/0/73191/coverbig.jpg?v=eed331221bcb3da93e5335b5ac506a49)
In the dazzling chaos of New York City, Ariana Whitmore lived a simple, invisible life-until the night everything was ripped away. Sold like property to a ruthless stranger, she was forced into a world she never imagined: one ruled by secrets, betrayal, and blood money. Leonardo De Luca-the feared Mafia boss from Italy-was a man of dark power and darker desires. To him, Ariana was just another possession, another pawn in his endless game of revenge. He broke her trust. He shattered her innocence. He stole her affection without mercy. But what happens when a broken soul refuses to stay broken? Betrayed by those she loved, crushed by a man she couldn't resist, Ariana will rise from the ashes. She will not just survive the injustice. She will conquer it. She will become the woman every man fears...and the woman Leonardo can never control. In a world of lies, hatred, and shattered promises, can stolen affection turn into a dangerous love? Or will betrayal destroy them both? New York. Italy. Two hearts. One brutal war. Get ready for a romance fueled by vengeance, betrayal, and forbidden passion.
The sharp, bitter wind of Brooklyn's winter bit into Ariana Whitmore's thin jacket as she stepped off the crowded bus, clutching the torn straps of her second-hand backpack. The city roared around her - angry car horns, shouting vendors, and the endless rumble of life moving faster than she could ever keep up.
It was just another night.
Another night she had to survive.
Ariana's boots, their soles worn thin, slapped the cracked pavement as she hurried toward the crumbling apartment complex she called home. The streets smelled of oil, rain, and forgotten dreams - the scent of the city's forgotten souls, people like her who didn't have the luxury of hope.
Reaching the chipped door of her building, Ariana yanked it open and climbed the graffiti-stained stairwell two steps at a time, ignoring the sharp protests of her aching legs. She had just come from her second job - waitressing at Tony's, a dingy 24-hour diner - and she was already late for the third: night shifts at a convenience store down on Madison Avenue.
But first, she had to check on her mother.
Room 3B creaked open under her trembling hands.
The smell of cheap medication and despair hit her immediately.
"Mom?" she called softly, stepping into the dim, cold apartment.
From the sagging couch, a frail figure stirred under a pile of mismatched blankets. Ariana's heart twisted at the sight. Her mother, once vibrant and strong, now looked like a shadow - hollow cheeks, sallow skin, hair thinned from too many treatments they couldn't afford.
"You're home late," her mother whispered, trying to sit up.
Ariana rushed to her side, helping her.
"I'm fine, Mom. You need anything?" she asked, forcing a smile that didn't reach her tired brown eyes.
Her mother shook her head weakly. "You work too hard, baby. This...this isn't the life I wanted for you."
Ariana laughed, a dry, humorless sound. "Well, it's the life we've got."
She gently tucked the blankets tighter around her mother, masking the worry clawing at her gut. They were three months behind on rent. The hospital bills kept coming. And the loan shark her mother had secretly borrowed from - Vincent Moretti, a name that made Ariana's blood run cold - was getting impatient.
They had no way out.
Ariana kissed her mother's forehead and promised she'd bring her some soup after her next shift. Then, grabbing her backpack again, she headed back out into the night.
The city swallowed her whole.
---
The convenience store smelled of bleach and stale chips. Ariana stood behind the counter, the neon lights buzzing overhead, her eyes gritty from exhaustion.
Two drunk men stumbled in, laughing too loud, but Ariana barely looked up.
She was used to the types that prowled the late-night streets - desperate, dangerous, and unpredictable.
As the clock crept toward 3 a.m., she thought about her life in flashes:
The art school scholarship she had once dreamed of accepting.
The sketches hidden under her mattress.
The future that felt like it belonged to someone else now.
She wiped down the counter mechanically.
Her body was here, but her soul was somewhere else - somewhere better, somewhere free.
She didn't see the dark SUV pull up outside.
She didn't notice the sharp suits stepping into the store until it was too late.
The bell above the door chimed once.
Two men - cold, sharp-eyed, predators in human skin - entered the store. One locked the door behind them. The other approached the counter with slow, deliberate steps.
"Ariana Whitmore?" the taller one asked, his voice low and smooth.
She blinked, her hands freezing mid-wipe.
"Who's asking?"
The man smiled, but there was no kindness in it.
Only teeth.
"You have a debt," he said simply. "It's time to pay."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She stumbled back as they vaulted the counter easily, grabbing her arms.
"Wait! Wait, please-!" she cried, struggling uselessly.
Nobody heard her.
Nobody cared.
This was Brooklyn. People knew when to mind their own business.
Ariana kicked and screamed, but the world tilted, spun, and blurred as they dragged her into the night.
The SUV door slammed behind her, sealing her fate.
Her last glimpse of the city was the flickering OPEN 24 HOURS sign.
And then darkness swallowed her whole.
---
When she woke up, the first thing she noticed was the silence.
No car horns. No shouting. No life.
Ariana blinked against the dim light. She was in a large room - cold, stone walls, no windows. Chains hung from the ceiling. A low hum of murmured voices filled the air, thick with tension.
Then she saw the stage.
And the people - powerful, cruel-looking men in expensive suits and designer dresses - sitting in rows like an audience at some twisted play.
Understanding hit her like a punch to the gut.
This wasn't a kidnapping.
It was an auction.
Tears burned her eyes as a masked man approached, grabbing her arm roughly and pulling her forward.
"No, please-!" she sobbed.
But her voice was lost under the noise of the room.
She stumbled onto the stage, her heart hammering so loud she could barely hear the auctioneer's voice as he began the bidding.
"Lot 27," the man announced with a sneer. "Fresh. Untouched. Weak - but pretty."
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Ariana wanted to die right there.
---
In the back of the room, leaning against a marble pillar, stood Leonardo De Luca.
Mafia king. Billionaire. A man whose name was whispered with fear even in the darkest corners of New York and Italy.
His dark eyes - colder than a winter storm - settled on Ariana with detached amusement.
She was nothing special.
Poor. Weak. Pathetic.
But there was something in the way she glared at the crowd through her tears. A spark.
Something most slaves didn't have.
Curiosity flickered through him - a rare feeling for a man like Leonardo, who had seen too much, done too much, to feel anything anymore.
With a lazy raise of two fingers, he placed a bid.
Higher than anyone else.
Silence fell.
The auctioneer beamed. "Sold! To Mr. De Luca."
Ariana's world shattered again as she was dragged off the stage.
She didn't know it yet - but her life had just been stolen by a devil.
Precious Rossi has known nothing but pain. Trapped in a loveless marriage filled with abuse, betrayal, and heartbreak, she has lost all hope of ever finding happiness. One fateful night, seeking an escape from her misery, she ends up in the arms of a mysterious stranger-a man who sees through her pain and offers her a moment of solace. That man is Micheal Timothy-a ruthless mafia billionaire with a dark past and a heart colder than ice. Their one-night stand was meant to be nothing more than a fleeting encounter, but fate has other plans. When Precious's world crumbles even further, she finds herself drawn into Micheal's dangerous orbit. As their lives intertwine, secrets unravel, enemies emerge, and a burning passion ignites. But can Precious truly escape her past? And will Micheal be the reason she finally learns to smile again, or will he become another nightmare she must survive? A tale of love, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of New York's bustling cityscape and the breathtaking beauty of Italy. He Is the Reason Why I Smile Again is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you breathless.
Selene thought she was just an ordinary girl, hiding in the shadows of a powerful werewolf pack. But everything changes when her pack is betrayed, and her family is slaughtered before her eyes. Left alone and broken, she finds herself imprisoned by the very wolves she once called family. Sold into captivity and labeled as weak, Selene is thrust into a world where her life means nothing - until she uncovers a hidden truth about her bloodline. A secret that could change everything. With every step, Selene discovers her true strength and the power she never knew she had. As she navigates betrayal, heartache, and the ruthless world of werewolves, she must rise above her past and fight for the future she was always meant to have. Will she be able to harness the power within her and embrace her true destiny, or will she be consumed by the darkness around her? In a world where survival is everything, Selene must learn that sometimes the greatest power lies in embracing the wolf within.
Trapped in a life of endless suffering, Ella Sophia has known nothing but pain, betrayal, and humiliation. In a loveless marriage with a cruel husband who sees her as nothing more than property, she endures beatings, forced submission, and the crushing weight of despair. At work, things are no better-her boss, the ruthless billionaire Alex Anthony, treats her like she's disposable, a pawn in his merciless world. One fateful night changes everything. A drunken mistake, a one-night stand with a stranger, leaves Ella entangled in a web of secrets she never saw coming. The man she spent the night with? None other than Alex Anthony himself. As Ella's life spirals even further, she faces betrayals that push her to the edge. But she refuses to remain a victim forever. From the ashes of her suffering, a new version of her is born-a woman no longer willing to be anyone's slave. With power, vengeance, and a newfound strength, she rises, determined to make those who hurt her pay. But in a world where love and hatred blur, and enemies lurk in the shadows, will Ella's transformation be her salvation or her ultimate downfall? And when Alex realizes she is more than just a pawn in his ruthless game, will he fight to keep her, or will his past destroy them both? One thing is certain-Ella will never be the same again.
In the dazzling yet ruthless world of New York's elite, where power is everything, Sophia Chloe has only known suffering. Trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage, she endures relentless pain-beatings, humiliation, and heartbreak. Her once-bright future has been reduced to nothing but survival. But one fateful night changes everything. A desperate escape leads her into the arms of Anthony Philip, a cold-hearted billionaire with a past as dark as his reputation. What was meant to be a reckless mistake-a one-night stand-soon spirals into a dangerous entanglement she never saw coming. Anthony is no ordinary billionaire. As a powerful figure in the Mafia, he commands fear and respect in equal measure. He doesn't do love, and he certainly doesn't believe in second chances. But something about Sophia's brokenness awakens a part of him he thought was long dead. He offers her power, protection, and a way out-but at a cost she may not be willing to pay. When her past comes back to haunt her, and dangerous enemies lurk in the shadows, Sophia must decide: remain the weak, broken woman she once was, or rise from the ashes and claim the strength that was stolen from her? In a world of betrayal, vengeance, and deadly secrets, one thing is certain-nothing comes without a price. Themes: Weak-to-strong heroine transformation Mafia power struggles and forbidden romance Betrayal, revenge, and redemption One-night stand leading to an unexpected fate A billionaire who doesn't believe in love... until her She was supposed to be his mistake. Instead, she became his obsession.
She's a girl from New York City, living a life of misery and submission. When the wealthy and ruthless mafia boss, Alexander Rossi, crosses her path, everything she thought she knew about love, power, and survival begins to unravel. But in a world where trust is a luxury, can she truly escape the darkness, or will the seduction of the billionaire pull her deeper into a web of deceit and danger? Secrets, betrayal, and passion await. Will she become a pawn, or is there a chance she could take control of her fate? Find out what happens next...
Ella has always been the outcast. In a world where werewolves rise to power by embracing their wolf forms, she remains powerless, rejected by those she once called family. But when an ancient prophecy reveals that Ella is the one destined to lead the pack, everything changes. Thrown into a battle for control, Ella must navigate fierce rivalries, dark betrayals, and the growing threat of a ruthless alpha who will stop at nothing to claim the throne. As the weight of leadership presses down on her, Ella will have to confront her greatest fear-accepting the power she's always denied. Will she rise to claim her place as the Unconventional Alpha, or will she crumble under the pressure of expectations and enemies lurking in the shadows? The fate of her pack-and the future of the werewolf world-rests in her hands. ---
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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?
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!