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.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
For the whole 17 years of her existence, Alana did not know the word freedom and happiness having been confined in the basement of her family's house accused of killing her own mother. She's beaten, cursed at, and barely survived from crumbs of food thrown at her. She thought this is her final destiny and has accepted the bitter fate of her life not until the night of her 18th birthday, a mysterious alpha appeared at her door telling her that she is the long-lost daughter of the alpha king and claiming her as his mate he's been looking for several years now.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
My marriage to Mathias was supposed to make me the happiest woman in the world. Although I knew he didn't love me, I thought he would fall for me once I showered him with all the love I had to give. Five years passed and Mathias still didn't give a damn about me. Instead, he met his true love and cut all ties with me because of her. He showed her off; something he never did for me. His abandonment pushed me into depression. I was broken in every sense of the word. Even on my deathbed, my so-called husband didn't come to say goodbye to me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. I was still Mathias's wife and it was two months before he met his true love. In this life, I refused to be hurt by him again. After talking some sense into my head, I asked him for a divorce in other to escape being heartbroken like I was previously. Mathias tore up the divorce papers time and time again while also shutting me down. "Rylie, stop all this nonsense! Playing hard to get doesn't work anymore!" To show him that I was dead serious, I went ahead to file for divorce. Only then did he panic. He abandoned the "woman of his dreams" and came to my side. "Please give me a second chance, Rylie. I promise to do right by you. You'll be the only woman in my heart from now on. Don't leave me, okay?" A war broke out in my mind after this apology. On one hand, I didn't want to be hurt again. And on the other, I didn't want to let go of the man I loved so dearly. What should I do?!
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...