Ariana Melendez, a hidden heiress, thought she had the perfect life until her husband Angelo and best friend Bella betrayed her in the worst way. After losing everything, including her unborn child, she returns to her powerful family, burning with revenge. To punish her, her father arranges a marriage with Dante Russo, the ruthless son of a business rival. Dante Russo, the cold, calculating heir of their greatest enemy and Angelo’s Uncle one that could destroy her ex-husband with a single word. Now, Ariana is trapped in a dangerous game. On one side her vow to ruin Angelo and Bella to make them suffer as she did. On the other her forced marriage to Dante, a man as ruthless as he is intoxicating, whose loyalty is as uncertain as her own heart.
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I sat in the doctor’s office, my fingers tapping nervously against my thigh. The room was too quiet, too cold and I was tensed. The white walls and the smell of antiseptic made my stomach twist. I had been here for what felt like hours, waiting for Dr. Bennett to come back with my results. What if something’s wrong with me? I’ve been feeling off lately, lots of morning sickness and fatigue, it was becoming disturbing. So I finally decided to go for a check up. The door creaked open, and Dr. Bennett walked in, a small smile on her face. My heart pounded so loud I was sure she could hear it. "Ariana," she said, sitting across from me. "Your results are in." I held my breath. "You’re pregnant." The words hit me like a wave. Pregnant. I’m pregnant ? A baby. Angelo’s and my baby finally after years of trying finally I was going to have a baby? My hands flew to my stomach, tears burning my eyes. "Really?" My voice was barely a whisper. Dr. Bennett nodded. "Yes. About six weeks along. Everything looks perfect." I couldn’t stop smiling as a tear rolled down my eyes. A baby. After all this time, after all the months of hoping, it was finally happening. Angelo was going to be a father. I can only imagine how happy he’d be, just as much as I was, if anything he was going to be happier. “Thank you very much” I appreciated getting up. I marched outside the hospital letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Angelo had been… distant lately. Ever since he got that promotion at work, he’d been buried in files, late-night meetings, and stress. He barely had time for me anymore and it was disturbing even though I was the reason behind his promotion but it hurt that I didn’t get all his attention like I use to. But maybe, just maybe a baby would bring him back to me… to us. Tonight was our four-year anniversary. I had planned everything perfectly. Dinner at La Rosa, the most exclusive restaurant in the city. The one my parents owned. The one where I would finally tell Angelo the truth. The truth I had been hiding for years. I wasn’t just Ariana Lopez, the simple girl he fell in love with in college. I was Ariana Melendez. The heiress to the Melendez fortune. My family owned half the city hotels, restaurants, even a few tech companies. But I had hidden it all because I wanted Angelo to love me for me, not for my last name or my money. But now… now it was time. I would tell Angelo two life-changing things: 1. We were having a baby. 2. I was a Melendez. I just prayed he wouldn’t hate me for lying. I really do. My phone ringing snaps me out of my train of thoughts. I slipped it out from my purse the name on the screen flashing to my eyes. It was Bella my best friend. “Hey! Where have you been, I’ve been trying to reach you…” I cut her off before she would begin ranting, “I’m Pregnant” I annouced palming my mouth. She paused. For about a minute before yelling, “What! What did you say?” I nodded as though she could see me with tears in my eyes. “Yes! I’m going to have a baby… Angelo and I are finally going to be parents” I add. “WOW! Congratulations… I’m so happy for you, oh my god I’m going to be a godmother” she yelled in excitement. “Alright Bella I’ll call you later, okay? I have something to attend to” I say as the restaurant I reserved came through. They called to confirm the dishes they’d be preparing and after that I headed home to go get ready. — I stood in front of the mirror in the entrance of the restaurant smoothing down my red dress. It hugged my curves perfectly, the fabric soft against my skin, my dark hair fell in loose waves down my back, and my makeup was light but glowing. Perfect. The table at La Rosa was reserved. I have the chef strict instructions, Angelo’s favorite dishes, the most expensive wine. And at the end of the night, when the moment was right, I would hand him a small box. Inside? A onesie that said "Hello, Daddy." And then… then I would tell him everything. My phone buzzed. A text from Angelo. "Running late. Work stuff. Be there soon." I sighed. Of course. Lately, it was always work. But tonight, I wouldn’t let anything ruin this. I let out a breath heading to the table. “Mrs Melendez would you like anything?” The waiter asked with a polite smile. I shake my head checking the tin, it’s been an hour now and Angelo is still not here, I’ve been trying his line but it’s unreachable, I’ve sent him countless of text asking where he was but no response. I was starting to get worried… was he okay? Did something happen? Letting out a breath I reached for my phone deciding to call Marcus my personal assistant to ask if Angelo had left the office. “Hello?” “Yes boss?” “Has Angelo left the office?” I asked concerning irking up. “Yes, he left by 5pm” he answered. My heart dropped. Angelo left that early and he told me he was working and would be running late? Why would he lie to me? Something was definitely wrong. “Are you sure?” I asked my brows furrowing. “Yes Mrs Melendez… I saw him sign out” he affirmed. “Okay thank you very much.” I say before cutting the call. I looked at the time and it was already 11pm and Angelo was still not here. Tears accumalted at the brim of my eyes every piece of my heart broken, he ruined the night I gave my all to plan. Angelo better have a good reason for ruining our anniversary dinnerA R I A N A I walked downstairs slowly, my bare feet cold against the marble floors, the mansion was even bigger in daylight all high ceilings and expensive artwork it felt more like a museum than a home. Lina walked ahead of me, still talking nonstop. "...and Mr. Russo doesn't like people touching his things," she was saying. "Oh! And never go into his study! That's his private space. He gets very angry if anyone disturbs him there." I barely listened my stomach growled as the smell of food reached me, the dining room was huge, with a table that could seat twenty people but only one place was set for me. The food looked delicious fresh fruit, warm pastries, eggs cooked perfectly but I had no appetite I picked at a strawberry while Lina hovered nearby. "Mr. Russo is very private," Lina continued, pouring me orange juice. "He doesn't like people asking too many questions. And he hates—" "Lina." A sharp voice cut through the air we both jumped. An old woman stood in t
A R I A N A The wedding reception finally ended. No more fake smiles, no more pretending to be happy, no more watching Angelo glare at us from across the room. Dante didn't say a word to me as we left Just grabbed my arm and led me to his black car waiting outside. The ride to his mansion was completely silent. I sat as far from him as possible, pressed against the door, staring out the window at the passing city lights. My throat still hurt where he'd choked me my wedding ring felt heavy and wrong on my finger. Dante didn't look at me once the whole drive he got himself busy with his phone, his jaw tight, his fingers tapping impatiently on the screen. When the car finally stopped, I realized we were at a huge, dark mansion way bigger than my family's. Dante got out first, not waiting for me, not helping me he just walked straight to the front door like I didn't exist. I followed slowly, my high heels clicking on the stone path the night air was cold, I wrapped my a
A R I A N AI felt suffocated, the reception hall was too loud, too full of people smiling at me like this was some happy occasion.I felt like I couldn't breathe. "I need to use the restroom," I mumbled to no one in particular, pushing back my chair. Dante glanced up from his conversation with some business associate his dark eyes studied my face for a second before giving a slight nod. I hurried away before anyone could follow. The bathroom was empty, thank God. I locked the door behind me and finally, finally I let myself break. Tears poured down my face, ruining my perfect makeup, my chest heaved with silent sobs as I gripped the sink for support. This wasn't fair. None of this was fair. Yes, I made a mistake with Angelo. Yes, I disobeyed my father. But this? Being married off to some stranger? To Dante Russo of all people? It was too much. I hated my father, I hated Angelo, I hated Bella. Most of all, I hated myself for being so stupid, so naive to think love
A R I A N AJust like my father had said, two days later I was getting married to Dante Russo. The morning of my wedding arrived like a death sentence. I sat stiffly in front of the vanity as a team of stylists buzzed around me, transforming me into a perfect bride. The white dress hugged my body tightly, the lace scratching my skin. The heavy veil weighed down my head like a crown of thorns. I felt nothing. Empty. Dead inside. The girl staring back at me in the mirror was a stranger pale face, red lips, hollow eyes, I looked like a doll dressed up for a show. "Beautiful," the makeup artist murmured, dabbing more powder on my cheeks. I didn't respond, what was beautiful about this? About being sold off like cattle to pay for my mistakes? I gulped a lump my eyes stinging with tears. Thr hatred for my father burned within me like a burning fire.A knock at the door snaps me out of my thoughts, the man I call father entered, his expensive suit perfectly pressed, his cold
A R I A N AThe moment I stepped into the foyer, the air turned cold. My father stood at the top of the staircase, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, the sharp black suit he wore made him look more like a king than a father. And the way he stared at me like I was a disappointment, which I was If only I had listened and not gone against his words.My heart dropped. We had never been close not since I was a little girl, not since I realized love, to him, was conditional. And now? Now, I had broken his biggest rule. Never to belittle myself for the minors, to him they were nothing but slaves that would brown down to his mercy or any other elite.He had warned me about Angelo, warned me he was nothing and that he’d make me regret my decision of choosing him over family. And I hadn’t listened. I had fought for Angelo, defended him and him against my father’s wishes.And now? Now, I was standing here, broken, betrayed, and worst of all proving my father right.Tears
A R I A N AI woke up to blinding white lights, the smell of antiseptic and the beeping of machines. A hospital. I was in a hospital. My head pounded as I tried to remember how I got here, my body felt heavy, like I had been crushed under something. Then the pain hit. A sharp, stabbing ache in my abdomen. I gasped, my hands flying to my stomach. My baby. Memories flooded back. Bella’s smug face, her cruel words, the w way she stepped closer, her eyes full of hate and the way she had left me to die after pushing me from the stairs. How she had shoved me off the stairs with no remorse, the menace, all of it came back. The last thing I remembered was the wetness between my legs. Blood. Now, I was here. Alone. In pain. I clutched my stomach, tears burning my eyes. “No! Please, please let my baby be okay” I cried. The door opened, and a nurse walked in. She rushed to me seeing my state, I was panicked tears as I clutched my bump hoping that nothing had ha
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