Like Wind On A Dry Branch

In the seventh year of my marriage, I accidentally discover a document in the study. Upon flipping it open, I realize that it's a will left behind by my husband, Luca Bernadi. The will clearly states that if Luca were to die someday in the future, all of his assets and his mafia kingdom would be inherited by a little boy named Nico Bernadi. The one next in line for the inheritance is my half-sister, Angela Fasano. I, his legally-wedded wife, am the last one in line. At first, I refuse to believe the legitimacy of this will. After taking it to the notary's office, I'm informed that the will is notarized and in effect. At that moment, I feel as though my blood has turned into ice. I never expect that this marriage I once took pride in had left me with only betrayal. In that case, I no longer need to cling to this marriage.

Charlotte, The daughter of Carter Shnapp, The most influential man in the city gives up everything she had ever known to be married to Brandon, her college sweetheart. Brandon is a serial cheat, Who does nothing but extort from her family and berates her. Charlotte gets maltreated by his family. She was forced to leave her job and family behind to become a housewife and be treated less than a maid. All these just to be betrayed by her sister and husband, She catches them in bed together. She is served divorce papers at the end and she is compensated with a hundred thousand dollars check and told to leave the city. She is left shattered and distraught, She meets a stranger at a bar and hooks up with him. Unknown to her he is her high school bully. How will Charlotte navigate her life?

Can my life get any worse than it already has? I have a stepfather who cares about nothing but turning me into his source of money and pleasure, and a mother who doesn't give a damn whether I live or die. I thought this was the end, but no—fate decided to gamble with me last Christmas. It all started after a failed birthday celebration, which was followed by my stepdad trying to sell me out to the highest bidder. Escaping such a tragic event landed me in the arms of a ruthless billionaire boss, Maximum. I thought it couldn't get worse than this until I finally discovered that my biological dad is back. And his archenemy is the man I am in love with.

My marriage to Lucian Hawke was hailed as the most perfect union in the mafia world. As the daughter of the Sinclair family and him being the sole heir of the Hawke family, our marriage united the two most powerful mafia families in the Northeastern. I thought we were unbreakable. Then, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. As if life couldn’t get any worse, my husband's first love returned—on the very same day. That night, the man I’d been married to for years didn’t come home. The next morning, his voice was cold, distant. Indifferent. “I’ve got the divorce papers ready. When can you come sign them?” I hesitated, struggling to steady my voice. “I’m still at the hospital.” He didn’t even pause. “I don’t care if you're on your deathbed, Elara. Come home and sign the goddamn papers.” My heart shattered, but I refused to let it show. “As you wish, Lucian.” What he didn’t know was that I was dying—literally. A week later, at my funeral, Lucian wearing a tuxedo, weeping at my grave, whispering regrets he should have voiced when I was still breathing. Ironically, my funeral day, was also his wedding day with his sweetheart. But it was too late, my love. This time, you’ll never see me again.

On the night of her wedding anniversary and her husband's birthday, Zora rushes home, excited to surprise Zayn with news that could change everything—she’s pregnant. But instead of celebration, Zayn hands her divorce papers, shattering her dreams of a future together. For three years, Zora has been devoted to her billionaire husband, hoping their childless marriage would heal with time. But now, Zayn's cold rejection and hints of infidelity with his ex push her to the brink. Refusing to give up on their vows, Zora fights for her marriage, unaware that Zayn is determined to walk away and disappear from her life entirely to be with Paige, his ex-girlfriend. What happens when it dawned on Zayn that his ex never meant good for him? Will he go back to his wife and will Zora even accept him?

The maid's daughter, who grew up in my home, had the nerve to act like an heiress. On her birthday, she invited every kid from school for a full-on rager at my family's villa. When I suggested they take it to a hotel, she lost it. "You don't get to tell me what to do! My friends can party wherever they want!" She added, "The ten-layer cake my parents ordered for me is on the way. Why don't you park yourself by the door and wait for it, huh?" Her crew circled up, laughing and pointing at me. But I'd lived through this before. Nothing about her little act rattled me. I turned to the butler and told him to lock the gate. Then, I went to Rambo's cage. "Hey, buddy," I said, opening it up. "See those trespassers?" I pointed at the crowd. "I'm counting to three. If they're still here, don't let a single one get away."

She’d escaped me once. She’d not do it again. I am the brother of the Alpha of the Asara Pack. I did everything she asked of me. She was a queen up on her throne. I was her Captain of the Guard. Her secret assassin killing anyone who'd threaten her. I had declared my intent to claim her as my mate. And she had fled. Like the coward she is. Still she went ahead and seduced me, bidding me do whatever vile thing she commanded. Now she claims to rule this kingdom. However, her people are starving and her new fiancé is to blame. But will she hear a word of it? Of course not! Well, I've found a way to make her listen. To no longer allow her to deny what she really is. To rip her from her sanctuary amongst the humans. It's high time she learn a she-wolf’s place in this realm. She needs a real king, and it won't be that sniveling lord with designs on her. It's going to be me. She’ll learn I'm no longer hers to command. She is mine.

After I'm abducted, I call my mother, a policewoman, for help. However, she hangs up on me and stays by my adoptive sister's side. "Go to hell if you're so keen on it!" she snaps. I calmly watch as the abductors pluck my nails and torment me until none of my skin is left unharmed. In my past life, my mother actually came to my rescue. She left my adoptive sister by the roadside, and the latter ended up being violated and murdered. From then on, I became a criminal in my mother's eyes. She received an anonymous text on my adoptive sister's death anniversary. "I bet a good girl like you wouldn't want your mother to know you hired us to abduct you, right?" She thought I orchestrated the abduction because I wanted to vie for her attention. She thought that was the cause of my adoptive sister's death. "I've saved people all my life. I never would've expected my flesh and blood to be such a shameless monster! You should go to hell as atonement for killing Charlene!" She sewed my mouth shut, shattered every bone in my body, and threw my ashes into a junkyard. When I open my eyes again, I find myself back to the day my mother makes her choice.

When my mother falls gravely ill, my husband, who has asthenospermia, promises to help me think of something. So, I give him all my savings. Despite being pregnant, I get a part-time job doing DoorDash deliveries. However, I see my husband when I pass by a realtor's office. He's supposed to be hard at work like me, but he's buying a place for his childhood friend. He even has his arm around her. "That old hag thinks I only earn that little each month. Don't worry, Yvette. I only give her 10% of what I earn. The rest goes to you!" I hold back my tears and grab the hem of his shirt, wanting to borrow some money for my mother's treatment. However, he shoves me away irritably. "I give you 2000 dollars a month! Isn't that enough? Have you spent it all on useless things?" He leaves without another look back, ignoring my cries and pleas. He also kicks me, effectively murdering the child he's always dreamed of having. Later, he grovels at my feet and begs for forgiveness. It's too bad I've already given up on him. I don't want him anymore.

*** Please note that this book is based on characters from my completed novel, Sinfully Yours, exclusively available on GoodNovel. However, you do not need to have read it to read this book.*** I have hated the Morettis ever since I was old enough to understand how the cookie crumbles. They are the sole reason why my life turned out this way. Alone. Unloved. Abused. Broken. Now I'm out to ruin their lives like they have mine. I've researched them for years, and now I'm finally getting my shot. There is one problem, though. The Moretti triplets are more than what I bargained for. My plan was to reel them in one by one, seduce them if I had to, and then destroy them. I wanted to take away everything they've worked for, strip them bare, and leave them to the vultures. Their parents destroyed mine, so I wanted to destroy their precious offspring, let them taste even just a tidbit of the disappointment I have experienced since I was born. When I weasel myself into their lives, I didn't expect them to be so enigmatic and electrifying. They take up all the air when they are in the vicinity, and I am choking, struggling to remember what my goal is. Will I be successful in my quest for vengeance? Or will I crumble under their hazel eyes and give up the one thing I had that is mine? My soul.