Novels by Deedee

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

The familiar black car rolled through the gates of the estate just as the evening sky began fading into shades of amber and violet.The guards saluted as the vehicle passed.Inside the back seat, Derek loosened the knot of his tie while Paulo remained busy on his tablet, reviewing schedules for the following day."You've scheduled three meetings before noon," Paulo said without looking up."I know.""And dinner with the commissioner.""I know.""You also promised your grandmother you'd have breakfast with her."Derek sighed."I know."Paulo glanced sideways."You sound exhausted.""I am.""You should sleep early.""Have we switched roles?""I've always been the responsible one."Derek looked out the window. "I disagree."The car came to a smooth stop beneath the front entrance. The driver hurried around to open the doors.As Paulo stepped out first, the cool evening breeze greeted him immediately. His eyes instinctively moved toward the front porch.Nothing.Normally… By this time… So

The afternoon traffic crawled lazily through the city.Raine rested one hand lightly on the steering wheel as soft music played through her car speakers. The conversation with Lewis lingered in her mind, making her smile every now and then."You still haven't understood Derek."She wondered if Lewis would ever realize that the man he complained about every day had quietly rearranged parts of his life just to keep him safe.The thought amused her.Lewis was stubborn. Derek was even more stubborn. Watching the two of them dance around each other was becoming its own form of entertainment.She chuckled softly. "They're hopeless."The traffic light ahead turned green and cars began moving again. Raine adjusted her rearview mirror absentmindedly.A black SUV appeared behind her.She thought nothing of it.Vehicles came and went all the time, so she continued driving.A few minutes later, she noticed the same SUV again, still behind her. She changed lanes. The SUV changed lanes too.Her smi

The paramedic station was unusually peaceful that afternoon.Lewis sat at one of the desks, finishing a patient report with the concentration of someone determined not to make a single mistake.His handwriting slowed as he reached the final line.He signed his name, set the pen down and leaned back with a long sigh."Done?" Martin asked from the next desk.Lewis rubbed his tired eyes. "For now."Annie walked past carrying two folders."You say 'for now' like the universe isn't listening.""The universe has been listening too much lately," Lewis muttered.Martin laughed.Before Annie could tease him again, the station's automatic doors slid open.A woman stepped inside confidently.She wore a simple cream blouse tucked into fitted black trousers, with her hair neatly tied back. There was nothing extravagant about her appearance, yet she carried herself with an easy confidence that naturally drew attention.Martin looked up first and his eyebrows rose immediately. Annie followed his ga

Derek's car slowed as it turned off the busy avenue and into a quieter, tree-lined street.Unlike most parts of the city where traffic fought for every inch of road, this neighborhood breathed differently. Wide sidewalks stretched beneath neatly trimmed trees, cafés spilled onto corners with outdoor seating, and modern apartment towers stood like polished monuments of glass and steel.The driver eased to a smooth stop before one of the tallest buildings on the street.Its exterior shimmered beneath the morning sun. Dark reflective windows. Stone cladding. A minimalist water feature flowing gently beside the entrance.Even the security gate looked expensive.The uniformed guards immediately recognized Derek's vehicle. One stepped forward respectfully before the car had fully stopped.The gate opened without delay.Paulo looked out the window, then back at Derek."...We're not scheduled for anything here.""We are now," Derek replied simply.The driver opened the door.Derek stepped out

Derek's car moved around the traffic that morning. Inside the car was quiet because the windows muted the chaos outside until it became nothing more than a distant hum.Derek sat comfortably in the rear seat, one leg crossed over the other, his gaze fixed on the city passing beyond the tinted glass. His expression remained unreadable, as if the endless movement outside had nothing to do with him.Next to him, Paulo held a tablet, lazily scrolling through the morning briefing he had compiled before they left the house.The driver knew better than to interrupt.Morning briefings had become routine since Lewis left the house. Derek needed to know everything going on. Everything that involved and didn't involve Lewis. Irrespectively, Paulo gathered everything that might affect Derek's businesses… politics, imports, financial markets, rival movements, government appointments, criminal activities, and occasionally gossip if he believed it might entertain his boss."Ready?" Paulo asked.Der

The daycare looked very different than what Lewis had expected.He stood outside the rusted gate for a long moment as his eyes darted around the place. The tiny plastic slide was deserted. A pink tricycle lay on its side near the sandbox. A forgotten teddy bear rested beneath a bench, one button eye missing.He swallowed hard.Children should have been laughing here. Instead, the place felt abandoned.Taking a slow breath, he walked toward a small cluster of residents gathered beneath the shade of a large mango tree across the road.The conversation among them died the moment they noticed him approaching.An elderly man narrowed his eyes."Are you looking for someone?"Lewis offered a polite smile."Hello sir," he greeted.The old man nodded cautiously. "What can we do for you?"Lewis scratched the back of his neck before he began. "I've been thinking about what happened."A middle-aged woman interrupted before he could continue, "So have all of us."Lewis hesitated before asking car

Rowan's POVI stayed hidden until my father's footsteps disappeared down the corridor. It was only then I dared to breathe again. My chest hurt from fear… from everything I just heard. Another family?Another woman?Children?Those words kept circling inside my head like birds trapped in a cage.For the first time in my life, I realized that kings weren't simply figures in history books or portraits hanging on palace walls.They were men.Men who made mistakes. Men who hurt the people they loved.And somehow, that realization hurt even more than the secret itself.I looked toward my father's study, the door remained slightly open. No voices came from inside anymore, only silence. I should have gone back to my room. I should have pretended I hadn't heard anything. I should have pretended none of this existed.But I couldn't.My mother was silent in the study. She sounded devastated when she was talking earlier. Despite how strict she was, despite how impossible she could sometimes

Rowan's POV I had been waiting for my father to return for days. Not because I missed him… although I did, but because he was my last hope.My mother wouldn't listen. Henry had decided not to believe me. He even threatened to take me to a psychiatrist if I continued to talk about Theo and Billy. Everyone looked at me as if I had finally lost my mind.If my father heard me, really heard me, maybe he would see that I wasn't imagining things. Maybe he would understand that Hillsborough wasn't just another prestigious academy. Maybe he would see the danger before it reached our family.So when one of the maids casually mentioned during dinner that His Majesty had finally returned from his diplomatic tour, my heart lifted for the first time in what felt like forever.I waited.I waited for the servants to finish clearing the table. I waited for Henry to disappear into his office. I waited until the palace settled into its usual quiet rhythm.Then I left my room.The corridors of the pal

Rowan's POV Finally, Henry would understand that I was not imagining things. Finally, he would believe me. Finally, he would realize that I was telling the truth all this time. The moment I barged into his office without knocking, he looked up from the documents on his desk with visible irritation already written across his face.“Rowan,” he said slowly, “do you enjoy ruining my mornings?”“I need to talk to you.”“That sentence alone is enough to give me a headache.”“I’m serious.”“So am I.”Henry leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple lightly. He still looked perfectly composed despite the exhaustion in his eyes. His tie was neat, his posture was flawless, even irritation somehow looked elegant on him.Meanwhile, I probably looked insane. And maybe that was the problem. Maybe everyone already thought I was insane.“I figured it out,” I said quickly before he could dismiss me again. “I caught him.”“Caught who?”“Theo.”The silence that followed was painful.Henry stared at

Theo's POV Night inside the servant quarters felt different from the palace. It was colder, smaller and lonelier. The walls were plain and the silence carried exhaustion and loneliness. Somehow, I preferred it. At least here, nobody expected perfection from me. I could be free to some extent. Or least, I go pretend to be free. But how could I do that when Rowan’s face would not leave my mind? How could I pretend to be free when Rowan kept coming back to make things difficult for me. With the way he looked at me in the stable, I could tell he was still desperately trying to save me. He thought saving me now was as easy as back then. Only if he knew I was in deeper trouble and now, his persistent presence was about to jeopardize my own life. I squeezed my eyes shut briefly before dialing Mr Livingston's number. The line rang only once before the call connected.“Theo Bellemere.”His voice was calm as always, like nothing in the world could ever unsettle him.“My cover almost sli

Rowan's POV Theo or Billy or whatever name he was hiding behind today.When I got to the stable, he was standing near one of the black horses, brushing its side carefully while wearing his usual plain stable clothes. His sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing the veins stretching on his skin. For a second, I forgot why I came. Seeing him there, alive, close and real still affected me in ways I hated admitting.But without wasting time, my anger came rushing back because I remembered how he lied and how he was still lying. And because of him, nobody believed me. Somehow he stood there pretending to be someone else while I was slowly losing my mind trying to expose the truth.I stepped closer before calling his name. “Theo.”Without thinking, he answered immediately.“What?”The second the word left his mouth, silence crashed between us.His hand froze against the horse while mine clenched at my side.Slowly, Theo turned toward me and I saw the brief flicker of shock in his eyes.

Rowan's POV The moment the butler informed me that Henry wanted to see me, hope filled my heart. For the first time in days, I thought someone had finally believed me. That Theo had slipped and Henry had noticed the resemblance. That he had caught the fake accent or the way Theo avoided eye contact whenever someone mentioned his origin. That he had finally seen what had been obvious to me from the beginning.Billy was Theo. Theo was Billy. And Valecourt had planted him here.I walked toward Henry’s office faster than usual, my heart beating hard against my ribs. I reached the office doors and pushed them open without knocking.Henry looked up from behind his desk and his expression changed the second he saw me.“There you are,” he said flatly.The excitement inside me faltered slightly, but I still held onto it. “You spoke to him?” I asked immediately.Henry leaned back slowly in his chair.“To Billy?”“It’s Theo,” I corrected quickly. “You know that now, right?”Henry stared at me