Novels by Ella Ethel

Monday morning...The city of New York came alive as another workweek began.Inside Collins International...Evelyn Hartley sat behind her desk, staring blankly at the computer screen.The words on the report before her refused to make sense.Her mind wasn't on work.It kept drifting back to Damian.She remembered waking beside him.The warmth of his embrace.The peaceful expression on his sleeping face.She quickly shook the thoughts away."No..."She whispered to herself."You can't keep doing this."A gentle knock sounded on the office door."Come in."Her assistant stepped inside."Good morning, Ms. Hartley.""Mr. Collins would like to see you.""I'll be there shortly."A few minutes later...Arthur Collins looked up from several documents as Evelyn entered."Good morning.""Good morning."Arthur studied her for a moment."You seem distracted.""I'm fine."He smiled knowingly."You've worked with me long enough to know I can tell when you're lying."Evelyn looked away."It's just

The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Damian Sterling's penthouse.The city outside was only beginning to wake.Inside the master bedroom...Everything was quiet.Evelyn's eyes slowly fluttered open.For a few moments, she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, her mind struggling to remember where she was.Then...Everything came rushing back.The argument.The tears.The confession.The kiss.The sex they had shared.She closed her eyes again, letting out a slow, shaky breath."What have I done?" she whispered.Carefully, she turned her head.Damian was still asleep beside her.His breathing was slow and steady, his face surprisingly peaceful.She couldn't remember the last time she had seen him sleep so soundly.For a brief moment...She simply watched him.He looked younger.Less burdened.As if the weight he had carried for three years had finally lifted.Evelyn's heart tightened.She reached out instinctively, almost wanting to touch his f

That evening...After work, Evelyn sat alone in her office, staring at the expensive fountain pen Damian had sent her.Her frustration had reached its limit.This had to stop.She picked up her phone and dialed his number.Damian answered almost immediately."Evelyn.""We need to talk."Her tone was cold."I agree.""I don't want to meet in a restaurant.""I don't either," Damian replied quietly."There are too many people."After a brief pause, he said,"If you're willing... come to my penthouse.""We'll have privacy.""We can speak without interruptions."Evelyn hesitated.Every instinct told her to refuse.But another part of her wanted this conversation to end once and for all."I'll be there in an hour."She ended the call.An hour later...The elevator doors opened directly into Damian's penthouse.The spacious apartment overlooked the glittering New York skyline.Damian was waiting near the entrance."Thank you for coming.""I'm not here to stay.""I'm here to make one thing cl

Sophia Blake sat inside her penthouse, impatiently glancing at the clock.Mr. Carter had been investigating Evelyn for nearly a week.If Evelyn had been hiding something...Today, Sophia intended to find out.The doorbell rang.A slow smile spread across her face."Come in."Mr. Carter entered carrying a thick brown envelope."I found what you asked for."Sophia immediately reached for it."Tell me."Mr. Carter placed several documents and photographs on the coffee table."I followed Ms. Hartley after work for several days."Mr. Carter placed several photographs on the coffee table."I followed Ms. Hartley for several days.""Every afternoon after work, she drove directly to Maple Leaf Preschool."Sophia picked up the photographs one after another.The first showed Evelyn getting out of her car outside the school.The second captured a little boy running toward her with a bright smile.The third showed Evelyn kneeling to hug him tightly before kissing his forehead."Mummy!"Mr. Carter

The next morning...Evelyn arrived at Collins International just before eight-thirty.As she stepped out of the elevator, several employees greeted her warmly."Good morning, Ms. Hartley.""Good morning."She smiled politely before making her way to her office.Yesterday's lunch with Damian lingered in her thoughts.It had been... peaceful.He hadn't begged.He hadn't pressured her.For the first time, they had simply shared a conversation.She shook the thought away.One pleasant afternoon didn't erase three years of pain.She had too much work to do to dwell on the past.A few minutes later, her assistant knocked on the door."Come in."The assistant entered carrying an elegant gift box tied with a navy-blue ribbon."Ms. Hartley, this was delivered for you."Evelyn looked up in surprise."For me?""Yes.""There was a small card inside."She opened the box and unfolded the card.She immediately recognized the handwriting.Yesterday, you paused to admire this in the restaurant. I hope

The morning after the charity gala...Damian Sterling sat alone in his office.His laptop was open, but he hadn't read a single page of the report before him.His thoughts kept returning to Evelyn's words."Prove it."He couldn't prove anything with apologies.He had to show her.A knock sounded on the door.Lucas Bennett walked in with the day's schedule."You have a board meeting in thirty minutes."Damian nodded absentmindedly."Lucas.""Yes, Mr. Sterling?"Damian looked up."When Evelyn and I were married...""What was the one thing she looked forward to every Monday morning?"Lucas looked surprised by the question.He thought for a moment before smiling."The white lilies."Damian frowned."White lilies?"Lucas nodded."Every Monday, fresh white lilies were delivered to your home.""You probably don't remember.""But Mrs. Hartley always arranged them herself.""They made her happy."Damian closed his eyes.He couldn't remember.Not because it wasn't important.Because he had neve