The Ruin I Chose

About the book

Sometimes the person who heals you… is the one you hurt the most. Interior designer Roxanne Talati travels to Italy seeking one thing—space to breathe after years spending disappearing inside a suffocating marriage. Love is the last thing she's looking for. Then she meets Marcello Vitale. Quietly dangerous and impossible to forget, he sees the loneliness she's spent years hiding. And for the first time in a long time, Roxanne feels wanted. Seen. Alive. But some choices come with consequences. And some loves demand more than they're willing to give. When secrets come to light, Marcello walks away, leaving behind a wound neither of them knows how to survive. Months later, fate draws them back into each other’s orbit—into a world of restrained passion, sharp edges, and a love that comes with a price. The man she thought she’d lost forever returns changed—more guarded, watchful, and far more dangerous to her heart than before. Desire and guilt collide in this dark, addictive romance about second chances, forbidden longing, and a love that both heals and consumes. Perfect for readers who love: • Dark mafia romance • Morally grey heroes • Second chances • Forbidden longing • Emotional angst • Touch-starved heroine • Healing after heartbreak A love that ruins before it redeems.