Loving him was forbidden. But resisting him was impossible. Sophia Romano was born into a world of power, betrayal, and bloodshed. As the daughter of a man entangled with the ruthless Romano mafia, she has spent her life walking a tightrope between obedience and defiance. But when she crosses paths with Luca Marino, her childhood sweetheart and her father's trusted and loyal enforcer, also the dangerously charming lost heir to a rival empire, everything changes. Luca is a man she should hate. Her enemy, her downfall, her greatest temptation. Yet, no matter how much she fights it, the pull between them is undeniable. But their love is more than just forbidden; it's a ticking time bomb. When secrets about Sophia's bloodline surface, revealing that she is the key to a power struggle far greater than she ever imagined, enemies become allies, loyalties are tested, and the line between love and destruction blurs. Now, with the ruthless Vincenzo Marino determined to claim her, even if it means killing his own brother. Sophia must decide: Is she willing to risk everything for love? Or will she become just another pawn in this deadly game?
Sophia Romano stood at the large windows of her father's penthouse; the city spread beneath her as she watched the lights that beautified it. She had been in this tower her entire life, surrounded by luxury, power, and the weight of her father's expectations. But tonight, something felt different. The air was heavy with tension, as if the city itself was holding its breath, like it was waiting for something to happen.
Her gaze drifted over the skyline and her thoughts became distant, that was she heard the familiar sound of heels clicking on marble echoed through the hallway. She turned just as her father entered the room, his eye was dark and sharp as he carried an overwhelming presence that intimidated anyone who came across him.
"Father." she greeted him with the practiced smile that had been drilled into her since her childhood. She was raised with strictness, not only from her father, but from everyone around her at the most.
Giovanni Romano was the head of the Romano mafia family; he was a man who demanded respect with every step he took. And at forty-five, he had built an empire that was based on ruthless deals and bloodshed. His reputation was notorious, and his power was unquestioned by all, but it was the shadows he cast that Sophia feared the most.
"Have you heard the news?" her father asked with a commanding voice. It was obvious that he couldn't care less.
Sophia stiffened. "What news father?"
"The deal's been made." Her father said as he took a step closer to her and narrowed his eyes. "The syndicate has agreed to our terms. This will be our moment. It will be the one that cements the Romano family as the most powerful in the world."
Sophia swallowed hard as she fought the discomfort that crawled up her spine. She had always known that her father's ambitions were endless, that he would go to any length to protect his empire. But the deal he spoke of, the one with the rival syndicate was darker than anything she had ever imagined.
"I'm proud of you, Sophia." He continued. He laid his hand on her shoulder with a firm grip. "You're ready to take your place by my side. Everything I've built will one day be yours."
A chill raced through her, and it was not just the cold, so she quickly cloaked her discomfort. "I'm honored, Father. I'm glad you finally see me that way."
There was a pit full of dread that she felt in her stomach. She had always known her father's love came with a price. So, she spent her entire life in the gilded cage he had built for her, surrounded by wealth, luxury, and expectations. She was his heir, his legacy, but that legacy felt more like a chain with each passing day.
"Good." Giovanni said with a satisfied smile that rarely appeared on his face. "Soon, the world will know that the Romani family controls everything." He turned toward the door, but then paused after a moment, his voice dropped as he spoke. "Just remember, Sophia, nothing is free. Not even your loyalty."
The door closed behind him with a finality that left her alone in the cold silence of the room.
Sophia's heart raced so fast that she couldn't catch her breath. She had heard the whispers, seen the glances exchanged behind closed doors. Her father's deals were never as simple as they seemed. They were dangerous. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that whatever this deal was, it wasn't just about business, it was about her.
Her father had been grooming her for this life, he had been teaching her the ways of the syndicate and preparing her to take control. But in the back of her mind, the question lingered; was she merely a pawn in his game? Or did he actually want her to take control.
As she gazed down at the busy city below, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the elevator dinging. Her body stiffened, and she quickly turned, she was expecting to see one of the bodyguards or her father's men. But when the doors slid open, it wasn't one of the usual faces.
It was Luca Russo.
He was the enforcer, the cold, calculated killer who had worked for her father for years and yet remained an enigma. No one truly knew who Luca was, not even her father's closest allies. He was the ghost in the shadows, the one who carried out orders without question and without hesitation.
His dark eyes met hers as he stepped inside the penthouse, he had a presence that was as commanding as her father's, but there was something about him that made him not as intimidating as her father to her. Something she couldn't quite explain.
"You're late." she said with a steady voice, as she ignored the flutters that were everywhere in her heart.
"I'm not here to talk about time, Miss Romano." Luca replied, he had a deep voice that was as calm as it was scary.
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you here?" She folded her arms.
Luca's gaze flickered briefly toward the closed door of her father's office, then it moved back at her. "Your father wants to see you. Now."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat as Luca completed his words. She had a feeling that tonight was the night everything would change. There was a thick tension in the air that wasn't just about business, it was about something far darker, something hidden beneath the surface of her father's empire.
But as Luca turned to leave, he kept his gaze on her, and for the first time, Sophia saw something in his eyes that looked like a flicker of something more than just cold professionalism. It looked soft.
It was an emotion she couldn't place. But she was going to find out what it was.
She followed him down the hallway, with her steps heavier than the last, the weight of her destiny rested over her like a dark cloak.
When they reached the door to her father's office, Luca opened it without a word. He carried an unreadable expression on his face.
Giovanni sat at his desk with papers scattered before him, his expression was unreadable as well.
"Sophia, come in." he said without looking up.
Luca stepped aside and allowed her to enter. Sophia did so hesitantly as her mind raced with a million thoughts.
Her father's eyes never left the papers before him as he spoke. "There's something you need to know about the deal with the syndicate."
Sophia caught her breath. "What is it?"
Giovanni finally looked up at her with a look that could cut. "The syndicate doesn't want you just as an heir to the Romano name."
Sophia stood still like she was in a trance. "What do you mean, father?"
"They want you, Sophia."
The words from her father hit her like a slap. Her breath seized, she couldn't think.
Before she could react any further, Luca stepped forward, and his eyes were dark and filled with intent.
"It's not just business, Miss Romano," he said with a soft voice, yet she could detect a hint of warning in them. "This is your future. You have to consider that."
Sophia stared at her father and then at Luca, the weight of their words eating deep within her.
And in that moment, everything she thought she knew about her family, about her future, crumbled. It all fell apart like it was nothing.
Sophia's heart became faster as the truth hung in the air like a thick fog, it suffocated her with every breath she took. Luca's eyes never left hers, and with the way he stood so close, so powerful, it made her realize that the life she had once known was no longer hers. The world she was about to enter was one of blood, betrayal, and dark desires. Who knew what else she was getting into?
And as the door closed behind her, it locked her in with her father's self-made plans, she understood the true weight of the chains she had been born into.
But was there any escaping them now?
In the shadow of Chicago's glittering skyline, forbidden love blooms amid deep rooted betrayal. Adrian Lombardi, a charming playboy billionaire and reluctant heir to a notorious mafia dynasty, is entrenched in a world of power, luxury, and deadly secrets. His carefully curated life shatters when he crosses paths with Emilia Rivera, a humble flower vendor whose tender exterior masks a turbulent past. Unbeknownst to Adrian, Emilia is the lost daughter of a man betrayed by his own family, a truth that could dismantle the very foundation of his legacy. As sparks of animosity ignite into a passion that defies both worlds, Emilia's steadfast best friend, Lucia Morales, stands by her side. With streetwise cunning and unwavering loyalty, Lucia helps Emilia uncover the dangerous clues that bind their fates. Torn between the loyalty of blood and the call of the heart, Adrian and Emilia embark on a perilous journey where every petal hides a shadow, and every secret exacts a heavy price. In a city where beauty and danger intertwine, can love truly redeem the sins of the past, or will the scars of betrayal tear them apart?
Moonlit Secrets is a combination of self-awakening and darkness, all of which is set in the town called Silver Hollow. Evelyn Hart who is not interested in socializing, finds a historical oak tree marked with unfamiliar symbols, little did she know she had unearthed an old secret related to Silver Hollow's history. Deep in the shadows, "Silver Moon" and fragments of an ancient journal sheds light to the dark corners giving Evelyn a better understanding and making her increasingly curious to understand the town's past. When the truth opened up to Evelyn, she was stunned as it was not only her who was unmasked but there were powerful forces at play trying to keep her from understanding herself, a dark ritual, and an old artifact, all of which that was on the verge of disrupting the balance of the world. Stories of the past full of emotions, dark secrets and self-emerging capabilities. Moonlit Secrets is a fight and a journey to the unattainable, undoing a curse set for decades, and finding bravery under the alluring glow of the moon.
New Blood: Shadows Of the Night is a supernatural story that unfolds in the enigmatic town of Ravencrest that harbors werewolves, witches and vampires. The story follows the intertwined lives of Stacy Thorn and Caleb Evernight. With the series of unexplainable events that take place at night, including shocking disappearances and deaths of innocent people. Only the one born with a spark in their blood can help bring the people out of their misery.
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
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?"
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?
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”