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His eyes possessed the ability to engulf you entirely, leaving you breathless, while his voice had a way of sending shivers down my spine, filling me with a paralyzing dread. It's been said that in the heart of Sicily, there exists a man who personifies mayhem and chaos, a veritable devil who traverses the night in his impeccable Chelsea boots. This enigmatic figure is none other than Matteo Alfonso, the formidable Don of the Alfonso mafia, an empire that has held sway over Italy for centuries, dating back to the 18th century. Over the years, no force has proven mighty enough to challenge his rule. Then enters Dorathy Campbell, a fierce yet unseasoned young woman, whose path unwittingly crosses into the Don's territory. Inadvertently, she sets in motion a chain of events that would reveal his darkest secret, a secret potent enough to be exploited by his adversaries in their quest to topple his reign. Though her very presence appears delicate, igniting his instincts to protect her, the penalty for her knowledge of his malevolent truth is certain death. Would this be her fate, maybe not.
Enjoying a summer vacation always came with the thrill of reuniting with friends, especially those who attended different schools. It was the perfect opportunity to spend three whole months catching up, sharing stories, and making unforgettable memories.
Walking through the vibrant streets of the city, I couldn't help but notice that many restaurants were bustling with activity. College students were frequent visitors during the summer, taking the chance to meet up and showcase their school experiences.
However, on that particular day, my visit to a restaurant had a different purpose. I stepped into the establishment, juggling three shopping bags, with the bustling ambiance of the place enveloping me. Navigating my way through the maze of tables, I inched closer to my destination. The soft strains of Giveon's "Heartbreak Anniversary" flowed through my Bluetooth earpod, instantly setting the mood, and I couldn't resist swaying to its rhythm.
Upon identifying our designated table, I made my way over to my dearest friend, Helen. Her face radiated with happiness as she noticed my approach. Adjusting her stylish gold-rimmed glasses, she welcomed me with a warm, inviting smile and beckoned me closer.
Helen was a remarkable presence, standing tall at 5'8", her svelte yet curvaceous figure drawing admiring glances wherever she went. Her verdant eyes, hidden behind her glasses, possessed a captivating depth. Her heart-shaped chestnut lips perpetually held the most enchanting smile, and her glossy, ebony, curly locks completed the portrait of her distinctive and exquisite beauty.
In contrast, I had shoulder-length auburn hair with a natural dark-red hue. Many remarked that my hazel eyes complemented my hair perfectly. Unlike Helen's curly locks, my hair had a natural wave along the edges.
Our differences weren't limited to appearances; Helen had a tall, slender frame, while I stood at a modest 5'4". Her curly hair was a stark contrast to my wavy locks, and she boasted a beautiful dark complexion compared to my lighter skin. However, these disparities did nothing to hinder our close friendship, a bond that had endured since our days in junior high.
I reached our table, pulled out a chair, and seated myself, unintentionally creating a screeching noise that drew disapproving glances from nearby diners. If glares had the power to maim, I might not have survived that moment. I quickly quieted my seat, placing the three white shopping bags on my lap, my excitement barely contained.
Helen spoke to me, but the bass thumping in my earpods made it impossible to hear her words. I watched her lips move, her hand gesturing in the air, and noticed her growing frustration. With a grin, I finally removed my earpods, granting her the attention she sought. "Were you talking to me?" I teased.
She rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her coke. Her red lipstick remained impeccable, thanks to the straw she used. I, too, chose a straw to avoid smudging my own lipstick. Helen's raised eyebrow hinted at her curiosity.
"What's the deal with the bags?" Helen inquired.
I cleared my throat, mindful of the gazes around us, and started, "Well, I wanted to get your input before we leave the mall. The saleswoman at the boutique said I could return the items I don't like." From one of the bags, I pulled out a nylon-wrapped package containing some clothes.
Helen rolled her eyes and appeared uneasy, glancing around nervously. "Don't do this here," she whispered, her smile not quite matching her now-rosy cheeks.
I couldn't help but question, "Why not? I really value your opinion." Unfurling the noisy bag, I inadvertently drew more unwanted attention to our table.
Amidst the curious glances from onlookers, Helen whispered a brief apology and offered a warm smile. As she turned her attention back to me, I had already laid out a red lace thong and its matching bra on the table, showcasing them for her inspection.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and I couldn't help but find amusement in her reaction. "What do you think of this color? Sexy enough?" I asked, examining the brand-new lingerie set.
Helen swiftly snatched the undergarments from my hand, placing them between her legs, which prompted both of us to burst into laughter. Her face was a picture of priceless shock. "This isn't funny," she protested, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
"Oh, come on, everyone here is wearing them," I pointed out, gesturing around the restaurant. "And we both know how important this is." With that, I extracted another pair, being cautious to unwrap it discreetly to avoid any further commotion.
Helen's smile gradually faded as she surveyed the restaurant. Her reputation was of utmost importance to her, especially considering her status as a celebrated author whose book had garnered immense popularity, both at the national level and on social media. In fact, a well-known entertainment company had expressed a keen interest in adapting her story into a television series.
"Dora! I swear to God–" she began, her tone edged with exasperation, and she signaled a waiter with an impatient snap of her fingers.
"Yes, ma'am," the waiter responded promptly, although not quite promptly enough to avoid being taken aback when I held up a black lace thong and its matching bra for Helen to see.
The waiter appeared flustered, his eyes darting around the room. "It's quite lovely, miss, but I would suggest we maintain a little more decorum–"
"Thanks," I intervened, gently halting the waiter's well-intentioned but unsolicited advice.
"I can't stand this," Helen grumbled quietly to herself, her frustration plain on her face. She then turned her attention to me, her exasperation showing. "Make your food order, or I'm walking out this instant!" she declared, and once more, all eyes were drawn to our table, the center of attention.
"I think–" The waiter hesitated and cleared his throat. "I'll return later, perhaps," he stammered before making a hasty exit, leaving me with a sense of disapproval lingering in the air.
"Come on, dear," I pleaded with a pout as I carefully stowed the clothes back into the bag. "You're not making this any easier."
Helen's irritation was evident as she snapped back, "I am helping! I'm starting to believe you actually dislike me!" She gritted her teeth, leaning in closer. "This, this kind of behavior can undermine my image. Dorathy, I'm a writer, a public figure, and I'm about to be interviewed for my new book. You might not understand, but everything isn't always a joke. How do you want people to perceive me when they witness such a spectacle with my best friend?"
When Angela was 16, something bad happened, so she moved to London for school. Now, at 21, she's back in Boston. But little does she know, she's about to meet a dangerous guy named Vincent Davinci. As they cross paths, Angela's life gets pretty interesting. She's caught up in mysteries and suspense, diving into a world she never expected.
With Ciara looking ravishing beautiful, words fell out his mouth before he could control himself, "Cici..." He sighed, his breath tickling the skin of Ciara's neck. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, admiring her beauty, how beautiful she was. He then took his hand off her, suddenly aware of the line he had crossed. "This isn't right," he sighed, avoiding eye contact with Ciara. She sensed the struggle in his chest between what he knew was wrong and what he desired. She felt the same conflict. They both tried to resist, make sense of it, not give in to temptation. He was her teacher, much older, and it felt wrong in many ways. Despite that, they couldn't pull away. "It feels right." Ciara said boldly. She moved her lips to his, on her tiptoes. Dr. Woodley abruptly grasped her forearms, his face adopting a grave and stern expression. "After weeks of causing annoyance, playing the class clown, disrupting my lessons, embarrassing me in front of colleagues, and showing disrespect, do you believe you can casually stroll into my office in this manner, provoking me like this with this dress you have on? Ciara Lotus, you're a troublesome girl and a very bad one." Ciara experiences firsthand the transformative influence of an exceptional teacher. Rufus Woodley not only challenges her but takes her through intense experiences, leaving her yearning for more. Despite the awareness of its inherent wrongness, Ciara cannot resist the allure of her youthful, enigmatic, and magnetic Art History professor.
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?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”