Novels by PURPLELEMON

Veronica’s POVThe ward fell quiet after Andrew and his new girlfriend stormed out. The air still carried the remnants of his rage — heavy, sharp, lingering like smoke after a fire. And yet, for the first time in what felt like forever, even after all that chaos, I felt... relaxed.The man in the navy suit stood a few steps away, composed and calm, as if none of what had just happened could shake him. His presence felt strangely grounding — like still water in the middle of a storm, steady and unbothered. There was something about him that made me feel safe, even though I didn’t know who he was or if I could even trust him.I wiped my cheeks quickly and forced a small, shaky smile.“Thank you,” I said, my voice coming out softer than I meant it to. “For stepping in.” I added“I don’t usually— I mean, I can handle myself, but—”He raised a hand slightly, stopping me with a calm gesture. “You don’t owe me an explanation,” he said, his voice low and even, the kind that makes you listen.

“What?” hissed Andrew, his voice sharp, his eyes locked on the man in the navy suit like a predator cornered.The door swung open before anyone could move. Emma slipped inside, her heels clicking lightly against the tiles. A smug smile curved her lips as her gaze darted around the ward. “Oh, Andrew, there you are,” she purred, her tone dripping with mock concern.But the moment her eyes landed on the man standing beside me, her expression faltered. The smile vanished, replaced by a frown that cut across her face like a crack in glass. She looked from him to me, suspicion flashing in her eyes, then back to Andrew, as if piecing together a puzzle she wasn’t supposed to see.“Emma—” Andrew snapped, pushing her hand off his sleeve as though she were nothing more than a distraction. His eyes didn’t leave the stranger, rage burning hot and dangerous in their depths. His chest rose and fell sharply, his composure unraveling with every breath.He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping in

He stepped in slowly, tall, confident. The kind of presence that makes the air shift without a sound. Dark hair swept back, perfectly tailored navy suit, crisp white shirt, and a tie that somehow made him look both intimidating and effortless. Expensive shoes clicked softly against the polished floor. He paused, scanning the room, eyes landing on me with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.“Ms. Veronica,” he said, voice smooth, low, just enough to make me catch my breath. “I’m glad you’re awake.”I blinked. Awake? Alive? The words felt almost too heavy, almost too kind for someone I had never met.Luke’s eyes widened. “Mommy… it’s him!” He jumped off the chair and ran to the man, his small legs carrying him faster than I could have imagined. “He helped me put you to bed! He said everything would be okay!”The man bent down, his dark eyes softening as he held Luke gently. “And you did very well,” he said, ruffling Luke’s hair. “You were brave.”Luke beamed. “I was scared! But you t

“Don’t move!” he yelled.Everything shattered at once—nurses screaming, metal carts crashing, the sharp echo of his boots against the tiles. The guards lunged, but too late. His arm shot up, the gun flashing.The crack of the bullet split the air.Andrew moved first—but not toward me. He dragged Emma into his chest, shielding her, the two of them tumbling hard to the floor. My stomach turned cold even before the pain hit.Then it came—white-hot, tearing through my abdomen, stealing the breath straight from my lungs. I staggered back, hands clutching uselessly at the wound, warmth spilling fast between my fingers.The guards tackled the intruder, shouts and chaos ringing in my ears, but all I could see was Andrew. Not me. Not the blood spreading beneath me. Him—hovering over Emma, panic etched across his face, his hands cradling her like she was everything.I hit the ground, my vision blurring, the sterile lights above warping into harsh halos. My own husband’s voice reached me, broken

The news struck me like lightning.The keys jingled in my trembling hands as I shoved them into the ignition, my heart pounding so violently it was hard to breathe. My mother sat stiffly beside me, clutching her handbag as if the thin leather could anchor her in this storm. Luke sat in the back, swinging his small legs, oblivious to the magnitude of what was happening.His voice, sweet and innocent, rang out every few minutes:“Mommy, why are we in such a hurry?”I couldn’t find the words to explain. How could I tell a six-year-old that the man who had never once looked at me with love, the man who had measured my worth in silence, might be dying?Instead, I forced my lips to curve into something resembling a smile. “We just need to check on Grandpa, baby. He’s not feeling well.”Luke accepted that answer with the ease only a child could, his attention quickly drifting to the toy car clutched in his tiny fist. The wheels spun as he pressed it against the window, making soft engine no

“Take these and sign them.”I shoved the divorce papers into my husband’s hands. He barely glanced at them before scrawling his signature—as carelessly as if it were our son’s school trip form.No hesitation. No questions. Nothing.And yet, my foolish heart still ached. How could he sign so easily? But then again, why should I be surprised? He never really cared for me. He never did. So why did I ever expect him to?“Here,” he said, cold as ever.Andrew set the papers on the table instead of handing them back to me and walked out of the room.“Mommy, is Daddy upset with you?” Luke’s starry eyes looked up at me, full of innocent sweetness.“Sometimes grown-ups get upset, baby. It’s nothing really,” I told him softly, praying he would drop the conversation.I forced a smile and squeezed his little hand. “Now, tell me—how was school today, dear?”With his small fingers curled around mine, I stood and led him out of my husband’s house, away from the man I loved so deeply.The cool evening