Arcane Tower Bernard Answers

Delfina Poletti is a twenty-four-year-old woman raised by deeply religious but loving parents. Her faith and view of the world is shattered when her cousin tangles with the wrong crowd, putting their lives into danger. Trading her life for theirs, Delfina marries a mob underboss for the Matrone family, Ercole Muraro,more than fifty years older. When he suddenly dies, Ercole’s family comes out of the woodwork demanding answers Delfina cannot provide. Furio “The CEO” Matrone, is head of the Matrone family mafia. A billionaire in his own right he is tasked by his father to make sure Delfina never reveals the truth behind her marriage contract, even after her husband’s death. Furio twice her age, has been her secret crush since the day they met. While she suffered under Ercole, it was of his godson Furio, Delfina dreamed. Ruggero Rapallino, a billionaire who worked hard to keep his businesses distant from his grandfather’s dirty dealings, is desperate. From the day Ercole Muraro introduced him to Delfina, Ruggero wanted her, secretly lusting after his grandfather’s wife. Finding out the old man left nothing to her in his will he finds himself provided the opportunity to find out more and to insert himself into her life. He wants to be her savior and to right the wrongs he knows the dead man committed. Delfina finds herself torn between a nice guy and the wickedest man she’s ever met. One can give her peace and serenity while the other makes her want to watch the world burn. What’s a girl to do when she has two hot men pounding on her bedroom door? Try them all on for size, of course.

Hera Leandra Bardin, 24 years old, was on the brink of death in the middle of the desert. As she felt her blood trickle, she recalled all of the past memories she had that led to this moment. She remembered her mother who died from an incurable disease. And her father who had betrayed her. She remembered leaving the place she called home at 15 years old and the moment she made the decision to join the army. The anger and hatred she felt towards liars and cheaters sparked her strong sense of justice. As she felt her life fade away, she couldn’t accept that this would be her end. Until–a business mogul, Nathaniel Orion Martel spots her abandoned figure in the desert and extends her life, by giving her his dark blood. Hera wakes up to a new way of living. Her savior, Nathaniel Orion Martel, a 300-year old vampire took her in, much to the dissatisfaction of the elders of the Martel clan. They saw her as an obstacle to their plan of marrying Nathaniel Orion to a Royal Princess to expand their influence. Hera claimed to have no interest in being part of this rivalry and was focused on getting the justice she was owed. She left in search of answers, but came to know her mother’s secrets along the way. When Hera and Nathaniel met again, she had already become a different person. She was no longer without purpose, having found a new responsibility towards her mother's clan. Hera and Nathaniel's separation pushed them to recognize their budding romance. Facing rivalry against the Royal Princess and her clan's alpha, Hera is determined to use her own strength and emerge victorious, and possibly place her trust and have the happily ever after she thought she'd never have.

Manhattan was doing that thing again twinkling like it had all the answers, when really it just had expensive lighting. Alexander Knight leaned against the glass wall of his penthouse, seventy-five floors up, watching the city hum below him. Bourbon in one hand (mostly untouched), phone in the other. The merger docs stared back at him from the screen, but the part that actually kept him up at night wasn’t the billions on the line. It was the fine print from the Japanese investors: “Family stability preferred.” Translation: get a wife, look settled, or watch the whole deal slip away. He exhaled, fogging the window for a second before it cleared. His assistant had already sent over a neat little list of “suitable” women—discreet, polished, zero drama. Women who understood arrangements. He hadn’t even opened the attachments. Because something about the whole thing felt… hollow. His gaze drifted down, past the grid of lights, to the tiny café on the corner. Golden glow spilling onto the sidewalk, handwritten sign in the window: Local Artist Pop-Up – One Night Only. A woman stood in front of a canvas, head tilted, paint-smudged shirt slipping off one shoulder. She was talking to someone out of view, laughing softly, then stepped back to study her work like it had personally offended her. She glanced up—straight toward his building, straight at him somehow, even though there was no way she could see him up here. But for a split second, their eyes locked across the impossible distance. But right then, with the whole damn city glittering between them, he had this ridiculous, unshakable thought: She’s the one I’m going to ask. And hell help them both when she says yes.

Fashion designer Sylvania Scarlet is about to marry Russell Thompson. But just as she says her vows, masked gunmen storm in. They don’t just steal her wedding ring; they take jewelry, money, and other valuables. But one thing stands out… her ring was meant for someone called "The Don." Shocked and confused, Sylvania becomes obsessed with finding out who The Don is. As she searches for answers, her marriage starts falling apart. Russell, once loving, becomes violent, forcing her to run away and start over. Wanting to rebuild her life, Sylvania starts her own fashion business, Scarlet Fashions, and quickly becomes famous. But she doesn’t know that long before the wedding, she had already caught the eye of a powerful man. Zagaff Manscent, a feared Mafia boss, has been at war with his rival, Victor Morano. When Zagaff first saw Sylvania in a newspaper, he was drawn to her beauty and talent. He wanted her, but he knew the risks. Victor would do anything to hurt him, even going after someone he loved. To protect Sylvania, Zagaff pushed his feelings aside and stayed away. But after the wedding robbery, Zagaff is furious, convinced that Victor is behind it, making their war even worse. One night at Divas Deluxe, Sylvania meets The Don; the man she has been searching for. She is drawn to him, unaware of the deadly battle surrounding him. As they grow closer, Sylvania finds herself caught between Russell, who refuses to let her go, and Zagaff. Then, she finds out she’s pregnant. With danger all around and the fight between Zagaff and Victor Morano getting worse, Sylvania must make a choice among Love, Power, or Revenge. Will she survive this dangerous game… or become its next victim?

“You’re mad,” I said, staring at him like he had completely lost his mind. A slow smile spread across his face as he stepped closer. “Mad for you.” I almost laughed. “I’m going to get rid of this thing you think you can use to trap me,” I said, my voice calm, steady, and dangerous. “Let’s see how mad for me you are after that.” I turned to leave. “You won’t dare.” That made me stop. Then I smiled. Because he clearly didn’t know me. *** Alexandra Fisher Hale does not lose control. She doesn’t do relationships, she doesn’t do marriage, and she definitely does not do children. To her, emotions are distractions and people are liabilities. Her life is planned, calculated, and completely in her hands… until one moment ruins everything. She faints at her twin brother’s wedding and wakes up to the most ridiculous truth of her life. She’s pregnant. No relationship. No mistake. No explanation. Which begs the question… what is this? The second coming of baby Jesus? Because the last time she checked, that was the only way this made sense. But before she can even figure out how her life turned into a joke, the world already has answers for her. She’s engaged. To a man she hasn’t spoken to in years. A man who is watching her like he has already won. Now her name is everywhere, her reputation is on the line, and every move she makes is being controlled by someone she cannot see yet. But one thing is certain. This is not a coincidence. It’s a trap. And whoever set it… Clearly forgot one thing. Alexandra Fisher Hale does not lose.

While enrolling my son in an elite school, the administrator suddenly tells me my marriage certificate is forged. "According to our records, your marital status is listed as single." "But I've been married to my husband, Chandler Leighton, for seven years!" Behind me, other parents waiting in line burst out laughing mockingly. "Did she just say Chandler Leighton? She must be dreaming." Amid their ridicule, I leave and head straight to the city hall for a confirmation. And as a wife of seven years, my marital status in the system is stated as "Single". A cold dread washes over me as I press. "Who is Chandler Leighton's legal wife?" The clerk flatly spats out a name, "Heather Hammington." It was that name again! I rush home, ready to confront Chandler, but pause just outside the door when I hear voices inside. "It's been seven years, Mr. Leighton. Do you still have no plans to grant Mrs. Leighton a legal status?" After a lengthy pause, Chandler finally answers, "Just wait a little longer. Heather lost both her parents… I'm the only one who can help her, so she needs this title." "What if Mrs. Leighton finds out?" "Danielle loves me too much to leave, even if she finds out. Once Heather has established her foothold in the business industry, I'll make it official with Danielle and give her a true marriage certificate." He sounds so certain, unaware that I'm standing just outside the door with tears streaming down my face. "You'll be disappointed, you liar." I take out my phone and dial a number I haven't called in years. "Mom, I accept the Atwoods' marriage arrangement."

My daughter, Annabelle Turner, was diagnosed with hereditary heart disease. I spent the past five years searching for a compatible heart donor for her. Now, I finally found one. Right before Annabelle is sent into the surgery room, my husband and renowned cardiologist, Gabriel Turner, tearfully makes me a promise. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll make sure Annabelle gets a shot at life again." Yet halfway through the surgery, Gabriel suddenly leaves in a hurry without giving any explanation. I stumble into the surgery room and see Annabelle lying on the operating table, covered in blood. Her chest is cut wide open, laid bare for all to see. Tyler Rotwell, Gabriel's assistant, stammers out, "Dr. Turner said… that Anna can still hold on a little longer, but Ms. Byron's son can't. "Dr. Turner took the heart that was meant for Anna and left…" I immediately break down and repeatedly call Gabriel's number, but Gabriel never answers a single call, not even when Anna's blood has completely dried… While settling my daughter's post-mortem affairs, I happen to see a newly posted update on Gabriel's childhood friend, Suzanne Byron's social media. "Turns out it was just a misdiagnosis," was what the caption read. "In that case, let's give this useless little thing to our good boy Oscar as a treat!" The video attached depicts Suzanne's dog Oscar tearing into the heart that was supposed to be donated to Annabelle. As I turn to look at Annabelle's cold body, the last shred of love I have for Gabriel starts crumbling apart. By the time Gabriel finally remembers Annabelle, whom he left on the operating table, only an empty bedroom and an urn containing her ashes would greet him…

Sienna Calder swore she’d never touch her father’s world—Dorian Ashford, shipping mogul and billionaire king, left her mom to rot while he built his empire. She’s there to curse his grave when he dies, not to claim a dime. But his will traps her, naming her co-heir to his $50 billion legacy alongside Roman Valtieri, the brooding, hard-edged protégé who’s clawed his way into Dorian’s shadow—and now into hers. They’re to run the empire together or lose it all, and Sienna hates him for it: too slick, too close, every look a spark she doesn’t want. Then a letter from Dorian’s cold hand ignites the fire—he was murdered, and Roman’s name’s scratched beside the truth. A silver key and a vial of blood—hers, his—drag her deeper, promising answers locked in Ashford estate.But the walls crash in fast: Ezra Locke, a scarred snake with a grin like a blade, wants that key, and he’ll drown the place to get it. Roman’s her lifeline—gun drawn, hands steady, pulling her from the flood—and she loathes how his touch burns, how his voice steadies her when the water’s at her throat. Caught between rage and a pull she can’t name, Sienna fights the heat growing with every near miss—Roman’s too damn solid, too damn close, and she’s torn between shoving him away and pulling him in. The empire’s crumbling, the cliff’s falling, and Ezra’s not the only shadow circling—something darker watches, waiting. Love’s a gamble when blood’s the stake, and Sienna’s playing with a deck her father rigged. Can she trust Roman’s hands to hold her up, or will the crown they’re fighting for crush them both in its ashes?

After my brother, Don Matteo Sabella, finds out I have a crush on our family Consigliere, Lorenzo Gallo, for years, he spikes Lorenzo's wine and has him delivered to my bed. That night, he pushes deep into me, and we lose ourselves in each other. When the sky begins to lighten, Lorenzo stays, kisses my temple, and asks me to marry him. Now that we are married, he is all those things—gentle, perfect, and fiercely possessive—handing me almost everything I desire. I truly believe I've landed the kind of love every woman in our world dreams about. That illusion lasts until the day Matteo gets taken out in an assassination. After that, Lorenzo steps up as the Sabellas' new Don. It isn't long before he says he has family business to handle and disappears overseas for three years. Even on the day I deliver our daughter, Luna Gallo, he can't come home because of some emergency. Then I hear a recording that's blowing up on the family's internal network. His Consigliere chuckles and asks, "Don, what do you think has changed the most since you took over the family?" Lorenzo answers in this offhand tone, "It's definitely the fact that I can finally give those I care about most a home. But it also means I'm even more worried that Eliana and Sofia will be targeted because of me…" My blood runs cold. Eliana Rossi is his adopted sister, and Sofia is her daughter. Turns out every business trip, every absence, every so-called emergency Lorenzo has is about them. He has another home out there. That night, with my hands shaking, I dial the encrypted line. "Matteo, we've found the traitor. Isn't it time you stopped pretending to be dead and came to take Luna and me away?"

I've been married to Sylvia Fuller, a mafia donna, for ten years. I'm there with her in every life-and-death situation. My hands, which are meant for playing the piano, have developed calluses from using guns. They are also stained with blood from the enemies. But when Sylvia turns 28, she falls head over heels in love with Wilson Hink, the young man she's brought back from the slums. Sylvia has hidden him very well… right until the moment I bump into him accompanying her to a prenatal check-up. Mad with jealousy, I demand Sylvia for answers, but she just passes me a divorce agreement in a lackadaisical manner. "Wilson is a man of religion. He can't sire a child without getting married, so I have to give him a legitimate status. Sign this agreement, and I'll give you 40% of my shares." I refuse to give my position away, so Sylvia keeps forcing my hand. In the end, she even kidnaps my younger brother, who's paralyzed from waist down, and drags him to the spot beneath a hydraulic press. "Sebastian Chance, either you sign the agreement, or watch him get crushed. Your choice." I kneel on the ground and beg Sylvia to stop. But soon, I hear the hydraulic press being activated. It doesn't take long before I'm completely covered in my brother's flesh and blood. I end up collapsing onto the gore-splattered ground. When I open my eyes again, I realize I've gone back in time—back to the time when Wilson has accompanied Sylvia to the prenatal check-up. This time, I don't say anything. Instead, I contact a rehabilitation center located overseas before filing for a divorce and leaving Sylvia behind. But once I'm gone for real, Sylvia actually goes crazy.