(rated !8+, sexually explicit content, violence and strong language, readers discretion is advised) The clock has run out, and now I am here to assert my claim." His voice reverberated throughout the entire tower, resonating with authority. He had discovered my whereabouts and was determined to take what rightfully belonged to him-me. "Sire, please reconsider. She hasn't even reached the age of 22 yet. Grant her one more year!" My father desperately implored for my life, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. I was destined to be his possession. A heavy silence settled over the house, shattered only by the ominous sounds of approaching footsteps on the staircase. The desperate appeal had failed; he was closing in on me. ... With a deafening crash, the massive, sealed oak door yielded to a single kick from the infamous beast. I scrambled to the corner in search of safety, but it was in vain. He had come to claim me, leading me into my new, predetermined life. My fate had been determined long before I even existed. My family's lineage commanded immense respect across generations, making us the perfect match to be married into the Gustavo family. This powerful mafia group held dominion over Europe and parts of America, their influence dating back to the dawn of time. So, when my forebear agreed to marry his eighth grandchild off to the leader of the Gustavo clan, it was a triumph for our family. And, as fate would have it, I happened to be that eighth grandchild. My life was now inextricably intertwined with the Gustavo clan.
"Yet another tranquil afternoon slips away as I gaze out of my window, my mind filled with wistful thoughts. I can only envision the warm caress of the sun on my fair complexion and the gentle touch of the ocean breeze tousling my hair. My desires were indeed extravagant, but deep down, I knew they were futile longings. Even the simple act of taking a leisurely mid-afternoon summer stroll had become an unattainable dream.
Ever since my 17th birthday, I've been confined within the walls of this ivory tower, a stark contrast to the freedom I once enjoyed. Prior to that fateful day, life was vibrant and unrestricted. I attended school daily, cherished a close-knit circle of friends, and revelled in spontaneous outings to the movies and parties. There were no bodyguards shadowing my every move, no authority figures to answer to, and, most importantly, no confinement to my room that lasted until my 22nd birthday.
However, those days are now a distant memory. My fate was sealed on my 17th birthday, precisely on March 6th, when I was irrevocably tied to the Gustavo family. I had transformed from a carefree individual into a burden, subject to the stringent control of this infamous clan. I was prohibited from venturing anywhere without their explicit consent, and in the process, I had to bid farewell to my friends, the idyllic walks through the countryside, the joyous gatherings, and the cinematic adventures. In essence, I had to bid farewell to my former life."
"Bianca! Join us for lunch." My mother's voice resonated through the intercom system.
The only moments I got to interact with my family occurred during meal times. I was confined to my room, allowed to emerge only for the three square meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even my parents were forbidden from entering my quarters. We lived by the strict orders imposed by the formidable Gustavo family. As a small concession to my isolation, they had equipped my room with a PA system that connected to the kitchen, facilitating communication between my family and me.
Then, unexpectedly, I heard the mechanical click of my door being unlocked. Another 'gift' courtesy of the Gustavo family was a ten-bolted door that could only be locked from the outside with a specialised code and key. Escape was an impossible fantasy, a notion I had long given up on.
Mason, my assigned guard, made his entrance. He was not only my protector but also my sole source of companionship since I had severed ties with all my former friends. Mason possessed a gentle spirit, a stark contrast to the harsh world he inhabited.
"Come on, princess, it's time to eat!" he chuckled warmly. With Mason quietly shadowing me, I descended the seemingly endless spiral staircase that led to the kitchen.
"My life was once normal. I lived with my family in Milan, Italy. My dad had a successful importing and exporting business, and my mom ran a bakery in the city. We had simple lives. But things changed two nights before my birthday.
My dad got a call from the Gustavo family, asking him to go to Genoa, a small city near Italy's border. That's where they kept their most important stuff. We thought they wanted to work with my dad's business, and he was happy about it. But it turned out to be something very different.
The Gustavo family reminded my dad about an old family tradition. A long time ago, one of my ancestors agreed that the fifth girl born in our family would marry the son of the future Gustavo family leader. So, I was supposed to marry the biggest mafia leader in Europe. My dad couldn't believe it. He never knew about this tradition when he was growing up. Girls were rare in our family, so it was a big deal that I was the fifth one."
"Among all the generations and families that have come before me, it was my fate to be chosen for a life of captivity.
When I finally reached the kitchen, a hushed air of anticipation enveloped my mother, father, and younger brother, who were seated at the table. Mason, after conducting his customary sweep of the kitchen, discreetly signalled that it was safe for me to hug and join my family.
"Oh, sweetheart, it feels like you've grown leaps and bounds since breakfast!" Mama exclaimed, her hands gently squeezing my cheeks.
"Come now, Mama, it's only been a few hours," I chuckled as I embraced my father and then Gilberto, my younger brother.
We savoured our meal leisurely, knowing that I wouldn't see them again until dinner. These moments in the kitchen were precious-a chance for me to reconnect with my family.
"So, how was everyone's morning?" I inquired, eager to catch up with their day's events.
"Your mother and I decided to stay home because our businesses were running smoothly without our direct involvement, giving us the opportunity to focus on some much-needed house renovations." Father spoke in a gentle tone, his words carrying an undertone of sadness.
"I just got back from school. Daniella and Selena wanted me to pass along their heartfelt messages; they miss you terribly," I said, choking back the tears that welled up at the mere mention of my best friends' names. Their absence in my life was a constant ache, a reminder of the isolation I endured. Even family members weren't allowed to visit.
"Tell them I love them, and I hope to see them again soon," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. The reality was that none of us knew what lay ahead for me after my 22nd birthday. My father had been left in the dark after receiving the life-altering news. All we understood was that as soon as the sun dawned on March 4th, the Gustavo family would come for me. I had only recently celebrated my 21st birthday, and with a mere six months left on my countdown, the weight of impending change hung heavily over me.
Eventually, lunch had to end. There was nothing else to eat and nothing else to say. I hugged each person before Mason escorted back into my dungeon...I mean bedroom.
"I snuck another one of those romcoms to keep you company for a few days. I don't know how you can watch those." Mason muttered as I entered the room.
I giggled as I found the stash of movies he snuck under my sheets.
"What girl doesn't love a good love story and some jokes on the side?"
"Hmm horror is where it's at but it's your life."
"Oh, whatever Mason. Leave me be with my beautiful romcoms." He smiled at me before closing the door and locking it shut.
Looks like it's just me and Little Scarlet for the next 4-5 hours.
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
"Then let's get a divorce!" With courage, Leora left her husband's house, after being accused of poisoning his mistress. Her in-laws and sister-in-law had planned various ways to kick her out of Peter's house and in the end Leora gave in. However, no one expected that things would turn 180 degrees after the divorce. When everyone who had hurt her was happy with each other's lies, Leora returned. This time, she was no longer the poor orphan girl from the orphanage. She has changed and not only that, she also carries a big secret that will make everyone turn to worship her feet.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
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?