Novels by Deedee

“I don't like that woman,” Paulo said, his irritation evident in his voice. Derek didn't talk. Instead, he started walking towards his room. “She's overdoing it,” Paulo added as he trailed closely behind Derek. “I know,” Derek said without looking at him. Paulo shook his head. “Do you?” Derek stopped, then turned. His eyes stayed on Paulo for a fleeting second before he continued walking. “You're overdoing it,” Derek finally said. “How?” Paulo asked. “I'm not the one walking around someone else's house, as if I've known them all my life. She's not even cautious about her speech and attitude.”“And you are?” Derek asked him flatly. “This is not the time for this, Derek,” Paulo said, his frustration spiking. “You are the one preventing me from letting her know her place in this house.” “And what exactly would you have done if I gave you the chance?” Derek asked, glancing at him once. “I'll just make sure she's not too comfortable. Remind her of her place and make her watch her

Whenever he was in his gym, Derek never rushed his movements.As he did each rep, his muscles tightened, releasing and stretching under the strain. Sweat traced slowly down his shoulders, across his chest, disappearing beneath the waistband of his shorts.This was one of the few places where things made sense, and his efforts showed clear results.He lifted again.Exhaled.Then set the bar down with a quiet thud.The moment he lifted his head, he noticed Raine.She didn’t walk in like someone unsure. She didn’t even hesitate at the doorway. She moved through the space like she had been there before. Like she knew where everything was and where everything belonged.Derek watched her for a moment before speaking.“Someone is getting too familiar.”Raine stopped mid-step and turned to him. There was a flicker of surprise on her face, but it faded quickly.“I live here,” she said simply.Derek reached for a towel, wiping the sweat from his face.“Not long enough to know every corner.”Rai

For the past week, Lewis had been desperately trying to win his girlfriend back. Every morning started the same way for him. He stared at his phone, debating whether to call again, knowing he would anyway. Every night ended worse, with silence echoing back at him, louder than any rejection.He had tried everything he could think of. He even got her flowers. The first time he stood outside her door holding a bouquet, he knocked all day and got no answer. So he left it by the door. He knew Barbie would have seen it, but he got no call, no text, not even an acknowledgment. So he changed the strategy again. This time, he went with gist. He got her jewelry he wasn’t even sure she liked. A bag he had seen her glance at a long time ago. And the shoes she wanted a few weeks ago. They were delivered, she received them and ignored him. Again. Then he stepped up his game. He sent her money. He transferred it directly to her account with a simple message: I’m sorry, baby. She saw it, she d

Now, the club felt different to Raine because she wasn't just observing, she was a part of it. Wearing a short red dress, Raine stood near the entrance at first, taking the club in again. But this time, she did it with a sharper eye. The dancers, the guests, the layout, the music, she paid attention to everything. She paid attention to the way clients’ attention moved from one performer to another and to the way certain clients were treated differently.Everything meant something and she didn't want to miss the connotative meaning. She also noticed the patterns but she was still trying to understand them. The moment she stepped further in, the attention shifted towards her. Eyes followed her, some were curious, some were judging but none was welcoming. “Who’s that?” one man muttered.“She is clearly lost,” another answered with a smirk.“Maybe a change of face. Who knows what Stygian might be thinking,” another one said. “A female stripper? Interesting,” another one added, causi

Since he woke up from his nightmare, sleep had abandoned him. And a bottle of liquor had been his companion. As each hour passed until sunrise, he couldn't stop thinking about the dream. Despite trying to occupy his mind with other businesses, the thought still crept in. Derek sat behind his desk, another bottle of liquor in front of him, while a half filled glass was next to it. Whenever he had the same nightmare, he ended up burying himself in work until his mind became tired of thinking about anything, including his dreams. And that was the exact plan he had in mind. He took a slow sip of his drink, the burn settling in his chest as he tried to focus on the papers in front of him. The silence in his study was helpful until the door burst open and noise evaded his space. “Learn to know your place in this house,” Paulo's voice cut through the room before he fully stepped inside. “You’re unbelievable!” Raine followed right behind him, clearly irritated. “You talk like you are

Sleep didn’t come easily.It never did with Derek. Not when he had become entangled with Alonso, the man of his nightmares. Not when he hadn't heard from Lewis in a while. And the worst part was he wasn't interested in the club that night. He just wanted to sleep but it didn't come. When it finally came, it came in fragments. It made him restless and uneasy. It was the kind of sleep that didn’t feel like rest, but like falling into something dark without control.And then as usual, the dream came.*******Derek's parents' house was smaller, but never peaceful. Young Derek stood at the corner of the living room, his hands clenched at his sides, his back pressed tightly against the wall like he was trying to disappear into it.His heart was beating too fast and too loud. But the sound could never cover the noise coming from his parents. They were arguing again. This time, it wasn't just an argument, it was a fight. His mother’s voice cracked. “You think this is normal?” she shouted

Rowan’s povI refused to eat.At first, it was a deliberate act of defiance. It was my only way of holding on to control when everything else had slipped away from me. But after a while, it stopped being intentional. Hunger came and went like a distant thought I could not quite grasp. My body should have been screaming for food, for strength, for recovery. Instead, there was nothing. I just felt hollow. They brought trays with varieties of food. Each one placed artfully on the table beside my bed, as if the presentation could persuade me. But I didn't touch them. “Your Highness… Please, you must eat something…”Even a little…” the butler pleaded, but I didn’t respond.I just lay there, staring at the ceiling of my room. My room? The irony almost made me laugh.The comfort was everything I thought I had missed. I couldn't believe I had imagined coming back here so many times when Hillsborough felt like a prison. I couldn't believe I had thought this place would feel like freedom.

Theo’s POV “Sit down,” he barked this time, and I had no choice than to listen to him.Slowly, I found my way to the edge of the bed and sat down. I didn't fully settle, not physically, not emotionally, not mentally.“Like I said earlier, the truth is hard to believe,” he started, but I cut in sharply. “That's because it's a lie,” I spat. “Are you trying to say everything you told me during questioning was a lie?” he asked, fixing his gaze on me. “You already know that, don't you? Just let Rowan go if you're hiding him,” I replied. “I can't let go of someone I don't have,” he said casually. “He left. He left you. He left with his brother.”The way he kept laying emphasis on his words made my stomach twist. “He didn’t even look back,” he continued casually, like he was commenting on the weather.“Stop talking.”But he didn’t stop. “If someone truly cared,” he continued, “they would have made sure you were safe before leaving.”“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said f

Theo’s POV After a successful escape, I was supposed to feel relieved, right? But when I woke up, the first thing I felt wasn’t relief, it was confusion.The kind of confusion that would settle heavily in the chest before the mind could even catch up with it. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar and for a moment, I just stared at it, trying to piece together where I was, how I got here, and why my body felt like it had been dragged through hell.Slowly, everything came back to me and I inhaled slowly when it dawned on me that I was in the hospital room alone. Where was Rowan?I sat up too fast and I regretted it immediately.Pain exploded through my body, even my head throbbed more, but I ignored the pain. I forced myself to sit upright. “Rowan?” I called out, my voice hoarse. I swung my legs off the bed, nearly collapsing as dizziness hit me.“Why did they separate us again?” I mumbled as I pushed myself towards the door. My body protested as the pain became worse but I ignored

Rowan’s POV Two things played in my mind as I entered the elevator. First, I must not get caught. Second, Henry must get here on time. The elevator ride to the rooftop felt longer than it should have. Each second felt like eternity to me. My reflection stared back at me and as I took in the sight, I felt pity for myself. My face was covered with purple and red bruises, my lips were slit, dried blood covered every corner of my face, and the hospital gown hung loosely on my body like I didn’t belong on it. I barely recognized myself, but none of that mattered, because Henry was coming. My saviour was coming. At last, I would be free from Valecourt. My heart jumped as the elevator dinged loudly as it reached the top floor.I stepped out immediately, ignoring the ache in my legs, and followed the sign that pointed toward the rooftop.As I took each step,my heart kept pounding loud. What if they were watching? What if this was another trap?I pushed the thoughts away because I had

Rowan’s povThe first thing I felt when I woke up was pain. My ribs were aching, my head was pounding, my knuckles were throbbing like they had their own heartbeat. For a few seconds, I didn’t even open my eyes. I just lay there, breathing, trying to understand if this was real or just another controlled environment of valecourt. Slowly, I opened my eyes and the smell of antiseptic hit me. It was as if opening my eyes also opened my other senses. I blinked as my vision adjusted. Then I turned my head to confirm if I was really in a hospital room.The realization didn’t hit me all at once. It came in piece by piece. First, the white wall. Then, the clinical smell, the beeping sounds of machines, the hospital robe on my body and the narrow bed I was lying on. And the best of them all was the fact that I could lift my hands and legs. I wasn't tied to anything. And for the first time, I was relieved about it. It felt like freedom and not permission. I sat up without thinking and th

Theo’s POVObviously, the first punch was a shock to me. The second one made everything clear. But the moment he said “show time”, everything became clearer. The idiot didn't even give me time to recover from the punches before he threw another one. If I didn't know his plan, I would have thought he was releasing a grudge through his fist. Despite the pain sprouting through my head… despite the ringing in my ears, I tried to steady myself. Only a steady mind could throw a punch. Since this was the game he wanted to play, fine. I just hope we won't beat ourselves in vain. Quickly, I straightened, wiping the blood from my lip with the back of my hand.“Alright,” I said with a low voice. “Enjoy the party.”I swung, my fist connecting hard with his jaw. His head jerked back, and for a second, I saw the surprise on his face. Good because now he knew what to expect. He stumbled, but he didn’t fall. Instead, he came back at me. And just like that, the fist fight started fully. I di

Arian's pov Mrs Palmer won't stop talking about her love for our friendship. I'm still finding it hard to believe that she was the same director of the college. And I wonder how things will go when I finally resume school after this holiday. Well, I'll worry about that later. Now, it's time to worry about Kael's packing techniques. I sat cross-legged on his bed, watching him as he knelt by the suitcase on the floor, meticulously rolling his clothes with an efficiency that made me both amused and impressed.“You pack like a soldier,” I teased, holding up one of his perfectly folded t-shirts.He glanced up at me, smirking. “And you pack like a disaster waiting to explode.” His gaze flicked to my suitcase, a chaotic mess of shirts, shorts, and toiletries stuffed in no particular order. “Do you really think this is going to fit in the overhead compartment?”I shrugged. “It’s Thaland. I’ll just wear shorts the whole time. Who needs all this anyway?”He shook his head, chuckling softly

Kael's pov Finally, the day my father wanted so badly was here. But unfortunately for him, he was locked behind bars. The morning sun shines so brightly on our graduation caps. I adjusted the collar of mine for what felt like the hundredth time, my palms sweaty despite the cheerful breeze. The crowd stretched out across the college hall, parents, siblings, friends, well-wishers, everyone of us, buzzing with excitement. For once, the spotlight wasn’t something I dreaded. It was something I had earned.My name had been called minutes earlier, the diploma now tucked under my arm like a key to a door I’d been knocking on for years. The clapping and cheering still rang faintly in my ears, not because of its volume, but because of the faces behind it.In the front row of seats, my mother had been on her feet, clapping with tears streaming down her cheeks. I’d never seen her so openly proud of me. Arian had been right behind her on the second row, his grin wide, his hands clapping loudest

Arian's pov Guess who is back to the book club again… me. Walking through the door of the book club meeting room felt like stepping back into a world I left behind. A world I wasn’t sure I would ever go back to. It's been a hell of a month since I took an unofficial break from the book club. Now, I was back to explain why I haven't been around. Aside from the awkward silence, I was relieved to be back again. The book club members are like my family and we've spent years working together as a team. The look on their faces told me their surprise to see me there.“Arian!” my name echoed through the room. I froze as April rushed forward and threw her arms around me. Behind her, Maya came, smiling in a way that made my chest ache. Sammy was already on his feet, even Brent's eyes shone with relief. I missed them, that's undeniable. But the warm welcome made me feel like I've lost more since my absence. I should have been here with them, not drowning in the darkness Karl Palmer created

Kael's pov The night air was soft against my skin, carrying the faint scent of salt and peace. The waves rolled lazily to shore, their rhythm steady and unhurried, as though the ocean itself was reminding us to breathe. I dug my bare toes into the cool sand and glanced at Arian walking beside me.His hands were tucked in his pockets, his hair pushed back messily by the sea breeze. He looked tired but lighter, as though the storm we’d both endured had finally broken and left him standing in the clear.“It feels strangely peaceful,” Arian said suddenly, his voice low. “To just… walk without being scared of anything. No one is plotting behind our backs. No one is trying to force us into anything. It's just us.”I smiled faintly, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. “We finally got the peace we deserve. Against all odds, we got to write their ending.”He looked at me then, his eyes shining in the moonlight. “Did you ever think we’d make it here?”I hesitated before answering. “Honest

Kael's pov After the debate between the prosecutor and Karl's lawyer, the judge struck her gavel once, the sound sharp and final.“On the charges of corruption, bribery, and facilitation of prostitution, this court finds Karl Palmer guilty. He is hereby sentenced to fourteen years in federal prison.”The courtroom erupted in murmurs. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to keep my expression calm. My father, the untouchable, the almighty Karl Palmer was no longer above the law.Fourteen years was enough to keep him away from us. Fourteen years was enough to make him reflect on himself. Fourteen years was enough to make him repent and change from his old and cruel ways. The judge’s voice continued. “On the charges of evidence tampering and unlawful interference with the life-support of Mrs. Smith, this court finds George Wellington guilty. He is hereby sentenced to twenty years in prison.”Arian, seated beside me, let out a breath that sounded half like a grasp and half like a rel

Arian's pov The room was quieter than I expected. Just a table, two chairs occupied by me and the commissioner, and his pen tapping lightly against his notepad. I sat down, trying to steady myself for the questioning. After everything that had happened, after Karl’s downfall and George’s arrest, I wanted this moment to count.The commissioner leaned forward, his eyes kind but probing. “Arian, thank you for coming in today. We've been trying to reach you first but you've been busy.”I nodded, forcing a smile. “I'm aware that you’ve been through a lot, and I don’t intend to make this harder than it needs to be. But we need your statement. You can start wherever you feel comfortable.”I nodded, my fingers lacing together tightly. “I’ll start with something important, something I don’t want people to misunderstand.”“What is it?” he asked.“Whatever Karl Palmer has done, whatever crime he has committed, let's not forget that his businesses… His company feeds a lot of people. Hundreds o