What Does The Smirking Merchant Symbolize In Literature?

Natalie Grimaldi has always been a fighter. Rebellious, sharp-tongued, and unwilling to break under pressure, she’s spent most of her life enduring the cruelty of her uncle, Gideon Grimaldi , a greedy man who raised her only to use her as a pawn. When Gideon announces that she’s to marry Viktor Roman, a Russian billionaire twice her age, in exchange for a debt settlement, Natalie is furious, broken and frustrated. On the day of the wedding something unexpected happens she is claimed in a contract marriage by California's most feared Italian Mafia family, LORENZO DE LUCA. She finds herself being sold twice!! Lorenzo doesn't know her name, doesn't care about her except his own gains(the real reason he bought her) but something in her fire, her refusal to bow, stirred something long buried in him. He buys her for something much more deeper —nothing more. But Natalie refuses to break. Even as he claims her body, her life, she hides her heart, planning escape, revenge, and freedom. But the longer she remains under Lorenzo's roof, the more she begins to see cracks in his stone facade: his silence, his shadows, his haunting grief and most of all HIS SECRET. The real reason he bought her. And against every wall she’s built, Natalie begins to feel the tug of something she vowed never to give him—sympathy. Maybe even more. As Natalie secretly builds her own power, forging connections and learning the dark truths behind Lorenzo's empire, she must face the hardest question of all: Can she destroy the man who bought her, if he’s the first one who ever saw her? Or will she fall for the devil who was never meant to love?

“Come with me,“ he ordered.  “I'm not going anywhere!“ Freya stood her ground, looking up at his blank face.   Something flashed past his dark eyes as he heard her. “You really have some guts, don't you?“   “Well, I don't care what this is. I don't care why I'm in a wedding gown and why I'm being treated like I chose this. You could kill me if you want. But I'm not—”   “Is this about the kiss, my Lady?“ he asked, sounding amused.  Freya wanted the ground to open up and swallow her at that moment. Her face went scarlet red and she almost forgot the other reason why she was angry. “Why should I care about the fact that you didn't kiss me? I barely know you and—”   “Right.“ That was all he said before he gently grabbed her waist and crushed his lips on hers...

The legendary jewelry I ordered for my little sister had finally arrived at the boutique, so I brought her to pick it up. The moment we stepped into the mall, someone walked straight into me from the opposite direction. A cup of scalding hot coffee in her hand splashed all over my clothes. Seeing that the other person was a woman, I was just about to brush it off and say it was fine. However, the very next second, her crimson-painted fingernail jabbed straight at my forehead, and she spat right into my face. “Are you blind? Can’t you see where you’re going? Do you know how expensive this coffee is? It’s a special blend from the jewelry boutique! Someone like you can’t afford to drink it in your entire life!” She kept going, her words getting harsher by the second. Beside me, my sister’s eyes immediately turned red with fright. Not wanting to argue in front of her, I decided to call the police and let them deal with it. However, before I could do anything, the woman suddenly grabbed my sister by the arm. “So young and already with a kid so big, huh? Did you finish school before becoming someone’s mistress? Since you bumped into me in a mall owned by my family’s company, Jennings Group, I shall educate you on behalf of your parents today! Or you might cause even bigger trouble out there someday!” I froze. Jennings Group? As a daughter of the Jennings family, why haven’t I seen this so-called relative before?

He bought me for revenge. I stayed to protect our secret. ​Ten years ago, I broke Dante Valenti’s heart to save his life. I let him believe our child was gone and that I was the villain in our story. I became a ghost; he became a monster. ​Now, my father’s empire is ruined, and I am the currency used to fix it. Sold to the highest bidder, I expected a stranger. Instead, I got the man I’ve spent a decade mourning—now a ruthless Mafia Don with a heart of ice and a scar that mirrors the one on my soul. ​Dante didn't claim me for love. He wants me as his prisoner, his "trophy," and the target of his calculated cruelty. But as his dark games begin, I’m hiding a secret more dangerous than his wrath: our child is alive. ​If the monster finds out the truth, he won't just claim me. He’ll burn the whole world down to take what’s his.

I didn't want to be a hero, I was forced into this. Or death is my punishment, but I don't want to experience it anymore. So, I guess I'll need to save this world even if I don't want to. I'm just reincarnated here to be a merchant after all from what I can see. Let's do this! Kill this Von Cron`e Gon guy. He doesn't stand a chance against me and my allies.

*** COMPLETED *** ***This story has a lot of steamy scenes that are not suitable for minors.*** A hundred years after the war where werewolves lost against humans, Kaiya finds herself imprisoned in an island park where they are hunted on a weekly basis for human’s entertainment. However, when the ownership of the island park changes, she finds her mate, who is a newly crowned King. ************************************* “You are the first freed werewolf, does not mean that you will be the last.” “Is that why you freed me? To set an example?” “No. I freed you because you will be my woman.” My breathing stops. The way he puts a claim on me makes me want to claim him too. “I—” “Ah! Don’t worry about answering me now. I will give you time to consider me.” I look at the table and entwine my fingers together. I take a deep breath and look back at him. “I want that too,” I whisper. “I want to become your woman too.” I answer the surprise on his face by flushing scarlet. Then, he looks away and I can see a blush creeping on his face too. “So, starting now, we are together?” he asks. “Before that, we need to do a promise.” “A promise?” I take his hand to mine and say, “You are my mate, whom I promise to love and cherish forever, until the gods and fate separate us.” He squeezes my hand and answers, “You are my mate, whom I promise to love and cherish forever, even if the gods and fate may try to separate us.”