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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. ---
“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.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”