Elena Russo, a struggling artist desperate for a break, takes on a mysterious invitation to a high-society masquerade gala. There, she meets the enigmatic and dangerously alluring Luca Romano, a billionaire shrouded in scandal and secrecy. What starts as a fleeting, steamy encounter turns into something far more dangerous when she learns Luca is not just a billionaire but the kingpin of an underground empire. Caught in Luca's seductive web, Elena finds herself spiraling into a world of luxury, lies, and lust. But Luca has secrets, and the deeper she falls for him, the closer she comes to uncovering his darkest truths-ones that could either destroy them both or bind them together forever.
The sound of her heels clicking against the cold marble floor was drowned out by the hum of voices and the occasional clinking of glasses. Elena Santorini plastered on her most charming smile, the kind that hid the unease bubbling beneath her surface. Her first solo exhibition was meant to be a dream come true-a step toward freedom from the shadow of her father's failures. Instead, she felt like a pawn in a game she didn't fully understand.
She adjusted the neckline of her modest yet elegant black dress, wishing the material could shield her from the weight of prying eyes. As she moved through the crowded gallery, she caught snippets of praise for her artwork. Normally, the comments would have filled her with pride, but tonight, they barely registered. Her father's frantic voice earlier that afternoon echoed in her mind.
"Just trust me, Elena. Everything will be fine. You'll barely notice anything's wrong."
That should have been her first warning. With Vincent Santorini, "fine" was a word stretched thinner than her patience.
Elena stopped in front of her favorite piece, a canvas dominated by swirling shades of crimson and black, her emotions poured into every brushstroke. She had named it Broken Promises. It felt ironic now, standing there while the promise of a stable life slipped further out of reach.
"Miss Santorini?"
The deep, gravelly voice startled her, and she turned to face its source. Her breath caught. The man standing before her was nothing short of striking-sharp jawline, tailored charcoal suit that screamed wealth, and piercing green eyes that seemed to pin her in place. His dark hair was slicked back, giving him an air of ruthless authority.
"Yes?" she replied, her voice steady despite her racing heart.
"I'm Luca DeLorenzo," he said, extending a hand. When she hesitated, he let it fall back to his side with a faint smirk. "Your work is... captivating."
Elena blinked. People often complimented her art, but the way his gaze lingered on her made her feel like she was the one on display. "Thank you, Mr. DeLorenzo."
"Luca," he corrected. "I don't stand on formalities."
"Well, I do," she said briskly, taking a step back. Something about him set off alarms in her mind. He was too polished, too composed, and his presence felt more like a storm cloud than a compliment.
"I admire your independence," Luca said, his smirk deepening as if he could read her thoughts. "It's rare to find someone so... defiant."
Her eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Not yet."
Before she could respond, the lights flickered. A moment later, the gallery went dark. Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by the murmur of confusion. Elena's stomach twisted. This wasn't a simple power outage-it felt deliberate.
"Elena," Luca said, his voice low and close now, sending a shiver down her spine. "Stay calm."
"Calm?" she snapped, instinctively stepping away. "What the hell is going on?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he pulled out his phone, his expression darkening as he glanced at the screen.
"Time's up," he muttered, almost to himself.
Before she could process his words, chaos erupted. The doors to the gallery burst open, and men in dark suits flooded the space, their movements swift and coordinated. Someone screamed, and the crowd scattered like panicked sheep.
"Elena!" Luca's voice cut through the noise, commanding and urgent.
But she wasn't about to wait around to find out what he wanted. Heart pounding, she turned and bolted toward the back exit. She had no idea who these men were or what they wanted, but she wasn't going to stick around to be their next victim.
She barely made it ten steps before a strong hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her to a halt. She twisted, ready to fight, but froze when she saw Luca.
"Let me go!" she hissed, struggling against his iron grip.
"Do you have any idea what you've just walked into?" he growled, his calm façade cracking.
"I don't care! I'm leaving!"
"No," he said firmly, pulling her closer. "You're coming with me."
Her protest died in her throat as two men in ski masks appeared in the hallway ahead, blocking her path. They didn't say a word, but the guns in their hands spoke volumes.
"Change of plans," Luca muttered, his voice icy as he shoved her behind him.
"Luca DeLorenzo," one of the men said, his tone mocking. "Didn't think you'd be babysitting tonight."
Luca's response was a blur of motion. One second he was standing still; the next, he had disarmed the first man and sent him sprawling to the floor. The second hesitated, and Luca capitalized on the moment, delivering a swift blow that left him unconscious.
Elena stared, wide-eyed. "What the-who are you?"
"No time," he said curtly, grabbing her arm again and dragging her toward a side door.
Her instincts screamed at her to resist, but the sound of more men approaching made her swallow her pride. Whoever Luca was, he seemed to know what he was doing-and she wasn't about to gamble with her life.
They burst into the cool night air, and Luca wasted no time guiding her toward a sleek black car idling by the curb.
"Get in," he ordered.
"No-"
"Elena," he said, his voice dangerously low. "Do you want to live?"
Her hesitation lasted a fraction of a second before she slid into the passenger seat. Luca followed, slamming the door behind him.
The driver, a grizzled man with a thick accent, didn't wait for instructions. The car sped off, tires screeching against the pavement.
Elena's mind raced as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. "What the hell is going on?" she demanded, turning to Luca.
"You've been sold," he said bluntly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Her stomach dropped. "Excuse me?"
"Your father," he said, his tone laced with disdain. "He owed me a significant debt. When he couldn't pay, he offered you as collateral."
She stared at him, her blood turning to ice. "You're lying."
"Am I?" he said, finally looking at her. His gaze was as cold as his words. "Do you think those men were here by coincidence? They were sent to collect you-for someone else. I just got to you first."
Elena's pulse thundered in her ears. This couldn't be real. Her father was a mess, but he wouldn't do this. He couldn't.
Luca leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Whether you like it or not, you belong to me now."
She slapped him. The crack of her palm against his cheek echoed in the confined space, and for a moment, the car was silent.
Luca didn't flinch. Instead, a slow, predatory smile spread across his face. "You've got fire. Good. You're going to need it."
Elena's hands trembled as she clenched them into fists. "I am not yours. I don't care what my father did-I don't belong to anyone."
Luca leaned back, unbothered. "You'll learn."
The car pulled into a gated estate, the massive iron gates closing behind them with a resounding clang. Elena's heart sank as the reality of her situation settled over her like a suffocating blanket.
She wasn't free.
She was trapped.
And the man beside her was both her captor and her only chance at survival.
---
To be continued...
Five years ago, Samantha Grayson walked away from her marriage to ruthless billionaire Nathaniel Steele, heartbroken and pregnant, vowing never to look back. Betrayed by his cold neglect and devastated by a web of lies spun by his family, Samantha disappeared, leaving Nathaniel with nothing but regret and the ghost of a love he never deserved. Now, Samantha has returned as Scarlett Knight-a powerful lawyer with wealth, influence, and a single goal: destroy Nathaniel and the empire he sacrificed her to build. With secrets that could ruin him and an ally in his fiercest rival, she begins dismantling his life piece by piece. But Nathaniel is no longer the man she left behind. Haunted by his mistakes and desperate for redemption, he refuses to lose her again, even if it means unearthing the truth about her mysterious transformation. As Samantha's carefully orchestrated revenge takes shape, long-buried secrets unravel, and dangerous enemies emerge, threatening both their futures. When Nathaniel discovers Samantha's ultimate secret-their four-year-old daughter, Emily-he must fight not only for his company but for the family he never knew he had. Caught between love and vengeance, Samantha and Nathaniel are drawn into a high-stakes battle of wills. Will Samantha achieve her revenge, or will Nathaniel's regret and newfound love be enough to heal their fractured hearts? In this gripping tale of betrayal, passion, and redemption, revenge is just the beginning. ---
Evangeline "Eva" Woods thought a quiet life in the small town of Silver Mist would be her escape from the chaotic past that left her broken. But fate has other plans. On the eve of her 24th birthday, Eva discovers she is the long-lost Moon-Blessed, a rare being with the power to amplify a Lycan's abilities and bring balance to the supernatural world When Eva crosses into Lycan territory, she draws the attention of three powerful, possessive triplet Lycans-Dominic, Kael, and Lysander Graystone. Each brother is a force to be reckoned with, and they are bound to her by a bond deeper than blood. Dominic, the authoritative and protective eldest; Kael, the seductive and playful middle; and Lysander, the brooding and mysterious youngest-each one is determined to claim Eva for themselves. As the brothers' possessive love for Eva ignites, so does an ancient prophecy. The triplets must unite their fractured pack and confront a deadly threat-the rogue Lycans and a dark force tied to Eva's lineage. In the heat of battle and desire, Eva finds herself torn between the triplets, each of whom embodies a different side of the power, lust, and longing that bind them. But with danger closing in, Eva must embrace her fate. To protect the world they know, she must make a choice that could break her heart, or solidify the bond between them forever.
When struggling freelance photographer Sienna Blake wakes up in Las Vegas with a pounding headache and a billionaire husband, she assumes it's the worst mistake of her life. Xander Hawthorne, the reclusive tech genius and CEO, is equally horrified. Their drunken, impulsive marriage seems like a problem that can be solved with a quick annulment-until Xander's legal team reveals a shocking twist: a clause in his late grandfather's will forces him to remain married for six months if he wants to secure his family's estate. Desperate to fix their respective problems, Xander offers Sienna a deal: pretend to be his wife for six months, and in return, he'll pay off her mounting debts and fund her dream photography studio. Sienna reluctantly agrees, but the arrangement plunges her into the high-stakes world of billionaires, where every move is scrutinized, enemies lurk in plain sight, and her growing feelings for Xander threaten to upend their carefully crafted contract. As the two navigate media scandals, corporate sabotage, and personal insecurities, secrets from Xander's past and Sienna's present threaten to tear them apart. When a betrayal leaves their fragile trust in shambles, Sienna must make a choice: walk away with her independence intact or risk her heart to help Xander salvage not just his empire, but the future they've unintentionally begun to build together. In Accidentally Ever After, love and trust bloom in the most unexpected places, proving that sometimes, the biggest mistakes can lead to the happiest endings.
Selene has spent years running from her past-a lone wolf haunted by the sins of her fallen Bloodfang pack. Cursed with a reputation she never earned, she hides in the shadows, avoiding the hunters who would see her dead and the packs that would never accept her. But everything changes the night she crosses into Lucian Blackwood's territory. Lucian, the powerful Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, is relentless and untamed. When he discovers the rogue she-wolf injured in his forest, he feels the pull of the mate bond-a bond neither of them can afford. Selene wants nothing to do with him or his pack. She knows the truth: an alpha like Lucian can't be tied to someone like her, a wolf whose blood carries darkness. But Lucian refuses to let her go. As enemies close in and secrets unravel, Selene finds herself torn between the safety Lucian offers and the freedom she craves. The bond between them is undeniable, but their connection is forbidden. If Selene stays, she risks destroying the only chance of peace Lucian's pack has ever known. If she runs, it may cost them both their lives. Some bonds are fate. Others are a choice. And Selene must decide before time runs out.
Sage Whitmore has always fought for what she loves. The Bluebird Café-a small, charming cornerstone of her hometown-isn't just a business. It's her mother's legacy, a place filled with laughter, memories, and the heart of her community. But when an unexpected financial disaster threatens to shutter its doors forever, Sage is left scrambling for solutions. Desperate to save the café, she finds herself staring down a deal with the devil: Damian Cross. Damian is the king of New York's corporate world-ruthless, brilliant, and infuriatingly charming. A billionaire who bends empires to his will, Damian is a man who values control above all else. When he acquires Bluebird Café as part of a larger investment portfolio, he makes Sage an offer: work as his personal assistant for one year, and in return, she'll have the chance to buy back her café. The terms are simple, but Damian Cross's world is anything but. Thrown into the deep end of high-stakes business, Sage struggles to keep up with Damian's demanding pace and cryptic rules. But the more time she spends in his world, the more she begins to see cracks in his steel façade-glimpses of a man haunted by his past and driven by secrets. Damian, too, is drawn to Sage's unshakable spirit, her refusal to be intimidated, and the fire she brings to his cold, calculated life. Yet their growing attraction is a dangerous game. As Sage learns to navigate Damian's power plays and manipulations, she begins to question everything: his motives, his business decisions, and the undeniable pull between them. When a shocking betrayal threatens to shatter everything Sage has worked for, she's forced to make an impossible choice. In a world where loyalty is bought and trust is a luxury, Sage and Damian must confront their deepest fears to find the one thing they never thought possible-love. Beneath the Steel and Silk is a tale of passion, power, and redemption-a story of two souls colliding in a world that thrives on ambition and secrets. Will Sage conquer Damian's games, or will she lose her heart in the process?
[A Funny Korean Romance story ] ............. Have you ever heard a celebrity losing her memory before. You haven't? Then you will now Two years ago,a celebrity was missing, some said she tried to commit suicide, some said she was murdered, some said she was just missing She wasn't a nice celebrity, everyone don't like her,but the only thing that made her really popular is because she is a K pop idol A singer,an actress..... Her name is Mi Cha,a name that means beauty, she was beautiful on the outside but not on the inside Its so obvious that everyone wants her dead,but the question was who? She was finally found in a river, and when she woke up, she couldn't remember anything, even her own name She has nobody, she was still on the search,her family will definitely give up on her .......... Chan yeol,a big time celebrity, he loved his girlfriend more than anything,but unfortunately she was missing Even if everyone hates her,he has always shown her love and Mi Cha herself knows that He became devastated when the news was broken to him about his girlfriend,but from what he had, she committed suicide Everyone told him to move on with Mi Cha's little sister,Ae ra. Ae ra has tried her best to make Chan yeol forget about his dead girlfriend but he never gave her attention He still didn't give up,he looked for her everywhere but she wasnt still found,two years later,he just decide to move on with his life He never smiled for more than three seconds,he still misses his love more than anything. And if he can just bring her back, everything will be better Every day he would stared at her picture, thinking of the fun times they both had together,but it's made him miss her the more But one day,he found her....... ............... You don't want to miss this funny romance story....
"You're the moon wolf, Lola. You're the wolf with the power of the Moon goddess", Serena said and collective gasps were heard in the room. After being rejected by her mate in Moonlit pack, Lola escaped on a full moon only to enter the territory of the next Alpha King who also happened to be her second chance mate. Adrian is the next Alpha King but he hasn't been able to assume his role because he needed a Luna by his side. A rogue that trespassed on his territory, whom he ordered be killed turned out to be his mate leaving him in a dilemma. Will Adrian reject Lola because she came into his territory as a rogue? Will he overcome what happened to him in the past and give Lola a chance or reject her and go ahead with Fay as his chosen Luna? What will happen when everyone finds out just how much power Lola wields and how she's supposed to protect her kind in an oncoming war? Find out in Lola - The Moon Wolf!
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her father's ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."
After Martina Martinez and Benjamin Walker's breakup, paparazzi captured photos of the business tycoon entering the Walker family mansion with a mysterious woman late at night. This caused a stir, and this wealthy family was bombarded by various media outlets. During a phone interview, the gossip reporter asked, "Miss Martinez, how do you feel now that Mr. Walker has a new girlfriend?" Martina held her painful forehead and looked towards Benjamin, who was adjusting his suit by the floor-to-ceiling window. He gestured for her to come over and help him with his tie. Holding her phone, Martina responded, "It's... complicated!" The reporter's heart leaped with joy and asked, "Is it heartbroken?!" Martina was about to nod, but Benjamin raised his eyebrows and took her phone away. His deep and alluring voice was heard on the other end of the line, "New girlfriend? Whose?"
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.