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?
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!"
We've been married for three years, but I've never truly had his love. When his childhood sweetheart returned, just as promised, all I was met with were the cold, glaring divorce papers. "If I were carrying our child, would you still choose to divorce?" I asked, holding onto the faintest glimmer of hope, making one last desperate plea. His response, as expected, was just as cold as ever. "Yes." I closed my eyes, choking back tears, and finally chose to let go-to honor his decision. Years later, my heart had turned to ash. Lying in a hospital bed, I trembled as I signed the divorce papers. "Alexander, from this moment on, we owe each other nothing..." What I never saw coming was the ruthless, decisive CEO kneeling at my bedside, his voice hoarse, almost broken, as he pleaded, "Vivienne, don't divorce me... please."
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
Billionaire Bennett Graham urgently needed a wife to close a business deal but his fiancée wasn't ready to tie the knots yet. So his grandmother picked the most unassuming maid for him. Everything was supposed to go incredibly well, and all he had to do was wait until he divorced her a year later. But after seeing Maliyah's ocean eyes.it wasn't looking simple anymore. *** Before I could get her up, it was as if she felt the light and an uncomfortable sound came out of her mouth. "Uh-huh..." She raised her hand to cover her eyes. But I didn't have time to wait for her to wake up, so I told her to "Get Up." My voice seemed to scare her, and her light-fearing eyes suddenly widened and she kept moving to the corner. The only voice in the quiet art room was her fear-filled voice, "No...please...go away...don't come close to me." She was afraid of me? I hadn't even spoken to her before, what was she afraid of? This was definitely not going to work, I couldn't talk to her if she couldn't calm down. Then I moved closer to her, my hand on her trembling shoulder, and I whispered soothingly "Calm down.I'm not going to hurt you.I'm not going to hurt you."I assured and then she moved her hair away from her face as if to stare at me properly. Our eyes met.It was that moment. It felt as if I was enchanted for a moment. Those ocean eyes were the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.