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.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
"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?
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
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.