
I blinked, reminding myself that I had gotten into trouble here and I was not supposed to to be checking out the man who could order his men to kill me right now.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know she's your daughter," I mumbled, forcing myself to breath steadily and calm myself. "She came to me and I didn't know what to do."
"Francesca, she's not your mother," he said, his eyes staying on me for a moment longer before he looked at his daughter. "Come here." He added, stretching his hand and taking her from me in a firm but gentle manner.
"Allesio," he said. I was guessing that was the name of the man behind me. He dropped his gun.
"Get out," Francesca's father ordered as he cradled his daughter in his arms protectively. "Now."
I didn't wait to be told twice. I walked carefully till I was away from his men and their guns before I took off to the elevator, my heart pounding so hard in my chest that I was so sure he could hear it.
Betrayal. Heartbreak. Murder. Isabella's world shattered when her husband's affair with her sister was revealed. Brutally assaulted in her own home, with her husband's cold gaze upon her, she witnessed the gruesome murder of her fated mate right before her eyes. Consumed by agony, Isabella begged for a second chance. And then in a whirl of time, she woke up on her wedding day. Armed with the knowledge of the past, Isabella has a fierce determination to get her revenge and choose right in the second chance she has been given. Will she be able to choose right and find redemption or will the darkness of her past consume her once again?
After catching her fiance in bed with another woman a few days before their wedding, Emily Waston was devastated and angry. In desperation, she walked into a bar where she had an unforgettable one night stand with a stranger. To her ultimate shock, she discovered the stranger was her fiancé's uncle. And to make the matter worse, she got herself into a tacky situation where she couldn't leave her fiancé's life completely. By working as John's live-in secretary, she began to fall in love with his uncle. And John in particular noticed the closeness between them and began to get jealous and wanted her back. How would Emily handle the desire which the two alpha relatives have for her?
When your one night stand turns out to be your professor, there's only one thing to do- continue to sleep with him. And that was exactly what Sophia is going to do. She's faced with a forbidden attraction that's hard to resist until she finds out his dark secret; he's a vampire. Will her passion overcome the secrets he had been hiding from her or will the shadows tear them apart?
"Carry out the execution." These are the last words Annalisa hears as she's betrayed by those she once called family, falsely accused of a murder she didn't commit, and sentenced to death. At the precipice of her execution, Annalisa makes a desperate plea for justice. In that moment, something-or someone-listens. Annalisa awakens months in the past, before her life falls into ruin, with all her memories intact. Armed with knowledge of the future and a burning desire for vengeance, she vows to rewrite her destiny and make her enemies pay. Can she?
"Look at you, completely at our mercy," Kade sneered. "How does it feel knowing that someone else holds the power, witch?" Kieran added making them laugh but I kept my chin high. "You will never have power over me." Kyle smiled and leaned down so he was eye level with me. "We already do." ************ The Black Brothers are famous for their brutality and ruthlessness but more so for their hatred of witches. The goddess must have been playing a prank when she made a witch to be their mate, at least that's what Kaya thought. Thrust into a world that she wanted no part of, Kaya has to play the part of slave to the brothers but the fate is a force that cannot be fought. With betrayals at every turn and enemies they didn't even know existed, Kaya might just be exactly what they need
"I can't control my urge to destroy him completely, mother. But I also can't bear the pain of hurting him constantly." Adria sobbed in her mother's arms. "And that might leave you with no option than to journey to the land of the dreaded for a forbidden love is not one that can be taken lightly." In a world where vampires and werewolves were long-term enemies, and live amidst humans, without them being aware, Adria, an A+ student, thinks she is a human. And she had been living like one until her 18th year when she got exposed to the supernatural world. She fell in love with her mate, Lucien, a powerful Lycan King, who also loved her deeply, and then she also found out she was a pure blood vampire who had rare abilities. And it meant both Lucien and Adria would constantly be at each other's throat. With vampires and werewolves being enemies, would Adria, and Lucien be able to conquer the obstacles to their forbidden love, or would they have to bear the pain of forever being apart?
Jennifer Bennett, the rightful heiress to the Bennett legacy, fought hard for her family's recognition, only to be eclipsed by an impostor. Faced with false accusations, bullying, and public humiliation, Jennifer eventually gave up trying to win their approval. Vowing to rise above the injustice, she became the bane of those who wronged her. The Bennett family's efforts to break her only fueled her success, leading her to heights her rivals could only dream of. Someone asked, "Do you feel let down by your parents?" With a calm smile, Jennifer said, "It doesn't matter. In the end, power prevails."
"Ms. Crawford, it’s time for you to divorce Mr. Larsen and come home. You're the only heiress the Master's waiting for.” ~•~ For the sake of love, Amara accepted the arranged marriage with Tobias William Larsen. She did everything to gain her husband’s heart but when his old love returned, she realized that all her effort was all for naught. Tobias demanded a divorce on the night of their wedding anniversary, even at the price of threatening her. Heartbroken, she finally dropped all her illusions about him and returned home to be the heiress. The next time she met Tobias, they were no longer couples but opponents. "Mr. Larsen, should I remind you again? We've divorced." "Amara, that's the stupidest mistake I've ever made. Please come back to me."
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
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!”