Adele runs away from a life a privilege and entered a new world of mafia, mysteries secret that could be killed for and love. Born a wretched life and adopted into a life of privilege.. Adele Callahan has spent her life under the thumb of a prestigious family that controls her every move. When she escapes an arranged marriage, her only plan is to run as far and as fast as she can-until a fateful encounter changes everything.. Adele seemed to live a nice life but it's all a different story behind the reflection. Forced to marry a rich influential abuser, Adele escapes in a bid to leaves a life that was arranged and all planned out for her when her paths crosses with a man who introduces her to a life she never knew existed. Lucian runs a mafia group but there's more to him than he let out, one of the influential person feared by most. But women are his toys, a new one each day to add to his record of decanhery. Lucian. He's dark, enigmatic, and devastatingly handsome, but beneath his flawless exterior lies a dangerous secret. His piercing eyes see too much, his voice commands obedience, and his presence is like a storm she can't escape. He warns her to leave, but his words come too late-Adele is already entangled in his world. What starts as a chance meeting spirals into a deadly game of survival, as Adele learns the truth about Lucian. Drawn together by fate, their connection defies reason, even as the shadows of Lucian's mafia ties threaten to tear them apart. As passion collides with peril, Adele must decide: will she run from the darkness that surrounds Lucian, or embrace it to uncover the secrets of her own destiny? "In a world of danger, betrayal, and supernatural power, love might be the most dangerous thing of all."
Though she felt a little tipsy, although her mind buzzed and swam with the effect from all the alcohol Tris made her drink, she forced herself to move quickly towards the door. This wasn't the plan, she had thought to wait till the wedding morning in two weeks time when everyone would be busy trying to put everything in place, to busy with last minute preparations to keep an eye on her and when more attention would be given to Tris. That would be the best time to slip away unnoticed or so she had thought.
But now after another evening of endless scrutiny and the stifling presence of Tris and her family, she couldn't take it any longer.
She had to escape, ever since a month back when her marriage to Tris was announced, Adele had been watched like a hawk and now with no one hovering around her she had to leave, it might be her only chance.
She hesitated, her heart pounding as she opened the door just enough to slip through.
Successfully sneaking out of the room, she found the hallway empty. Her pulse quickened with relief. No one guarding the door, an oversight she hasn't expected. It was obvious that Tris had not expected her to try and escape. It seemed Tris as self assured as ever, assume her will had been broken by now, that she was simply biding her time to accept the life that had been chosen for her. He was wrong.
Ignoring the dizziness, Adele took off down the hallway, her steps as quick as she could manage. The cool night air helped sharpen her senses but her legs till felt weak. The alcohol clung stubbornly to her system, dulling her coordination.
Adele couldn't use the elevator from fear of being discovered so she wasted no time and headed for the stairs.
Halfway down the stairs, she stumbled over nothing and fell over the stairs, her knee smashing painfully against the hard, cold marble floor. She gasped, pain flaring hot through her leg. She winced as she forced herself to stood up. Blood oozed from the scrape, darkening her fur coat.
It was nothing, she told herself. An injury she could handle. What she could not handle was staying here any longer.
Ignoring the pain and the blood oozing from it, she continued her walk down the stairs though a bit slower, thankful that she had not twisted her ankle which would have made it even worse for her.
She successfully made it to the ground floor, she steadied herself and made for the back exit that led to the underground parking lot. Her fingers shook as she fumble through her coat pocket searching for the car keys she had previously hidden there.
She found it with a sigh of relief, clutching it tightly but as she moved forward, she bumped into someone so hard that she lost her balance. The impact almost sent her reeling to the floor but strong arms steadied her, gripping her hands firmly.
Adele squinted as she moved away from the arms of her savior when she had regained her balance.
Her vision blurred as she felt her head split in two, the impact from all the alcohol and the force of collision which she had bumped into the person.
Eyes narrowed as he stared at the half drunk girl and it narrowed even more when his eyes fell on her bleeding knee. What was she doing trying to escape with an injured knee.
" You're bleeding. You should be in good shape before considering an escape."
Adele's vision cleared immediately she heard his words. She looked to see the owner of the voice and her jaw dropped.
A Second Chance at Sunrise* "When life gives you a do-over, will you seize it? "Alexandra "Lexi" Thompson's life was unraveling. A painful breakup, a stagnant career, and a sense of purpose lost. But then, a mysterious night in Manhattan sends her tumbling back in time-to her 18-year-old self, in small-town Florida. As Lexi navigates her past, she's confronted with unfinished business, old flames, and new possibilities. Will she rekindle her romance with Jake, the high school sweetheart who still holds a piece of her heart? Or will she return to her New York City life, determined to rediscover herself? In this heartwarming, thought-provoking tale of love, loss, and self-discovery, Lexi must choose between two timelines-and two versions of herself . *Will she find her true path in the past or forge a new future?* "A beautifully crafted exploration of identity, love, and the power of second chances." *Genre:* Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance "Sometimes, the best way forward is to go back."
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
My boyfriend called, "Baby!" as he jumped out of bed and scrambled to pull his pants off the ground. "Please, I can explain my love." Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply and tried not to cry when I realized that my dream of the man not being my boyfriend had been dashed. "What?" I asked, "What do you want to explain?" How did you lie about having a business meeting while you were in bed enjoying yourself with my best friend, even though I told you I was in serious pain, is that it?" I stood there, my heart pounding, and tears streaming down my face...
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
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!"