Blood in the Marble Love is a weapon. Trust is a death sentence. When Luca Romano returns to Valmont to avenge his brother's murder, he inherits more than a mafia empire-he inherits a war. Ruthless enemies close in, allies are fading fast, and the city whispers his name like a ghost: Il Fantasma. Then there's Evelina. All red lips and dangerous secrets, she's the kind of woman who can kiss you breathless-or betray you in your sleep. Torn between revenge and something that feels like love, Luca must decide: How much of his soul is he willing to lose to protect what's his? In a world carved by violence and lined in marble, the only thing more dangerous than power... is desire.
Luca
I never liked velvet.
It reminds me of coffins and old sins-soft to the touch but soaked in decay. And yet here I am, back in La Velluto, my father's favorite haunt, seated at his old table, drinking from his glass like I'm pretending this seat doesn't feel like a grave.
The jazz hums low, smoke curls in the air, and the lights stay dim for the same reason we all wear black-style masks the rot.
Nicolo leans in, smelling like cigars and loyalty I never asked for. "Sorrentinos moved south. Burned one of our trucks. No bodies. Just ash."
"Make it loud when we answer," I say, watching the stage.
That's when she walks out.
The new girl. Evelina.
She doesn't move like she's performing. She moves like she's remembering something no one else is allowed to know. Her hips sway slow, deliberate. Her eyes flick across the room like she's not looking for someone, but daring them to look at her.
Then she finds me.
And for a moment, everything goes still.
I've seen bullets fly quieter than her stare.
Evelina Pov
Men like him don't look at women like me unless they want something-or suspect something.
Luca Romano. The Ghost of Valmont. I've heard the stories. He once burned a man alive in a suit worth more than my apartment. Killed a rival with a silver fork at a funeral dinner. Always watching. Always waiting.
He's watching now.
I pretend I don't feel the weight of his eyes. But I do. And I let them hold me, just long enough to send a message:
I'm not afraid of ghosts.
I came here to get close.
And ghosts can't haunt what's already dead inside.
To repay a massive debt, 19-year-old Elena Moreau is forced to marry the one man her father hates most-ruthless billionaire Damien Volkov. He's cold, twice her age, and known as "the King of Ice" in elite European circles. Their marriage is a contract, nothing more. She's a pawn. He's a predator. But when the sparks between them ignite, buried secrets rise-revealing a tangled past of betrayal and blood. Caught between loyalty and desire, Elena must decide: protect her family, or give in to the man she was never supposed to love. Can something real be born from a marriage built on hate?
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
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."
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?
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?"
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."