Louise is a captivating novel that follows the story of Louise, a young girl who finds herself caught between her love for an aristocrat and the expectations of society. "You swore we would always be together, that you would protect me," Louise wept, her slender frame trembling. "How could you do this to me?" Lucy tossed her lustrous brown hair over one shoulder and scoffed. "I am your superior now in every way. We may share blood, but that slave woman who birthed us was never a mother to me." But when fate flings Louise into unexpected romance with Sebastian, can their star-crossed love shatter rules denying whites and blacks alike? He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. "I understand, my love," he said, his voice tender. "I will give you time, as much as you need, to come to terms with our feelings. But know this: my love for you is not something I can simply turn off or ignore. It has become the very beat of my heart, the air that I breathe."
'The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.'
The carriage jolted along the extended gravel driveway, the clip-clop of the horses' hooves on the stone path. Within its confines, two twelve-year-old girls peered through the window, captivated by the majestic façade of Whittermore Manor. The grandeur surpassed their expectations, adorned with towering brick chimneys, and ivy gracefully ascending the weathered stone walls.
As the carriage progressed, the intricate details of the manor's design came into focus. The matching wings on either side of the manor came into view, along with white columns framing the front door. It was a sight to behold, each element contributing to an aura of timeless elegance. Amidst the anticipation, it was almost surreal to fathom that this stately abode would soon become their cherished home. The carriage halted, its door swung open, and a man of fair complexion dressed in naval soldiers' attire emerged. Two girls equally emerged, a pair of sisters, twins: one of mixed complexion, the other dark-skinned.
Simultaneously, the grand doors of the manor creaked open, revealing a man and a woman standing side by side, both dressed in their finest attire. The woman, appearing around 50, had stunning, flowing blonde hair tinged with a touch of grey. Her fair complexion was complemented by piercing blue eyes. She was attired in a regal gown of the palest green, embroidered with delicate white flowers. Accompanying her was a man, presumably her husband, aged around 78, with grey hair and a matching beard. He wore a navy-blue suit, immaculately tailored to fit his broad frame. Upon their encounter, a mutual bow marked the beginning of a silent exchange between them.
"Samuel... Brother..." the older gentleman said sombrely as he broke the tense silence. "I see you have brought your children."
The woman pursed her lips, conflicted emotions playing across her face. "I heard you took a slave as your lover. To have children..." She trailed off, unable to hide her disapproval.
The man named Samuel, who was the twins' father, felt a mixture of anger and hurt. He could see the disdain in the older man's eyes, but he also knew that his brother had suffered a great loss when he had married a slave as a wife. He forced himself to remain calm and respectful. "Please, do not judge what you do not understand," Samuel pleaded. "I loved their mother deeply. And I love my daughters with all my heart."
"War looms, and I may not return, so I beg you, look after them as your own." Samuel pleaded, the words catching in his throat. "I would not ask this of you if it were not necessary. My duty to my country must come first but know that I leave them in the safest of hands."
The woman glanced at the two girls uncertainly. The older one, Lucy, and the younger one, Louise. Samuel knelt and put a hand on each girl's shoulder. "This is your Aunt Abigail and your Uncle Edward. They will take care of you until I return. You must listen to them and do as they say. Do you understand?"
The girls nodded solemnly, their big brown eyes wide with curiosity and apprehension. The older one, Lucy, spoke up, "Yes, Father."
The girls looked up at Aunt Abigail with solemn eyes. Her expression hardened as she took in their appearances - Lucy with her light brown skin and curly hair, and Louise, whose hair was thick and dark and whose complexion matched her late mother's. Abigail's lips pressed into a thin line. Though she tried to hide it, her gaze held undisguised disdain as it lingered on Louise. The young girl felt the weight of that look, and it made her want to shrink away.
She dropped her eyes to the ground. Lucy reached over and squeezed Louise's hand reassuringly. She had always been protective of her younger sister. As Aunt Abigail turned abruptly and strode into the house without another word, Lucy leaned into whisper to Louise, "Do not worry. I will look after you."
Louise blinked back tears and nodded. She knew the coming years under Aunt Abigail's care would not be easy, especially for a girl like herself. But with Lucy by her side, she felt hopeful, she could endure. As long as they had each other, they would survive. At least that was what she thought.
"I shall miss you girls dearly," said their father Samuel, his voice cracking with emotion. He pulled them into a tight embrace before letting them go. "You must take care of each other and always remember that I love you with all my heart."
Their father stepped into the carriage, departing Whittermore Manor. They waved as he disappeared from view, their young hearts heavy with sadness, aching as the carriage rattled away.
"Hurry up!" Aunt Abigail's shrill voice called from within. The twins hurried up the steps, hands clasped, as Uncle Edward followed silently behind. Inside, the manor was as grand as its exterior suggested. Old paintings and gold-framed mirrors hung on the walls. Thick rugs covered the marble floors. A sparkling crystal chandelier was hanging from the ceiling. Louise's eyes widened, taking in the beauty around her. She had never seen such wealth before.
"Stop your dawdling!" Aunt Abigail snapped, breaking the spell. Uncle Edward disappeared wordlessly into his study. Abigail loomed over the girls, scowling. "Your father brought you here for me to care for, so you will do as I say! Understand!" Lucy and Louise nodded mutely. Abigail turned first to Lucy, looking her over critically. "You have fine features for a girl of mixed race," she remarked. "Obey me, and you may yet make a proper wife."
Then she turned to Louise, grabbing the young girl's cheeks roughly. "As for you - someone of your complexion does not deserve such luxury. You will work hard and learn to keep your head down." She continued grabbing Louise's face, her grip painful. "You will serve as Lucy's maid and tell no one you are sisters. Is that clear?" Louise's eyes watered in pain and shame. Lucy tried to intervene, but a maid pulled her away.
"I do not know what your father was thinking, mixing with those people," Aunt Abigail sneered, her words dripping with disdain. She let go of Louise's face, and the young girl wiped away her tears as best she could.
"Do not talk about my mother that way!" Louise burst out before she could stop herself. The words hung in the air between them, and Abigail's eyes narrowed. Her eyes blazed with anger. Her hand flew out, striking Louise hard across the face. The young girl's head snapped to the side, and tears welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip, trying not to cry out.
"You ungrateful little wretch!" Aunt Abigail hissed, her voice low and menacing. She stepped closer to Louise, her face mere inches from the girl's tear-streaked features. "You do not speak unless spoken to!"
Aunt Abigail turned to face the maid holding Lucy, her eyes cold and hard. "Take Louise to the servant quarters, which is where people like her belong." With a nod, the maid dragged a sobbing Louise away, ignoring the girl's screams and sobs. Louise felt herself ripped from everything she loved - her father, her mother's memory, her dear sister as she disappeared down the dark hallway.
Serenity, trapped in a loveless marriage with the abusive Cole, finds her world shattered when she discovers his infidelity. Her heart is torn apart, not just by his betrayal, but by the realization that his mistress is someone she never expected. As if that wasn't enough, Cole and his mistress hatch a sinister plan to destroy Serenity's life, leaving her fighting for her survival. Will Serenity find the strength to overcome adversity and exact her revenge, or will she succumb to the darkness that threatens to consume her?
Lireal's life was shattered when a tragic fire claimed her parents, leaving her an orphan. Forced to move in with her cold-hearted aunt and uncle, she soon realized the people of the Silvermoon pack treated her like an outcast, a piece of trash unworthy of their respect. The final blow came when her supposed mate, Calix, publicly rejected her in front of their entire school, humiliating her beyond measure. Broken and alone, Lireal made a desperate plea to her aunt to attend a boarding school far away. Her aunt agreed, offering Lireal an escape from the cruelty she endured. Four long years passed as Lireal found her strength, her voice, hardening herself against the injustices of her past. Now, having returned to the Silvermoon pack, Lireal is a force to be reckoned with - strong-tongued and headstrong. But her uncle has different plans, forcing her into an arranged marriage with Asher Blackwell, the virile alpha of the pack. To Lireal's shock, Asher turns out to be her new fated mate. How will this fiery she-wolf handle being bound to the most powerful man in the territory that once shunned her?
Abeni's world turns upside down when her father can't repay his debt to NYC's most dangerous man - Dmitry Kuznetsov. With her freedom on the line, Abeni gets sucked into Dmitry's glamorous yet treacherous domain. Though Dmitry commands her obedience, Abeni feels an irresistible spark with the magnetic crime lord. As the stakes climb higher, she faces an impossible choice - submit to Dmitry's demands or put her family at risk. Torn between loyalty and desire, Abeni engages in a high-stakes game with the cunning kingpin. But Dmitry never loses control - he wants Abeni, and he intends to own her in every way. Will Abeni give in to Dmitry to protect those she loves? Or will she defy the Russian Devil to save herself?
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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.
She was a diamond covered by ashes.... King Dakota was known as the most Powerful Alpha King of all times - more powerful than any other King that had ruled from his lineage. He was cold hearted, introverted and dangerous in anger. Cursed by the Moon goddess, King Dakota had to get married to three wives all in search of a male child that would become his heir, but it was impossible as the curse would only let his wives bear she -wolves. But on a different day, the King meets a lady who offends him and as a punishment, he took her home as his fourth wife. Her name was Shilah. Shilah was a powerless wolf and as a result, was disregarded and intimidated by all. But, when she begins to do things that the King had never felt for years, he began to wonder who she really was. Slowly, she crawled her way into his icy heart and turned out to be something nobody ever expected - a storm.