Chapter: Chapter 308The sound of her heels echoed softly against the floor, swallowed whole by the sterile silence of the prison hallway. Each step felt like it was slowly bringing her closer to hell, but her back stayed straight and her head stayed high. She passed rows of locked doors, steel bars and bored guards, an
Last Updated: 2025-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 307Three Months Later The fabric was soft against my skin, and so breathtaking that I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I sat in front of the vanity, my hands folded in my lap and trying to breathe evenly as the stylist added one final pin to my hair. I'd always thought I'd cry on my wedding day, but I ha
Last Updated: 2025-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 306I was still holding Ethan's hand when the door creaked open again. At first, I thought it was a nurse or maybe a detective back with some update about Marcus's arraignment. But then I saw a cane, and a face I hadn't expected to ever see again. Richard Jones. Ethan froze beside me as he stepped int
Last Updated: 2025-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 305I could have sworn I was dead. But then I found myself waking up in a room that was too white and too quiet, and the air smelled like disinfectant and something sterile that clung to the back of my throat. My body ached in too many places to count, and I wasn't sure at first if I was dreaming or i
Last Updated: 2025-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 304When I opened the door to my office, I half-expected a ghost. But the man sitting across from my desk wasn't a ghost, even though he looked eerily familiar. He was in his mid to late fifties, wearing a sharp blazer with a well-kept salt and pepper beard, and the kind of eyes that looked like they ha
Last Updated: 2025-06-28
Chapter: Chapter 303CALLAHAN The cold hit me the second I stepped outside, but I lit the cigarette anyway. I hadn't touched one in over three years (not since the Donovan case) but something about watching a pregnant woman get wheeled out on a stretcher with a bullet hole through her chest just made the craving imposs
Last Updated: 2025-06-28
Becoming The Mafia Queen
Sofia Moretti never wanted a life in the shadows, but when her father is murdered by the ruthless Giordano cartel, revenge becomes her only purpose. To destroy the men who took everything from her, she sets her sights on Adrian DeLuca-the cold, calculating leader of their biggest rival gang. Her plan? To make him fall in love with her and turn his power against her enemies.
But Adrian isn't an easy man to deceive. He sees through lies, plays by his own rules, and refuses to be a pawn in anyone's game. As Sofia navigates a dangerous world of betrayal, bloodshed, and forbidden desire, she finds herself trapped between duty and passion.
Because the more she fights to manipulate him, the deeper she falls in love with the mafia boss.
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Chapter: 54. The Half-truthSOFIAIt started with a soft and calculated smile that didn't reach her eyes, and I knew I was in trouble.Ariana had always struck me as magnetic and charming when she wanted to be, and terrifying when she didn't. But in that moment, seated across from her at the little café near the edge of campus, it felt like the temperature dropped by a billion degrees. It was a kind of chill that creeps under your skin and wraps around your spine. I was halfway through pulling my chair in when I felt the cold and circular barrel of the gun pressing gently against my kneecap from beneath the table.It wasn't her words that chilled me at first. It was how she leaned back lazily, sipping her iced coffee like she wasn't threatening my life with a gun shoved against my leg.“Ari, what’s the meaning of this?” I asked, trying to stay calm even though my hands were shaking.“Spare me the innocent act,” she said. “I didn’t come here to chitchat. You and I both know that there’s something shady going on w
Last Updated: 2025-07-10
Chapter: 53. The Devil’s SisterSOFIAI'd barely eaten all morning.The sun was already climbing in the sky, and the apartment was still soaked in that mid-morning quiet that always made everything feel more fragile than it actually was. I sat in front of my computer, my elbow propped against the desk, with my cheek resting against my palm as my other hand moved over the trackpad. And I was so fucking exhausted, but I had to keep going. I'd been staring at the same set of search results for over an hour now, and my mind was feeling numb. I combed through Hector Alonzo’s aliases, his digital footprints, shell corporations, and whatever the hell breadcrumbs I could scrape together. But there was nothing I could use to reach out to him without tipping him off and making myself look incompetent to Adrian. I had to find a way to balance keeping Hector alive, while making sure Adrian knew I’d succeeded, and that I had nothing to do with him slipping through his fingers. But catching him was like trying to catch an oily
Last Updated: 2025-07-09
Chapter: 52. The Ghosts of LeadershipADRIANThe flash drive felt heavier than it should have as I slipped it into the inner pocket of my jacket and stepped into the back seat of the waiting car. I hadn't spoken much on the way to the office, and Rafe knew better than to ask questions when I was in this kind of mood. I knew he was irritated when I told him to stop at Sofia’s place first, but I couldn’t care less. I hadn’t seen her in days, and I needed to do that as soon as we got back. But now, it was business as usual once again. I could have gone straight home, but I would be too restless to function properly. I needed to keep myself busy for a few hours at least, before I finally went back home. We pulled up in front of the building just as the sun was starting to dip, casting long shadows across the streets. Matteo Rossi was already waiting inside, so I made my way inside immediately, barely responding to the dozens of pleasantries I received on my way to the elevator. Matteo was stood by the window when I walked
Last Updated: 2025-07-08
Chapter: 51. The Return of The DonSOFIAI was still somewhere between sleep and waking up when the doorbell rang. It was too early for anything good. The city was still waking up, and the sun was just beginning to creep between the cracks in my blinds. I hadn't even brushed my teeth, or even moved from the spot where I’d been lying. I pulled on a robe and dragged myself to the door, my heart already pounding because my nerves were all over the place, and I expected it to be Ariana or maybe even worse.But I wasn't prepared for Adrian DeLuca standing outside my door at 7am. He was standing there in a black t-shirt and jeans, his eyes dark and his jaw unshaven, and something about him looked almost rougher, like the trip had frayed him around the edges. He didn't even speak or wait. The moment I opened the door, he stepped inside and kissed me.I let out a muffled protest as my eyes widened in shock, one hand on his chest, my breath caught in my throat as I said, "Adrian, wait. I have morning breath.""I don't care,"
Last Updated: 2025-07-07
Chapter: 50. The PrisonerADRIANThe call ended with her voice still echoing in my ear, and for a moment, I just sat there on the edge of the bed, the phone heavy in my hand, my mind running through every word she said and every word she didn't. Something in her voice had felt off. And I knew Sofia well enough to hear it when she was hiding something. But before I could spiral too deep into the suspicions that was already starting to claw at my gut, Rafe pushed the door open and stepped inside, his expression grim and his clothes wet at the sleeves. He didn't say anything right away. He just gave me that nod, the one that meant the worst part was over and now it was time to deal with the mess.“So?” I asked. "He's ready," Rafe replied simply. "You'll want to hear it from him yourself."I stood up without a word, rolled my shoulders back, and followed him out. The hotel hallway was quiet at this hour, with just the faint hum of lights and the low moan of the building. Rafe's suite was two doors down, and the
Last Updated: 2025-07-06
Chapter: 49. The Damage ControlSOFIAThe shock of seeing Ariana outside the police station hit me like a ballistic missile. She stood by the curb in stunned silence, like she'd been standing in that exact spot for hours, expecting me to come stumbling out with guilt written all over my face. Her eyes narrowed the second our gaze met, and even before she said a word, I knew this wasn't something I could charm or lie my way out of."You've got to be kidding me," she said, quietly. "The cop, Sofia? Really?"I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Because what could I possibly say? That I wasn't here for the reasons she thought I was? That I was only trying to piece together the murder of a man whose name I wasn't even supposed to speak aloud anymore? That I wasn't the snake she now saw in front of her, and I was just someone too deep in the mud?"Ariana, I can explain," I said, but she shook her head. “Save it, you lying bitch!” she spat. “I don’t want to hear whatever lie they told you to say in this situation.”“A
Last Updated: 2025-07-05
A Deal With The College Playboy
"I'm dying," I told him. "So, I figured I might as well lose my virginity to the hottest guy on campus before I go."
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Ellie Carter never expected to be twenty one, single, and terminally ill with only six months left to live. But with nothing left to lose, she makes a deal with the campus badboy, Beck Ryder, to have one reckless and unforgettable night.
It was supposed to be a one time thing. But somewhere between the late night cuddling, the constant teasing and the surprising discovery that he's not just the resident campus fuckboy (turns out he actually has a heart), Ellie catches feelings against her better judgment. Now she has to live with the knowledge that she's falling for Beck, and he might be falling for her too.
How will she survive when she finds out that she might not be dying after all? Will the consequences of her actions come back to bite her when a vengeful ex enters the picture? Or can the throwaway fling turn into something real?
If she thought dying would be hard, it turns out that living is way messier.
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Chapter: 6. Fake CookiesELLIEI've never tried to bake anything in my entire life.Not even those idiot-proof brownie mixes where you just add water and toss it in the oven. Every time I've stepped foot into a kitchen, it's been for cereal, toast, or to judge Aunt Carol's weird obsession with sugar-free everything. So naturally, now that I had decided to bake cookies (like some love-struck 1950s housewife), I should've known it was going to end in absolute, flaming failure.The plan was simple: bake cookies, put them in a cute container, and casually walk over to Beck Ryder's house like I just happened to have some extra lying around. When he asked about them (because he definitely would), I'd smile and say, "Oh, my aunt made them." That way, I didn't look desperate, and I got brownie points (or rather cookie points) for being neighborly.Except, apparently, baking was not one of my latent talents.The first batch came out looking like burnt pancakes. The second batch never really turned into anything solid.
Last Updated: 2025-07-08
Chapter: 5. Awkward First InteractionELLIESo there I was, standing at the door and trying not to make eye contact with the hottest boy I’d ever seen in my entire life. It was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do, knowing how insanely hot Beck was up close. And now he was here, and I could hardly breathe. I had no idea what to say. Literally zero. My entire brain had been replaced with a slideshow of inappropriate thoughts and emergency evacuation alarms. My heart thudded so loudly in my chest that I was certain he could hear it, just standing there all perfect and smug with his stupid crooked smile, like this was some cheesy rom-com moment and he was the hot neighbor with a secret past.The bastard was probably enjoying himself. "Hey," I said, but it came out like a squeak, so I cleared my throat and tried again. "Hi."Smooth, Ellie. Real smooth. His eyes twinkled with amusement before he said, "You always look this freaked out when someone rings the doorbell?""I wasn't expecting...company,” I said awkwardly, still
Last Updated: 2025-07-08
Chapter: 4. My New NeighborELLIEThis had to be a dream, right? Somebody up there was fucking with me. Because how on earth could Beck be checking out the house next door? Hopefully there was another explanation for all this, because I wouldn't know how to react if he moved in next door. I should have run back inside and pretended I never saw him. But something about him made me just stand there, frozen like a deer in headlights and watching him as he smiled at something the realtor said. Even in a plain white t-shirt and some grey sweatpants, he looked so perfect. His hair was slightly wet, and I just wanted to run my fingers through it all day long. 'Jesus, Ellie, get a fucking grip.'What were the odds that right after I decided to make it my mission for him to take my virginity, he would suddenly move in next door? Definitely astronomical, and I got a feeling that the universe was doing this to taunt me. Dangling him right in front of me was a way of reminding me what was at stake, and I had to figure out
Last Updated: 2025-06-22
Chapter: 3. A Shocking TwistELLIEThe thing is, getting information on Beck Ryder shouldn't be the hardest thing on earth. He's the most popular guy on campus, and he's the star quarterback of a very famous college. Everything should be right at your disposal. But by the time I settle down at my laptop the next morning and started to dig through his socials, it took only five minutes to realize that I've never met a more private person in my life. Every single social media account of his was private, which didn't make any sense of me because I assumed that he was a social butterfly who would want everyone watching him. I check his IG, his Twitter, Facebook, and every other social media platform I could think of. I even checked Pinterest, but there was nothing I could work with. What in God's name was he hiding? I sank into my seat, realizing that this was going to be more difficult than I initially thought. It shouldn't be this hard though. He's the most popular guy on campus. And yet there's no trace of him
Last Updated: 2025-05-30
Chapter: 2. The Planning PhaseELLIENow, before you say anything, hear me out. I knew how crazy it sounds to even consider something like this. I mean who in their right mind would want to lose their virginity to the biggest asshole on campus? No matter how you look at it, it was bound to be a terrible situation. But here's the thing:BECK IS SO FUCKING HOT!I knew I hate him with every piece of hair that still remained on my head, but I can't turn a blind eye to the stories I'd heard. I couldn't deny the fact that everyone knew he was amazing on bed. I'd heard it enough times that I could pretty much paint a perfect picture of what he was capable of in the bedroom. Everyone knew the 'Beck glow', which every girl seemed to have after sleeping with him. Maybe that was the reason Salma was considered the hottest girl on campus, because she was always in an on-again-off-again relationship with him. Even though they weren't exclusive, she'd made it very obvious that Beck was hers, and no one could have him for longe
Last Updated: 2025-05-30
Chapter: 1. The Countdown BeginsELLIE "I'm so sorry, Miss Carter. But I'm afraid your cancer is back. And from the looks of it, I would say you only have about six months left." That's what all Dr Brandon said, like he was telling me the wifi was down or the vending machine was out of my favorite chips. He acted like this wasn't the end of my life as I knew it, and I just sat there in silence, blinking at him and wondering why the hell the walls weren't shaking, or an asteroid wasn't falling out of the sky to wipe us all off the face of the earth. I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that I was going to die. I think I laughed. Not because it was funny, but because I didn't know what else to do. Dr Brandon looked at me like he'd seen this kind of reaction before, like people in shock were just part of the job. I wanted to scream until my throat felt raw and shattered beyond repair. I wanted to ask him to take it all back, since the months of chemo had apparently done fuck all to actually help me. I wanted
Last Updated: 2025-05-25
Chapter: Epilogue *The drive to the beach took longer than any of them had anticipated. The weather was dry, with the heat rising to a dangerous level. Twice, they had to stop to fix a punctured tyre. "Are we there yet?" "Just a little further," he replied, wading through the traffic. "It won't be long now."They had left his uncle's house early that morning, with a picnic basket which they filled along the way. They had hoped to beat the traffic by leaving early, but even so they only managed to cover eighteen miles in an hour. By the time they finally reached the beach, it was a few minutes past noon. The sun was high up in the sky, and their shadows had disappeared underneath them. There was a small crowd gathered on the sand, which surprised him as it was a weekday. "Come," he said to her, offering his right hand while he took the basket in the other. "I know the perfect spot for us."He led her away from the crowd, keeping his hold on her tightly. He recognized the group as students from the
Last Updated: 2023-03-06
Chapter: Chapter 83* Azra was a bright-eyed, polite, little eleven year old who couldn't meet anyone's eyes when she was brought to the house by Adnan. Afrah, who had been discharged three days prior, watched from her window as he drove into the house with the little girl sitting beside him. Looking at him, she still didn't know what exactly she felt. Of course she still despised what he'd done, but she didn't necessarily hate Adnan himself. Forgiving him was hard. It was probably the hardest thing she would ever learn to do. But it would be worth it if they would learn to live happily for the rest of their lives. Azra's mother had been much too happy to let her go. They had been struggling to provide for the little girl with her new husband, who was significantly less-wealthy than Adnan. Layla knew the girl would have a better future with her biological father. When she got the call from Adnan, a part of her wanted to hang up on him. But since it concerned his daughter, she'd listened to his plea a
Last Updated: 2023-03-06
Chapter: Chapter 82*Carpets and curtains. She dreamt of them both, not as separate entities, but as one. Throughout her existence, Afrah had been surrounded by carpets and curtains, each lending its own unique addition to the story of her life. They were always silent, never considered but ever present. She recalled the carpets in her bedroom, how soft and flat it was. Twice a year, the carpets would be taken out so they could be washed and returned. The curtains were washed every month, and Afrah remembered sitting in the middle of her room one time when both carpets and curtains were removed, and she simply stared at the barrenness of her room. Strange how something as insignificant as carpets and curtains could change the entire appearance of her bedroom. She recalled the carpets in her father's room, the plush cream color stretching from wall to wall. His curtains were white, which she remembered complaining to her mother about once. "Why can't I have white curtains as well?" she'd asked. "Bec
Last Updated: 2023-03-06
Chapter: Chapter 81*Afrah didn't know she was capable of doing it until she'd done it. Spontaneous action was never her area of expertise, knowing fully well that she was more of a reactive person than a proactive one. But the sight of Fahad falling to the floor jolted her to action. It was like a spark had awakened in her, grinding the gears in her brain. She began by lunging for the gun. Yusuf wasn't expecting her to move. Neither did he hear her move, since the carpet muffled her footsteps. He was still pointing the gun at Fahad's twitching corpse when Afrah's hands suddenly wrapped around the gun and yanked it out of his hands. He staggered back, bewildered by her action. And then she brought the gun to his chest, looking him dead in the eye. Time seemed to freeze in that moment. Neither he nor she dared to move. Between them was their hateful glare, separated by the barrel of the gun. His breathing was calm, while hers was irregular, coming in short bursts. In that moment, their roles were rev
Last Updated: 2023-03-06
Chapter: Chapter 80*Every movement caused Afrah to jump; every second his eyes spent watching her made her skin crawl. She didn't sit. Instead she remained where she was standing, her arms folded in front of her. Yusuf meanwhile had leaned back into the seat, sighing comfortably. "What would you like to have?" he asked nonchalantly. "Some water, perhaps? I have some orange juice which still happens to be fresh. Or would you prefer a coke? I have some wine as well, but then knowing how close you and Adnan are, I'm sure he's taught you to stray away from fine wine. So, which would you prefer to have?""I would like to have my daughter back," Afrah replied. Yusuf studied her for a few seconds before he chuckled. "Of course," he said. "It's why you're here, is it not? As for me, I'd like a Bloody Mary."He stood up then, stretched with a slight groan before he left the room. Afrah remained where she was, awkwardly staring at the stained walls with nothing but a single wall clock hanging on them. She tho
Last Updated: 2023-03-06
Chapter: Chapter 79*"I remember it like it was yesterday," Halima said. "And I know how cliché that sounds, but it really does feel like yesterday even though it was almost thirty years ago."Adnan tilted his head to the side, trying to detect a hint of deception in her words. "I was a little girl, so foolish and ignorant. I guess I've always been like that. But we can say that my ignorance and foolishness were somewhat exaggerated at that point in my life. Before I tell you how it happened however, I think you should understand the beginning of it all. I believe I was on my way to my uncle's house that day. I'm sure your father told you all about the village we grew up in.""Bakura," he replied indifferently. "Yes," Halima replied, twisting her hands. "It's a small settlement, and we grew up so close that everyone knew the name of everyone else. It was so small that it was impossible to leave home without everyone being able to give a detailed account of where you went. Your paternal grandfather and
Last Updated: 2023-03-06
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