Introduction
Fernanda seems to live a perfect life: she is the wife of a powerful real estate mogul. But when he is brutally murdered, she becomes the prime suspect.
The detective assigned to the case?
Hermes—her unforgettable, passionate love from the past.
They once shared an intense romance that neither could forget. But fate tore them apart. Now, they meet again under the shadow of a crime with dark motives and buried secrets.
Is Fernanda a cold-blooded killer, capable of eliminating her own husband?
Or is she the victim of a cruel conspiracy?
Amid twists, long-hidden truths, and desires that never died, Hermes will have to face both his feelings—and the truth.
Chapter 1
CURRENT DAYS – HERMES
The phone alarm rang, waking me from a dreamless sleep. On impulse, I immediately turned it off. I didn’t need to check the time—I knew it was 6 a.m., as it was every day.
Silently, I gathered the strength to get up and sat at the edge of the bed, my head pounding with an irritating pain, as if a fine needle was lodged in my temples—a result of last night’s whiskey.
I turned to the side to look at the woman lying in the spacious bed, wrapped in fine Egyptian cotton sheets. Her right thigh was exposed, barely covered by the bedding, and her reddish-brown hair was spread over the pillow. She was around thirty, about five foot seven, with a body clearly shaped by long hours at the gym. I remembered her expressive brown eyes.
"It was a mistake," I thought to myself as I headed toward the bathroom of the luxurious suite.
After closing the door quietly, seeking a bit of privacy, I turned on the shower. The cold water hit my body, relieving the headache caused by the hangover.
As I scrubbed myself vigorously with a sponge, my thoughts turned to Ivone, the owner of the apartment, a real estate businesswoman. Her brother, Jonathan, had gone missing about four months earlier, and I, as Chief Inspector of the Alpha Team of the Homicide and Personal Protection Division of the São Paulo Civil Police—commonly known as the DHPP—was assigned to the case.
Initial investigations revealed that Jonathan was a drug user and in debt to traffickers from a community nestled in the middle of the upscale Morumbi neighborhood. After two difficult months, we located his body in a shallow grave on the outskirts of the city.
Two men were identified and arrested for the crime. They confessed that, due to Jonathan’s long-standing drug debt, they had kidnapped and killed him after draining his bank account. Unsatisfied, they had dismantled his car to sell the parts, stolen his expensive cellphone, and even taken his designer clothes.
During the investigation, Ivone visited the station weekly for updates. When I told her we had found the body and solved the crime, she broke down in my arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Her brother was her only living relative. Their parents were deceased, and as the youngest in the family, she had always cared for him. Maybe all the pampering had pushed him toward drugs. It wouldn’t be the first case like that I'd seen.
Digging deeper into his lifestyle, we found he lived like a playboy, burning through the inheritance their parents had left—money Ivone had worked hard to multiply.
The day before, she had called to invite me to dinner as a way of thanking me and my team for everything we had done, even though I insisted we were just doing our job. Still, she was persistent, and I finally agreed. Why not? I was single, she was too, and the case had been closed. There was nothing unethical about the invitation.
We arranged that I’d pick her up at her apartment, where I left my motorcycle, and we took her luxurious sedan to a well-known restaurant. Even though I wanted to pay, she wouldn’t let me. In the end, we agreed to split the bill.
After dinner, I took her back to her apartment and accepted her offer for one last drink.
It didn’t take long before we were wrapped up on her couch in a long kiss. Her lips still tasted like the expensive red wine she’d had. Boldly and eagerly, she removed my cream dress shirt and began unbuttoning my jeans after I took off the holster and pistol I always carried.
I helped her quickly slip out of her knee-length blue dress with silver details, while kicking off my loafers.
Still wrapped in each other’s arms, hands exploring, tongues tangled in a deep kiss, we stood up—both aware that sex was inevitable. She led me to her bedroom, where I laid her down on the bed, positioning myself over her body, now clad only in cobalt-blue lace lingerie.
I buried my face in her breasts, inhaling her light perfume as I ran my hands along her thighs, feeling her scratch my back and press me closer.
I caressed her nipples through the fabric, drawing a deep moan from her, while squeezing her breasts alternately with one hand.
I moved down, kissing her stomach until I reached her inner thighs, exploring every inch of the lace with my tongue, slipping beneath it to reach her already wet core—its salty, delicious taste filling my mouth.
Her body arched as I moved the fabric aside and enclosed my mouth around her intimacy, exploring her soaked entrance with my tongue, alternating with teasing her clit, sucking and pressing it with my lips. I focused on her for several minutes, until I felt her body tense and her moans grow louder.
I paused, reached into my jeans pocket for my wallet, and pulled out a condom. Quickly, I slipped it onto my hard, pulsing erection.
I positioned myself between Ivone’s legs. She looked up at me with half-lidded eyes and parted lips. As I pressed the tip of my cock at her entrance, she wrapped her toned legs around my waist and pulled me inside her, hard, clutching the back of my neck.
I plunged into her, hearing her moan in pleasure. With one hand, I massaged her breasts; with the other, I gripped her thigh and buttocks, thrusting slowly and in sync with her hips.
I kissed her neck, breasts, and lips, feeling her pull me closer, her nails once again digging into my back—and boldly, into my ass.
After several minutes of this back-and-forth, I increased the pace, her thighs trembling, moans more intense, her teeth gently biting my shoulders and then my lips.
"Fuck me harder," she moaned into my ear.
Without hesitation, I pounded into her, the wet sound of our bodies crashing echoing through the room, until she screamed, her legs tightening around my waist as if trying to draw me deeper into her soul.
I couldn’t hold back. I came hard, still thrusting, until I collapsed on top of her, burying my face in her hair.
She stroked the back of my neck as our breathing and heartbeats slowly calmed. Soon, she was asleep, wrapped around me.
For a few minutes, I debated whether to leave or not. But in the end, I resigned myself—nothing would change what had already happened. Not wanting to wake her, I decided to stay. After all, there was no one waiting for me at home—not even a pet. I lived alone in a small apartment near Aclimação Park, where I liked to go running whenever I could.
Now, as I rinsed off, I thought about the night before. It wasn’t that it hadn’t been pleasant—it had. But clearly, we were two lonely people finding solace in each other.
I turned off the shower and dried off with a fluffy towel, lost in thought.
I was 27 years old, in great shape—my body muscular and toned, thanks to countless hours at the gym near the DHPP headquarters in downtown São Paulo.
When I finished, I leaned both hands on the marble sink and looked into the large round mirror on the wall. A man with short black hair—buzzed military-style—stared back at me with brown eyes. A few wrinkles had begun to appear at the corners of my eyes and mouth, along with some gray strands.
“This is my job,” I thought.
I had been in the Civil Police for years—over two as an investigator, four as a chief inspector. I’d seen too much—a true parade of human tragedy. Should I have stayed in law?
I joined the force at 21. By the time I graduated law school, I already had two years of service. I passed the bar exam on my first try. Three months later, Fernanda—my girlfriend at the time—encouraged me to accept an offer from a top corporate law firm in the Pacaembu neighborhood.
I gave in to her request, even though being a cop had always been my dream. What wouldn’t I have done for her back then? I barely practiced law before secretly applying for the police chief exam.
When I got the acceptance letter to the academy, we had a huge fight. But I stood firm. And she—apparently out of love—reluctantly accepted.
“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, feeling the familiar surge of anger and sorrow.
During my time at the police academy, she ended our relationship. We were practically engaged, and I was devastated. If I hadn’t thrown myself into my studies, I might’ve gone mad. At least I graduated top of my class. As a result, I was invited to join the Homicide Division—one of São Paulo’s most elite police units.
Had I chosen the right path?
My thoughts were interrupted by the ringtone of my phone, which sat on the bathroom counter. The grim memories of my past faded into the background.
“Hello? Dr. Paranhos,” I answered after checking the caller ID—my direct superior, the DHPP Director.
“Inspector Hermes, gather your team and head to the address I’m sending you,” he said, naming a street inside a gated community in the upscale Alphaville neighborhood of Barueri. “Probable homicide. Maintain discretion and keep the press away.”
“On my way, sir,” I replied before the call ended.
Immediately, I called my team leader and ordered everyone to the scene. Only then did I get dressed, leaving the bathroom to retrieve my .40 caliber pistol from the bedside drawer—where I found Ivone awake, watching me closely.
“Leaving already?” she asked sleepily, her body barely covered by the sheets.
“Unfortunately,” I sighed, averting my gaze as I holstered the pistol on my jeans. “Duty calls.”
“Will I see you again?” she asked, sitting up.
“Of course. I’ll call you,” I said, giving her a quick kiss.
Then I left the apartment, heading down to the basement where I’d left my motorcycle—a Harley Davidson 880R.
Always prepared for emergencies, I took a black polo shirt embroidered with the Civil Police emblem from the saddlebag and swapped it for my dress shirt. On the right side, it read "Chief Inspector" in white letters.
After putting on my helmet and a simple black leather jacket, I set the GPS on the handlebars with the address the director had sent me. I started the engine, smiling at the deep growl of the motor, and hit the busy streets of Latin America’s largest metropolis.
“Another day beginning with the end of a human life,” I thought as I rode.
Last Chapters
#18 Nanda
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#17 Hermes
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#16 Nanda
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#15 Hermes Part 2
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#14 Hermes
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#13 Hermes
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#12 Hermes
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#11 Hermes Part 2
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#10 Hermes
Last Updated: 1/23/2026#9 Hermes
Last Updated: 1/23/2026
You Might Like 😍
Cursed Beauty and her Three Alpha Mates
Cast out by her pack for being wolfless and plagued by uncontrollable heat, Maya has spent her life surviving humiliation in silence.
Fate drags her into the path of Kael Draven, the ruthless Lycan King who claims her… only to reject her.
But Kael is not the only Alpha bound to her.
Finn, her childhood best friend and the rising Alpha, loves her with a devotion so fierce, he spends four years locked away in the most ruthless dungeon only to keep her safe.
Xander, a rogue wolf who can make even Alphas bow to his will, has waited centuries for her to be reborn, and he has no intention of losing her again.
Three Alphas.
Three claims.
One cursed destiny.
They called her wolfless. They thought she was weak. But she is done hiding, and this time, she's rewriting the rules.
The Hockey Alpha's Fake Girlfriend
Then there’s Rafael. Dark. Untouchable. The boy everyone talks about but no one really knows. He should be the last person Vivienne gets close to, yet she can’t look away. He pulls her in with a kind of danger that feels both terrifying and safe, like he sees the parts of her no one else can.
But Rafael carries secrets—secrets that could destroy them both. And the closer Vivienne gets, the harder it is to tell if he’s her way out… or the reason she never escapes.
BROKEN TRUST
Neither of them knew she was carrying his child.
Emily’s affair didn’t just end her marriage—it erased the life she thought was guaranteed. Ryan left without looking back, carrying his anger like armor and leaving Emily alone with regret she would never outrun. Three years later, fate drags them back into each other’s world, along with a little girl who has Ryan’s eyes and a truth that shatters everything he thought he knew.
Old wounds reopen, grief masquerades as rage, and love refuses to stay buried. As parenthood binds them together and the past demands accountability, Emily and Ryan must face the question neither of them is ready to answer: is broken trust the end of their story… or the beginning of a love forged through loss, forgiveness, and brutal honesty?
Bound By Power, Torn By Love
She regards him as her only salvation, but he regards her as a pawn for revenge. When two enemies dance on the sharp knife, what will be the final outcome?
Ruined : You will always be mine.
“Fuckkk”, I couldn’t help but scream.
“You need to learn to be obedient” he said as he kept thrusting into me. When I felt his hands on my clit my body shook.
“Asher please, it’s too much”.
“No. if I really wanted to punish you, I would give you all of me”, he said against my ears and my entire body froze. Suddenly he moved and I was standing again. This man was insane.
I felt him behind me. “Ten Lashes for your disobedience”, he said
“Asher please”,
“No”. His voice was cold and void of any emotion.
Asher was what I wanted , what I truly craved until it was too late. An orphan should never fall in love with someone out of their reach. I thought loving him was the right thing to do until he revealed his true identity and Ruined me. I was ruined for everyone one else . I could still feel his touch, it was as if it was etched into my skin. I tired to avoid him but fate wouldn't let it happen.
The Sterling's were the most powerful in Havenwood and Dorian Sterling was off limits.
As an orphan finding out you still have people looking for you is hard to take but when it turns out to be people of wealth and standing I took the other road and ran, but running led me right back to the place I was avoiding and the person I was avoiding.
Asher and Dorling Sterling one and the same. When his first love shows up and along with everyone that has set out to ruin me, I prayed that he could protect me.
From Substitute To Queen
Heartbroken, Sable discovered Darrell having sex with his ex in their bed, while secretly transferring hundreds of thousands to support that woman.
Even worse was overhearing Darrell laugh to his friends: "She's useful—obedient, doesn't cause trouble, handles housework, and I can fuck her whenever I need relief. She's basically a live-in maid with benefits." He made crude thrusting gestures, sending his friends into laughter.
In despair, Sable left, reclaimed her true identity, and married her childhood neighbor—Lycan King Caelan, nine years her senior and her fated mate. Now Darrell desperately tries to win her back. How will her revenge unfold?
From substitute to queen—her revenge has just begun!
To protect what’s mine
Mates: Regrets and Redemption
With my heart in pieces, I sought solace in the last place I expected—my Alpha's arms. One night turned into a dangerous entanglement, and now my Alpha refuses to let me go. As the Alpha’s obsession grows, I'm caught in a web of desire and fear.
Curtis, the boy I once loved, still holds a promise I made, but the Alpha’s powerful presence pulls me deeper into his world. Should I forgive Curtis and keep my word, or should I risk everything for a chance at something wild and unpredictable with the Alpha who won’t take no for an answer?
“There are no limits between us,” he chuckled, the mirth sparkling in his gorgeous eyes. “And all of this stems from the night you gave me both pain and pleasure. I’m simply returning the favor.”
He took two steps forward, and I stepped back. “But…” The memory of what I had done filled me with fear, and I knew I had to get out of there. “I…”
“No, Firecat.” He placed an index finger on my lips. “This will take your mind off that son of a bitch.” His strong hands pulled me by the waist until I felt his hard manhood.
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother
"What is wrong with me?
Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?
It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.
He’s my boyfirend’s brother.
This is Tyler’s family.
I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.
**
As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.
Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.
When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.
I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.
**
I hate girls like her.
Entitled.
Delicate.
And still—
Still.
The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.
Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.
I shouldn’t care.
I don’t care.
It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.
It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.
I’m not here to rescue anyone.
Especially not her.
Especially not someone like her.
She’s not my problem.
And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.
But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
The CEO's Unspoken Love
Before I could answer, he moved closer, suddenly looming over me, his face inches from mine. I felt my breath caught, my lips parting in surprise.
"Then this is the price for speaking ill of me to others," he murmured, nipping my lower lip before claiming my mouth in a real kiss. It began as punishment but quickly transformed into something else entirely as I responded, my initial rigidity melting into compliance, then active participation.
My breathing accelerated, small sounds escaping my throat as he explored my body. His touches were both punishment and pleasure, drawing shudders from me that I thought he felt reverberating through his own body.
My nightgown had ridden up, his hands discovering more of mine with each caress. We were both lost in sensation, rational thought receding with each passing second...
Three years ago, to fulfill the wish of his grandmother, I was forced to marry Derek Wells, the second son of the family that had adopted me for ten years. He didn't love me, but I had secretly loved him all along.
Now, the three-year contractual marriage is about to end, but I feel that some kind of sentiment has developed between Derek and me that neither of us is willing to admit. I'm not sure if my feelings are right, but I know that we can't resist each other physically...
Timeless Us
The world she knew is gone.
Her husband, Nathan, is no longer the young man she left behind—he’s successful, respected, and living with a new family.
But when the woman who disappeared twenty-three years ago suddenly returns…
can love survive the years that were lost?
Bound by the Dragon Mafia
The head chef looked like he was silently praying for death.
I rushed forward. “Amara. Stop traumatizing these poor people.”
She spun around, delighted. “Sera! Good, you’re here. Taste this. It’s missing despair.”
The chef’s face morphed into existential crisis.
I grabbed her arm. “Put the spatula down.”
“But—”
“Down.”
With exaggerated offense, she dropped the spatula and muttered, “Fine. But if no one here has artistic vision, that’s not my fault.”
She went undercover to expose a mafia empire.
He offered her thirty nights to save her life.
When investigative journalist Seraphine Vale steps into the glittering underworld ruled by billionaire crime lord Dante Vescari, she thinks she’s chasing a story about missing women and corruption.
Instead, she uncovers a secret older than blood—an empire built on fire, sin, and dragons.
Bound to Dante by a forbidden pact, Seraphine finds herself caught between fear and desire, truth and temptation.
Each night pulls her deeper into his world of power, passion, and danger…
and closer to the monster hiding beneath his perfect skin.
Thirty nights. One bond.
And a love that might just burn the world to ash.













