I was just a pawn in your game... but now, I'm the one holding all the cards." Three years ago, Arianna Blake was nothing more than a quiet, obedient wife-until the man she loved shattered her world. On their wedding anniversary, she walked in on her husband, billionaire CEO Damon Callahan... in bed with her best friend. The next day, she was ruthlessly divorced and thrown out like garbage, accused of betrayal she didn't commit. But Arianna didn't disappear. She rebuilt herself from the ashes. Now, she's back-with a new name, a powerful identity, and a secret Damon can't afford to discover. He wants her again. The problem? She didn't return for love. She came for revenge. And this time, she's the one who will walk away... With his heart in pieces.
The silence in the penthouse was unsettling.
Not the peaceful kind-but the kind that whispered secrets, like the air itself knew something she didn't.
Arianna Callahan tightened her grip on the bouquet of white lilies in her hand. Their scent used to calm her. Now, they choked her. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she walked through the home she shared with her husband-the man she had loved for five years, married to for three.
Her heart raced.
Tonight was their anniversary.
She had spent the last two weeks secretly planning it. A private dinner. His favorite wine. A silk dress she picked out just for him. She even had the courage to leave the office early, for once, eager to surprise Damon with something simple, something real.
But the surprise wasn't hers to give.
It was waiting for her instead.
The bedroom door wasn't locked.
She pushed it open.
And everything inside her died.
There they were-Damon, her husband, shirtless, standing by the edge of their bed. And Lila. Her best friend. Wearing nothing but a silk robe that was very much hers.
The robe she had packed in the gift bag on their honeymoon.
It took Damon a second to notice her. When he did, he didn't flinch.
He didn't look guilty.
He looked... annoyed.
"Arianna," he said flatly, like she had walked in on a business meeting.
Lila smirked behind him, tugging the robe tighter around her waist with theatrical modesty. "Oh. You're early."
Arianna's throat closed up. "This is a joke, right?"
Damon's eyes-those cold, silver-gray eyes-met hers. "You should've called."
"Called?" she whispered.
"I was going to talk to you tonight," he said, buttoning his shirt like this was nothing. "It's better this way."
Her fingers tightened around the bouquet until the stems snapped. "Better what way?"
"I want a divorce."
The words fell like a bomb, echoing inside the cavern of her ribcage.
Arianna didn't respond. She couldn't. Her mind tried to grasp something-an explanation, a denial, anything. But the silence between them was filled with nothing but Lila's smug smile and Damon's icy indifference.
"There are documents in my study," he added. "Everything's ready."
"You've already-?"
"I've known for a while, Arianna. I just needed... confirmation."
Her voice cracked. "Confirmation of what?"
"That you cheated."
It hit her like a slap. "What?"
Damon walked past her, brushing her shoulder like she was nothing more than a stranger on the street.
"Don't insult me by denying it," he said. "I saw the messages. I know about you and Gabriel Hale."
Gabriel Hale. Her former colleague. A man she'd worked late nights with-strictly professional. She barely even spoke to him outside of work. The thought of anything romantic was laughable.
"You think I-Damon, that's not true."
"It doesn't matter now."
Arianna's chest heaved. "You believed them?"
"I didn't need to," he said, still refusing to look at her. "The evidence spoke for itself."
And just like that, she realized: He never really knew her. Never trusted her. Not when it counted.
She let the lilies fall to the floor.
"Get out," she whispered, her voice trembling but sharp. "Both of you."
Damon raised a brow. "This is my house."
"No," she said, finally lifting her chin. "This was our home. But it died the moment you chose her."
Lila snorted. "God, you're dramatic."
Arianna turned, eyes blazing, and for the first time in her life-she didn't cry.
She didn't beg.
She didn't even break.
She simply walked away.
Three Years Later
The city skyline had changed, but her resolve had not.
Arianna-now Aria Steele-stepped out of the black sedan, dressed in midnight-blue silk and diamonds that whispered of old money. The gala was in full swing, lights glittering from the ballroom windows, reporters buzzing at the entrance.
She handed the valet her invitation, her lips barely curved into a smile. "Aria Steele, investor and founder of Steele Holdings."
"Yes, Miss Steele. Welcome."
She walked in like she owned the place.
Because now, she did.
Behind her, the whispers began: Who is she? Where did she come from? Did you see that dress?
And in the far corner of the ballroom, Damon Callahan looked up from his drink-and his heart stopped.
There she was.
Older. Stronger. Unrecognizable in the best way.
She wasn't his Arianna anymore. She was something else.
Something untouchable.
And she didn't even spare him a glance.
When the Hearts Collide is a deeply emotional, slow-burning romance woven with secrets, heartbreak, and the unexpected beauty of connection. Set between the gritty charm of New York City and the elegance of Paris, the story follows Amara Lane, a passionate street artist with a haunted past, and Julian Vale, a powerful finance executive hiding from a scandal that could destroy his life. Their worlds collide-literally-on a rainy afternoon in Central Park, when a chance encounter sparks something neither of them expected. Amara sees beyond Julian's guarded heart, while Julian finds peace in her chaos. But as their relationship deepens, so do the shadows they're both hiding. Julian's past is catching up with him in dangerous ways, and Amara is forced to choose between trust and self-protection. Full of romantic tension, surprising twists, heartbreaking choices, and moments of unexpected humor, When the Hearts Collide is a novel about love found in the wreckage, and what it means to fight for something real when everything else is falling apart.
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."
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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?"
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"