Mag-log inFourteen years ago, Kayla Moreno pulled a drowning boy from the ocean and saved his life. He gave her a gold compass chain and promised he’d come back for her. She whispered, “I’ll wait for you. Forever if I have to.” Now she’s broken, bruised, and divorced to his best friend. He’s Ryder Brooks — billionaire, feared, and still searching for the girl who owns his heart. And he was the boy who swore to save her back. But someone wanted Kayla dead. Someone in his circle. Her sister wants her gone. Her ex-husband is hiding secrets that could destroy them all. Ryder will burn New York to keep her safe. Kayla will have to decide if she can trust the man who’s been looking for her for fourteen years… Or if loving him will get her killed. He owes her his life. She owes him her heart. But can love survive the lies and betrayals?
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I stepped inside my father's company. ‘MORENO ENTERPRISE ‘ My body jolted in fear when the sound of popping of wine and opening of sparkles containers filled the air. My lips curved into a smile. Every workers remembered. It was another year of celebrating a marriage I haven't enjoyed for a day. My eyes reeled round the hall,in search of the so called husband they arranged this for obviously he wasn't here. He told me he'd be out for some business meeting but I know it was just a lie, even though I try hard to believe it. The best was brushing it off my mind. For my sanity. It was our second year anniversary,the second year of trying to force myself that what we had was true. The second year of being the second choice. The second year of living with Jaden Silver. I just wanted things to go smoothly between us today and maybe pretend we're two lovers without issues. It has always been me forcing myself on him. Nevertheless,I loved him from the very start,I gave up my sanity just to be with him. Forcing smiles when I'm outside, pretend like he loved me when i knew he've never did. I wrapped things up early that day, making sure I kept track of my order of balloons, sparkles, lighting and other aesthetic decorations. I hoped it wouldn't go wrong,I loved Jaden dearly also wanted him to see how much I do. I'll keep trying till he sees it. I came back home, soiling my hands with flour and water, cooking all his favorite meals he'd ever mentioned. I did my very best, added extra flavors even though part of me knew he'd rather eat out than eating what I made. I decorated every single space in what I've called ‘my home ‘. Smiling to myself satisfied.. Ever since my father Victor Moreno got diagnosed with heart failure I've never made out time this much to please anyone. Not even my younger sister, Liana. My phone buzzed in my apron's pocket followed immediately by the ringtone of a call. I quickly washed my hands, dabbing it on my apron and reaching out for my phone. It was Liana,she knew exactly when to call me, she's always been this sweet. “Kayla, this is a great chance to give me a nephew, don't you dare waste it”I flinched as Liana's voice reached my eyes through the phone's speaker. “Shut the fuck up Liana,I thought you wanted to say something reasonable" I cut her short, smiling as I arranged the kitchen. " You know I'd always tell you the truth sis. Dad has been on my nerves about this same thing. I'm literally tired. Please don't disappoint us this time, you've got this Kayla. Tell Jaden I love him. Happy anniversary bitch..”. The call ended abruptly. I stared blankly at the phone for a few seconds." Did she just call me a bitch?”I couldn't help but blurt. I don't know what to do with her anymore. Jaden! I needed to call him to come home, right after I had my bath and wear a decent dress . I was a few steps away from our bedroom when I remembered the message that entered my phone. It was from my father wishing us another year of fruitful marriage. He must be too tired to call. I'd call him later when I'm done with this anniversary celebration. I turned the door knob,my hand on it,when my eye saw the most heartbreaking thing I've never thought I'd see. My hands froze. My legs stiffened. My phone fell to the ground, shattering that moment. Right on our matrimonial bed, Jaden,my husband,was fucking a bitch looking slut from behind. I forgot to breathe. I knew Jaden was a pathetic cheat, several times I've caught him in inappropriate situations with different ladies. Each time he denied it all. I never knew he'd stoop so low to the extent of bringing a whore to our matrimonial bed,to our home,on our anniversary, without feeling remorseful about it or thinking about how I'd feel. “Jaden!" It came out almost a whisper. Tears slipped down my cheeks freely,my heart broke into a million pieces as I heard the lady's moans and screams of pleasure. His groans and clapping sex sounds made my heart void. “Jaden!!" I screamed helplessly as my body shook,my voice failing me. Jaden turned around with shock, his expression said it all. He never expected to see me. He grabbed the sheets leaving the lady completely naked and off guard. Her mouth gapped open in shock when she saw me. Her eyes filled with surprise. “You have a wife?" Silence. “You fucking have a wife?... you….you disgust me “she spat at him and wore jer clothes hastily,not embarrassed at all. “I'm sorry" she told me before grabbing her bag and going out of the room. The silence between us stretched for over a minute. My breathing turned rigid. “You … you fucking disgust me “I said, voice low. " this isn't the first time Jaden, I'm sure of it. The other times I caught you, you fucking lied to me, you told me they were all your workers or clients,is this one of them too?. you've never had human empathy on me.you horny slutty man, you've never loved me or so you claimed.you don't keep that thing in between your legs, you even brought a stranger to our matrimonial bed just for a fuck…as if you've asked me and I denied you of it.have you no shame?”I screamed with the little strength left in me. “Shame? you talk of shame? did I tell you to throw yourself at me?”Jaden retaliated,my eyes grew wide in shock. “What?" " You made an arrangement with your goddamn father just so you'd have me. No!!. you do have me!” “Don't you dare insult my father you man whore"I said angrily. “I will,what can you do?What more do you need Kayla? yes I fucking have no regrets, I've never regarded you as a wife, I've never loved you, you're just some woman who throws herself Everytime at me anytime and anywhere” Those words came at me and washed the little dignity,braveness and strength I had in me. I looked at him. Somehow I knew a day like this would come but I never thought it'd be this soon,today. “I threw myself at you?fine, this leach is going off you today, I'm filing for a divorce,I'mma call my lawyer now and you'd fucking sign those papers.that woman with no shame for two years would get the hell out of your miserable life today and when I leave that door don't you dare call me back cause I swear you'd regret today”if this was how it would end,I might as well end it myself. “Look Kayla, don't curse at me" “Curse at you?I would everyday of my life,I would rather curse at you than to beg a whore like you”Jaden stared at me as I turned to go. He dragged me backward, yanking my clothes down. It happened fast. Jaden on me, hitting me anywhere his fist could. I screamed, yelled in pain and called for help but today was one of my unlucky days. I sent all my workers home. My eyes turned blurry. But he wasn't done. I regretted the door day I saw him, the day I loved him, the day I wanted something more than a handshake with him and if I get the chance.. I'd want a man who loves me much as i do.KaylaPRESENT The compass chain felt hot in my palm. Like it was burning through my skin.“What??” The word left me broken. Almost airless. I stared at the guy who I've always nagged insulted and called names but he still wasn't ready to let me be.The room tilted so fast that I sat down heavily on the close chair I could lean on.Ryder crouched in front of me. His knees on my rug. His hands didn’t touch me yet. Like he was afraid I’d shatter if he did.“I gave that neckchain to you that day,” he said again. His voice was low and rough. He was also finding it hard to believe “ Fourteen years ago. At Victoria beach. London. You saved me.”Memories slammed into me.A crowded charity event. I wasn’t supposed to be at the back beach. I’d run there to cry after my mother’s funeral three days earlier. The sound of music felt wrong when she was in the ground.Then I heard splashing. Gasping. A boy. A few years older than me. Dark hair plastered to his forehead. He was thrashing in the wate
Author POV London, 14 years ago. Victoria Beach. 4:37 PM. The charity event was chaotic. White tents, loud music, people in suits sweating under the sun. “Brooks Foundation Annual Children’s Gala” banners flapped in the hot wind. Cameras flashed every few seconds. Thirteen-year-old Ryder Brooks hated every second of it. He wasn’t supposed to be near the water. His bodyguards had said it three times. “Stay where we can see you, young master.” But the tide was low and the waves looked harmless. And he was bored of rich men talking about donations. So he slipped away. He ran past the tents, past waiters carrying trays of juice, past his mother calling his name. He didn’t stop until his bare feet hit wet sand. The backside of the beach. Quieter. No one here. Just rocks, seaweed, and the sound of waves hitting stone. The water was cold when he waded in up to his knees. Then his waist. Then his chest. He thought he could touch the bottom. He was wrong. One step. The sand gave way
Kayla POVThe next day.Denying yourself also means looking away from the person who makes your heart flutter. I… I… I can’t be attached to this guy. Not really. No matter how hard my heart throbs for him every time he walks into the house.We’re in two completely different worlds. He’s in a world where no one gets to touch him or take him for granted. Where people bow. Where his name opens doors and closes throats. Ryder Brooks. CEO. Power. Fear.I’m in a world where my father is at the verge of fighting life and death, alone in a hospital bed without his daughters beside him. I’m in a world where my sister had her first real taste of sex and now acts nonchalant about it. I’m in a world where more people hate me to the core than love me.I can’t be with a man who grins like the devil in front of me, then turns cold as ice in front of everyone else. A man who would burn everywhere for me, but won’t let anyone see him care.I suddenly felt stupid for pushing him away all this while.
Kayla Two weeks later.I was given a month off work. A full month to recuperate and get myself back. Back to breathing without pain. Back to walking without limping. Back to being Kayla, not “the girl who survived.”Riley had been sorting things out for me all this while. Bills, calls, press releases, the rumors. She handled everything so I didn’t have to.I heard the news too. The secret. Everything I didn’t get to know before.Flora. Or whatever name she’d been using that week. She was my ex-husband’s sister. Jaden never told me he had a sister. Not once in two years of marriage. All those years I thought he was an only son. I’d only seen his parents twice. The first time was at our wedding ceremony, where his mother cried more than I did. The second time was at a charity event they invited us to,where I was first introduced to Ryder. Even then, his parents never associated themselves with me. I tried. God knows I tried to be upright. Perfect. The daughter-in-law they could brag a
Author POVLiana stared at the scattered money on the floor of the unfinished apartment. The bills looked pathetic now. Worthless. Seven million naira and Flora had stepped over it like it was dust.Her chest rose and fell too fast. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps. She kicked the concrete blo
Author POVThe door to an unfinished apartment burst open with a crack that echoed down the bare hallway.Flora was shoved inside. Hard."Ouch!" Flora screamed in agony when her hair caught on a piece of exposed iron rod jutting from the doorframe. The metal tangled in her strands and ripped a few
Author POVWhen Hewitt paused, Ryder’s legs gave out.His breath seized in his chest like someone had wrapped barbed wire around his ribs and pulled tight. For one horrible second the whole hospital hallway tilted. The fluorescent lights above him buzzed louder. The smell of antiseptic burned his n
Author POV The whole place reeked of rust and damp concrete the second the door was wrenched open. Jaden’s head snapped up. The metal rod was still in his hand, frozen mid-air. Kayla’s face was hidden behind her disheveled hair. Her body sat slumped in the chair, almost lifeless. Rope burns dar






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