Driven Novels & Stories

What does the underboss of an infamous crime family have in common with a spirited primary school teacher? Absolutely nothing, except a marriage of convenience, of course. When Lionel Tyson defaults on a gambling debt and offers his most prized possession as collateral, Austin Hawthorne is underwhelmed. But in desperate need of a housekeeper and permanent child minder, he knows he’d be an idiot to look a gift horse in the mouth. So, against his better judgement, he accepts an offer he should absolutely refuse. Marybeth Tyson is horrified to learn that not only is her father wanted by loan sharks, but he has also sold her off to a mafia boss. Bound by duty and pushed by guilt, she agrees to give Austin Hawthorne one year of her life, despite common sense screaming at her to run the other way. After all, how hard can pretending to be madly in love with someone be? It’s all fun and games until play pretend becomes all too real, and an earth-shattering secret from Austin’s past comes to light, threatening to destroy his second chance at love with his dogged pursuit for answers. Betrayal, especially at the hands of his older brother Blake and long-time friend, Andrei Ivanov, is a bitter pill to swallow for Austin, and letting them off scot-free is not an option. Driven by his unquenchable thirst for revenge, Austin will stop at nothing to get to the truth, even if it means destroying decade-old friendships and fragile ties to The Corporation. 2022 Val Sims. All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and publishers.

"No! I will never be your mate!" Ariel screamed, swiftly raising her gun and aiming straight at the heart of Elijah Jaeger, the Werewolf King. “You’re mine, Ariel,” he murmured with a possessive voice as he pressed me into the table, I looked up at him to see him placing the tip of the gun in front of my vagina. "What?!" My pupils widened. He was going to **** me with a gun?! I was shaking all over, and I started to back away in fear. "No, please. No..." I begged, crying. *** In the year 2200, humanity exists as slaves under werewolf rule, with humans ranked even lower than omegas, subjected to severe abuse daily. Ariel lives within werewolf-controlled territory. Smart and resilient, she wakes up each day with one burning desire—to shoot a werewolf in the heart with a weapon of her own design. Her father was killed by werewolves, and her mother couldn’t bear the heartbreak, passing away suddenly. Ariel is consumed by pain, yet she steels herself to stay strong because she has a twin sister, Alice, and a friend, Ron, to protect. She’s determined to make the werewolves pay for their actions. But fate is merciless; Alice, driven by her own desires, betrays Ariel, and even Ron—her ever-loyal friend—begins to believe that Ariel’s death could be his ticket to freedom. Ariel refuses to break. Her greatest motivation for survival is to kill the Werewolf King—the one she believes responsible for her father’s murder. But destiny has a cruel twist in store: on the very day she intends to kill Elijah, she’s discovered to be his mate! As she finds allies willing to stand by her, will Ariel abandon revenge, or will she choose to forge a new path with Elijah?

Catalina De Luca’s world turns into trouble when a single bullet, unleashed in a moment of heartache by her shattered father, almost claims the life of young Luca Moretti—the 10-year-old son of Matteo Moretti, a formidable billionaire with deep connections to a dangerous underworld. Matteo is driven by a fierce, unwavering belief: “An eye for an eye. And a tooth for a tooth"As danger looms over his son’s life, a fierce determination ignites within him, driving him toward a singular path of retribution. That night, Catalina’s father, consumed by grief over his wife’s passing, unleashed his anguish into the darkness, each shot echoing his heartache. But in a fleeting moment of happiness, a stray bullet found its mark, hitting young Luca and shattering the bliss. Now, Matteo’s fury is limitless. He captures Catalina’s father, dragging her into his lavish estate, a gilded cage where she must tend to Luca until he is strong enough for the crucial surgery that could save his life. But time stretches painfully as Luca’s condition halts the operation, and Catalina is pulled into Matteo’s mysterious realm, where peril lurks beneath every gleaming facade, and the notion of safety is nothing but a mirage. As she delves into the depths of Matteo’s existence, Catalina finds herself captivated by his intricacies—a man who embodies both fierce determination and gentle vulnerability, shattered yet resolute. Catalina uncovers the truth behind Matteo's past, uncovering a heart yearning for redemption and love. As stakes rise, she faces a heart-wrenching choice: navigate the dangerous journey or heal Matteo's broken spirit, seeking salvation for both. In a realm dominated by retribution, is love possible as the only solution to set aside the dangerous world?

Tessa Smith was born into the perfect life—wealth, fame, and love. As the only child of a renowned business tycoon and his elegant housewife, her days were filled with luxury, private tutors, and the unwavering belief that she would someday inherit her father’s empire. Groomed to be graceful, admired by fans, and adored by the media, Tessa's world seemed idyllic—until it shattered in a single, tragic moment. One fateful evening, masked intruders breached their heavily guarded island manor. Her mother, Kiera, answering the door with love and peace in her heart, was murdered in cold blood. That night rewrote Tessa's future. No longer driven by wealth or societal expectations, she chose a path that no one—least of all her father—had prepared her for: justice. Despite opposition, Tessa joined the force, quickly rising through the ranks as a brilliant, fearless detective. She cracked impossible cases and earned her place in a male-dominated world. Alongside her partner and love interest, Caleb Milanowski—a sharp-minded officer from humble beginnings—the duo formed an unstoppable team, both in investigations and in life. But just when they thought they’d found peace, a final case emerged: expose a powerful, faceless kingpin who had evaded justice for decades. Through riddles and coded messages, the truth led Tessa to a devastating revelation—one that would test her loyalty, threaten her relationship, and force her to choose between love, legacy, and the truth. In a gripping battle between duty and blood, Tessa is thrust into the heart of betrayal. To restore peace to a nation, she must dismantle the criminal empire that may be rooted in her very own family. A tale of love, loss, vengeance, and truth—where every secret comes with a price.

After losing her parents at twenty, Amy’s world crushes around her as she falls into a life of hardship. Taken in by her uncle, she is exploited for his gain, forced to work in his club to keep his failing business afloat. Her life spirals further out of control until his debts finally catch up with him. When the ruthless and powerful Leader of a Mafia family called The Deluca Family, his name, Lord Drake, arrives to settle his debts, Amy’s uncle is unable to pay. In a cruel twist, Amy is taken as collateral. But Drake doesn’t just want repayment—he recognizes something in her. Her strength, resilience, and untouched innocence catch his eye, and he decides to shape her into something more. Against her will, Amy is coerced into a marriage—not out of love, but as the perfect vessel to bear his heirs. In a brutal world driven by power, loyalty, and bloodshed, Amy must adapt quickly or face destruction. As enemies close in and internal wars threaten the mob, she becomes both a symbol of power and a target of betrayal. Every corner hides treachery, and a secret mole lurks within, threatening to shatter everything from the inside. Surrounded by envy and danger, Amy’s survival hinges on her ability to evolve. But as the days pass, the lines between right and wrong begin to blur. A complex love triangle emerges, and her emotions deepen, tearing her between duty, survival, and her own heart. What starts as control and necessity evolves into something far darker—obsession. With her life constantly at risk and her heart in turmoil, Amy faces a perilous life as a pawn in a deadly game.

  Lyra Daniel, an aspiring fashion designer, is on a mission to save her sick husband, Felix Thomson. Lyra crosses paths with Dante Cooper, a billionaire heir in need of a contract wife to appease his meddling family.    “I will give you $500,000 once we get married and $500,000 after the divorce is finalized,”  Lyra couldn't accept the deal because of her love for Felix.    But when Felix finds out about the contract...   "I swear to you, Lyra. I will never let you down. If you give me this second chance at life, then I promise you my life because…”   Unknown to Lyra, Felix's plea is part of deception to escape their marriage. She soon finds herself trapped in Dante's world, where he and his family view her as nothing but a gold digger.    Felix stopped responding to Lyra’s call, knowing that there was a high possibility that Dante wouldn't pay the balance of the contract. He then reconciled with his family, leaving Lyra divorced, alone, and depressed.    Dante finds out the truth, but it was too late. However, he refuses to give up on finding her.   Years later, Lyra has transformed into a powerful, celebrated figure in the fashion industry. She has rebuilt her life, but the scars of betrayal run deep.   Fate brings her back into the lives of both ex-husbands. Dante, now living in the same apartment building to escape his grandmother's matchmaking schemes.   "That scent… it reminds me of someone I used to know,"    Meanwhile, Felix, driven by selfish motives, seeks to exploit Lyra again.   "Lyra, we had something special. Let's not waste it,"  Will Lyra seize the opportunity for revenge? Or will the past pull her into deceit once more?

“You sold me off because of your selfishness. Mother… tell me, did you hate me that much?” When love becomes a battlefield, every truth turns into a weapon, and every sacrifice leaves a scar. Irene Wilson, a gifted and celebrated artist born into privilege, believed she had found her forever in James Anderson, a passionate and determined young man from a modest background. Their love, though unexpected, was pure and unbreakable until ambition, greed, and family desperation tore them apart. Behind closed doors, Irene’s mother makes a devastating decision: to secure the family’s collapsing fortune and silence societal ridicule, Irene must marry Andrew Alexander a ruthless and dangerously powerful billionaire whose obsession with her knows no limits. As her father faces financial ruin and her brother Charles becomes entangled in a scandal orchestrated by Andrew himself, Irene is left with an impossible choice: sacrifice the man she loves or watch her family fall apart. She chooses survival but at a cost. Trapped in a cold, abusive marriage, Irene becomes a prisoner in Andrew’s world, her body controlled and her spirit slowly broken under the weight of his cruelty. Heartbroken and betrayed, James disappears without a trace. Seven years later, he returns no longer the hopeful young dreamer, but a powerful and enigmatic billionaire. Hardened by pain and driven by vengeance, James is determined to reclaim what was stolen from him: his love, his dignity, and the truth. But in a world ruled by power, secrets, and betrayal, love is no longer enough. Irene must decide remain bound to the man who owns her life, or risk everything for the man who still owns her heart.Because this time, love isn’t just a choice.

There was a fire in my house. After I risked my life to save my parents, who were the richest people in the country, multiple media outlets wanted to interview me. Faced with the journalists' questions, my parents said that they would fulfill any of my wishes. Their adopted daughter, Lily Jackson, thought that I would use this chance to drive her away, and her eyes had begun to turn red. But I just looked at the camera and said coldly, "I want to sever all ties with the Jackson family, and I want all of you to be witnesses of my decision." The crowd went into an uproar. My parents were infuriated. The journalists wanted to ask some more questions, but I just started packing my luggage. Only I was aware that I was reborn. During my previous life, I took the chance of this interview to drive Lily out of the family. Not long after she was taken away by her biological parents, they sold her to a man, and she died a terrible death within her husband's house. My parents pretended like they didn't care and said to me that it was Lily's fate, but in truth, they secretly started poisoning my food. After the poison killed me, they placed my body in front of Lily's grave in a position as if I was on my knees and apologizing to her. They made me pay for Lily's death with my life. "If you hadn't driven Lily away, Lily wouldn't have met such a terrible fate! You should pay for what happened to her with your life!" That was the last thing I heard, and I became completely disappointed with them. But when I opened my eyes again, I realized I was reborn and went back to the day of the fire.

She offered him her heart, her trust, her everything and her soul only to face betrayal, heartbreak, and being discarded as if she meant nothing to him. Eleanor Sinclair was once a delicate, vibrant, quiet woman who loved intensely and wholeheartedly, but love caused her immense pain and regret. Married to the ruthless, wicked and influential Damian Blackwood, she suffered through his cold indifference, harsh words, and the stifling loneliness of an absent and void love. When he wrongfully accused her of infidelity and cast her away, she lost everything: her dignity, her aspirations,her goals, her life maybe and the child she was carrying. Left for dead, Eleanor faded from existence, but she didn’t die. Instead, she emerged from her suffering, forged in the fires of pain and revenge, becoming the very nightmare of the underworld. No longer the timid, weak woman pleading for affection, she returns years later, powerful and driven by a singular mission: to destroy the man who ruined her life, to kill him and burn him if possible. However, Damian Blackwood is unlike any other. Ruthless, strategic, and more dangerous than before, he never expected the woman he once threw away would come back stronger, more lethal and destructive, and beyond his reach. The moment he lays eyes on her again, he recognizes his error. She was never the weak one he was. Now, he’s determined to pursue her, plead, and break every rule to reclaim her for good. But Eleanor has no heart left to offer. Not while the fire of revenge still courses through her veins. He feels regret. She seeks vengeance. Let the pursuit begin…

Just as the Garner family teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, Seth Garner's parents come to my doorstep. They beg for a marriage alliance. My father knows I've loved Seth for ten years. So, he pours ten billion into the Garners to save their empire and marries me off to him. On our wedding night, Seth blindfolds me with red silk and takes me again and again with ruthless intensity. A month later, I excitedly bring him the pregnancy report. However, I overhear him at a bar, laughing with his friends. "So, who do you think knocked up Luna?" Laughter erupts. "Seth, don't tell me the child's mine!" "I bet a hundred grand it's his!" That’s when I realize the man in my bed on our wedding night wasn't even Seth. I storm in and demand answers, but he just sneers. "What are you crying for? If your family hadn't threatened me with money and driven Ash away, you think I'd treat you like this? "Let me be clear—the day Ash forgives me is the day I let you go." Dead inside, I ask for a divorce. He responds by threatening me with footage from our wedding night and locking me in the basement. "You're not leaving. You owe Ash, and you'll repay it!" Eight months later, I die in that basement, along with the baby I couldn't deliver. When I open my eyes again, I'm back to the day the Garner family first begs my father for that deal. This time, Seth is the one crying on my wedding day.