Carmela Blake never imagined her life would spiral into chaos. Once a rising fashion designer, her dreams crumble when her family faces financial ruin. To save them, she agrees to a loveless marriage with Damion Blackwood, a billionaire CEO whose icy exterior hides dangerous secrets. To the world, their marriage is a perfect union of power and wealth. But behind closed doors, it’s a battlefield of clashing wills, unresolved passions, and painful betrayals. Carmela soon discovers Damion’s true motives—he’s using their marriage to settle a score from the past
View MoreEnd of FlashBackThe echoes of the past refused to fade.After the door had clicked shut behind Adrian, the old woman—Blackwood matriarch and queen of a crumbling empire—remained frozen in her bed. Her thin fingers trembled as they clutched the silk sheets, her heart pounding so violently she thought it might tear through her chest.He was alive.And worse—he wanted the key.The very thing that had ignited this blood feud between her grandsons.For years, she had convinced herself that what she did was necessary. That she had saved the Blackwood name from Adrian’s recklessness. But tonight, as the shadow of her past stepped back into her world, she realized the truth.She had created a monster.And now, it was coming for her.Her hands shook as she reached for the burner phone hidden beneath her bedside table. With effort, she steadied herself, breathing through the cold panic clawing at her throat.The line rang once—twice—before a voice answered. Deep and professional. “Madam?”“He
The room was cold. Even with the heavy silk sheets pulled around her fragile frame, the chill settled deep into her bones. But it wasn’t the night air that made her tremble—it was the memory. The ghosts of her choices haunted her every waking moment.And now Adrian was back.Alive.Her heart pounded in her chest, a painful reminder that the past could never be buried. Not fully. Not when blood had been spilled to keep the Blackwood empire intact.She leaned back against the headboard, closing her eyes, and for a moment—just a moment—she allowed herself to return to where it all began.The day their father died. Her own son. Fifteen Years AgoThe Blackwood patriarch had been a cruel man. Powerful. Merciless. And utterly obsessed with legacy.When news of his death broke, the boardroom of Blackwood Enterprises became a battlefield.And at the center of it all stood Adrian.He was the eldest—by only a year—but the difference between him and Damion could not have been greater. Where Dami
The black SUV crept along the deserted road under the cover of night. The forest surrounding the hidden estate was dense, moonlight barely filtering through the canopy. Adrian sat in the backseat, his face expressionless, but beneath the calm façade, his blood simmered.He had waited for this moment for years.Tonight, he would finally face the woman who had tried to kill him.The faint click of a gun echoed through the vehicle as one of his men, Marcus, checked his weapon. “You sure you want to do this alone?” he asked, his voice low and steady.Adrian’s lips curved into a cold smile. “I don’t need anyone holding my hand, Marcus.”Marcus hesitated, the tension thick between them. “If she did what you say she did, she won’t hesitate to finish the job.”“I’m counting on that,” Adrian murmured, his eyes gleaming with a dark promise.Without another word, he slipped out of the car, his movements soundless against the gravel path. The estate loomed ahead—a secluded fortress with high wall
Carmela woke to the soft glow of early morning light filtering through the curtains, painting delicate gold streaks across the plush bedroom. For a fleeting moment, everything felt calm. Peaceful. As if the weight of the last few days hadn’t happened.But reality settled in quickly, like a heavy stone pressing against her chest.The dinner. Damion’s apology. His words still echoed in her mind.“I do want you to fight for me.”But how long could she keep fighting for a man who still seemed to be fighting against himself?With a sigh, she pushed the blankets aside and slipped out of bed, her bare feet brushing against the cool floor. She padded toward the bathroom, trying to push away the ache curling in her stomach.By the time she emerged—hair damp and skin warm from the shower—her thoughts were still a tangled mess. She needed clarity, space to think, but Blackwood Estate was a constant reminder of everything unresolved between them.She needed to get out.Grabbing a pair of jeans an
For a moment, Carmela couldn’t breathe. Should couldn’t believe the word he had just said. The weight of Damion’s words hung heavy in the air between them—simple, raw, and so unlike the cold man she had grown used to.“Because you matter to me.”Her heart raced, thudding painfully against her ribs. She had dreamed of hearing those words—craved them in the quiet moments when she felt invisible beside him. And yet now, sitting across from him in a softly lit private dining room, she didn’t know what to do with them.“What does that even mean, Damion?” she asked softly, her voice trembling despite herself.Damion leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. For once, the usual cold detachment in his gaze was gone, replaced by something softer—something she couldn’t quite name.“It means…” He exhaled quietly, as if searching for the right words. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”Carmela swallowed the lump rising in her throat. “That doesn’t answer my question.”His lips curled int
Carmela sat at a small café tucked away from the city’s chaos, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. The café was warm, the scent of freshly brewed espresso lingering in the air. She had asked Lucas to meet her here—it was time to clear the air between them.The bell above the door jingled softly as Lucas entered, his tall frame filling the entrance. His sharp eyes scanned the room before they landed on her. For a moment, his face softened.He walked toward her table, dressed in a casual navy jacket and dark jeans, yet still carrying that same air of quiet confidence. He slid into the seat across from her, his gaze never leaving her face.“I wasn’t sure you’d call,” Lucas said, a faint smile playing on his lips.Carmela exhaled quietly. “I didn’t want to leave things the way they were.”Lucas leaned back in his chair, stretching one arm along the backrest. “And how exactly are things, Carmela?” His tone was light, but there was a weight behind his words.She hesitated, choosing her next
The city lights blurred past as Damion sat in the back seat of his car, his fingers drumming against the leather armrest. His mind was a whirlwind—Carmela’s broken expression haunted him, no matter how much he tried to push it away.He hadn’t meant to hurt her.But she had been with Lucas.The image of Lucas tucking her hair behind her ear burned in his memory, igniting a raw, unfamiliar anger deep in his chest. She had gone to him—not to Damion. And that fact twisted inside him like a knife.“Sir?”Victor’s voice cut through his thoughts. His assistant sat across from him, his laptop open and glowing faintly in the dim interior.“What is it?” Damion’s voice was clipped, colder than usual.Victor hesitated before sliding a tablet across to him. “The financial reports you requested. There are… irregularities.”Damion’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the screen. For a few moments, the only sound was the quiet hum of the car.“Elena,” he murmured, the pieces falling into place.Victor nodde
Lily’s apartment was a stark contrast to the suffocating tension of Blackwood Estate. The space was small but cozy, with soft lighting and the scent of lavender drifting from a nearby candle.Carmela sat curled up on the couch, a warm blanket draped over her lap, but no matter how much she tried to relax, her mind refused to settle.Everything from earlier replayed in her head.Damion’s fury. His accusations. The way he had walked away, leaving her standing there, feeling small.Her father’s betrayal.Her own heartache.“You’re thinking too much.”Lily’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.Carmela looked up to see her friend standing by the kitchen, two mugs in her hands.“I brought tea,” Lily said, walking over. “Because you look like you’re about to spiral, and honestly? I don’t have the energy to drag you out of it.”Carmela let out a weak chuckle, accepting the mug. “Thanks.”Lily sat beside her, tucking her legs under herself. “So, are we gonna talk about what happened?”Carme
Carmela sat in the back of a cab, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed them against her temples. The weight of the confrontation with Damion still clung to her like an iron chain, dragging her down.She had told him she didn’t know if she could keep doing this.And he had walked away.Again. Without giving her a reply. The worst part was that she didn’t even know if she wanted him to chase after her.Would it have changed anything?Would it have made him love her?She let out a slow breath, leaning her head against the cool window.Lucas had tried to convince her to stay with him longer, but she had refused. She didn’t want to be his problem. He had been kind—understanding—but there was a tension in his eyes that told her what she already suspected.He had feelings for her. And that only made things more complicated. Her phone buzzed in her lap. Lily.Lily: Where the hell are you?Carmela exhaled.Carmela: On my way home.A second later—Lily: Home? As in the estate?Carmela
“Lily, stop joking. The guy I had a one-night stand with, can’t possibly be my groom.” Carmela Blake paced her bedroom, the soft fabric of her wedding dress swishing with each nervous step. Her phone was pressed to her ear, and her best friend’s panicked tone did little to soothe her nerves. “Carmela, I’m fucking serious!” Lily’s voice was sharp. “You, think about it for me; tall, gray eyes, ridiculously rich and insanely hot. That’s Damion Blackwood from head to bottom. How many men like that do you think exist?” Carmela’s stomach flipped, knowing what her best friend was saying was true. “It’s just a coincidence,” she said weakly, though her voice wavered. “I mean, I didn’t even get his name that night, so…” “Exactly! You didn’t get his name, and now you’re marrying a guy who fits perfectly to the description. Now, tell me if that’s not suspicious.” Carmela stopped pacing, her fingers in between her teeth’s, she sank onto the edge of her bed, her gaze drifting to the glitterin...
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments