Mafia Billionaire Riven Blackwood has a score to settle with his rival Julian Styles- the man who almost ruined his family's business in the past- and what other way to get his revenge than to seduce Julian's sister, Hazel? He believes that using her as a pawn will provide him the closure he seeks. Yet, as he gets to know Hazel, he finds himself getting obsessed and possessive of her. Hazel Styles longs for freedom from her controlling stepbrother, Julian, and is determined to pursue her own passions but just like everything in her life, it's almost impossible. Then her life takes a complicated turn when she encounters Riven, the man linked to her family's past tragedies. A man determined to possess her body and soul. Despite trying her hardest to resist him, Hazel soon discovers that staying away from Riven is increasingly difficult. As their lives intertwine, heightened by a lurking stalker whose obsession reflects the grip others have held over Hazel, the stakes rise. Will their love be enough to overcome the secrets and lies surrounding their relationship Or will Riven's consuming fixation on Hazel ultimately lead to their undoing?
HAZEL STYLES POV
"This is not working"
I glanced up from my food, my eyes widening a bit as my gaze met those of Liam.
"What are you talking about? Don't you like the food pairing" I asked, my hands trembling a bit as I pointed to the food on the table. I knew he hated whatever I liked but I was starving and also a bit anxious so I'd ordered most of my comfort food.
"What do you think? Did you have to get all these dishes? You're always ordering like you're trying to add more fat to those you already have"
My brows furrowed. "I just saw my therapist yesterday and he told me I was underweight... That's why I ordered..."
"How could I forget," he said cutting me off with a roll of his eyes, "the baggage you have is endless. Aside from being an artist who doesn't have a career, you also have unresolved childhood trauma. Oh, Your brother is also out to get you." He let out an exasperated sigh. "Do you know how exhausting you are"
His words hurt but I was already used to them, besides he didn't really mean them. Whenever he was stressed out, he tended to say hurtful things. It was just the way he was wired.
I forced a smile to my lips as I dropped the fork. "I'm sorry. Next time, I won't..."
He let out an exhausted sigh, then held my gaze. "There won't be a next time, Hazel"
His words hit me like a freight train and I froze. "What... What are you talking about"
He sighed, then dragged his hand through his hair. There was a block of ice lodged in my throat and it intensified the longer I waited for him to say something.
Lena had said he was going to propose today because it was so out of character for him to invite me for dinner, but now, as we sat in the beautiful restaurant with all my favorite food, I couldn't help but feel like it was the opposite.
Liam let out a rough exhale, then leaned forward. "Are you really that dumb... I mean everyone says it, but I thought they were exaggerating"
My hands trembled and I squeezed them into fists "What? Why are you..." I stuttered and he scoffed as he cut me off.
"God, I don't even know how I put up with you. Three years of my life freaking wasted. Do you know that every little thing you do annoys me to death? Are you really that oblivious"
My stomach churned making it difficult to breathe. I felt both hot and cold. "Is this some sort of a prank... If you're trying to scare me before you propose..."
"Propose" he got out, his tone incredulous. "You thought I was going to propose to you?" He said then scoffed. "Do you think you're worth it? I am Liam Hex, heir to the Hex family fortune. Did you seriously think that I was going to settle for a nobody like you"
My eyes felt hot. I glanced around, noticing the gaze of the other diner that was now on us.
"Liam," I got out as the heat in my heart bubbled over. It burned so hotly that it was difficult to breathe. I clenched my fist harder and then took a deep breath to calm myself. The tears that had filled up my vision threatened to fall. "Can we talk outside at least"
He smirked, then leaned toward me. "We have nothing to talk about. This relationship is over" he got out curtly, his eyes emotionless. "I brought you here to break up with you. Aren't I just the gentleman huh"
My vision swirled as the heat in my chest churned. It was so painful, I could barely speak. "You said you loved me. You promised that you were going to stay by my side and that nothing would ever come between us"
He was looking straight into my eyes and the cocky look on his face as he laughed had the pain in my chest intensifying.
"All empty promises that anyone with sense would have seen through. I thought I could get something out of you since Julian Styles is your brother, but turns out he doesn't even give a shit about you since you choose to rebel against his wishes. You are useless to me so why should we continue this relationship... You barely even let me touch you"
"Bastard" I gasped out, a single tear trailing down my cheek.
"Whatever you say, love. Oh, and you should take your leave now, my real date is here" he said and my gaze jerked up to his as he stood up.
Sweet-scenting perfume wafted up to my nose as someone came to stand beside me.
"Liam" she chirped, then threw her arms around him, before they proceeded to kiss.
I watched, frozen and shell-shocked. I was having a fucking nightmare. It had to be. There was no way this was real.
"You said it was only going to take ten minutes. Why is she still here" the girl whined and Liam's gaze moved to mine.
"What are you still doing here, Hazel? I told you to leave. We are done. I want nothing to do with your sorry ass anymore"
I slowly got to my feet, my heart pounding in my ears. My fingers closed around the glass on my table. I yanked it up and threw the content in his face.
There were no words left to say. There was only rage burning and chopping away at my heart. It was vicious. Liam had ripped out my heart in the most vicious way and I just couldn't let it go.
Liam gasped, his expression aghast as he took in the red wine dripping down his crisp white shirt.
My hands moved and I hit him over and over again. My scream of rage filled up the restaurant as Liam tried to restrain me while I struggled against him.
"Enough of this madness!" He roared and pushed me hard. I fell on my ass, my tailbone tingling in pain. I gazed at him dazedly as he towered over me.
Where the hell had I gone wrong? How the hell did I go so low only to end up being treated like shit. All the shit I took from him and this was how I got paid back. Why.
"You fucking crazy psycho. Do you want to get arrested? I thought the Styles had more dignity. If you don't want this published in the news, I suggest you fucking behave" he threatened because he knew how Julian would react if I got into a scandal
I couldn't breathe. "You have no right to treat me this way. All I ever did was love you... How dare you do this to me"
"You're worthless, Hazel. This is exactly what you deserve, so deal with it" he said, turned to the girl, and took her hand. "Let's get out of here before this lunatic does something crazier"
They both turned to leave, the sound of their footstep trampling what was left of the pieces of my heart.
I got to my feet. "A lunatic huh" I muttered as my hands grabbed the vase on the table next to me. "I'll show you how crazy I can get," I said, turned, and sent the vase hurtling.
My eyes widened, a gasp escaping my lips as I reached out to stop what I knew could not be undone.
The vase crashed against his face. But it wasn't Liam's face.
It was the one man everyone feared. The man Julian warned me to stay away from. The man I loathed with a passion ever since the night of my tenth birthday.
Riven Blackwood.
Celine Herrera has always had to fight her stepsister, Delia, for everything she'd ever wanted from a young age. So, she isn't surprised when Delia demands to be given the family company that Celine had worked to build all her life. Since she's not the favorite of her grandfather, Delia is once again going to get what she wants. But this time, it's on a condition: whoever gets married first and gives birth to a child gets the company. Celine Herrera is ready to do whatever it takes to have the one thing that brought her true happiness. So she seizes the opportunity and, when she crosses paths with one of the most feared and ruthless men to ever exist, she does not hesitate to propose a contract marriage. She gets what she wants, but what she doesn't know is that Belshar Nessar Abed only agreed to her terms for one reason: revenge.
Pushed off the cliff by her step-sister, Eve Knew no life other than pain and betrayal, and as she plunged to her death, she swore she was going to make all who hurt her pay. Years later, she's back with a new face and a new name and there's only one thing on her mind. Revenge and she was going to get it, no matter what it took. But she is not the only one with a thirst for vengeance... Raphael Batista was framed for Eve's alleged suicide and he knew exactly who framed him and was going to make them pay, his revenge was also going to extend to anyone who tried to help them out, even if the person was a woman who made his blood burn with fierce passion and reminded him a lot of Eve who was supposedly dead. There is no going back for them, or is there, especially when the truths are coming out to light and their antagonist is someone who would do anything, even kill to keep what they'd taken.
"Gabrielle" I shouted and she cut me off. "I own your body, your mind, and your soul. Do you understand? Get back to your desk right this moment and I'll forgive what you just said" she ordered, and I knew some men who would have cowered at that threatening tone, but not me. I was flattered that she was dead set on having me, but her threats were all empty. "No, I won't, and I am done with this Gabrielle. Nothing you say or do is going to change my mind" I turned away from her and made to open the door when I heard a familiar click behind me. I whipped around to face her, cautiously taking a step back as my eyes took in the gun in her hand that was aimed directly at my head. My heart skipped in my chest. Now there was clear evidence that she was indeed connected with the Mafias. If she killed me, there was a pretty chance my body would never be found, but then, April could follow it up, and with her dedication, she'd find something. The chances were slim tho. Would she shoot me or not? Her eyes looked dead, decided, but there was also fear lurking within their grey depth, she didn't want to shoot. I called her bluff, pushing the door open. She pulled the trigger. ****** A forbidden love story between a Mafia Don and an undercover cop... A. Dangerous. Love.
Caught in a web of lies and deceit, Sybil Eagan is left at the altar by the only man she has ever loved. Moving on isn't as easy as she thought, but she perseveres, and when she finally decides to open her heart to love again, the man who left her down the aisle comes back into her life, and no, he doesn't want a second chance. He wants revenge. Angelo was devastated to learn of Sybil's betrayal and in anger decided to punish her by leaving her on the altar. He has no plans of getting in touch with her until they meet again, and he sees her in the arms of another man. He's convinced himself he hates her, but he just can't let go of her and be happy with someone else, especially when he's still in pain. He will do everything to destroy this happiness to find his peace. They're not the only ones out for revenge, and as the web of lies tightens, they both sink into a reality where they could both end up dead. In the face of such opposition, will love triumph, or will hate eventually prevail?
After years of suffering at the hand of her bullies, Brea Larson is determined to do whatever it takes to feel again even if it meant she had to kill to get it, and that's exactly what she set out to do when she falls in love with her former bully's fiancé, Ryder. Following through with her plans she persuaded them to spend the weekend in the woods. Her intentions; were to seduce and make Ryder her own while keeping the girlfriend occupied with someone else. Brea's scheme doesn't go as planned as they come across a group of Mafias who were about to carry out an execution. Brea is terrified, especially when she meets the gaze of their leader, Nicolai Fernandez. He is pure evil embodied. Unable to escape, they are given an ultimatum to run for their lives by an hour. If caught, the men had the right to do with them as they pleased. Will Brea manage to flee from the clutches of a man determined to possess her? Will she be able to escape a man so obsessed; he'd rather see her dead than away from him or will she be entrapped in his dark and deadly possession?
Vega Romeo is the live life, screw the rest type of girl. she is pretty content to just go with the flow until she is dared by her best friend to join in on a bet to make billionaire Zach Dante hers. Vega sees Zach Dante as a playboy with no feelings and so she agrees to play him. Vega would do anything to win, even if it meant hurting the one she's come to love. Competing against the other girls is not a walk in the park but Vega had already invested a lot to stop. Except lying came with consequences. And those consequences are more than she expected. But what happens in the past stays in the past right? That might be what Vega thinks, but it is not the same for Zach who bore most of the burn of the scandal. With bitterness In his heart, Zach bids his time in plotting his revenge and after five years, he's back. He's back and he wants nothing more than to destroy the woman who shattered his heart.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"