Gilded

Elise Bennett, an actress admired by the public for her talent and captivating beauty, hides a dark truth behind her glamorous facade: her life is controlled by Lucas, the ruthless leader of a mafia organization. He has turned her into a tool to entertain wealthy and powerful VIP clients, trapping her in a gilded cage with no escape. Amidst the schemes and deceptions, Daniel, Elise’s sweet first love, reenters her life. What will Elise do to reclaim her happiness and free herself from the dark vortex that has ensnared her, in order to once again reach for true love?

Carmenta Bloom’s life is the epitome of gilded misery, and she is no stranger to controversy. With wealth and glory as her inheritance, she has everything but the freedom to live on her own terms. When a scandal threatens her family’s ironclad reputation, Carmenta is cast into a prison of her own making under the watchful eye of her bodyguard, Perion. Perion is her captor in every sense. He moves mountains and pounds them to ground again. He controls her, isolates her, and refuses to allow any escape—except one she never anticipated: his presence begins to consume her. Perion isn’t who he claims to be. He isn’t just a hired hand—he’s tied to a powerful mafia syndicate, his motives shrouded in secrecy. To him, Carmenta is a key piece in a high-stakes war his syndicate is waging. As Carmenta’s fiery spirit challenges Perion’s icy resolve, the line between duty and love begins to blur. Perion starts to see the woman behind the façade, and Carmenta, despite her mistrust, feels drawn to the man she thinks is her protector. He begins to question everything—his loyalty and the woman who has somehow gotten under his skin. Torn between duty and desire, Perion must face the consequences of his lies, while Carmenta must decide if she’s willing to risk everything—her heart, her life, and her very soul—for the man who was never meant to protect her. As war closes in and trust crumbles, they must confront what they’ve both been running from or be destroyed by it.

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?

“Hundred million dollars may have bought my chains, but it didn’t buy my loyalty — and it definitely didn’t buy my heart. I never dreamed my life would come down to a transaction of hundred million dollars. But my father’s betrayal puts me at the mercy of Adrian Costa, the ruthless Sicilian, head of Cosa Nostra whose name makes the mafia world quake with fear. Including me. He bought me in an auction saying he saved me, but did he? He is dark and dangerous, more dangerous because I have done underhanded work against him using my hacker identity, CIPHER. I swear that I will escape his gilded cage. Each of our battles ignites a deadly game of power and lust, while resisting him might just cost me everything. As secrets unravel and Adrian’s enemies close in, I find myself faced with the ultimate dilemma: Will I fight for my freedom, or will the king I hate become the one man I cannot live without? ***** “You think you can outrun me, Elena? You're wearing my ring on your finger.” I don’t flinch, meeting his gaze with defiance. “So what? I don’t belong to you.” He leans in, his lips brushing against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “You don’t, yet. But I can make you. Do you want that?" I swallow hard, my pulse racing. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Adrian chuckles darkly, his hand lingering on my waist. “Trust me, I’m not the one who needs to be flattered.” ***** # Dark Mafia Romance #18+ #Hacker Female Lead and Italian Mafia Lord # Touch her you die #Marriage contract # He falls first #Fast Paced #Strong FL and ML #A Not so cute Pet (Oh he is cute. Don't go by his looks) #HEA

Aria Jones has always been a pawn—trapped under her ruthless father’s control and forced into an arranged marriage with a man she barely knows. But on the day of her wedding, everything shatters. A daring escape with the infamous Nikolai Petrov—dangerous, untouchable, and heir to a rival empire—thrusts her into a deadly underworld where love is a weakness and trust can get you killed. Now hunted by her vengeful fiancéand a jealous rival; and caught in a ruthless war between cartels, Aria must do more than just survive—she must transform. With enemies circling and a past that refuses to let go, she has two choices: return to the gilded cage she knows or embrace the dark power that Nikolai sees within her. But as their passion ignites, so does a war that could destroy them both. In a world where betrayal is inevitable, will Aria and Nikolai be each other’s salvation—or their downfall?

Behind the gates of their luxurious mansion, Aurora “Rory” Wynter, appears to have it all: a handsome husband, a beautiful home, and a perfect facade. But when the doors are closed, Rory's world begins to unravel. Her husband's multiple love affairs threaten to destroy her marriage and her sense of self-worth. Will Rory find the strength to break free from her gilded cage, or will she remain forever trapped in her role as the perfect trophy wife?

Chiara has never been wanted. Everyone thought of her as a burden and waste of space all her life. When an opportunity presented itself to prove her worth, she eagerly grabbed it. Little did she know that her choice would strip her freedom away and chain her to be the wife and property of Adrian, Alpha of the Galway Pack. A loveless marriage and a cruel husband she can't escape away from, finding her fated mate is now a distant fantasy for her. That was until another alpha bulldozed his way into her life and forced her to take the reigns of her fate once more. Lance is a rogue alpha on the run for over a decade. Blamed for the death of his former pack, he tried to start a new life away from the city and other wolves. However, he's eventually caught by the Galway Pack and offered a second chance as a personal bodyguard for the Alpha's wife. It is a sin for him to set his eyes on Chiara, much more to fall in love with the pack alpha's mate, but his wolf and heart have other things to say. An omega in a gilded cage and a rogue alpha chained by his past sins... can Chiara and Lance find the courage to carve their own paths, or will they simply be swept away by the raging river of fate?

“Please... spare my life,” she whispered, her voice trembling like the last leaf clinging to a winter branch. Blood trickled from her split lip as she pressed her forehead to the cold marble floor, her entire body shaking with terror. “I treasure what belongs to me,” he replied, his voice cold and deadly. His gloved hand gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his merciless gaze. “And as of tonight, little ghost... you belong to me.” Born from a one-night stand between a mafia lord and a maid, Liliana Orlov entered the world with her mother’s blood staining her face. Her father, Don Nickolas Orlov never let her forget who she was - a curse! While her half-sisters wear silks, she scrubs floors. While they dine in gold-lit halls, she eats their scraps. She was the family’s whipping girl, blamed for the empire’s weakness-no male heir, no future. Then, the unthinkable happens. To end a decade-long war, Nickolas sold Liliana to his greatest enemy Mikhail Volkov also known as “The Reaper” the heir to the most powerful and brutal mafia dynasty. Her fate was sealed. She entered into a forced marriage to secure peace. Thrown into a gilded cage, Liliana faces a man more merciless than her father. Is survival enough… or will she dare to want more? Or Will a man who rules through fear finally learn to kneel to love? Find out more in the story!