Novels by Ihuu.

They fell into a rhythm. Aria measured ingredients. Damian handled the heavy lifting. Flour dusted the air. Metal bowls clanged. They played around, tossing flour at each other. Their laughs filling the room from time to time. For a while, it felt peaceful. They then settled into a comfortable silence as they worked.Then she dropped a tray.The loud crash broke the moment as stainless steel hit the floor and scattered dough everywhere.“Damn it,” she whispered sharply. She bent to pick it up, shoulders trembling.She stopped. Pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. Sucked in a shaky breath.Damian crouched beside her but didn’t touch her yet. “Hey. Talk to me.”She didn’t look at him. “I’m fine.”“No, you’re not.”“I said I’m fine,” she snapped, but there was no anger in it. Just exhaustion.She pressed her palms to her eyes and let out a wet laugh. She could feel her eyes start to well up with tears. “God. Why do I keep crying in front of you.”She let out a bitter laugh. A si

The morning air was a bit harsh, sweeping through Damian's hair as he had his windows wound down. He couldn't contain the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he stepped on the gas, and in record time he was parked in front of Safe Haven.He parked his car in such a haste that he had only realized that the pastel-blue Safe Haven sign was not lit up and a crooked 'Closed' sign hung in the window, when he got out of his car.His jaw ticked.He hadn’t stopped moving since he stormed out of the gym, hadn’t even gone home to shower. He just drove, like he was afraid if he slowed down, he’d talk himself out of coming here.He couldn't hide the disappointment he felt. A frown forming on his face.Just as he was about getting back in his car, he perceived something. Pistachio. It was faint but it was there. With Safe Haven being the only café in the area, it has to be coming from inside.Maybe she was inside...With that thought he strode to the door and knocked firmly. Nothing. He tried a

Damian’s POV.My sweat dripped into my eyes, stinging it. With how early I got here, it’s no surprise that there’s no one here yet , allowing me to have the full gym to myself. I was going so hard on the punching bag today. For some reason, I haven’t been able to wipe out the look Aria had on her face yesterday when she pushed me away.Yes. That’s what she did, she pushed me away. I could feel her walls go up right before me. Something Ethan said must have made her recoil back into her shell. She had never talked to me like that, not even when I served her the eviction papers.What could he have said to her to make her behave that way? That Ethan guy has been nothing but trouble since he walked through the café door on that rainy evening. Aria and I were not exactly friends but at least our relationship had gotten to the point where we were at least cordial with each other.Jab jab jab!I landed punch after punch on the bag, pushing myself to the limit. Relationship? Hilarious. What h

Smack!" Shut up! I didn't say you could talk." He slapped her.Aria held her stinging cheek in her hand which she was sure was going to bruise."You're getting quite bold, huh? Bringing a guy to our own home"He roughly grabbed her by the hair, pulling hard."I promise you, he's just a friend. I ran into him on our block, I was only trying to be nice. We were only catching up." Aria pleaded, holding on to his hands on her hair."You were practically on his lap. How's that being nice?"Aria felt that was a stretch. They sat on the same 2-seater couch in their living room. There was a considerable amount of space between them too. But she knew better than to point that out. He was obviously in a mood....and drunk. Judging by the stench of alcohol oozing out of him."Please, you're hurting me". She resulted to begging. She always did.His grip loosened a little at that. Only a little."Why do you make me do this Ria?" He lightly caressed her head with one hand."You know I love you so m

Damian couldn’t bring himself to leave her like that and go home. The thought of leaving her alone twisted his gut with a need he was scared to admit out loud. The thought of Aria just sitted alone in that tiny room probably crying her eyes out was something he didn't even want to imagine. He had to know she was safe, that she hadn’t crumbled completely in the aftermath of seeing Ethan.The street outside Sweet Haven was slick with rain, the city’s lights reflecting off the wet asphalt. Damian, still sitted in his car parked at the side of the café, hesitated for a moment, gripping the steering wheel. He then walked out of his car and made his way back to cafe before he could talk himself out of it.He pushed open the door, the smell of vanilla and coffee still lingering. He made a beeline to the backroom, she was still on the tiny couch where he had left her.She was hunched over, knees drawn close to her chest, shoulders shaking. Her hands pressed against her face, hair falling mess

Aria's knuckles turned white from how tight she was clenching them. She willed herself to look away, to push down memories she had thought she had overcome. What was Ethan doing here? she thought, her chest tightening with every heartbeat. Her stomach churned, and a cold sweat ran down her neck.Damian’s sharp gray eyes flicked from her to the new presence in the room, assessing, calculating. He didn’t need Aria to say anything to know something was wrong. From the way she had stiffened, her hands trembling slightly at her sides, he could tell she was on edge.“Who are you?” he asked again, calm but sharp, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.Ethan’s gaze met his, lazy, too casual, as if he owned the place. A smirk ghosted across his lips. “Who’s asking?” His tone was defensive, challenging, and borderline dangerous.Damian’s jaw ticked, a subtle movement betraying his rising irritation as opposed to his usual controlled facial expressions. He shifted his gaze to Aria.