Chapter: CHAPTER 6The sun was bright when Damien and I reached the park. He held my hand until we stepped onto the grass, then he let go and ran ahead, full of energy. His laugh carried through the air as he darted toward the swings, then the slide, and then the sandbox. I kept my eyes on him, sitting down on a bench with my bag beside me.“Stay where I can see you,” I called out.“Okay, Mom,” he shouted back, already digging into the sand with his small hands.I smiled faintly, though a tightness remained in my chest. Saturdays in the park had become our small escape. No questions, no worries, just the two of us. Or at least that was how I wanted it to be.Damien paused suddenly. His eyes focused on something across the sandbox. I followed his gaze. A little girl, about his age, knelt on the other side, carefully shaping a small sandcastle with a plastic bucket. She had a crown of dark hair tied back with a ribbon, her face serious and determined as she worked. Damien tilted his head, then stood up an
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-25
Chapter: CHAPTER 5Liam’s POVDinner was quiet at first. Diana pushed her fork around the plate, not really eating. I tried to lighten the mood, asking about school, her drawings, her favorite book. She gave small answers, distracted.Finally, she put the fork down and looked at me.“Daddy,” she said softly. “Can I ask you something?”I already knew where this was going. I braced myself and nodded.“Yes, sweetheart. Go ahead.”Her big eyes searched mine. “Where is my mommy?”The question hit me the same way it always did, sharp and heavy. I forced a smile, the same one I’d worn every time.“She’s… not here, Diana. But you have me. I’ll always be here.”Her lips trembled. “That’s the same answer every time. You never tell me more.”“Because that’s all I can tell you,” I said gently.Her chair scraped as she slid down and hugged her knees. Tears spilled over. “It’s not fair. Everyone in my class has a mommy. Why don’t I?”The sight of her crying pulled at something deep in me. I reached for her, lifting h
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-13
Chapter: CHAPTER 4Ava’s POVFive years had passed, but New York still felt like it wanted to swallow me whole.The skyline towered above as the cab turned down Flatbush Avenue, the glass and steel throwing back the morning sun. Damien’s small hand was wrapped around mine, his fingers sticky from the muffin Isa had bought him on the way.“Mom,” he said, mouth full. “Are there parks here?”“Of course,” I answered, forcing a smile. “Bigger than the one we had in Montana.”His eyes lit up. “With swings?”“Yes, with swings.”Isa chuckled beside me, clutching her bag. “Don’t fill his head with fairy tales. You need to focus. It’s only an interview, Ava. Nothing more.”I nodded, though my stomach twisted. “I know. But it’s the start we need.”The cab pulled to a stop in front of a tall glass building. I stared up at it, nerves crawling under my skin.Isa touched my arm. “We’ll wait at the café across the street. Take your time.”I kissed Damien’s forehead. “Be good for Grandma.”“I will,” he said, swinging hi
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-13
Chapter: CHAPTER 3 Liam’s POVThe phone rang while I was at my desk, and for a second I considered ignoring it. I had told Ivan I didn’t want any calls, but when his voice came through the intercom, I knew something was wrong.“Sir,” he said, calm but firm. “It’s Dr. Miranda. She insists.”I straightened in my chair, my hand tightening around the receiver. “Put her through.”“Mr. Reynolds,” Miranda’s voice was professional, clipped, like always. “The surrogate has delivered. A healthy baby girl.”For a moment, I couldn’t move. My throat felt dry. “A girl?”“Yes,” she said. “Strong lungs. Seven pounds, two ounces. Stable vitals.”My hand gripped the desk. I forced my voice steady. “And the surrogate?”“Gone,” Miranda replied. “She left shortly after delivery.”I closed my eyes, my jaw tight. Of course she did. “I see.”“We’ll keep the baby until your arrangements are in place. Congratulations, Mr. Reynolds.”I hung up without answering.Ivan was already standing in the doorway, watching me. His expressi
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-13
Chapter: CHAPTER 2Ava’s POVThe pain tore through me again, sharp and merciless. I clutched the sheets, sweat dripping down my forehead. Isa’s hand gripped mine tight, her lips pressed together as though she could take my pain if she held on hard enough.“Push, Ava,” Dr. Miranda ordered, her voice clipped and professional. “You’re almost there.”I cried out, pushing with everything I had left. The room blurred, white walls and harsh lights pressing in on me. A sudden cry pierced the air, thin and fragile but alive.“It’s a girl,” Dr. Miranda said. She lifted the tiny infant, her gloved hands steady.I sobbed, not from relief, but from something deeper something I couldn’t explain. My chest swelled with a strange mix of wonder and grief. She was so small, so perfect. My baby. And yet… not mine.The nurse wrapped the newborn in a blanket, the faint cries filling the sterile air. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Isa whispered, “She’s beautiful.”But then Dr. Miranda’s face changed. A flicker of alarm. Her ey
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-13
Chapter: CHAPTER 1Ava’s POVI stood in front of the mirror, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear for the fifth time. My reflection stared back at me, pale and tense. The blouse I chose felt too tight, my skirt too formal, my hands trembling slightly as I clutched my bag.“Mom,” I said, my voice breaking slightly, “I… I don’t know if I can do this.”Isa looked at me, her eyes steady but soft. She had lived enough to know my hesitation. “Ava, you’ve thought this through a hundred times. You said yourself, this is our chance. You wanted to help someone, and this… this is an opportunity for both of us.”I shook my head, feeling the weight of the decision press down on me. “I know, but what if I… what if it goes wrong? What if I regret it? I’m supposed to carry one child, not… not someone else’s entire life in my hands. It’s not just money, Mom. It’s… it’s everything. My life. Someone else’s life. I…” My voice faltered.Isa stepped closer, placing her hands over mine. Her grip was gentle but firm. “Ava,
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-13
THE BRATVA’S BRIDE
“In a world of ruthless mafia rivalries, the Italian mafia, La Famiglia De Luca, has been embroiled in a brutal five-year war with the Mexican mafia, La Mano Roja (The Red Hand). Desperate for an advantage, Capo Ivan De Luca forges an unlikely alliance with the feared Russian Bratva, led by the powerful Pakhan Sergei Morozov. But at a steep price: his daughter's hand in marriage to the Pakhan's ruthless grandson, the future Pakhan.
Meet Mikhail Morozov, a half-Russian, half-Cuban mafia heir with ice in his veins and blood on his hands. He rules with silence and steel, trusting no one and loving none. Raised in brutality, Mikhail believes emotions are liabilities and mercy is weakness.
And Donatella De Luca, the sharp-tongued and fiercely independent second daughter of Capo Ivan De Luca. With a quick wit and sharp mind, she navigates the complex world of the De Luca famiglia with confidence and poise. When the Pakhan chooses Donatella as the bride, a complex web of loyalty, power, and forbidden love is set in motion. Will Donatella’s strength be enough to tame the devil, or will Mikhail cold heart consume her?”
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Chapter: Chapter 169Adrian froze. “Already? Nat—” Natalia smirked. “Relax. Not today. Eventually.” Adrian exhaled dramatically. “You’re going to kill me.” She laughed and pulled him in for a soft kiss. MIKHAIL AND DONATELLA SUITE The night was quiet on the private island, the moonlight slipping through the curtain
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-02
Chapter: Chapter 168“RONAN!” Valerie smacked his arm. Alexei choked on his food. “Bro—BRO—motorcycle??” “It’s a lie!” Valerie yelled, mortified. Ronan shrugged. “I have proof. Video proof.” Donatella cackled. “Show it!” “No one is seeing anything!” Valerie warned, stabbing her fork into her salad as if it was Rona
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-02
Chapter: Chapter 167EPILOGUE – Three Years Later HAWAII, USA Three years had passed since the fall of La Mano Rojas. For the first time in what felt like forever, the Morozovs escaped the chaos of empire life and traveled together to a private Hawaiian island — just the core family: Mikhail & Donatella Alexei & A
최신 업데이트: 2026-04-02
Chapter: Chapter 166“I—I’m pregnant for Alexei. And we’ve been together for a while.” Silence. A heavy, suffocating silence. For a full five minutes, nobody spoke. They stared at the pair as though they’d set the entire room on fire. Then Capo Ivan’s voice boomed: “What did you just say?” Ariana flinched. Ivan’
최신 업데이트: 2026-03-30
Chapter: Chapter 165A MONTH LATER THE BRATVA'S EMPIRE The Bratva Empire glittered with gold and crystal. Tonight wasn’t just a celebration—it was a declaration. One year of Mikhail and Donatella Morozov. The grand hall overflowed with influential guests: politicians, businessmen, allies from across continents, and
최신 업데이트: 2026-03-30
Chapter: Chapter 164“Yes,” she breathed out. He pushed inside her—slow at first, then harder. Donatella suddenly gasped. “You’ll continue… only on one condition.” He clenched his jaw. “Name it.” “I’m going with Savannah to see Nikolai. In case he tries something.” “Dona—” “Yes or no, Mik?” He pressed his mouth t
최신 업데이트: 2026-03-30
Chapter: CHAPTER 16: RICARDO’S POV RICARDO’S POVThe week crawls by like a test I never agreed to take.My father’s words still echo in my head.You’ll escort Valentina to the Falconeri Gala. No arguments.So here I am, in a perfectly pressed suit, waiting for a woman I don’t want beside me.She walks down the stairs like she’s descending a runway, perfume thick enough to choke the air.“Don’t you look handsome,” she purrs. “Almost like you’re excited to see me.”“Don’t flatter yourself,” I mutter, adjusting my cufflinks.She laughs, looping her arm through mine before I can move. “Relax, Ricky. It’s just one night.”Yeah. One night too long.Matteo spots me from across the hall, his smirk all teeth.He leans close as we walk out. “Still pretending you don’t care?”“About what?” I snap.He raises a brow. “About who, you mean.”I glare at him. “Drop it.”He doesn’t. “You know your father’s not stupid. He’s watching. So whatever you’re doing with her—”“I’m not doing anything.”He laughs under his breath. “You keep tel
최신 업데이트: 2025-12-16
Chapter: CHAPTER 15: AURORA’S POVThe next morning feels heavier than usual.The house is quiet, but not peaceful — the kind of silence that hides tension beneath it.I sit at the breakfast table, staring at the untouched cup of coffee in front of me.Maria moves around the kitchen like always, humming under her breath, but even that feels forced. She keeps glancing toward the hallway like she’s expecting someone to walk in.He doesn’t.Ricardo hasn’t shown up. Not a word. Not even a message.I scroll through my phone again, pretending I’m checking the time. Nothing.Elena texts me some random meme about school drama, Chiara asks if I’m coming to class, but the one name I want to see isn’t there.I can still feel him , his touch, his breath, the way his voice went soft when he said my name. It’s like it’s imprinted under my skin. And now… nothing. Like he vanished.Maria clears her throat softly. “Miss Aurora? Should I bring your plate?”I blink. “No, I’m fine. I’m not really hungry.”She hesitates before nodding. “Mr
최신 업데이트: 2025-11-04
Chapter: CHAPTER 14: AURORA’S POV The morning light hits different after a night like that.Soft. Golden. Quiet.Almost like the universe is pretending nothing happened.I blink awake to the sound of my alarm, my body still humming with the memory of him. My sheets smell faintly like cologne and something wilder…Ricardo.For a moment, I lie still, staring at the ceiling.Did I dream it?His hands. His voice. The way he whispered my name like it was a sin he wanted to keep repeating.No. I didn’t dream it.He was here.My heart stutters just thinking about it.He came through the window like some kind of trouble I couldn’t resist. Said nothing for a while—just looked at me with those dark eyes, as if I belonged to him. And I didn’t stop him.I should’ve. I didn’t.Now, the memory burns under my skin, impossible to scrub off.The door creaks open suddenly, snapping me back to reality.Maria, the housemaid, pokes her head in. “Miss Aurora? Breakfast is ready.”I sit up quickly, pulling the blanket up to my chest. “I’ll b
최신 업데이트: 2025-10-31
Chapter: CHAPTER 13 : RICARDO POV The text leaves my phone before I can stop myself.Look out your window.I don’t know what I expect. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. But when her light flickers on a few seconds later and I see her shadow move behind the curtain, it’s like every thought I’ve tried to bury claws its way back up.She pulls the curtain aside, and our eyes lock through the glass. Her face is soft, sleepy, confused and still, she looks like the only thing that’s real.“Aurora,” I whisper, barely audible. She shakes her head slowly, mouthing, What are you doing here?I motion for her to open the window. For a heartbeat, she hesitates. Then, with trembling hands, she unlatches it. The sound of the frame sliding open feels louder than it should.“What are you—Ricardo, you can’t be here,” she whispers.I push myself up and climb through before she can stop me. My shoes hit the floor with a dull thud, and for a second, all I can hear is her breathing.She’s in an oversized shirt, her hair loose around her face
최신 업데이트: 2025-10-29
Chapter: CHAPTER 12 : AURORA’S POVThe sunlight cuts through my curtains before I’m ready for it. I pull the blanket higher, pretending the world doesn’t exist. My body feels heavy, like I’ve run miles in a dream I can’t escape.The memories flicker back no matter how hard I try to push them away Ricardo’s breath, his voice, his touch on my body, the way my pulse lost rhythm.I should hate him. Or at least hate myself for letting it happen.Instead, I just feel… hollow.I drag myself out of bed and into the shower, hoping the water will wash it all away. It doesn’t. The heat only brings it back the closeness, the sound of my name on his lips.I grip the edge of the sink and stare at my reflection. My eyes look different, darker. It’s like something shifted inside me last night and I can’t turn it off.“He’s your stepbrother,” I whisper. “Stop this.”My voice shakes.By the time I get to campus, I’m forcing a smile I don’t feel. Chiara waves from across the courtyard, her voice too bright for the ache in my chest.“F
최신 업데이트: 2025-10-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 11: RICARDO’S POVThree days.That’s how long Aurora had been avoiding me.Three days of cold breakfasts, quiet hallways, and a tension I could feel through the walls of the mansion.She’d stop talking when I entered a room, leave a second before I did, and never look at me long enough for it to mean anything.Tonight, that silence was ending.I stood by the doorway of her room, pretending I wasn’t waiting. We were supposed to go to Matteo’s house—some team party that his father’s staff had set up in their villa outside Palermo. Everyone would be there: Valentina, Dario, the whole loud crowd that called itself a family.And her.The door opened.For a second, I forgot how to breathe.Aurora stepped out in a short black dress that didn’t belong to any world I could protect her from. Her hair was down, soft around her shoulders, eyes lined in a way that made her look older, untouchable.“You’re staring,” she said flatly.“Can you blame me?”“You should stop.”“I’ve tried.”Her mouth tightened, but she br
최신 업데이트: 2025-10-25
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