

With a sharp gunshot, my husband of twenty years, Marcus De Luca, rushed in front of me and took the bullet for me. As he lay dying, he spoke gently. “Nerina, live well.” I held him in my arms. My tears kept falling as I pressed hard against the wound in his chest. But he only touched my hair. His eyes fell on Vivian’s body. “She’s dead. I have no reason to live either.” It felt like a bullet had gone through my head. All the blood in my body froze. “She suffered in Sicily for twenty years.” “She finally came back, and now she died in front of me.” “Please stay alive. Bury me with her.” “If there is another life, don’t let her go to Sicily in your place again.” “Please make us whole.” His hand fell. My world collapsed. When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in front of Marcus’s father. The old Don looked at me. “Your wedding with Marcus is set for three days from now.” I lifted my head and spoke calmly. “Marcus’s bride should not be me. It should be Vivian.” “As for Sicily, I’ll go.”
![[ENG DUB] The Kiss Was Just the First Step](https://acfs3.goodshort.com/dist/src/assets/images/pc/common/f901131c-default-book-cover.png)
Serena Rivers spends three years in prison for a crime she didn't commit and uses every single day of it. She trains under four of the most formidable masters the underworld has ever produced and walks out as something entirely different from the woman who walked in. On her first day of freedom she corners the cold prison warden Xavier Stone against the water dungeon wall and kisses him without apology. He is her insurance policy and she knows it. Outside, the fake heiress has stolen her shares, her younger brother demands she kneel, and her former fiance has already moved on with a new bride. She tears up the rejection notice on the spot. Moments later, the Stone family motorcade arrives, the warden reveals himself as the family patriarch, and he shows up with a hundred billion in betrothal gifts and absolutely no intention of letting anyone touch her again. Together, they dismantle every person who had a hand in her three lost years.

Menard Group's heiress Nerissa gave up everything for love. After her boyfriend Brian Shaffer lost his hearing and speech in a car accident, she walked out on her wealthy family, faked being mute, and spent three years by his side. But once he regained his voice, he turned his back on her. Ashamed of his past and the "mute" girlfriend who stood by him, Brian drifted into the arms of another. Betrayed and heartbroken, Nerissa finally walked away. She was reclaiming her life, her name, and her future. With Michael Yeager by her side, she was done being silent. It was her time to speak, love, and rise.

Mafia Camorra family boss Michael is assassinated, forcing his 20-year-old only daughter Gloria to take over the family business. While dealing with internal and external gang conflicts, she falls in love with Theo, her late father's 34-year-old former FBI agent bodyguard. After spotting her own photo inside Theo's pendant, she becomes convinced he loves her back. But just as their relationship heats up, she discovers the photo is actually of her mother. Meanwhile, Theo’s past as an FBI agent leads her to suspect he may be linked to her father's murder, throwing their feelings into turmoil.

On our seventh wedding anniversary, I was straddling my Mafia husband, Lucian, kissing him deeply. My fingers fumbled in the pocket of my expensive silk dress, searching for the pregnancy test I'd hidden there. I wanted to save the news of my unexpected pregnancy for the end of the evening. Lucian's right-hand man, Marco, asked with a suggestive smile in Italian: "Don, your new little canary, Sophia. How does she taste?" Lucian's mocking laughter vibrated through my chest, sending a chill down my spine. He replied, also in Italian: "Like an unripe peach. Fresh and tender." His hand was still caressing my waist, but his gaze was distant. "Just keep this between us. If my Donna finds out, I'm a dead man." His men chuckled knowingly, raising their glasses and swearing their silence. The warmth in my blood turned to ice, inch by inch. The one thing they didn’t know was that my grandmother was from Sicily, so I understood every word. I forced myself to remain calm, keeping the perfect smile of a Donna fixed in place, but the hand holding my champagne flute trembled. Instead of making a scene, I opened my phone, found the invitation I had received a few days ago for a private international medical research project, and tapped "Accept." In three days, I would disappear from Lucian's world completely.

On our seventh wedding anniversary, I was straddling my Mafia husband, Lucian, kissing him deeply. My fingers fumbled in the pocket of my expensive silk dress, searching for the pregnancy test I'd hidden there. I wanted to save the news of my unexpected pregnancy for the end of the evening. Lucian's right-hand man, Marco, asked with a suggestive smile in Italian: "Don, your new little canary, Sophia. How does she taste?" Lucian's mocking laughter vibrated through my chest, sending a chill down my spine. He replied, also in Italian: "Like an unripe peach. Fresh and tender." His hand was still caressing my waist, but his gaze was distant. "Just keep this between us. If my Donna finds out, I'm a dead man." His men chuckled knowingly, raising their glasses and swearing their silence. The warmth in my blood turned to ice, inch by inch. The one thing they didn’t know was that my grandmother was from Sicily, so I understood every word. I forced myself to remain calm, keeping the perfect smile of a Donna fixed in place, but the hand holding my champagne flute trembled. Instead of making a scene, I opened my phone, found the invitation I had received a few days ago for a private international medical research project, and tapped "Accept." In three days, I would disappear from Lucian's world completely.

Vertical superstars Tess Dinerstein and Lottie Guidi test their unbreakable friendship and discuss everything being a girlboss in the entertainment industry entails. From Shakespearean origins to modern day mantras (plus a surprise special guest), you won’t want to miss the insight these titans of vertical entertainment have to offer!

Serene Gibson is the beloved daughter of General Ryker Gibson. After her parents are killed in a scheme orchestrated by her uncle Stanley Gibson,she’s taken into Stanley’s household. Because Serene bears an uncanny resemblance to her late mother, her depraved uncle keeps her imprisoned by his side while her aunt and cousin subject her to endless abuse. Under her grandmother’s protection, Serene appears obedient on the surface, but deep inside, the seeds of revenge have already taken root.

Mia Falcone, the Don’s daughter, gave up everything for Leo Romano after he took three bullets to save her. For seven years, she lived in secrecy as his wife, raising their son without a name. After Leo’s brother died, his widow, Jasmine Moretti, returned, and Leo chose her and ambition over blood. When the humiliation threatens her son, Ethan, Mia walks away and returns to her true identity. As Leo desperately tries to win back the woman he lost, Mia teaches him a fatal lesson: he didn’t just break a heart—he declared war on the wrong bloodline.

Emilia is the reincarnation of Saintess Natasha, who died in battle 70 years ago. Entering the Royal Academy of Magic as a baron's illegitimate daughter, she excels in magic and swordsmanship, earning a surprise nomination for the Saintess selection. There, Clara and her mother scheme against her, but Emilia inadvertently awakens the mad King Arthur, revealing her true identity.