Alessandra has never believed in safety. Life never gave her a reason to. Pain carved her childhood, silence became her armor, and trust? That was a luxury she could never afford. So when she runs -- bloody, broken, and barely breathing, she doesn't expect saving. She certainly doesn't expect to be taken in by a family dripping in wealth and power and. . . warmth? A mother who refuses to give up on her. A father who watches like he's waiting for her to let him in. And six brothers. Rough. Protective. Complicated. Brothers, who don't know what to do with a sister who won't speak. She doesn't know how to trust. How to believe that maybe not everyone wants to hurt her. Every instinct tells her to run. To shut down. But they don't let her go. Not when she flinches. Not when she hides. Not even when she breaks. Happiness is for other people, or that's what she believes. But when love comes wrapped in gentle patience and fierce protection, when hands reach for her without demand, when hearts break themselves wide open just to hold her... she starts to wonder. Can a girl stitched together with silence and fear ever belong in a family built on love? Can she stand tall when the ghosts of her past refuse to let go? And when danger claws its way back into her life, threatening everything she's come to know... will she find her voice, or will she shatter all over again? Trigger Warnings: Child abuse. Violence. Addiction. Panic attacks. SA. Self-harm. Death, and more.

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. - Update: 2026 - Cover: Canva © 2026 [CherylZielle]. All rights reserved. Do not copy or distribute without permission.

No one ever wanted Riley Knight: not her father, who made sure she didn't have any part in his or his families life; not her mother, who resented her for virtually everything; nor her step father, who has hated her since before she was born. Not even her own big brothers -- the ones who are suppose to love and protect her no matter what -- wanted her. Or so she thought. Riley is the product of an affair -- well her and her twin brother, Rome, are -- but she never had two parents. See, her father has always had "something against" the female sex and therefore, it is weak in his eyes to have a daughter. So he kept Rome and sent Riley away from the second the twins were born. He is the one responsible for turning his six sons against his youngest child and only daughter and, therefore, chaining her to a life of abuse and neglect. But did he succeed? Following her fathers death 7 years ago, Riley's brothers have taken a bigger interest in her and her quality of life, ensuring it was up to par. But all is still not perfect among the Knight siblings. Will Riley finally find her solace among her big brothers? Will they find out about the horrors she faces on a day-to-day basis? Can this family ever become one again ... or do the scars run too deep?

Ivory has never relied on anybody-anything. Not even her own mother. The same mother who forced her into a life she never deserved. But there's no backing out now. The assassin's life is all she's ever known, ever since childhood. Her mother made sure of that. Trouble finds Ivory like a vine-wrapping, twisting, never letting go. Spreading like a virus. Trouble finds her most when she discovers she's the bastard child of the Italian Mafia Don. When she meets him and his family-his wife and five sons-she realizes her life is no longer hers to control. And she hates that. It only worsens when her knight in shining armor reveals himself to be the devil in sheep's clothing. Satan himself, if you will. A new country. A new household. A new family. New friends gained, old ones lost. A thirst for revenge. How is she supposed to cope? Especially when stormy eyes follow her everywhere. But that's not quite what scares her. What terrifies her is the way he watches-not with the same disdain he gives everyone else, but with interest. With wonder. For her and her alone. You know what they all say; curiosity kills the cat. But satisfaction brought it back.