As the quints head into their third and final year of college, they are going to discover the thing that truly matters most - family. Follow them on their journey as the sisters deal with situations beyond their control. That is when the family becomes essential, especially the Gray Family. Now all they must do is get through the next two years with minor issues. Considering these are The Gray Sisters, expect the unexpected. With a little bit of help from the Brothers and a whole lot of humor, anything is possible. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Unconditional Love
Lakin
Patience has never been my strong suit. I prefer to use my fists to get my point across. But, of course, now I would have to garnish some with Mia.
Her speech had improved, and so did her motor skills, but she had developed an innocence about her. She looked at things differently than before, and now it was my turn to take care of her.
I spent more time with her than with my family. They understood, but today we're celebrating Grammy's birthday. I swear the woman is like two hundred years old.
According to Dad, she is only ninety-five, close enough.
I drove over to Mia's house to pick her up for the birthday party and got out of the car. I walked up to the front door and knocked.
Michael answered it and smiled. He held the door open as I walked inside.
"I'll get Lyric. Mia's a little upset."?
"About what?"?
"Her dress."?
I nodded and walked up the stairs, and he followed me.
I knocked on her bedroom door, and it was quiet. I turned the knob, opening it to reveal Mia sitting on her bed with her head down.
I walked over to her and crouched in front of her. "Hey, baby girl."
She lifted her head and looked at me, wide-eyed, smiling. "Lakin!"
"Michael said you were a little upset about your dress."?
"Oh, Lakin, it's not pretty." She sighed.
"It's beautiful."?
"Are you sure?" Her face lit up.
"Yes, now, come on. We don't want to be late." I stood up and held out my hand. She took it, standing up. She placed her hands on my shoulders and kissed me on the lips. That caught me by surprise because she hadn't been affectionate with me for a while.
I missed this. I placed my hands on Mia's face and kissed her back. I missed her lips and being close to her - baby steps.
I let go of her, and she smiled. I took her hand and led her out as Michael followed us. I led her to the car and got her situated while Michael went to get Lyric.
I drove her to Grampa's and Nana's house. After I parked, we got out of the car, and I held her hand while we walked inside the house. I didn't want people to scare her.
As we entered, she clenched my arm as people saw us. The entire family was here. Uncle Jonas and Uncle Cayson came along with their wives and families.
"Lakin, I'm scared." She buried her head into my shoulder.
"Mia? Look at me."?
She lifted her head.?
"This is my family, which will also be your family one day. So, they won't hurt you, Hunny."
Everyone gave her a soft smile as a smile curled upon her lips. Then I heard a clunking sound against the floor. Oh, shit.
Mia gripped my arm, cutting off my circulation as Grammy crept towards us. Please be kind and gentle. I prayed to myself.
"Well, hello, Mia. You're wearing a lovely dress today." Grammy said. Wait. What?
Mia loosened her grip on my arm and moved her hands to her dress as she pushed the material between her fingers. "Do you think so?"
"Oh, sweetheart, I know so. How about you come with me, and we can have cake?" Grammy gave Mia a genuine smile.
Mia smiled and turned to me. "Lakin? Can I have cake?"
"How about some food, then you can have an enormous piece of cake?"
"Okay."?
"Okay, food, then cake," Grammy told her. "Get us some food, Nathaniel. I'm not getting any younger!"
"You can say that again," Cayson said under his breath.
Mia giggled. "He's funny."
Grammy didn't argue, and neither did the rest of us. We all smiled. That was a relief. As they made their way out, Dad and Ma walked over to me. "She seems like she's doing better," Dad said.
"We're taking it day by day," I said.
"Lakin, we're proud of you," Ma told me.
"She's my heart," I told them with a shrug. I walked by them and out to the backyard. Mia was everything to me. So much had happened that I was afraid she wouldn't wake up, but she did. She might be different, but to me, she was my Mia.
*****
The party got into full swing. The noise level increased tenfold. It caused Mia to go into a full-blown panic mode because the noise was an issue.
"Stop!" She placed her hands over her ears.?
I turned and walked over to her as everyone quieted down. I reached her.?
"Lakin, it's too loud."?
"Okay, baby girl. Let's go somewhere quieter." I guided her away from everyone.
Michael followed suit.
"Will she be okay?" Larkin asked Lyric.
"No, but over time noise won't be as bad. Michael said she's been having a challenging time adjusting to things. It's because of the brain damage," Lyric said.
"She didn't deserve that. I hope that the bastard rots in hell," Maverick said.
Once we calmed her down, I took her home. The party was too much for her. Over time, she would get better with noise, but it was still a battle. At least, she was here and alive. Oh, Mia, my baby, it'll be okay.
Carrington Carrington Jones grew up with seven brothers and sisters. He has a happy-go-lucky nature with a tender heart, which sets him apart from his siblings with their personalities. He meets a woman who captures his heart. The only problem is she has a husband. Carrington’s brothers advised him against pursuing it, especially Mason and Charles, understanding it’s a terrible idea. Carrington can’t stay away from the woman. What happens with romance blossoms? Will Carrington discover his happiness, or will his heart get broken? A forbidden romance is enticing but arises in tragedy. Carrington will discover that it’s not romance where his heart lies but what occurs from it. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Matthew Harper always does the right thing. He doesn’t drink or smoke and protects his family, but he lets his past rule him. After dealing with the loss of his girlfriend Sadie, he thought he could move on, but ghosts of the past resurface. It made him close off his heart to someone who could love him more profoundly than the ocean. What happens when a past love resurfaces, making him rethink his earlier decisions? Will he get a second chance at happiness he deserves or breaks another’s heart again? It takes help from some cousins and an unexpected situation to show Matthew that we can’t let the past rule our future. The heart wants what the heart wants. *The Gray Series spin-off series. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Oliver Harper is a unique person. He doesn’t care about frivolous ideas or someone in his life to complete him. He prefers a conversation that stimulates his mind. When Oliver starts college, his friends and cousins join him. The problem with this bunch is they’re crazy. Have you met the Gray/Harper family? They define bat shit crazy. Olivier will navigate his way through college with the help of his family and cousins. He’ll meet and fall in love with the most unexpected person who’ll stimulate his mind. College life is about to explode. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Growing up next to the Harper boys, Tori Williams learned to hold her own with them. Her brother Gabe is best friends with the boys, and Tori deals with the youngest Harper boy, Deacon. There’s a slight issue when Tori dates Bradley Wilson, whom the Harper boys can’t stand. Wanting to keep Tori from her idiot ex-boyfriend, Nate and Deacon develop a plan of their own. Elias Harper graduated college and returned home to work in construction. While Nate and Deacon scheme to keep Bradley from Tori, another issue arises when Elias takes an interest in a particular neighbor girl. What happens when four years change people? Will a love connection happen, or will someone get burned? With the Gray gene cemented in your DNA, all bets are off. Follow Elias as he discovers who held his heart while growing up. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Lex and Piper are ready to settle down and have a family of their own. After celebrating the wedding of Michael and Lyric, something significant happens to Lex and Piper, which turns the Gray family upside down. Will they be able to get through this, or will they falter? With the help of The Gray Brothers and The Gray Sisters, Lex and Piper will learn the meaning of what it is to be a Gray. Love and humor go a long way for this family. Follow Lex and Piper on their journey as we find out if they can find their way back to each other. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
Nash and Maggie’s offspring are off to college, along with Kaiden and Kain. As they navigate life away from home, they must deal with what happened after graduation too. Will the quints help Lyric deal with the tragedy while they deal with college life? Sometimes, you need a little help and guidance from The Gray Brothers themselves. Get ready because The Gray Sisters are taking college by storm. Author: Johanna Delacruz Publisher:i&i Publisher
"Then let's get a divorce!" With courage, Leora left her husband's house, after being accused of poisoning his mistress. Her in-laws and sister-in-law had planned various ways to kick her out of Peter's house and in the end Leora gave in. However, no one expected that things would turn 180 degrees after the divorce. When everyone who had hurt her was happy with each other's lies, Leora returned. This time, she was no longer the poor orphan girl from the orphanage. She has changed and not only that, she also carries a big secret that will make everyone turn to worship her feet.
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
She was hurt. She was bullied and made fun of. And the only hope that kept her going was finding her mate. She has always been weak. Weak to the world. Why? Because she was a lantern. She didn't have a wolf. That's what everyone thought about her. When she found her mate, he wanted her to be his slut and not a wife. She might be an omega, but it doesn't mean she will take disloyalty and betrayal lightly. So she did something that no one in history ever did. She rejected an Alpha. "I, Alexis Clark, reject Brandon Sterling, the alpha of Black mist pack, and consider myself a free soul until I decide so."; Were her last words before she left that torturous place and became a rogue. A rogue that everyone was fearing and finding. Why? Because she was the rogue that has become one of the biggest problems of almost all the packs in the country. She was Alexis Clark. A rogue that rejected an Alpha, stealth food, kill other rogues, and more than that was living with humans and studying with them. What will happen when her case is given to the world's most dangerous alpha, Sebastian Sinclair, who has taken it upon himself to punish this rogue. The one who hated rogues and omega to a level that was beyond understanding. Why? Because his mate was an omega, who betrayed him with a rogue before dying. How will Alexis tackle this alpha, in whose College she was studying and living under hiding for almost a year? What will Sebastian do when he finds out the new girl he had been talking to is none other than the rogue omega that he had decided to kill? "To love you with all my might was my only wish, but you were the only one who gave me endless suffering. So today, I promise myself to not fall for anyone."; A simple saying that both Alexis and Sebastian had vowed upon. Will they be able to find their love amidst all these problems?
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.