Novels by Liora Thorne

Cindy's POV I woke up after another restless night. Sleep was hard to find. I kept thinking about being trapped in Blake's bedroom the day before. The way he looked at me with those dark eyes. The way his voice sounded when he warned me never to mention his mother again.My face still felt warm just remembering it, and I pulled the blanket over my head for a moment, trying to push the memory away. I told myself I must stay away from him from now on. Every time we met, something strange or bad happened between us. I needed to be more careful.I decided I would not hide in my room all day like a scared little mouse. This was my new home now, even if it did not feel like it yet. I got dressed and went downstairs to the big kitchen.The servants were already busy preparing breakfast, moving around each other like they had done this a hundred times before. I rolled up my sleeves and started helping them without even asking first."You don't have to do this, Miss Cindy," one young maid sai

Cindy's POV I froze when Blake closed the bedroom door behind him. The sound of the click made my heart jump hard against my chest. He stood there wearing only a white towel around his waist.Water drops still ran down his strong chest and arms and landed on the wooden floor. I could not move or speak at first. My face felt hot, like it was on fire."I am sorry," I said quickly, my voice shaking. "I got lost while exploring the mansion. The halls are so big and confusing. I did not know this was your room. I will leave right now."Blake did not answer right away. He simply watched me with those dark eyes. The silence in the room felt heavy and hard to breathe in. I became painfully aware that I was standing inside his private space. This was his bedroom.His big bed was right there behind him, still made and neat. His clothes hung on a chair by the window. His smell filled the air, clean and strong, like soap mixed with something warm. I felt small and out of place, like I did not be

Cindy's POV I woke up early the next morning. Sleep did not come easy. Blake's words kept playing in my head all night, over and over, like a song I could not turn off."One day I'll forget you're my stepsister." I touched my ear where his fingers had brushed me, and even in the daylight my skin still remembered it. My heart felt strange, unsteady in a way I could not explain.I sat up in the big soft bed and looked around the beautiful room. Sunlight came through the pretty curtains and lit up every corner. Everything was perfect. But I reminded myself quietly, "Do not get attached, Cindy. This is not really your home. Atleast not yet"I got dressed in my simple jeans and a plain T-shirt. I stood in front of the tall mirror for a moment and made a small promise to myself. I would prove to everyone in this house that I was not after the Knight family money.I would work hard. I would stay humble, just like Mum had always taught me, even when we had nothing. Especially when we had no

Cindy's POV The wedding reception ended on an awkward note. Blake's words still hung in the air like smoke that would not clear. Guests kept whispering about the confrontation, their voices low but their eyes loud with curiosity.I saw them looking at me and Mum, and I wanted to disappear into the floor. Blake did not stay. He left alone without saying one nice word to his father. He just walked out with that cold face, like none of us mattered enough for him to stay.I kept asking myself why his words had cut so deep.Victor came over to us. He looked tired, older somehow than he had looked an hour ago."I am sorry, Elena. Sorry, Cindy. Blake has struggled a lot since he lost his mother. Please be patient with him. He will come around in time."Mum nodded but I could see the worry in her eyes. I tried to smile for her sake. But inside I felt uneasy, like a stone had settled in my stomach and would not move. Blake's hard stare from earlier would not leave my mind. I told myself it di

Cindy's POV Today is my mum's wedding.Finally after years of hard days and multiple heartbreaks, her last ex even said she's wasn't good enough because she already had me.That evening she broke down so bad that I had to console her till dawn.But look at us today. I stood in the big fancy hall and my heart beat fast. Mum looked so pretty in her white dress. She had waited so long for a day like this so she carried herself beutifully beside her husband. My step father.We were poor for many years. I remembered when she worked two jobs just to keep us fed. There were no nice clothes for me. Some nights there was not much food either. But she always found a smile for me even when she was tired.Now she was marrying Victor Knight, a rich and powerful man. I was so happy for her. She earned this. She earned every bit of it.The room was full of light. Crystal lamps hung from the ceiling and flowers filled every corner. Rich and important people sat in neat rows. Cameras flashed again an