Novels by Deedee

Lewis sat at the break table with a styrofoam cup of coffee growing colder in his hands. He had not taken a proper sip in almost ten minutes.His mind kept replaying everything he had been hearing about the gas leak inside. At first, he entertained the thought because that was the only way he could push Derek away from his mind. But now, he was really invested in the case because of everything he had been hearing about it. Across from him, Annie sat scrolling through news updates on her phone while Martin leaned against the vending machine eating chips loudly enough to irritate everyone around him.“Can you chew quieter?” Annie complained without looking up.“This is my natural sound.”“It sounds like drywall breaking,” Annie retorted without hesitation.Lewis barely listened. His attention drifted toward the television mounted high in the corner of the room.The gas leak was on the news again. A female reporter stood outside the daycare center while caution tape surrounded the bui

The seaport smelled like salt, diesel, and dangerous money.Massive shipping containers towered across the dockyard like metal buildings while cranes moved slowly overhead. Workers shouted instructions over the noise of engines and machinery while officers inspected paperwork with practiced boredom.Derek walked through the controlled chaos like he owned the entire coastline.Black shirt. Black coat. Black gloves folded neatly in one hand.Everything about him carried the same cold precision that made people move aside instinctively whenever he appeared.Paulo followed closely behind him, scanning the environment carefully while two more men trailed at a distance.“Container seven already cleared,” Paulo informed quietly while walking beside him. “But customs delayed the leather shipment again.”Derek’s jaw tightened faintly.“Reason?”“Random inspection.”Derek scoffed softly. “There’s nothing random about inspections anymore.”Paulo agreed Ever since Alonso started making strategic

Lewis sat in the break room staring blankly at a vending machine. It didn't necessarily want anything from it. He only fixed his gaze on it because he lacked the energy to look elsewhere. His body ached from ruining here and there, his head hurt from overthinking. And somewhere at the back of his mind sat the uncomfortable awareness that Derek or one of Derek's men might have been watching him from across the street while he was working. That thought alone was enough to make his blood pressure unstable because he didn't even know what Derek might do next. The last time Derek wanted attention, he made a huge donation to the hospital. This time, he might end up buying the whole paramedic station. “Lewis.”He looked up to see who called. Cheryl stood at the doorway holding a clipboard against her chest.Unlike most people at the station, Cheryl never needed to raise her voice to command attention. She carried authority naturally. Even now, dressed in navy scrubs with tired eyes and

As each day passed, the paramedic station had become a place of unexpected dramas. Not dramas like that of Barbie and Lewis, or Derek and Lewis. These were medical related dramas. Emergency and chaos kind of drama. It had been three days since Lewis left Derek's house and those three days were occupied with nonstop work. One moment, Lewis was sitting at the back of the ambulance with Annie, lazily discussing whether cold pizza counted as breakfast. The next moment, calls erupted with overlapping voices about a gas leak at a daycare center two streets away.Now the station looked like a battlefield. Children cried from every direction. Some coughed violently.Others clung to terrified teachers while paramedics rushed back and forth with oxygen masks, stretchers, and medical kits.The scent of gas filled the air around the victims, but was faintly mixed with antiseptic, medicines and panic.Lewis moved quickly through the crowd despite the exhaustion weighing on him from his sleepless

Raine knocked twice before entering Derek’s study. She already knew he would not answer.Derek rarely answered knocks when he was irritated. He simply expected people to either leave or take the risk of entering anyway. And Raine had learned very quickly that he preferred the second option.“I'm busy,” he said without looking at her. “You know that won't stop me,” Raine said as she shut the door behind her calmly.Without lifting his gaze, he said, “If you’re here to talk about Lewis, Paulo already said enough.”Raine walked further inside as she replied. “Did he tell you everything you did wrong?” That finally earned her a glance from Derek. “He told me enough. You don't have to add to it.”“Just so you know, both of you are at fault,” Raine said, surprising Derek. That made him give her his full attention. “But you could have handled it better,” she said, causing him to scoff. “He involved the police.”“He reported his ex-girlfriend for destroying his apartment.”“He involved

Lewis had no one to call. He had nowhere to go.He regretted saying he had a couple of normal people willing to help him if he asked. Because he clearly didn't have anyone to help him at that moment. His life had been simple. Like really simple before Derek came in to make it colorful with violence. He went to work regularly, he came back to his apartment when he was done at work. His mother and sister visited when it was important but he never visited them due to personal reasons. He had Barbie at some point in his life and he thought he was settled in life. But now that his apartment was gone, Barbie was gone, his mother's house was unsuitable for visiting, he was left with one option and that was his work place. He didn't even know he would end up there when he told Raine. He just said it and just like a prophecy, he eventually ended up there. Lewis arrived at work exhausted. He was emotionally drained as his brain replayed the argument with Derek over and over again like an

Arian's pov Mrs Palmer won't stop talking about her love for our friendship. I'm still finding it hard to believe that she was the same director of the college. And I wonder how things will go when I finally resume school after this holiday. Well, I'll worry about that later. Now, it's time to worry about Kael's packing techniques. I sat cross-legged on his bed, watching him as he knelt by the suitcase on the floor, meticulously rolling his clothes with an efficiency that made me both amused and impressed.“You pack like a soldier,” I teased, holding up one of his perfectly folded t-shirts.He glanced up at me, smirking. “And you pack like a disaster waiting to explode.” His gaze flicked to my suitcase, a chaotic mess of shirts, shorts, and toiletries stuffed in no particular order. “Do you really think this is going to fit in the overhead compartment?”I shrugged. “It’s Thaland. I’ll just wear shorts the whole time. Who needs all this anyway?”He shook his head, chuckling softly

Kael's pov Finally, the day my father wanted so badly was here. But unfortunately for him, he was locked behind bars. The morning sun shines so brightly on our graduation caps. I adjusted the collar of mine for what felt like the hundredth time, my palms sweaty despite the cheerful breeze. The crowd stretched out across the college hall, parents, siblings, friends, well-wishers, everyone of us, buzzing with excitement. For once, the spotlight wasn’t something I dreaded. It was something I had earned.My name had been called minutes earlier, the diploma now tucked under my arm like a key to a door I’d been knocking on for years. The clapping and cheering still rang faintly in my ears, not because of its volume, but because of the faces behind it.In the front row of seats, my mother had been on her feet, clapping with tears streaming down her cheeks. I’d never seen her so openly proud of me. Arian had been right behind her on the second row, his grin wide, his hands clapping loudest

Arian's pov Guess who is back to the book club again… me. Walking through the door of the book club meeting room felt like stepping back into a world I left behind. A world I wasn’t sure I would ever go back to. It's been a hell of a month since I took an unofficial break from the book club. Now, I was back to explain why I haven't been around. Aside from the awkward silence, I was relieved to be back again. The book club members are like my family and we've spent years working together as a team. The look on their faces told me their surprise to see me there.“Arian!” my name echoed through the room. I froze as April rushed forward and threw her arms around me. Behind her, Maya came, smiling in a way that made my chest ache. Sammy was already on his feet, even Brent's eyes shone with relief. I missed them, that's undeniable. But the warm welcome made me feel like I've lost more since my absence. I should have been here with them, not drowning in the darkness Karl Palmer created

Kael's pov The night air was soft against my skin, carrying the faint scent of salt and peace. The waves rolled lazily to shore, their rhythm steady and unhurried, as though the ocean itself was reminding us to breathe. I dug my bare toes into the cool sand and glanced at Arian walking beside me.His hands were tucked in his pockets, his hair pushed back messily by the sea breeze. He looked tired but lighter, as though the storm we’d both endured had finally broken and left him standing in the clear.“It feels strangely peaceful,” Arian said suddenly, his voice low. “To just… walk without being scared of anything. No one is plotting behind our backs. No one is trying to force us into anything. It's just us.”I smiled faintly, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. “We finally got the peace we deserve. Against all odds, we got to write their ending.”He looked at me then, his eyes shining in the moonlight. “Did you ever think we’d make it here?”I hesitated before answering. “Honest

Kael's pov After the debate between the prosecutor and Karl's lawyer, the judge struck her gavel once, the sound sharp and final.“On the charges of corruption, bribery, and facilitation of prostitution, this court finds Karl Palmer guilty. He is hereby sentenced to fourteen years in federal prison.”The courtroom erupted in murmurs. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to keep my expression calm. My father, the untouchable, the almighty Karl Palmer was no longer above the law.Fourteen years was enough to keep him away from us. Fourteen years was enough to make him reflect on himself. Fourteen years was enough to make him repent and change from his old and cruel ways. The judge’s voice continued. “On the charges of evidence tampering and unlawful interference with the life-support of Mrs. Smith, this court finds George Wellington guilty. He is hereby sentenced to twenty years in prison.”Arian, seated beside me, let out a breath that sounded half like a grasp and half like a rel

Arian's pov The room was quieter than I expected. Just a table, two chairs occupied by me and the commissioner, and his pen tapping lightly against his notepad. I sat down, trying to steady myself for the questioning. After everything that had happened, after Karl’s downfall and George’s arrest, I wanted this moment to count.The commissioner leaned forward, his eyes kind but probing. “Arian, thank you for coming in today. We've been trying to reach you first but you've been busy.”I nodded, forcing a smile. “I'm aware that you’ve been through a lot, and I don’t intend to make this harder than it needs to be. But we need your statement. You can start wherever you feel comfortable.”I nodded, my fingers lacing together tightly. “I’ll start with something important, something I don’t want people to misunderstand.”“What is it?” he asked.“Whatever Karl Palmer has done, whatever crime he has committed, let's not forget that his businesses… His company feeds a lot of people. Hundreds o

Rowan's POV Finally, Henry would understand that I was not imagining things. Finally, he would believe me. Finally, he would realize that I was telling the truth all this time. The moment I barged into his office without knocking, he looked up from the documents on his desk with visible irritation already written across his face.“Rowan,” he said slowly, “do you enjoy ruining my mornings?”“I need to talk to you.”“That sentence alone is enough to give me a headache.”“I’m serious.”“So am I.”Henry leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple lightly. He still looked perfectly composed despite the exhaustion in his eyes. His tie was neat, his posture was flawless, even irritation somehow looked elegant on him.Meanwhile, I probably looked insane. And maybe that was the problem. Maybe everyone already thought I was insane.“I figured it out,” I said quickly before he could dismiss me again. “I caught him.”“Caught who?”“Theo.”The silence that followed was painful.Henry stared at

Theo's POV Night inside the servant quarters felt different from the palace. It was colder, smaller and lonelier. The walls were plain and the silence carried exhaustion and loneliness. Somehow, I preferred it. At least here, nobody expected perfection from me. I could be free to some extent. Or least, I go pretend to be free. But how could I do that when Rowan’s face would not leave my mind? How could I pretend to be free when Rowan kept coming back to make things difficult for me. With the way he looked at me in the stable, I could tell he was still desperately trying to save me. He thought saving me now was as easy as back then. Only if he knew I was in deeper trouble and now, his persistent presence was about to jeopardize my own life. I squeezed my eyes shut briefly before dialing Mr Livingston's number. The line rang only once before the call connected.“Theo Bellemere.”His voice was calm as always, like nothing in the world could ever unsettle him.“My cover almost sli

Rowan's POV Theo or Billy or whatever name he was hiding behind today.When I got to the stable, he was standing near one of the black horses, brushing its side carefully while wearing his usual plain stable clothes. His sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing the veins stretching on his skin. For a second, I forgot why I came. Seeing him there, alive, close and real still affected me in ways I hated admitting.But without wasting time, my anger came rushing back because I remembered how he lied and how he was still lying. And because of him, nobody believed me. Somehow he stood there pretending to be someone else while I was slowly losing my mind trying to expose the truth.I stepped closer before calling his name. “Theo.”Without thinking, he answered immediately.“What?”The second the word left his mouth, silence crashed between us.His hand froze against the horse while mine clenched at my side.Slowly, Theo turned toward me and I saw the brief flicker of shock in his eyes.

Rowan's POV The moment the butler informed me that Henry wanted to see me, hope filled my heart. For the first time in days, I thought someone had finally believed me. That Theo had slipped and Henry had noticed the resemblance. That he had caught the fake accent or the way Theo avoided eye contact whenever someone mentioned his origin. That he had finally seen what had been obvious to me from the beginning.Billy was Theo. Theo was Billy. And Valecourt had planted him here.I walked toward Henry’s office faster than usual, my heart beating hard against my ribs. I reached the office doors and pushed them open without knocking.Henry looked up from behind his desk and his expression changed the second he saw me.“There you are,” he said flatly.The excitement inside me faltered slightly, but I still held onto it. “You spoke to him?” I asked immediately.Henry leaned back slowly in his chair.“To Billy?”“It’s Theo,” I corrected quickly. “You know that now, right?”Henry stared at me

Theo’s POVWhen one of the maids came to the stable that morning to tell me Prince Henry wanted to see me, my first thought was simple and straightforward.I’ve been caught.The bucket in my hand nearly slipped from my fingers. For one dangerous second, panic clawed up my throat so violently that I thought I might actually throw up.But I forced my face to remain calm. Even if he caught on I still had to remain Billy. Not Theo Bellemere. I had to remain a stable boy, not the disgraced French prince. I had to act like a poor boy from the countryside, not Valecourt’s unwilling puppet.I repeated the lie in my head the same way a prayer was repeated before battle.I was Billy. Billy. Billy.The maid waited impatiently while I wiped my hands against my worn trousers.“His Highness is waiting,” she reminded me.“I’m coming,” I answered softly.Even to my own ears, my voice sounded unfamiliar these days. I had spent days forcing myself to erase every trace of the person I used to be.I cha

Rowan's POV The palace library wasn't exactly my favourite place to be in. But with everything going on in my life, the silence and peace was something I needed. Everywhere else in the palace felt unbearable for me. The dining hall was crowded even when it wasn't meal time. The corridors felt monitored by guards and invisible eyes Henry installed on me. Even my own room no longer felt safe with the constant thoughts crawling through my head.The fact that Theo was here was unsettling. And no matter how many times Henry dismissed me, that fact remained unchanged.Theo Bellemare was inside this palace pretending to be someone else. And somehow I was the only person seeing the danger in that.I pushed open the doors of the library and stepped inside. Immediately, the familiar scent of old paper and polished wood surrounded me. It reminded me of my time with Theo in the school library. It reminded me of the ridiculous punishment principal Whitcombe gave Theo and I when we broke the sc