Enemies At The Altar
Mia Romano never wanted the mafia life. The daughter of a ruthless Don, she dreamed of freedom, of love beyond blood-soaked vows. But her world shatters when her father forces her into marriage with Mark DeLuca—his cold, calculating right-hand man. Handsome, loyal, and untouchable, Mark has secretly loved Mia for years, though she has always belonged to another.
Trapped in a loveless arrangement, Mia despises him, clinging to her boyfriend, the one man who ever made her feel normal. But Mark’s world is one of power, protection, and unshakable devotion. And when rivals close in, Mia discovers the dangerous fire that burns beneath Mark’s calm surface.
As they sleep in separate rooms, jealousy brews, especially when Mark’s alluring ex moves into their lives. What begins as hatred slowly twists into longing, obsession, and passion. But in the mafia world, love comes with blood, betrayal, and deadly consequences.
Will Mia surrender to the man she swore she would never love—or will her heart destroy them both? Read to find out.
Read
Chapter: Chapter 79 – TakenAs they stop in a parking lot to switch to another SUV, so they won't get caught.One of the men smiled again.Polite.Professional.Predatory.“Miss Romano,” he repeated.Mia didn’t freeze.She tries to escape again. One of the men cursed behind her.A hand grabbed her wrist.She twisted hard, elbowing backward like Mark had taught her. Bone met bone. Someone grunted.She kicked.Another grip seized her from behind, arm locking around her ribs. She bit down viciously on a sleeve and tasted blood.“Hold her!”Her scream tore through the air.“Let go of me!”A black cloth pressed briefly over her mouth—she jerked her head away before it sealed.She managed to wrench free for half a second.Then she saw him.Ethan stepped out from behind the SUV.Calm.Controlled.Watching.Her body went still—not from surrender, but shock.“You?” she breathed.The men tightened their hold.Ethan approached slowly, like she was something fragile.Or something owned.“You shouldn’t have run,” he said sof
Last Updated: 2026-02-13
Chapter: Chapter 78 – The VanishingShe tried to run but Ethan’s hand closed around her wrist.Too tight.“Ethan—”“Time to go.”“No. Let go.”But the crowd was already stampeding, chaos swallowing the space between them and safety. Two men appeared at Ethan’s side.Her heart slammed.“You planned this,” she breathed.“Just noise.”She twisted, trying to yank free.“Don’t make this ugly.”“You already did.”She drove her heel down hard onto his foot.He swore.She ran.Behind her, men shouted.Her shoes pounded against wood, then pavement. She darted toward the main street, lungs burning.“Mia!”She didn’t turn.A hand grabbed her arm.She elbowed backward, connecting with someone’s ribs.Another grip seized her waist.She kicked wildly.“Let go of me!”A black SUV screeched closer.Her phone slipped from her hand as she struggled.It hit the ground hard.She heard the crack.And then—The screen went dark.Across the city—Mark stopped mid-step.He didn’t know why.He was in the war room at the mansion, reviewing Luca’
Last Updated: 2026-02-13
Chapter: Chapter 77 – The SetupShe had no idea whether she had just saved him—or painted a target on them both.The mansion felt too quiet the next morning.Not peaceful.Watchful.Mia stood by the window in her room, sunlight cutting across the floor in sharp lines. Guards rotated below. Security had doubled after the last attempt. Mark had personally overseen it.He hadn’t questioned her again about the call.That almost made it worse.He trusted her.And she had lied.Her phone buzzed.Unknown number.Her stomach dropped before she even opened it.Ethan:You don’t have to lie to protect him.I know you, Mia.You wouldn’t throw something like that at me unless you were afraid.Her pulse spiked.Another message followed.Meet me once. Public place. No weapons. No games.Closure.She stared at the word.Closure.It sounded harmless.Soft.Almost gentle.Her thumb hovered over the screen.She shouldn’t respond.She knew that.Mark would say it was a trap.Luca would track the number.Her father would lock her insid
Last Updated: 2026-02-13
Chapter: Chapter 76 – The Lie That Saves HimThe balcony doors shut behind them, sealing the night out—but not the fear.Mia walked beside Mark through the dim corridor of the mansion, her thoughts spiraling. The marble floors felt colder than usual. The air is heavier.Ethan’s voice wouldn’t leave her head.I won’t let you go.She wrapped her arms around herself unconsciously.Mark noticed.“You’re shaking,” he said quietly.“I’m not.”“Yes you are.”She stopped walking. “I’m fine, Mark.”He turned fully toward her now, reading her in that infuriating way he always could. “He threatened you.”“He threatened us,” she corrected.His jaw hardened.They resumed walking. Guards nodded as they passed. Everything looked normal.But nothing felt normal.Inside their wing, once the doors closed behind them, the silence thickened.Mia leaned against the wall and exhaled slowly. “He’s not bluffing.”“I know.”“You don’t know that.”“I do.” His voice was calm, but something beneath it was lethal. “Men like Ethan don’t threaten. They escala
Last Updated: 2026-02-13
Chapter: Chapter 75 – Ethan’s DesperationThe city had a way of smelling different at night—wet asphalt, lingering smoke, the faint tang of fear. Mia had stepped out onto the balcony of the mansion to clear her mind, trying to breathe past the tension of hospital visits, bandages, and the almost unbearable closeness she now shared with Mark.Her phone buzzed in her hand, a number she had memorized by heart. Ethan.Her stomach knotted. Every instinct screamed to ignore it, to delete, or block—everything she could do to erase him from her life. But something darker, something morbidly curious, made her answer.“Hello?” Her voice was steady, but low. Controlled.“Mia.” The sound was all wrong. Low, sharp, dangerous. Obsessed. Not the man she had loved—the one who had promised comfort, shared laughs, and whispered sweet nothings. This was someone else. Someone hollowed out by desperation.“What do you want, Ethan?” Her knuckles whitened around the phone.“I know you’ve seen the proof,” he said, the words quick, unfiltered, breath
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Chapter: Chapter 74 – Cutting TiesThe bathroom door clicked shut behind Mia, leaving Mark alone in the hallway. He tried to focus on anything but the figure in the doorway—the faint steam curling around her, the towel clutched precariously, the way she leaned casually against the frame like she owned every inch of the space.He cleared his throat. “Mia…”She tilted her head, one brow arched, eyes glinting with mischief. “Yes?”Heat rushed to his face, and he had to look away, pretending to adjust his jacket. He could feel it—every pulse, every thrum in his chest—pulling him closer against reason.“You can’t—uh—” His words failed him.“You can look,” Mia said softly, almost a whisper, her gaze locking with his. “But don’t touch… yet.”Mark swallowed hard. His jaw flexed, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. “No that's not what I meant, you can change in your room… you know you’re… dangerous right?” he managed, voice low.“Dangerous?” She laughed lightly, the sound like teasing bells. “You’ve called me worse.”He ste
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Chapter: Chapter 180: Blood Ties ReforgedThe city had changed.Where once smoke had darkened the skies and gunfire had echoed through the streets like thunder, there was now the low hum of life returning. Lanterns lined the rebuilt avenues, their warm glow reflecting on the cobblestones. Roses climbed once-broken walls, their petals opening to the morning sun. The scars remained—but they were no longer gaping wounds. They were reminders.Adriana stood at the edge of the palace courtyard, dressed not in armor or silk, but in a simple white gown embroidered with gold thorns. Her fingers brushed over the cold iron gates that once kept enemies at bay. Beyond them, crowds had gathered—not to protest, not to fight—but to celebrate. Banners fluttered in the wind, bearing the merged crest of the Moretti Wolf and the Rossi Lion entwined in a circle of blood-red roses.“It’s finally here,” a voice murmured behind her.She turned to find Damian approaching, dressed in black and gold, his coat swaying with each step. There was no crown
Last Updated: 2026-02-03
Chapter: Chapter 179: Shadows LingerThe dawn after the Lantern Night broke slowly, like light bleeding through a silk curtain. The city basked in a golden haze, the air thick with the scent of wet stone and blooming roses. The scars of war had begun to fade—streets cleared, walls rebuilt, markets opening again—but beneath the surface, not everything was still.From the palace balcony, Adriana watched the city awaken. Merchants lifted their shutters. Children ran barefoot through narrow alleys, chasing each other with sticks that became imaginary swords. It looked… normal. Almost too normal.“It’s strange,” she murmured to herself.“Peace looks beautiful. But it feels… fragile.”Behind her, Damian entered the room quietly, a shirt half-buttoned, hair slightly tousled from the night before. There was no crown on his head, but the weight of power still sat on his shoulders like invisible armor.“You’re awake early,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.She leaned into him but didn’t take her eyes off th
Last Updated: 2026-02-03
Chapter: Chapter 178: The Last VowThe night was quiet—unusually so.No gunfire. No shouts echoing through alleyways. Only the gentle hum of wind passing through the high towers of the rebuilt city, and the soft rhythm of waves against the harbor walls. A new peace had settled, not fragile anymore, but firm like old stone.High above, in the courtyard of the palace that now served as both seat of power and home, glowing lanterns floated skyward one by one. Hundreds of them. Like fireflies ascending to the stars. Each carried the name of someone lost along the way—friends, enemies, family, traitors, lovers. Every light a story.Adriana stood beneath the archway, dressed in a flowing black and gold gown. Her hair cascaded down her back, adorned with a single white rose—the same flower the little boy had once given her. She watched the lanterns rise, her chest tightening with memories. So many sacrifices. So many choices that couldn’t be undone.Behind her, footsteps approached—the steady, unmistakable tread of the Wolf.
Last Updated: 2026-02-03
Chapter: Chapter 177: The New EraThe sun rose over the city like a slow exhale.Gone were the black plumes of smoke that once defined its skyline. In their place stood spires cleaned of soot, rebuilt bridges, and banners fluttering in a morning breeze that no longer carried the stench of blood. The scars of war remained—but they were no longer open wounds. They were reminders. Warnings. Promises.For the first time in years, the city woke not to gunfire, but to hope.In the grand council hall—once a place of manipulation and whispered betrayals—long oak tables were polished and rebuilt. At the head sat Adriana, dressed not in ceremonial gowns nor armor, but in sleek black tailored attire. A lion’s crest gleamed at her collar. Damian sat beside her, not towering over, but shoulder to shoulder—a silent message to every pair of eyes watching.The Council Chamber was filled to the brim. Family heads, former rivals, new allies, soldiers, merchants, and diplomats—all gathered for the first official assembly of the new regi
Last Updated: 2026-02-03
Chapter: Chapter 176: Wedding of Shadows & LightThe bells rang at dawn.Their sound was clear and resonant, rolling across the rooftops of the newly healed city like a promise. From the northern watchtowers to the southern docks, people paused in their morning routines and looked up. They knew what the bells meant.The Wolf was taking his bride.The city’s queen was claiming her king.The wedding of Damian Moretti and Adriana De Luca would not be remembered as a royal parade or a display of unchecked power. It would be remembered as the day shadows met light—when two bloodlines, once enemies, were united not by politics alone but by fire, loss, survival… and love.The cathedral had been restored just in time. Once scarred by bullet holes and shattered stained glass, it now stood in silent majesty. Golden light streamed through newly crafted windows, painting the marble floors with mosaics of red, blue, and gold. Black silk banners bearing Damian’s crest hung alongside Adriana’s silver lion emblem, their colors intertwined like thei
Last Updated: 2026-02-03
Chapter: Chapter 175: A City at PeaceThe city had forgotten what silence sounded like.For months, the streets had been filled with the percussion of gunfire, the roar of engines in midnight chases, the screams of betrayal echoing through narrow alleyways. But now… the wind moved gently through the avenues, rustling banners instead of smoke. The air smelled not of blood and ash—but of rain, bread from the reopened bakeries, and the faint perfume of spring gardens returning to life.It was not perfect peace, but it was enough.Enough for people to breathe again.Enough for Damian and Adriana to finally look out over their empire and see something more than ruins.From the balcony of the Moretti estate, Damian leaned on the railing, the city sprawling beneath him like a living map. Sunlight poured over the rooftops, gilding everything it touched. Down below, merchants reopened their stalls. Children chased one another through plazas once soaked with violence. The lion statues at the central square were wrapped in white rib
Last Updated: 2026-02-03
Chapter: Chapter 18 — The First Celebration“Tonight, we celebrate.”That was what her husband announced the moment he stepped through the doors of the private lounge he’d reserved. Crystal lights glinted overhead, champagne already chilling in silver buckets, the city skyline stretched wide and obedient behind the glass.Selena arrived at his side, elegant and composed, her hand resting lightly on his arm.He looked triumphant.Whatever doubts had crept into him over the past few days were buried beneath applause, clinking glasses, and the eager smiles of people who mistook confidence for power.“To expansion,” he declared, lifting his glass. “To leadership. And to the future.”“To the future,” the room echoed.Selena smiled and took a sip.It tasted like patience.Her husband moved through the crowd like a man newly crowned. He accepted congratulations, slapped shoulders, and laughed loudly. Every story he told grew slightly grander with each retelling.“We’ve secured the next phase,” he said to a group of investors. “The str
Last Updated: 2026-02-13
Chapter: Chapter 17 — The Illusion of AuthorityAnd that's her husband who woke up uneasy.He didn’t say it out loud, of course. He never admitted doubt—not to others, not even to himself. But the way he checked his phone before getting out of bed, the way his fingers lingered on unread notifications, told Selena everything.At breakfast, he cleared his throat unnecessarily.“I’m making a few leadership adjustments today,” he announced, buttering his toast with forced confidence. “Strategic moves. People need to see I’m in control.”Selena poured his coffee, unhurried. “That sounds important.”“It is,” he said quickly. “The board’s been too comfortable. They forget who’s steering the ship.”She met his eyes. “Do they?”He hesitated—just a fraction—then laughed. “Of course not. I’ll remind them.”By noon, the company buzzed with news.A new operations head. A reshuffled regional director. Temporary committees dissolved and rebuilt under his name. His assistant sent out the announcements with pride, his signature bold at the bottom o
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: Chapter 16 — The Lawyer Who Owes HerThe office she entered the next afternoon was discreet to the point of anonymity. No name on the door. No receptionist. Just a quiet hallway and a man who stood when he saw her, his expression carefully respectful.“Mrs. Hale,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”Selena closed the door behind her herself. “Longer than you intended.”The lawyer smiled thinly. “I suppose I deserve that.”He gestured for her to sit, but she remained standing.“I didn’t come here for nostalgia,” she said. “I came for certainty.”He nodded and opened a folder already waiting on the desk. Her name was printed on the tab.“You’ve done… meticulous work,” he said after a moment. “Frankly, I’m surprised no one caught it.”“They weren’t looking,” Selena replied. “They never look at the wife.”The lawyer’s fingers stilled. “You understand what this means?”“Yes.”He leaned back slowly. “Your husband can’t undo the current structure without activating at least three exposure clauses. Two would trigger internal audit
Last Updated: 2026-02-08
Chapter: Chapter 15 — Paperwork Is PowerHer husband slept soundly that night.Selena did not.At dawn, the study lights were already on. A thin line of gold crept through the curtains as she sat at the desk, hair tied back, sleeves rolled just enough to suggest work rather than rebellion.Stacks of documents waited patiently.The paper didn’t argue. It didn’t lie. It only obeyed whoever understood it best.Selena opened the first file: Operational Continuity Agreement — Q3. Boring title. Essential function.She read slowly, pen tapping once against the desk.Clause 7 gave temporary voting privileges to operational managers during expansion periods. It had been written years ago, meant to speed decisions when the board was unavailable.No one had ever questioned it.Selena smiled faintly.She added a sub-clause—just a sentence—nestled between references.In the event of managerial conflict or breach of fiduciary alignment, provisional voting weight shall default to the founding shareholder or legally recognized spouse thereo
Last Updated: 2026-02-02
Chapter: Chapter 14 — A Trust Too Easily GivenThe next morning, Selena woke to the sound of her husband moving around the bedroom, already dressed, already late.“I’ve got meetings all day,” he said, fastening his watch. “Board calls, investor lunches… I might not be home tonight.”Selena adjusted the cuff of his shirt for him, fingers light and practiced. “I’ll have dinner ready anyway.”He smiled, satisfied by the answer. “You’re finally not asking questions.”“I trust you,” she replied.That single sentence did more than a thousand reassurances ever could.Trust, she had learned, made people careless.By noon, her phone began to ring.“Mrs. Hale,” his assistant said hesitantly, “your husband asked me to forward the revised contracts to you for review. He said you’d… handle it.”Selena paused just long enough to sound surprised. “Of course. Send everything.”She hung up and smiled.In her previous life, this would have terrified her. Responsibility had always felt like pressure—something she wasn’t prepared for, something she m
Last Updated: 2026-02-02
Chapter: Chapter 13 — Smiles at the Dinner TableHer husband hummed in satisfaction and disappeared back into the bedroom, already done thinking about it.Selena stood alone for a moment longer, then turned off the kitchen light.The next evening, she arrived at her mother-in-law’s house right on time.Family dinners were never optional. They were inspections—of obedience, usefulness, and status. Selena had learned that early in her marriage.The dining room glowed with warm lighting and expensive décor. Her mother-in-law sat at the head of the table, posture rigid, lips pressed into a thin line of authority. The sister-in-law lounged beside her, scrolling through her phone with practiced boredom.“You’re late,” her mother-in-law said the moment Selena stepped in.“I’m right on time,” Selena replied gently, glancing at the clock. “Seven sharp.”A pause.Her mother-in-law’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t talk back.”Selena lowered her gaze immediately. “I’m sorry.”The sister-in-law laughed quietly. “She always has excuses. It must be nice ha
Last Updated: 2026-02-01
The Guy Who Lives Next Door
When sixteen-year-old Ruby Cole’s life gets uprooted from her sunny hometown to the loud streets of New York City, she expects the worst. New school, new rules, new people—total disaster.
But she didn’t expect him.
Kai Kingston.
Her next-door neighbor.
The loud, ridiculously handsome, rich boy who throws parties that last until 3 a.m.
The boy every girl wants…
…except Ruby.
Because Kai is rude. Arrogant. Annoying. A certified heartbreaker.
And after she accidentally embarrasses him on her first day of school, he decides to make her life miserable.
But the more they clash, the more Ruby realizes that Kai’s smirk hides loneliness…
And the more Kai pushes her away, the more he finds himself drawn to the one girl who refuses to worship him.
Enter:
A charming boy at school who actually treats Ruby right.
A jealous Kai who hates how much he cares.
Secrets, late-night rooftop confessions, family drama, heartbreak, and a love that neither of them expected.
Because sometimes the boy she swore she hate…
…is the one her heart can’t let go of.
Welcome to the loudest, sweetest, most confusing year of Ruby’s life. Read to find out what happens
Read
Chapter: Chapter 60
— “It Didn’t Mean Anything”The silence stretched too long.It pressed into Ruby’s chest, heavy and wrong, until the warmth of the kiss faded and reality rushed back in—sharp, unforgiving.Kai stepped back first.That alone should have warned her.He ran a hand over his face, breathing unevenly, eyes unfocused like he’d woken up somewhere he didn’t recognize.“This—” he started, then stopped.Ruby waited. She didn’t reach for him. She didn’t soften. She just watched.He laughed once, short and brittle. “This was a mistake.”Her stomach dropped.“A mistake?” she repeated quietly.Kai nodded too quickly, like he needed the lie to stick. “Yeah. I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have—”He gestured vaguely between them, unable to look at her.Ruby felt the sting before the words even landed.“It didn’t mean anything,” Kai said.The sentence echoed.It didn’t mean anything.Ruby stared at him, searching his face for hesitation, for guilt, for anything that suggested he didn’t believe his own words.She found pan
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Chapter: Chapter 59
— The KissKai didn’t remember deciding to go to Ruby’s house.He just knew that after leaving Brielle—after the threat, the leverage, the smug certainty in her eyes—there was only one place his feet carried him.Not home.Never home.Ruby’s porch light was on. Soft. Warm. An island in the dark.He stood there for a full minute before knocking, chest tight, pulse loud in his ears. He hadn’t planned what to say. He only knew he couldn’t stay silent anymore—not after Brielle. Not after realizing just how much damage his silence had already done.The door opened.Ruby froze when she saw him.For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.“Kai?” she said quietly.He looked wrecked. Hair messy, jaw tight, eyes darker than usual—like he was holding something together with sheer will.“I need to talk to you,” he said.Ruby hesitated, then stepped aside. “You have five minutes.”The door closed behind them with a soft click that sounded far too loud in the quiet house.They stood in the living room, a careful
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Chapter: Chapter 58
— Brielle’s Last CardBrielle moved like someone who knew time was running out.Not frantic. Not sloppy.Precise.Ruby noticed the shift first—not through gossip or posts, but through absence. Brielle wasn’t loud anymore. No public smirks. No dramatic comments in class. No obvious jabs in the hallway.That scared Ruby more than the open cruelty ever had.Lila felt it too.“She’s quiet,” Lila whispered during lunch, eyes flicking across the cafeteria. “That’s never good.”Ruby nodded, unease crawling up her spine. “She’s planning something.”Across the room, Brielle sat with her usual group, laughing softly, phone face-down on the table. She didn’t look at Ruby once.Which meant Ruby was the entire point.The first sign came that afternoon.Ruby opened her locker to find nothing inside had been touched—except one thing.A manila envelope.No name. No note.Just weight.Her fingers trembled as she pulled it out, heart pounding loud enough she was sure the hallway could hear it. She didn’t open it there. She
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Chapter: Chapter 57
— Theo’s UltimatumThey didn’t go inside the café after all.Theo led Ruby past it, down the quieter street where the city thinned into brick and shadow, where conversations felt safer because no one was close enough to overhear. The hum of traffic faded, replaced by the soft scrape of shoes on pavement.Ruby sensed the shift immediately.“This sounds serious,” she said.Theo stopped walking.“It is.”She turned to face him. He wasn’t smiling. His hands were clenched at his sides, not in anger—control. Like he was holding something back that had been pressing against his ribs for too long.“You said there were things I don’t know,” Ruby said. “About Kai.”Theo exhaled slowly. “I said he controls the story. And he always has.”Ruby’s instinctive response was to defend someone she’d just decided not to wait for. That annoyed her.“I’m not here to pick sides,” she said. “I already told you—”“I’m not asking you to,” Theo cut in. Then, softer, “I’m asking you to be honest with yourself.”That landed.Theo s
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Chapter: Chapter 56
— The Lie That StingsRuby told herself she was done expecting honesty from people who thrived on silence.So when Kai denied caring, she believed him.Too easily.It happened the next afternoon, outside the library, where the air smelled like rain and old paper and things left unsaid. Ruby had been sitting on the steps, scrolling through notes for a club meeting she’d volunteered to help organize. Growth, she reminded herself. Movement. Forward.She didn’t hear Kai approach until his shadow fell across her screen.“Kai?” she said, looking up.He stood there with his hands in his pockets, posture casual, expression carefully blank. Like he’d practiced this version of himself.“You wanted to talk,” he said.Ruby hesitated, then stood. “Yeah. I did.”For a moment, neither of them spoke. Students passed by, glancing, whispering. The usual gravity of his name still pulled attention, but it felt… thinner now. Fractured.Ruby broke first. “Yesterday—what I said. About you pushing me away.”Kai nodded once. “I he
Last Updated: 2026-02-10
Chapter: Chapter 55
— The Calm Before the BreakRuby on the other hand felt it before she could explain it.That something was wrong with Kai, the moment she saw him.Not the obvious kind—no sharp remarks, no cutting smirks, no dramatic entrances that bent the hallway around him. If anything, he’d gone too quiet. He passed her in the corridor without looking up. Sat two rows back in class and stared out the window like the room didn’t exist. When teachers spoke to him, he answered politely. Empty.That scared her more than his temper ever had.She caught up to him after the last period, just outside the science wing where the lockers thinned out and the noise dropped.“Kai,” she called.He kept walking.“Kai,” she said again, sharper this time.He stopped, turned slowly. His face was carefully neutral, like something locked behind glass.“What,” he asked.Not what’s wrong.Not hey.Just what.Ruby folded her arms, grounding herself. “You’ve been avoiding me.”“No, I haven’t.”“You haven’t looked at me all day.”“That’s not a crime.
Last Updated: 2026-02-07
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