روايات بقلم Authoress Ize

Evelyn’s POV.I hummed under my breath while I stirred the sauce, hips swaying slightly to the soft jazz drifting from the speaker in the corner. The wedding was in forty-eight hours. My stomach fluttered every time I thought about it—white dress hanging in the guest room closet, flowers already being delivered to the venue, Alex’s vows tucked in an envelope on my nightstand that I wasn’t allowed to peek at yet.I was happy. So happy it almost scared me.The front door clicked open. Alex appeared in the doorway, tie already loosened, sleeves rolled to his elbows. His eyes found me immediately, and the tired lines around them softened.“God, you look good in my kitchen,” he said, voice low and warm.I laughed, setting the wooden spoon down. “I look good anywhere.”“True.” He crossed the room in three strides, hands sliding around my waist from behind. His chest pressed to my back, chin resting on my shoulder. I leaned into him, eyes closing for a second as his lips brushed the side

Lucas’s POV. The glow from the television cast long shadows across the empty living room. I slumped deeper into the leather couch, remote dangling from one hand, a half-empty bottle of bourbon balanced on my knee. The news ticker scrolled at the bottom of the screen—stocks up, some politician caught in a scandal—but I wasn’t paying attention. Not until the entertainment segment flashed on. “...breaking tonight: Billionaire Alexander Blackwell pops the question to attorney Evelyn Carter in a fairy-tale proposal. Sources say it happened at her law firm, surrounded by colleagues and candlelight. The ring? A stunner with emeralds to match her eyes. Wedding bells expected this summer.” The screen cut to a grainy paparazzi shot: Alex and Evelyn stepping out of a restaurant, her hand lifted to shield her face, that rock catching the flash. She leaned into him, laughing. He kissed her temple like she was something precious. The bottle slipped. It hit the floor with a thud, bourbon sp

Evelyn’s POV.The next morning dawned soft and hazy, the kind of winter light that filters through curtains like pale honey. I woke up wrapped in Alex, one of his arms slung possessively across my waist, the other tucked under my pillow. His breath was warm against the back of my neck, slow and even. The new ring caught the light every time I moved my hand, throwing tiny rainbows across the sheets.I stared at it for long minutes, heart so full it almost hurt.I was going to be his wife.I turned carefully in his arms so I could watch him sleep. His lashes were dark against his cheeks, the faint scar above his eyebrow more visible in the gentle light. He looked peaceful in a way I’d rarely seen—like the weight he’d carried for years had finally lifted, even if just a little. I traced the line of his jaw with my fingertip, barely touching, and smiled when he stirred, mumbling something incoherent before pulling me closer.“Morning, fiancée,” he rasped, eyes still closed, lips curvi

Evelyn’s POV.To my surprise, there was another door. I glanced at him, and he shot me a nervous smile before pushing it open and the breath left my lungs in a soft, stunned rush.Hundreds of tiny fairy lights had been strung across the ceiling like fallen stars. They twinkled softly, bathing the entire space in warm gold. Every desk had been cleared away. In their place stood long tables draped in white linen, covered with candles, dozens of them, flames dancing gently, throwing soft shadows across the room. Roses….deep red, blush pink, creamy white…spilled over every surface in loose, wild arrangements. The scent wrapped around me, sweet and heady.And then I saw the people.My entire team stood in a loose semicircle, smiling so wide their eyes crinkled. They were all here. All of them. Dressed up. Beaming. And my receptionist held my dad's photo.I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, fanning my eyes with my hands.Alex’s fingers tightened around mine. I felt the slig

Evelyn’s POV.Sunlight filtered through the curtains, warm and golden, pulling me from a deep, contented sleep. I stretched lazily, my body still humming from last night’s intensity. Memories flooded back, Alex’s hands on my skin. A smile tugged at my lips as I reached out, expecting to find his solid warmth beside me.But the bed was empty. The sheets on his side were cool, the indent from his body barely there. My heart skipped a beat, a flicker of unease cutting through the haze of satisfaction. "Alex?" I called softly, sitting up. The room was quiet, too quiet. No sounds from the bathroom, no clatter from the kitchen downstairs.I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet hitting the cool hardwood floor. A quick glance at the clock showed it was just past nine. He wasn’t an early riser, not like this. Not after a night that had left us both exhausted and blissfully spent. I pulled on his discarded shirt from the floor, it smelled like him, that mix of sandalwood and

Evelny’s POV.We lingered in that kiss, our lips moving slowly at first, then with a growing hunger that mirrored the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Alex's hands slid down my back, pulling me tighter against him. I felt him harden even more, that insistent press against my belly sending a jolt straight between my legs. My breath hitched, a soft moan escaping into his mouth. His tongue teased mine.He broke away first, his forehead resting against mine. "Evelyn," he murmured, his voice low and rough, like gravel under tires. One hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing my lower lip. "You have no idea what you do to me."I smiled, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "Show me," I whispered back, my voice breathy, challenging. I leaned in, nipping at his earlobe gently. He sucked in a sharp breath, his grip tightening on my waist. Helen cleared her throat from the doorway, her presence a gentle reminder. We pulled apart, but Alex kept his arm around me as we said our go

Elara's POV.The words hung in the air like a death sentence, and I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at the employee who had delivered the news. My mind raced through countless possibilities, each one darker than the last, because I knew with absolute certainty that I had never intended for this to happen.I had orchestrated the shipment switch to expose Agatha's fraud, but I had never wanted anyone to die.A cold wave of dread swept through me as the horrifying truth settled in. Someone else was moving the pieces behind the scenes, someone ruthless enough to kill in order to protect their secrets.Agatha.She must have discovered what I'd done and was already eliminating anyone who could expose her before the truth reached Adrian."Elara." Adrian's voice cut through the chaos in my mind, pulling me back to the present. I blinked and realized he was standing much closer than I had noticed, his eyes fixed on my face with quiet concern.Only then did I realize how long I

Adrian’s POV.The warmth of Elara's body still lingered against mine, and the faint scent of her perfume clung to the air as I turned toward the doorway.Julian stood there, his expression shifting from surprise to something darker, something that looked dangerously close to possessiveness. His eyes settled on Elara with an intensity that immediately put me on edge.Almost instinctively, I stepped in front of her. The movement was subtle, one I hadn't even realized I'd made until I felt her fingers brush lightly against my back. Julian noticed it too. His jaw tightened, and the rigid set of his shoulders told me he was barely keeping his temper in check."What's going on here?" he asked, his voice edged with restrained anger.Julian's eyes narrowed as he strode farther into the room."I asked you a question, Adrian. Why were you holding Elara like that?"I met his stare without flinching."That's none of your business.”A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his lips."None of my bus

Elara's POV.Killian rubbed his temples, the tension in his shoulders gradually giving way to resignation as he released a long, defeated breath. I watched the fight drain from his eyes before he finally spoke, his voice flat and devoid of its earlier confidence."Fine. Send the original gold, and we'll call it even."A slow smile curved my lips as I held his gaze."I thought you'd see reason," I responded.Adrian stepped forward and extended his hand. Killian accepted it after a brief hesitation, their handshake little more than a formality. Even so, I noticed the way Killian's jaw tightened and the force with which he gripped Adrian's hand, his whitening knuckles betraying the fury he was struggling to contain.The deal was done.Together, Adrian and I walked out of the club. My heels clicked against the pavement as the cool night air washed over me, easing some of the tension that had been coiled inside me since we arrived. We climbed into the waiting car, and as the door closed

Elara's POVElara's POV.My fingers trembled as they brushed the bruises forming around my throat. The tender skin throbbed with a dull ache while the cool night air stung against it. My gaze drifted to Adrian. He stood restrained, blood dripping from his bruised knuckles, the defeat in his eyes hitting me harder than I expected.My heart sank.This wasn't supposed to happen.Lucy's evidence hadn't arrived. The carefully crafted plan I'd spent weeks putting together was unraveling before my eyes. Adrian had lost control because of me. The moment he saw Killian's hands around my throat, something inside him had snapped.And now we were both paying the price.I had to fix this. I had to salvage what was left of my plan before it was too late.Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.The sound cut through the chaos like a lifeline.I stepped aside and answered immediately, lowering my voice to an angry whisper."Where have you been?" I demanded. "I've been trying to reach you for ho

Elara's POV.The car rolled to a stop in front of a building that looked more like a fortress than a nightclub.Massive men stood guard at the entrance, their broad shoulders and cold, unreadable expressions making my stomach tighten.This wasn't a place people came for entertainment. It was a place where powerful men settled dangerous business.I drew in a slow breath.Adrian's hand settled lightly against the small of my back, guiding me toward the entrance. The touch was gentle, almost protective.I hated that it brought me comfort. The moment we stepped inside, the noise crashed over me.Music pounded through the club, vibrating beneath my feet. Thick cigar smoke hung in the air, mixing with the heavy scent of expensive perfume and alcohol.I coughed, my eyes stinging. Almost instantly, Adrian's hand closed around my arm."Are you okay?" he asked quietly.I nodded, forcing a reassuring smile."I'm fine."His brows drew together. "You don't have to do this. I can handle him alone."

Elara's POV.I stood in the kitchen doorway, my eyes fixed on Adrian as the color slowly drained from his face. “What problem?” I asked, feigning concern.His hand tightened around his phone before it slipped limply to his side, and a slow satisfaction curled inside my chest."There's a major problem," Adrian said, his voice strained as he dragged a hand through his hair. "One of our biggest gold shipments was delivered today..." He paused, as though the words themselves were difficult to say. "The client just called. Every single gold bar in that shipment is fake."I widened my eyes in carefully feigned shock and took a hesitant step toward him."What?" I breathed. "How is that even possible? Did you inspect the shipment yourself?”He nodded. “Yes, I did.” He began pacing the length of the kitchen, his movements restless and agitated."I checked everything myself, the markings, the weight... everything." His hands curled into fists. "I don't understand how they were switched... or