Ariana Sullivan is a beautiful and ambitious young woman, but she lives under the weight of the crushing debts left by her late father. Desperate to protect her family from unscrupulous creditors, she finds herself faced with an unexpected proposition: a marriage contract with Rafael Moretti, an enigmatic billionaire who secretly runs one of the most powerful mafia networks in the country. Rafael has it all: wealth, power, and a reputation that makes even his enemies tremble. But to cement a crucial deal with a rival cartel, he must marry. Ariana, with her beauty and scandal-free past, is the perfect bride to bolster his public image. In exchange, he promises to pay all her debts and keep her family safe. But what begins as a business marriage quickly turns into a dangerous game of power, secrets, and desire. Is Rafael really the cold, calculating man he claims to be, or is there a pain and vulnerability beneath him that Ariana can see through? And as she delves deeper into Rafael's dark, unforgiving world, Ariana discovers disturbing truths about her own family-and the real reasons behind this marriage.
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
Ariana Sullivan stood in the grand living room of her family mansion, the elegant walls decorated with old portraits of her ancestors, but all around her seemed only dust and decay. His father's debts, accumulated at breakneck speed over the past few years, were an invisible chain that was suffocating him. One debt after another, each more threatening than the last, creditors had presented themselves, demanding their share of what was left of the Sullivan empire. And what was left...wasn't much.
The chilly wind of late autumn blew through the broken windows, reminding Ariana every moment that everything she had known - wealth, comfort, the illusion of a life protected - crumbled between his fingers.
She scrutinized the papers scattered on her father's desk, letters of formal notice and warnings of seizure. The numbers made her head spin. Millions in debt, a legacy of reckless decisions, and a dead father who ultimately left only a broken promise. Ariana bit her lip, her throat tight. She had always admired her father, but he had betrayed her by leaving her family in this ruin. She had to find a solution. For herself. For his mother, who was lost in the melancholy of loss. And for his little sister, who had not yet grasped the extent of the trap that was closing on them.
Creditors were not people you could negotiate with. Shadow men, with dirty hands and cold eyes, ready to do anything to get back what was owed to them. She could almost hear them, their raspy voices in her ears, the pressure of their fingers crossed around her neck. But Ariana wasn't ready to let it happen. She had her own pride. She knew that only a radical solution could save them. And tonight, an opportunity was going to present itself to her, although she hadn't looked for it.
She stood up suddenly, dropping a pile of papers in frustration. An invitation to a charity dinner placed on the corner of the desk caught his attention. A dinner hosted by the Morettis. The rumors about this family were as vast as their empire, but what immediately captivated Ariana was a name written at the bottom of the invitation: Rafael Moretti. The name of this enigmatic and ruthless billionaire, the one everyone spoke about in hushed tones. It was rumored that he controlled more than just his businesses. He ruled over the underworld, the mafias, and the lost souls who dared to cross his path.
Ariana 's heart was beating harder. The idea of meeting a man like him intimidated her, but at the same time she felt a strange excitement. Perhaps there was a chance for her to negotiate a less chaotic future. She didn't yet know in what way, but this dinner would be the gateway to something big. Very big.
A few days later, Ariana stood in front of her bedroom mirror, examining every detail of her black dress, an elegant and simple piece that highlighted her figure without overdoing it. She had opted for light makeup, her hair styled in a cascade of perfect curls. She had to look perfect. Not too helpless, not too fragile. She had to sell the image of the strong, dignified woman who fought for her family, even if deep down, she felt a fragility that she had never shown to anyone.
She arrived at dinner feeling like she was being watched. The scale of the place, the dazzling luxury of the entrance hall, the sparkling chandeliers... it all seemed unreal. Men in black suits and women in evening gowns struggled to appear nonchalant, but the atmosphere was palpable, tense. Ariana immediately felt disconnected from this world, like an intruder who wasn't supposed to be there. But it was there, in this world, that she could perhaps find a solution.
The look she looked for in the crowd, and which she ended up meeting, was cold. A man stood across the room, alone, with a glass of red wine in his hand, but his imposing posture, his air of mystery, everything about him screamed power. Rafael Moretti. He was even more impressive in person. Medium in size, but with an overwhelming presence, he exuded an icy aura, as if the air around him was denser than that of the others. His dark, piercing eyes seemed to pass through people as if they were nothing but air. Ariana felt a rush of adrenaline, her heart beating a little faster with the inevitable encounter.
When he noticed her, there was no excessive gesture. Just a subtle tilt of the head. And yet, that was enough to send a strange thrill through her, a thrill that came not from fear, but from a strange sort of desire and curiosity.
Ariana walked towards him, her step confident but her heart racing. A waiter approached to offer them glasses of champagne, and, with a calculated gesture, Rafael grabbed his glass without taking his eyes off Ariana , as if he was waiting for something. He handed her the cup without a word, and she took it, not really knowing how to react. Rafael's gaze didn't leave her.
"You're Richard Sullivan's daughter, aren't you?" » he asked in a low voice, almost too soft to match the intensity of his gaze.
Ariana nodded, a slight tension in her shoulders. " Yes. Ariana Sullivan. »
"I heard about you. » He paused, looking her up and down. "Your family is going through difficult times. »
Ariana felt a pang in her heart, but she didn't flinch. She was used to whispers and judgments. She looked up at him, determined not to be intimidated. "They say that you are a man capable of solving many problems. Maybe you have a solution for mine. »
Rafael looked at her intently, an almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. He wasn't the type to respond immediately. He took a sip of his champagne and, without taking his eyes off her, let the silence hang for a few moments. It was part of his game, his power. She could feel it. He was studying it. He measured every word, every gesture.
Then, finally, he spoke. " Maybe. But it seems to me that you are not here by chance. You are looking for something more than help. »
Ariana felt a shiver run down her spine. How could he guess that? She looked down for a moment, forcing herself to remain calm, then she continued in a more confident voice. " Maybe. But you are right. I'm looking for a solution. My family has lost a lot, and I don't have many options left. »
He examined her for a moment in silence. Time seemed to stretch around them. Then, with calculated slowness, he whispered, "I have a proposition for you. A business wedding. You become my wife, and in return, I pay all your family's debts, I protect you. »
Ariana looked at him, stunned. She didn't see this coming. The proposal was bold, risky, but she could not ignore the immense relief it could bring. But what did that mean, really? She bit her lip, wondering if she had the courage to embark on such an adventure.
Rafael waited, serene, with a slight smile, as if he knew she was going to say yes. He was a man of power, a man who never offered anything without expecting something in return. But Ariana also knew that she didn't have the luxury of refusing. What he offered her was perhaps her only path to survival.
She looked up at him, and her words came out slowly, but with a certainty she had never allowed herself before. " All right. »
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