Vanessa's world shatters when her perfect life is upended by her stepsister, Delilah, who cunningly steals away the love of her life, Lucas. Once close, Vanessa now finds herself on the receiving end of betrayal, her engagement shattered, and her trust broken. Determined to reclaim everything she's lost, Vanessa embarks on a path of calculated revenge, using Delilah's own secrets against her. But as the intricate web of lies unravels, Vanessa discovers that revenge may not bring the closure she seeks-only a chance to heal and find true strength within herself.
Vanessa POV
I never thought that one day, the life I had worked so hard to build would be shattered in the span of a single night. It all started like any other day, with the sun shining through the kitchen window, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air, and the comfortable hum of normalcy. How naïve I was, thinking things would always stay the same. I didn't know that the very people I trusted would betray me, or that the person I thought of as family could be the one to tear apart my world.
My name is Vanessa, and this is the story of how I lost everything-how I was forced to rebuild it from the ashes.
The morning had been peaceful, almost too peaceful. Delilah, my stepsister, had just moved in with us after her mother passed away. Her arrival, just a few months ago, had been an unexpected turn. I didn't mind; I had always wanted to be the kind of sister who welcomed family with open arms. And Delilah... well, she seemed to need comfort. After all, she was grieving. She was fragile, or at least that's what I believed.
She'd always been a bit of a mystery to me. Pretty, with that kind of beauty that could stop traffic, but she had a way of drawing attention without ever asking for it. It wasn't that I was jealous. No, I'd always considered myself confident in my own skin, secure in my life with Lucas, the man I loved. I had my own career, my own friends, and I was proud of the life I was building with him.
But as I reflect on that morning now, I can't help but think I was blind. Blind to the fact that Delilah wasn't as innocent as she seemed, that the love I shared with Lucas wasn't as secure as I thought. I didn't see the signs until it was too late.
It was a Saturday, and Lucas had promised he'd spend the day with me. We had plans for a quiet day at the lake, a picnic, maybe a little boating if the weather was nice. It was our thing-away from the stress of work, away from the pressures of life. He'd texted me earlier that morning, saying he couldn't wait to see me, that I was the most important thing in his life.
I was on cloud nine, thinking everything was perfect. But that morning, I didn't realize that something had shifted beneath the surface. Something dark, something I would never have suspected.
"Vanessa, are you coming? Lucas is waiting outside," Delilah called from the hallway, her voice just a little too sweet for my liking.
I blinked, startled. "What?"
"I said Lucas is waiting outside for you," she repeated, this time in a sing-song tone that had a strange undertone I couldn't quite place.
My gaze flickered to her face, trying to catch any sign that something was amiss. She was standing in the doorway to the living room, her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her expression unreadable. Her eyes glinted, but I couldn't tell if it was mischief or something more sinister.
I gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Delilah. I'll be right out."
I left the kitchen and walked toward the front door, eager to see Lucas. The air outside was fresh, the sun shining down in perfect harmony with the kind of peaceful Saturday morning we always cherished. But as I stepped outside, I saw him leaning against the car, his eyes fixed on something in the distance. He didn't turn when he heard me approach.
"Hey, baby," I called, walking up to him.
Lucas straightened and smiled when he saw me. His smile made my heart skip, the way it always did. But today, it didn't feel as warm. There was something off in the way his eyes met mine. A flicker of hesitation, something that had never been there before.
"You ready for our day?" I asked, smiling up at him, trying to ignore the nagging feeling in my chest.
He nodded, but it wasn't with the usual excitement I expected. "Yeah, just give me a minute." His voice was quiet, distracted.
I frowned. "Everything okay?"
He didn't answer right away. He glanced over his shoulder, where Delilah stood by the door, watching us with that same unreadable expression. I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. It was as if she were waiting for something.
"Vanessa, I-" He took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine. "I think we need to talk."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean?" I whispered, my throat suddenly dry. "What's going on?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes shifting away from mine. "I... I think we need some space."
I blinked, unable to process what he was saying. "What? Space? Why? Lucas, we've been together for three years. What's going on?"
His gaze flickered to Delilah again before meeting my eyes. "I... I'm sorry, Vanessa. I think I've made a mistake. I think... I think I've been leading you on. I've met someone else."
My heart stopped. The world seemed to tilt beneath me, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened, my legs wobbling as I tried to stand. "What?" My voice cracked, and I could hear the disbelief in it, the confusion. "What do you mean? Who?"
Delilah stepped forward then, her smile almost smug as she placed a hand on Lucas's arm. "It's me, Vanessa. I'm the one he's been seeing."
I felt the ground beneath me disappear. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the grass, the weight of her words crashing over me. "No..." I whispered. "No, this can't be happening. You... you're my sister."
She crouched down beside me, her face softening, but I could see the coldness in her eyes. "I didn't want to hurt you, Vanessa. But Lucas and I, we... we're in love. And I don't want to hide it anymore."
I couldn't process it. Couldn't understand how the person I'd trusted most in the world, the woman I'd opened my heart to, had taken the one thing I loved most.
My chest ached as if something had been ripped from me, and the world around me became a blur of pain. Lucas... my Lucas... was gone. Delilah had taken him from me.
Sofia DeLuca has spent her life running from her family's dark legacy, determined to carve out a life of her own. But when her estranged father, a notorious mafia don, is murdered, Sofia is pulled back into the criminal underworld she tried to escape. Standing in her way is Luca Romano, her father's ruthless right-hand man and heir to the empire. As Sofia and Luca work together to uncover the truth behind her father's death, a forbidden romance ignites between them.
A prophecy long buried in Lycan lore speaks of a child born of two rival bloodlines-a child destined to unite the fractured packs but cursed to overthrow the reigning king. Seren Duskbane, a fearless rogue, never imagined her path would cross with Lucian Veylor, the brooding and enigmatic Lycan King. When a fateful encounter binds them in a forbidden union, Seren discovers she carries the heir that could change the fate of their kind. As whispers of the prophecy spread, they face enemies from within and beyond their packs-forces that see the child as either salvation or destruction. With time running out and danger closing in, Seren and Lucian must navigate treacherous alliances, unearth ancient secrets, and confront the prophecy's devastating truth.
Selena Kaelvar is the last surviving member of the Kaelvar Pride. After witnessing the cold-blooded slaughter of her family by the ruthless Crescent Moon Pack, she becomes consumed by a singular purpose: revenge. Her opportunity comes when she discovers her uncanny resemblance to Liana Morven, the Crescent Moon Alpha's beloved Luna. Selena kidnaps Liana, hiding her far from her mate, and assumes her identity to infiltrate the pack from within. Darius Raelith, the Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, is burdened with the legacy of his father's cruel reign. Determined to lead his pack with honor, Darius strives to mend the wounds of the past. But his efforts are undermined by a "Luna" who seems to be playing her own dangerous game. Selena walks a treacherous path of deception and vengeance, long-buried secrets surface, and the stakes grow higher. What will happen when Selena and Darius confront the truths that tie their fates together? Can redemption be found amid betrayal, or will revenge plunge them both into darkness?
When Seraphina, a young woman with dormant werewolf traits, is mistreated by her pack and ultimately rejected by her Alpha mate, she is forced into a life of solitude as a rogue. Her world is turned upside down when her dormant powers are awakened, revealing her true nature as a powerful Alpha and the dangers that come with it. Seeking to understand her new identity, Seraphina turns to the Lycan King, Kael, who becomes her mentor and guide. Together, they face the threats from her past that rise along with her newfound abilities. But when her former Alpha, Thorne, who once rejected her, returns, pleading for her forgiveness and help, Seraphina is faced with an agonizing choice: should she listen to his plea to take her back, or trust Kael, the one who helped her unlock the great power within her? With her destiny as Alpha hanging in the balance, Seraphina must decide how to wield her powers and confront the looming dangers that threaten her. Will she embrace the future that's calling, or be undone by the past that haunts her?
Hunted by fate and bound by a curse, Selene Draven lives in hiding, avoiding the truth of her identity as the last heir to the Duskwind Pack. When her quiet life is disrupted by Alaric Veylor, the fierce alpha of the Ebonridge Pack, her world is upended. Alaric, seeking vengeance for his brother's mysterious death, captures Selene, believing she holds the answers to the curse plaguing his pack. But as their fates entwine, an undeniable bond forms, challenging everything they know about loyalty, love, and destiny. As ancient forces awaken and secrets unravel, Alaric and Selene must face a choice: break the curse and risk losing each other, or let love conquer the darkness threatening to consume their packs.
For Claire Evans, love has always been a secondhand emotion. After a string of heartbreaks, she's convinced herself that forever isn't in the cards. Instead, she pours her energy into her thriving career as an interior designer. But when her latest project brings her back to her small hometown, she's forced to confront the one man who shattered her heart and the walls she built around it- Ethan Carter. Ethan has spent the past decade regretting the one decision that drove Claire away. Now the owner of a struggling vineyard, he's desperate to save his family's legacy. When Claire steps back into his life as the designer hired to transform the vineyard into a wedding venue, he sees it as a second chance to prove that love is worth the risk. As the days unfold in a whirlwind of late-night confessions, rekindled laughter, and lingering glances, Claire must decide if she's ready to give Ethan- and herself- a chance at the kind of love she thought only existed in fairytales.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
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!"
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
As far as everyone was concerned, William had married Renee under duress. Now that his one true love was back—and with child—they couldn’t wait for him to abandon Renee. Surprisingly, Renee was candid about the situation. "To be honest, I’m the one asking for a divorce every single day. I want it even more than any of you!" But they brushed off her remark as a paltry attempt to save face. Until William made a declaration himself. "Divorce is out of the question. Anyone who spreads false rumors shall face legal consequences!" Renee was at a loss. What was this crazy man up to now?