Novel-novel oleh Lady Ade

DIANA'S POV“Behave yourself when we get inside. Remember that you have to impress your in-laws.” Dad turned to me.I rolled my eyes, my hands gripping my purse tightly. “I never asked you to bring me here so don't expect me to bend backwards for anybody.”“Diana!” He whisper-yelled. “Everything I am doing is for your own good.”“That's hilarious,” I chuckled. “Considering your dealings with the Whitmire family, aren't you just trying to expand your business? It has nothing to do with me and everything to do with your selfishness.”“You!” He almost blew up before he remembered where we were. “We will talk more when we get home. For now, force a smile on your face and don't mess it up.”I scoffed and quietly followed him into Whitmire mansion. My eyes moved around lazily before settling on the large family. It was my first time seeing Dalia’s six brothers and it was not surprising how much they grounded her. They were tall, handsome and muscular.However, it no longer looked like prote

LESLIE'S POVMum.She looked the same. The mole by the side of her nose, her petite figure and her favorite red dress with white, now brown with age, polka dots. I took a step towards her but Saint pulled me back.“Your mother? Where? The street is empty, Leslie.”“She’s there. She is right there.” I pointed in the direction I had seen her but the space was now empty. “Huh? Where did she go? She was just there a minute ago.”Saint sighed and hugged me. “I know you miss her very much and I promise you we're going to find her soon.”I pulled away. “What are you saying? She's right there. I saw her. Don't you believe me?”“I believe you—”“Then let's go in search of her.” I grabbed his hand and tried to pull him to the other side.“Hold on, Leslie. Calm down.” He held my arms. “Tom and Orlando will go in search of her. If she's really around here, they will find her.” He pulled out his phone to message my shadow bodyguards.I bit down on my lips. I had already wasted too much time. She

LESLIE'S POVI could still feel the sting of the slap but even that could barely hold water to the ache in my chest. I knew I wasn't accepted in the Baxter family yet but to see it acted out like this….In front of Liliana too.Even a stranger could turn them against me.“Selene! It was a mistake,” aunt Tiara said. “We..were swayed by that waitress.”I glanced at the waitress but I couldn't recognize her. Why was she trying to defame me?“Since it's a mistake, let's correct it from the very beginning.” I looked away to see Selene walking up to Liliana.My eyes widened when Selene hit her on the cheek.“Selene!” Liliana shrieked. “How dare you—” Her face whipped to the side when Selene hit her other cheek too. “You…you…”“Oh my.” Selene waved her hand. “It was a mistake. I was swayed by my anger.”“What?” Liliana held her reddened cheeks, her face contorted.“Did you think you could hit the matriarch and get away with it?” Selene rolled her eyes. “Saint will never hit a woman so I decid

SELENE'S POV“What?” I chuckled. “That makes no sense. Are you all really believing in a random waitress right now?”“We have no reason not to believe her.” Liliana stood up. “Leslie left the wedding early yesterday and she isn't even here for breakfast. If you ask me, that tells us everything we need to know.”“Good thing nobody asked you.” I stood up as well. “I understand that you are a new member of the family but I am sure you are aware of your standing. Don't speak unless you're spoken to.”“Oh.” Liliana looked down. “I am sorry.”“You should be.” I eyed her down.“What do you think you're doing, Selene?” Aunt Tiara snapped. “You can't intimidate my daughter-in-law like that, just because you want to hide the fact that Leslie is cheating.”“Leslie will never do something like that. And by your daughter-in-law's grand logic, Saint left the wedding early and he's not here for breakfast either. Does that mean he's cheating on Leslie too?”“Mr Baxter was still at the wedding when I

SELENE'S POVI narrowed my eyes in concentration as I made final strokes on the drawing. A few minutes later, I stepped back to look at the finished product. It was beautiful. My first drawing in ten years.I sighed and dropped my pencil before falling on the couch. I had no idea why I still went ahead with the drawing of the logo, even after everything.I closed my eyes and my head fell on the headrest.As always, that scene played in my head. The same one that had kept me awake several nights in a roll.“Let me show you then.” Julian pulled me closer and pressed his lips to mine.I couldn't react for a few seconds, my hands stayed limply by my sides and my wide eyes remained trained on his face. Then, my eyes closed like I was spellbound and I kissed him back.I locked my hands around his neck and my frizzled out feelings burst out inside of me. Our kiss turned desperate as he gobbled up my lips like a starved man, like he had missed me for ten years, like he never abandoned me.Th

LESLIE'S POVI gripped the counter top before schooling my features into normalcy and returning to the room. Saint must have gone to another room to freshen up, judging by the thin vest and joggers he was sporting.“Hey.” He looked up from his laptop, his eyes trailing down my body still cladded in his shirt but a different short that belonged to me. “You didn't freshen up?”I cleared my throat and avoided his eyes. “ I did. This is very comfortable so I decided to stay in it.” It smelt like him and I loved it. God, I love him.“So you like my shirt?” He smirked and winked. “But you don't have to wear it twice. I have enough shirts for both of us to share.”He pulled up his suitcase and pulled out another white shirt for me. I accepted it, pulling away like I was scalded when our fingers brushed.Saint frowned but didn't say anything.“Turn around.” I folded my lips in.“Why?”“I want to change the shirt and it's too much of a hassle to return to the bathroom,” I shrugged.His lips st