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Oliver Mitchell's focus was singular: securing his position as CEO. He never imagined the consequences of his actions, especially his betrayal of Roselle Ventura. Three years later, she's back, not as a gentle and compassionate therapist, but as Ruella, a woman of formidable power and chilling resolve. Their paths collide once more, a dangerous dance of attraction and vengeance. Can love bloom in the ashes of betrayal, or will their intertwined destinies lead to destruction?
The air thrummed with the insistent pulse of celebratory music, a carefully curated playlist designed to evoke an atmosphere of refined revelry.
Crystal chandeliers, their facets catching and scattering the light, glittered like captured stars, illuminating the opulent ballroom.
Outside, a steady stream of luxury vehicles, gleaming like polished beetles, snaked their way up the long, winding driveway to the Ventura villa. Each car deposited elegantly dressed guests, their laughter and chatter carried on the gentle evening breeze.
Cater waiters, dressed in crisp white uniforms, circulated through the crowd, offering trays laden with champagne flutes and delicate hors d'oeuvres.
The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the promise of an extravagant night.
Hidden in the shadows of the guardhouse, a world away from the glittering spectacle, Roselle Ruella Ventura watched the scene unfold with a growing sense of dread. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird, desperate for escape.
The oversized black hoodie concealed her small frame, a stark contrast to the elegant gowns she knew were waiting for her upstairs. The tight jeans and worn rubber shoes were chosen for practicality, for swift movement. She needed to be ready to run the moment the opportunity presented itself.
She should have been upstairs, in her room, surrounded by stylists and makeup artists, being transformed into a debutante princess. Instead, she felt like a prisoner on the eve of her coronation.
"Come on! Open already! Please..." she whispered, her breath misting slightly in the cool evening air.
She shifted nervously from foot to foot, her gaze darting between the closed gate and the shadows that danced around the guardhouse. Every rustle of leaves, every distant sound, made her jump. She felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach.
Minutes ticked by, each one an eternity.
The music from the ballroom drifted out to her, a constant reminder of the life she was trying to escape. Finally, with a groan of protesting metal, the heavy iron gate began to swing inward.
Two vehicles slipped through the opening: a sleek, black van, its windows tinted and opaque, and a powerful Land Rover, its polished surface reflecting the lights of the villa. Roselle recognized them instantly. They were her father's vehicles.
A surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins. This was her chance. She knew she had only a few moments before the Don and his security detail made their way inside. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and then she ran.
Tonight was Roselle Ruella Ventura's 18th birthday. A milestone, a turning point. Or, at least, that's what everyone said.
For Roselle, it felt more like a sentence. Her father, Don Antonio Ventura, was a man of immense wealth and power, a figure whispered about in hushed tones. He was known for his ruthlessness, his coldness, his unwavering control. And he had plans for Roselle. Plans that she had no say in.
Rumors had been circulating for weeks about the significance of this birthday party. Some said it was a business maneuver, a way for Don Antonio to solidify his position in the city's elite circles. Others whispered that it was a more personal matter, a way for him to announce Roselle's future, a future that had been mapped out for her without her consent.
The thought filled her with a suffocating sense of dread. She couldn't bear the thought of being trapped, of having her life dictated by her father's ambitions. So, she had chosen the only option she could see: escape.
"Catch her! Don't let her get away, or I'll have you all shot!" Don Antonio's voice boomed across the grounds, cutting through the music and laughter.
He had seen her. His eyes, sharp and unforgiving, had spotted her fleeing figure. His face, usually a carefully constructed mask of composure, was contorted with rage. He strode towards the guardhouse, his expensive shoes crunching on the gravel path, his anger radiating like a physical force.
He had barely stepped out of his Land Rover when the makeup artist, a flurry of nervous apologies, rushed towards him. Roselle was missing. They had searched the house, the gardens, everywhere. She was gone. Don Antonio didn't waste time with recriminations. He knew exactly where she would go.
The chase was brief and brutal. Roselle, despite her desperate flight, was no match for Don's security team. They were professionals, trained to anticipate and neutralize any threat. They cornered her near the edge of the property, their movements swift and decisive.
"Let go of me!" she screamed, her voice raw with terror. She kicked and struggled, but their grip was too strong.
Her escape attempt had failed, once again. Despair washed over her, a cold wave that threatened to drown her. She knew what awaited her. She had defied her father and humiliated him in front of his guests. The consequences would be severe.
"I'm sorry, Miss Ruella," one of the bodyguards murmured, his voice laced with a hint of something that sounded almost like pity. "Please, don't resist. It will only make things worse."
Don Antonio arrived, his face a mask of fury. He didn't even look at Roselle.
"Bring her to the torture chamber!" he commanded, his voice cold and sharp, each word like a shard of ice. He turned and walked back towards the villa, leaving Roselle in the hands of his men.
The words "torture chamber" echoed in Roselle's mind, sending shivers down her spine. Her blood ran cold. The color drained from her face, leaving her pale and trembling. She knew what her father was capable of. She had seen it before.
Inside the dimly lit room, Don Antonio dismissed his men with a curt flick of his wrist. The heavy oak door closed behind them, leaving only him and Roselle in the oppressive silence.
"D-Dad, I..." Roselle stammered, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry..."
Don Antonio stared at her, his eyes like chips of flint. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver lighter, flicking it open. The flame flared, illuminating his face for a fleeting moment, then died down as he lit a cigarette. He inhaled deeply, the smoke curling around his head like a ghostly halo.
"Haven't you learned anything, Ruella?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "How many bodyguards do you want to see punished for your escape attempt this time? You know escaping from me doesn't hurt you physically, but it does hurt the people responsible for you. Do you want them dead, just like the others? How can you be so stubborn after all this?"
Roselle's eyes widened in horror. The memory of the last time she had tried to escape flashed through her mind. The consequences had been brutal. The bodyguards who had failed to stop her had paid the price. She couldn't bear the thought of them being hurt again, all because of her.
"Dad! No! Please, don't! Just punish me! They had nothing to do with this! Please, leave them alone..." Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the remnants of her hastily applied makeup. She knew her father. His threats were never idle.
"Then stop this nonsense and get ready for your birthday celebration," he snapped, his voice hard. "You know I don't appreciate you running off like a prisoner, desperate to escape. It's embarrassing. It makes me look weak."
"Dad, please," she pleaded, her voice choked with sobs. "I... I don't want this."
Don Antonio crushed his cigarette in the ashtray, his jaw tightening. He stared at his weeping daughter, his expression hardening. "Are you deliberately trying to provoke me, Ruella?"
"Dad, I don't know if you truly don't understand, or if you simply refuse to. Have you ever asked me if I wanted this life? You didn't! You never pay attention to what I truly want! This isn't the life I want!" she cried, her voice rising in desperation. "I'm not a doll to be dressed up and paraded around. I'm a person!"
"Tell me why," he demanded, his voice laced with steel.
"I... I want to live a normal life," she whispered, her words barely audible through her sobs. "I want to go to school, have friends, make my own choices. I don't want to be surrounded by bodyguards and servants every minute of every day. I don't want to live in a gilded cage."
"What the hell do you mean by that?" he growled, his fists clenching. "What do you know about a 'normal' life? You've never had to worry about money, security, or anything! I've given you everything!"
"I want my freedom, nothing else," she begged, her voice breaking. "Please, just let me go. Let me live my own life."
Don Antonio inhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling with the force of his barely contained anger. He remained silent for a long moment, his eyes fixed on Roselle, perhaps searching for a flicker of defiance, a hint of rebellion that he could crush. However, he saw something different, something that made his anger waver, if only for a moment. He saw not defiance, but despair-a raw, aching despair that mirrored something within himself.
He knew she was right, in a way. He had given her everything, materially. But he had failed to give her the one thing she craved most: freedom. He had built a cage around her, a cage of luxury and security, but a cage nonetheless. He had done it to protect her, he told himself, to keep her safe from the dangers that lurked in their world. But in doing so, he had imprisoned her spirit.
He wanted to lash out at her, to remind her of her duty, of the sacrifices he had made for her. But the words wouldn't come. He saw the pain in her eyes, the desperation in her plea, and he couldn't bring himself to inflict any more pain.
He turned away from her, his gaze settling on the wall behind him. A framed portrait of Roselle's mother hung there. He stared at her face, her gentle smile and a wave of sadness washed over him. He remembered the dreams they had shared and the hopes they had held for their daughter. He wanted to give Roselle the life her mother would have wished for a life of happiness and security. But somewhere along the way, he had lost his direction.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to compose himself. When he opened his eyes, his expression was cold, his voice flat.
"Get out," he said, each word clipped and precise. "I don't want to see you again. You can do whatever you want. I'm cutting you off."
The words hung in the air, heavy and final.
Roselle stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. This was it. Her freedom. But it felt less like liberation and more like banishment. She had wanted her freedom, but she had never imagined it would come like this, with such finality, such coldness.
A single tear rolled down her cheek, yet she remained silent. She simply nodded slowly, acknowledging his words. She stood up, her legs a bit shaky, and walked toward the door. She paused for a moment, her hand on the handle, as if hesitating, as if wanting to say something, to ask him to reconsider. But the words wouldn't come. She swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat, and then she spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
"Thank you, Dad."
A 26-year-old surgeon, Bianca Martinez, was startled when a bloody stranger pointed a gun at her temple, demanding to let him into her room for some unknown reason. Later on, she realized that the person she encountered was none other than the most dangerous person in the country, Zebastian Brent. Facing a few coincidental events together, the two formed a deep attraction they never thought existed until the day they parted ways. Who will give in and follow its heartbeat?
Warning: 18+ contents in few chapters. Athena Stanford and Terrence Adams are used to be childhood friends but tied into marriage. He was attracted to her but he hated her. She hated him but she secretly likes him. Similar to fire and ice, their relationship were hidden under some circumstances. Obstacles are nailed in their ways making their bond sweeter and rougher than ever.
Florrabelle Valdez once existed as Suzzane Brooks molded into hardships and maltreatment of her known family. However, during her journey of difficulties, she meet the guy that captures her heart and even married him against her own will. During those times, she was pushed into an abyss but someone came for her rescue and brought her back to where she really belongs. 8 years morphed her into different person and it yields her to come back and collect what they owed to her. With such an unfathomable profession, she was hellbent to get justice that has been denied from her even if that person involves the man that owns her heart - Maxwell Davis.
Warning: R18+ This book contains a few mature contents. Izzabelle Smith was only 17 years old when she lost her mother and brother into an accident. Her father tried to find out the real cause of their tragic death but end up failed. During her senior year, she met Ethan Scott and eventually they became a couple. One day he just disappeared with out a word leaving her confused, hurt and puzzled. 5 years later, she’s back with new appearance and full of determination to find out the missing pieces of her puzzled past.
Sequel to chasing my estranged wife; I want you back. ******** " You promised me!'' I screamed. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt me, you made the vows that you would stand beside me, Ryan, and what did you do? You broke me into smithereens. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. When I said we were done. I meant it!" Falling in love with him had come in a whirlwind, she couldn't account for how exactly it had happened but what she knew was that she didn't want to let go once she was in. For Ryan, when he made a vow, he had meant it, but nothing had told him about marriage, that it wasn't just a bed of roses, but it had thorns in it as well. When secrets piled up between them and vows broken, they had no choice but to let go of each other, but years later, he wanted her back. Like the air he breathed, he chased after her, but she was gone. Left with the remnants of his actions, he is torn between getting her back and damning all consequences or letting go of her and his children, which would it be?
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."