Penelope Lorenzo, a woman who'd just lost everything and in utter shambles. She had never imagined that life would bring her to this point. Brayden Giovanni, the big, masked mafia who shouldn't be trifled with. Billionaire by day and Don by night. Thrust in each other's worlds by circumstances beyond their control and some that seemed to be in his control. But with danger lurking from their forgotten pasts, including a serial killer on the loose, choices must be made or consequences abound. What happens when their cocoon is threatened by forces they can't seem to identify? What happens when she leaves after unraveling his secrets and almost gets trafficked? Will she embrace he who would raze the underworld for her or will she leave with the fruit of their passion?
Penelope Lorenzo's POV
"Please help me!" My voice cracked as I dropped to my knees, clutching at the hem of a nurse's scrubs. "Please, I'm begging you! My father... he's dying! Do something!"
The nurse took a hesitant step back, her face full of pity but devoid of action to render any sort of help. "Miss, I-I'm so sorry. There's nothing-"
"There's Nothing?" I screamed at the top of my voice, my voice echoing down the cold hospital hallway. I just didn't care!
"He's having a stroke! A heart attack! Do you understand? My father, He's in pain! You have to save him! He is all I've got, please!" I yelled more on seeing no one was ready to help me out.
"We're doing all we can," another nurse murmured, but her words felt hollow. Her gaze darted away from mine, as if she couldn't bear to look at me.
Was I looking so terrible that everyone kept avoiding my gaze? Why wouldn't they just help me save my father? That's all I'm pleading for!
"No, you're not doing anything!" I yelled and burst into more tears. The tears streamed down my face like raindrops.
"Please! Someone help him! You've got to help him!" I turned to the room full of medical staff, their white coats and scrubs blurring together. "Why are you all just standing there? Just do something! Anything at all, is fine!"
"Miss, please calm down," a young male doctor said, stepping forward cautiously. "Crying this much isn't going to help matters. Rather, you're hurting yourself! We understand your distress, but the specialists are in surgery, and-"
"I don't fucking care about your surgery!" I cut him off, slamming my fists on the cold tile floor. "My father is in a life and death situation! He is dying right now! Please, I'll do anything! Just save him!"
My cries turned into deep, heaving sobs as I pressed my forehead to the ground. My body shook violently, the weight of helplessness crushing me. "He is all I have," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Please, don't let him die..."
The hallway grew silent, save for my broken sobs. For a moment, I thought no one would come forward.
Then, a deep, calm voice broke through the tension. "Hey, Miss."
I looked up to see an elderly doctor stepping out of one of the rooms. His silver hair glinted under the fluorescent lights, and his eyes bore into mine. He adjusted the glasses on his nose as he crouched down to my level.
"I'm Dr. Harry," he said softly. "I'll do everything in my power to save your father."
A gasp escaped my lips. "Y-you will?" I clutched his hand tightly, desperation laced in my grip.
He nodded. "Yes. But there's one condition."
"Anything," I blurted out, my voice hoarse. "I'll do anything!"
"You'll need to pay the deposit first," he said, his tone gentle but stern.
The word 'deposit' hit me like a punch to the stomach. My chest tightened as I stared at him, wide-eyed. "How much is the deposit?"
"Five thousand dollars," the nurse beside him interjected, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Five thousand... what!" I repeated, my voice trailing off. My fingers slackened off his hand as my mind raced. "I don't-I don't have that kind of money!"
Dr. Harry placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, but it's hospital policy. Without the deposit, I can't proceed. Go find the money. I'll do my best to stabilize him while you're gone."
My lips trembled as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.
"Thank you," I choked out, bowing my head. "Thank you so much! I promise, I'll get it."
I staggered to my feet, wiping my tears with trembling hands.
My legs felt like they were made of lead as I ran down the hospital corridor. The sound of my labored breaths echoed around me.
"Where do I find five thousand dollars?" I whispered to myself, my voice shaking. "Who do I even contact?"
As I rounded a corner, the strap of my right slipper snapped. "No, no, no!" I cried out, stumbling forward. My knee hit the ground with a sickening thud.
Blood pooled beneath me, but I didn't care. "Get up," I muttered, forcing myself to stand. "Keep moving."
"Miss, are you okay?" a nurse called out, rushing toward me.
"I'm fine!" I snapped, dragging my injured leg as I pushed forward.
"Miss, wait! You're bleeding!"
"I don't care!" I screamed over my shoulder, my voice cracking.
Pain shot through my leg with every step, but I refused to stop.
As I ran, I bumped into a hospital bed parked at a side in the hallway. The sharp metal edge jabbed into my ribs, knocking the air out of me.
"Arghh!" I cried out, clutching my side. Warm blood trickled down my arm from where the bed had scraped my skin.
"Miss, stop! You're hurt!"
"Leave me alone!" I yelled, tears blinding my vision.
The hospital exit loomed ahead. I stumbled toward it, my heart hammering in my chest.
The cool evening air hit my face as I burst outside. The world around me was chaotic-cars honking, people shouting-but it all felt distant. My only focus was getting across the road to find help.
"Hey, stop right there!" someone shouted behind me, but I didn't look back.
Why should I spare them a glance? Were they going to help me sort out my father's hospital bill?
I stepped off the curb, my swollen eyes fixed on the opposite side of the street.
The screech of tires filled my ears, but it was already too late.
The car slammed into me with a force that sent my body flying through the air.
Time seemed to freeze as I twisted and tumbled, my arms flailing helplessly. Pain exploded in every part of my body when I hit the ground.
The sound of car doors slamming and people shouting faded into the background. My vision blurred, the edges darkening.
And then, everything went black.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
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?
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?