Novel-novel oleh Raven De Cattaneo

I ran out before I even realized my legs were moving. The house door slammed behind me so hard that I was shaken as well. Air hit my face, sharp, cool, and for a second I just stood there, hands pressed over my mouth like I could stop the words from spilling out of me if I held my lips shut hard enough. “Lieing bastard!" I cursed. He hadn’t denied it. He hadn’t even tried. That fact felt like a stone in my chest that wouldn’t move. I kept replaying what I’d heard in my head, the sound of his voice, the way his eyes went flat when I said what I’d seen. It should have been a relief, proof, confirmation, something to act on, but it wasn’t. It made everything worse. “But I don't know what to do." I thought. I made myself walk without direction, my feet taking me down the little lane by the sea where the waves sounded distant and steady. The world around me looked normal: dogs barking, a scooter passing, a woman han

MARKO I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I just stood there, frozen, my brain struggling to catch up. Giovanna had never spoken to me like this before, never confronted me so directly. She was upset, yes, but this was different. She wasn’t just upset. She was questioning everything I’d told her. Everything we’d built. “What happened to her? When did she even get the feeling I was a bad man? Why was she suddenly…” I had no idea why she would say something like that. I thought everything was fine between us. We’d been together for a long time now, and despite the ups and downs, I’d always tried to protect her. Tried to keep her out of the mess that was my life. But this? This was something else. “Marko,” she said again, her voice trembling. “You aren’t who you say you are. That’s why we go for all these meetings, and you being away on business trips means you ki

Giovanna The day at Belle’s villa had stretched longer than I expected. The place was beautiful, almost like a dream, high ceilings, soft curtains blowing in the breeze, and a terrace overlooking the ocean. I thought being here would make me relax, but it didn’t. Something about Belle was… different. All day, she kept circling back to one topic: Marko. “So,” Belle said, setting down a tray of drinks between us. “Tell me more about Marko.” I blinked at her, holding the glass she had just handed me. “Why do you keep asking about him?” I tried to sound light, but my voice came out sharper than I wanted. Belle gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Because he’s interesting,” she said simply. “Men like him usually are.” I frowned, swirling the drink in my hand. “Do you know him?” Belle hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yes,” she said quietly. “I know who M

Marko I was sitting at the kitchen table, the soft hum of the island outside filtering through the window. I’d just finished my coffee, but the day felt like it was dragging. My mind kept racing through all the things I needed to do, but there was no urgency. Things were good on the business front, but something felt off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. The phone buzzed on the table in front of me, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw Piero’s name. I didn’t hesitate. Piero never called unless it was important, and I knew this conversation wouldn’t be an exception. I swiped to answer, holding the phone to my ear. “Yeah?” “Marko,” Piero’s voice came through, steady and firm. “We’ve got some news on the buyer front. I think we might have a solid lead.” I leaned back in my chair, setting the phone against my ear. “That’s good. We need to keep the momentum going. What

CLAUDIA I needed a break. I needed to do something. The last few days had felt like a train, too many conversations I wasn’t ready to have, too many lies to keep track of, and too much tension in the air. My nerves were shaking, and I just wanted to get out of the apartment, even if it was only for a little while. So, I decided to go out. Have a little fun. Get some fresh air. Maybe grab a drink at that bar everyone had been talking about. A change of scenery could help me clear my head. No more thinking about Alessandro, Piero, or Marko anything else that made my chest tight. I slipped into a black dress that hugged me just right, simple but enough to make me feel like I wasn’t drowning in my own life for once. A little makeup, some loose waves in my hair, and I was ready to go. I told myself I’d just have one drink, relax for a bit, then head back and deal with whatever I had to face. The bar was busy but not packed, the

Giovanna I was nervous. Not in the way I was when I first arrived at this island, not in the way I felt when I left everything behind to come here with Marko. That had been different uncertainty mingled with excitement, like walking into a new chapter without knowing what the next page would say. But today? Today was different. I was nervous because I didn’t really know what I was walking into. It had been a long day. The morning had been spent wrapped up in my thoughts, trying to settle into this strange new place and figure out exactly what I wanted out of this whole adventure. And now, Belle. I barely knew her, but she had invited me to her villa, and after a bit of convincing, I agreed to come. Maybe I could use a friend, even if it was just for a few hours. I stepped off the car and onto the cobbled path that led to the villa. The villa itself looked like something out of a dream white stone walls and a sprawling gard

VELORA “You're finally awake." The guy whispered, an awkward smile at the corner of his lips as his eyes glanced up and down my body.Fucking creep." This better be some sort of family tradition or ritual else..” I scanned my environment immediately.I was certain I wasn't where I could call for help and anyone would actually turn up so right now, I had to do what I knew how to do best.Distractions.Before I find out what they brought me here for, I had to stay safe for myself.“Did you think, running away from the organization and coming here to leave a normal life as that of an adopted heiress would work out perfectly for you? You even schemed to marry my brother?” I blinked.What the hell is this man talking about?One thing is clear, no member of the Mortier family I had met so far was okay. They all have something going on with them.Sad."What organization? What are you talking about? And before you continue, you didn't even introduce yourself. This is weird for a first meet,

VELORA "Velora, those are shares dad gave to secure your future, why would you suddenly give it away to your husband? I didn't think you were that male centered." My sister immediately seethed, I stared at her for longer than I should have. She seemed happier, not the least bothered that I had married her fiancee. I bit the insides of my lips immediately to stop myself from saying something I shouldn't have. The worry, the disbelief, the anger etched on their face was enough to see that my shares not being in my control, where they could get a hold of it easily bothered them. Well, aren't they stupid? It's worse that the shares are in my hands. Their little fingers could never get a hold of it in this lifetime and not even the next. "Sis, you look much better." I muttered and her face froze. It's like a mask she used to wear had slipped off without her notice. "Well, you took my husband. I'm not supposed to kill myself over it." My eyes swept over them, despite the tr

VELORA“I'm adopted" A small smile played on my lips and died out almost immediately.“Sweetheart, aren't you injured? What are you doing here? Go to rest for a bit first." I kept my eyes on Elion."Answer me! Is that why they could make me the substitute without blinking? I'm adopted?” He nodded.I pulled out one of the chairs and sank into it. For a moment, I felt like pulling off the bandage they had put on my wrist.“Velora, you knew that. Don't7—" “Can I work for you? And do you have proof…of the adoption, I mean?" I suddenly asked and he stared at me strangely. Like he knew there was something I was hoping to achieve, it was like a mad glint in my eyes and I couldn't care less if he could see it.“There is proof for the adoption but I must tell Miss Velora that I have absolutely no interest in helping or involving myself in your family matters." I stood to my feet, tapping my fingers on the table, flexing my jaw and blinking repeatedly as I tried to stop the tears from rolling

ELIONVelora Elysia Valemont. I knew there was something about her that didn't sit right with the image she was selling to the public eye and well that…intrigued me a bit.And some thread of that personality hidden deep inside her, was one that was totally capable of drugging her sister's fiancee.But right now? How exactly was I supposed to tell her that she didn't do it? We were already married for fucks sake. I hated complication and this was in every way, complicated!“What are you doing?" I called out immediately. Her back was turned to me and she was looking at my laptop.“What am I doing?" She scoffed, swerving almost immediately, my laptop in her hands as she gestured to it, “WHAT AM I DOING?"Fucking hell! It couldn't even delay for a day and she knew already? I also just got this video from Isolde, my assistant, as we got back from the wedding hall.Worse part of it? Isolde said her father said he knew the first cam I was shown was fake. Wasn't he her biological father? He

VELORAElion Vane Mortier had said that I walked into my own personal hell and dear heavens, I didn't know he meant it literally.He and sister were in love. Or so I thought. So when he said the marriage partner had to be swapped out to preserve his face in the media, I thought it was just a ruse.He was a billionaire, an heir who had just returned to claim the family properties. What kind of news couldn't he block? I told myself I would dig into this and find out if I had lost memories overnight or something was seriously wrong.But where exactly did I find the opportunity to do that?Right now, I was in a tight wedding dress, the corset digging into my skin and a freaking white rose in my hands waiting to walk down the aisle with Elion Vane Mortier.If I didn't comply, well, father had his way of dealing with things which was..not to say the least, undesirable.“Velora, how could you do this to me? How could you j—?" I dug my fingers into my wrist, hard enough to keep my head on tra

VELORA.My hands were on something hard, veiny, yet for some reason warm.Veiny?I fluttered my lashes open immediately, the room swirling as I turned to the side of the bed. There was an unmistakable extra weight there.Bloody hell!A one night stand with a stranger? I bit my lip, shutting my eyes as my head spun a bit, the aftermath of the amount of alcohol I had taken yesterday.It was my sister's engagement party after all, I had to loosen up a bit. But this? This was…I stroked the veiny thing subconsciously, warm and thick liquid spilling on my palm and I gasped.I glanced down immediately, my body freezing in place while my eyes were wide open like they would bulge out of their socket.The hell!! I was actually holding a man's dick? I hadn't even slept with my own boyfriend before this and I was stroking… it?I couldn't move, I couldn't react perhaps because I was unsure of how to when he suddenly stirred.Oh hell no.I grabbed the quilt, hiding my naked body as he tried to sit