He was the devil in a tailored suit. She was the journalist who should have stayed away. Billionaire mafia boss Alessandro Salvatore rules his world with ruthless precision-until investigative journalist Isabella Rossi crashes into his life. She's relentless, fearless, and far too tempting for her own good. He warns her to walk away, but Isabella never backs down from a story... or from him. When betrayal from within his own ranks puts Isabella in grave danger, Alessandro has no choice but to protect her. But keeping her close means risking everything-including his control. As enemies close in and forbidden desires ignite, Isabella finds herself in a deadly game-one where trust is a risk, and falling for the wrong man could cost her everything. The lines between power and passion are blurring. Secrets are unraveling. And in a world where love is a weakness and betrayal is fatal, one question remains... Will they survive the storm, or will their hearts be the ultimate casualty?
In the heart of New York City, where skyscrapers pierced the sky and yellow cabs weaved through traffic like fish in a stream, two vastly different worlds were about to collide. It was a warm spring evening, the kind where the city buzzed with an energy that crackled in the air. For most, it was just another night in the Big Apple. But for Alessandro Salvatore and Isabella Rossi, it would mark the beginning of something that would alter their lives forever.
Alessandro Salvatore stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse in Salvatore Tower, gazing down at the shimmering lights of the city. Despite the breathtaking view, his thoughts were far from serene. As the head of the Salvatore crime family and CEO of Salvatore Enterprises, he had built an empire rooted in power, fear, and loyalty. His business empire-both legitimate and clandestine-flourished under his meticulous leadership. Yet, for all his success, there remained a void that neither wealth nor influence could fill.
Turning from the window, he stepped into the dim glow of his office. Tall, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, Alessandro carried an air of controlled menace. Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, he embodied the power he wielded. But tonight, unease gnawed at him. There were murmurs of unrest within his organization, and his instincts told him that something significant was brewing.
"Boss, you're due at the club," Luca, his loyal second-in-command, reminded him, stepping into the office. A hulking man with a battered nose and a shaved head, Luca had been by Alessandro's side through countless battles.
"Thank you, Luca. I'll be down in a moment," Alessandro replied, his voice calm yet authoritative. Shrugging on his coat, he walked out, already shifting his focus to the night ahead.
Across town, in the buzzing newsroom of The New York Times, Isabella Rossi was finishing up her latest article. Her fingers danced over the keyboard, the rhythmic clatter blending with the background hum of ringing phones and urgent conversations. Isabella, a striking woman in her late twenties with dark curls and sharp, determined eyes, had built a reputation for being relentless in her pursuit of the truth. It had earned her both admiration and enemies.
"Isabella, are you coming to the club tonight?" her colleague, Emma, called out. "You promised you'd actually have fun for once!"
Glancing at the time, Isabella sighed. She had been so absorbed in her work that she had lost track of the hours. "Alright, alright," she relented, saving her document. "Just let me wrap this up."
Minutes later, she shut down her computer and grabbed her coat, a small thrill of anticipation sparking within her. It had been too long since she had allowed herself a night out. Stepping into the crisp evening air with her friends, she had no idea that this would be anything but an ordinary night.
Elysium was one of the city's most exclusive clubs, known for its opulent décor and elite clientele. As Isabella and her friends approached, the neon sign flickered invitingly, and the heavy bass from inside pulsed through the pavement. A long line of hopeful patrons stretched around the block, but Emma flashed a VIP pass, and they were ushered in without question.
Inside, the atmosphere was electric-pulsating lights, hypnotic music, and a sea of bodies moving to the beat. Isabella took it all in, slightly out of her element but intrigued. Following Emma to the bar, she ordered a drink and surveyed the crowd.
A strange sensation prickled at her skin-the distinct feeling of being watched. Her gaze swept across the club, stopping at a VIP booth where a group of men sat in quiet command. One of them, a tall, dark-haired man with an aura of authority, held her stare. Recognition jolted through her. She had seen his face before, in news reports and investigative files.
Alessandro Salvatore.
Alessandro's keen eyes stayed locked on Isabella. There was something about her-her confidence, her presence, the way she carried herself-that held his attention. He knew exactly who she was. Isabella Rossi. The journalist who had been sniffing around places she shouldn't.
"She's bolder than I expected," he murmured.
Luca leaned in. "She's been digging into some... sensitive areas lately."
Alessandro's interest deepened. He made a decision. "Invite her over."
A moment later, Luca approached Isabella and her friends, his expression neutral but unreadable. "Ms. Rossi, Mr. Salvatore would like to have a word with you."
Isabella's pulse quickened. She exchanged a glance with Emma, who raised her brows in silent encouragement. Taking a steadying breath, she followed Luca to the VIP section.
As she reached the booth, Alessandro rose smoothly, extending his hand. "Ms. Rossi, a pleasure."
"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Salvatore," Isabella replied, shaking his hand. His grip was firm, his presence commanding, but she refused to be intimidated.
They took their seats, a subtle tension settling between them. Alessandro studied her intently, and Isabella met his gaze head-on. It was a silent battle of wills.
"I've read your work. Impressive," Alessandro remarked, his voice smooth yet edged with curiosity.
"Thank you," Isabella said evenly. "I aim to uncover the truth, wherever it leads."
"A noble pursuit," he mused, a hint of irony in his tone. "But truth can be dangerous, especially in this city."
"I've never been one to shy away from danger," she countered, her eyes flashing with resolve.
Alessandro smirked, intrigued. "What brings you to Elysium tonight?"
"Just a night out with friends," Isabella said casually. "Didn't expect to cross paths with you."
"Life is full of surprises," he said. "Sometimes, paths cross for a reason."
Before she could respond, a commotion erupted at the entrance. Alessandro's men tensed, but with a subtle gesture, he signaled them to stand down. Isabella watched as a man was forcefully escorted out, shouting curses. It was a stark reminder of Alessandro's world-a world where power ruled, and danger lurked in every shadow.
As the night unfolded, their conversation flowed effortlessly, shifting from guarded exchanges to engaging debates. They spoke of art, politics, and the city they both called home. Isabella found herself intrigued by Alessandro's depth, by the contradictions within him. He was more than the ruthless crime boss the headlines painted him to be. Beneath the hardened exterior was a man shaped by the weight of his world.
For Alessandro, Isabella was unlike anyone he had ever met. Fearless, intelligent, unshaken by his presence. She was a challenge-and he had always loved challenges.
"Ms. Rossi," he said, his voice lower now, more intimate, "would you do me the honor of a dance?"
She hesitated briefly before placing her hand in his. "I'd love to."
As they moved onto the dance floor, the music slowed, the atmosphere shifting. Alessandro pulled her close, his touch both possessive and gentle. Isabella felt the strength in his hold, the power he commanded, but also the flicker of something deeper.
"You're a fascinating woman, Isabella," he murmured.
"And you're a complicated man," she replied softly. "I haven't quite figured you out."
Alessandro chuckled. "Maybe that's for the best. Some things are better left a mystery."
As their dance ended, Alessandro escorted her back to her friends, reluctantly releasing her hand.
"I hope to see you again," he said, his gaze holding hers.
"Perhaps you will, perhaps you won't." she answered, feeling the weight of the moment.
She signed a contract to survive. She never expected to fall for the devil himself. Amanda Holson's quiet life as a gallery assistant shatters when she's forced into a contract marriage with Leonardo Castelli-a billionaire whose name is whispered in the shadows of New York's underworld. Ruthless, powerful, and dangerously captivating, Leonardo is a man who always gets what he wants. At first, Amanda is just another piece in his game. But as the lines blur between duty and desire, she begins to see the man behind the cold, calculated mask. Secrets unravel, enemies close in, and soon, Amanda must decide: can she trust the man who owns her... or will loving him cost her everything? In a world where love is a weakness and power is everything, can their hearts survive the darkness?
In a city where shadows whisper secrets, love and danger are two sides of the same coin. Petra Volkov, a struggling artist and orphan, finds solace in her sketches at a quiet café-until Ethan Colombo, the enigmatic heir to an Italian mafia empire, walks into her life. Their connection is instant, electric, and impossible to ignore. But just as their love deepens, a shocking truth is unveiled: Petra is the lost daughter of Viktor Volkov, a feared Russian mob boss long presumed dead. With her hidden identity exposed, Petra is thrust into a ruthless power struggle. As rival factions conspire and betrayals lurk in every shadow, she becomes a pawn in a deadly game she never chose to play. When Petra is kidnapped, the stakes become terrifyingly real-forcing Ethan to confront his own family's brutal world. The past is rising. The war has begun. And the only way out... is to fight.
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
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?
On their wedding night, Rogelio wrapped his fingers around Marian's neck and spat at her, "Congratulations! From now on, you live in hell!" The reason for his wrath was that he believed she was responsible for the death of his elder brother. So, he married her but refused to touch her, determined to make her suffer for the rest of her pitiful life! However, due to an unforeseen accident, Marian was forced to sleep with Rogelio in order to save him, and she ended up getting pregnant. Concealing her pregnancy, Marian lived cautiously under Rogelio's watchful eyes. He hated her and relentlessly humiliated her, yet he would never allow anyone else to lay a finger on her— "Mr. Bailey, your wife got into a fight with someone!" Rogelio secretly took action, eliminating that person completely. "Sir, your wife claimed that all of your family's wealth belongs to her!" Rogelio quietly transferred all the shares to her. Unaware of all this, Marian only wanted to escape, but Rogelio pulled her into his warm embrace, whispering, "Mrs. Bailey, where do you intend to go with our unborn child?"
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.