Lowly. Illegitimate. Disgraceful. Amaryllis bore the weight of whispers and stares, a child born out of debauchery. She was raised behind iron gates and velvet curtains, in a family whose name was spoken only in lowered voices. A mafia dynasty, steeped in blood and loyalty. Yet even within that empire of power, she remained a shadow in the presence of her brothers, seen but never truly known. However her heart, vast and unyielding, loved them unconditionally. But life is both fragile and cruel. When terminal illness claimed her, she carried it alone behind fragile smiles, unwilling to darken the days of those she adored. Only one wish bloomed before the end, "I hope their feelings might change, even if it's temporary." And when that time comes... Please bring flowers to my funeral. ── ─ ┈┈┈┄┄╌╌ ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This story contains sensitive and potentially distressing themes, including psychological trauma and mature content. Note - The terminal illness described in this story is entirely fictional and included solely for storytelling purposes. - Cover: Canva © 2026 [CherylZielle]. All rights reserved. Do not copy or distribute without permission.

Unforgivable Series #3 What a normal, loving and loyal husband would do when you're calling him nonstop? Pick up your calls. And what was my husband doing? Fucking his intern. While his wife and daughter were in severe accident and bleeding out on the road, and our four year innocent daughter kept calling him thinking daddy always saves the day. But sometimes the most heartbreaking accidents, are the ones that help you see the realest facade monsters hid behind! And the only way to heal from such pain is to learn to Never Look Back!

(BOOK 1 Of the QUEENS OF CHAOS SERIES) Isa Valen doesn't believe in restraint. Two weeks ago, she did champagne, a sinfully accented stranger, and a night so consuming she ran before sunrise. She doesn't remember his face. She doesn't remember his name. But her body remembers the way he made it burn. When her sister runs to New York, Isa follows without hesitation. New city. New job. New distractions. Then she meets her boss. Erik Orlov. Billionaire. Bratva Don. A devastatingly gorgeous tattooed man built from control and violence wrapped in tailored suits. The first time he looks at her, something tightens in her chest. The first time he steps close, her pulse betrays her. She doesn't recognize him. He recognizes the curve of her mouth. The sound she made when he touched her. The way she ran. The night she can't remember is the one he hasn't stopped replaying. Now she works beneath him - in his office, in his space, in his world. Every glance lasts too long. Every accidental touch feels deliberate. Every breath between them feels charged. And Erik Orlov does not chase. He claims. Enemies circle his empire. Loyalty fractures. Power shifts. But none of it unsettles him like the woman sitting across his desk, pretending she doesn't feel it too. Until two pink lines appear. Because the only thing more dangerous than their chemistry... Is the secret growing between them. And this time, he won't let her run.

"Our love was a case we both lost." When a brilliant lawyer and her ruthless prosecutor husband turn their marriage into the most brutal case they've ever fought, love becomes the one verdict neither of them can win-or walk away from. *** Naomi Carter is a fiercely intelligent lawyer with a near-perfect winning streak of 97% cases won. The only times she ever loses is to her husband. She's sharp, controlled, and commanding in the courtroom, but behind closed doors, she hides a woman who's never truly learned how to love. Nathaniel Carter is a ruthless prosecutor, relentless in his pursuit of justice, and impossible to read. Driven by a fierce need for control, he struggles to keep his own life from unraveling. He's the one man who knows his wife's weaknesses and exploits them with a quiet intensity, stirring both her frustration and desire. Their marriage is a constant battleground, scarred by a shared tragedy neither can overcome. Join these two broken souls as they fight to protect themselves while craving the one thing they fear most: each other. *** #1 in bwwm #1 in eroticromance #1 in blackwoman #1 in enemies #1 in grief #1 in childloss #1 in pregnancy #1 in brokenmarriage #1 in loverstoenemies #1 in darkromance #2 in mentalhealth #2 in enemiestolovers #1 in romance #1 in secondchanceromance

NEEDS EDITING THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT He built a fortress around his heart. She brought a wrecking ball and a secret. Elias Thorne is a mystery in Oakhaven, A solitary figure and the owner of a successful tattoo franchise, his wealth is as carefully guarded as his silence. He is the quiet grump the whole town wants to decipher, but no one ever gets close. Elias likes his life neat, organized, and utterly empty of anything that could remind him of love and loss. Then June Hayes arrives. Burnt out from the new york art scene and pregnant via a donor, June is determined to create a peaceful, new life for herself and her baby. To the locals, she's just a sweet, new artist. They have no idea she's also viral sensation with over a million followers who sells her work to the A-list. June sees Elias's grumpy exterior and smiles. She needs a friend, and she has decided the broody, ball cap wearing man (no seriously I never see him without a hat on - June) across the street is it. She invades his quiet space showing up at the inkwell every Tuesday and spending the day, sharing her music, and poking at his meticulous order. Elias fights it all, clenching his jaw and pulling his cap low to hide the truth: he fell for the Wildflower the minute she crashed into his life. As June begins posting subtle, faceless photos of him, their reluctant friendship turns into an online viral romance that threatens to expose both of their secrets. How do you guard a heart that already belongs to a Wildflower, a baby, and a life you swore you'd never have? And what happens when the most careful grump in Oakhaven blurts out, "That's my wife," just to stay by her side? Tropes: - Grumpy x Sunshine - He Falls First - Protective - Pregnancy - Small Town - Forced Friends - Friends to lovers - Secret Identity CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE

Four years ago, Natalia Moretti disappeared. No goodbye. No explanation. Just silence. Once the youngest princess of the Italian mafia, Natalia was raised to obey-to smile, to submit, to accept a future chosen for her. Instead, she chose herself. Now she's back in New York. Her parents are gone. Her brothers rule the Moretti empire. And the boy she once loved-the one who thought she betrayed him-has become a man shaped by power, pride, and unfinished heartbreak. Natalia returns different. Stronger. Untouchable in ways no one expects. She's built a life of her own, far from the shadows she was born into-and she carries a secret that could change everything. As old feelings resurface and fate pulls her back into the orbit of the man she never forgot, Natalia must decide how much of her heart she's willing to risk again. Because love in their world is never simple. And some secrets aren't just dangerous- They're legacy-changing. Heir of Silence is a slow-burn mafia romance about first love, second chances, and the quiet strength it takes to protect what matters most-when the whole world is watching.

Bread, grass, and rose. Plain, common, and uselessly fragile. The girl Solin was, who loved Aurik from the moment she met him, died when she heard his description of her. A new woman rose from the ashes. Two years later, Solin returns to the city of Tibalt, where the high society of the Kingdom of Aivieria gathers during the autumn, winter, and spring seasons. Widowed and carrying the knowledge that she will likely discover the mark of her mate within a year, Solin intends to use her last few months of freedom to enjoy herself before she settles down. The escort she chooses for her new, excitingly wild life? King Aurik, the man who ended her old one. And he's certainly not enjoying himself (ask Solin if she cares). It's about time the world was reminded that roses have thorns.

A "wife" without the ring was what he was after. She let him witness her glow-up up close. Hailey is the perfect "stand-in." She has been Callum's lifeblood for the past two years, acting as an ideal partner without being called that. He believed he was getting a test run for free, while she believed they were creating a life. "I get all the good parts and none of the responsibilities... Sienna's the one I actually want," is what she hears next, and it completely changes her life. Game. Set. Match. Hailey stops being the force that keeps Callum going. Callum's life turns into a hilarious, mouldy nightmare of weaponised stupidity and "salmon-pink" laundry disasters. Hailey finally starts living for herself. And then there's Nick - the rugged builder who doesn't just have a vibe; he has a spirit level, a plan, and a way of looking at Hailey that makes her feel like a masterpiece, not a convenience. Featuring: The "Placeholder" Revenge Weaponised Incompetence vs. Radical Indifference The Ultimate "Upgrade" Hero A Slow-Burn Downfall that is 100% Spectacular

*MAJOR EDITS/REWRITE IN PROGRESS* Evie has dealt with her fair share of traumatic events, and she just wants to focus on college and her beloved paintbrushes and bass guitar. Harry is just beginning to deal with the most traumatic events of his life: cancer and the American healthcare system, respectively. The two fellow students meet on a bus when Harry notices a stranger following her, and he walks her home to make sure she's safe. Months later, when she learns about his diagnosis, Evie returns the favor in the only way that makes sense: by marrying him. It's meant to be just on paper. She's merely helping him out financially through her mom's health insurance plan. Neither of them expects this simple favor to come with growing worry that turns into a reluctant friendship, which then spirals completely out of control before either can stop it. But it does, and now they're dealing with it in their own unique ways: Evie ignores it, and Harry ignores her ignoring it. // TW: cancer, strong language, alcohol/underage drinking, mentions of substance abuse, mentions of physical abuse, sexual content

*WARNING: RATED MATURE DUE TO LANGUAGE/SEXUAL CONTENT. READERS MUST BE 17+* *CANNOT be read without reading prior novels in series* Wolfe Emerson is notorious for two things: being an absolute beast in a boxing ring and being a voluntary mute. His story remains unspoken and he prefers to live his life in silence. That is, until, his world is turned upside down when he meets someone who is louder than life. The complete opposite of him with her outspoken personality, Wolfe can't decide if this woman gets on his nerves or makes him feel things he's never felt before. The scariest part? For the first time in his life, he wants someone to know who he truly is and see him. Hear him. But will he be able to fight for her in silence, or will he finally have to speak up? Melanie "Lenny" Parks is notorious for one thing: being a total badass. At least, that's what she wants everyone to think. Her past is a deeply buried secret and she's more than happy to mask her pain behind tough scowls and cold smirks. That is, until, she meets a man who literally bulldozes into her life. This beast of a man seems to have his eyes set on her and what she's clearly hiding from the rest of the world. The kicker of it all? He doesn't speak. Yet he makes her want to fill in the unspoken blanks between them and finally show someone the real her. But does she even know who the real her is anymore, or has she been silenced for good? All rights reserved to TheFeveredBookaholic.