Novels by mma

Madam Hawthorne had never been the sort of woman who involved herself unnecessarily in her son’s personal life.Zion had always been… particular. Even as a child he had possessed a quiet discipline that made supervision feel almost redundant. While other boys rebelled, Zion observed. While others acted impulsively, he calculated. So when he grew older, Madam Hawthorne did what she had always done, she watched from a distance.She did not interfere with who he met, who he worked with, or who he might someday marry. After all, she had little right to insist on pedigree or family background when her own husband had come from very humble beginnings before marrying into her family.The Hawthorne name had never been about lineage. It had always been about character. Which was why the news of Zion’s marriage had surprised her so deeply. Not because of who he married, but because he had married at all.He had simply informed her one afternoon, in that calm, straightforward way of his, that he

I returned home that evening, the air crisp and quiet as I stepped into the villa. Mina was already inside, seated at the dining table with her plate of food, her brow furrowed slightly as she focused intently on something on her phone. I passed her on my way to my room, hands in my pockets, moving with careful, measured steps, the weight of the day pressing against me.“Zion,” she called casually, almost too casually, making me pause mid-step. She didn’t look up from her plate, but there was a deliberate tilt to her voice. “Your mother came by earlier.”I froze. My mind sharpened instantly. That simple statement, said in such an ordinary tone, somehow set my teeth on edge. I hadn’t expected her to visit, and my gut instinct told me that Mina had somehow brought it up to me now to provoke a reaction.“Wait,” I said, stopping in my tracks. My tone was low, controlled, but firm. “What did you say to her?”She finally looked up, her eyes meeting mine evenly. No guilt, no smirk, just t

Jade storms back to her desk, frustration burning hot in her chest. She had done everything she could. Bent herself into whatever shape was required just so she could appear perfect. Perfect posture, perfect words, perfect restraint. And still everything had fallen apart because of something she could never change.Her background.Those two nouveau riche women who had spent the entire gala clinging to her like parasites, trying to ingratiate themselves with her, had released that clip without even informing her. The thought made her jaw tighten.They had been smiling at her barely hours ago.Now they were nowhere to be found.And she couldn’t even confront them about it. At the end of the day she was still a nobody compared to them. The daughters of rising families might not have the pedigree of the Hawthornes, but they still had something she didn’t.A name.Now they would simply step back and pretend they had nothing to do with it while she remained the only one left to suffer the c

As soon as Madam Hawthorne returned to the old manor she summoned the butler. She knew something was off and that no one, not her daughter-in-law, not her son or anyone would tell her what it was which meant it was up to her to find out what it was."Madam you called for me""Find me a private investigator.""I don't care how much they charge just make sure they're good at their job.""Yes madam"The butler rushes off but instead of going straight to find an investigator he went to the Hawthorne empire to see Zion.The staff there knew him by face and by name, he had served the Hawthorne family longer than any of them and was the Madam's most trusted aid so they didn't stop him.Madam Hawthorne had always been kind to the people who worked for and with her family wether directly or indirectly so even though most of them knew what was happening they never said anything to the madam for fear that it might trigger her old ailment.After the scandal broke out earlier everyone had been on

I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating endlessly on the bedside table.When I finally reach for it, the screen lights up with dozens of missed calls and messages. My parents. Friends. Distant relatives. Even acquaintances I haven’t spoken to in years.Concerned messages pile on top of each other.Are you okay?Call me when you wake up.We saw the video, please respond.My brows knit together in confusion.What video?I scroll through the messages until I see one from Michelle. Attached is a short clip Mina had sent him earlier. I tap it.The video plays.Jade is sitting on the floor, her back to the camera. I’m standing over her, looking down with clear irritation. Then Zion rushes into frame, helping her up, and the clip cuts abruptly.That’s it. No context. No explanation. Just enough to make it look bad.I stare at the screen for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle.“How utterly ridiculous.”I open my laptop and search for the clip online, expecting to see it everywhe

The gala is as magnificent as one would expect, maybe even more.I am dressed in an impeccably custom designed emerald green dress that hugs and ecsanctuats my body in all the right places, my hair falls beautiful slightly covering the open back of the dress, enough to make it less scandalous without completely overshadowing it. I'm wearing a black diamond necklace and stud earring set.Next to me is Zion in a black custom three piece suit, his tye matching my dress, and trailing behind us is the hardworking secretary Jade, dressed in a simple custom white dress her hair styled beautifully into a bun.We arrive just as the gala goes into full swing and as soon as we step into the ballroom we get slammed by people. Business associates, small businesses trying to curry favor and gain connections, family friends all offering congratulations on our wedding. I smile politely accepting all the congratulations while cussing them out in my head for not even so much as sending a digital red pa