Once Upon A Time By Nadine Gordimer

Sierra Morgan once believed in fairy tales—until her prince turned into a nightmare. After surviving a brutal marriage and rebuilding her life from scratch, Sierra emerges as a fierce, self-made billionaire. But just when she starts to taste freedom, a secret pregnancy, a ruthless ex, and a dangerously charming rival CEO threaten to pull her back into chaos. Now, with enemies circling and her heart on the line, Sierra must choose: run from her past—or rise and conquer it? In a world where love is a risk and power is survival, can she win it all without losing herself?

For seven years, I love Cody Rummish, clinging to his promise—once his sister-in-law, Luna Briche, conceives, our ordeal ends, and we finally begin our married life. But reality betrays me. Just months after moving into his home, Cody slips into Luna's bedroom 88 times—starting with once a month, now nearly one or two visits daily. Every night, I sit in the downstairs living room, counting the minutes, clutching a flicker of unrealistic hope. As the sole heir after his twin brother's fatal plane crash, Cody inherits not just power and wealth but also, seamlessly, his brother's widow, Luna. After the 88th visit, Luna announces her pregnancy. But instead of Cody honoring his promise, a public declaration shatters me—he will formally marry Luna. I unravel, demanding answers. Silent, Cody locks me in the bedroom's walk-in closet. "Luna was trapped in an elevator for 30 minutes! She nearly died because of you! Stay here for five days. Feel her fear!" Only on the sixth morning does Cody casually open the door with a chuckle. "Alright, lesson learned. Time to apologize, right?" He finds only the stench of blood and my cold, lifeless body. He's killed the fiancée who's loved him for seven years.

Lily Romano, 22, lives a quiet, painful life under the roof of her alcoholic father—once loving, now a stranger. She clings to the hope that he’ll change, that her mother will return, and that life will somehow make sense again. But everything shatters one night when she comes home to find her father bloodied and surrounded by strangers. In a desperate act, he sells her to Dante Moretti, a powerful Mafia boss. Without warning, Lily is dragged into a dark, dangerous world she doesn’t understand. But amidst the chaos, something unexpected blooms—feelings she never thought she’d have for a man like Dante. Now, Lily must fight to survive, guard her heart, and uncover the secrets buried in the shadows of the Moretti empire. Will love save her or break her beyond repair?

Bella is a very innocent beautiful girl, She has kept to herself all her life,Until her family make her come face to face with Luca. Luca is cold, arrogant and very dangerous, He is more focused on himself and running his family business than anything else, out of everything in the world Marriage is the last thing on his mind, if their families never arranged for them to get married he was never going to marry, he has no time for love. But Bella is very accepting of whatever life throws at her especially when it comes to her family.

"I'll haunt your every step, Lia.” His whispers send shivers down her spine. He would stop at nothing to claim her. ~ No one cares about her, not even her father who pushed her into the devil's den with a smile on his face because he wanted an alliance. The Devil; She drugged him to get his signature on a divorce paper, and now they are done. Ophelia Laurent thought it was over, not until…he had her back in his dungeon, but this time not behind bars, but in front of him, on her knees in chains that drove her to dark pleasures. The devil would do all it takes to show her that he loves her, and wants to protect her, but not in a gentlemanly way. “I would own you without buying you red roses nor feeding you with empty promises….

“Promise me, you will hide her and keep the truth from her. I never want her to know what she is or where she came from.” Esmes mother begged on her death bed as she handed her infant child over to her friends. “Raise her as your own, please!” She had spent years running, hoping to find a way out of the deal she had made with a demon that would cost her not only her life but her only child’s freedom once she turned 18. With her mother gone and her wolf stirring Esme finds herself rebelling against the ties of family and friendship as she nears her 18th birthday. Sneaking out to a party Esme finds herself auctioned in an underground world where mafia reign and rules don’t apply. At least not for the formidable alpha and mafia boss Matteo Accardo, who thrives in the dangerous world of corruption and sin! She may be his mate, but that doesn't mean she gets a happy ending- no one does in the chaotic world of sex, money and power! At least until now…

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ DARK ROMANCE AND MATURED CONTENT. "I love you." His words made my world still. "What?" "I love you. Is that enough to make you stay?" I pushed at his chest. "Don't you fucking say that to me!" I screamed. "You don't treat someone you love like this! You don't even know what that word means!" "You can teach me," he yelled back. "Fuck. I'll learn. I swear." Once a predator locks onto its prey, there's no letting go. Leah Walsh is a lonely wife, starved for the love her husband no longer gives. Aiden Kingston is a ruthless caporegime of the city's most feared crime family. A man who doesn't understand the word no. She fights her attraction to him, but one reckless choice shatters her marriage and binds her to him. Now, Leah is trapped in his violent world, where simply standing by his side makes her a target for his enemies. Every attempt to escape his chains only tightens them, and Aiden's obsession grows stronger each passing day. Will leah break free or surrender to the man who is determined to ruin her and claim her as his?

Three years into our marriage, Rylan Shaw brings another woman home. "Maeve, you should learn from the younger ladies. Stop acting like a block of wood all the time." With a calm resolve, I shatter our wedding photo and hand him the divorce papers I've long prepared. "Let's get divorced, Rylan. I'll step aside for her," I declare. His friends insist that without him, I'll starve on the streets. Rylan believes the same. "Once she's suffered enough out there, she'll realize how lucky she was to be Mrs. Shaw." But a week passes, then a month—and I never return. That's when Rylan begins to grow uneasy. Panic and restless nights consume him. One evening, drunk and desperate, he pounds on the door of my new apartment. "Maeve, if it's money you want, I'll give it all to you…" The door swings open to reveal an unfamiliar man—bare-chested, pajama pants hanging low, fresh scratches streaking his abdomen. Jonah Archer arches a brow, dissatisfaction flickering in his eyes as he asks, "Mr. Shaw, what madness brings you to my wife's door in the middle of the night?"

They say hatred is stronger than love. For Selena Cruz, that has always been true. Born into a cartel dynasty, she swore no man would ever own her—not her father, not her enemies, and certainly not Dante Moretti, the ruthless heir of the Italian Mafia. Their marriage isn’t a choice. It’s a weapon. A deal struck in blood to end a war neither of them wanted. Dante is everything she despises—cold, controlling, untouchable. But every time he looks at her, she feels her resolve crack. He wants her obedience. She wants his downfall. And yet, the fire between them burns hotter than either can control. When betrayal shatters the fragile truce between their families, Selena and Dante are forced to fight side by side. In a world of guns, lies, and vengeance, enemies can become lovers…and hatred may be the only thing keeping them alive. In the mafia, love is never pure. It’s a weapon. And sometimes, it’s deadly.

In the depths of despair, Cassia's life is a tapestry of pain and torment. Abused and broken, betrayed by her family, she finds herself sold into a world beyond human reckoning. Her buyer, Samael, a merciless demon prince, is as feared as he is captivating. As Cassia enters the darkness of Samael's realm, she discovers a connection that defies the boundaries of good and evil. Bound by a powerful, inexplicable force, they navigate a treacherous path where love, redemption, and danger entwine. In a world where demons rule and secrets shroud reality, Cassia must confront her past and find the strength within her to not only survive but to melt the icy heart of the demon prince who now holds her fate in his hands. This is a tale of forbidden love, dark desires, and the enduring power of the human spirit. But as Cassia and Samael's connection deepens, whispers of ancient prophecies and hidden truths cast doubt upon Cassia's humanity. With each passing day, she begins to question her very essence. Is she truly just a helpless human, or is there something more, something extraordinary lurking within her? In a world where demons and destiny collide, their love becomes a beacon of hope, challenging the boundaries of what it means to be human. Can love truly to conquer all, even when faced with the darkness of demons and the mysteries of destiny?