Novels by misterpena

Three days after Diana received the grant from the Aldrich Foundation, Ethan came with a different kind of surveillance report.Not about Diana this time.But about Tristan Kensington and Sienna Reid."Kaevan asked me to give a routine update on the targets," Ethan said as he opened his laptop on the library table. "I think you should see this—so you know what their life looks like now."Serena sat beside Ethan with mixed feelings—part of her wanted to know, but another part was afraid of what she would see.Ethan opened the first folder—photos taken by a private investigator over the last few weeks.The first photo showed a massive mansion in the Hamptons—modern style with floor-to-ceiling glass, an infinity pool facing the beach, and a wide, perfectly manicured lawn."This is their new house," Ethan explained. "Bought six months ago for eight million dollars. Cash. No mortgage."Serena stared at the photo, her jaw tightening. Eight million dollars. From insurance money that was supp

"So," Serena said while taking a glass of orange juice to hide her nervousness, "when will the letter be sent?""Today," Kaevan answered while typing on his phone again. "Ethan will arrange everything—an official letter with Aldrich Foundation letterhead, the first transfer of two million dollars, even a small press release about our new Resilience Grant program.""Press release?" Serena flinched. "Why do we need a press release?""To make it legitimate," Kaevan explained. "If only your mother receives a mysterious grant, people will be suspicious. But if there's a press release announcing a new program with its first recipient—plus several other recipients we select—then it looks like a regular charity program."Kaevan looked at Serena with a small smile."I've been doing this long enough to know how to make something look legitimate."Serena couldn't help but smile—impressed by how carefully Kaevan planned everything."Will Mom be interviewed by media?" she asked worriedly."Not if

Two days after seeing her mother working as a cleaning service, Serena couldn't stop thinking about it.Every night, she opened the tablet and watched the surveillance feed—seeing Diana Vale walk with tired steps to the office building, work from floor to floor, then return by bus in the middle of the night to her small apartment in the Bronx.Every night, Serena's heart shattered more.The hundred thousand dollars Diana kept from the first anonymous donation was enough for a few months—but wouldn't last long. And Diana was too stubborn to use it for "unimportant" things like fixing the heater or buying better food.Serena knew her mother. Diana Vale would continue working hard until her body gave out—because that was her way of dealing with guilt. Through work. Through suffering. Through believing she had to pay for her daughter's "mistakes."But Mom isn't guilty, Serena thought in frustration. And she shouldn't have to live like this.***That morning, Serena came down for breakfast

At afternoon, Serena sat in her room with the tablet on her lap—staring at the camera feed showing Diana's apartment building in the Bronx.The clock showed six in the evening. Diana should have already woken from her afternoon nap and be preparing for her night shift.And sure enough, a few minutes later, Serena saw her mother exit the building door—wearing a faded thin jacket, carrying a large tote bag containing her work uniform.Diana walked with tired steps toward the bus stop—no more car, no taxi. Only cheap public transportation.Serena followed her movements from camera to camera—the surveillance that Ethan and Kaevan's team installed was indeed very comprehensive.Diana boarded bus number 12 to Midtown. Sat alone in the back seat, staring out the window with an empty gaze.What is Mom thinking? Serena wondered. Does Mom still think about me? Does Mom hate me for what the world thinks I did?But Serena knew her mother. Diana Vale wasn't the type to hate—even when she had reaso

Three days after the conversation in the library, Ethan came with something different.Not files about high society. Not a training schedule. But a tablet with an app already open."Kaevan asked me to set this up," he said, handing the tablet to Serena, who was sitting in the living room. "This is... a live feed from the surveillance cameras we installed around the place where your mother works and lives."Serena’s heart stopped."What?" she whispered, taking the tablet with trembling hands."You can see your mother," Ethan explained gently. "Not all the time—only when she’s in public spaces. We didn’t put cameras inside her apartment because that would be an invasion of privacy. But outside the building, at her workplace, on the streets—you can see her from a distance."Serena stared at the tablet screen showing several different camera feeds—all in black and white, all from strategic angles."Where is she right now?" Serena asked, her voice shaking.Ethan pointed to the third feed.

Kaevan looked at Serena with an intense gaze."But you? You've already faced hell. You were betrayed, burned alive, lost your identity, and you're still here. Still standing. Still fighting. You have a strength Serena never had.""But what if I lose that strength?" Serena whispered. "What if one day I wake up and don't know who I am anymore? What if—""Then I'll remind you," Kaevan cut in, his hand moving from her shoulder to Serena's cheek—wiping tears with his thumb in a surprisingly gentle gesture. "I'll remind you that you are Alena Kensington who survived the fire. You're a woman strong enough to live as someone else to survive. You're a fighter—not a quitter."Serena looked at him with teary eyes—surprised by this sudden intimacy. By the warmth behind Kaevan's words."But I'm still scared," she admitted in a very small voice. "Scared I'll lose myself completely. Scared one day I'll forget what it feels like to be Alena. Scared Serena will... take over."Kaevan looked at her for

Callum stood facing Elise. His stare grew sharper."I'm not setting you up," Elise said calmly. "I just want you to show some sincerity."Elise stayed where she was, the dirty plates still on the table. She held Callum's gaze as he stood there now, jaw tightening."If you keep seeing Vivienne, the gossip about your relationship will only grow bigger. And if that happens, how could anyone believe our household is fine?"Callum's jaw tightened further. "It's not gossip. I really am in a relationship with Vivienne."Elise's hand trembled slightly at the admission. Callum hadn't even tried to hide it. He'd said it bluntly."I know." Elise's voice remained flat. "But our main goal for these four weeks is to convince Mr. Harlan about our relationship, so he won't hesitate to sign the contract with me. If you won't stay away from Vivienne for now, then our agreement is pointless. And the divorce you're hoping for will never happen."Callum fell silent.Irritation was clear on his face, but h

Elise arranged the food Callum had bought onto plates.From the very start of their marriage, Callum had known Elise couldn't cook. So it wasn't strange for him to order his own food.Elise had never bothered to learn either.For the past two years, her time had been consumed by caring for Leo and building her small interior design studio—which was only now beginning to grow.Callum and Elise rarely had dinner together. They rarely even saw each other at night. All this while, the household staff prepared dinner, and they simply reheated it themselves.In two years, the number of times they'd sat together at the dining table could be counted on one hand.Elise looked at the dish in front of her. Lobster thermidor. A food she'd only recently found out Callum liked. Something so simple—a small piece of knowledge about her own husband—that she'd only just learned after two years of sharing a name.From the dining room, Elise could hear Callum's voice in the living room, answering a call

Elise interrupted the conversation as she stepped inside. She let out a slow breath. So Callum hadn't waited long at all to tell his mother about the divorce plans. Even though there was still plenty of time left.Diana glared the moment she saw Elise appear in the doorway. "Finally, you're home."No greeting. No small talk. Diana simply looked Elise over from head to toe, then went straight back to the subject she'd been discussing with Callum."How much are you asking for?" Diana folded her hands in her lap. "Five hundred thousand dollars? A million? Just name it. Mama will give it to you."Elise didn't answer. She slowly took off her jacket and draped it over her arm."There's no need for this four-week divorce process," Diana continued, her voice rising slightly at the lack of response. "Our lawyers can finish all the paperwork in three days. You sign, Callum signs, done. Clean. No need for any extra drama."Elise walked to the empty sofa across from Diana. She sat down calmly, ba

"He told you he's going to marry Vivienne?"Nora set down her glass too hard, making the latte slosh; two tables over, someone glanced their way before returning to their own business.Elise was meeting Nora, her high school best friend, at the café where they usually met. She'd been telling her everything that happened the night before."Elise," Nora pressed. "Did Callum Voss really say that to you?"Elise answered calmly, fingers brushing the rim of her green tea cup. "Yes. Like I said. Callum said he's going to marry Vivienne. In four weeks our marriage will be over.""And you just agreed? Didn't even try to stop him?""What could I do?" Elise replied flatly. "I'd been anticipating this since Grandmother passed. There was nothing left for me to do except ask for four weeks."Nora studied her for a long moment, gauging an expression far too calm for a wife who'd just been told something so hurtful by her husband."El—aren't you angry?"Elise paused for a moment. She looked at Nora,

"I'm going to marry Vivienne."Elise froze in her chair.The pencil that had been dancing at her fingertips stopped.She looked up. Staring at Callum Voss—her husband—who stood flatly in the doorway of her workroom.Callum's white shirt was already loosened two buttons from the top, his hair, so neat that morning, now slightly disheveled."I won't say it again," Callum added. "And I don't need your permission."Callum's face was flat. It showed no remorse or hesitation. He hadn't come to argue, only to inform.Elise turned her chair fully to face him.Three seconds.Long enough for anyone untrained to start crying and fill the silence with unnecessary words. But two years of living under the same roof as Callum Voss had taught Elise one thing. This man never misread silence. He knew when someone was quiet because they were shattered, and when someone was quiet because they were choosing to be.Elise chose."Fine," Elise said, calm and controlled.There was a small movement in Callum's