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.
She loved him with all she had. He shattered her with all he was. The night Arabelle Knight walked in on her husband tangled in bed with her best friend, her world ended - literally. Declared dead after a mysterious accident, Belle was buried and forgotten. But death was never part of her plan. Two years later, she returns - unrecognizable, untouchable, and armed with a new identity. Now, she's no longer the innocent girl he once betrayed. She's the storm he's about to beg for mercy from. When Damian Blackwood meets the fiery stranger who feels achingly familiar, he doesn't know two things: She's the woman he destroyed. And she's here to destroy him back. In a dangerous game of love, lies, and vengeance, the price of his love may be everything he's not ready to lose - including his heart. Betrayal cuts deep. Revenge cuts deeper. But love... love leaves the deadliest scars.
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.
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.”
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
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.
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."