Luca Montella- the cold and calculating Don of the Montella crime family, is forced into an arranged marriage to secure a fragile truce, he expects nothing more than a strategic alliance. But his bride, Maria Spaletti, is not the meek pawn he anticipated. She is fire wrapped in silk, a woman with her own secrets-and an agenda that could destroy them both. Maria has spent years plotting revenge against the family that betrayed her, and marrying Luca is her way in. But the deeper she sinks into his dangerous world, the harder it becomes to resist the man behind the monster. As deadly rivals close in and long-buried truths unravel, their marriage of convenience becomes a battlefield of passion, power, and betrayal. In a game where love is the deadliest weakness, will Luca and Maria survive their vows... or will they burn together?
The wedding dress clung to Maria Spaletti's body like a silken cage, its delicate lace a cruel contrast to the war raging inside her. The weight of the veil pressed against her shoulders, but it was nothing compared to the burden she carried. Tonight, she would marry the man responsible for the destruction of her family.
Her reflection in the gilded mirror revealed nothing of the storm beneath the surface. Dark eyes, perfectly lined, betrayed none of the fury simmering beneath. She had trained for this moment, sculpted herself into the perfect image of a dutiful bride. But beneath the soft waves of her hair and the careful poise of her shoulders, she was a weapon- one forged in the fire of betrayal and loss. A sharp knock at the door shattered the silence. Antonio, her father's enforcer, stepped inside, his expression unreadable. "It's time."
Maria exhaled slowly and turned away from the mirror. The time for doubts had long passed. She followed Antonio down the corridor, past guards who barely spared her a glance. This was not a day of joy- it was a transaction, a binding of two crime families in a fragile truce. At the grand entrance of the cathedral, her father stood waiting, his expression carved from stone.
Don Spaletti offered his arm, and Maria took it, feeling nothing as they stepped into the candlelit church. Rows of powerful men and their elegantly dressed wives filled the pews, their gazes heavy with scrutiny. But Maria saw only one man-the figure standing at the altar.
Luca Montella.
The man who had orchestrated her family's downfall. The man she was about to vow herself to. His gaze locked onto hers as she approached, unreadable, cold. The flickering candlelight did nothing to soften the sharp lines of his face, the quiet menace that clung to him like a second skin. The world called him a king. She called him a monster.
Yet here she was, walking willingly into his grasp. Luca Montella watched his bride approach with the measured patience of a predator. Maria Spaletti moved like a queen, her head held high, her steps unwavering. There was no fear in her eyes- only a quiet defiance, a challenge that intrigued him more than it should.
She was a stunning deception. A woman draped in ivory lace, a sacrificial offering meant to seal the fragile truce between their families. But Luca knew better. Maria was no lamb. She was a blade wrapped in silk. The moment her fingers met his, he felt it- the tension, the resistance hidden beneath the softness of her skin. She despised him.
Good... Hatred was an emotion he understood. It was easier to control than false affections.
The priest began the ceremony, his voice a distant hum against the weight of unspoken threats hanging in the air. Luca did not take his eyes off Maria, watching for the slightest tremor, the smallest crack in her mask. But she remained unreadable, her expression betraying nothing as she spoke the words that bound them.
When the moment came for the kiss, she barely tilted her chin. Luca brushed his lips against hers, a brief, calculated touch, more for the audience than for them.
Applause rippled through the cathedral as they turned to face their new reality. Maria Spaletti was now Maria Montella. And the game had truly begun. The reception was a grand display of power, a gathering of the most dangerous men in the underworld. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in a golden glow, casting deceptive warmth over a crowd that thrived on blood and betrayal.
Maria moved through it with practiced ease, her husband never far from her side. They were a spectacle, the newlyweds binding two empires, but beneath the surface, they were nothing more than two opponents playing the same game.
A waiter passed by with a tray of wine, and Maria lifted a glass. Before she could take a sip, Luca leaned in, his voice a quiet murmur. "Careful, bella. Wouldn't want you to think I'm trying to poison you on our wedding night."
Her fingers tightened around the glass. "That would be too obvious. You strike me as the type to be more... discreet."
Luca's lips curled in amusement. "You've been thinking about how I'd kill you?"
"I like to be prepared."
His gaze darkened, though not with anger. "Good. That makes two of us."
Before she could respond, Don Spaletti approached, his expression betraying nothing. "Luca. A word."
Luca studied him for a moment, then turned to Maria. "Don't wander too far, mia moglie. We still have a dance to share."
She watched him disappear into the crowd with her father, unease curling in her stomach. The Montellas believed they had won, that this marriage secured their power. They had no idea that the woman standing in their midst wasn't a submissive bride. She was a storm waiting to break.
In the kingdom of Eldoria, Lady Evelina is bound by duty to marry a prince she does not love, her heart already belonging to a forbidden figure - Sir Alden, a mysterious knight whose loyalty to the crown is unwavering. When a powerful curse threatens to destroy the kingdom, Evelina finds herself drawn into a perilous quest with Sir Alden, seeking the ancient relic that could save them all. As they journey through treacherous lands, their bond grows deeper, but so do the dangers that threaten to tear them apart. With the weight of the kingdom's fate on their shoulders, they must navigate the perils of both magic and their own hearts. Can a knight and a lady destined for separate paths find a way to unite - or will duty and destiny keep them apart forever?
Emery James has spent years building her dream café in a quiet coastal town, far from the chaos of big-city life-and even further from the heartbreak she left behind. But when her landlord sells the building to none other than Desmond Proctor, her former best friend and the man who once broke her heart, her peaceful life is suddenly turned upside down. Desmond, now a successful real estate investor, never expected to return to his hometown-or to face the woman he's never truly forgotten. Tasked with redeveloping the property, he offers Emery a deal: work with him to save the café, and he'll reconsider the sale. Old wounds, unspoken feelings, and undeniable tension bubble to the surface as they're forced to spend time together. But as they rediscover the connection they once had, Emery has to decide-can she trust Desmond with her heart again, or is she setting herself up for another heartbreak?
Rules are easier to set than to follow. Between stolen glances, whispered secrets, and an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore, their "fake" relationship starts to feel all too real. As Natalie steps into a world of attention she never wanted and Jason wrestles with emotions he's always avoided, they both must decide- is this just a game, or the beginning of something neither of them saw coming?
Valeria Monroe has spent her life chasing perfection- top grades, a flawless reputation, and a future meticulously planned by her parents. Nothing has ever distracted her from success. Until now. A chance discovery threatens to shatter the pristine world she's built and suddenly, the truth feels more dangerous than a lie.
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."
My boyfriend called, "Baby!" as he jumped out of bed and scrambled to pull his pants off the ground. "Please, I can explain my love." Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply and tried not to cry when I realized that my dream of the man not being my boyfriend had been dashed. "What?" I asked, "What do you want to explain?" How did you lie about having a business meeting while you were in bed enjoying yourself with my best friend, even though I told you I was in serious pain, is that it?" I stood there, my heart pounding, and tears streaming down my face...
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
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?"
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”