The Architecture Of Love

Adrian Valerio has everything you can possibly think of — wealth, power, and the promise of inheriting his family’s billion-dollar empire. But when his father forces him into an engagement with Cassandra Rossi, the beautiful yet ruthless daughter of a notorious mafia lord, Adrian’s world starts to close in. Because Adrian’s heart doesn’t belong to his fiancée. It belongs to Ethan Cross, his loyal personal assistant and the one man he’s loved in secret for years. When their forbidden romance is discovered, Cassandra vows revenge, and her father’s shadowy network delivers a brutal ultimatum: marry her or watch Ethan die.

"I told you, Bella Mia. I don't want money. It's not about money, it never was. It's about getting you tied to me forever because what's the better way to take my revenge on you than making you marry me since I am the last person you want to be with and hate me to the core." he said cupping her face and bringing it close to his lips. " I will never marry you," she snaps in pure anger. "I hate you so much, Dante Matthews. I will die but never marry you." " We will see about that because if you don't then you can say goodbye to your father's company and all his hard work. I am sure you won't want that, right?" he asked with an arrogant smirk, " I am going to ruin you, Gabriella Harrison." " Why do you want to marry me? Are you still in love with me?" she asked, confused. "Love? I hate the word love coming out of your mouth. I began to hate you with every fibre in my being when you stood me up at the altar on our wedding day in the past. This marriage is purely going to be a marriage of hatred and revenge. You have got three hours to make the decision, or you can say goodbye to everything." he threatened and left. Dante hates Gabriella with every fibre of his being because she stood him up at the altar back in the past because he was poor. He loved her so much, but she broke her heart. Now he is back for his revenge on her and plans to get her married to him. But will this marriage be a marriage of love, hatred or revenge? What is going to happen when heartbreaking secrets are revealed?

After three years of marriage, William Harris’s first love, the woman he broke up with six years ago, returned from abroad. And she brought back a five-year-old son with her. Charlotte handed him the divorce papers with both hands. “Let’s end this. It’s better for you, for me, and for her.” William glanced at her and said dismissively, “Divorce? Can you afford to leave me?” Charlotte threw down the divorce papers and cut him out of her life for good. She severed every tie to the past and poured all her energy into her career, quickly rising to become an internationally renowned sleep disorder specialist. Powerful figures across the globe owed her favors and respected her work. The youngest heir of a foreign financial empire said, “Charlotte, just divorce him already. I can’t wait any longer.” The CEO of a multinational corporation said, “Charlotte, I’ll go with you when you file for divorce.” A world-famous attorney told her, “Charlotte, I’ll handle your divorce case myself.” Charlotte rubbed her temples. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the divorce. He was the one who refused to divorce her no matter what. Left with no other option, she made a public announcement. “Whoever can actually get this divorce finalized gets VIP seating at my divorce party.” Not long after, William received a divorce notice from her lawyer right in the middle of a shareholders meeting. Soon after that, a multi-billion-dollar project of his fell through. That same afternoon, he was nearly hit by a car right outside his own company. Later, Charlotte arrived at the hospital carrying a bouquet of flowers. “Let’s end this,” she said softly. “It’s better for everyone.” The cold and dignified William pulled her tightly into his arms, his eyes reddening. “You want a divorce? That’ll happen over my dead body.”

Preston High was supposed to be my chance at a better life. Instead, I’m the scholarship girl, the outsider everyone whispers about. Every hallway stare reminds me I don’t belong. I’ve spent my life surviving, not feeling. Love? I don’t even know what that means. Then Asher sees me, the quiet boy with kind eyes who makes me feel safe for the first time. But just as I start to breathe again, Adrian crashes in, the arrogant bad boy who rules the halls with his smirk and dares me to feel things I don’t understand. Two hearts. Two risks. One choice. Preston High is testing more than my strength… it’s testing my heart. And when the truth finally forces me to choose, one question remains: will I discover what it means to be loved, or will I lose myself trying?

"Please tell them it's a lie," I whispered in my quivering voice and looked up into his eyes. They were cold. Emotionless. "This marriage isn't one from my end." He crashed his lips into mine taking them for a dominant, rough kiss. My eyes teared up as the scenes of my tortured future flashed in my mind. "Welcome to hell Rachel. I warned you not to play with me." His bone-chilling voice rang in my ears. What will happen when Vincenzo forces himself into Rachel's life? Where will this forced marriage lead them to? Vincenzo is ruthless and cold. Doesn't care about consequences and certainly doesn't accept denials. Rachel is innocent but not submissive. Her confident attitude makes her appealing to the mafia king who wants to tame her.

Maverick Lloyd finally agrees to marry me after five years of dating. We head to the hospital to tell my ill mother the good news. On the way there, Maverick receives a call from his true love. He turns the car around and takes me to a bar instead—his true love is short of people at the bar, so he tells me to help out as a bargirl. When I'm being harassed and sullied in a private room, he's living it up with his true love next door. The hospital calls to tell me my mother's condition has worsened. I jump out of the third-floor window to get away. However, when I arrive at the hospital, all I see is my mother's cold body. Meanwhile, Maverick's true love updates her social media. "He appears before me like a hero whenever I'm in danger." It comes with a photo of her cuddling in Maverick's arms. My heart dies. I take off my engagement ring and place it with my mother's body to be destroyed during the cremation. Then, I like Maverick's true love's post. "I hope you two stay together forever. Don't ever harm anyone else."

The day my father jumps to his death, I'm taken in by Scout Saccone, an influential scion. He treats me like a princess for eight years, turning me into the target of everyone's envy. However, everything changes when he walks right into a trap and has a wild night with me after being drugged. I can't stop myself from confessing my deep-seated love for him when at the peak of my flame. To my devastation, he thinks I drugged him to have my way with him. He berates me for being shameless and hedonistic. The following day, he announced his impending marriage to his childhood sweetheart. Everyone thinks I'll kick up a fuss as I've always done, but I merely take a pill to end my pregnancy. Then, I leave without a word on his wedding day.

We're celebrating my son, Baby Selwyn, turning a month old. I'm walking past the pool with him in my arms when someone shoves me from behind. Colin Selwyn jumps into the pool like a madman. He saves us and immediately rushes us to the hospital. Baby Selwyn makes it out alive because of the timely rescue. When I open my eyes again, Baby Selwyn and Colin aren't by my side. I sit up while coughing and remove the needle inserted into my hand. I leave the hospital room and head for the pediatric department, wanting to see Baby Selwyn. However, as I walk past the emergency room, I hear Colin talking to a doctor. "We managed to save the child from drowning, Mr. Selwyn. Why has he now died of asphyxiation?" "I smothered him. Per the plan, he was never supposed to make it out alive!" "But why? He's your son!" "I promised Sandy that I would make our child the Selwyn family's sole heir. Lucille should never have given birth to Baby Selwyn." Colin's tone is gentle and calm, yet his words are cold and cruel. I've always thought I had a loving marriage, but it's just a joke! I've already lost my beloved son, and my heartless husband is the one behind his death. I don't want him anymore!

I had been in love with Anton Stark for fifteen years, and it was always sweet until another woman appeared. He began to act distant and used every trick to force me into a divorce. I clung to him desperately, even though I was battered and bruised, hoping he would change his mind. But eventually, I woke up. Some relationships should come to an end.

***Arielle*** ‎He shattered my innocence. He introduced me to his world of danger and desire. He consumed every part of me. ‎ ‎But I saw the deepest parts of him—the parts he never showed to the world, and my defenses crumbled. ‎ ‎We were never meant for each other. A forbidden attraction, that's what it was. My family feared his influence would destroy me. But I didn't care. ‎ ‎And even when the lines between family, politics, and mafia clans blur, I'd still choose him over and over again. ‎ ‎He is Gabriel Flynn. ‎Also known as Luciano Russo. ‎ ‎***Gabriel*** ‎I was given a task by my grandfather—to watch Arielle, to protect her. I took on the task, which soon became a hobby. The hobby turned into an obsession, and eventually, a day can't go by without me stalking my precious innocent Arielle. ‎