Painted Scars By Neva Altaj

Six years ago, Elena Romano was the cherished daughter of one of the most powerful business families in New York. She had wealth, status, and the love of Killian Graves, the man who promised to stand by her forever. But everything changed the night her family was framed for embezzlement and murder, their empire burned to the ground. Betrayed, hunted, and left with nothing, Elena disappeared—presumed dead. Now, she’s back. Not as the naive heiress she once was, but as Raven Black, the mysterious self-made billionaire who built an empire from the ashes of her past. Ruthless, untouchable, and dangerous, she has only one goal: revenge. Her first target? Killian Graves—the man she once loved, and the man she believes destroyed her family. But Killian is not the same man she left behind. Cold, powerful, and feared by all, he rules the corporate world with an iron fist. When Elena crosses his path again, he sees right through her disguise. But instead of exposing her, he makes a shocking offer Forced into a high-stakes game of seduction and power, Elena plays along, waiting for the perfect moment to destroy him. But the closer she gets, the more she realizes—everything she believed was a lie. ⚠️ Killian didn’t betray her—someone else did. ⚠️ The real enemy has been hiding in the shadows all along. ⚠️ And the man she swore to ruin… never stopped loving her. As hidden secrets unravel and deadly enemies close in, Elena finds herself caught between vengeance and passion, lies and truth, love and hate. But when the past comes back to finish what it started, she must decide: Will she destroy Killian once and for all? Or will she risk everything… and let him own her completely?

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ DARK ROMANCE AND MATURED CONTENT. "This is kidnapping," my voice cracked as I followed him. "You can't keep me here." "I think I can," he chuckled, tge sound low and dangerous. He draped his coat over the kitchen counter, then turned back to me. "And that's what I plan on doing." A violent shudder ran through me. My breath came shallow, my chest tightening with fear. He meant it. "It won't be long before someone realises I am missing," I said, hoping that logic would reach him. "And come looking for me." His smirk deepened. "Who will?" Once a predator locks onto its prey, there's no letting go! A woman craving the attention of her husband runs into the caporegime of the Kingston family, a crime family that has ruled the underground for years. She knows he is bad news. She knows she should flee, but she ruins her marriage when she gives into his temptation. And now he never plans on letting her go.

Vincenzo doesn't forgive. He doesn't forget. And he never, ever loses. When you spill Mancini blood, payment comes due—with interest. Stacy Salvatore should have been an easy target. The daughter of the man who slaughtered his mother and tried to burn his family empire to ash. His perfect revenge, gift-wrapped and delivered to his doorstep. He had it all planned out: take everything from her, break her spirit, and kill her. What he didn't plan for was her backbone of steel and eyes that burn with the same ruthless determination as his own. She's no cowering captive. She's a storm wrapped in human skin, fighting him with every breath, challenging the code he's lived by since childhood. With each clash between them, the lines blur. Enemy. Obsession. Addiction. Her defiance becomes the only thing that makes him feel alive, and the vengeance he's chased for years might just start tasting like ash in his mouth. But blood debt must be paid. In full.

Allison, daughter of Fox City's most powerful gang family, a medical doctor, a passion and dream contrast to her family's life back at home. Her past, a ghost she thought she'd buried, was about to return with a vengeance –colliding with the present life she had built. On her birthday, a letter arrives from her father, Gerald Wenston —a man who has ignored her for years. His words, cloaked in a sweet tone, are not a request, but a command: return home and marry the heir of a rival gang —Michael Shelby, to secure an ancestral peace and rule treaty. But peace is the last thing Allison finds on her return, a single, forbidden night with a stranger —Luke Reynolds, her father’s right-hand man, ignites a dangerous passion that threatens to shatter the fragile truce. Caught between the duty to her family and a love that could ignite a gang war, Allison must navigate a web of family secrets and deadly betrayals. For in the shadows, a rival —her half sister Hayley also vying for Michael's affection, is waiting to claim everything she holds dear, even if it means destroying her and the city she's meant to save. Allison's choices could either save her family or condemn them all to a bloody war.

Cassandra Porsse grew up being the 'Miss Piggy' during her school days. Having a crush on one of the most popular boys in school, Crayvin Smith, and with her waistline expanding, Cassandra faces cruel peers and cold hearts. The final result toughens her resolve at the expense of creating a self-sabotaging relationship between Cassandra and her body. After battling through the demons of her past, Cassandra is back with a heart made of steel and moving on fresh from the Police Academy. Being the new officer in the station is hard enough, especially since she's the only woman, but what makes it more complicated is the fact that her new assigned partner is her old crush and nemesis.

Four years ago, a 13 year old blackmailed me into friendship by holding my doughnut captive. We've been close ever since. But then, I noticed that I wanted to be more than just friends. I was in love with my best friend. Sadly, he didn't feel the same way. I thought my world was over. I was crushed. But to my utmost yet most delighted surprise, I just happened to fall into the arms of a certain bad-boy. Literally. He didn't just save me from what could've been a hell of a concussion that night. He saved my heart too. But hey, let's not get in over our heads now. It wasn't that easy. Not even close. After all, when two opposing worlds clash for the very first time, we cant just expect it to be all rainbows and sunshine. Now do we?

Betrayal. Murder. A heart-wrenching escape to New York City. Eloise's decision to leave her hometown of Blue Creek leads her to find a passionate love with charming heir Stanley Bradshaw. But a shocking revelation forces her back to her small town, where buried secrets threaten everything she's built. As she unravels the truth about her best friend's death, Eloise must choose: embrace the love she's found or confront a powerful family who may not accept her past. Can Eloise find love and justice, or will the sins of her past destroy her future?

Damien's life was ruined two decades ago by betrayal: his dearest friend Ethan and sister Serena betrayed him, leaving him impoverished and broken. Damien was consumed by vengeance and spent years rebuilding his kingdom, preparing to strike revenge. His plan is now being carried out: he sends his son Nate to seduce Ethan's daughter, Evangeline, intending to break her heart and destroy her family. But as old secrets resurface, Nate discovers harsh facts about his father's betrayals, compelling him to doubt everything. Meanwhile, a shadow from Damien and Ethan's past, James, reappears with his own desire for vengeance, threatening to destroy both families in the concept of killing two birds with one stone. Betrayal by Love is a compelling story about love, vengeance, and the deadly consequences of justice. Who will ultimately triumph in this battle?

Dr. Fiona Campbell, a dedicated and brilliant physician, carries a dark burden: she watched her parents die under mysterious circumstances at a young age. As the years pass, Fiona uncovers a chilling truth—they were murdered to protect a devastating secret of the powerful Brooks family. Driven by a thirst for vengeance, Fiona dedicates herself to destroying the family that destroyed hers. Her ultimate target is Alexander Brooks, the handsome and charismatic heir and CEO of Brooks Company, and son of Jordan Brooks, the mastermind behind her parents' death. As Fiona meticulously plots her revenge, she finds herself entangled in a complex web of attraction and emotion. Despite her burning desire for retribution, she cannot deny her growing feelings for Alexander. Torn between love and vengeance, Fiona faces an impossible choice: will she follow through with her plan to dismantle the Brooks family, or will her love for Alexander compel her to abandon her quest for justice? Bound by Deception is a gripping tale where the paths of love and revenge collide, forcing Fiona to confront the deepest conflicts of her heart and soul.

"You want to know why all this is happening so Let me tell you but remember that I don't like any kind of rudeness and disrespect. You're here because I want something from you that you'll give me." Hearing his puzzled words, she looked at him and she asked him desperately wiping her tears "What???" "My baby that you will carry for me" "Are you mad??? What the hell are you saying ??" she scoffed at him harshly and turned around to leave this place. He fisted her hairs in his grip from behind and pulled her painfully towards him making her scream in pain. she placed her hand to remove his hand from her hair but he didn't lose his grip. "Leave me you monster. You are disgusting." She shouted on him. "don't you dare to use this tone with me. I don't like people when they disrespect me. This is my first and last warning to you that don't do this again or else you can't even imagine what I will do to you and now listen to me carefully that you will give me my child. I am not asking you but I am telling you that it would be better for you to do what you are here for." He hissed at her dangerously while fisting her hair more painfully making her hiss in pain.