Isabella Moretti never expected her life to become a pawn in a ruthless game of power and revenge. Forced into an arranged marriage with the enigmatic and dangerous mafia heir, Leonardo De Luca, she finds herself trapped in a web of deception, control, and unspoken desires. Leonardo doesn't just want a wife-he wants vengeance. For years, he has harbored a deep grudge against the Moretti family, and now, Isabella is the key to his ultimate retribution. But as their cold and calculated marriage unfolds, sparks ignite between them, blurring the lines between love and hatred. When an unexpected pregnancy threatens to change everything, Isabella must navigate the treacherous world of mafia loyalties, family betrayals, and her growing feelings for the man who vowed to break her. Can she escape the chains of this marriage, or will she find herself willingly falling for the husband who holds both her heart and her fate in his hands? In a world where love is war and revenge is the currency of power, Isabella and Leonardo must decide-will they destroy each other, or will their twisted fate forge an unbreakable bond?
Chapter 1 The Proposal
Isabella Moretti sat in the dimly lit study of her father's estate, her heart pounding like a war drum. Across from her, Leonardo De Luca lounged in a leather chair, his presence suffocating, his dark eyes burning with a mixture of amusement and something colder-determination.
"This marriage will happen, Isabella," he said, his voice smooth but edged with steel. "You don't have a choice."
She lifted her chin, forcing herself to hold his gaze. "And if I refuse?"
Leonardo's lips curled into a smirk. "Then your father loses everything. The Moretti empire crumbles. Your brother is left to pay for his mistakes with his life." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Do you really want to test me?"
Isabella's hands clenched into fists. She knew the weight of his words. Her father had made bad deals, trusted the wrong people, and now he owed Leonardo a debt he could never repay. The De Lucas weren't just business moguls-they were mafia royalty, and Leonardo had taken the throne after his father's sudden death. A debt owed to him wasn't just financial. It was personal.
The room wasn't empty. Her father, Matteo Moretti, sat behind his desk, his once-proud shoulders hunched in defeat. Her mother, Sofia, clutched a handkerchief, her eyes red from crying. Marco, her older brother, stood near the fireplace, fists clenched as he glared at Leonardo.
"This is insane," Marco growled. "You can't force her into this."
Leonardo turned his gaze to Marco, his smirk fading. "Your family's sins forced this. Isabella is simply the price that must be paid."
"What do you gain from this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
His smirk vanished, replaced by something unreadable. "Revenge."
A shiver ran down her spine. This wasn't just about money. This was something deeper, darker. But did it really matter? If she said no, her family would be destroyed. If she said yes, she would be trapped in a marriage with a man who wanted to break her.
Her father finally spoke, his voice weak. "Isabella, please. You have to do this."
Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wasn't doing this for her father. She wasn't even doing this for Marco. She was doing it because she had no other choice.
She swallowed hard. "Fine. I'll marry you."
Leonardo stood, adjusting his suit, satisfaction flashing in his gaze. "Good girl. The wedding is in two weeks."
As he walked out of the study, Isabella exhaled shakily. She had just signed her life away to a man who saw her as nothing more than a pawn. But what scared her most was the spark of something dangerous she had felt in his eyes-something that made her pulse race.
The next two weeks were a blur of preparations, whispered warnings, and moments of solitude where Isabella tried to convince herself she could survive this. She wasn't given much of a say in anything-her wedding dress, the venue, the guest list. It was all orchestrated by the De Lucas, a display of their power disguised as an elaborate ceremony.
She spent most of her days locked away in her room, avoiding the pitying stares of the house staff and the tension that lingered in every conversation. Her father barely spoke to her. Marco was constantly on edge, snapping at anyone who dared mention Leonardo's name.
The night before the wedding, Leonardo paid her a visit. He entered her room without knocking, his presence filling the space like a storm waiting to break.
"You should get some rest," he said, eyeing her as she stood by the window, staring out at the moonlit estate. "Tomorrow is a big day."
She turned to face him, arms crossed. "You expect me to sleep knowing I'm walking into a life sentence?"
A smirk played on his lips as he took slow, deliberate steps toward her. "You call it a life sentence. I call it fate."
She stiffened as he reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. The touch was unexpectedly gentle, a contradiction to the cruelty she knew he was capable of.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" she whispered, hating the way her voice wavered.
He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "I enjoy winning."
A shiver ran down her spine, and she cursed herself for reacting. Leonardo was a man who fed on weakness, and she refused to give him any more power over her than he already had.
"Goodnight, Isabella," he murmured, stepping away. "Sweet dreams."
As he left the room, Isabella clenched her fists.
Tomorrow, she would become Isabella De Luca. And her battle for freedom would truly begin.
Chapter 1 The Proposal
17/03/2025
Chapter 2 The wedding
17/03/2025
Chapter 3 The deal
17/03/2025
Chapter 4 Unwanted Attraction
18/03/2025
Chapter 5 Deeper secrets
19/03/2025
Chapter 6 The Pregnancy
19/03/2025
Chapter 7 Conflict
19/03/2025
Chapter 8 Danger strikes
19/03/2025
Chapter 9 Protecting Isabella
19/03/2025
Chapter 10 The Baby's Arrival
19/03/2025
Chapter 11 Redemption
19/03/2025
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