Novels by Joanna Jade

Roman and Alec pushed through the front doors of the mansion just after 2 a.m. Although outside looked like something out of a circus. Inside the house was quiet now. “I’m going to check on my mom,” Alec said. Roman nodded once and Alec disappeared up the stairs leading to the guest rooms. Roman shrugged off his coat, hung it on the rack, and headed straight for the east wing. “Tessa.” He called out once before he even got to their bedroom. The door opened with a tiny creak. Roman looked around the room. The bed was still made, untouched. The lamp on her side glowed softly, but the room felt empty. “Tessa, are you in here?” He asked as he stepped into the bathroom—it was dark, towels neatly folded, no sign of her. A small knot tightened in his chest. He crossed the hallway to her private room—the one she’d kept even after the marriage, the one she retreated to when things got too loud. The door was ajar. He pushed it open slowly. Tessa sat on the floor against the far wal

Nandini’s voice cracked as she finished.“That’s how we got here.” She said, wiping a streak of tears from her eyelashes. “Thank goodness, because it’s been one hell of a night.”Salima spoke first, voice gentle.“That poor girl. And you?” She reached for Nandini’s hand. But Nandini jerked back.“I have no idea how he knew I planned to leave,” Nandini said quietly. “It’s almost like someone told him.”Alec’s gaze shifted to Tessa. She had said nothing the entire time. Their eyes locked — firm and provoked.The room stayed quiet for a long time. No one moved. Gayatri’s hand hovered near her throat. Victor shifted his weight in the corner. Alec stood rigid, fists clenched at his sides.Roman broke the silence, voice low and even.“Where’s the body?”Nandini looked up at him, eyes red-rimmed but steady.“Greenwood Homes. Apartment 407.”Roman nodded once, already processing.“How do we get in?”Nandini reached into her pocket. Her fingers trembled as she pulled out a small keycard and h

FOUR HOURS AGOThe bank smelled faintly of printer ink and air freshener that tried too hard.Nandini stood at the counter, fingers curled around her handbag strap, forcing her shoulders to stay straight.“I’d like to change some money,” she said politely.The teller barely looked up at first, eyes tired behind rectangular glasses.“Passport and currency, ma’am.”Nandini slid both forward. A small stack of rupees rested neatly on the counter.The teller typed slowly, then paused.“Name?”“Nandini,” she answered automatically.The teller glanced up. “Nandini… what?”The word stuck for a second in her throat.Her fingers tightened around the counter.“…Blackwood,” she said finally. “Nandini Blackwood.”The teller’s brows lifted slightly, but she nodded and continued typing.Minutes passed. Stamps hit paper. Bills were counted twice. The dollars were slid toward her in a crisp envelope.“Have a good day, Mrs Blackwood.”Nandini forced a smile and nodded.Outside, the winter air bit at he

Alec didn’t move.For a second, it felt like the world inside the foyer had stopped breathing.“Mom?” he said again, quieter this time, like the word itself might break if he said it too loudly.“Alec—“ Nandini didn't waste a second, she rushed to him and wrapped her arm around his neck, almost choking him. “It’s really you.” She sobbed. “I can’t believe it’s really you.” Alec didn't let go of Lakshmi. One hand slowly moved to his mother’s back—the other cradling Lakshmi's head.He hugged her back, stiffly, staring blankly over her shoulders and into the night. His eyes locked onto one of the security guards.“Yes, it’s me.” He said softly, almost afraid. “You came…just like you said.”“I promised you I would come for you didn’t I?” She smiled. “Now, I’m here.”Gayatri pushed through the family, her eyes wide. Voice sharp with fear as she tore Nandini away from Alec.“I sent Lakshmi to watch over you Nandini. I told her to keep you safe. What is going on here?”Nandini gasped, then

Tessa hesitated then climbed into the car without a word. Roman waited until she buckled up, then drove through the gates, tyres crunching on the gravel drive.The mansion lights glowed ahead. Roman kept his eyes on the road, but his knuckles were white on the wheel.He parked in front of the house and killed the engine. Silence settled inside the car.He turned to her. “I’ve been trying to call you. All afternoon.”“I didn’t know,” Tessa said.“Where the hell have you been?” Roman asked, his tone more concerned than angry. Tessa looked down at her lap, fingers twisting the edge of her coat. Her voice came out small and rushed.“I spent the day with my dad. I’m sorry. I didn’t take my phone with me.” She lied.She fidgeted—hands shaking slightly, leg bouncing, eyes darting to the dashboard then away.Roman watched her. “Tessa…”“I’m not lying,” she added quickly, words tumbling. “I swear. I left it at home. I can show you when we get inside. It’s probably on the charger or something.

Tessa left her father’s house with the weight of his words still sitting on her chest. She didn’t head straight back to the mansion. Not yet. The streets were already buzzing with early New Year’s energy—people laughing, vendors selling glow sticks, distant music thumping—but she felt detached from it all.She found a small coffee shop a few blocks away, the kind with mismatched chairs and fogged-up windows. She ordered a black coffee, found a corner table by the window, and pulled out her phone.She scrolled through old photos.Her and Roman on their honeymoon…a picture they’d managed to take even after the chaos caused by Grayson.Pregnancy photos. Their Griha Pravesh ceremony. Ultrasound printouts. Her thumb hovered. She almost swiped away.And then a voice came from behind her, low and amused.“Strolling down memory lane, I see.”Tessa didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.“Shoot me,” she murmured.Grayson chuckled. “I love you too much to do that. Can I sit?”She didn’

Bella’s POVThe car rolled through the dark streets, the low hum of the engine doing nothing to drown out the pounding in my ears.Matteo’s fingers hovered in front of my face, glistening with my wetness in the faint light from passing streetlamps.He stared at them like they were evidence.“Why are you wet?” he asked again, voice dangerously quiet.I forced myself to breathe steadily. But no words came out.“Do you want me to ask you again?” Matteo said, his voice rising now.I sat straighter, then swallowed.“I… I was tense. So I touched myself a little before you came to the roof. That’s all.”His eyes flicked to mine, searching for the lie. I held his gaze, willing my face to stay blank.He studied me for a long second. “Did you touch yourself while Zayden was on that roof?”“What? No.” I gasped. “He wasn’t there. He only came up moments later.”“Do not fucking lie to me Isabella.” “I’m not lying.” I scoffed. “I swear. He wasn’t there.”The corner of his mouth lifted—slow, and pr

Bella’s POVI stepped back. The venom in Zayden’s voice clawed at my veins.What did I just do?I just confessed who I was to a man who would stop at nothing to put my father in the ground.He stepped closer. “What are you thinking about, Bella?” he asked, voice low, and dangerous.I stepped back again. “Don’t hurt me. Please.” The words came out as a whimper.“And why would I hurt you?” He didn’t stop walking. “I’ve listened to you. I know how you feel.”I quickened my pace, backing away faster. “I didn’t mean to say anything that—”“Stop talking,” Zayden said firmly.My back hit the wall. I was trapped.I couldn’t move.He closed the distance in one last step, towering over me.His hand moved to my neck—firm, not choking, just holding.My pulse hammered against his thumb. I closed my eyes, bracing for whatever came next. But what came next surprised me.His mouth crashed into mine.No warning.No softness.Just hunger.I gasped against his lips, hands unsure where to go.He pressed

Bella’s POVMatteo looked at Zayden with an anger that stopped the entire room.“Zayden…” he started smoothly. “I would say it’s a pleasure but I’m not a very good liar.”Zayden chuckled. “Come on, Matteo.” He said. “Let’s not be like that tonight. In fact.” He paused, sitting across from us, crossing his legs. “Let’s catch up.”Matteo stiffened, then pulled me closer to him like I was an anchor.“Very well,” he said. He waved his hand ordering more drinks for the table.Zayden didn't even look at me, and I didn’t look at him either.I completely drowned in the surrounding chatter hoping this night would end soon.“So…” Zayden started again. “Who’s the lovely lady you have here?” He asked.My head snapped up and that’s when my eyes met his.Hold. Hard. And calculating.“If you must know. She’s my fiancé.” Matteo said. “Her name….is Valentina.”My head snapped toward Matteo. Valentina? Why would Matteo lie about my name?Zayden chuckled but said nothing.“Nice to meet you Valentina.” H

Bella’s POVI woke up two hours ago, getting ready for my night out with Matteo.I slipped on my heels, taking one last look at myself in the mirror.The dress was black silk, clinging like a second skin, neckline plunging just enough to make my father pretend he didn’t notice.I took a deep breath.I had no idea what I was walking into tonight, but whatever it was, I needed to dress to kill.I headed down the stairs, heart thudding with every step.My father was waiting in the living room, arms open, as if this were some proud father-daughter moment.“Bella!” He beamed, pulling me into a hug that felt like chains. “You look perfect. Tonight, make me proud.”I nodded, forcing a smile that hurt. “Sure. But I have to go. Matteo’s waiting.”He released me with one last approving pat on the shoulder. Outside, the cold wind slapped my bare arms.A sleek black Maybach pulled up at the curb, engine purring like a predator.The driver opened the door.Matteo was sprawled in the back seat, leg

Zayden had had more one-night stands than he could count. Faces he forgot before the sun rose. Names he never asked for.But her? Bella. She was different. In his mind. On his skin. In the silence between his thoughts.There was something in the way she fell apart that night—quietly and desperately. Like she was left alone broken and bruised.He hadn’t meant to take her home. Hell, he didn’t even know why he spoke to her.But the moment he saw her sitting alone, her glass trembling in her hand, a storm buried behind her eyes—he couldn’t look away.And when she moaned in his bed—begging, whimpering, pleading with him to screw her—it turned him on more than he ever imagined.She wasn’t like the others. Not some spoiled socialite.Not a woman who wanted his name, his wealth, or his control.She wanted to feel and he let her.Now he couldn’t get her out of his head.He hadn’t even asked her last name. But he remembered the way her mouth trembled when she whispered his name against his ski

Bella’s POVThat night, I stood outside my father’s office with my hand lifted, knuckles hovering inches from the door.My pulse wouldn’t slow.Everything in me screamed that what I was about to do was dangerous—but danger didn’t scare me anymore. Not after Zayden Romano. Not after the slap. Not after realising my entire life had been traded away like a bargaining chip.I finally knocked.“Come in,” My father called.I pushed the door open and stepped inside. He sat behind the heavy desk, reading something on his tablet like the world wasn’t actively burning around us.I cleared my throat. “I want Matteo’s number.”He looked up slowly and studied me.The silence stretched thin between us. My chest tightened—but I held his gaze, and didn’t blink.“He told me I could get it from you,” I added, forcing sweetness into my voice. “Said we should… get to know each other better.”The word tasted bitter.Something shifted in my father’s eyes. The tension in his shoulders eased. Then unbeliev