Isabella Bella Moretti, the daughter of a rival mafia family, is forced into an arranged marriage to secure an alliance between two powerful crime syndicates. On the day of her wedding, she discovers her fiancé's brutal betrayal and flees, only to crash into the path of Viktor Sokolov, a ruthless Russian mafia boss with a reputation for being merciless. Viktor, intrigued by her defiance and beauty, offers her a deal: marry him instead, and he'll protect her from her enemies. But as their passionate and dangerous relationship deepens, Bella realizes Viktor's world is far more treacherous than she ever imagined. With enemies closing in and secrets unraveling, Bella must decide if she can trust the man who claims to own her heart-or if he's just another devil in disguise.
The cathedral was a gilded cage, its towering arches and stained-glass windows casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the marble floor. Isabella "Bella" Moretti stood at the altar, her hands clutching a bouquet of white roses so tightly that the thorns bit into her palms. The pain was a welcome distraction from the suffocating weight of the lace gown that clung to her like a second skin. She felt like a doll, dressed up and paraded for the amusement of others.
Her fiancé, Antonio De Luca, stood beside her, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back. He was handsome in a way that was almost too perfect-his dark hair slicked back, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass, and his smile as cold as the diamonds adorning her fingers. But Bella knew better. She had seen the way his charm could turn to cruelty in the blink of an eye, the way his laughter never quite reached his eyes.
The priest's voice droned on, a monotonous hum that blended with the whispers of the guests. Bella's heart pounded in her chest, each beat a deafening reminder of the life she was about to lose. She glanced at her father, seated in the front row, his expression unreadable. He had always been a man of few words, but his silence spoke volumes. This marriage was not about love-it was about power, about securing an alliance between the Moretti and De Luca families. Bella was nothing more than a pawn in their game.
"Do you, Isabella Moretti, take Antonio De Luca to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asked, his voice echoing through the cathedral.
Bella's breath hitched. The room seemed to close in around her, the walls pressing in until she could barely breathe. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Antonio's grip on her waist tightened, his fingers digging into her skin like a warning.
"I..." she began, her voice trembling. "I..."
The sound of her own heartbeat drowned out everything else. She couldn't do this. She wouldn't.
With a surge of courage, she dropped the bouquet and stepped back, the sound of roses hitting the floor like a gunshot. "I can't," she whispered, then louder, "I won't!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Bella didn't wait to see their reactions. She lifted the hem of her dress and bolted down the aisle, her sneakers slapping against the marble floor. The cathedral doors loomed ahead, a beacon of freedom, and she pushed through them with all her strength.
The cold night air hit her like a slap, but she didn't stop. She ran, her heart pounding in her ears, the city lights blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors. The streets of New York were alive with the hum of traffic and the chatter of pedestrians, but Bella felt like she was drowning in the chaos.
She turned down an alley, her breath coming in ragged gasps, and collided with something solid. Strong hands gripped her arms, steadying her, and she looked up into the face of a man who could only be described as dangerous.
He was tall, his broad shoulders encased in a black leather jacket that did little to soften his imposing presence. His dark hair was tousled, his jaw shadowed with stubble, and his eyes-a piercing, icy blue-seemed to see straight through her. He was older, maybe in his late thirties, but his presence was magnetic, commanding.
"Well, well," he drawled, his voice low and accented. "What do we have here?"
Bella's heart raced as she tried to pull away, but his grip was firm. "Let me go," she demanded, her voice trembling.
The man raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "A runaway bride? How... cliché."
Before Bella could respond, the sound of shouting echoed from the street. Her fiancé's men. They had found her.
The man's smirk faded, replaced by a look of cold calculation. He glanced at Bella, then back at the approaching figures. "You're in trouble, little bird," he said. "And I don't like trouble on my turf."
Bella's breath hitched. "Please," she whispered. "Help me."
For a moment, he just stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he pulled her deeper into the shadows. "Stay close," he said, his voice low. "And don't make a sound."
As the men approached, Bella pressed herself against the wall, her heart pounding. The man stepped forward, his presence radiating menace. "This is Sokolov territory," he said, his voice like steel. "You're not welcome here."
The men hesitated, clearly recognizing him. "We're just looking for someone," one of them said. "A girl. She's ours."
The man-Sokolov-smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "If she's on my turf, she's mine. Now get lost."
The men exchanged uneasy glances but didn't argue. They turned and left, their footsteps fading into the night.
Bella let out a shaky breath, her legs giving out beneath her. Sokolov caught her, his arms strong and steady. "You're safe," he said, his voice softer now. "For now."
She looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Why did you help me?"
He studied her for a moment, his gaze lingering on her face. "Let's just say I have a weakness for pretty things," he said. "But don't mistake this for kindness. You owe me, little bird."
Bella's stomach twisted. "What do you want?"
A slow smile spread across his face, and for the first time, Bella felt a flicker of fear. "Everything," he said. "Starting with you".
Elena Rossi, a 17-year-old bookworm, has always lived a sheltered life under the watchful eye of her overprotective father. What she doesn't know is that her father, Antonio Rossi, is a powerful mafia boss who has been keeping her in the dark about their family's dangerous legacy. When a rival mafia family threatens to destroy the Rossis, Antonio makes a desperate deal: Elena will marry Luca Moretti, the 28-year-old heir to the Moretti crime family, to secure an alliance. Luca Moretti is ruthless, calculating, and used to getting what he wants. He agrees to the marriage for power, expecting Elena to be a meek, obedient pawn. But Elena's fiery spirit and innocence challenge him in ways he never anticipated. As the two navigate their forced union, they uncover secrets, face betrayals, and slowly fall for each other. When a deadly betrayal puts Elena's life at risk, Luca must choose between the mafia world he's always known and the girl who has shown him a life beyond violence and power. In the end, love triumphs, and they forge a new path together, leaving the shadows of their past behind.
In the shadowy underworld of New York City, the mafia reigns supreme. Two powerful families, the Morettis and the Castellanos, have been at war for decades. To broker peace, the heads of the families arrange a marriage between their children: Luca Moretti, the ruthless 35-year-old heir to the Moretti empire, and Isabella Castellano, the innocent 22-year-old daughter of the Castellano patriarch. Isabella, sheltered and naive, is thrust into a world of danger, desire, and dark secrets. Luca, a man hardened by violence and betrayal, sees her as nothing more than a pawn-until her innocence begins to unravel him.
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
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!"
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.