"...Don't show that you cared about my happiness, when you actually didn't. I doubt if you ever truly did care." I whispered the last part menacingly at him, clenching my jaw as my eyes filled with tears. The way his face hardened and his eyes dilated, I assumed he heard me as a muscle in his jaw ticked. I lowered my pointing finger and wiped my tears furiously from the back of my hand, looking away. "It's good that you got to know about everything before this marriage facade got out of our hands. Now, you'll realize that you never had any feelings for me and it was just an infatuation." He scoffed, looking away. His adam's apple bobbed as his veins popped out lividly. "Don't you dare insult my love, Wali! My love for you was so pure. You know what? You don't even deserve it." I told him, swallowing the lump in my throat. My voice came out harsh as my breath grew thin and ragged. I tried to control myself, reminding there were people in this house. Ya Allah, who was this man standing in front of me? ----- Meet Wali Rehman Khan and Aleyha Shaikh. They both grew up together, they were cousins by fate but best friends by choice. Wali had always been overprotective of her and deeply cares for her, fulfilling her every demand. She thought he loves her the way she loves him but how can he love when he hates even the thought of love? She had believed he would always be there for her but how wrong she was! He left and was back after five painful years. She no longer was the same teenager he last saw or knew, she had changed and changed for good. But still, around him, she didn't know how to feel. She tried but her heart was no longer in her control and she paid a heavy cost due to that. Was the payment worth it? Was it all along Allah's plan? -------------

"He doesn't say 'I love you.' But he changed in all the ways that yelled it." •••••••••••••• Vaani Joshi never expected love from her arranged marriage - just respect, maybe some space, and silence she could live with. Dhruv Deshmukh was exactly that: powerful, unreadable, and cold. He didn't ask her what she liked. He didn't ask how her day was. And she never asked for anything. But then he started noticing. Not her words - her silences. Not what she wanted - what she gave up. The man who never looked twice is now the one who watches her the closest. And the girl who never expected anything... is the reason he's learning how to give everything. •••••••••••••••• "Why do you always notice the things I don't say?" He looked at her for a long second. "Because you never ask. And I've never wanted to give anyone more." •••••••••••••••• Tropes: Slow-burn romance | Arranged marriage | Contemporary drama | Indian diaspora | Urban luxury + emotional intimacy | Cold ML x Soft FL | Changing for her 🏅#1 in India 🏅#1 in Indian 🏅#1 in desi 🏅#1 in romance

𝐙𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐫 × 𝐃𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐯𝐢 | 𝟑𝟏 × 𝟐3 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬: #𝟏 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥 She saw him more than once. And every time, her heart betrayed her; racing, stumbling, fluttering like a caged butterfly chasing a memory. Her breath shortened, her chest tightened, and still, she said nothing. Because it wasn't her place. Because she was never meant to be seen. Until she was. Until the day she stood before him, not as a stranger in the crowd, but as his bride. The wrong bride. He had seen her before. Once in passing, her eyes barely a flicker in his peripheral vision, dismissed for a prettier pair. The second time, he saw her through a vow sealed in blood and duty. And rage erupted. Exacting. Demanding. She wasn't supposed to wear that dress. She wasn't supposed to carry his name. But now that she does... There's no turning back.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 １ 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 ‶𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬ʺ 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 They can't stand each other. And now, they're getting married. 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐢 𝐌𝐞𝐡𝐫𝐚 has grown up hating one person the most-her mother's best friend's son, 𝐑𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐚. He's arrogant, irritating, and loves nothing more than pushing her buttons. For him, annoying Bhumi has always been the best game to play. The feeling is mutual-she can't survive a single day around him without wanting to scream. But when their close families decide to tie them together in an arranged marriage, everything changes. Suddenly, the boy she swore she'd never stand is the man she's supposed to spend forever with. Between constant arguments, stolen glances, and a chemistry they can't ignore, their hate begins to turn into something... unexpected. One thing is certain: their wedding will be chaotic, but their love story will be unforgettable. 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘

Arianna Rossi, was no stranger to violence. After all she was the daughter of the mighty Lorenzo Rossi, head of the Southern Italian Mafia. Her dad had always kept her away from the bloodshed but she wasn't stupid. She always knew about her father's illegal business. She always knew of the armament and drug deals but what she had no idea about was, what destiny had planned for her when she was forcefully married to the man her father choose for her without her knowledge. Dario De Luca, was the powerful heir to the throne of the Northern Italian Mafia. His only quest was power. He was a murderous monster who was famous for being the most heartless, unforgiving and ruthless person to ever live. He knew how to conquer his fears and bring his enemies down to their knees. What he never imagined was to stand at the end of the aisle waiting for a woman to get married to, because he was more than happy with his current bachelor life. He had no idea what destiny had planned for him when he agreed to marry an innocent girl in order to merge his mafia with another thriving one, to gain more power. She's innocent, He's a monster. She's loving, He's heartless. She's a flower, He's a gun. She falls for him, But so does he. Join Mr. and Mrs. De Luca as they invite you to an adventure filled with tears, romance, threats and longing. ⚜️ "Mia moglie innocente, I don't know who the fuck were you talking to, but you're not gonna cheat on me." With that he snaked his arm around my waist, suddenly pulling me to his hard chest and crashed his lips on mine. (My innocent wife)

𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 MEET 𝐌𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐡𝐠𝐚𝐥 I hate you, Jinal Thakur," he growled, gripping her wrist, his breath hot against her lips. "I hate you so much..." he whispered before crushing his mouth against hers out of pure jealousy. "I hate you too, Mr. Sehgal," she spat back, slapping him with trembling hands... and a heart that betrayed her words. And yet... It didn't stop him from doing the deed he was about to do. _________________________________ 𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ A dark, intense love story.

#TOP 2 in India(1,7,8/8/25) #TOP 3 in india(1,6,14,15,16,17,18/8/25) #TOP 4 in India(10/8/25) DEVYANI A 18-year-old innocent girl, She loves her father more than herself and is willing to sacrifice anything for him But how will she survive the trauma when her own father sells her to the most ruthless man just to clear his debt, without even thinking twice? "A father who sees her as a curse, locking her inside the house for 18 years and telling the world she was dead. But how will she feel when she steps out for the first time-and fate takes a 360-degree turn?" RIVAN THAKUR He lives alone with his SON(Kaizan), hating everything about marriage and the family he left behind. But when he wakes up one morning to find himself HUSBAND to a frightened young girl in his family's haveli(thakur's haveli)-his world tilts. ______________________ He stepped closer, his towering frame caging me in. My breath hitched. His eyes-sharp, cold, merciless-scanned me like I was a puzzle that didn't fit. "You don't even know how to wear a bra?" he asked, his voice low, incredulous, and almost cruel. I didn't know what to say. I slowly nodded my head-no-because... I really didn't. No one ever taught me. No one cared to. I was standing there, shivering slightly, my fingers trembling, curling into the soft shawl I used to hide myself. His gaze was burning, stripping me down to my bare soul, and I couldn't meet his eyes. But his next words... or we can say actions... shocked me to the core. ----------------- Will he accept her as his wife? Will he destroy her for a decision she never made? Or will fate tie them together in ways neither imagined? 𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ A dark, intense love story of two broken souls bound by force, fear... and destiny.

Luna A soft girl Helps everybody Sees the best in people But something about her is wrong. She's in trouble but who knows that? Nicholas Grumpy Cold Hates everybody He's the mafia king, and kills everybody in his way. But he has this soft spot. ⚠️TW ⚠️ SMUT RAPE KIDNAPP GUN ABUSE

She nodded solemnly. "With my girl charm and my pretty dress. But now I just feel like a hot pile of creamed corn." I dragged a hand over my face. "You need water. And sleep." "I need closure." "Sunshine..." "No," she said, standing straighter and stabbing a finger into my chest. "You don't get to look like that and make me feel feelings and then just go all mysterious and noble and disappear like a sexy hitman Batman." "Sexy hitman Batman?" "I had a lot of wine." "I noticed." ●・○・●・○・● She bakes cookies. He breaks bones. Everyone in the city fears mafia boss Dominic Moretti-everyone except Tessa Bloom, the relentlessly cheerful café owner next door to his front business. She calls him "Mr. Broody," brings him muffins he never asks for, and walks into his office like it's not occupied by a man who could have someone disappeared with a phone call. Dominic doesn't have time for distractions-especially not sweet, sunshine-eyed distractions with flour on their noses. But when Tessa finds herself tangled in the underworld he's spent a lifetime controlling, protecting her becomes more than a duty. It becomes personal. And suddenly, the most dangerous man in the city starts falling for the only woman who isn't afraid of him. ●・○・●・○・● Word count: 23,178 Top Rankings: 10.14.25 - #6 in Mafia

This book is a sequel to His Favorite Distraction. You can read this as a stand-alone but I do suggest you read His Favorite Distraction first! ●○●○●○●○● Enzo Marconi is Dominic Moretti's right-hand man-lethal, serious, and as intimidating as they come. Lucy Winters is a whirlwind of laughter, endless charm, and dangerously persistent flirtation. When Lucy sets her sights on Enzo, the stoic enforcer finds his carefully controlled world turned upside down by a woman who refuses to back down. She challenges his silence with her sunshine and warmth, and he meets her fire with his gruff protectiveness. But when enemies threaten the fragile peace between them, they must decide if their reckless hearts can survive a world that demands they stay apart. ●○●○●○●○● Dominic stared. "You're freaking out." "No," I said. "I'm thinking." "About?" "About where to get the safest crib on the market. And bulletproof nursery windows. And how fast I can replace the locks on Lucy's apartment. Again." Dominic blinked. Then grinned. "Oh, you're really in it now." "I'd die for her," I said, very simply. "But I'd kill for that baby." Dominic whistled low. "Jesus. You're already nesting." "I am not." "You absolutely are. You're one Pinterest board away from painting a nursery." "I don't know what Pinterest is." "Liar." ●○●○●○●○● Word Count: 22,843