Warning: 18+ content for mature audiences. Book Excerpt: Donovan's POV Her enchanting green eyes that were alive with passion the day I told her she could go shopping are pale with only despair dancing in them. "Oh, I'm quite aware of my duties as your wife, Mr. Castellano." My eyes darken at the formal use of my name. I've told her to stop doing that. It feels wrong. Like she doesn't belong to me. I clench my jaw as I wait for her to finish her sentence but her cold smile widens. "Ah, you don't like when I call you Mr. Castellano, right? Too bad. You can't force my mouth to say what you want to hear." Blood rushes to my groin as her words settle in the tensed air between us. Does she realize the gravity of what she'd just said? Does she know she'd moaned my name while I had her wet cunt in her mouth? Does she know how needy she'd been when she wanted me to take her even though she wasn't awake? And is she aware that I know how bad she wants me in her dreams while she pretends in real life to hate me? She glares up at me while I seethe, looking down at her. "It's Donovan," I say darkly, resisting the pull of her lips and maintaining my vision at her eyes. "Mr. Castellano," she retorts. My face draws closer, getting ready to give her a punishing kiss but a harsh sound fills the room and then I realize, belatedly, that I'd just been slapped as my face swings to the side, turning away from Eliana. Eliana slapped me. Luis Santario's daughter just slapped me. Just like her father had done many nights ago. Shame fills me but it's quickly trampled upon by hot, violent anger. How dare she? How dare the whore?! Her cheek instantly goes red with the imprints of my fingers. Blood trickles from her nose and her hair that was up in a messy bun scatters all around her face. Eliana's head remains bowed as the blood from her nose drips onto her white bedcovers. ***** Eliana's POV I know I'm signing my death warrant by provoking him like this but what else can I do when he's already planned to kill me? I could just as well make it easier for him to by getting on his nerves. If I don't push him away, I'm scared I'll start to blur the lines between my dreams and reality. The Donovan in my dreams is drastically different from the one in real life. If my plans to escape from this marriage don't work, I may end up dead or worst, in love with Donovan Castellano. And I'd rather die now than to fall in love with him and die later. *** Many years ago, Donovan Castellano went through something that irrevocably changed him for the worst, and Eliana's father was to blame. Years later, Eliana's father dies. Eliana doesn't know her father's dark past or why Donovan Castellano bought her and then married her. But she knows he's out for blood and wants to kill her, but how long will she continue to defend herself when the way he touches her and kisses her in her dreams is starting to blur the lines between reality and fiction? Will Donovan succeed in finally getting revenge on Eliana for what her father did to him and will Eliana succeed in resisting her possessive mafia husband's advances even when he says he wants her dead? Read on to find out.
The aunties and uncles and all the other relatives I hadn't seen in a while stepped away after paying their last tributes to dad. Dressed in black clothes,
I watched each of them bow their heads sadly as they paid their last respects while the rector Miguel had hired spoke about death and the afterlife.
Before now, I'd never seen much of these aunties or uncles. I used to hear that dad wasn't on good terms with them, but why are they here now?
I also didn't believe the rumors about dad not being on good terms with them because he was the sweetest man I'd ever known.
I'd never met my mom. She died while I was a baby, so my dad remarried my stepmother, Irene. Irene was not the perfect stepmother, but she tried her best to treat me like a distant relative and not as one of her children.
Miguel and Maria, her twins, always bullied me when my dad or their mom weren't home.
Now that both of them are gone, I know I am about to face the worst moments of my life living without them. Both Miguel and Maria are older than me. I am only twenty-two, while they're both thirty years old.
Irene passed away last year due to a dreadful illness, and my dad died last week due to an accident. It broke my heart when I heard the news.
"And may he rest peacefully," the rector finalized solemnly when the last set of my relatives paid their respects and went back to their chairs.
Miguel and Maria were standing on the left side of the seating arrangement. My gut told me they didn't want to be associated with me, which was fine. I hope I can gain my freedom before they turn me into a slave.
After everyone paid their respects, my relatives started to leave one by one. Dad's coffin was carefully lowered into the ground before they all left, leaving me alone with the awful twins.
"Well, well, well..." Miguel sang as he approached me slowly from the other side of the seating arrangement. As if on cue, the warm, sunny afternoon suddenly turned gloomy as the dark clouds blocked the sun.
Maria smirked behind her brother as they came to my front. "Guess it's just us now, dear sister," Miguel grinned mischievously.
I tried not to roll my eyes because I didn't want to provoke him. Miguel is an abusive person, and he's beaten me a handful of times when dad or Irene went out on a date. I'd cry myself to sleep whenever it happened because I didn't want dad to hate Miguel, who wasn't his biological son.
"I'm leaving," I said, turning my back to head back into the house.
I've always known it's a mistake to turn your back on your enemy, but I never understood why until now.
"Not so fast, gremlin," Maria tutted as she grabbed my hair and pulled with a force hard enough to pull a door off its hinges.
I felt ringing in my ears as my eyes became wet with tears. My scalp started to burn, but Maria didn't let go of my hair. Instead, she continued to tug and tug until I fell down backwards, landing on my back and facing the twins.
They stared down at me with a pitiful look that I knew wasn't genuine.
"Where are you going? I didn't say you could leave." Miguel's expression turned angry.
"With dad gone now, I am now the man of the house, which means that my word goes. You don't move without my permission. You do not eat, sleep, read, or do anything without my permission!" He shouted like a military commander giving out orders.
"Do you understand me?" He gritted out in a low voice.
From my angle on the ground, I could see the dark clouds behind his head.
It was as if the universe was trying to tell me that today was the beginning of the worst years of my life.
Miguel's eyes were dark with hatred and empty. I've never been fond of him, but at that moment, I knew I had every right to despise him.
How could he do this to me when dad had just died? Who did he think he was?
I wanted to shout back at him and tell him to go fuck himself, but I knew I'd only be signing my death warrant if I said that.
He was much older than me, and it would be stupid of me to make any trouble for myself when I had no money or job. Thankfully, I've graduated from university, which means I can always apply for a job whenever I regain my freedom, whenever that may be.
"Is he not talking to a cheap human like you?" Maria kicked my rib cage as she hissed.
"Yes, I understand!" I fired back in frustration as hot pain burst from my ribs and scattered around my body. Maria had kicked me with a Louboutin! Those shoes are as hard as rocks.
There would be a scar on my body by now, I am sure of it.
Wincing painfully, I turned away from them to massage the affected area. That was a big mistake on my part. As soon as I turned, Maria used the heel of her shoes to poke my thigh. She made sure to add enough pressure, causing the pointed, slender heel to make a small hole in my thigh, making me bleed.
"Ahhhh!" I screamed in anguish as more tears flowed from my eyes.
I heard Miguel laugh. I was blinded by my tears. I couldn't see, but I could hear how demented and evil his laughter was. I felt the blood trickle from the outside of my thigh to the center and down to my legs.
Even injection needles didn't hurt like this.
"I told you not to move without my permission, gremlin," Miguel snickered.
I cried silently so as not to provoke them any further. When my eyes couldn't hold any more tears, I opened them to find the twins sitting down and looking down at me with bored expressions.
"Are you done being dramatic?" Maria faked a yawn. She was turning her right hand this way and that, admiring her nails.
My throat was dry, and any slight movement made my ribcage hurt even more, so I didn't bother to answer. I laid still on the grass and just nodded weakly.
"Good. It's almost time for dinner, but you won't be joining us. Use the time to pack the seats into the truck. The driver will be here in the next hour. If you don't finish before the driver comes, no dinner for you," Miguel instructed.
To show him that I got his message, I nodded once more, being careful not to let out any whimpers.
"Let's go, brother dearest, and leave the maid to work."
When they disappeared into the house, I let my thoughts wander aimlessly as I stared up into the cloudy sky.
So this is my life now. Dad was my only protector, but he's gone now. I have no friends because they all moved out of the country after graduation.
A few of my relatives don't really care about the family because they didn't believe dad's business could take off, so he cut them off when he finally made it as an entrepreneur.
The twins hate me because I am the only one in the family who has dad's blood running through my veins.
They only have his name, but I have both his name and his blood.
But sadly, I can't use any of that to my advantage. I have no power here.
As I thought about how miserable my life had turned in the blink of an eye, I felt a drop of water land on my cheek. Then I blink, and it begins to pour. It was raining.
Fuck.
The universe isn't on my side, I guess. I am a slave to my step-siblings, and I am lying in wet grass after my dad was buried. There is a hole in my thigh that is bleeding, and my rib cage feels like it has been smashed to pieces with a hefty rock.
Nothing could be worse than this. Remembering Miguel's instructions from earlier, I closed my eyes and counted to ten. It was the only way to distract myself from the pain of the violence Maria had inflicted on my body.
On the tenth count, I jumped to my feet without overthinking it. When I landed, it felt like I made it, but then a sharp pain pierced from my thigh and shot right up, through my ribs, connecting with the nerves there and strengthening their bonds, bringing me more pain.
I let out a scream as the rain fell harder. At least no one could hear me.
I am all alone.
After screaming, I tore the hem of my black gown and tied it around the hole in my thigh to stop the bleeding.
"Just endure it," I tried to console myself as I made a move to start packing the chairs.
I checked the time on my watch as I rounded up the last chairs. I had thirty minutes to spare, which means I'll get to eat tonight. We didn't serve the relatives any food because everyone was in a hurry, so Miguel and Maria hadn't bothered to tell Catherine, our cook and live in househelp, to cook any meals.
A short, muscular man who looked to be in his mid-forties rounded the truck as I pushed the remaining foldable chairs into the back.
"Oh, sweetie, this was supposed to be my job."
"It's fine; I'm already done." I smiled wearily.
"But it's raining so hard, you shouldn't have bothered," he reproached kindly.
"I really don't mind," I lied through chattering teeth.
The man argued with me for a while before warning me about the dangers of being in the rain for too long.
Then he gently told me to dry myself and have a hot cup of chocolate once I returned to the house. I thanked him for caring about my health and bade him goodbye as he drove off our street.
Then I walked back to the house with my heart in my chest, wondering what else the twins were going to tell me to do.
When I stepped into the foyer, I could smell the faint aroma of Catherine's famous egg-tomato soup. It's a recipe she learned from one of her favorite cooking shows.
She'd fry eggs with a bunch of spices and carrots, then pour them into shredded tomatoes and stir fry until the juice from the tomatoes turned sweet with the addition of soy sauce and vinegar.
Even though I was practically a slave now, I couldn't wait to eat her food and temporarily forget my problem with the twins.
I made a beeline for the kitchen once I was sure my gown wasn't dripping muddy water onto the floor. I met Catherine turning something into a pot, with her back turned to me.
"Hi Catherine," I said cheerfully, so she wouldn't detect any hint of distress in my voice.
She startled before turning to look at me as if she'd seen a ghost. Catherine's eyes, which were always warm, were now cold. She looked me up and down like I was a spoiled brat, then resumed stirring the pot, not bothering to spare me another glance.
"Catherine..." I called in a small voice, as if I were a child afraid of the dark and calling out to her parents.
Catherine ignored me. The sweet aroma of spicy fried eggs and sour tomatoes no longer wafted into my nostrils. The pitter-patter of the rain and the earthy smell of wet grass and soil were all I could hear and smell.
Even though the universe wasn't on my side, it was there to remind me that I was now alone.
The earthy smell was a harsh reminder that nature was all I had. I don't know what Miguel and Maria told Catherine, but it was obvious it was something bad enough to make her look at me like I was the child of the devil.
I heaved a tired sigh as I trudged out of the kitchen. I passed through the dining table, which was adorned with dishes of beef stew and shredded potatoes. I could hear the faint laughter of Maria in her bedroom upstairs.
Oh, dad, I wish you hadn't died so soon. I whispered to his portrait hanging on the wall of the dining room.
He wasn't always present, but his presence was enough to keep the twins away from me. Now he's gone, and they've revealed their true characters. I am trapped in this house with them, just like a fairytale princess.
But unlike the fairytale princess, there would be no prince charming coming to save me. Only I can save myself, no matter how long it takes.
His voice dropped a tempo as he spoke again. It was deep and almost seductive. “I don’t think I’ve properly apologized for this mess I’ve put you in. But I’ve given it much thought, and I've concluded it’s not working out. For me, it’s not. So, I want to say that I’m sorry for everything. You did not deserve it. I shouldn’t have given you any ideas if I didn’t maintain my stand. We...” “It’s fine. Apology accepted. I’m not mad. You told me before that you didn’t date, right? You have casual flings like Julia and Janice. I get it...you don’t have to apologize,” Elsie said in a small voice, cutting Luca off. “And if you’re apologizing because you want us to be cordial and friendly with each other, then I can try,” she added, uncertainty tinged in her tone. Luca swallowed hard. He did not want anything cordial or friendly with Elsie. He wanted to consume her, ruin her, and show her what it felt like to be with someone like him. None of that was cordial or friendly. “Can’t do that, Elsie,” he said in a husky voice. “Uh, okay. That settles it, then. I’m just your employee, and you’re my boss.” “Fuck that,” Luca growled before crashing his lips to hers and swallowing the remaining words he didn’t want to hear. Elsie couldn’t think, but her body could act. Luca struggled to get her to kiss him back. Her hand lifted on its own and landed on his cheek. Then she seized the opportunity to push him away as shock took control of his features. Hurriedly, she wiped her wet lips with the same hand that had begun to sting and hurt. Tears welled in her eyes as she stared directly into Luca’s confused eyes. “Why are you doing this to me?” Her voice cracked. “Why won’t you let me be? Why can’t I just work for you? What did I ever do to you, Mr. Vanthross?” Elsie asked as hot liquid streamed down her cheeks. Hearing her call him Mr. Vanthross sparked something in him. Luca’s expression turned cool and indignant. He scrubbed his face with his hand, sighing exasperatedly. “Mr. Vanthross?” He scoffed. “Can you stop calling me that?” He asked with a hint of threat. “What?” Elsie was stunned. Wondering where the conversation was going. He’d kissed her forcefully. Now, he’s acting offended because she’d called him by his name. “It’s been weeks, Elsie. Months since you called me Luca!” Luca suddenly exclaimed. “God. It’s maddening,” he said, taking a step towards her. Then, tentatively, his hand reached out for her. When Elsie didn’t move, as she was still stunned and trying to understand the turn of events, Luca’s hand caressed her cheek. “This lack of emotion. The way you spit out 'Vanthross' like it's poison. These past few weeks have been hell for me. I can’t deny it anymore that what I feel for you is stronger than I’m used to. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about a woman before,” he continued, talking in a rush before Elsie shut him out again. This was the only opportunity he could use to explain how he felt. “I don’t know how to prove it to you, but I’m not with Janice. I can’t explain how complicated our situation is right now but know that I am not with her. There’s nothing going on between me and her. Or even Julia. I haven’t even spoken to Julia since the last time she was here when I told her it was over between us. I want to...” “Enough.” Elsie cut him off. She didn’t want to believe his words, even though they made her heart flutter with hope and something dangerously close to affection for Luca. “Whether you’re with her or Julia is none of my business. I think it’s best we maintain the current status of our relationship. Nothing good has ever come from an employer-employee relationship anyway. I appreciate your thoughts and feelings for me, but it’s long overdue for us to...explore it,” she finished. All of what she said was a lie, but Luca didn’t have to know that. There was nothing more she wanted than to explore whatever feelings they shared together. But she was scared. Her mother’s story was always at the back of her mind. She was terrified that she’d end up longing after a man that her heart would never forget for years to come.
"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?"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
When he woke up early in the morning, the woman he had a crush on lay beside him, but she was afraid. "President Miller, rest assured, I will not entangle you. I'll pretend nothing happened last night!" He narrowed his eyes dangerously. "So, aren't you going to be responsible for me?" Emma Wood was shocked, "What ?!" Did she hear it right? After the night, she bore a baby and had to marry him. She asked, "It's all your benefit, what can I get?" The man looked at her and slowly said, "As long as you want, as long as I have."
This book contains hot mature scenes and languages. Read at your own risk! "Ahhh...". She threw her head back and gasped at the sudden vibrating sensation from her underwear. "What..what..what was that?" "A little toy and a bigger one playing with each other". Antonio replied and pressed the button again. Angela arched her back at the sweet torment,her fingers digging into the sheets tightly. "Stop..stop..please,this is bad,my head is spinning..i ...can't..take...it". Her mouth moved convulsively. "The setting is still low, you are already so twitchy,your body is just so ready". He replied dry, watching her face closely. "Please....". "Those faces you make...you better stop or I will get hard enough to not hold back". He replied and increased the speed. "Haaa...ahhhh..wait...stop ...please". Angela cried, her eyes bulging,as she fought with herself..her thighs vibrating too. "Seeing you cry to it is actually more interesting,I should use it often on you..,this is pretty fun". He pressed the next button. "Stop please...it keeps grinding on my..clit. so hard.I..think something's coming out...my body...ahhh..I am gonna pee..stop". "If you do that...well you will explain to the doctor and nurses, how you wetted the sheets, you can do better,just hold it in". He smirked. She rubbed her thighs together and bit hard on her lower lip,trying to hold back. "Let's take it to the next level,shall we?" She opened her eyes widely,her tongue out salivating. "No..no..please..no..more...." Suddenly she felt herself shaking convulsively. I am at my limits..this is bad..I can't let this pee out...but it's extremely hard,she thought and burst into tears. "Freckles,I will advise you to save the tears we are just warming up". He breaks into her thoughts. "I.. can't..I can't...ahh nghh!" Her eyes rolled back... Anthonio watched her intently, a cigar clamped in his teeth,a hand in his pocket and the other with the remote. He could feel himself hardened. She had that insane effect on him. "Fuck! I am hard". He cursed under his breath. Suddenly the door opened. "Grandma?" Angela gasped, tears clouded her eyes as she tried to keep her face straight and voice steady. *****ADULT CONTENT HERE* read at your own risk! "No matter the time or place,you will spread your legs for me when I say so,that's my condition,can you do that?" Angela met his eyes and swallowed convulsively. "Yes". Her voice trembled. Angela, a 24 yrs old and breadwinner of her poor class family was left with no other choice other than to say yes to Mr Antonio inorder to save her nieces. Antonio Montero of the famous Montero family! The incredibly handsome, famous idol and young billionaire also known as the sexiest man of his generation. A toxic playboy with many sex scandals. Nevertheless, Angela wasn't a fan of his looks or movie roles as most girls including her very own sister, not even in the least in love with him nor he with her. He got a death wish to grant and she, emotionally blackmailed. Most girls would die to find themselves in this situation but not Angela... One year Angela will have her simple life back. But what will she do if it becomes a life time imprisonment? There are far many secrets about the Monteros that got her entrapped.
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"