Novel-novel oleh Theafricangirl

She was definitely Atlas’ daughter. “I… what?” “P-peace treaty, mama!” She said, turning to Leo as if it would make sense. Of course, their response was to burst into laughter. “Mommy!” she cried, “they! They said that! They! Argh!” she snapped, struggling with her limited vocabulary. “Boys!” I cleared my throat. “You shouldn’t tease your sister like that.” “She needed help with apologising, Mom.” Louis strolled forward, he seemed more carefree than I remembered. Something changed in the past few days and I wanted it to stay that way. “So, Leo and I came up with two words.” “The first two words they found on the wall in Daddy’s room. Sometimes, I wonder whose vocabulary is limited, hers or yours!” “Hey, Coco Face. You’re not the one getting into MIT so just shut it.” “Hold on, you’re getting into MIT?” I turned to Louis and pulled him into a hug. “Oh my gosh. My smart boy!” I kissed his cheeks and he wiggled out “Mom!” I chuckled. “I can’t wait to tell people at each br

I groaned, my eyes fluttering open to bright lights. “What the—” “You passed out in the car,” I turned to see Atlas sitting beside me. “The doctor said it was because of the stress, trauma, and…” I frowned, sitting up. “And what?” He glanced around, as the answer was on the walls before he grinned. “We may or may not be expecting another baby.” “What?!” “Don’t — Don’t shout!” “Don’t shout? Atlas I’ve pushed out four babies, darned right I’ll shout if I want to! You need to keep yourself in check!” “Oh now, this is my fault? As if you vehemently refused all my advances, look at this one!” he flicked my head and I gasped. “Don’t hit me, I’m pregnant and serious, Atlas,” I sighed and he paused, his eyes tracing my features. “I… I don’t think I can do this. Not then, not now, I… a baby— pregnancy, it’s always a lot for me.” He reached out, taking my hands into his. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for the first two. I never got to witness either. I… I’ve missed out on a lot of things

The world stood still as I locked eyes with Atlas. His blue eyes softened, staring at me with longing. Daring me to stay, to want — To persist and exist. I leaned in before freezing. Gunshots rang through. How were we still okay? Atlas pulled me in before I could turn. “You have a father who’s willing to go to war for you,” He gestured around and I realised for each wounded soldier, there were two other armed guards. The shots weren’t from the soldiers, they were from Father’s guards. “And…” he pulled me closer. “A husband who is willing to die in it.” I grabbed his color, our lips brushing. “Don’t you dare talk about dying.” His response was to tuck my hair behind my ears before whispering. “Can I kiss you?” I stared up at him. “Please,” Atlas captured my lips into his, “Forgive me, peek-a-boo, I love and respect you,” he said, breathless, but I am about to kiss you like I don’t.” I didn’t have time to react before I stumbled back at the sheer force of his collision. He

The silence in the car was devastating, quiet, slow, and like a dagger sinking into my chest. I couldn’t form words, instead, I sank into the seat, watching the world pass by as I registered the betrayal. The betrayal that came from the only other person I thought was mine. “You’re not a bad person, Rade. You’re my best friend and—”“And your husband to be,” He turned to me. “I love you, Bella.”“It's Julia,” I corrected and he shook his head. “And I love Atlas.”“Which is why I’ll end his story today. I’ve called him to the border. There, several soldiers are protecting the country, there’ll be a terrorist attack, and between the two countries, tsk tsk tsk,” he shook his head. “One stray bullet will end him.”I shut my eyes, a tear rolling down my cheek. Rafe set Atlas up. I had to save him. I glanced at Rade, watching as he tossed his gun under his car seat. I was not a murderer. But, at this point, I woul

“Atlas!” I cried, sitting up. I glanced around, eyes wide as I registered I was in a car, in the middle of… nowhere? Wait. I snapped to the side, my heart racing as brown eyes flickered to mine. “You…” I said, my heart racing. “Where are you taking me, Adeline?” I snapped. “What do you want now? How did you… How did you even get out of prison?!” “Shh.” She hissed, driving with a smug grin. “You shouldn’t talk too much, save your breath, because you’ll need it, Julia. Do you know where I’m taking you?” “Stop this nonsense and turn around, right now!” I snapped, “Where is Atlas? Where…” I trailed off, cradling my head as memories rushed back. I was with Atlas and then, I swam and someone grabbed me, they dragged me underwater so how did… How did I get here? “Adeline, you won’t get anything by doing this, trust me, you—“ “You’re so wrong!” She hit the brakes and I gasped, “I’ll get everything. Everything I want. I’m going to kill you and return as Atlas’ wife. He’ll be mine. I h

I held my breath as Atlas took a step forward, his grip on me loosening. “I knew you would make the right —“ The man was on the ground in a second, cradling his nose. Wait. What was going on? This wasn’t what I thought would happen. “Look,” Atlas glanced at me, scrunching his nose. “It looks like a love tap. Your attempt is cute, but this isn’t how you teach people a lesson, Peekaboo,”“I don’t understand!” The man, whom I’d now registered as Mr. York, snapped. “You’re siding with her? Do I need to remind you that you could lose—““First off,” Atlas snarled. “Lower your voice and gaze when you speak to me. Second, I couldn’t care less about anything if the bargain is my wife.”The man’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Y-Your wife?”“I also hate repeating myself, or being asked dumb questions by dumb people.” Atlas continued, running his hands through his hair.He snapped his fingers and a guard stepped forward. “Take out the trash.”“Mr. Volkan, you can’t do this, I—”“Wait.” Atlas tur

Loren's POV “Go on Killian,” I said, “Let's settle this once and for all.”I stepped closer. “No more guessing. Is this marriage real or fake?”My heart pounded in my chest and just as he parted his lips to speak, the sound of my phone ringing shattered the moment. I grabbed it, instinctively moving to end the call when I saw the caller's name. My eyes widened. That number hadn’t called me in seven years. If it was calling now…My hand trembled but I picked it up, pressing it against my ear. “Mrs. West collapsed,” My eyes widened. “She kept calling for you so we found your number, please come to City Hospital as soon as possible.”The phone slipped from my grasp and Killian’s voice followed. “Loren?” he asked, “Loren, what happened?”I didn’t get to answer him. I was already rushing out of the house, tears blinding my vision as I hailed a cab. My body shook as I entered the car. I wiped my tears countless times but no matter how many times I wiped my tears, I couldn't see any

Loren’s povThe words left my mouth before I could stop them, and I glanced around, my breath hitching as I realised what I’d just said. “What did you just say?” Asher snapped, narrowing his eyes. “I know you heard me clearly the first time,” I snarled, locking eyes with him. “So drop this drama and wake up, Asher West.”I grabbed Killian's wrist and started walking away. Leaving was impossible though, reporters blocked every exit, the camera lights flashing more than they’d ever done.“Just one photo, please!” They begged.“What a lovely couple!”“No way! They are definitely THE power couple of the year!”“How does it feel to be the face of Whitmore Media and Mr Whitmore’s wife?”“That’s enough photos for now,” Killian said. “Please, just one more photo!”“Mr. Whitmore,” The investor from earlier blocked our way, his eyes flickered with shame. “I want to apologize for discrediting Mrs. Whitmore.”“Oh really?” Killian snarled, “You want to apologize because she’s Miss Whitmore don’

Loren’s POVI swallowed my doubts and brushed past Lovie, walking toward the podium where the Cello was. I sat down, my hand trembling as I picked up the bow. I glanced at Killian, and his gaze was steady, unwavering. The bow grazed the strings and Lovie chuckled. “Please don’t be annoyed everyone, my sister hasn’t played in years, she is just like her mother,”Again, she was dragging my mother into it. Our eyes locked. “You were talking about my mother right?” Lovie said, smiling. “At least she wasn’t a failure like your mother was and you’ll be.”“It’s good that she’s dead, she would have died from shame watching you.”My grip on the bow tightened. My mind traveled back thirteen years. The moment Mother found out her husband of seventeen years had cheated on her and had a thirteen-year-old daughter. That too, with the assistant she saved from the streets. She rushed out of the house and didn’t look back, even as I called her multiple times.I saw her again that night, but

Loren's Pov “Loren will definitely perform. She is an excellent cellist.”Everyone, including the investors turned to see Killian Whitmore standing at the entrance. He didn’t wait a second before strolling into the hall and standing beside me. “Her performance will leave no room for doubt”My heart was still pounding, threatening to implode in my chest. Each passing moment felt like a noose wrapped around my neck, making it harder and harder to breathe. “If anything,” Killian squeezes my hand. “You should be worried for yourself, you’re about to lose publicly and people never recover from that.”“You—”“If I were you, I’d choose my words properly. You are standing on my property, at my banquet, and speaking about my–” I tugged on him: No, if he said I was his wife now, things would go even farther. “Your what?” Lovie’s eyes flickered to mine. “Your lover?”My grip on Killian’s arm tightened.“Mr. Whitmore, you’re the CEO of the Whitmore Group, the most influential and wealthy gr

Loren's pov Our eyes locked and my lips moved before I could even think. “2004, youngest principal cellist of Miami’s symphony,” I started, causing the murmurs to fade into the background “Winner of Miami International Cello competition, first performer at Arsht Center…”“What are you saying? Are you both insane and crippled?” Lovie sneered. I laughed. “I’m not insane, you’re just not used to winning at all, so of course you don’t even know what these achievements are, or what they mean.”“Neither do you, nor did your mother—““Loren!”“Lower your voice.” I spat, glaring at the guests. “You’ve been singing her praises for so long, go on, name one award she’s won. Name one show she’s headlined— name one place she’s played at.”I grabbed a chair, “I’ll wait.”“You’re crossing the line now, Loren.”“You tore the line a long time ago, did you forget?” I bit back. “They still can’t answer what qualifies you as a star.”“Do you know why?” I asked, and her nostrils flared. “Because the

Loren's POV I pushed open the doors, and every head turned to me, their eyes widening as I strolled into the hall. Killian had done the impossible—fast-tracked the entire face-reveal ceremony—even though it was a huge risk.Just thinking about it made me clutch the jade pendant he gifted me, squeezing it in my grasp. I kept my head held high even as guests murmured. Killian said he wouldn’t be able to accompany me because he was dealing with some last-minute arrangements. He wanted me to go ahead anyway. He didn't want to hold me back. And because he had spent the past few days listening to me, it was only fair I listened to him too. “Aren’t you strutting a bit too confidently?” I turned to see Bruce glaring at me. Who invited him? “Oh forget it, Bruce,” Another voice said, familiar, mocking. I turned again and Jace leaned against one of the lavish tables. “Asher dumped her, this is all she has going on.” he laughed, patting Bruce’s back. “Even if it is,” Bruce pressed on