Novels by Rain Tummy

Bella’s POVThe house was finally quiet again.For the first time in days, there were no alarms, arguments, mysterious messages, or terrifying discoveries waiting around the corner.I honestly didn’t trust the silence.With our family, silence usually meant something terrible was preparing itself.But tonight, I decided not to think about that.I stood beside the bedroom window, watching rain slide slowly down the glass, while the warm light from the bedside lamp filled the room behind me.I heard the door open.I didn’t need to turn around.“Are you ever going to sleep?”Ethan’s voice made me smile.“Are you ever going to stop worrying?”“No.”I turned around.He was leaning against the doorway, wearing a simple black shirt and gray sweatpants, and somehow he looked ridiculously handsome for someone who had spent the entire day dealing with our completely insane family.“You’re staring,” he said.“I wasn’t.”“You definitely were.”“I was thinking.”“About my face?”“Unfortunately.”H

Ethan’s POV“Hello, Bella.”The voice behind us made everyone freeze.I turned around immediately, but there was nobody standing there.Bella grabbed my arm tightly.“Ethan, somebody was behind me.”“I know.”“No, I heard her.”“I believe you.”James switched on his flashlight.The beam moved slowly across the room.Nothing.Maya suddenly appeared from behind the curtains.“Why is everyone staring?”Sarah screamed.Maya screamed too.“Why are you screaming?”“You disappeared!”“I was hiding.”“Why?”“Because people were shooting at us!”James rubbed his forehead.“Where were you?”“In the pantry.”Maya pointed toward herself.“I was having a very peaceful conversation with some canned beans.”I stared at her.“You’re unbelievable.”“Thank you.”“That wasn’t a compliment.”“I accepted it anyway.”Bella didn’t laugh.She was staring at Noah.The little boy stood beside her quietly.His expression had completely changed.“Where is she?” Bella asked.Noah looked toward the floor.“Under u

Bella’s POVMy grandmother pressed the button slowly.Nothing happened.She pressed it again.Still nothing happened.Maya tilted her head.“Was that supposed to do something?”My grandmother glared at her.Maya shrugged.“I’m just asking.”James suddenly laughed.My grandmother looked furious.“What is funny?”James held up the tiny device.“You forgot the batteries.”Maya covered her mouth.Sarah immediately started laughing.I couldn’t stop myself either.My grandmother stared at all of us like she wanted us dead.“This isn’t funny.”Maya nodded seriously.“Actually, it really is.”My grandmother threw the device against the wall.It shattered across the floor.Then she suddenly turned and ran.James immediately chased after her.“Stop!”Maya looked at Sarah.“Should we help him?”Sarah sighed.“Obviously.”Maya nodded.“Fine, but I’m blaming James.”They both ran after him.I stood there, breathing heavily.Ethan stepped closer.“You okay?”I looked at him.“No.”He nodded.“Fair

Ethan’s POVMy grandmother pressed the button slowly.Nothing happened.She stared at the device.Then she pressed it again.Still nothing.Maya raised her eyebrows.“Is that thing supposed to explode?”My grandmother looked annoyed.Maya shrugged.“Just asking.”James suddenly laughed.My grandmother glared at him.“What is funny?”James held up the tiny tracker.“You forgot something.”Her expression changed.“What?”“The batteries.”Maya covered her mouth.Sarah started laughing.Even Bella smiled.My grandmother looked furious.“This isn’t funny.”Maya nodded seriously.“Actually, it is.”I looked at Bella.For the first time tonight, she laughed properly.It was small, but it was real.And somehow, hearing that laugh made everything feel lighter.My grandmother suddenly threw the device.It shattered against the floor.Then she ran.James immediately chased her.“Stop!”Maya looked at us.“Should we help?”Sarah sighed.“Obviously.”Maya nodded.“Okay.”Then she ran after James.

Ethan’s POVI stared at the man standing there.For several seconds, my mind refused to understand anything.He looked like Alexander.Not similar.Not slightly alike.Exactly like him.Same dark hair.Same brown eyes.Same sharp jaw.Even the same small scar above his eyebrow.But there was something different about him.His eyes looked older.Colder.Like he had spent years carrying secrets.Bella stepped closer to me.“Ethan.”I immediately reached for her hand.“I’m here.”The stranger smiled.“You always say that.”I frowned.“What?”“You always tell Bella you’re there.”His voice sounded strangely familiar.I didn’t know why.“Who are you?”He stepped into the room.“My name is Adrian.”Alexander froze beside us.“No.”Adrian smiled.“Hello, brother.”Alexander stared at him.“You’re supposed to be dead.”Adrian laughed softly.“So are you.”Maya looked between them.“Okay, this is officially confusing.”Sarah whispered,“Very.”Maya nodded.“I’m glad we’re agreeing.”James step

Ethan’s POVI had never hated anyone like this before.Not because my grandmother had threatened Bella.Not because she had lied about Alexander.Not even because she had manipulated our entire family.I hated her because Alexander was standing beside Bella.My son was standing there.The son I had spent years believing disappeared.He looked at me differently now.Not like a stranger anymore.Something about his eyes had changed.Maybe he finally saw me as his father.Or maybe he was still deciding.Honestly, I couldn’t blame him.My grandmother smiled from across the room.“Ethan, step aside.”I shook my head.“No.”Her expression remained calm.“You don’t understand what Alexander is.”I looked at my son.“He’s my son.”She laughed quietly.“That isn’t what I meant.”“Then explain yourself.”Alexander stepped beside me.“You won’t get me.”My grandmother looked amused.“You still think you have choices.”Alexander’s expression hardened.“I do.”She shook her head.“You inherited yo

Zina POVThe house felt unnervingly silent. I sat on the couch, eyes unfocused as I stared at the walls, my mind a chaotic mess. Thoughts of Xaden crowded my brain. His voice, full of threats, filled my head, his words echoing like a constant drumbeat. He promised he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted, and I couldn't escape the feeling that he was out there, just waiting for the right moment to strike.My chest felt tight, as if a weight was pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe. I reached for my phone, my hands shaking. The screen lit up with a message.Where are you? I'm outside.It was from Jared.I hadn't answered his calls or texts all day. I couldn't let him see how scared I was, how out of control I felt. But the truth was, I needed him. I couldn't keep going like this. I had to face it, no matter how terrified I was. Jared had always been my rock.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my hands before typing out a response.I'm home. Come in.I pressed send and

POV: ZinaThe elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, but the sound might as well have been a gunshot for how violently my heart jolted. I stepped out onto the marble floor, the sharp click of my heels echoing down the hall like a countdown to my execution.Jared's words replayed in my head. You don't owe him anything. Don't let him corner you.I gripped the strap of my bag tighter, knuckles white. The conference room loomed at the end of the corridor, its glass walls revealing shadowy silhouettes inside. My reflection stared back at me as I passed, pale and drawn—a ghost of the woman I used to be.I wasn't ready for this.But I didn't have a choice.Pushing down the tremor threatening to claw its way up my throat, I adjusted the blazer that suddenly felt too tight and forced my legs to keep moving.The door opened before I could touch the handle."Mrs. Lennox."I froze.Xaden's lawyer stood there, a shark in a tailored suit with slicked-back hair and a predatory smile. He stepped

POV: JaredThe crimson glow of Xaden's taillights vanished beyond the bend, swallowed whole by the darkness. But his presence lingered thick and suffocating, like the acrid smell of smoke after a fire. My fists curled so tightly my knuckles cracked, but the tremor in my hands betrayed me. I couldn't let Zina see it. Not now.Not after this.She knelt on the damp earth, clutching Asher so fiercely it seemed as if letting go would splinter him into irreparable pieces. The boy's muffled sobs pierced the suffocating silence, each one a blade twisting deeper into my chest. I dropped to one knee beside them, the gravel biting into my skin as I reached out and brushed Zina's shoulder.She flinched hard."Zina." My voice came out hoarse, the strain roughening the edges. "We need to move. Now."She lifted her head, her face pale and streaked with tears. Her bloodshot eyes locked on mine, wild and desperate. "He'll find us, Jared." Her voice cracked, the words barely a whisper. "He always finds

Zina's POVThe cabin door shut behind Jared, leaving me alone with Asher and the deafening silence that seemed to stretch forever. I clutched Asher tighter, my arms wrapped protectively around him as if that could shield him from everything outside. My eyes darted toward the windows, the curtains drawn tightly, but it didn't stop the fear crawling beneath my skin.Jared had promised we were safe here that no one could find us. But the footprints he'd spotted outside told a different story.I kissed Asher's forehead, brushing back the mess of curls stuck to his skin. He stirred slightly, murmuring something in his sleep, but didn't wake. At least one of us could rest.I envied him envied his innocence and belief that Jared and I could protect him. I wanted to believe it, too. But after everything we'd been through, trust didn't come so easily anymore.The fire in the stone hearth crackled softly, but instead of calming me, it only made the shadows dance more wildly across the walls. I

Zina's POVMy gaze drifted toward the window, the curtains half-drawn but still letting in the faint glow of the streetlights. The glass reflected the room around us—the soft glow of the lamps, the shadows dancing along the walls. But for the briefest moment, I thought I saw something else—a flicker of movement outside.The hair on the back of my neck prickled.I froze, my heart stuttering in my chest as I strained to see past the reflection. Nothing. Just the night. Just shadows."What's wrong?" Jared's voice pulled me back, and I turned quickly, forcing a smile."Nothing." I shook my head. "Just my imagination."His eyes lingered on mine, searching. Jared could always tell when something was off. It was one of the things I both loved and hated about him. He saw too much."Zina," he said softly, "don't do that thing where you pretend everything's fine when it's not."I laughed nervously. "I'm not pretending. I swear.""Then why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"I hesitated, uns

POV: Unknown PersonThe night was cold, the kind of cold that seeped into your bones and lingered, but I barely noticed. The wind howled around me, sending leaves skittering across the rooftop, but I stayed still, cloaked in darkness. The only thing that mattered was the scene unfolding through the softly glowing window across the street.I pressed the binoculars closer to my face, my gaze narrowing as I brought them into sharper focus. Inside, Jared and Zina sat together, their faces lit by the golden glow of the room. The way they laughed, their heads tilted toward one another, made my stomach twist. They looked so happy, so at peace.Jared leaned closer to her, whispering something. Whatever he said made her laugh—a full, carefree laugh that filled the space around her. She tilted her head back, exposing the curve of her neck, and I felt a bitter taste rise in my throat. He touched her arm lightly, as if reassuring her of something, and her hand came to rest over his, her fingers l