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Ariana Sullivan is a beautiful and ambitious young woman, but she lives under the weight of the crushing debts left by her late father. Desperate to protect her family from unscrupulous creditors, she finds herself faced with an unexpected proposition: a marriage contract with Rafael Moretti, an enigmatic billionaire who secretly runs one of the most powerful mafia networks in the country. Rafael has it all: wealth, power, and a reputation that makes even his enemies tremble. But to cement a crucial deal with a rival cartel, he must marry. Ariana, with her beauty and scandal-free past, is the perfect bride to bolster his public image. In exchange, he promises to pay all her debts and keep her family safe. But what begins as a business marriage quickly turns into a dangerous game of power, secrets, and desire. Is Rafael really the cold, calculating man he claims to be, or is there a pain and vulnerability beneath him that Ariana can see through? And as she delves deeper into Rafael's dark, unforgiving world, Ariana discovers disturbing truths about her own family-and the real reasons behind this marriage.
Ariana Sullivan stood in the grand living room of her family mansion, the elegant walls decorated with old portraits of her ancestors, but all around her seemed only dust and decay. His father's debts, accumulated at breakneck speed over the past few years, were an invisible chain that was suffocating him. One debt after another, each more threatening than the last, creditors had presented themselves, demanding their share of what was left of the Sullivan empire. And what was left...wasn't much.
The chilly wind of late autumn blew through the broken windows, reminding Ariana every moment that everything she had known - wealth, comfort, the illusion of a life protected - crumbled between his fingers.
She scrutinized the papers scattered on her father's desk, letters of formal notice and warnings of seizure. The numbers made her head spin. Millions in debt, a legacy of reckless decisions, and a dead father who ultimately left only a broken promise. Ariana bit her lip, her throat tight. She had always admired her father, but he had betrayed her by leaving her family in this ruin. She had to find a solution. For herself. For his mother, who was lost in the melancholy of loss. And for his little sister, who had not yet grasped the extent of the trap that was closing on them.
Creditors were not people you could negotiate with. Shadow men, with dirty hands and cold eyes, ready to do anything to get back what was owed to them. She could almost hear them, their raspy voices in her ears, the pressure of their fingers crossed around her neck. But Ariana wasn't ready to let it happen. She had her own pride. She knew that only a radical solution could save them. And tonight, an opportunity was going to present itself to her, although she hadn't looked for it.
She stood up suddenly, dropping a pile of papers in frustration. An invitation to a charity dinner placed on the corner of the desk caught his attention. A dinner hosted by the Morettis. The rumors about this family were as vast as their empire, but what immediately captivated Ariana was a name written at the bottom of the invitation: Rafael Moretti. The name of this enigmatic and ruthless billionaire, the one everyone spoke about in hushed tones. It was rumored that he controlled more than just his businesses. He ruled over the underworld, the mafias, and the lost souls who dared to cross his path.
Ariana 's heart was beating harder. The idea of meeting a man like him intimidated her, but at the same time she felt a strange excitement. Perhaps there was a chance for her to negotiate a less chaotic future. She didn't yet know in what way, but this dinner would be the gateway to something big. Very big.
A few days later, Ariana stood in front of her bedroom mirror, examining every detail of her black dress, an elegant and simple piece that highlighted her figure without overdoing it. She had opted for light makeup, her hair styled in a cascade of perfect curls. She had to look perfect. Not too helpless, not too fragile. She had to sell the image of the strong, dignified woman who fought for her family, even if deep down, she felt a fragility that she had never shown to anyone.
She arrived at dinner feeling like she was being watched. The scale of the place, the dazzling luxury of the entrance hall, the sparkling chandeliers... it all seemed unreal. Men in black suits and women in evening gowns struggled to appear nonchalant, but the atmosphere was palpable, tense. Ariana immediately felt disconnected from this world, like an intruder who wasn't supposed to be there. But it was there, in this world, that she could perhaps find a solution.
The look she looked for in the crowd, and which she ended up meeting, was cold. A man stood across the room, alone, with a glass of red wine in his hand, but his imposing posture, his air of mystery, everything about him screamed power. Rafael Moretti. He was even more impressive in person. Medium in size, but with an overwhelming presence, he exuded an icy aura, as if the air around him was denser than that of the others. His dark, piercing eyes seemed to pass through people as if they were nothing but air. Ariana felt a rush of adrenaline, her heart beating a little faster with the inevitable encounter.
When he noticed her, there was no excessive gesture. Just a subtle tilt of the head. And yet, that was enough to send a strange thrill through her, a thrill that came not from fear, but from a strange sort of desire and curiosity.
Ariana walked towards him, her step confident but her heart racing. A waiter approached to offer them glasses of champagne, and, with a calculated gesture, Rafael grabbed his glass without taking his eyes off Ariana , as if he was waiting for something. He handed her the cup without a word, and she took it, not really knowing how to react. Rafael's gaze didn't leave her.
"You're Richard Sullivan's daughter, aren't you?" » he asked in a low voice, almost too soft to match the intensity of his gaze.
Ariana nodded, a slight tension in her shoulders. " Yes. Ariana Sullivan. »
"I heard about you. » He paused, looking her up and down. "Your family is going through difficult times. »
Ariana felt a pang in her heart, but she didn't flinch. She was used to whispers and judgments. She looked up at him, determined not to be intimidated. "They say that you are a man capable of solving many problems. Maybe you have a solution for mine. »
Rafael looked at her intently, an almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. He wasn't the type to respond immediately. He took a sip of his champagne and, without taking his eyes off her, let the silence hang for a few moments. It was part of his game, his power. She could feel it. He was studying it. He measured every word, every gesture.
Then, finally, he spoke. " Maybe. But it seems to me that you are not here by chance. You are looking for something more than help. »
Ariana felt a shiver run down her spine. How could he guess that? She looked down for a moment, forcing herself to remain calm, then she continued in a more confident voice. " Maybe. But you are right. I'm looking for a solution. My family has lost a lot, and I don't have many options left. »
He examined her for a moment in silence. Time seemed to stretch around them. Then, with calculated slowness, he whispered, "I have a proposition for you. A business wedding. You become my wife, and in return, I pay all your family's debts, I protect you. »
Ariana looked at him, stunned. She didn't see this coming. The proposal was bold, risky, but she could not ignore the immense relief it could bring. But what did that mean, really? She bit her lip, wondering if she had the courage to embark on such an adventure.
Rafael waited, serene, with a slight smile, as if he knew she was going to say yes. He was a man of power, a man who never offered anything without expecting something in return. But Ariana also knew that she didn't have the luxury of refusing. What he offered her was perhaps her only path to survival.
She looked up at him, and her words came out slowly, but with a certainty she had never allowed herself before. " All right. »
Under the gaze of a fallen mafia, Elvie, a young woman with a troubled past and victim of a brutal ex, seeks to rebuild her life. Working as an assistant in the villa of the Corleone, an influential crime family, she tries to avoid conflict with the three Corleone brothers, all as dangerous as each other. But everything changes when Adriano, the eldest brother and heir, breaks his arranged engagement to embrace the war between enemy families and must quickly remarry. Cold and calculating, he sees Elvie as a simple piece in his game. For her, he is just another nightmare to flee. But as they interact, appearances crumble and unexpected bonds are forged. As her ex resurfaces, Elvie will have to choose between her new life, her secrets and the growing violence that threatens everything she has rebuilt.
Alice's life has been devastated by the betrayal of those she believed to be her allies. Five years ago, her fiancé, in the grip of a professional failure, convinced her to sacrifice her dreams to help him get back on his feet. But her best friend, hungry for glory and power, made a decision that would change their friendship forever, by secretly becoming a surrogate mother. When Alice's fiancé, now at the top of his career, left her, claiming that she no longer met his expectations, Alice, broken, accepted the proposal of the mysterious billionaire, Gabriel Hartman. Known for his coldness and indifference, Gabriel seemed to offer Alice an escape. What she didn't know was that he was the one who had orchestrated her best friend's request for maternity... But what if everything she thought she knew was just a decoy? What if, deep down, the price of her redemption is much higher than she imagined? Can the truth really mend broken hearts, or will secrets destroy everything in their path?
Zoe's dreams of marriage are shattered when she catches her fiance in a compromising situation with his best friend. Devastated, she seeks to recover what she has lost. That's when an enigmatic man, a warm billionaire named Maxime Delacroix, offers her an unexpected solution: a loveless marriage, a contractual alliance with the aim of destroying his ex's career. Although reluctant, Zoe accepts, ready to do anything to get revenge. But as their relationship grows, Zoe realizes that the stakes are more complex than she imagined. Between revenge and a budding passion for this distant man, she finds herself torn between her desire for justice and her budding feelings. How far will she be willing to go to get revenge without losing everything in the process?
Lily thought she had a simple life, surrounded by her adoptive parents in a small town. But everything changed the day she learned that her real parents were industrial tycoons and that she had a twin brother, heir to a family empire. Welcomed into a world of luxury, she found herself facing a reality very different from the one she knew. Her brother, a cold and ambitious man, had always hated her. "You're just an intruder, Lily," he told her. But another secret resurfaced: a mysterious businessman claimed that Lily was the rightful heir to a huge hidden fortune. "It's time you knew the truth," he told her. Between betrayals and revelations, Lily must choose between wealth and family loyalty.
Lara Sanders and Ethan Cole had been together for five years, but Lara had never been his priority. Ethan, obsessed with his work, did not see the soul of the woman he had married. Lara had tried to rekindle the flame, but in vain. She had had enough. One day, she left everything: the house, the promises, and Ethan. Years later, Lara reappears. She has become a successful entrepreneur, an icon of the business world, and no one recognizes her anymore as the fragile young woman she once was. Far from the shy and discreet Lara, she is now a queen of industry, admired and respected. At a public event, a journalist asks her: "Lara, you are the most influential businesswoman of the moment. What is the key to your success?" Lara, with a mysterious smile, answers: "Never let a man define you. Take charge of your life. » The next day, to everyone's surprise, Ethan appears at Lara's door. The man she thought had been forgotten, who had let her go without a glance, returns with a surprising proposition: "Lara, I made a mistake. Can we start all over again... Together?"
Luca Moretti, an influential businessman, is forced to marry Amélie Lefevre, a woman he considers a simple family obligation. Already in love with another, he vows to make Amélie's life hell so that she will ask for a divorce. However, he does not know that Amélie is hiding a secret that could change his life forever. Behind her calm facade, Amélie is much more determined and intelligent than he thinks. What will happen when Luca finds himself caught in his own game? Will he succeed in breaking their union or will he succumb to the hidden truth?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
On their wedding night, Rogelio wrapped his fingers around Marian's neck and spat at her, "Congratulations! From now on, you live in hell!" The reason for his wrath was that he believed she was responsible for the death of his elder brother. So, he married her but refused to touch her, determined to make her suffer for the rest of her pitiful life! However, due to an unforeseen accident, Marian was forced to sleep with Rogelio in order to save him, and she ended up getting pregnant. Concealing her pregnancy, Marian lived cautiously under Rogelio's watchful eyes. He hated her and relentlessly humiliated her, yet he would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on her— "Mr. Bailey, your wife got into a fight with someone!" Rogelio secretly took action, eliminating that person completely. "Sir, your wife claimed that all of your family's wealth belongs to her!" Rogelio quietly transferred all the shares to her. Unaware of all this, Marian only wanted to escape, but Rogelio pulled her into his warm embrace, whispering, "Mrs. Bailey, where do you intend to go with our unborn child?"
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."