Novel-novel oleh Mirah Praise

The sound of his shoes against the wooden floor came to a complete stop right beside my corner table.Leo didn't ask if the chair was free. He didn't sit down. He stood directly over my desk, bringing a sudden cloud of cold morning air and his familiar scent of woodsmoke into my small, quiet corner.Liya froze beside me, her eyes darting nervously between her brother and me. She carefully pulled her binder a few inches back, keeping her head down like she wanted to disappear into the carpet.Leo didn't look at Liya. He didn't look at the other students sitting two aisles over. His eyes stayed fixed entirely on me, holding a quiet, intense burn that felt like it could scorch through paper.Without saying a word initially, he reached down and set a thick, dark law textbook down onto the polished surface of my wooden table with a low, solid sound."Page 114," Leo said.His voice came out flat, crisp, and strictly professional, calculated perfectly for anyone who might be listening nearby

The air in the library felt completely different the moment Leo stepped onto the landing.Mason was still laughing at Liya's joke, taking the last long gulp of his iced coffee. He crushed the paper cup lightly in his palm and threw it with perfect aim into the small recycling bin near the bookshelf."Alright, ladies," Mason said smoothly, tossing his track jacket over one shoulder as he stood up from the wooden chair. "If I don't get down to the field house right now, Coach Miller is going to make me run extra laps before the relay heats."Liya waved her hand with a bright smile. "Go, go! Don't let him catch you slacking off! And remember, you promised to win that heat for us on Wednesday!""I never break a promise," Mason chuckled, turning his attention to me. He leaned down slightly, reaching out to gently pat my shoulder twice. His hand was warm, his touch friendly and light. "See you in lecture at two, Ivy. Don't sit in the back row without me.""I won't, Mason," I said, giving hi

Monday morning at eight in the morning came far too quickly.The entire campus was buzzing like a disturbed beehive. Everywhere you walked—along the stone walkways, inside the dining halls, near the dorm entrances—students were whispering about Saturday night's Greek Gala. The big announcement between the Wilson family and the Cole family was the only topic anyone cared to discuss. People held their phones out in small groups, showing each other blurbs and photos from the college blog, analyzing every expression, every photo, and every bit of gossip that had leaked from the ballroom.I sat at a quiet corner wood table on the second floor of the main library, trying my best to tune out the noise.My eyes felt heavy and tired, burning slightly as I stared down at the black-and-white printouts of my child psychology research papers. My mind kept pulling back to Saturday night on the cold terrace—to the sound of Maria’s heels on the stone path, to the dark velvet curtain, and to the absol

POV: Ivy AdamsRight before Maria’s fingers could pull the velvet curtain back, Leo let go of my waist.He didn't hesitate for even a second. With smooth, quick precision, he stepped backward out into the open terrace light, sweeping the dark velvet fabric back into place behind his shoulders to completely cover my hiding spot.I stood frozen against the cold wall behind the curtain, holding my breath so tightly my chest burned."Looking for me, Maria?" Leo asked.His voice changed in a fraction of a second. The raw, desperate warmth that had been against my throat just moments ago was gone, replaced instantly by his cold, distant, arrogant tone.Maria stopped short on the stone terrace, startled by his sudden appearance."Leo!" Maria said, letting out a sharp breath of relief before her voice quickly filled with annoyance. She stepped closer, and I could hear the distinct sound of her high heels stopping right in front of him. She placed her hand on his chest, her rings clicking agai

Leo’s hand closed around my wrist before I could even turn my head.One second I was standing near the outdoor entrance of the ballroom, the next he was pulling me hard into the narrow space behind the thick velvet curtains. The fabric swallowed us both. Darkness pressed in. The noise of the party dropped to a muffled blur.My back hit the wall. His body followed, chest to chest, trapping me there. I could feel the quick rise and fall of his breathing against mine.“Quiet,” he whispered right against my ear. His voice was low and tight. “Don’t make a sound.”I opened my mouth to ask what was happening, but his hand came up and covered it. The warmth of his palm sealed my lips. His other hand slid down the soft fabric of my dress and gripped my lower hip, steadying me, pulling me closer so I wouldn’t lose my balance in the tight space.My eyes stayed wide open even though there was almost no light. I could feel every beat of his heart against my ribs. It was fast. Hard. Matching the w

"Liya, I need to step away for just a moment," I whispered, leaning close to her ear so my voice wouldn't carry over the noisy chatter of the crowd. "I'm going to find the restroom and fix my hair."Liya turned to me, her hand resting gently on my arm. Her eyes were still wide with worry over what had just happened in the center of the room."Are you sure you're okay, Ivy?" she asked softly, looking around at the guests who were still whispering about Leo. "I can come with you if you want. Maria's friends are watching us like hawks.""I'm completely fine, Liya," I assured her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Just stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll be back in five minutes.""Okay," Liya said, nodding slowly. "Don't be long. If anyone gives you trouble, just call my phone."I smiled at her, turned around, and walked away from the crowded ballroom floor. But I didn't head toward the hallway restrooms. My chest felt tight, and my heart was beating so fast I could barely catch my

"You're a nobody, Valentina!" Alessia shrieked, her voice echoing off the high book-lined walls of the dark library. "A cheap bartering chip! My family built this city! You think you can just walk in here and take my life? Take my man? Take my future?""I didn't take anything from you, Alessia!" I shouted back, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the heavy iron fireplace poker. The weight of it was substantial in my hands, a cold, solid reassurance against the sheer terror thudding in my chest. "Your brother set this entire thing up! He manufactured my father's debt to force Damiano's hand! Can't you see that? You're just a pawn to him!""Liar!" she screamed. Her eyes were completely bloodshot, wild, and unfocused. The polished, elegant high-society princess was entirely gone, replaced by a desperate, trembling wreck. "You're lying to save your own pathetic skin! Damiano loved me! We were going to run this empire together!""He never loved you," I said, taking a slow, deliberate st

My heart was beating so hard it felt like it would break my ribs. The guard's heavy boots were still pressed against the metal panel right above my skull. The static of his radio was a buzzing death sentence in the tight space."I've got to do this," I whispered to myself, my fingers freezing around the scalpel. "I have to cut it now."I didn't let myself hesitate for another second. I pressed the sharp, tiny surgical blade down onto the thin blue fiber loop and sliced hard.A bright, blinding blue electrical arc exploded right in the dark of the vent, stinging my cheeks and forehead with hot sparks. I squeezed my eyes shut, gasping as the smell of burnt plastic and copper filled my nose. Instantly, the hum of the ventilation system died. The small green indicator lights on the circuit board blinked out.The entire fortress went dead silent.Down the long, dark corridor outside the duct, a massive, synchronized sound echoed through the walls. Every single electronic door lock in the

The blinding white light had barely pinned us to the wet gravel before the world went completely sideways."Hey! Intruders at Sector 4!"The guard's shout was cut off instantly. The split second the flashlight beam hit us, Matteo moved with terrifying, silent speed. He didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward like a striking snake, his massive 6'5" frame blurring through the downpour. Before the echo of the shout could even leave the trees, Matteo’s heavy combat knife flashed in the dark. There was a wet, muffled choke, the heavy thud of a body hitting the mud, and the flashlight rolled into a puddle, its bright beam pointing uselessly at the sky."Now!" Damiano roared.He didn't wait. He grabbed the rusted handle of the iron basement hatch and yanked. The ancient hinges screamed as he ripped the cover open, revealing a dark, narrow concrete shaft yawning below us."Get down there!" Damiano ordered, his hands grabbing my shoulders and shoving me toward the opening."It's too small!" I gaspe

The freezing water hit my face like a slap the second we pushed open the heavy iron grate at the end of the drainage tunnel. The rain was blinding, a absolute downpour that turned the ground beneath my feet into slippery, thick mud. I gasped for air, cold wind filling my lungs as I struggled to pull myself up onto the wet grass of the forest surrounding the Moretti estate.Beside me, Damiano climbed out without a sound. The heavy rain washed the fresh, dark blood from his bare chest, diluting it into pale red streaks that ran down his heavily scarred ribs and disappeared into his waistband. He didn't even blink. He stood there in the dark, the cold rain bouncing off his wide shoulders, his eyes scanning the pitch-black woods.Suddenly, a massive shape materialized right out of the darkness behind a thick oak tree.I jumped, my heart leaping into my throat, my hand flying to the front of Damiano's oversized tactical jacket. I almost let out a scream, but a large, rough hand clamped dow

The blackness of the dead terminal screen seemed to suck the remaining warmth right out of the room. The static went silent. The feed was completely dead.I stood there, frozen against the metal console, my heart hammering so hard against my ribs I thought it would crack them."Damiano," I whispered, my voice shaking. "He has them. He actually has them."Damiano didn't rage. He didn't smash his fist against the computer. He didn't throw the chair. His entire demeanor shifted into something far worse. His movements became chillingly quiet, fluid, and mechanical, like a weapon being assembled in a dark room. He stepped back from me, his bare chest glistening in the weak amber light of the emergency bulb, his eyes completely empty of warmth."Get up," he said. His voice was low, flat, and completely devoid of human emotion.He walked over to a heavy iron wall locker in the corner of the bunker, pulled the latch, and yanked the door open. He reached inside, grabbed a thick, dark green tac

The glowing green terminal screen illuminated my face in the pitch-black corner of the bunker. My hands were shaking so hard I could barely control them. On the monitor, the three unmarked white vans were already disappearing past the fortress tree line."No, no, no," I breathed.My fingers scrambled across the ancient plastic keyboard, trying to terminate the connection, trying to cancel the download before it triggered a system-wide alert. Panic surged through my chest, hot and blinding. I reached out to yank the silver flash drive out of the USB port.My elbow jerked backward. It struck the heavy glass water pitcher resting right on the edge of the rusted metal desk. The sound of thick glass shattering against the solid concrete floor exploded through the tiny room like a gunshot. Shards of sharp glass and cold water sprayed across my bare feet and ankles.In a fraction of a second, the mattress groaned. Damiano was off the cot instantly, his movements a blur of pure, lethal insti

(MALDIE POV)The morning air felt like lead. Ten years. Ten years since the bridge, the water, and the silence that followed. I sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the locket—the empty, bugged locket—and stared at the wall. My father’s birthday. The anniversary of his death. To the world, it was a tragedy. To me, it was the day the lights went out.I expected silence. I expected a day of mourning. Instead, I found a circus.When I walked downstairs, the mansion was buzzing. Caterers were scurrying through the halls with silver trays. Huge floral arrangements—lilies, his favorite, but arranged in a way that looked corporate and cold—lined the foyer."What is all this?" I asked, my voice sounding small against the clinking of crystal.Richard appeared, looking sharp in a bespoke suit. He smiled, that practiced, fatherly beam that now made my skin crawl. "Maldie! You’re finally up. It’s a big day. A celebration of life for your father. I’ve invited the board, the press, and the local e

(MALDIE POV)The archive basement felt like a tomb. The air was thick with the scent of decaying paper and the cold, metallic tang of the ventilation system. My heart was a frantic bird trapped in my ribs, drumming against my chest as I scrambled deeper into the stacks. "Maldie, slow down," I whispered to myself, my breath hitching. I ignored the shadows dancing between the shelves. I had to find it. Row 42 was a blur of gray metal and cardboard boxes until I saw the label: ACCIDENT REPORTS – 2016.I yanked a heavy, dust-caked folder from the shelf. My hands shook so violently the papers nearly spilled onto the floor. "Come on, come on," I hissed, flipping through the pages.Case File: 774-B. Deceased: Elias Sams. Location: Forestwood Bridge.I found the initial report. My eyes skimmed the familiar details—the weather conditions, the time of impact, the description of my father’s car. But then I turned the page to the section labeled Involved Vehicles/Third Party Evidence.My blood

(MALDIE POV)***********************************The fluorescent lights of the Forestwood Academy cafeteria hummed with a predatory energy. I sat at a corner table, my fingers tracing the scarred wood, trying to keep my breathing steady. After the morning I’d had with Richard, the school was supposed to be a reprieve. It wasn't."Oh, look, the charity case is hungry," a voice drawled.I didn't have to look up to know it was Olive. She stood over me, flanked by her usual entourage of girls who smelled like expensive perfume and elitism. Olive reached down and snatched my brown paper bag—the meager lunch I’d packed myself because I didn't trust the staff at the mansion."Give it back, Olive," I said, my voice tight."This?" She held the bag up between two manicured fingers as if it were a biohazard. "Maldie, honey, you live in that massive hand-me-down mansion now. Surely Richard provides better than... What is this? A peanut butter sandwich?""It’s none of your business. Give it to me.

(MALDIE POV)***********************************I didn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that tiny, unblinking glass lens hidden in the vent. My skin felt like it was crawling with invisible ants. When the sun finally started bleeding through the curtains of the estate, I dragged myself out of bed, my head throbbing. I had to look normal. If Richard was watching….and I knew now that he was………I couldn't let him see the terror.I walked into the dining room, my footsteps echoing on the marble. Richard was already there, sitting at the head of the table, reading the morning paper. He looked up, and for a second, I flinched, but he just beamed at me."Good morning, Maldie. You look a bit pale, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?""I'm fine, Richard," I lied, my voice cracking. "Just a headache."He stood up, but not to pull out my chair. He gestured to the spread of food. "Sit, eat. You need your strength. Actually, I have something that might make you feel better."He reached into

(MALDIE POV)*************************************I barely managed to slip through the side entrance of the estate, my lungs burning from the sprint through the fog………… The silver key was still biting into the palm of my hand, a cold reminder of the vault and the nightmare I’d just escaped……. I just needed to get to my room…….I needed to lock the door and breathe.But the house wasn't empty.A hand, thick and calloused, shot out from the darkness of the West Wing corridor. It clamped around my throat…………not squeezing, but firm enough to kill my scream before it could leave my lips…... "Going somewhere, Maldie?"David. He didn't wait for an answer….. He hauled me backward, his fingers digging into the silk of my sleeves as he dragged me deeper into the shadows, far from the light of the main foyer. He moved with a predatory silence that made my skin crawl and tingle all at once. "David, let go! You’re hurting me!" I hissed, clawing at his forearm………... It was like trying to scratch

(MALDIE POV)***************************The fog was a thick, wet blanket over the pier……I could barely see my own feet as I hurried toward the old boathouse. My heart was thumping against my ribs like a trapped bird. The note had promised the truth about my father, and I wasn't going to miss it for anything.I reached the heavy wooden door and pushed……. It creaked loudly."You're late, Maldie….."The voice didn't come from a stranger……. It was deep, smooth, and instantly recognizable. I stepped inside and squinted through the gloom……. He was there, sitting in a plush leather chair that looked far too expensive for this rotting shack………"Julian?" I gasped, slamming the door behind me to keep out the chill. "You sent the note? Why the mystery?""Because mystery gets your attention," he said. He didn't get up………He just sat there, the light from a single lantern carving out the sharp lines of his jaw. "And right now, I want all of it.""I thought this was about my father's files," I said