Novel-novel oleh Lizzy Aik

EVE'S POV The new security protocols hummed constantly in the background... soft beeps from motion sensors, the low murmur of extra guards rotating shifts, reinforced doors that now required biometric scans. Lily slept peacefully in her crib, but I checked on her every few minutes, my body still wired from the trauma of her kidnapping. Damon worked from his home office, refusing to leave us even for a short meeting. His presence was a constant, protective shadow. The doorman buzzed. “Miss Eve, your parents are here, they say they want to see Lily and apologize.” I tensed immediately. Damon looked up from his laptop, jaw tight. “You don’t have to see them if you’re not ready.” “I need to,” I said quietly. “For closure. But stay with me.” My parents stepped off the elevator looking exhausted and guilty. My mother, carried a small gift bag with a stuffed toy and baby clothes. My father held a bouquet of flowers. They both had red, swollen eyes. “Eve,” my mother said, voice tremblin

EVE'S POV The penthouse felt heavier than usual the morning after the rescue. Lily slept peacefully in her crib, her tiny chest rising and falling in the soft glow of the nightlight. I stood over her for a long time, just watching, afraid that if I looked away she might disappear again. The emotional reunion last night had been everything... tears, tight hugs, the three of us tangled together on the nursery floor as we whispered promises and thanks. But the fear hadn’t left. It sat in my chest like a stone. Damon came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder. “She’s safe,” he murmured, voice still rough from lack of sleep. “We got her back. She’s right here.” I leaned back into him, but my body stayed tense. “I know. But Sophia is still out there. And Alex…” The detective’s call came just after breakfast. Damon put it on speaker in the living room while I held Lily in my arms. “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, we have an update on Sophia Thompson

EVE'S POV The nursery was quiet except for the soft hum of the white noise machine and Lily’s gentle breathing. I sat in the rocking chair, holding her against my chest in the dim glow of the nightlight. She had fallen asleep after her evening feed, one tiny fist curled around my shirt like she was afraid to let go. I understood the feeling completely. It had only been two days since we got her back. Two days since the nightmare of her kidnapping ended with her safe in our arms. But my body hadn’t caught up yet. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Sophia’s wild face as she clutched my baby and ran. I heard Lily’s terrified cries. I felt the emptiness in my arms all over again. “I’ve got you,” I whispered into her soft hair, rocking slowly. “Mommy’s got you. No one’s ever taking you again.” Lily sighed in her sleep, trusting and warm. The sight should have filled me with peace. Instead, something sharp and ugly twisted in my chest. My breathing started to quicken. The room felt

EVE'S POV The hospital room felt like a fragile bubble of peace after the storm. Lily slept soundly in the crib beside my bed, her tiny chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. I hadn’t taken my eyes off her for more than a few seconds since we got her back. Damon sat in the armchair next to me, his hand never leaving mine, even as exhaustion lined his face. The graze on his side from the fight with Alex had been stitched up, but he refused painkillers, saying he needed to stay sharp. “We really have her,” I whispered for the hundredth time, tears slipping silently down my cheeks. “She’s here, she’s safe.” Damon leaned over and kissed my temple, his voice rough with emotion. “She’s safe. We got her back, both of you.” The doctors had cleared Lily after thorough checks... mild dehydration, some bruising, but no serious injuries. She was a fighter, they said. Just like her parents. We were keeping her overnight for observation, but the relief was overwhelming. For the first t

The boathouse smelled of damp wood, river water, and victory laced with terror. Damon’s arms were locked around both of us so tightly I could barely breathe, but I didn’t care. Lily was here. Warm, alive. Her tiny body pressed between us as she cried those heartbreaking newborn sobs that tore straight through my soul. “We got her,” Damon whispered against my hair, his voice cracking for the first time all night. “We got our baby back, Eve. She’s here. She’s safe.” I couldn’t speak. I just held on, one arm around Lily and the other clinging to Damon’s back, my face buried in his chest. Tears poured down my cheeks uncontrollably. Lily’s little fists grabbed at my shirt, her cries slowly quieting as she recognized our voices, our smell, our touch. The three of us knelt on the dirty floor, tangled together like we would never let go again. “My baby,” I sobbed, pressing kiss after kiss to her soft head. “Mommy’s here, daddy’s here. We’ve got you. We’ve got you forever.” Damon’s shoulde

EVE'S POV The abandoned boathouse at the edge of the river smelled of rot, saltwater, and fear. Police boats and Damon’s private security teams had the entire area surrounded. Helicopters thumped overhead, their spotlights cutting through the night like knives. I stood behind a police barricade, Lily’s blanket clutched in my hands, my body shaking so hard I could barely stand. Damon was a few feet ahead, coordinating with the lead negotiator and SWAT commander. Sophia was inside and cornered. After the botched raid and her temporary escape with Lily, the net had finally closed. But she still had my daughter. Our baby. The thought made my stomach twist into knots. “Stay back,” Damon told me, his voice rough. He had a fresh bandage on his side from the injury during the warehouse fight with Alex, but he refused to leave my side. “Let them handle the entry, we’ll get Lily out safely.” I nodded, but my eyes never left the boathouse. My sister...my own blood... had done this. Taken my

I stepped back fast, putting the desk between us like it could actually protect me. My pulse was hammering so hard I was sure he could hear it. The folder of investor notes was still in my hand, useless now. “Mr. Luca,” I said, voice steady even though my body wasn’t. “This is a workplace. I’m here to do the job you hired me for. Nothing else. I’m married. Whatever happened in the past… it stays there.” His eyes darkened, but that wicked little smirk curved his mouth like he was enjoying the challenge. He didn’t move back. If anything, he leaned one hip against the desk, arms crossed, watching me with that intense, stormy gaze that used to make my stomach flip when I was eighteen. “Married,” he repeated, tasting the word like it was something sour. “Right. To the man who needs my help to keep his company from sinking. Convenient how that worked out.” Heat flooded my cheeks, but I kept my chin up. “I didn’t ask for any of this, you offered. I’m just trying to make the best of a bad

NYRA'S POV The next morning I showed up at Luca’s office building right on time. Heart pounding, but I kept my face calm and professional. I chose a simple blouse and pencil skirt, neat hair, minimal makeup. This was a job. Nothing more. I was here to work hard, learn fast, and keep things strictly business no matter what happened last night.His assistant, Clara, met me in the lobby and took me up. “Mr. Luca runs a tight ship,” she warned with a small smile. “Pay attention to everything. He expects excellence from day one.”I nodded seriously. “I’m ready to learn. Just show me where to start.”She introduced me to a couple of seniors first. I listened carefully as they walked me through the filing system, scheduling software, how Luca preferred his coffee, and the exact way he liked meeting notes formatted. I took detailed notes on my tablet, asking smart questions and repeating instructions back to make sure I got everything right. By the time they left me at my desk outside his

NYRA'S POV He thrust forward, burying himself deep inside me in one rough, claiming push. I cried out sharply, the intense stretch burning sharp at first, but god... it felt so full, so right, even though it hurt a little. Luca froze on top of me, breathing hard like he was fighting himself again. “Fuck, Nyra... you’re too tight,” he growled, voice all wrecked. “Breathe, baby. Relax that tight little pussy around my cock. You’re taking your stepbrother so fucking well already. Just breathe through it for me.”I whimpered, nodding desperately as tears pricked my eyes. “It’s so big… Luca… it hurts but… oh god, it feels so deep.”“That’s my good girl,” he praised, kissing me deep and slow while staying buried to the hilt. His hands stroked my sides even as his hips started moving in those slow, deep strokes that made my toes curl and my heart ache with years of forbidden wanting. Every thrust hit spots I didn’t even know existed, sending sparks shooting through my whole body. “Fuck,

NYRA'S POV His voice came out hoarse and raw, like it had been scraped over gravel. He stood frozen in the doorway, bag still gripped tight in one hand. His eyes locked on me like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Me sprawled shamelessly on his bed. His leather jacket jammed between my spread thighs. My hand still moving desperately under my skirt, fingers slick and shiny with how wet I already was.Shame flooded my face, burning my cheeks hot. But I didn’t stop, I couldn’t. The ache between my legs had built up for years, and having him right there watching me only made everything throb even harder, hotter, more desperate.“Don’t… don’t make me stop,” I whispered, my voice shaking but stubborn as hell. My eyes stayed glued to his, defiant even through the embarrassment. “Please, Luca, I can’t finish on my own. Help me. Just this once.”For a long, heavy second, nothing moved. The room felt too quiet except for my ragged breathing and the pounding of my heart. Then he dropped

NYRA'S POVThe lock clicked shut like a trap snapping closed on my damn fingers.My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it might crack right open. Luca’s presence filled the tiny guest bathroom. It sucked all the air out until I could barely breathe.I kept my back to him and gripped the sink edge like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart. Cold water still dripped down my flushed face. It soaked into my collar and made everything stick to my skin.“So…” His voice came out low and rough. Exactly like it always did in those late-night fantasies I’d buried deep. “How’s married life treating you, Nyra?”I forced myself to lift my eyes. Met his in the mirror. Those dark, unreadable eyes that used to see straight through every mask I wore.“It’s… fine,” I lied. My voice came out shaky and weak. “Everything’s good, Luca. I’m happy, really. You don’t gotta do this… please. Just leave me alone.”He stepped closer anyway. The heat from his body hit my back first. Soli

NYRA'S POV God, I felt nothing at all. Richard was on top of me again, grunting and sweating like a desperate pig. Same lifeless rhythm… in and out, in and out, like he was checking off a chore. My silk nightie was bunched up around my waist, legs spread from pure muscle memory after three years of this bullshit. I stared at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above us. One… two… three… My pussy was dry as bone, completely checked out. Then my brain betrayed me, like it always did. I squeezed my eyes shut and replaced him with Luca. Those dark, hungry eyes staring down at me. His rough voice growling right in my ear, “Shut the fuck up and take it, Nyra.” I pictured his big, strong hands pinning my wrists above my head, his thick cock stretching me open, slamming into me hard and deep like he owned every inch of my body. Heat exploded between my legs, and my back arched off the bed for real this time. A real, filthy moan ripped out of my throat. In seconds I was soaked, dripping do

LorettaWhen I slowly opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the strong smell of antiseptic. White walls surrounded me, and machines beeped softly beside the bed. That was when it hit me, I was in the hospital. My head throbbed as the memories came rushing back. I must have passed out after I stabbed Rosie.I tried to move, but pain shot through my body, making me hiss softly. Everything hurt, but my hand hurt the most, the same hand Rosie had stabbed. I took a deep breath and carefully pushed myself into a sitting position, ignoring the sharp ache in my arm.Just then, the door to my hospital room flew open.Asher walked in, holding my favorite flowers. The moment our eyes met, relief washed over his face. He hurried to my side, leaned down, and gently kissed my forehead before placing the flowers in my hands.“How is my favorite woman in the world feeling?” he asked softly.I looked at him and smiled despite the pain. “Your favorite woman?” I repeated teasingly, my smile wid

Loretta It was strange, i had been sitting alone in the house when suddenly I heard a loud noise. My heart skipped a beat. Tonia had gone out for work, Adrian was still at the hospital, and his twin sister was at school. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and the house was usually so quiet.I got up cautiously, my steps quiet on the floor as I made my way toward the living room. As I opened the doorway, I froze. Standing right in the middle of the room was someone I hadn’t seen in years, looking around as if exploring a place that wasn’t hers.When she noticed me, her face lit up with a sheepish smile. “Loretta! Is that really you?” she said. “It’s been so long, five years since I last saw you!”It took a moment for my brain to catch up with my eyes. It really was her, Rosie, standing there like nothing had changed.,“How did you get inside?” I demanded, my voice trembling slightly with anger. Right now, it was the only thing that made sense. Only Tonia, Asher, and I had the keys to this pl

Asher I walked into the meeting room calmly, but the moment my mother and my brother saw me, their expressions changed instantly. Their eyes widened in shock, and the room fell into an uneasy silence. My mother slowly turned to Mr. Peterson, confusion and disbelief written all over her face. “Is this the investor you were talking about?” she asked him, her voice tight. I didn’t respond to her question. Instead, I walked straight to the head of the table. Mr. Peterson immediately stood up and pulled the chair out for me, showing clear respect. I sat down comfortably and folded my hands on the table. “I’m not just the investor,” I said calmly, lifting my gaze to meet theirs. A small smile curved my lips. “I own this company.” My mother shot up from her seat, anger flashing across her face. “How dare you trick us?” she spat. “This is fraud, this is a clear breach of contract, and you will be sued for this.” She was shaking with rage as she spoke. I remained calm, unfazed by her ou

AsherReluctantly, I left Loretta behind, even though every part of me wanted to stay with her. My mind was restless as I headed straight to the office. Logan had sounded unusually tense on the phone, and to make things worse, Richard had also called me moments later. Whatever was happening clearly couldn’t wait.By the time I arrived at the building, my patience was already wearing thin. I rushed to my floor, barely acknowledging anyone along the way. The moment the elevator doors slid open, Logan was standing there, as if he had been waiting the entire time.“Welcome, sir,” he said quickly, falling into step behind me as I walked briskly toward my office.I didn’t respond until I dropped into my chair, loosening my tie slightly as I looked up at him. “What on earth needed my attention so badly that I had to rush here?” I asked, my voice sharp with impatience.Logan hesitated for a second before speaking. “Sir, you’ve been trending online for over an hour now.”My head snapped up imm

AsherI stood between her thighs, close enough to feel her presence, close enough that my eyes kept drifting to her lips. I had to remind myself why we were here. This was about words that had been left unsaid for years, about wounds that never truly healed. I forced my attention back to the conversation we needed to have.“I am so sorry,” she said softly. Her voice was calm, almost too calm, “I should have listened to your side of the story back then. If I had, we wouldn’t be standing here today. But when I saw Sarah’s baby bump and she told me you were married, I felt completely betrayed. I didn’t want to hear anything else. I just shut you out.”As she spoke, her eyes wandered everywhere at the floor, the wall, anywhere but never once did she look at my face.I took a deep breath, the old pain rising again like it had never left. “I won’t lie to you,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended. “I hated you back then. I hated you so much after I found out you were pregnant and you s

Loretta It had been two weeks since everything happened at Asher’s place, the revelation that had turned my world upside down and since my mom came back into my life. I had never felt so complete, so at peace. Just having her around was refreshing, like a weight I didn’t even realize I had been carrying had finally been lifted.I still hadn’t really spoken to my dad. Even though Mom told me that she had forgiven him and that I should too, I couldn’t see myself doing that anytime soon. Some things felt too raw, too heavy to just brush aside.“You and Asher, have you made a decision about your marriage yet?” Mom asked gently, her eyes searching mine.We were sitting in Adrian’s hospital room. He had just come through a kidney transplant a few days ago and was slowly recovering. The beeping of the monitors and the faint smell of antiseptic made the room feel sterile, yet my mom’s presence brought warmth to it. She had been coming every single day since we met, supporting me in ways I di