LOGINAlyssa Hart is out of options. Drowning in medical debt, with her mother’s life hanging in the balance, she’s desperate for a solution. When an unexpected email offers her an interview at the mysterious Valentino Enterprises, she doesn’t hesitate. But what she walks into isn’t a job opportunity... it’s a marriage contract. The powerful and feared Valentino Crime family needs a wife for their heir, Stephano Valentino. Cold, ruthless, and utterly uninterested in love, Stephano has discarded every woman his parents have introduced him to. They don’t expect Alyssa to be any different. The deal is simple: marry Stephano, bear his heir, and in two years, she’ll be free, with enough money to ensure her mother’s survival. There’s only one rule: this is not a real marriage. Stephano can do as he pleases, but Alyssa is bound to him alone. She should hate him. He gives her every reason to. But the longer she stays, the more she begins to see through the cracks in his armour. Beneath his icy exterior is something broken, something she can’t help but want to fix. And Stephano, who swore he would never care, finds himself drawn to the woman he was never meant to love. But in their world, love is a weakness, and breaking the rules always comes with a price...
View More"Rise and shine bestie it's your wedding day,"
Jordan happily said rosing Katrina from sleep, the pregnant soon to be bride wasn't so in a good mood as the eyed him and went back to sleep, Jordan rolled his eyes and tried to wake her up again but she refused."Come on Katrina, you don't want to be late, I am sure Lucas won't like that his bride is late to the wedding,"He said the magic words that worked every time, and of course, it worked, she was up at the mention of her soon to be husband, Jordan was happy for Katrina, she had been in love with Lucas since forever and they finally found happiness together, but then an evil monster had nearly ended that love thankfully, they got out of it, he was especially happy for his bestie, Jordan have known Katrina since he was a teenager when they had moved into the same neighborhood, they had bonded immediate, Katrina was like his balance aside from his family, when he had come out as gay, she had protected him from the bullies in school even though he was bigger than her and especially with all her feminine features, she was a sweet angel back then and still an angel now."What's the time?""Seven forty,"He revealed, his bestie's tummy looked so big that he was scared she would pop any moment, it had taken them a whole to get a wedding dress that suits her, he just hoped she hadn't gotten too big for it again as she did three days ago."What? I can still get some sleep, the wedding is by ten,"She said."But I have to leave soon, I am the best man remember?""Aha, that, I still don't know how you and Lucas became so close, I know you guys hated each other,"She said, she was right though, Jordan used to hate her husband to be who was the boss and owner of where he worked but Lucas had been so arrogant and unapproachable that a lot of his workers disliked him, Kat was the only one who loved him and she kind of changed him, on to how they became friends to the extent of him being the best man, well he guess they bonded over their mutual love for Katrina."I think you are the reason,""Uh-huh, I am glad that you guys get along now,""Whatever, let's get you ready, go take a shower and I will go get the people who are gonna make you look fantabulous for your big day,""It's really my wedding day,""Yes, it is bestie,""I am so happy and nervous, what did I ever do to deserve this much happiness sometimes I feel like I don't deserve it and it might be taken away from me,"She voiced, Jordan understood what she meant, he once thought he had all the happiness in the word until it was all taken from him, even though his situation was slightly different."You are so lucky bestie and you deserve it,""Thank you, you deserve to be happy too, I hope you get your happily ever after soon too,""Nah, that's never gonna happen, I don't think I was made for that, not everybody will find love, maybe I am one of those who won't,"He voiced, and that was his sincere thought when his ex-boyfriend had broken up with him, Jordan had tried to get off the heartbreak by going on dates and doing the things he used to do, but after each first date, he would just lock the person out completely, like as if he couldn't feel anymore, first it was hard to let himself love and trust someone and when he did, he was betrayed, he couldn't put himself through that stress ever again, love wasn't for him."Let's forget about my sad love life and concentrate on yours, I am so happy for you,""Thank you bestie,""Let's get you married sweetie, I will go get the ladies,"He said and excused himself, even though he was Lucas's best man, he still choose to stay with his best friend, if only he could wear a dress, then he would have played her bridesmaid instead, but being a best man is almost the same so no complaint there, he called the ladies who helped his best friend get dressed and they were off to the church to get her married.He watched the beautiful couple exchange vows and kisses, smiling at each other, he couldn't help the swell of jealousy, if only, at the beginning of the year, he had plans to get married and build a home with the person he thought they shared a mutual feeling but here he was few weeks to Christmas, alone, yes that shit hurt but what hurt even more was letting himself feel and be hurt again, no matter how jealous he was if what Katrina and Lucas had, he couldn't picture himself in that position again, he kicked the ass of his sad thoughts and concentrated on the beautiful couple before him.After the event at the chapel, they moved to a center, where the wedding party would take place, there was so much going on at the same time so many smiling faces, the Evans and the Jones were good people and they attracted a lot of good people too so the place was cheerful, that was until his eyes landed on someone he didn't like seeing someone whose sight ruins his good mood every damn time."What is he doing here?"He thought out loud, wondering what the crazy pharmacist was doing at Katrina's wedding, he knew he wasn't close to either Katrina or Lucas, maybe a friend of either of them invited him, he looked hands but Jordan couldn't forget he was crazy, yup definitely crazy because why else would he keep picking on him every time they meet, Jordan first met him when he had gone to get Katrina's test kits, he had been so annoying that Jordan had contemplated punching him, he kept asking stupid questions and making fucked up conclusion, the second time they met at a mutual friend's birthday party hadn't help either, he concluded that Liam was not so needed addition, he avoided him from them on but Liam, he wasn't even sure if that's his real name, the dude looked like a fake, everyone he knew talks good about him, which couldn't be true, there is no way he was a good person like they all made him out to be."Jordan,"Katrina called, he looked to see her waving him over, he was honestly scared that she might really pop up that baby, how could she still walk with that round tummy."What? Are you going into labor?"He asked when he got close to her."No, idiot, my due date is still two months away,""But you look like you wanna pop,""Shut up, I wanted to introduce you to my new friend,"She said grabbing his hands and pulling him along."Slow down, I don't want your husband to kill me if you fall, who are you going to*"*""Hello, Liam,"Oh no fucking way, Jordan thought, why was Katrina greeting Liam, and why was she smiling like that."Katrina, congratulations,"The dude greeted Katrina, ignoring Jordan, he mentally rolled his eyes, yeah tell him something that is new."Thank you, this is my best friend that I told you about, Jordan this is Liam,""So?"He asked looking at Katrina who gave him a look that said he should respect himself."Jordan,""I know him, we have met a few times for some reason he doesn't like me and I don't know why,"The dude said and Katrina frowned at him, he eyed the dude."Jordan is really friendly, he might have been Pmsing,""What the fuck Katrina?""Keep quiet, now and say Hi to Liam, you guys are going to be living together for a while until his house is fixed,"Katrina announced, Jordan looked at her in shock, he took over Katrina's former apartment when she moved in with Lucas a month ago since it was bigger and more accommodative, how could Katrina ask someone to move in without telling him? It was his house now not hers."What do you mean by that? Why am I just hearing about it?""I told you about it and you said to go ahead,"She replied. Yes, he remembered telling her it was okay for a friend to live with him for a while but he thought it was a female friend, not a red blood male."Well, I take I back,""You can't, Liam is in a little bit of a situation right now and needs to stay there, don't be such an evil person,"She warned and left him there with the dude smiling at him as if they were friends."Let's get along Jordan,"He said extending a hand."You wish,"Jordan replied walking away from him, there was no way he was sharing his apartment with Liam, anyone else but Liam...A L Y S S AMy heart races as the number echoes in my mind, making it almost impossible to focus on anything else. I try to picture that amount in practical terms, hospital bills, treatment plans, debt erased, but it feels abstract, almost unreal, as though it belongs to someone with a different name.“In addition,” he goes on, and that's when I bring my attention back to the present, watching as Mr Whitmore continues to read the document in his hands, “a final settlement payment of five hundred thousand dollars will be granted upon completion of the two-year term...” He lets out, and my heart drops a second time as I swallow quietly. 500,000 dollars. Just like that.I should feel relieved hearing that. Security, or some sort of stability. Instead, I feel strangely detached, like I am listening to a deal being discussed about someone else’s future. It makes me think about what would happen to me, and the child I'm supposed to have...Will I be able to stay with him? Will I be able to
A L Y S S AWe finally reach the Valentino estate, and the sight of it feels even more overwhelming today, given what is to take place.Once the car parks at the front of the house, the driver steps out and opens my car door for me, and I have to admit, that's still something I'm not yet used to. I smooth my hands down the front of my white dress before stepping out of the car, conscious of every movement, of the way the fabric falls around my legs, of the fact that this is the closest I have ever come to looking like a bride. That's when I notice the same woman who greeted me the last time standing waiting near the entrance, dressed smartly in a formal dark grey dress, her expression polite as she watches me approach her."Welcome back, Ms Hart." She greets me just as I slow down my steps as soon as I reach her. That's when I notice that she's not the only one standing by the doors. There seem to be two men standing at either side, both of them dressed in black with an earpiece in ea
A L Y S S AThe next morning...I barely slept last night. I lie in my bed staring at the ceiling, replaying every word Stephano said to me, every look he gave me, the way he stood there, so certain of himself and so sure that I am temporary. I turn onto my side, then onto my back again, pulling the blanket up and then pushing it away, my mind refusing to quiet down. It is not just what he says that keeps me awake; it is how easily he says it, as if reducing me costs him nothing at all. By the time morning light begins to slip through the curtains, I feel more drained than rested, but there is no space to indulge that exhaustion today.Carmen sits across from me at my small kitchen table, her mug of coffee cradled between both hands as she listens to me recount last night in a voice that sounds unfamiliar even to my own ears. The breakfast she insisted on making sits in front of me, eggs and toast that would normally make me grateful, but I keep pushing the food around my plate instea
A L Y S S A“If I were you, I would speak to me with more humility.”He lets out without raising his voice, or stepping into my space aggressively... The restraint he shows makes his warning feel more threatening, as if he assumes I will understand my place without him having to spell it out. He stands a few feet away from me in the centre of the room, his hands resting casually in his pockets and jacket falling perfectly along his frame. His posture is relaxed, leading me to believe he has never once doubted his authority in this house. The same authority I will soon have to answer to if I am to marry him.His head tilts slightly as he watches me, not in an angry way, not even particularly annoyed, just as if he's expecting something of me, or waiting for me to correct myself.For a moment, I consider doing exactly that. Apologising would be easy, right? All of this will be so easy if I followed through with everything he says... or else the opportunity to save my mother's life will
A L Y S S AThe guards at the entrance take a curious look at me before they finally open the doors, allowing me passage. Inside, the space steals my breath, marble floors gleaming beneath towering ceilings, a sweeping staircase rising upward, light spilling from a chandelier so large it looks like
A L Y S S AI have never stared at myself in a mirror this long, not even on mornings when exhaustion made its home on my face, or nights when I have cried hard enough to scare myself, because this time feels different... way different...The bathroom is small, barely wide enough to stretch my arms
A L Y S S A“I didn’t sign anything,” I rush to say. “It was just… a conversation. This was just motivation to get me to agree...”"Agree to what?!" She waves the money in the air. “This is not just a conversation. This is blood money. I've heard things, Alyssa... the Valentinos are dangerous people
A L Y S S A“This is a gesture of faith,” Mr Valentino says, his voice smooth and assured, like he’s explaining an investment opportunity instead of handing me a sum of money that could alter the course of my life. “A retainer, if you will. Consider it a taste of what we’re offering. Spend it on you
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.