Novels by YEN CORTES

Chapter 5 The morning sun spilled across the room, soft and warm, making the walls glow with a gentle gold. Aion sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the quiet hum of the city outside. Today felt different. There was a lightness he hadn’t noticed in months, maybe even years. He wasn’t sure if it was the sun, the air, or just… Izabelleh.She appeared at the doorway, hair still slightly damp from the shower, wearing his old hoodie that hung loosely around her shoulders. She smiled, small but genuine, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe properly.“Good morning,” she said, her voice still soft but carrying a new ease, a quiet confidence that hadn’t been there before.“Morning,” he replied, trying not to let his own smile betray how much he wanted to run to her and pull her close. “Sleep well?”She nodded, stepping fully into the room. “Better than I have in a long time.” Her eyes met his, lingering just a little longer than necessary, and his chest tightened with that familiar

Chapter 4 The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of wet grass and distant coffee from the small café across the street. Aion walked slowly, letting his mind replay the lingering moments from yesterday. Izabelleh had been quieter than usual, yet softer, almost… tentative in a way that made his chest ache with anticipation. He didn’t know what to expect today, only that something unspoken hung between them, waiting to be uncovered.She was already at the courtyard when he arrived, sitting cross-legged on the stone steps, a notebook in her lap. Her hair caught the sunlight, and for a fleeting second, Aion remembered the first time he had noticed her like this—thoughtful, distant, yet so present.“Morning,” he said, trying to sound casual, though his heart raced.Izabelleh looked up, offering a small smile, but there was a weight behind it that made him uneasy. “Morning.”He sat beside her, close enough for comfort but careful not to crowd her. For a long while, they just watched

Chapter 3Aion sat on the edge of the old wooden bench, the late afternoon sun painting the courtyard in gold and amber. He had come here hoping for clarity, yet all he found was the familiar warmth of Izabelleh’s presence. She was crouched by the fountain, her fingers trailing lightly over the rippling water, eyes distant, thoughtful. Something in her expression tugged at him, a mixture of determination and quiet sorrow that made his chest tighten in ways he didn’t fully understand yet.“You’ve been quiet all day,” he said, trying to sound casual, though his throat felt tight.Izabelleh glanced up, offering a small, almost apologetic smile. “I… I have a lot on my mind.” Her voice was soft, vulnerable, yet controlled, like she was carefully choosing each word.Aion shifted closer, his hand resting on his knee but hesitating near hers. He didn’t want to crowd her, yet every instinct in him wanted to bridge the gap. “You can tell me,” he said. “I… I want to understand.”She paused, fing

Chapter 2 The morning light slipped through the half-closed curtains, tracing soft lines across the pale sheets. Aion stirred, his head heavy from the sleepless night. The silence between him and Izabelleh had been deafening ever since the vows ended. It wasn’t the kind of silence that comforted; it was sharp, cold, and full of words they both refused to say.Izabelleh sat by the window, her back turned to him, still in her white nightdress. Her hair fell down in soft waves, catching the early sun. She looked fragile, but her posture—straight, unmoving—spoke of quiet strength. She didn’t look at him when he sat up, only asked in a voice almost too calm, “Did you sleep?”He hesitated. “Barely.”“Same,” she said, her eyes fixed outside as if the world beyond the glass mattered more than the man she’d married.Aion rubbed his face, his chest tightening at the memory of the night before—their wedding that wasn’t built on love, but on promises tangled with resentment. He should’ve felt vi

CHAPTER #1The rain poured heavily against the glass walls of the Adnersoin mansion, each drop echoing the chaos inside Izabelleh’s heart. She stood by the tall window, her reflection faint against the storm outside. Her eyes, once bright with hope, now carried the dull weight of fear and resignation. In less than an hour, she would marry a man she no longer recognized—the same man who once made her believe that love could last forever.Aion Ynrowelz.His name alone was enough to send a shiver through her. Every syllable reminded her of promises whispered under city lights, of stolen laughter, of how his arms used to feel like home. But those memories had turned to ashes the day he walked away, believing every lie told against her.“Izabelleh,” her mother’s gentle voice broke the silence. She turned, meeting the tired eyes of a woman who had fought too long for dignity. “It’s time. The ceremony will begin soon.”“I know,” Izabelleh answered softly.Her mother reached out, fixing a str