Novels by Lizzy Aik

LorettaWhen I slowly opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the strong smell of antiseptic. White walls surrounded me, and machines beeped softly beside the bed. That was when it hit me, I was in the hospital. My head throbbed as the memories came rushing back. I must have passed out after I stabbed Rosie.I tried to move, but pain shot through my body, making me hiss softly. Everything hurt, but my hand hurt the most, the same hand Rosie had stabbed. I took a deep breath and carefully pushed myself into a sitting position, ignoring the sharp ache in my arm.Just then, the door to my hospital room flew open.Asher walked in, holding my favorite flowers. The moment our eyes met, relief washed over his face. He hurried to my side, leaned down, and gently kissed my forehead before placing the flowers in my hands.“How is my favorite woman in the world feeling?” he asked softly.I looked at him and smiled despite the pain. “Your favorite woman?” I repeated teasingly, my smile wid

Loretta It was strange, i had been sitting alone in the house when suddenly I heard a loud noise. My heart skipped a beat. Tonia had gone out for work, Adrian was still at the hospital, and his twin sister was at school. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and the house was usually so quiet.I got up cautiously, my steps quiet on the floor as I made my way toward the living room. As I opened the doorway, I froze. Standing right in the middle of the room was someone I hadn’t seen in years, looking around as if exploring a place that wasn’t hers.When she noticed me, her face lit up with a sheepish smile. “Loretta! Is that really you?” she said. “It’s been so long, five years since I last saw you!”It took a moment for my brain to catch up with my eyes. It really was her, Rosie, standing there like nothing had changed.,“How did you get inside?” I demanded, my voice trembling slightly with anger. Right now, it was the only thing that made sense. Only Tonia, Asher, and I had the keys to this pl

Saturday morning I woke up to the smell of bacon.Which was weird because I didn't cook bacon. Didn't really cook anything beyond cereal and toast, honestly.I stumbled out of bed in my pajamas—ratty t-shirt and shorts that had seen better days—and followed the smell to the kitchen.Damon was at the stove. Actually cooking. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt instead of his usual suit, his hair still messy from sleep.I stopped in the doorway and just... stared."You cook?" I said.He looked up, spatula in hand. "Sometimes. When I have time.""But you have Mrs. Pat.""Mrs. Pat has weekends off." He flipped a piece of bacon. "Besides, I like cooking. It's relaxing."This was the weirdest thing. Damon Sterling. Billionaire CEO. Making bacon in a t-shirt on a Saturday morning like a normal human being."Want some?" he asked. "I made extra.""Yeah. Sure. Thanks."I sat down at the kitchen counter, still trying to process this. He plated up eggs and bacon and toast and set it in front of me."Coff

AsherReluctantly, I left Loretta behind, even though every part of me wanted to stay with her. My mind was restless as I headed straight to the office. Logan had sounded unusually tense on the phone, and to make things worse, Richard had also called me moments later. Whatever was happening clearly couldn’t wait.By the time I arrived at the building, my patience was already wearing thin. I rushed to my floor, barely acknowledging anyone along the way. The moment the elevator doors slid open, Logan was standing there, as if he had been waiting the entire time.“Welcome, sir,” he said quickly, falling into step behind me as I walked briskly toward my office.I didn’t respond until I dropped into my chair, loosening my tie slightly as I looked up at him. “What on earth needed my attention so badly that I had to rush here?” I asked, my voice sharp with impatience.Logan hesitated for a second before speaking. “Sir, you’ve been trending online for over an hour now.”My head snapped up imm

AsherI stood between her thighs, close enough to feel her presence, close enough that my eyes kept drifting to her lips. I had to remind myself why we were here. This was about words that had been left unsaid for years, about wounds that never truly healed. I forced my attention back to the conversation we needed to have.“I am so sorry,” she said softly. Her voice was calm, almost too calm, “I should have listened to your side of the story back then. If I had, we wouldn’t be standing here today. But when I saw Sarah’s baby bump and she told me you were married, I felt completely betrayed. I didn’t want to hear anything else. I just shut you out.”As she spoke, her eyes wandered everywhere at the floor, the wall, anywhere but never once did she look at my face.I took a deep breath, the old pain rising again like it had never left. “I won’t lie to you,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended. “I hated you back then. I hated you so much after I found out you were pregnant and you s

Loretta It had been two weeks since everything happened at Asher’s place, the revelation that had turned my world upside down and since my mom came back into my life. I had never felt so complete, so at peace. Just having her around was refreshing, like a weight I didn’t even realize I had been carrying had finally been lifted.I still hadn’t really spoken to my dad. Even though Mom told me that she had forgiven him and that I should too, I couldn’t see myself doing that anytime soon. Some things felt too raw, too heavy to just brush aside.“You and Asher, have you made a decision about your marriage yet?” Mom asked gently, her eyes searching mine.We were sitting in Adrian’s hospital room. He had just come through a kidney transplant a few days ago and was slowly recovering. The beeping of the monitors and the faint smell of antiseptic made the room feel sterile, yet my mom’s presence brought warmth to it. She had been coming every single day since we met, supporting me in ways I di

Three days after Sophia's friends invaded my home, I came back from work to find her in the kitchen again.Using my pans. Cooking my food. Humming like she belonged here.Something in me snapped."Get out."She turned, looking innocent. "I'm just making dinner, I thought it would be nice to cook for everyone.""I don't want your food, I want you out of my kitchen.""Eve, don't be like this. I'm trying to contribute, trying to make things easier for you.""You're trying to replace me, there's a difference.""That's not true.""It is true, you've been doing it since the day you moved in. Using my things, sitting in my spaces, playing wife when you're not.""I'm not playing anything.""You are, you're playing the role you've always wanted. Mrs. Damon Sterling, the woman of the house, the mother of his child. But it's all pretend, Sophia. All of it."Her face hardened. "The baby is real.""Is it? Or is that pretend too?"

I woke up Sunday morning still feeling raw from the gala.Damon was already awake, on his phone."What are you doing?" I asked."Drafting a statement for the company's PR team. Clarifying that you're my wife and that any pregnancy claims are unverified pending paternity testing.""Your mother's going to lose her mind.""I don't care, last night was unacceptable and I'm fixing it."He showed me the draft. It was clear, direct, left no room for misinterpretation."When are you sending it?""As soon as you approve it."I read it again. "Send it."He did.We were having breakfast when Sophia emerged from the guest wing. She looked tired but satisfied, like a cat who'd gotten into the cream."Good morning," she said cheerfully. "Last night was lovely, thank you for letting me attend."I said nothing."Your mother was so kind to me, Damon. She made me feel so welcome.""My mother overstepped," Damon said coldly. "And it won't happen again."Sophia's smile faltered. "I don't know what you me

Three days of peace.Three days where Damon kept his word, where Sophia stayed in her wing, where things felt almost normal.I was starting to believe maybe we'd turned a corner.Then the invitation came.Damon brought it home Wednesday evening, a heavy cream envelope with gold lettering."What's that?" I asked."The Sterling Foundation Gala, it's this Saturday. Annual charity event, biggest night of the year for the company.""Do we have to go?""Yeah, my parents are hosting. It'll look bad if we don't show up."I took the invitation from him, read it over. Black tie, seven PM, the Plaza."Okay, I'll find a dress.""Actually, I already ordered you one. Should be here tomorrow."I looked up at him. "You ordered me a dress?""I remembered you saying you didn't have anything formal enough for these things, wanted to save you the stress of shopping."Something warm bloomed in my chest. "That was thoughtful.""I'm trying."He was. The past few days he'd been trying so hard. Coming home on

I woke up to an empty bed and silence.For a second I thought Damon had left, then I smelled coffee.I got up, followed the scent to the kitchen.He was standing at the stove making eggs, still in pajama pants and a t-shirt. The table was set for two with fresh flowers in a vase."Morning," he said when he saw me.I didn't respond, just watched him."I made breakfast, your favorite. Scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, bacon. Coffee's fresh."I sat down at the table.He brought over two plates, set one in front of me. Poured coffee into my mug."Before you ask, Sophia is in her wing. I told her last night that she needs to stay there today, no exceptions. No emergencies, no interruptions. Today is about you."I picked up my fork."I know I can't fix yesterday, I can't give you back your birthday. But I can try to show you that I heard what you said last night."The eggs were perfect, exactly how I liked them."I called out of work," he continued. "Told them I have a family emergency and

I came home at seven that night.The apartment was dark except for the living room where Damon sat on the couch, head in his hands. He looked up when I walked in."Eve, thank god. I've been calling..."I walked past him toward the bedroom."Wait, please. Can we just talk for five minutes?"I kept walking."Eve, come on. You disappeared for an hour yesterday, now all day today..."I went into the bedroom, started changing out of my clothes.He appeared in the doorway."Where were you?"I pulled on sweatpants."I was worried, you turned off your phone..."I grabbed a t-shirt from the drawer."The least you could do is tell me you're alive...""I'm alive," I said.He looked almost relieved that I'd spoken. "Okay, good. Can we talk now?""About what?""About yesterday, about your birthday...""There's nothing to talk about.""There's everything to talk about, you're clearly upset...""I'm not upset.""Then what are you?"I pulled the shirt over my head. "Empty."The word landed between us

I woke up to light streaming through the windows.Damon was in bed next to me, still in his suit from last night. He must've come in sometime after I fell asleep. I got up without looking at him, went to the bathroom.My makeup from last night had left smudges under my eyes despite washing my face. I looked tired, and hollow.Twenty-five and spending my birthday alone while my husband took care of his ex-girlfriend.I stared at myself in the mirror until I didn't recognize the woman looking back. When I came out, Damon was awake."Hey," he said softly.I walked past him to the closet."Eve, can we talk?"I pulled out a blouse, pants. Started getting dressed."I know you're upset about last night..."I buttoned my shirt in silence."The hospital took forever, the wait time was insane and then they had to run tests..."I stepped into my pants, zipped them up."She was really scared, the cramps felt serious and I couldn't ju