She was treated like a piece of property, and he was the one with the winning bid. Now, she is at the mercy of a monster. Isla Laurent has always been the dutiful daughter, gentle, and groomed to fit the mold of a perfect high-society lady. However, when her father's gambling debts spiral out of control, she is sold to Dante Valenci, the heartless mafia lord ruling New York's criminal empire. To Dante, Isla is merely a transaction, a way to settle a debt. She is a pawn in his dangerous pursuit of power. Their marriage is devoid of love and steeped in control; she belongs to him, trapped like a bird in a luxurious cage. Yet, Isla is determined not to break. Thrust into a chaotic world of bloodshed, treachery, and violence, she fights to navigate a home filled with peril. She may seem weak in a realm where only the strong endure, a delicate woman among savages. But when an assassination attempt forces her to choose between fleeing and fighting back, Isla discovers the only way to survive is to transform into something greater than the helpless girl she once was. Enemies close in. Betrayals hide in the dark. And at the heart of it all is Dante, the merciless king who possesses her body and soul. She was never intended to break free. But perhaps, just perhaps... she was destined to rise....
(Isla POV)
The evening was intended to be just like any other.
I wore silk, my golden-brown hair perfectly styled, a glass of wine elegantly held as I exchanged smiles with men who shouldn't have been looking at me that way.
Yet, beneath the glamorous veneer of yet another Laurent gala, something felt amiss.
My father's smile appeared forced, his laughter lacked joy. He drank excessively, his fingers nervously clenching around the crystal glass as if trying to grasp something that was slipping away.
I had witnessed his reckless gambling before, always leaving with a sense of victory, oblivious to the dangers. But tonight, he seemed like a man on the brink of losing it all.
A wave of unease settled in my stomach.
I excused myself and navigated through the sparkling ballroom filled with women adorned in diamonds and men in finely tailored suits, heading towards the dimly lit hallway that led to my father's study. I meant to knock and confront him about the unsettling mood.
Then I heard his voice.
"I have nothing left to offer."
I froze, breath captured in my throat.
It wasn't just him. A second voice calm, low, and menacing responded. "Then you know what must happen next."
I shouldn't have stayed. I should have turned back, dismissed what I had heard. Instead, I pressed closer, ear against the solid wooden door, heart pounding in my chest.
"My fortune is gone," my father's voice trembled with desperation. "My assets, my businesses, everything. Please, Valenci, I need more time."
Valenci.
Dante Valenci.
Just hearing his name sent a chill down my spine.
I had never encountered him, yet I was aware of his notoriety. He was more than a man he was a legend, spoken of in hushed tones across New York, his power derived not solely from wealth but from bloodlines.
"I do not forgive debts," Dante replied smoothly.
My father gasped. "I I have something else. Someone."
Silence followed.
Then came Dante's voice again. "Continue."
I could hardly breathe.
"She's beautiful," my father stammered, his voice quivering. "Well-mannered. The perfect price for what I owe."
No.
A cruel laugh echoed back. "You're offering me your daughter?"
No. No. No.
"She's all I have left."
I recoiled, pressing a hand over my mouth to stifle any sound. The walls felt as though they were closing in, and the air was thick and suffocating. This was impossible; it couldn't be true.
My father had been many things a gambler, a deceiver, a man more devoted to money than ethics but he wouldn't stoop so low. He wouldn't sell me.
Would he?
Before I could process my thoughts, the door swung open.
Dante Valenci stood in the doorway, tall and composed, exuding an almost palpable power. Dressed in a sleek black suit, he seemed to have emerged from the shadows, every aspect of him sharp and unyielding. His face was chiseled-high cheekbones, a strong jaw, lips that seemed out of place on a man so devoid of compassion. But it was his eyes that made my stomach lurch.
Dark, cold, and merciless.
They locked onto mine, rendering me immobile.
My father stuttered behind him. "Isla, I"
"You sold me." The words barely escaped my lips.
My father flinched. "It's not"
But my focus had shifted away from him.
Now I was staring at Dante.
And Dante?
He looked at me as if I were already his.
His gaze roamed over me, deliberate and methodical, assessing me like a new acquisition. An unreadable expression passed over his features but vanished before I could understand it.
Then he advanced.
I retreated.
Another step.
Another retreat.
But the hallway was limited, and soon I was against the wall, breath catching in my throat.
He stopped just before me, close enough that I could detect the faint scent of expensive cologne crisp and intoxicating, with something darker lurking beneath.
"Isla Laurent," he murmured, pronouncing my name like a slow-burning promise. "It seems we have a deal."
I shook my head, trembling all over. "No. No, we don't."
His lips curled slightly, but it wasn't amusement-it was something far more sinister.
"I own you now."
I didn't expect it.
The abrupt sting in my neck.
The blurring of my vision.
The sensation of the world tilting beneath me, my body swaying.
Strong arms caught me before I could fall, and in my last moments of consciousness, Dante Valenci's face loomed over me, watching me succumb.
Detached.
Unfeeling.
As if he had simply claimed another piece in a game he controlled.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
"I ran. Ran as fast as my legs could go. Away. Away from him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hailey Pritchett loved her job as the secretary of Henry Caldwell, the CEO of the Caldwell Industries. She was a woman who liked safety, and stayed far away from danger. However, the company is bought by a ruthless businessman who is known as the Sniper. Theodore Benson is a ruthless billionaire, and is known as the Sniper in the business world. Because he kills his opponents without letting them know. He bows down to no one, and when he wants something, he does everything - whether legal or not - to possess it. When Hailey and Theodore aka the Sniper, come face to face, Hailey knows that Theodore is dangerous. So Hailey does what she does best in the face of danger. She runs. But will Theodore let her get away? Theodore wants Hailey Pritchett, and won't stop until he has her - in every possible way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.
Lacey thought she'd have to avenge her past grievances by herself, but destiny had a different idea in mind... By a twist of fate, she ended up being the elegant daughter of the White family. When the real daughter returned, Lacey chose to stay, only to be trapped in a well-planned conspiracy leading to her untimely death. Reborn, Lacey encountered the real daughter's comeback. This time, she quickly left, resolved to recover what was wrongly taken from her in her previous life. Rhett exclaimed, "Trying to bully my woman, huh? Do you want to die?" Wait, what? Since when had she become his woman?