Novels by Maraz_Pen

Riley’s Pov I woke up the next day and the next thing I saw was Michael’s back facing me as he seemed to stir something in a cup. I looked beside me and saw someone trying to raise his little legs and hands at the same time. His movements were clumsy and slow, like he was testing his own body. My breath caught instantly. I quickly sat up and cleaned my eyes, rubbing them harder than necessary just to be sure that I was not dreaming again. The noise I made alerted Michael. He turned immediately and looked at me, his face breaking into a smile that looked tired but relieved. “You are awake.” I nodded, unable to trust my voice yet, and gestured toward our baby with my chin. “He is awake,” Michael said softly, walking closer. “Though still recovering, but as you can see, he is strong.” Strong. The word settled inside me slowly, like I needed time to believe it. I gently lifted him from his bed since all the wires fixed on him had been removed. My hands trembled a little

Riley’s PovMy whole body went stiff as I kept staring at the spot where the red car had disappeared. It was as if my eyes refused to move, like if I kept staring hard enough, the car would somehow reappear with my baby safe inside.The weak sound I heard earlier kept replaying in my head. That small sniffle echoed over and over until my chest started to hurt.Someone wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me gently, but it did nothing. I felt numb, hollow, like I was standing outside my own body watching everything happen to someone else.At some point, we drove back to the hospital. I barely registered the movement or the time passing. I just sat there, staring into nothing, waiting for the next call.When my phone finally rang, it had been over an hour. My heart jumped violently as I grabbed it, my fingers trembling so badly that I almost dropped it.I answered immediately.“Riley, my daughter, did you miss me?”“Just say what you want,” I said quickly, my voice cracking

Riley’s PovMy gaze followed Viktor as he walked fully into the room. He moved with urgency, pulling a small table closer and setting up his system with ease. I could barely focus on what he was doing. My heart was pounding too loudly in my ears.When he was done arranging everything, he cleared his throat. The sound felt too loud in the tense room. He looked from me to Michael, then back again, hesitating like someone standing at the edge of a cliff.“First of all, I want to apologise to you both for what I did.”Michael and I stared at him at the same time, our brows drawn together in confusion. Even the officers in the room turned toward him, their expressions sharpening instantly.Viktor raised both hands quickly. “I mean, I do not know anything about the kidnapping. What I am apologising for is different,” he said fast, his voice tight.“Just say what you have to say. We do not have much time,” Michael snapped, his voice already edged with fury.Viktor swallowed. “Okay. Wha

Riley’s PovHere finally came the day I would be discharged.Michael left earlier to fill out the necessary forms while I stayed back to pack the remaining items in the room. The past few days in the hospital had felt like torture. I was treated more like the baby than Alex himself. Everyone hovered, watched my every move, and corrected even the smallest action. That alone was reason enough for me to want out.There was another reason too, one I did not voice.My father.I was still wary of him, even though he had not given me a single reason to doubt his intentions. That made it worse in a way. Suspicion was easier when someone behaved badly. Kindness made me unsure of where to place my guard.I took advantage of the brief window of privacy to do a few things before anyone returned to stop me. Thankfully, it was only Mr Gray coming later. The rest were busy but promised to visit in the evening. Aria had already told me to reserve a room for her beside Alex. I had done that w

Riley’s PovMy eyes fluttered open slowly, and the sudden brightness of the room made me squint, my lashes trembling as I tried to adjust. My head felt heavy, my body even heavier, like I had been pulled back from somewhere far away.Then I heard a tiny, soft cry. The sound cut through the haze instantly, and my heart tightened painfully in my chest.Even though I was still disoriented, I knew that cry. I shifted slightly and realized someone was holding my hand. I turned my head and saw Michael sitting beside the bed, his fingers wrapped tightly around mine. His gaze was fixed on a corner of the room, his brows drawn together, his expression tense and distant, like his mind was somewhere else entirely.“Michael,” I whispered, though it came out hoarse and weak.I squeezed his hand, and that seemed to pull him back. He blinked rapidly, then turned to me, his eyes widening the moment he realized I was awake.Before he could say anything else, I tilted my head slightly toward the

Riley’s POVI sat on the sand with my feet stretched out, watching the waves roll in slowly before crashing against the shore. Each one came and went with a calm rhythm that should have soothed me, but my mind refused to stay quiet.My thoughts kept circling the innovation challenge, where only one agency would be selected and launched onto the global stage.It was not just any competition. It was one that could push my organization beyond borders. The idea of it both excited and scared me. I wanted my organization to stand tall, to be recognized globally, just like Gray’s. Not as his wife’s project, but as something I built with my own hands.This competition felt like a doorway to something bigger.I knew it would not be easy, and failure was a real possibility. Still, something in me wanted to try. I owed myself that much.The breeze picked up suddenly, sweeping my hair into my face and cutting through my thoughts. Strands brushed against my lips and eyes, tickling my skin