/0/74429/coverbig.jpg?v=e42de79a3964bb08cd93cdf9491ff1e6)
In a world where power is everything and trust is a luxury, Isabella Cortez is caught between the ruthless empire of the mafia and the enigmatic billionaire who controls it all. As a trusted strategist for the Syndicate, she's played the game-manipulating, calculating, and making deals with dangerous people. But when she becomes entangled with Dominic Moretti, the empire's cold-hearted leader, she's forced to confront a new, terrifying reality. Dominic is a man who always gets what he wants, and he wants it all: power, control, and Isabella by his side. As their worlds collide, Isabella is faced with an impossible choice-remain loyal to the empire she helped build, or betray everything for the chance at a life outside of the shadows. But when a betrayal from within threatens to tear their empire apart, Isabella and Dominic must decide just how far they're willing to go to protect their empire-and each other. In a game of power, passion, and deceit, who will come out on top? And when the stakes are higher than ever, can love truly survive?
Veridale's skyline glittered like a thousand diamonds under the night sky, but behind the luxury and wealth, darkness loomed. The city was a labyrinth, where power was traded as easily as currency, and loyalty was a commodity more precious than gold.
Dominic Varkari sat at the head of a massive conference table in his penthouse office, the city lights casting an eerie glow over the room. He leaned back in his chair, eyes cold and calculating as he surveyed the documents before him. Deals. Contracts. Alliances. Everything was a transaction. That was how the world worked. He had learned that lesson long ago.
His phone vibrated softly on the table, breaking his concentration. A single glance at the screen told him everything he needed to know.
Isabella Cortez.
She was late.
Dominic didn't care much for punctuality-it was the business that mattered-but he couldn't help but feel a flicker of irritation. She was his latest piece of the puzzle, a necessary piece in his quest to cement the Varkari Syndicate's grip on Veridale. Her father had died suddenly, leaving behind a fortune and a tangled web of unfinished deals. Now, she was the key to finalizing one of the most significant transactions in the city's history-a merger between her father's empire and the Syndicate.
But Dominic had a far more personal interest in the young woman than he was willing to admit. Isabella Cortez was beautiful, with dark eyes that held secrets and a mind as sharp as a blade. She wasn't just some helpless heiress to be manipulated. No, there was more to her than that-he could feel it.
The door to the office swung open, and she walked in.
Isabella Cortez wasn't what he expected. Her figure was tall and commanding, and despite the anxiety that must have gripped her, she walked into the room like a woman who knew how to handle herself. Her black dress clung to her silhouette, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders in waves. But it was her eyes that captured Dominic's attention. They were a storm-unpredictable and full of fire.
"Mr. Varkari," she said, her voice calm but laced with an edge. "I'm sorry I'm late. There was... a delay."
He gestured to the chair across from him. "No need to apologize. Take a seat, Miss Cortez."
She did, though she didn't relax. Dominic could see the tension in her posture, the way her hands gripped the edge of her chair as if preparing for a fight.
He didn't need to look at the documents again; he already knew what they said. The deal was already in motion, but there was one thing left to finalize: her.
"You're aware of the terms, I assume?" he asked, folding his hands together. "Your father's company will merge with the Varkari Syndicate, and in return, you'll be given control over a significant portion of the Syndicate's operations."
Isabella nodded, though there was no enthusiasm in her expression. "I'm aware. But you're also aware that my father never intended for me to take over his business, Mr. Varkari."
Dominic leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Your father may not have intended it, but circumstances have changed. You're all that's left. I'm offering you a seat at the table, an opportunity to take control of your father's legacy."
She met his gaze steadily. "And what do you want in return? The merger? The wealth?"
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Dominic's lips. She was perceptive, no doubt about it. But she didn't understand yet.
"I want what your father promised me," he said. "A partnership. Your family's resources, combined with the Syndicate's influence. But more than that, Miss Cortez, I want you." He watched for a reaction, but she kept her composure.
"Me?" she echoed, the word rolling off her tongue like it didn't belong.
"Yes," he confirmed, his voice steady but firm. "I want you. In every way. We'll need to formalize the union. A marriage contract, to be precise."
Her expression hardened, the calm mask slipping for a moment. "A marriage?"
"Yes. You will marry me," he said, watching her carefully. "It's the final step to securing this deal. Your family's business will be fully integrated into the Syndicate. And you... will become my wife. It's a formality, of course."
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "And if I refuse?"
Dominic's eyes darkened slightly, though his voice remained even. "If you refuse, the deal falls apart. Your father's legacy will be in jeopardy, and your business will be swallowed by the competition. You'll lose everything."
She was quiet for a long moment, staring at him with a mixture of disbelief and anger.
"You're not asking me to marry you, Dominic," she said, her tone colder than before. "You're buying me. Like a commodity."
Dominic didn't flinch. "Call it whatever you like. The reality is the same. This is the only way forward."
Her gaze remained fixed on him. "And what if I don't fall in line? What if I decide I want out of this whole mess?"
He leaned in slightly, his voice low and dangerous. "You won't. You can't. You'll never be free of the Syndicate, Miss Cortez. Not now. Not ever. This city belongs to us. You either stand beside me, or you stand against me. And I promise you, standing against me won't end well."
Isabella took a deep breath, her jaw tightening. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
"No," he replied softly. "You don't."
The room was thick with tension. Dominic watched her closely, reading her every movement. She was calculating, just like him, but her anger was clear. This wasn't a woman willing to be controlled.
But then again, neither was he.
Finally, Isabella spoke, her voice steady but filled with resolve. "I'll sign the contract. I'll play the part. But don't think for a second that I'm doing this because I trust you, or because I want this marriage. I'm doing it because I don't have a choice."
Dominic leaned back in his chair, a slow smile creeping onto his face. "I never expected you to trust me. All I want is your compliance. For now."
An arranged marriage. A forbidden attraction. A dangerous game of power and passion. Emilia Cortez was raised to be ruthless-an heir forged in fire, molded to rule. But when her crumbling empire is forced into a truce with the enemy, she finds herself bound to Damon Ashford, the cold, cunning heir of the man who destroyed everything she loved. Their marriage is a spectacle. A political pawn. But behind closed doors? It's a battlefield of sharp tongues, stolen glances, and undeniable tension. He's the enemy. She should hate him. But the heat between them could burn the entire world down. As the lines between love and loyalty blur, Emilia must decide: can she tame the man she was meant to betray or will loving him cost her everything? Power. Passion. Betrayal. Welcome to a marriage that could end the war... Or start a revolution.
Luca DeLuca was never meant to be a king. Born into one of the most powerful mafia families, he was raised in the shadows of blood and violence-protected, sheltered, and kept far from the world his father ruled with an iron fist. But when Don Salvatore DeLuca is assassinated, everything changes. The empire his father built is now crumbling, threatened by enemies within and outside the family. Forced into a throne he never wanted, Luca must learn to navigate a world of betrayal, power, and brutal survival. He isn't a killer. Not yet. But in the mafia, power is earned in blood-and to lead, he must be willing to lose everything, including the last pieces of his soul. But Luca's battle isn't just against the underworld's deadliest players. It's against himself. As he struggles with the darkness seeping into his veins, a forbidden love threatens to shatter everything. Torn between the woman who makes him feel human and the ruthless empire that demands his loyalty, Luca must decide: Is he willing to sacrifice love for power? Or will love be his greatest weakness? In a world where trust is a death sentence and mercy is a myth, Luca DeLuca must either rise as a legend or die as a footnote.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
In Lothlann Continent, talent in martial arts won cultivators respect. Darren Chu, a mediocre talent in martial arts, was deemed a loser by everyone. His status changed when a fireball fell from the sky and hit him on the head. He cheated death. Empowered with the ability to assimilate other creatures' talent, Darren sought to better himself and seek vengeance against those who had wronged his family, including his little sister. "You will kneel in front of me one day," swore the future lord of martial arts.
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
My marriage to Mathias was supposed to make me the happiest woman in the world. Although I knew he didn't love me, I thought he would fall for me once I showered him with all the love I had to give. Five years passed and Mathias still didn't give a damn about me. Instead, he met his true love and cut all ties with me because of her. He showed her off; something he never did for me. His abandonment pushed me into depression. I was broken in every sense of the word. Even on my deathbed, my so-called husband didn't come to say goodbye to me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. I was still Mathias's wife and it was two months before he met his true love. In this life, I refused to be hurt by him again. After talking some sense into my head, I asked him for a divorce in other to escape being heartbroken like I was previously. Mathias tore up the divorce papers time and time again while also shutting me down. "Rylie, stop all this nonsense! Playing hard to get doesn't work anymore!" To show him that I was dead serious, I went ahead to file for divorce. Only then did he panic. He abandoned the "woman of his dreams" and came to my side. "Please give me a second chance, Rylie. I promise to do right by you. You'll be the only woman in my heart from now on. Don't leave me, okay?" A war broke out in my mind after this apology. On one hand, I didn't want to be hurt again. And on the other, I didn't want to let go of the man I loved so dearly. What should I do?!