The Secrets We Left Behind Novels & Stories

Fresh out of college, Clara Stewart asked me to take on a $500,000 mortgage for her. When I refused, she turned around and bought an $800,000 villa in full, for another guy. Holding up the property deed, she told me: "Jayden, the truth is, I'm actually rich. I've been pretending to be poor to test you. Unfortunately, you failed. I'm disappointed in you. Let's break up." I simply smiled and walked away without a second thought. The irony? I'm the son of the richest man in the country. I was pretending to be broke, too. Fast forward four years, we met again at the National Wealth Summit. Clara had just barely made it into the top 50 on the list, clinging to the arm of Henry Brown as they entered. She spotted me in simple clothes with no visible brand, holding a child in one arm and the keys to a Porsche Cayenne in the other. Thinking I was someone's driver, she sneered: "Jayden, you really went all out just to see me again? Let's be real, you're just a driver now, and I'm on the wealth list. We live in completely different worlds. Don't waste your time fantasizing." I did not bother replying. Honestly, I was only there because my billionaire dad insisted. I had finally cleared a day to spend with my son and now I had to waste it on that.

Ivana Monique "Ivy" Ortega is a 17-year-old girl who moved to a town called Mirfield. Her parents couldn't afford to send her to college so she took her aunt's offer to finish her studies at Mirfield College with her financial support. Here's when she meets a student named Zion, a mysterious man who loves books as she does. Whenever Ivy crosses paths with Zion, she always feels something different towards him. Later on, creepy things happen to Mirfield and to Ivy herself. She discovered that Zion isn't a normal person at all. On the other side, even though Ivy knows that Zion isn't like her, she eventually fell in love with him. Ivy discovered that Zion needs to marry a human to get his abilities back. His abilities were kept from him by the spell casters when he killed a man in the woods who happens to be the one who tried to hurt Ivy a few times. Will Ivy agree on marrying Zion to get his vampire abilities back?

Athena Jade Calderon, girlfriend of Gabriel Venturri, who died seven years ago for unreasonably cause of death. She was abused and gang raped by gangsters. She was able to survived in that rape incident but the marks of abused haunted her every night. She got her justice when the suspects were sentenced in life imprisonment. After that incident, Athena lost everything, her pride, dignity, and even her obsessed love for Emmerson Rafique. The love that she's fighting for, but the reason now living a hell of misery. Only Gabriel Venturri and Ysabelle Fernandez who were there besides her giving love and moral support. But Emmerson leaving her behind just to avoid the scandal. Out of depression, Athena committed suicide because she wanted to end the pain and sufferings. When Athena died, Gabriel Venturri, her devoted boyfriend, almost lost his senses. Out of love and hatred, he wanted to take revenge against Emmerson Rafique by all means. When Arthur James Fernandez, his mentor and guardian, died in a car accident, Gabriel inherited the family business and become the guardian of his cousin, Ysabelle. Finally, knowing the whereabouts of Emmerson Rafique, in Tagaytay Elite Club, as one of the powerful members there. With the help of Brandt James Salvatierra, his business partner, was his great edge to meet and encounter with Albie Salvatierra, the owner of Tagaytay Elite Club. Through their powerful partnership, it's an easy access to the real target. With the help of Ysabelle Fernandez and Dennise Althea Salcedo, his plans for revenge against Emmerson Rafique was successful but became complicated afterwards. So, he must be facing the consequences of all his actions and wrong decisions. Would he be ready to face LOVE again at the most unexpected moment? With the least woman, that he could felt love and desires.

During summer break, I took my son, Luke Thorne, diving at our private beach. Ralph Foster, a hotshot TV actor, suddenly showed up with a whole entourage and barged in. "This is a private beach that Gloria personally secured for me to entertain VIPs. You two nobodies had better get lost right now!" He threw his weight around and even dragged my wife, Gloria Stokes, out as a threat. When he learned who I was, he went a step further and mocked me as a kept man living off my wife. I actually laughed. I was the head of the Thornes, the most powerful family in Frenkinston. Since when did I become some freeloading, useless husband? On top of that, Gloria's film studio and every bit of her backing came from me. But when Gloria arrived, she sided with Ralph and actually tried to force Luke to put on a show for some sleazy investors. Sneering, I made a call that only the head of the Thornes had the authority to make. "Shark Vanguard, clear Crescent Bay. Now."

This unusual pair will eventually meet and form an unlikely bond, as they navigate through the complexities of their different worlds and emotions. The story will be filled with unexpected twists and turns, as the duo face challenges, learn about love, and experience the highs and lows of their unique relationship. The story will also explore themes of trust, loyalty, and resilience as both characters learn to lean on each other for support and strength. It's a modern love story with a mafia twist. As their relationship deepens, the couple will face opposition from various sources. The girl's family situation might pose challenges, and the guy's ties to the mafia could bring danger their way. Their differences in age and background will also pose unique obstacles for the couple. In addition, the story will also explore the complexities and dangers of being caught up in the mafia world, and the impact it has on their relationship. Despite the difficulties, the couple will persevere and fight for their love against all odds. As the couple continues to navigate the challenges in their relationship, they will experience moments of tenderness and understanding, as well as moments of conflict and tension. They will learn to communicate better, and trust each other more. The guy will learn to open up about his past, and the girl will come to respect and admire his loyalty. Their love will grow stronger as they face trials together, and they will learn to appreciate and value each other's differences. Overall, it's a tale of unlikely love and resilience in the face of adversity. Join this twisted tale of love and mafia.

The Consigliere—my husband, Sal Barzini—who'd always despised anything soft or weak—suddenly started sleeping with a teddy bear. One button eye missing, filthy as a stray dog, yet he cuddled that beast every night, curled up in silk sheets like a baby returning to the womb. And left me freezing on the edge of the master bedroom. I couldn't stand it anymore. At our son Luca's first-year baptism, I announced I wanted out. Everyone went numb with shock. Sal grabbed a glass of red wine and threw it in my face. "You're jealous of a stuffed animal? Have you lost your fucking mind?" I wiped the wine from my cheek, cold as ice. "You say you want to spend your life with that beast. I'm giving you my blessing."

On the first day of our marriage, Abyron, the Snake King, and I formed an empathic bond. It was thus impossible for me to doubt his love for me. However, on the seventh day, he slept with two rabbit girls. I collapsed completely. It felt worse than death. He sighed and said, “Yoelle, snakes are naturally lustful. It’s not that I don’t love you. You simply can’t satisfy me. You may deal with the women around me however you wish, but I won’t divorce you.” At first, I killed the women he favored out of jealousy. Later, I stopped caring at all. Then he dismissed his entire harem for a human woman named Xena Lane. That was when I asked for a divorce. It was not because of jealousy. It was because my little lover was demanding his place.

After being cheated on by her boyfriend Gabriel, Alice ran away to start a new life without saying she was pregnant. Six years later she comes back to Mexico where her past stood still waiting for her to say the truth. But what she didn't know is someone else was waiting for her, Ian, the one whom she gave strength to walk out on his religion to pursue his dreams. What's going to happen when her old boyfriend decides to fight against anything to conquer her heart again? Gabriel said he was going to love her forever but, is he going to fulfill his promise even if she's pregnant with another man's baby?

At the Costa family's annual capo banquet, Marco Costa declared the family would extend protection to one woman only: Rosa Frost, his childhood sweetheart, newly divorced and newly returned to the family fold. One by one, the other women slipped away into the night with their money, their dignity, and fresh protectors already lined up. I, Viola Rossi, once his Donna, was severed from the Costa family entirely, with nowhere left to go. Twenty-one years prior, The System ripped me into this life with a brutal mandate: make one of four made men fall irrevocably in love with me, and I'd earn my way back to my real life with a healthy body. I failed. Every single one of them chose Rosa. The system's final mercy: die here, go home. I stood in a rotting Brooklyn dock warehouse, gun in hand, and closed my eyes. Right as darkness closed in, a raw, raging scream of my name tore through the silence, like the man shouting would burn the whole world apart to reach me.

That night, I got off work early and brought home some late-night snacks. When I opened the door, I saw a pair of high heels carelessly tossed in the entryway and Gregory’s blazer thrown over the couch. His heavy breathing and the woman’s moans could be heard through the gap between the door and its frame. I was all too familiar with this sight. This time, I did not storm out like I used to. Instead, I sat quietly at the dining table and finished my cold pizza.