Novels by Joanna Jade

Zayden’s POVFinally, I’d done it.I had satisfied my darkest desire — making Isabella Mendoza my wife.It wasn’t an easy feat. In fact, this had to be the most challenging thing I’d ever done. Lives were lost for this to happen. Blood had been spilled. But yet here we are.I walked down the aisle with her. Her hand locked in mine. The white dress clung to her body like it had been made for this moment — for me. She looked beautiful.I knew she hated me. In fact, hate is an understatement for what Bella felt for me right now.But I was fine with that.Hate was better than indifference. Hate meant she felt something. Hate meant she was still fighting. And I would enjoy breaking that fight, slowly, deliciously, until she was gasping my name instead of cursing it.The guests applauded as we passed. Fake smiles. Nervous laughter. They had just watched me kill a man, and now they were clapping like we were at a fairy tale wedding. No one had called the police. No one would.Because they al

Bella’s POVI stood outside the reception hall doors, clutching my bouquet so tightly the stems dug into my palms.My tears had finally dried, leaving behind nothing but exhaustion.The hallway was quiet now, not until footsteps approached from the side. I didn’t need to look to know who it was.My father stopped beside me, his suit wrinkled, his face pale and drained of colour. He opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to it.“He won,” I said before he could speak. My voice was flat. “Zayden won.”My father swallowed. “I’m sorry, Isabella. I’m so sorry all this happened.”“It’s too late, Dad.”He nodded slowly, eyes heavy with regret. “Are you ready?”“No.” My voice cracked. “Once I walk in there, my life is over. I’ll never be happy. Not truly.”“I know I put you in this mess,” he whispered. “I wish I could change it.”I looked at him sharply. “You had so much time to do that and now you’re sorry? Save it, Dad.”“Isabella, I know you’re upset—”Footsteps echoed, interrupting him.

Bella’s POVZayden’s words hung in the air, absurd and terrifying all at once.I couldn’t move.My eyes were locked on Matteo’s body lying on the floor. His eyes were open, staring at nothing. The man who had just threatened to destroy everything I loved was dead.And Zayden stood over him like it was nothing.The entire hall had gone deathly quiet. No one dared to speak.My father was the first to react.“You—” His voice cracked with fury as he stepped forward, face twisted with rage and disbelief. “You son of a bitch! What the hell have you done?”“He was in my way,” Zayden said, his eyes shifting from my father to me. “And I don’t like people taking what belongs to me.”My heart hammered so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.I took one shaky step forward, my dress dragging across the floor, the hem already stained with blood.“You… you killed him,” I whispered, voice barely audible. “You killed Matteo.”Zayden’s gaze locked onto mine. There was no remorse in those eyes.

Zayden’s POVIt was one hour until Bella's wedding.I wondered what she was doing now. Probably being prepped in a pretty white dress as maids tugged at her hair and fastened her shoes. Maybe she was staring at herself in the mirror, trying not to cry. Maybe she had already cried.The thought of her becoming Matteo's wife consumed me. I hated it. I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of her being called Mrs Moretti. No.I would do whatever it took to make sure that didn't happen. I had to stop this wedding.Nico sat across from me in the car. “You okay, boss?”I nodded once, staring out the window. “I’m fine.”He didn’t look convinced. “If you don’t mind me asking… What happened back there?”I looked at him. “Back where?”“In your room.” He said. “What was your mother talking about?”“Nico—”“No.” He cut me off gently. “Please don’t do that. I’ve worked with you for years, Zayden. We’ve been through too much together for you to start hiding serious shit from me.”I exhaled slowly t

Zayden’s POVI stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, fastening the cufflinks on my black suit. The silk tie was already knotted, the jacket pressed and hanging on the back of the chair. Everything had to be perfect.Nico leaned against the wall by the window, scrolling through his phone."Where did you say the wedding was being held?" I asked without turning around.“In one of the reception halls inside the Mendoza mansion,” Nico replied. “Alejandro wanted it private and controlled. Minimal guests. Invitation-only.”I let out a quiet hum.“Smart,” I admitted. “He’s trying to avoid unnecessary attention.”“Not just attention,” Nico corrected. “He’s trying to avoid you.”That almost made me smile. I buttoned my sleeve slowly. “And security?”Nico exhaled. "Tight. Very tight. Alejandro is doing everything he can to ensure this wedding is well-organised and secure. He doesn't want anything to stop it.”I smirked. "Well. Sucks for him." I grabbed my watch from the dresser and fastene

Bella’s POVThey say a wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of a woman’s life.No one ever tells you what it’s supposed to feel like when it isn’t.The lace of my dress itched against my skin as I stood before the mirror, my fingers fumbling with the final pearl button on my sleeve.I couldn’t tell if it was my hands shaking… or my whole body. But something about me felt like one false move and I would utterly break.My reflection stared back at me like a stranger.Wide eyes. Pale cheeks. Lips slightly parted like I’d forgotten how to breathe. My hair was pinned so tight it felt like it might split my skull if I moved the wrong way.A bride. That’s what I was supposed to be. All I wanted to be. But now, my biggest dream is turning into my worst nightmare.“Are you okay?” Rosa asked me.I nodded. Somewhere down the hall, a string quartet played a soft waltz—elegant, beautiful, completely detached from the reality clawing at my chest.I inhaled slowly then held it. Trying to

No one moved.Salima stayed where she was. Victor's hand rested on the back of the nearest couch. Roman remained standing, arms crossed, feet planted like he was bracing for a storm."I'll stand," Roman said.Bernard nodded slowly. He lowered himself into the chair instead — not out of weakness, but because his legs had started to feel less reliable than he wanted to admit."Five years ago," he began, "I was preparing to leave Eleanor."Salima's breath caught."I had the papers drawn up. I had a plan. I was going to divorce her and come back home to you. Both of you.” He looked at Roman. “No more hiding. No more secrets."He paused, his eyes finding Salima's."I was going to choose you. Finally. Out loud. In front of everyone."The room was silent."But Eleanor found out." Victor's jaw tightened. "Of course she did."Bernard nodded grimly. "She confronted me. Not with tears — with threats. She told me that if I left her, if I humiliated her in front of Atlanta's elite, she would dest

The world stopped and for a moment, Salima didn’t breathe. Her hand remained on the handle, fingers tightening around the metal as if it were the only thing holding her upright.Standing on the other side of the door was Bernard Thorne.Bernard!The man she had mourned. The man she had buried. The man she had lost five years ago. Now standing on her porch like his presence meant nothing.His eyes rested on her face with a strange softness, like five years had not passed at all.“Hello, Salima.”His voice was exactly the same.She couldn’t speak. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She took one slow step back, staring at Bernard like she was looking at something impossible.Roman frowned from the living room. “Mom, is everything okay?”No response. Something in her silence made him straighten.Bernard’s face softened at the sound of Roman’s voice. “Is that him?” He asked. “Is that our son?”Salima still didn't speak. Her eyes were glistening with tears now.Victor moved toward the

The living room was dim. Roman sat alone on the leather couch, a bottle of wine in one hand, a half-full glass on the table in front of him.He wasn't drinking fast. Just slow, measured sips—like he was trying to feel something or not feel something. Even he wasn't sure anymore.The bottle had been full an hour ago.Now it was nearly empty.His phone buzzed against the table.He glanced at it. Tessa.His jaw tightened though his expression did not change.He reached over, declined the call, and set the phone face down before taking another drink.Across the room, Davin and Alec watched in silence."I know he said he's good," Alec murmured, low enough that Roman couldn't hear. "But honestly? I don't think it's true."Davin shook his head slowly. "Yeah. I can see that."He paused, watching Roman pour another glass."This divorce is obviously hard on him," Davin continued. "I've just... I've never seen him like this before."Alec nodded. "True. He really loved Tessa.""He did," Davin agr

The room was too quiet.Tessa sat on the edge of the bed, her back straight, her hands folded in her lap. She wasn't crying anymore. She wasn't doing much of anything really.Her eyes were fixed on the window.Outside, Atlanta blurred past—cars she couldn't hear, people she couldn't see, a city that had stopped making sense hours ago. She watched it all like it belonged to someone else's life.His life.Roman's city. Roman's world. Roman's rules.The memory played behind her eyes without permission. His hand closing around her arm. The way he lifted her off her feet like she weighed nothing. The slam of her body back into the chair. The pen shoved into her trembling fingers.‘Sign it.’ Romam’s voice echoed in her ears. Her throat tightened.‘Sign the fucking papers, Tessa.’A single tear slipped down her cheek. Then another.She wiped them away—slow and mechanical. No sound. No sob. Just the motion.Then she went back to staring.The window didn't change. The city didn't stop.Neithe

Grayson lounged back against the arm of the sofa, his phone balanced in one hand as he scrolled absentmindedly. He wasn’t really paying attention at first, just flicking through one video after another—until something caught his eye.A video with a familiar name written boldly on the screen. He stilled.The video replayed automatically, the voice of a young woman spilling through the speakers—bright, animated, and far too excited for the kind of story she was telling.“—Is there trouble in paradise? Because sources are saying that what went down at Blackwood Hotels yesterday wasn’t just business as usual…”Grayson’s posture shifted, his brows drawing together as he sat up properly now, his attention fully locked in.“…Roman Blackwood and Tessa Blackwood have officially called it quits after a dramatic confrontation. Reports claim that Tessa was allegedly forced into signing divorce papers—”A video of Tessa crying and yelling popped up.The girl’s tone dipped into something even more

Tessa stepped out of the boardroom, her eyes red and swollen, tears still slipping down her cheeks.She didn’t slow down. She didn’t look back.She just walked, almost running in fact.The hallway blurred past her as she moved quickly toward the elevators, her breath uneven, her hands trembling at her sides.“Tessa?” She stopped.Davin and Alec were standing a few feet ahead, clearly on their way back to the room. Davin’s brows pulled together immediately when he saw her face.“Tessa, are you alright?” he asked, stepping toward her.That was all it took.She let out a bitter, broken laugh, shaking her head as she looked at him.“Are you serious right now?” she said, her voice cracking. “You called me here.”Davin frowned. “Tessa, you need to understand—”“You caused this,” she cut in, her eyes flashing through the tears. “All of you did.”Alec stiffened slightly at that, but said nothing.Davin tried again, quieter this time. “Tessa listen please—”“Just leave me alone,” she said, st