Novels by Penwitch

Stella stood in the doorway, her fingers twisting the edge of her worn cardigan as she watched Jason knot his tie with steady, practiced movements. The silence between them felt heavier than the morning air.“What are we going to do?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly.He didn’t answer. Didn’t even glance at her.“Can you hear me speaking?” she pressed, taking one hesitant step closer.Jason let out a long, tired sigh, his shoulders tensing.“What do you want, Mother?” His tone was flat, detached, like she was background noise.“I want you to bring my daughter back home,” she said, her words tumbling out with quiet desperation.Jason scoffed, the sound sharp and bitter. He turned to face her, and for a moment a cold smile tugged at his lips.“Anna and I are divorced.”Stella’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. The room seemed to tilt.“What did you say?”“You heard me right,” he continued, jaw tight as he fought to keep his voice even. “That monster made us sign th

A smirk curled on Mr. Jeffery’s lips as Jake stepped into the room, his face pale and slick with sweat. The young man’s eyes darted around nervously, taking in the circle of armed men standing like shadows against the walls, rifles gripped tightly in their hands.“You might be wondering why you’re here,” Mr. Jeffery said at last, his voice smooth and low.“Yes, sir,” Jake replied, his words trembling.“Good. You should thank me for bailing you out.”“Thank you so much, I—”“That’s enough.” Mr. Jeffery cut him off sharply, irritation flashing across his face. He pushed back his chair and rose, walking slowly toward Jake until he stood just inches away. “You seem like a man who always returns his favors, Jake. I didn’t pull you out of that hole because I’m generous. I did it because you’re going to be useful to me.”A cold smile played on his lips as he studied Jake’s reaction.“What do you mean?” Jake asked, swallowing hard.“You were married to Anna, weren’t you?” Mr. Jeffery asked. J

"What are you doing here?" she asked again, her voice a fragile whisper that barely carried across the space.Her mother took a tentative step forward, her hands hovering in the air as if reaching for something already lost. Tears pooled in her eyes, making them glisten under the harsh light. "I’m lonely, Anna," she breathed, her voice cracking with a raw, desperate edge. "Every single day, it feels like I’m drowning. I miss you. I miss my daughter so much." She swallowed hard, the jewelry on her wrists clicking softly as her hands trembled. "I’m sorry. For everything. I swear to you, I won’t force you to be with Jake anymore. I just… I want my daughter back."A sound tore from Anna’s throat—a sharp, hollow half-laugh that carried the jagged edges of a wound that refused to heal. It wasn’t a sound of amusement; it was the sound of a heart breaking all over again."I wasn't joking when I said I was breaking all ties with you," Anna said, her voice dropping into a dangerous, steady cal

Anthony walked angrily to them. Both Elena and his father turned to look at him. Without wasting any time, he grabbed Elena by the neck and started strangling her. She struggled hard to free herself, scratching and pulling at his hand in panic.“What the fuck did you do to me that night?” he snarled, voice low and lethal, his face inches from hers. Her eyes widened in terror as she clawed desperately at his wrist, nails digging into his skin, legs kicking weakly. “Talk. Now. Or I swear to God, I’ll end you right here in front of everyone.”“Anthony—stop!” His father’s voice cut through the air, firm but laced with alarm. He grabbed his son’s arm, trying to pry him off.Anthony shoved him back hard, sending the older man stumbling into one of the guards. “Don’t touch me!”Elena’s face was turning an alarming shade of red. Her mouth opened and closed, but only strangled whimpers came out. Her eyes were glassy with fear and desperation. For a terrifying moment, it looked like she might a

Anthony stepped into the office building with his shoulders straight, even though tiredness still lingered in his bones. He had told Anna to stay home and rest. She had argued at first but she finally gave in. He needed her strong, not worn out from taking care of him.The moment he walked through the doors, smiles broke out everywhere. Staff members stood up from their desks, some clapping lightly. “Welcome back, sir!” one called. He gathered everyone in the main hall for a quick announcement. “I’m back and better now,” he said, his voice steady. “Thank you for holding everything together while I was away. Let’s get back to work and make this week count.”A round of applause followed. Soon the office filled with the familiar sound of keyboards and quiet conversations. Anthony went into his office and closed the door. He worked through the pile of papers and emails with focus, pushing through until every task was done.When the clock showed it was time to leave, he grabbed his coat a

Anna’s heart slammed against her ribs as the words left her lips. “She is alive.”Anthony gave a small, broken smile and nodded once. The dim light in the room made the shadows under his eyes look deeper, like bruises that wouldn’t heal. He looked so lost, so unlike the strong man she had fallen in love with.“Oh my goodness, Anthony… how did you— I mean, how…” Her voice shook. The questions tangled on her tongue. She couldn’t find the right ones.He swallowed hard, his throat working like it hurt to speak. “She’s in the hospital, Anna. They’re treating her like she’s crazy.” His voice cracked on the last word. “She’s scared. And I… I can’t do anything to help her.”Tears filled his eyes, but he fought them back. “I’m not a good son. How didn’t I know? How didn’t I know my own mother was…” He couldn’t finish. The words choked him.Anna didn’t think. She just moved, wrapping her arms around him tightly. His body trembled against hers, shaking with all the pain he had carried alone. She