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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.
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
While Sienna reached the pinnacle of her success, Julian remained the forgotten son of his family, the one who had secretly stolen her first kiss in the shadows of the night. As Sienna hit her darkest moment, Julian returned home, leaving his life behind, only to witness her tears glistening in the moonlight as she reluctantly accepted another man's proposal. When Sienna needed Julian more than ever, he had risen to a position of power and had become her most steadfast pillar of support. "Please marry me." There was no one else in the world who could love Sienna as deeply as Julian did.
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."
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Traversing back to the ancient Prime Martial World from modern age, Austin finds himself in a younger body as he wakes up. Yet, the young man he possesses was a miserable dimwit, what a bummer! But it doesn’t matter as his mind is sound and clear. Possessing this younger and stronger body, he will fight his way to become the God of martial arts, and rule the whole Martial World!