Novels by Still Iv

115[ALEX'S POV]Cheers erupted from our friends as I knelt with him, pulling him into a fierce, breathless hug. The applause from Nico, Rita, Marilyn, and Mathew was thunderous, a joyous sound of love and support. We kissed, and in that moment, all the pain of Heldon, all the long, lonely nights in Australia, all the uncertainty of our future simply dissolved. It was just us, in a circle of love and celebration, finally home and finally whole. The ring felt impossibly light and impossibly heavy all at once on my finger.As our lips parted and the cheers reached their peak, the doorbell rang.The sound was a jarring, discordant note in the symphony of our joy. Marilyn, bless her heart, bustled to the door. I saw her open it to a girl who couldn't have been more than seventeen or eighteen. She was pretty in an unassuming way, with kind eyes and long, brown hair. She wore a simple, functional backpack and looked lost, a little out of place, and entirely unfamiliar."Hello dear," Marily

[Four years later....]The descent into the familiar sprawl of Los Angeles felt surreal. For four years, our lives had been framed by the endless blue of the Pacific from a different hemisphere, the sun rising on a new day while America slept. Now, the sprawling grid of city lights below us was a promise, a beacon of a life we had worked so hard to reclaim. I felt Tristan’s hand tighten around mine, his thumb tracing a slow, steady pattern on my knuckles."Home," he whispered, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through me.I just nodded, my throat tight. The last time we had left, it had been an escape. A frantic, humiliating flight from a life that had been ripped to shreds. The scandal that had consumed Heldon University—and our lives—had forced us to rebuild from the ground up. Tristan had lost his job, his reputation, his life's work. I had lost my scholarship, my future, and the trust of my friends that I had thankfully managed to regain before we left.Australia had been our

The sleep that had swallowed me was a heavy, dreamless blanket, a welcome oblivion from the crushing weight of reality. I woke slowly, the morning light filtering through Tristan's curtains feeling foreign and soft. The house was quiet, but as I made my way to the living room, I heard hushed voices.My heart immediately seized with panic. Tristan? Was he on the phone with his lawyer? With the university? I rounded the corner, expecting to see him pacing, but stopped dead in my tracks.Sitting on the sofa, looking small and exhausted but undeniably real, were Rita and Nico. Wait, how? Is this a dream? What were they doing here?Oh no, they came here to give me more of a tongue lashing? Well, I'm not going to stay and let that happen. I turned to run back into my bedroom when I heard his voice.Nico looked up first, his eyes wide with relief. "Alex," he breathed.Rita just stared, her face a complicated mess of shame and relief. I felt my legs quake under me but I fought to keep steady

The tranquil elegance of Samantha's home had been a temporary haven, but her words had been a catalyst. I drove away, my mind no longer held any resentment.In its stead was a storm of guilt and regret. Alex. Nico. My two best friends. I had turned my back on them when they needed me most, all because of a truth I had completely misunderstood. Even if I had misunderstood it, I was right to be angry. Tristan had broken my sister's heart but he had done his best to make up for it with her and had given her a shot at happiness.Samantha had let go of the anger and pain that I was still stubbornly holding on to all these years. It was the reason that Alex must have been so scared to tell me the truth about what was happening.I thought back to the way that I had come at him that day. The awful names that I had called him. It made me flinch the more I dwelled on it. I was angry and I had said some very cruel things.I wish I could take them back.I wish that I could take care of Alex now.

The dorm room, the campus, my friendships—it all felt like a battlefield. The only person I could think to go to was my sister, Samantha. I drove to her house, a sprawling, modern-gothic marvel tucked away in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. My own family's wealth meant I was used to this kind of luxury, but Samantha's home was a masterpiece of taste and refinement. At least that was how I felt. Our mother, on the other hand, felt it was too morbid.It reminded her of a horror movie and she hated it. Samantha didn't care about our mother's feelings. She liked to do what she liked.As I walked up the marble steps, past the impeccably manicured lawn and the fountains that whispered rather than splashed, my chaotic emotions felt completely out of place. The floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to look out on a world of perfect order, and the air inside smelled of expensive lilies and quiet wealth. It was all so serene, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me.I found Samantha in her

The quiet of the house felt deafening, usually it would have been punctured by laughter and stories but not today.Today, we were dragged into the storm that our lives had become all of a sudden. Alex was asleep, finally, a deep, heavy quiet emanating from the bedroom. I’d watched him collapse onto the bed, pulling the comforter over his head like a child seeking shelter from a monster. I had said nothing. All I could do was watch from the doorway.His raw pain, the way he’d flinched from Nico, the primal scream he’d let out at Caleb—my Alex. My poor darling was utterly shattered and it was all because of me.My own email, the cold, curt termination notice, felt like a branding iron against my skin. Professor Tristan Walker. Archeology Department Head. Gone. Just a few lines of corporate jargon, severing years of dedication, research, and passion. It was swift, brutal, and completely absolute. The university, in its infinite wisdom and self-preservation, had acted with ruthless ef

I don’t send texts like the ones I’m supposed to send. Most people don’t even have my direct line to begin with. I don’t tell employees to wait after hours. A lot of the time I want them completely gone so I don’t have to run into any one of them. I don’t blur lines. I don’t lose control. Especially not over women that I sleep with who also happens, this time, to be my employee. I also don’t get overly excited over anyone. Yet my phone is already in my hand, texting the one woman who won’t leave my thoughts. ME: Wait after closing hours. Don’t leave. I stare at the screen like it might argue with me. Three dots appear. Disappear. Reappear. AVERY: Okay. That single word lands in my chest like a slow burn. I lean back in my chair and exhale sharply. Perry is still standing across from me, tablet in hand. “Are we done?” he asks carefully. “Yes,” I say without looking up. “You haven’t reviewed the last….” “I said we’re done.” “That’s odd. Usually you’re obsessed wi

Avery Mane is a loser.That’s what she was when she first walked into this establishment and that’s all she was ever meant to be.I have no idea what happened but ever since that accident she had it’s almost like the universe how’re flipped upside down.All of a sudden she’s different.Who gets into a car crash and come out looking like a model?Was there ever an accident to begin with?Did she lie about that to get plastic surgery?And just why the hell is she suddenly getting noticed Mr Greyhound? I know she’s probably slept with him. There’s no other explanation for all the special treatment she’s getting.Still……what the hell was so special about her?Why was she moved up to our floor and given a new office? And the absolute nerve to kick Minnie and I out of her office.“That bitch must have lost her mind,” Minnie says as we storm down the corridor. “There’s no way Mr Greyhound would have ever approved of this”“Something isn’t right.”“Exactly. Do you think she’s got dirt on t

I’m still standing in the middle of the office when the door swings open without a knock. Hard. Two heels click in first. Then voices. “What the hell is this?” I turn slowly. Dalia Carter stands in the doorway, arms crossed, lips curled like she just stepped into something foul. Minnie is right behind her, eyes darting around my office like she’s counting everything that doesn’t belong to me. In my own office. Still feels strange to think that. Dalia’s gaze drags over the desk, the chair, the glass walls, the view behind me. Then it lands on me. And hardens. “You have to be kidding me,” she says flatly. Minnie lets out a sharp laugh. “This is stupid. What do you think you’re doing here, Avery?.” I straighten my shoulders. “Can I help you?” Dalia steps inside without waiting for permission. Minnie follows, neither bother to shut the door behind them. “This floor is restricted,” Dalia says. “You don’t just wander up here.” “I didn’t wander,” I reply. Minnie scoffs.

The flowers are already waiting on my desk when I arrive. I stop short in front of them, my bag slipping down my arm as I stare. White roses. Orchids. Something soft and expensive-smelling I don’t have a name for. They’re arranged perfectly, like someone planned this instead of ordering them on impulse. And I already know who planned it. There’s a small card tucked between the blooms. I don’t touch it at first. I look around instead. People passing are pretending not to stare at the flowers taking up half my desk. I don’t blame them. I would stare too if I saw my colleague get a bouquet of flowers. I sit slowly and finally pick up the card. It read, “Last night was only the beginning. — D” My lips part before I can stop myself. I press the card flat against the desk and exhale. “Focus, Avery,” I murmur under my breath. But my mind doesn’t listen. It drifts back to the night I shared with my boss, to his hands steady on my waist, to the way Dominic

I wake up already irritated. Not because I didn’t sleep, but because I did. That never happens.Usually it’s one project or some bullshit meeting with clients that’s really just a formality has me up. I sit up, run a hand over my face, and stare at the city through the glass wall of my bedroom. My phone buzzes on the nightstand but I ignore it.I slept and in my arms was Avery. She is gorgeous. Just like the night that we had spent together. I had made breakfast for her and had one of my drivers drop her off. The problem isn’t that I slept with Avery Mane who is also my employee. The problem is that I want to do it again. And again. And again.I want her to be mine and mine alone. I shower, dress, and head into my office before the billion dollar facility is fully awake. The moment I sit down behind my office desk, I press the intercom. “Perry.” “Yes, sir?” “Come in.” He arrives a minute later, tablet tucked under his arm, expression neutral. Perry Wilson has been my

Perfect. I stare at my reflection in the restroom mirror one last time. The system has done its job. As a matter of fact, it has done better than I expected it to. The whole thing still feels like a dream. My skin glows. My waist is snatched. I can’t even lie, I don’t even recognize myself. In comparison to the woman that Elias threw out of his house, I looked like a different person. My hair falls in soft waves that look professionally styled even though all I did was complete a task this morning. > My dress is simple—black, sleeveless, hugging the new curves I earned. Elegant but not loud. My dad had got it for me. He said he was so proud with just how well I’ve taken care of myself and even gotten the attention of my boss. He said the dress was exactly what a CEO would expect. He wasn’t wrong. Plus, it was exactly what Dalia can choke on. I smooth the fabric down my hips and take a breath. Tonight, I’m not the old Avery. I don’t even feel

I open the door and the world tilts. Luca’s mouth is on Eloise’s. For half a second, my brain refuses to register it. It’s just shapes. Movement. A scene that doesn’t….shouldn’t be happening. Then it snaps into focus. His hands are on her waist. Her body is stiff. Her hands are already pushing him away….but it doesn’t matter. I saw it. I saw enough.That bastard, Luca! He thinks this is fucking funny?! “Ruby….” Eloise gasps, shoving him back. “I swear, it’s not what you think…..” I don’t hear the rest. Something hot and sharp slices straight through my chest, and before I can stop myself, I turn around and walk away. “Ruby, wait!” Eloise’s footsteps scramble behind me. “Please….please, Ruby, stop! I swear that’s not what it looked like!” Behind us, Luca laughs. He makes it loud enough for me to want to turn around and pummel his face with my fists. I walk faster. “Ruby!” Eloise grabs my arm. I spin on her so fast she stumbles back. “Don’t,” I say. My voice is terrifyin

Ruby is late. That’s the first thing I think, sitting at our usual study spot with my notebook open and my pen uncapped, tapping against the margin like it might summon her faster. The library corner we always claim is quiet, tucked between tall shelves and a wide window that lets in the afternoon light.It feels warm instead of lonely. I check my phone.One text. “Wait a little for me? Grabbing snacks. Love you” I’m halfway through rereading the same sentence for the fourth time when a shadow falls across the table. I look up, already smiling. It dies instantly. Luca. He’s standing there casually, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed.I smile at him. The little rouge that everyone keeps warning me about. “Hey,” he says. “Waiting for Ruby?” “Yes,” I answer immediately. “She’ll be here any minute.” He pulls out the chair across from me anyway and sits. “What kind of mischief have you been up to?” I ask and he chuckles.“What do you mean?”“Everyone keeps sayi

Dinner is quiet in a way that presses against my ears. The dining room is too big for just me. The chandelier hums softly above my head, casting polite light over a plate I’ve barely touched. I poke at my food more than I eat it, the clink of cutlery against porcelain sounding louder than it should. I don’t usually eat alone. Father always made sure that we ate as a family. But father and mother were not home right now.They wouldn’t be for another five days. I’m halfway through convincing myself to get up and leave when footsteps sound on the stairs. Unhurried and Confident. Familiar in the most irritating way. Luca. He comes down like he owns gravity itself, phone in hand, sleeves rolled up like he’s just finished charming someone without trying. He doesn’t look at me at first, just heads for the bar. I watch him pour himself a drink. Ice. Whiskey. Barely a pause. My grip tightens around my fork. “Did you threaten Gabrielle?” The words land cleanly. Calm and control

The rain taps softly against the glass ceiling above the indoor patio, a slow, steady rhythm that makes the whole mansion feel tucked away from the world. Orion planned this.A quiet, indoor, romantic date. Just the two of us. Honestly after all the craziness of the past couple of weeks, he and I both needed this.Second hand stress isn’t the best option for a relationship. Candles everywhere. Low jazz humming from the speakers. The pool lights dimmed to a soft blue that makes everything look cinematic and expensive. I’m in a silk slip dress. It’s cream, backless, subtle enough to look effortless but fitted enough that I know exactly what he sees when he looks at me.It’s the perfect, sexy outfit to wear for my boyfriend.I know he loves it too because he wouldn’t stop staring at me. We’re halfway through dinner when he smiles at his phone. “I need to take this,” he says, already standing. “My sister.” I nod easily. “Okay, babe. Take your time.” He presses a quick kiss to m

Lindsay’s mansion always smells like money and every expensive thing you could think of. Polished marble floors, tall glass windows overlooking the pool, furniture that looks like it’s never been sat on without permission. Even the air feels curated. I’ve been here enough times to know where not to touch, where to sit, how to keep my voice at a respectable volume. Still, tonight feels different. I’m sitting across from Lindsay at the oversized kitchen island, a glass of wine untouched in front of me. Gabrielle lounges beside her, legs crossed, phone face-down for once, which already tells me she’s tense. Lindsay is chopping strawberries with surgical precision, like feelings might spill if she stops moving. “So,” Lindsay says casually, not looking up. “I’m still getting used to the idea of you and Eloise.” I blink. Once. “Okay,” I say slowly. Not congratulations. Not I’m so happy for the both of you. Just “getting used to it.” Gabrielle snorts. “Everyone in school is stil

I knock once. Soft. No answer. Then again, louder this time around. “Dad?” I try. Still nothing. I turn the handle anyway. The study smells like ink and old books and frustration. Tristan is sitting behind the desk, jacket tossed over the back of the chair, sleeves rolled up like he’s been there for hours. Papers are everywhere. His laptop is open, but the screen is dark. His phone lies facedown beside it, untouched. He doesn’t look up when I step inside. “Dad. You okay?” This time he does. His eyes are red. Not crying-red. The kind you get when you don’t sleep and stare at the same thought until it eats a hole in your skull. “You shouldn’t be here,” he says. “I live here remember.” He exhales and leans back. “That doesn’t mean you need to see this.” “I already did,” I say quietly. “There’s nothing wrong with ninja assassins feeling sad” That gets his attention and he laughs a little bit.“I don’t feel like such a tough ninja assassin right now” I close the door b

Isabelle, Brian, Rosie, Gina, Hannah and Ramon stood there for a good two hours waiting, silently praying and just hoping for some news. Hopefully, good news. Ramon held Hannah's hand while Isabelle wrapped her arms around Brian to comfort him. Rosie on the other hand was lost in thought. She still had a mountain of trouble waiting for her. She had betrayed her daughter's trust and had robbed her grandson of a father simply because she was angry at Adrian for getting her teenage daughter pregnant. Under normal circumstances, she should be near Isabelle and Brian and offering comfort but she could not bring herself to go too close. It was already difficult enough for Isabelle to be around her after finding out what she had done. Gina stood there watching every one of them. She was worried for Theresa and most especially for Ramon. He had dedicated his whole life to taking care of her and sacrificed a large chunk of everything just to make sure that she was safe and well taken

Hannah hated hospitals. It was the place that she had lost her father and had not had cause to step into one until today. She had forgotten just how terribly depressing it could be. Ramon sat with his head in his hands while she rested a reassuring hand on his back; rubbing it slowly to help ease his tension. She could not begin to fathom what it was like to be in his shoes. He loved Theresa. She was his entire life and it was scary to think that he might lose her. "She'll be alright, Babe" Hannah said quietly. "I can't lose her, Hannah" He said and shook his head. He thought of the nightmares that Theresa usually had. Was this the manifestation of those dreams? Was he actually going to have to watch her die? "You won't lose her, Ramon. Theresa is a strong girl and she'll be fine, I promise" Ramon nodded. There was nothing that he could do but nod. Earlier, the doctor in charge of Theresa had called him aside to speak to him about the state of his sister's health. The doc

"You were lied to ,Isabelle" "She told me that she told you that I had died in a cell fight and she was going to change the numbers that I knew so I would never be able to get to you" "She told me that she had gotten rid of all the letters that I sent and she made sure that all the ones that you sent never got to me" The words from Adrian floated through her head. She had gone to see him because she felt that he was simply going to offer a flimsy excuse for his absence. She had not prepared for the bombshell that had exploded in her face. She was not prepared to hear that her mother had been the one that had caused her grief. It didn't make any sense to her. Why would her mother do that? She knew that she did not particularly like Adrian but was it possible for her to go this far? There was no way that was possible. Right? Isabelle had taken a taxi back to her place. She had ignored every one of her staff that had tried to speak to her and just walked into the main house.

It was a blissful friday morning and Ramon was finishing a wooden table that he had been working on for a few days in his workshop. Hannah was right there to keep him company. He had been in a brighter mood. One that even Theresa had not seen in such a long time. He had been a somewhat happy person but ever since that he had gotten with Hannah it almost felt like he was walking on sunshine. For Ramon, it did feel like he was walking on sunshine. He remembered the morning that Theresa had walked in on he and Hannah. They both shared a laugh and fell back in bed. "I think, we may have just traumatized your sister" Hannah said between laughs. "She'll probably try to get back at me when she's older" "You think that's something that you could handle?" "I think I might shoot the guy in his balls" Hannah laughed even loudly this time and Ramon could not help but be in awe of her. She was like a breath of fresh air and he wanted nothing but to stay in bed and breathe in this fres

She had done her possible best to ignore and fight off the temptation but in the end, her desire to find out the truth had been too much for her to handle.Isabelle had called the number on the card that Gregory had handed her. She recognized his voice on the other end and he sounded pleased to hear that she was willing to meet with Adrian. Isabelle was not all too pleased to be meeting with Adrian and she could feel her anxiety getting to her: She was not going to take any of her cars and instead decided to call for a cab that would drive her to where she needed to go. She had taken her time to conceal her face with dark sunglasses and a scarf. Her relationship with Theodore was still a trending topic in the media and she could not risk appearing in the papers and blogs as not a alleged homewrecker but also a cheat. That was not what she was worried about. She was more concerned with having to explain to Theodore what she was doing at one of the houses of another man. Isabel

"I'm telling you," Rosie said with some urgency, "It was her. Hannah Hills" She took a gulp of the wine that had been poured in her glass and shook her head. "Can you imagine if she had been with them all along. You don't think that maybe Hannah had been with this Ramon fellow all along do you? What if they are dating? And to think that the sister has been friends with Brian all along. What a crazy coincidence" Rosie turned to her daughter who looked like she was lost in thought. Isabelle had not been her usual self since the night that she had attended the gala with Theodore. She had been moody and awfully quiet. She never seemed to be paying attention to anything or anyone and it worried Rosie. "Isabelle" Rosie called out. "Yeah?"Isabelle responded but looked like she had her train of thought interrupted. "Is everything okay with you?" Rosie asked. Isabelle nodded. "Yeah. Everything is fine, Mom" Rosie shook her head. "You can fool everyone that things are fine but not th