Novels by Michael King

Ella’s POV.I was just about to head back into the shop when I heard someone yell my name from behind like his life depended on it.“Ella!”The voice came sharp, urgent—and then I heard a loud crash.A flower vase exploded just inches from where I had been standing. Shards of glass flew in all directions, some catching the sunlight like glittering knives. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought it might break free. For a moment, everything around me disappeared. The street sounds faded. Even my own thoughts became static.I froze. Legs locked. Breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t even scream.My heartbeat pounded in my ears like a bad drum solo. The only thing I could make out was Ethan—his face contorted with panic as he grabbed both my arms, shaking me like I was a ketchup bottle that refused to pour.“Ella! Ella…are you okay?”His voice finally broke through the silence like a cracked radio coming back on.I blinked. “I…I’m fine,” I whispered, though I sounded like som

Ethan's POVThe second I read that creepy message again, I didn't waste another breath—I speed-dialed Alex, my secretary.“Hello, sir,” he answered, ever efficient. Always sounded like a calm butler from a spy movie.“Can you contact the police to track a message?” I asked, pacing like a madman in my living room.“Is there any problem, sir?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. Actually, he already knows how my voice sounds when there is trouble.Alex wasn't just my secretary; we’d been through enough shady meetings and tough moments together that I basically considered him a friend, not just an employee of mine.He's been working for me for close to seven years now… I guess.“I just got a threat message with my picture and Ella’s,” I said, voice tight. He’s asking for 500 thousand pounds in cash. I’ll be meeting him soon, with the money. Just ask the police to trail me.”“Understood, sir. I’ll notify them right away.”I hung up and exhaled sharply. The banks were already closed, b

Ethan’s POV.I was walking down the rain-slick streets of London, my coat clinging to me like a second skin as mist curled around the lamplight. I wasn’t going anywhere in particular, just trying to clear my mind. Honestly, I was going crazy.You’re probably wondering why, right? Well… my fiancée, no, ex-fiancée… Evelyn, the woman I’d been with for five long years, is getting married.To someone else.And not just that, the artificial insemination I arranged so we could have a child together before tying the knot? It was never used on her. She told the clinic not to go through with it. No explanation, no discussion, just… sabotage. What’s even worse? I only found out after everything fell apart.She could’ve just told me she was done. But instead? A storm of secrets, clinic drama, media leaks, and now this whirlwind of betrayal. All I wanted was a child. A family. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought…And then I heard the blaring horn of a truck, loud and sharp like a bla

ELLA 'S POVThe silence that draped itself over Thompson’s Brew after Grandma’s sharp slap felt like a heavy, suffocating blanket. Her words, “My granddaughter isn’t for sale,” lingered in the air with a raw, bitter edge that seemed to cling to the walls.The café’s cozy warmth, infused with the deep, earthy scent of roasted coffee beans and the delicate sweetness of pastries cooling on a tray near the window, did little to soften the tension that morning. The wooden tables, their surfaces polished to a soft sheen by years of hands brushing against them, stood as silent witnesses, their dark grain catching the faint, gray light filtering through the rain-streaked windows.I remained seated, my fingers wrapped tightly around a cold ceramic cup. The chill seeped into my palms, sending a shiver up my arms, while Ethan touched his reddened cheek. His gray-blue eyes were clouded with a mix of humiliation and stubborn resolve. Without a word, he scooped up his briefcase, the leather creakin

ELLA 'S POVThe morning after that unsettling phone call stretched out with a quiet, almost oppressive stillness. The sky above London was cloaked in a thick, overcast veil, its pale gray light seeping through like a reluctant dawn. I stood outside Thompson’s Brew, the air brushing against my skin with a cool, gentle touch. The scent of warm bread drifted from a bakery a street away, mixing with the faint, dry whisper of dust stirred by a passing breeze.My fingers fumbled with the edges of my coat. The memory of that phone call ... that sharp, unfamiliar voice cutting through the afternoon silence , clung to my thoughts like a shadow. She knew about the baby. And I hadn’t even begun to understand how.Ethan approached. His navy suit was immaculate against the muted backdrop, the fabric catching the faint light as he moved with a steady, purposeful gait. His gray-blue eyes met mine, shadowed with deep, thoughtful concern. He paused a few steps away, his presence grounding yet tense.“

ELLA 'S POVThe morning unfurled like a delicate gift, the sky over London painted with soft hues of gold and pink as the sun rose, its gentle rays piercing through the thinning mist. The streets glistened with dew, each droplet catching the light like tiny jewels, and the air carried a fresh, earthy scent mixed with the faint sweetness of early blooms from a nearby garden.I sat at my favorite table in Thompson’s Brew, the worn wood warm beneath my palms, the large windows framing the world outside in a serene picture. The café was alive with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the comforting warmth of scones baking in the oven, though the smell stirred a faint nausea in me.My mind drifted as I stared at my untouched tea, the steam rising in lazy curls, lost in thoughts about the life growing inside me, a secret born from the clinic’s mistake with Ethan Caldwell.The clock ticked steadily on the wall, and Grandma Maria’s radio played a soft telenovela tune, its dramatic note