Novels by Lee

The search results were... underwhelming.Yes, I knew his family well enough, why wouldn’t I? But it wasn’t on a deeper level, we were in a situationship I guess, more like friends with benefits.We didn’t want to put a name to it then, so I had barely any deep knowledge about his family.Mason's father, Vincent Rossi, was listed as the CEO of Rossi Industries, a conglomerate with interests in real estate, logistics, and apparently a handful of manufacturing plants I'd never heard of. His mother, Katherine, was mentioned in a few society page articles from the early 2000s. Charity galas. Museum openings. The usual wealthy-people-in-evening-gowns photos.Nothing about the family dynamic. Nothing about feuds or fractures.I tried different searches.Rossi family feudVincent Rossi controversyRossi family estrangementMason Rossi family problems.But nothing popped up.Well, not nothing. There were the usual tabloid scraps, speculation about Mason's relationship with his father, rumor

Vanessa stepped closer to his desk, close enough that he could see her face clearly, read the expression she was deliberately arranging."You want front-page stories," she whispered. "That's what you keep telling everyone in morning meetings. You want stories that people actually read. Stories that get shared. Stories that make this paper look relevant."Daniel nodded slowly. "Go on.""I can give you that.""You already give me that. You're a good writer, Vanessa. Nobody's disputing that.""But I'm not a front-page writer." She held his gaze. "Not in your eyes. Not in the eyes of anyone who matters around here."Daniel didn't deny it.That stung more than she expected it to."So here's my proposal," she continued, forcing her voice to stay steady. "You keep Aria on Rossi. Fine. She can have her hockey player and her quotes about pressure and her emotional deep-dives into team dynamics."She paused. "But I'm going to find a better story."Daniel's eyebrow arched again. "A better story

I watched her go.Around me, the newsroom slowly returned to life. A copy editor yelled something across the room about a missing fact-check.I exhaled.My hand was shaking slightly. I hadn't noticed until now the adrenaline, the effort of staying calm while someone tried to pick a fight in front of half the staff.But I had held my ground.I had said what needed to be said, and I hadn't said it cruelly. Honestly, maybe even kindly.I looked down at my notes again.Mason's face flashed through my mind. The way he looked at me in that hallway. The way he said "You came here, didn't you? Why am I the one at fault?"Right. That was my actual problem. Not Vanessa. Not the office politics. The problem was Mason Rossi, who had walked back into my life like a storm I hadn't finished recovering from.I picked up my pen again.But before I could return to my transcripts, a shadow fell across my desk.I looked up.Daniel.He was holding a cup of coffee, his third of the morning, probably and

Aria POVTwo of the junior reporters were pretending to read something on Maya's screen, but their shoulders were angled toward us. They were listening. Of course they were. Vanessa's desk confrontations were basically office theater at this point.Vanessa noticed them too. I could tell because her posture shifted slightly, straighter, more performative.She lowered her voice, but not enough that someone nearby couldn't hear. "I'm just saying, Bennett. Don't get comfortable. Stories like this have a way of swallowing people who aren't ready for them.""Good thing I'm ready, then.""You think you are.""I know I am."She laughed, through it didn't match the tightness around her eyes. "You're so confident for someone whose last three pieces were basically rewritten press releases."That stung.Not because it was true, it wasn't. My last three pieces had included an investigative look at city council budget discrepancies and a feature on homeless veterans that Daniel had personally call

Just the entrance and very of the restaurant was very classy and aesthetically appealing.Everything looked intentional.I turned to him as he came around the car again. “This is not what we said,” I told him immediately.He raised a brow. “What did we say?”“Drinks,” I replied. “Something simple.”He smiled like I had told a joke. “Yes,” he said easily. “I decided to upgrade it a bit.”I stared at him. “Why?”He shrugged. “Because why not?”I shook my head slightly, but I was smiling now despite myself. “That’s your reason for everything?”“It works,” he said.He opened the door for me again.This time I didn’t hesitate.Inside, the restaurant was warm, dimly lit. We were guided to a table near the side. I sat down and immediately picked up the menu.The prices made me froze. It was freaking expensive.It seemed like he noticed because he stretched his hands towards mine.“Don’t worry about it,” he said before I could even speak.I looked up at him. “That’s not the point.”He leaned

“Don’t do that,” she argued. “Don’t act like I’m just… nothing in all this.”I closed my eyes briefly. “That’s not what I’m saying.”“You’re acting like it,” she insisted. “Like I’m not important anymore. Like I don’t exist in your life unless I’m the one forcing myself into it.”I tightened my grip on the bottle. “I never said you weren’t important.”“But you treat me like I am not,” she shot back.I could hear her breathing through the phone now. It was fast and uneven.She didn’t stop there.“And have you even asked how I’ve been?” she continued. “Do you know what’s been happening with me lately?”I hesitated.Because the truth was I hadn’t.Her voice softened just slightly, but it carried frustration that had been building for a while.“I’ve been everywhere in my head,” she whispered. “I’m not stable right now, and you’re just… disappearing.”I exhaled, slower this time. “I’m sorry,” I apologized.She sighed.Then I added, more carefully, “What do you want from me right now?”She

Third Person's POV The evening air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers from the nearby park. Streetlights flickered along the cobblestone path as Ethan and Zara walked side by side, the laughter and warmth from the dinner fading into a comfortable silence.Zara kicked a small pebble absentmindedly, her mind still buzzing from the events of the day. The glow of the streetlights reflected off her hair, making it look like molten gold, and Ethan couldn’t take his eyes off her. He’d been holding his feelings in for so long, always patient, always waiting for the right moment. And tonight… maybe tonight was it.Ethan cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady, though his heart pounded like a drum. “Zara… I… I wanted to tell you something,” he began, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his jacket.Zara glanced at him, her eyes curious, soft, and patient. “Yes?” she asked gently, slowing her pace to match his.He swallowed hard, the words catching in h

Nicole's POV Seven months… Seven whole months of carrying this little life inside me, and here I was, about to finally graduate. My stomach was undeniably big now, a constant reminder of the tiny person growing inside, and every little kick made me smile and squirm in my seat. I looked down at it and laughed quietly, feeling Adrian’s hand slide across my lap, resting just above the curve of my belly. His touch was gentle, protective, and warm, the kind of touch that reminded me, even after everything we’d been through, that love could be calm and safe too.Leo and Liam died, Marianna and Mr Hargreaves was arrested, Marianna committed suicide after two months of imprisonment. The James company faced backlash for being a fraudster. While Adrian slowly rebuilt his own company.“Nicole! You’re staring at that belly like it’s about to sprout wings and fly away!” Zara laughed from across the table, her bright energy filling the room. She waved a forkful of salad around, pretending to

Adrian’s POV.The moment Liam fell, the warehouse seemed to freeze.Marianna’s scream cut through the lingering gunfire like a blade. She ran to him, her heels clattering against the concrete, her hands shaking violently as she cradled his body. Blood gushed out faster than she could comprehend, soaking her hands, dripping down her arms.“Liam! No! My baby! My son!” she wailed, her voice ragged and hoarse. She pressed her face to his chest, desperate for a response, but his body lay limp, jerking faintly with the last remnants of life.“You shot your son.* Marianna cried out looking at Leo.Leo froze across the room, disbelief etched into every line of his face. “No… no, it’s not true,” he said, shaking his head violently. “It… it can’t be—”Frank’s cold voice cut through the tension like ice. “He’s your son, Leo,” he said, still in hiding.Leo’s face was drained of color. His manic grin faltered, his eyes widening as the truth hit him. He’d been deceived, and the revelation seemed

The moment Loeo got distracted by one of his guards, I immediately sent the signal.We heard gun shots from outside and before anyone could say anything, bullets cracked through the air, ricocheting off metal beams and crates and the sharp stench of gunpowder burned my nostrils. I lunged toward Nicole, ignoring the pain in my ribs from the accident.. Each step was agonizing, every heartbeat hammering in my ears, but I couldn’t let her stay there helpless and exposed. My hands shook as I fumbled with the ropes cutting across her wrists. She flinched as another bullet hit the floor near us, making the concrete crack and splinter.“Adrian! Be careful!” Nicole hissed, her voice tight with fear, Frank was already in motion, he was able to pick up a gun for one of the people that got shot. He corked the gun, moving like a predator to cover us. I saw him shoot, duck, shoot again, all the while keeping an eye on the corners of the warehouse. He had this way of moving, calculating, keeping

Adrian's POV “Here they come.” Leo screamed the moment we came.I stayed perfectly, eyes scanning every inch of the warehouse. Nicole was tied up, trembling slightly, but her defiance shone through her fear. My heart ached seeing her like this, but I had to remain calm. If I moved too soon, everything could explode—literally.Frank was next to me, eyes sharp, silently observing. Every twitch, every breath of Leo, Liam, and Marianna was noted. They had no idea we were analyzing, planning. That gave us an edge.Leo was pacing, voice sharp, commanding. “Frank… I want answers. You’ve been working with them all along? You, of all people?” His eyes were furious, wild, and I could feel the malice radiating from him.Frank’s voice was steady. “I don’t work for you. I never did. You killed my grandfather, Leo. You killed my mother indirectly. Do you know what that did to me? To my life? I will never forgive you.”Leo’s laugh was sharp, manic. “Your mother? She was collateral damage! You th

Third Person's POV Leo leaned against the cold brick wall of the warehouse, his eyes sharp, scanning everywhere.His men lingered nearby, silent and alert, but he waved one forward, signaling him away from the others. He needed this conversation private,.Liam and Marianna couldn’t hear a word.“Closer,” he hissed under his breath, and the man obeyed, stepping toward him, careful to stay unseen.“Listen carefully,” Leo said, his voice low and dangerous. “No one goes back alive. You hear me? No mistakes. No one escapes this. Not Liam, not Marianna, not anyone else who dares stand against me.”The man swallowed hard, nodding quickly. “Yes, boss. I understand. But… are we going to wait for them to make a move first?”Leo’s eyes narrowed, a shadow of fury crossing his face. “No. We act on my orders. You wait for my signal, and then you move. You follow me, you do exactly what I say, or you’ll be next.”His words carried the weight of steel. The man’s hands trembled slightly, but he manag