On the night of her father's lavish party, Serena Moretti's world shatters. Sold to Dante Romano, the ruthless heir to a rival mafia family, she becomes the pawn in a game far more dangerous than she ever imagined. Now trapped in the cold halls of the Romano estate, Serena must learn to survive among five dangerous brothers, each with their own ambitions and secrets. But Serena has secrets of her own-and a will to fight back. As she uncovers the shocking truth behind her father's betrayal, she realizes her survival depends on outsmarting them all. In this brutal world, there are no safe choices. Only one question remains: Will Serena be the one who breaks, or the one who breaks them?
Serena~
The cold light of the spotlight hit my skin, and I gasped.
Where am I?
My head spun as I blinked into the brightness, the world around me fading in and out like a nightmare. But this wasn't a nightmare-it was real. Too real. I was standing in the middle of a room filled with shadows, the murmur of voices echoing ominously around me. My heart pounded, each thump echoing through my chest, and panic gnawed at the edges of my mind.
"Eight hundred dollars," a voice boomed from the darkness, cold and detached.
What?
I swallowed, my throat dry. The weight of what was happening crashed down on me, the sharp realization piercing through the fog of confusion. They're bidding on me. Me. The room felt smaller and tighter, as the spotlight trapped me like an animal on display.
"Eight hundred dollars, one."
"Eight hundred dollars, two."
The numbers climbed, and with each new bid, fear clawed its way through my body. Where am I? Why is this happening? My thoughts spun wildly as I clutched the towel wrapped around my body, desperate to shield myself from the unseen eyes devouring me from the darkness.
I had come to a party, hadn't I? A party my father had organized. I could still feel the fabric of the too-tight red gown. My stepmother, Liliana, had forced me to wear earlier-her dress, her choice. I hadn't wanted to wear it, but Vittoria, my stepsister, had told me it was my father's request. I had no choice but to obey.
A party. For me.
But where was I now?
"Five thousand dollars," another voice broke through the fog of my mind, sending a shiver down my spine.
I turned, searching for a way out, my eyes darting around the room, but the shadows swallowed everything beyond the spotlight. My legs shook beneath me, and I stumbled slightly, feeling like the world was closing in. My throat burned with the remnants of the strange juice Vittoria had practically forced into my hand.
And then it hit me.
Vittoria. Liliana. They had planned this. The party, the dress, the drink... they had set me up. This wasn't about celebration. This was about betrayal.
"Ten million dollars."
The voice, cold and devoid of emotion, cut through the room like a blade. I froze, the sound paralyzing me. The crowd grew silent, anticipation thick in the air. Who would pay that much?
"Ten million, one."
"Ten million, two."
The finality of it washed over me like a wave of cold water.
"Sold."
The lights flickered on, and the room exploded into clarity. I stood, exposed, on a stage in front of a sea of faces. Men-powerful men-sat at round tables, their eyes gleaming with greed. My stomach lurched as their gaze traced the outline of my barely covered body. I had been reduced to an object, nothing more than a prize to be bought and sold.
"Mr. Dante Romano, you've won this woman," a voice announced with sickening formality.
My body tensed. Mr. Romano.
I didn't need to look to know who that was. I had seen him earlier-watching me. He had sat in the corner of the party, quiet, commanding, his ice-blue eyes never leaving me. Dante Romano. I had felt his gaze, sharp and dangerous, searing through me even before I understood the full horror of the night.
The crowd parted as he approached the stage, his footsteps slow and deliberate. My heart pounded in my ears as he came into view-tall, dressed in an expensive black suit, his expression unreadable, his presence suffocating.
He stopped in front of me, his icy blue eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, everything around me disappeared-the crowd, the voices, the lights. It was just him and me, and the unspoken tension that hung in the air between us.
"I never buy anything," he whispered, his voice like steel, "without making sure it's of the highest quality."
His words sent a shiver through me, but it wasn't just the coldness in his tone. It was the way he looked at me-like I was something to be conquered, something to be owned.
"I won't take her until I've confirmed she meets the standards," he continued, turning slightly toward the large screen behind me.
My blood ran cold as I followed his gaze. There, on the screen, was footage of me in the bathroom, naked and vulnerable, water cascading over my body as I showered. They filmed me. They planned this. My stomach twisted in horror, my shame exposed for everyone to see.
"Of course, Mr. Romano," another voice said, but I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
My father.
I looked up, eyes wide, searching the crowd until I found him-standing on a balcony above the room, his expression blank, emotionless. His eyes met mine, but there was no recognition, no love, no regret.
"Dad," I whispered, my voice breaking.
But he didn't respond. He didn't care. He had sold me. Just like that.
"Undress her," my father commanded coldly.
My breath hitched in my throat, and I clutched the towel tighter to my chest, panic rising. "No!" I screamed, my voice trembling. But the guards didn't hesitate. They yanked the towel from my body, leaving me exposed and humiliated.
The room filled with gasps and murmurs as they took in my naked form, but I didn't hear them. All I could hear was the pounding of my heart, the crushing weight of my father's betrayal, and the coldness of Dante Romano's gaze as he watched me with a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Enough," he finally said, his voice calm, but filled with authority.
He reached out, grabbed me by the arm, and dragged me off the stage. My legs were weak, barely able to support me as he pulled me toward the exit.
"Please... don't," I whispered, but my words were swallowed by the crowd.
"Drive," Dante ordered his driver as he shoved me into his car. He climbed in beside me, his presence filling the small space with a suffocating intensity.
One last glance out the window, and I saw them-Vittoria and Liliana, smiling triumphantly. And my father-still unmoved, still cold, still uncaring.
Hatred burned through me, hotter than ever before. How could they do this to me? How could he?
Dante's chilly breath brushed against my skin as he leaned in close, his voice a low whisper. "Be ready for one more surprise, my slave. From now on, you will breathe with my permission."
warning ⚠️ mature content. only for 18+ "You can take my body by force, Aron Fringe, but you'll never be able to gain my soul." "I'm not interested in your soul. Miss Grace, please slake my lustful appetite." He tied a rope around my hands and feet and sealed my lips with his before I could attempt to stop him. Words like "love" and "emotions" don't make any sense to him, and he has only one strong feeling in his life: lust. This is the first thing that 28-year-old billionaire Aron Fringe thinks of whenever he lays eyes on a woman anywhere in the world. When he's not busy overseeing a multibillion-dollar company, he enjoys indulging his libidinal desires. After reading the articles in the 18+ magazine, he gets so enamored with the author that his world comes to a complete stop. As a result, he finds it difficult to quench his thirst for other women. He thinks his life will be perfect if he can just track down the magazine's mystery author and try out the fantastical experience he read about, but then he meets Sara Grace. How emotionally Sara and sex offender Aron Fring will interact? Will Aron and Sara fall in love, leading Aron to see that there are other emotions outside lust, or will Sara develop a sex addiction similar to Aron Fringe? Find out who will prevail in this conflict between love and lust by immersing yourself in the story.
Stella Parker, an ambitious businesswoman at the peak of her career at the age of 25 was determined to make a name for herself while refusing to accept any form of defeat... she wanted to be the absolute best in everything, especially when it came to the greedy world of 'business'. Her outspoken personality and sassy character no doubt earned her a measure of fame amid rivals in the industry. But when it came to the famous Los Angeles-based hot and devilishly charming CEO, Ethan Woods, he understood the true meaning of persuasion by force... to seize one's own power. Because of his aggressive behavior and obstinate demeanor, he was indeed quite popular among those in the business circle. With these two dominating personalities going head to head, one despising woman and the other rejecting the mere thought of falling in love, what will be the outcome of their story? Will they be able to continue as sworn rivals, battling fierce competition at every corner? Or will they hopelessly surrender to the desires of the heart? Follow the exciting journey of a contract among two CEOS in... "LOVE or VENGENCE."
Maria Blanco, a stunning 26-year-old woman, has always held the firm belief that her kind actions may change people's hearts. Though she was born the daughter of a mafia family, she had always avoided the violence that surrounded her. She never imagined that her life would take a turn that would force her to become the commander of a mafia gang. And when her one true love, Alexander Sergin, turns out to be her biggest enemy, her already terrible situation becomes even more so. With her desire for vengeance raging high, the Russian beauty must decide whether to put out the flames of love or the blaze of hatred. Dive into the story to know what she will decide.
Stella Parker, an ambitious businesswoman at the peak of her career at the age of 25 was determined to make a name for herself while refusing to accept any form of defeat... she wanted to be the absolute best in everything, especially when it came to the greedy world of 'business'. Her outspoken personality and sassy character no doubt earned her a measure of fame amid rivals in the industry. But when it came to the famous Los Angeles-based hot and devilishly charming CEO, Ethan Woods, he understood the true meaning of persuasion by force... to seize one's own power. Because of his aggressive behavior and obstinate demeanor, he was indeed quite popular among those in the business circle. With these two dominating personalities going head to head, one despising woman and the other rejecting the mere thought of falling in love, what will be the outcome of their story? Will they be able to continue as sworn rivals, battling fierce competition at every corner? Or will they hopelessly surrender to the desires of the heart? Follow the exciting journey of a contract among two CEOS in... "LOVE or VENGENCE."
What is it about life that makes it so challenging? We may not always have what we want, and the things we do have are either unappreciated or we fail to recognize their true value until it's too late. Riya, like any other young woman her age, fantasized about meeting the right guy and living a happy, romantic life with her Prince Charming straight out of a fairy tale world, but she was soon forced to accept reality, seeking happiness with her lover, Harsh, rather than pining over someone who may or may not exist. Riya was helplessly drawn to a new guy who started working at the same company she did... His demeanor reminded her of the man of her dreams; he was just as stubborn, aggressive, and challenging as she was. Riya believed she had finally found him... her Prince Charming... the one worthy of her eternal love after meeting Rachit. What will happen, however, when Riya discovers that her beloved was not who she had expected, that her dreams were nothing more than fantasies, and that reality was even further away than the west from the east?
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
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."
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
Lucille was one of the most skilled female assassins, and on the previous night, she embarked on a top-secret mission. However, the mission's details were leaked, leading to her untimely demise at the hands of a traitorous companion. She never discovered the identity of the person who betrayed her before her death. But by some miracle, she was granted a new life, and was reborn as a girl with the same name. Determined to uncover the truth and seek revenge for her family, Lucille seized her second chance at life. She planned to avenge her loved ones. However, her plans were complicated by Joseph, an apparently frail man who was actually skilled in martial arts. And he seemed to fall for her deeply, now this newfound knowledge only added to the complications of Lucille's revenge plan...
Eight years ago, Eleanor was a pampered and arrogant young heiress, while Andreas was just a nameless talent from a humble background. Although she had taken him in, she never treated him with any warmth. Their fates flipped, and now Andreas was a business titan feared by all, while Eleanor wallowed in shame and despair after her fall from grace. Upon their reunion, he pinned her with a venomous glare and declared, "It was my hatred for you that drove me into becoming what I am today."
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."