Five years ago, Haunted by the tragedy, Anise embarked on a journey to unravel the mystery behind her mother's untimely death. Little did she know that this quest for justice would intertwine with the complexities of her heart and the magnetic pull she felt towards the handsome Detective Jake. Detective Jake had known it was unprofessional to form that sort of relationship with the victim of the case he had been assigned to work on. But somehow found himself ready to lose it all, to be with her. It is not only shocking but heartbreaking when Anise ups and leaves without a trace, after the conclusion of the investigation. Now, Anise has returned after Five years, with a child he never even knew he had. Jake would go to any length to gain custody of his child, while Anise would go to any length to win Jake's love back. The question is... Can they love again?
SEPTEMBER 2023
ANISE POV
I braced myself and walked ahead to the door, before knocking lightly. I asked myself if I knocked lightly because I was nervous, or because the right thing to do wasn't to go hitting hard on people's doors. After a few seconds, I knocked again and waited to be answered. Finally, the door opened to reveal Jake, and I could tell he was more shocked than surprised to see me.
"Anise?" he uttered, his voice barely audible. It was clear that my unexpected presence had caught him off guard. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, trying to comprehend why I was standing at his doorstep. I had left for years before making this decision. He probably thought he wasn't going to see me again for the rest of his life. Little did he know I was here to torment him in the worst possible way. I wasn't happy about that, but I had no choice as well. I couldn't keep my daughter away from her father any longer.
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts as I looked into his eyes. There was a myriad of emotions swirling within me, but determination fueled my words. " Hey." I smiled, but he couldn't bring himself to reciprocate it. Instead, he asked the question I had been expecting, though not so quickly.
" What are you doing here?" He asked. Even in his state of shock, I still couldn't help but notice how broader his shoulders had become. How he appeared taller, and the way he towered over me, made me feel so small.
"yeah...ermmmm..I ermm...."
"Anise, just tell me what the issue is." He rushed out impatiently, looking back to see if someone was coming. Was there a woman in his house? Why was he acting so fidgety?
He stepped aside, feeling the need to be lenient, and silently invited me into his home.
We settled into the living room, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. I began to carefully put my words together. Wondering the right time to let them out. I knew I had a lot to say but that was before I showed up at his doorstep unexpectedly. Now, my words began to fail me making it difficult to start a conversation.
" why did you leave?" He asked with his gaze fixed on me. His words hung in the air, heavy with longing and a hint of pain. I searched his eyes, seeing the raw vulnerability within them, and I knew that I owed him an honest answer.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my thoughts and began to speak, my voice trembling slightly. I shared the reasons behind my departure and the complexities of life that had led me down a different path. I spoke of the internal battles I had fought, the doubts and fears that had consumed me.
"well..... I had been away." I sniffled, letting one stray tear fall. " I had been away because I felt I didn't deserve to be here, I was away because I had lost it all; my mother, my father, my brother, and myself in the process. I had nothing left for me here. I feel so sad that you weren't present to watch and see your daughter grow.
The room seemed to spin as the weight of my revelation settled upon us. The silence was deafening, broken by the sound of our ragged breaths. I could see the storm of emotions raging within him. and I braced myself for his response.
"what?..... I have a child?" He exclaimed, his voice filled with pain and hurt. I nodded with my heart aching from the pain I had caused. Olivia is five years old. I had her a few months after I left.
Jake's face contorted with anger, confusion, and a hint of longing. He took a step back, his hands trembling as he tried to process the magnitude of the news. " How... how could you keep this from me?" He whispered with tears glistening in his eyes.
Tears streamed down my face as I reached out to him. "I thought I was protecting you, protecting our daughter. I didn't want to burden you with my struggles, my pain. I wanted to give Olivia a chance at a better life and with your job, you already had a lot on your plate."
"my work does not have anything to do with my child or my responsibilities as a father, Anise. If you so claimed to be what she needs, where were you all these years? Huh? You kept my child away from me and expected me to be happy about it? How am I even sure that she's mine in the first place." He screamed in my face and I tried my best to keep the tears at bay.
"oh please! don't be ridiculous, Jake. You think I would come all the way to make up lies about my child.. your child?" I scoffed.
"I never kept her away from you intentionally. Life got complicated, and I made mistakes. Jake, I never thought anyone would mean so much to me as much as Olivia does. I love her and I realized that trying to keep her away from you is not the best. She has been asking about her father and I can't keep avoiding her questions anymore. I'm so sorry Jake. I am. I know I can't change the past but I am here now, ready to make amends. I want you to be there for our daughter. To make up for lost time. I want you to be the parent she deserves."
"Oh, so if she had not kept asking of her father you wouldn't be here right now? Was it even your intention to be here? Five years! And you are just telling me?" He said with rage written all over him.
" I am going to get full custody of my child, no matter what it takes." Anise, you need to leave"
"Jake, I only came here for us to discuss rationally. Not for you to steal my child. I know I was wrong to keep this from you for so long but you need to understand....." I managed to say before Jake interrupted.
"understand what? You? What is there to understand? That you kept my child away from me for five years! Five good years, Anise. Please leave, I do not want to lose my temper."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
"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!
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. Whatās worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldnāt thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesnāt seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that heās different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.