Aurora never believed in monsters. Not the kind that lurked in the shadows or whispered threats in the dead of night. But monsters weren't always found in dark alleys. Sometimes, they wore tailored suits and watched you from a distance, waiting. Sometimes, they pulled strings you didn't even know existed. And sometimes, they decided you were theirs long before you even knew their name. Aurora didn't see Riccardo Romano when she first arrived in the city, exhausted and desperate for a fresh start. But he saw her. The second she walked into that coffee shop, unaware of the ruthless predator in the corner, she had unknowingly sealed her fate. She didn't know that with one phone call, he ensured she got the job at his nephew's school. She didn't know that the man she would come to fear, hate, and crave had already decided she would belong to him. Not love. Own. She would try to run. She would try to resist him. But Riccardo Romano didn't let go of what was his. And Aurora was his. She just didn't know it yet.
(Aurora's POV)
The bus jolted as it pulled into the station, shaking my tired body awake. I blinked rapidly, adjusting to the bustling scene before me. Naples. My new home.
Stepping off the bus, I clutched the worn handle of my suitcase, my fingers trembling slightly. The city air was different-thick with the scent of the sea, coffee, and something else entirely... power. It was nothing like the quiet village I had left behind, where the roads were dusty, the houses small, and life moved at a slow, predictable pace.
I swallowed hard, gripping my suitcase tighter. I had dreamed of this moment for years. Leaving behind poverty, chasing something bigger, something better. Teaching at one of Naples' most prestigious private schools wasn't just a job; it was my ticket to a new life. A life where I wasn't just the poor girl from a forgotten village.
I forced a deep breath. You did this for a reason, Aurora. No turning back now.
"Signorina, are you lost?" a kind, elderly man asked, his voice cutting through my anxious thoughts.
I shook my head quickly. "No, just... taking it all in."
He chuckled. "Ah, Naples does that to people. Welcome to the city, ragazza."
I gave him a small smile before walking toward the tiny apartment I had rented. The streets were alive with movement-Vespas zipping by, people shouting in rapid Italian, street vendors selling fresh bread and espresso. It was overwhelming, but in the best way.
Finally, I reached my building, an old structure with ivy creeping up the walls. It wasn't much-just a small space on the second floor-but it was mine. As I unlocked the door, I caught sight of my neighbor across the hall.
Matteo.
We had only spoken briefly when I came to check out the apartment last week, but his warm smile and deep green eyes had lingered in my mind. He was effortlessly charming, the kind of man who carried an easy confidence.
He leaned against his doorframe, arms crossed, flashing me that lazy grin. "New girl finally moving in?"
I laughed softly. "That obvious?"
"Just a little. You look like someone who's never been to the city before."
"I haven't." I smiled, feeling my nerves ease slightly. "I'm Aurora."
"Matteo." His eyes ran over me, not in a way that made me uncomfortable, but in a way that made my heart race just a little. "Welcome to the chaos."
Maybe... just maybe, I could have more than just survival in this city. Maybe I could have something good.
What I didn't know was that my life was already claimed.
What I didn't know was that I belonged to a man I had never even met.
(Riccardo's POV – Unseen)
From the backseat of my car, I watched her. Small. Fragile. Unaware.
Naples had seen many girls like her-young, hopeful, naive. They came searching for something better, thinking the city was kind, thinking it had room for them. They never understood the truth.
This city belonged to men like me. Ruthless. Powerful. Untouchable.
She was not meant to last here.
And yet, I couldn't look away.
Her long chestnut hair fell in waves down her back, her delicate hands gripping the suitcase as if it held her entire world. The way she looked at everything with wonder... it was foolish. But it was also mesmerizing.
Then my eyes darkened.
Matteo.
I clenched my jaw as I watched him flirt with her, flashing that smug grin, standing too close. Too close to something that doesn't belong to him.
He didn't know it yet, but he had made a mistake.
She didn't know it yet, but her fate had already been sealed.
Aurora.
A beautiful name. A name I would soon hear gasping against my skin.
She was mine.
She just didn't know it yet.
---
Olayemi James, a determined and strong-willed young woman, is caught in the grip of desperation after her father's sudden death leaves her family in poverty. Struggling to finish her final year in university and support her ailing mother, Olayemi finds herself drawn into a dangerous world of manipulation and deceit. Enter Albert, a billionaire playboy with a dark obsession. What begins as an online romance soon spirals into a whirlwind of control, betrayal, and passion. But when Albert's obsession turns possessive and suffocating, Olayemi must decide whether to submit to his will or break free and fight for her own future. As the tension rises and secrets unravel, both Olayemi and Albert find themselves on a collision course with the truth. Will Olayemi find her strength and reclaim her life, or will Albert's love consume her? A story of love, power, and redemption, The Price of Desire will take you on an unforgettable journey through passion, manipulation, and the price of self-worth.
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
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...
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
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.”