I was shaking, shivering like a leaf in autumn as the cold water cascaded over me, I wanted to feel clean, I did, but no matter how much I scrubbed, it seemed I wouldn't be. Tears gathered at my eyes and fell, mixing with the water. "I love you, Avery, and nothing can change that." Came the soft voice from behind me, the voice that always knew how to calm me, I could feel his solidness behind, the warmth radiating, seeping into my freezing body. His arms wrapped around me and I leaned back, he was gloriously bare and I could feel every inch of him press against me, it was haven. I didn't feel so scared anymore, I wasn't so alone, he was right beside me and his presence reassured me. I let the water pour down, washing away my tears and fears and.... "I want a divorce." I heard him whisper and my heart stopped.
Death has a stench, and one that isn't very sweet smelling. It has a smell of hopelessness and despair, I would know, I've tasted it more than thrice in the last decade. My parent had died in an auto crash years ago and although I couldn't say I was still grieving, I still felt their presence once in a while. I was not ready for my grandfather to pass on too. No, I was not.
And it hit so hard, standing over his coffin that I could feel fresh tears bubble to the surface, threatening to spill and I held it in, I had to be strong, the whole paparazzi of Florida was right there, waiting for the cameras to flash on any moment of weakness, I was not willing to give them that.
"Avery, the pastor wants to speak with us," my elder sister, Sasha said as she came beside me by the grave side, it was then that I notice that the crowd had dispersed and I was left standing there alone with the eager camera men.
"I don't think I want to speak with anyone, Sasha " I replied, indeed I was not in the mood to hear any seemingly encouraging words from a man of God about my grand father being in a better place, I knew he would be, he was one of the few good people in the whole world, if he didn't make it to a good place then I could swear no one would.
"Cut the drama, Avery, the whole family is waiting." Sasha said stiffly and turned around to go back into the duplex.
I almost chuckled at the word, "family". There was no family, it was just me and her and a bunch of greying old men who thought because we were women that we could easy sway and play to their tunes, well Sasha was the prim and proper child, I wasn't, never had been and least of all on days like this, when I was missing the warmth of the last semblance of a guardian, I was not in the mood to be diplomatic.
But then, it was either that or stand with the annoying camera men who were eager like kids awaiting candy.
Pulling the sunglasses down from my forehead where it perched, I signaled the security who stood a few feet away.
"I don't want them here when I come, make sure they're gone or you'll be gone," I stated and then moved into the building, I didn't have a choice, I wanted the funeral to be as peaceful as it could, he deserved that respect.
The building was tastefully decorated, white linen hung everywhere, a large and handsome photograph of my grandfather hung on the wall, he had on a wide smile, the infectious sort that never failed for make me smile back.
Sasha was standing by the mantle, her hands in the firm grip of an elderly woman I did not know, she was all teary and I almost rolled my eyes. Everyone was pretending to be sad just to make us feel better. They didn't have to, it was our loss and we could handle it.
"Oh, you must be Avery, Sasha said you schooled away from here, I guess that's why I haven't seen a lot of you," the woman said and beamed at me, I smiled back, hoping it was not a sneer.
"I've been away, I spent most of my holidays and vacations here in Florida with Pa Harry." I replied and touched her old wrinkled hands as she held onto me.
With one last look around the room, I as already feeling suffocated and ready to head outside and into my Bentley go drive off, my Bentley, the last gift Pa Harry had given to me the past summer. Somehow getting on the leather seat awoke memories, in a less than three weeks, it had become my favorite car, somehow, I felt a sense of closeness to my late Grand father once I was behind the wheel.
"There are people here to speak with us," Sasha said as the elderly woman moved away.
"Oh please, can I quit acting like a doll? You know if rather be anywhere than here." I stated, factually and exhaled.
"You took a clean two weeks off work, Avery, where would you rather be?" She asked with a scolding tone.
"Does it matter? I just need to be away from here," I replied and looked outside, truly, the security was more or less dragging the paparazzi out of the compound.
"Could you please just dedicate the next two hours to Pa Harry? He deserves that much," she said, mirroring my exact thoughts. I stared at her, she was wrong, the moment he was put in the ground, it was no longer about him, all this was for looks and I wasn't ready to play host.
"Sasha, I know you keep telling me how I need to look good for everyone, I can't do that right now, not today, I can't play perfect princess," I argued, itching the leave the whole place.
"I'm not asking you to play princess, frankly no body is, all I'm saying is that an hour more of mixing won't hurt, Pa Harry is gone, all these people came here to pay their last respects, the least you can do is appreciate them," She said, and she was making sense, but then, we both knew it wasn't exactly the truth.
"Between me and you, these men are here to form ties and try to milk what they can out of us while his corpse is still warm, I'm not ready to play stupid like I don't know what they want." I retorted.
"Does it matter? We can't exactly cut open their hearts and see, courtesy demands we act nice, that's all, you'll be fine within the hour, it's rude to leave before your guest Avery, I'm sure mum taught us that." She said.
A low blow, yes but then it was not unlike her, I wasn't really living by her books and that always made me the wild one.
"There's something I need to tell you, Sasha," I began, there was no point trying to drag it forward, there was no way to butter it up.
"Can this wait? Please, we have forever to talk, can we see to our guests first?" She asked, clearly frustrated.
"No, Sasha, it can not wait, you no why? I don't care about our guests, the same way none of them truly cared about Pa Harry, he was a powerful man and half his friends were sycophants and disloyal pricks. I don't care what they think of me, I can assure you the feeling is mutual. I bought a ticket." I blurted, better now than later.
Sasha looked at me like my head was not seated correctly on my neck, it was not a new look.
"With everything that has happened, I need a fresh start I'm heading to New Orleans, I've booked a flight, it's due in less than an hour" I stated.
"What? You're moving?" She asked, her voice high and doubtful.
Maybe it was the best time for us to stick with each other, but no, I had a different plan, to be alone.
I flinched as his breath fanned my face, my body trembled in his arms. This was the chance, but was I scared? His eyes affected me in so many ways, as they held grief, pain and regret. Our stare was our way of communicating. It was intended, emotional and agonizing. I was hiding the knife behind me, picturing the perfect place to stab him. His searing heat sent a gush of lust inside me. I shouldn't fall for that. This was a revenge plan, not a romantic show-off. "I'm engaged, and I have a child with him", I remembered, barely recognizing my cold voice which had become soft and weak. He let out a dirty smirk, lowering his eyes to my lips as we exchanged breath. "I know, but I can't stop myself from falling" he whispered, and before I could blink an eye, he captured my lips, twirling them to his taste. It was a long liquid kiss that made me wet so that I couldn't fight back. The knife slipped off my hand as my body yanked on his. We both dried up where we stood when her voice resounded in our ears. "Mom?" *** Her fantastical life with Dante was a shadow. She left everything behind just to be with him, but he never loved her back. She lost her life because of him. Fortunately, she survived and looks forward to exerting her revenge plot on him. However, she never found him nor heard from him. Forgetting the painful memories that he never existed, she moves on and wins over a powerful man, Peris, who establishes her. She gives birth to her daughter and anticipates her wedding with Peris. However, what happens when Dante shows up three days before her wedding?
Blurb: Millie Matthews was willing to give up everything to be with the one she truly loved. Three years ago, she left home to be with her lover, Rovan Marlowe, whom her family were strictly against. But after finding out she could never replace his first love in his heart, she was forced to leave when he heartlessly chose his first love over her. She returns to her family and takes her place to start her life afresh, only for Rovan to return and beg for her to come back. After realizing that he was a fool to let her go, Rovan became determined to get her back as his wife.
It was a cold night, her family was brutally murdered alongside the love of her life, and taken captive by the ruthless Alpha in all of Windertown. Latina is forced to pay the ultimate price for her betrayal. Little did she know, her destiny was somewhat tied to his just as he was tied to her, but the realization was too late as the damage had already been done.
Amanda's world crumbled when she received the eviction notice. Her family's financial struggles had reached a boiling point, exacerbated by her mother's mounting medical bills. Desperation Desperation was the beginning of everything. Will her desperation lead her to the right path? – or otherwise? Faced with mountains of problems, with no option. She went for the easiest solution – or so she thought Amanda jumped at the only available opportunity. Getting married to the cold hearted billionaire. No strings attached, just appearances. Awaiting the time her marriage would be dissolved and she would be free again. But what becomes of her when she starts falling in love with the cold hearted man? A man whose only interest is his company and appearances. Will her love be reciprocated? Or will it be crushed to pieces and blown away like dust into the earth?
Ashley is a 19-year-old waitress working at a bar to make ends meet and provide for her father who is suffering from chronic illnesses. She's mortified and feels her life has been turned upside down as she's forced to marry the wealthy CEO, Jackson. She hates Jackson and tries to avoid him at all costs. However, when she starts to know him better, she begins to see the kind and loving person he truly is. Over time, their love for each other grows stronger, and they overcome the obstacles that stood in the way of building a happy family.
Alfredo Romano is the only son and heir to Don Romano, the head of the most powerful mafia family in New York. He meets and falls in love with Elena, a stunning, sexy young woman. Elena's father, Mr. Barnes, a wealthy businessman, was killed by stray bullets during a mafia war between The Romanos and another mafia family. Convinced that the bullets that had ended her father had come from one of the Romanos' goons, she sets out to seek retribution for her father's death and destroy the Romanos, but instead finds love and makes a shocking secret that forever changes her life. What did Elena find out? Does it stop her from getting her revenge on the Romano family? Find out in this captivating story of love, loyalty, and betrayal.
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
Eliza Greer was abandoned by her mother, raised in an orphanage, and sold to the Burns family at 19. Even though she marries Mason Burns, the other people in the Burns family look down on her for her poor identity and want to try every way to bully her. Unexpectedly, they all failed. Eliza's hidden identities are gradually revealed in one incident after another, which astonishes everyone.
While Sienna reached the pinnacle of her success, Julian remained the forgotten son of his family, the one who had secretly stolen her first kiss in the shadows of the night. As Sienna hit her darkest moment, Julian returned home, leaving his life behind, only to witness her tears glistening in the moonlight as she reluctantly accepted another man's proposal. When Sienna needed Julian more than ever, he had risen to a position of power and had become her most steadfast pillar of support. "Please marry me." There was no one else in the world who could love Sienna as deeply as Julian did.
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.