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Frya Isaac
Frya Isaac
Author

Novels by Frya Isaac

Reclaiming the Love We Lost

Reclaiming the Love We Lost

Lydia Hart loved Adrian Wolfe for three years. Three years of silence. Three years of coldness. Three years of hoping he would love her back. Instead, he gave her a divorce. Humiliated and heartbroken, Lydia leaves without looking back. Until one shocking discovery changes everything. She’s pregnant. With Adrian’s baby. Determined to protect her child from a father who never wanted her, Lydia disappears and starts over with a new job, a new life… and a dangerous secret. But Adrian Wolfe isn’t the kind of man who ignores mysteries. When he begins to suspect Lydia is hiding something from him, he starts digging for the truth. And when he finally discovers what she kept from him… It might already be too late. Because the woman he divorced… Is the only one who ever owned his heart.
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Chapter: 351. THE EMPTY HOUSE
Marcus had never been a man who panicked. Not when volatile financial markets collapsed around him. Not when ruthless competitors launched hostile takeovers. Not even when Adrian had once threatened to strip him of his executive authority at Wolfe Holdings for making a high-stakes decision without prior approval. He had always been the consummate anchor—the strategist who remained unnervingly composed while everyone else yielded to chaos. Yet standing outside Cecilia Ashford’s private residence late that evening, Marcus felt a sharp, uncharacteristic tightness in his chest. The heavy front door was unlatched, resting half an inch off its frame. That was the initial anomaly that made his instincts razor-sharp. He pushed the door inward, the hinges moving in total silence. "Cecilia?" Nothing. The house was enveloped in a heavy, suffocating quiet. Marcus stepped past the foyer, his movements deliberate. The interior lights were extinguished, leaving the ground floor illuminated o
Last Updated: 2026-09-11
Chapter: 350. IMPLICITY
Adrian hadn't. He had assumed his closest confidant had traded loyalty for personal ambition. He had lived for a decade believing Marcus had abandoned the brotherhood they built. Now, the entire foundation of that resentment crumbled. "You could have placed your trust in my ability to handle them, Marcus," Adrian said, his voice dropping to a low, quiet murmur. "I trusted you implicitly," Marcus replied. "That was precisely the problem." Adrian frowned. "What does that mean?" "You would have declared total, unrestrained war on the Ashford family." "Without hesitation," Adrian confirmed coldly. "And they would have retaliated against Cecilia before your legal or financial power could reach them." Adrian went completely silent. Marcus offered a slow, solemn nod. "That was the one variable I could not risk." Lydia looked between the two men. The cold anger that usually defined Adrian's presence had completely vanished, replaced by something far more agonizing: profound regret.
Last Updated: 2026-09-11
Chapter: 349. THE TRUTH HE HID
Marcus was waiting for them when Adrian and Lydia arrived. He had chosen the same private lounge where he and Cecilia had spoken the previous night—secluded, atmospheric, and tucked away from the main floor of the estate. No staff. No assistants. No unnecessary witnesses. Just three people who had spent years carrying disparate fragments of the very same secret. Marcus stood by the tall, floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the manicured grounds. He didn’t turn when the double doors clicked shut behind Adrian. "I suppose you require an explanation," Marcus remarked quietly. Adrian closed the heavy wooden door, setting the lock with a firm snap. "I require the truth." Marcus finally turned around, meeting his gaze. "You have always been entitled to it." Lydia remained beside Adrian, her presence a quiet anchor. For several heavy seconds, neither man uttered a word. Then Adrian stepped forward, placing the aged photograph onto the center of the polished mahogany table. Th
Last Updated: 2026-09-10
Chapter: 348. CHOSEN STRATEGY
Silence fell over the drive. Lydia felt the cold wind brush past her, processing the weight of the revelation. "So he engineered his own exile." "That was his chosen strategy." "And Adrian was left entirely in the dark?" Eric shook his head. "Marcus refused to give him the complete picture." "Why protect Adrian from the truth?" "Because Marcus knew Adrian's temperament," Eric said plainly. "Had Adrian known the Ashfords were blackmailing his right hand, he would have declared total corporate war against the entire family." A faint, bittersweet smile touched Lydia’s lips. "That sounds exactly like Adrian." "Precisely," Eric agreed, looking out over the city lights. "Marcus refused to allow Wolfe Holdings to become collateral damage in an Ashford family feud." "He was shielding her," Lydia whispered. "In the only way he knew how." Lydia thought back to the old photograph. Three young people. One fateful evening. One devastating choice. And a man walking away into the shadows t
Last Updated: 2026-09-08
Chapter: 347. THE PHOTOGRAPH
Adrian didn’t answer immediately. His dark eyes remained fixed on the photograph resting between Lydia’s fingers, his posture locked into an unyielding, dangerous stillness. For several suffocating seconds, the study was completely silent. Lydia looked between her husband and Marcus, refusing to break eye contact. "Who was Cecilia to you, Adrian?" Adrian finally crossed the threshold, his footsteps silent against the rich hardwood floor. "She was a friend." Lydia raised an eyebrow, entirely unconvinced. "That’s all?" Marcus turned his gaze toward the far window, choosing silence. Adrian’s jaw set tightly. "She was someone we both knew well." "We?" Lydia’s eyes flicked back to Marcus. Marcus said nothing, but his tight, defensive posture spoke far louder than any evasive answer Adrian could offer. There was a hidden current running beneath the surface of the image—a truth neither man seemed willing to articulate. Lydia flipped the print back over. The faded ink on the reverse
Last Updated: 2026-09-08
Chapter: 346. WHAT WAS SHE MEAN TO YOU?
Lydia’s expression softened. "Pardon?" "Adrian," Marcus clarified, his tone steady and sincere. "You didn't render him vulnerable in a weak sense. You provided him with something worth safeguarding." The weight of his words settled between them. "Is that an advantage?" she asked quietly. Marcus nodded without hesitation. "It is the single most transformative thing that has ever happened to him." Lydia looked down at her hands. "There is always an underlying apprehension that loving someone deeply grants them the capacity to cause profound hurt." "It does," Marcus acknowledged cleanly. "However, it simultaneously provides a purpose worth risking everything for." He closed the ledger before him. "Adrian used to operate under the assumption that vulnerability was an unacceptable flaw." "And now?" "Now he understands that certain bonds warrant absolute risk." Lydia offered a faint, amused smile. "You are referring to me." "Unquestionably," Marcus replied without missing a
Last Updated: 2026-09-07
The Wife He Loves to Hate

The Wife He Loves to Hate

I was twenty years old when my world shattered. Catching my boyfriend cheating sent me running blindly into the woods, falling into a dark, endless hole. When I finally opened my eyes, ten years had vanished. A little girl was wrapping her tiny arms around me, sobbing, calling me *Mommy*. I thought she had mistaken me for someone else—until I looked into the mirror and saw the face of a thirty-year-old woman staring back at me. In the blink of an eye, I had been thrust into a life I had no memory of creating: A home I didn't recognize. A daughter I didn't remember giving birth to. And a marriage crumbling into ashes. Then he walked in. Liam Montgomery. My childhood best friend. The boy who had spent his life protecting me, whom I had never once seen as more than a brother. Except now, he was my husband—and he looked at me with a coldness that cut deeper than any blade. He accused me of having a ruthless affair with a man named Edward Fox. He said I was the one who handed over my father's billion-dollar empire to a stranger, ruined my family, and tore our marriage apart. “You begged me to marry you, Abigail,” he said bitterly. But I didn't remember. I didn't remember marrying Liam. I didn't remember loving Edward. And I certainly didn't remember becoming the monster everyone now despised. But deep down, I know one undeniable truth: I would never choose anyone over Liam. What really happened during those ten missing years? Why does every shred of evidence point straight at my guilt? And if Liam hates me as much as he claims... why do his eyes still burn with a desperate, heartbreaking urge to love me?
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Chapter: Chapter 41: The Woman at the Gala
The grand ballroom of the Grand Hyatt was bathed in the warm, glittering light of giant crystal chandeliers. Orchestral music drifted through the air, mingling with the low hum of laughter, clinking champagne flutes, and the quiet rustle of expensive silk. Tonight was the annual Montgomery Foundation Charity Gala—a high-stakes event where London's elite gathered to network, donate millions, and scrutinize every move of the city’s most influential power couples. "Are you ready, Abby?" I turned away from the vanity mirror in our private suite to look at my husband. Liam was standing near the doorway, looking effortlessly, breathlessly handsome in a bespoke black tuxedo. His crisp white shirt accentuated his broad shoulders, his dark hair styled back with meticulous precision. My heart did a familiar, thrilling flip in my chest. "I think so," I murmured, stepping out from behind the vanity. I was wearing a floor-length emerald green silk gown that clung to my waist before cascading
Last Updated: 2026-09-13
Chapter: Chapter 40: The Giraffe and the Ice Cream Incident
"Mommy, look! Daddy has ears now!" Charlotte squealed, clapping her hands with pure glee as she pointed at her father. I adjusted my matching headband—a pair of soft, fuzzy cheetah ears—and stepped back to admire my handiwork. There stood Liam Montgomery, titan of industry and feared CEO, wearing a tailored navy polo, dark jeans, and a pair of plush, floppy giraffe ears resting directly atop his neatly styled dark hair. "Abby, is this entirely necessary?" Liam asked, his voice deadpan, though he made no actual attempt to remove the headband. To complete the ensemble, Charlotte and I were wearing matching pastel-yellow sundresses printed with tiny cartoon animals. I had even bought a coordinating yellow pocket square for Liam's polo. "Daddy is so cute!" Charlotte giggled, running up to tug on his hands. "Mommy said we have to wear matching outfits so we don't get lost in the crowds!" "Mommy is very thorough," Liam murmured, his dark eyes meeting mine over Charlotte’s head. A fain
Last Updated: 2026-09-13
Chapter: Chapter 39: Charlotte’s Sleepover
The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast long, amber shadows across Charlotte's massive canopy bed. It was nearly ten at night, but our five-year-old daughter was showing zero signs of sleepiness. She was bouncing lightly on her mattress, wearing her favorite fluffy star-patterned pajamas, holding a giant teddy bear in her arms while looking back and forth between Liam and me. "No, Charlotte," Liam said softly, standing near the edge of the bed with his arms loosely crossed over his chest. He had changed into a dark gray t-shirt and flannel lounge pants, looking entirely relaxed, yet his posture held a faint edge of hesitation. "Daddy has an early meeting tomorrow morning. You need a good night's sleep, and so do Mommy and I." "But Daddy!" Charlotte pouted, sticking her bottom lip out in a masterclass of tragic negotiation. "The storm outside is making weird noises against the window! The monsters are definitely going to come if I'm all alone!" "There are no monsters in this house,
Last Updated: 2026-09-12
Chapter: Chapter 38: The Man I Used to Be
The elevator ride to the top floor of Montgomery International was a blur of steel, glass, and suffocating anxiety. After leaving Charlotte in the safe, quiet care of my father's housekeepers, I had driven straight to Liam's headquarters. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs with every passing second, my fingers gripping my handbag so tightly my knuckles turned white. He took on my debts. He paid for my freedom. The words echoed continuously in my mind, burning like acid in my chest. When the elevator doors chimed and slid open onto the executive penthouse floor, Josh was standing near the grand desk, holding a stack of files. He looked up, his professional expression instantly shifting into mild surprise. "Mrs. Montgomery?" Josh asked softly. "Is everything alright? Mr. Montgomery is just wrapping up a—" "Where is he, Josh?" I interrupted, my voice raspy and breathless, my eyes wild with raw desperation. "I need to see him. Right now." Josh paused, taking in my flushed che
Last Updated: 2026-09-12
Chapter: Chapter 37: The Secret in the Box
The soft, cheerful chime above the entrance of L'Étoile echoed through the luxurious boutique. Sunlight poured through the tall glass display windows, illuminating racks of designer silk dresses and miniature tailored coats. "Mommy, look!" Charlotte squealed, dragging me by the hand toward a display of matching pastel-pink dresses. "We can be twins!" I couldn't help but laugh as she held a tiny tulle dress up to her chest, twirling in front of the full-length mirror. After the chaos of last night’s burnt chicken and late-night pizza, taking Charlotte out for a relaxed shopping afternoon felt like a breath of fresh air. For two hours, we turned the fitting rooms into our personal runway. I tried on an elegant emerald silk dress, while Charlotte proudly showed off three different velvet coats, striking dramatic poses that made the boutique assistants giggle behind their hands. "We'll take these two dresses, the winter coat, and the matching hair ribbons, please," I said with a
Last Updated: 2026-09-11
Chapter: Chapter 36: The Dinner Disaster
The kitchen looked like a battlefield, and I was losing horribly. Thick gray smoke billowed toward the ceiling, setting off the high-tech smoke detector, which emitted an ear-splitting, mechanical screech. I frantically waved a wooden kitchen towel in the air, trying to clear the air, while a pot of marinara sauce bubbled violently on the stove, splashing dark red spots across the pristine white marble backsplash like a scene from a crime movie. I had wanted so badly to make things right after the terrifying altercation with Vienna and Liam’s subsequent retreat behind his icy walls. I wanted to give us a normal evening. A home-cooked meal. A real family dinner. Instead, I had managed to incinerate the roast chicken, overboil the pasta into a gummy paste, and paint the entire kitchen red. "Mommy, is the house on fire?" I turned around, gasping for breath, to see Charlotte standing at the entrance of the kitchen. She was holding a throw pillow over her face, her big brown eyes wide
Last Updated: 2026-09-11
The Mafia King’s Fake Widow

The Mafia King’s Fake Widow

She signed a $50 million blood contract to become the grieving widow of a dead mafia billionaire. But the man she’s mourning is very much alive… watching her every move through hidden cameras… and slowly becoming dangerously obsessed with the only woman who ever shed real tears for him. Evelyn Monroe thought she was saving her dying mother from debt. Instead, she stepped into the deadly underworld of the Voss family syndicate. Now Evie is trapped inside a fortified mansion, playing the perfect widow for the ruthless don who faked his own death — Kael Voss, the cold-blooded heir who controls half the city’s illegal empire. A shadow from the past is hunting them both — the same killer who butchered Kael’s mother and nearly put a bullet in his head. As forbidden passion ignites between the fake widow and her secret husband, lines blur between protection and possession. One year. One lethal lie. One heart caught in the crossfire. Will Evie walk away with fifty million dollars and her life… or will she fall for the dangerous mafia king who already owns her soul?
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Chapter: 33. Dark Water Rescue
The world was no longer upright. The explosion at the bow had transformed the luxury yacht into a dying beast, its nose dipping into the hungry Atlantic while the stern rose toward the uncaring stars. Smoke, thick and acrid with the stench of burning fiberglass and fuel, billowed through the corridors, turning the once-glamorous passage into a blackened lung. Evie gasped for air, her lungs burning. She had been thrown from the aft deck as the ship tilted, but instead of hitting the ocean, she had tumbled through a shattered skylight into the lower galley. Her head throbbed, a warm trickle of blood matting her hair, and her midnight-blue suit was shredded, stained with soot and seawater. Above her, the screams of Moretti assassins and the frantic shouting of Julian Vane’s men formed a macabre symphony. The ship groaned—a deep, metallic shriek of twisting steel. "Kael..." she wheezed, clutching her throat. The comms unit was dead, fried by the saltwater or the blast. The lower de
Last Updated: 2026-07-01
Chapter: 32. The Yacht Trap
The ocean was a vast, undulating sheet of black glass, broken only by the rhythmic wake of The Siren’s Call. On the open sea, the law of the land felt like a distant memory, replaced by the cold, indifferent weight of the tides.In the center of the yacht’s aft deck, a table was set with a surgical, terrifying elegance. White linen, silver candelabras, and a bottle of vintage Cristal chilled in a bucket of ice. Damien sat at the head, looking every bit the triumphant prince in his white linen suit. Julian Vane had retreated into the bridge, leaving the "siblings" to their final meal.Evie sat opposite him, her back straight. Beneath the table, the weight of the diamond-studded pistol strapped to her thigh was the only thing keeping her grounded. The jamming frequency was still screaming in her ear—a high-pitched whine that meant Kael was blind and deaf to what was happening on this boat."You look exquisite, Evelyn," Damien said, his voice smooth as silk over jagged rocks. "One would
Last Updated: 2026-05-14
Chapter: 31. The New Alliance
Evie moved with the silence of a wraith, her footsteps muffled by the thick dampness of the moss-covered floor. She wasn't the woman who had first walked through these gates In the deepest corner of the conservatory, where the scent of blooming night-jasmine was thick enough to choke, a shadow detached itself from the greenery. Evie didn't flinch. She reached for the diamond-studded pistol tucked into the small of her back, her fingers brushing the cold ivory grip just to ensure it was there. "You're late, Mrs. Voss," a gravelly voice whispered. Luke stepped into the faint light. He looked like a man who had crawled back from the edge of the grave. His face was a map of bruises, and his arm was held in a makeshift sling, but the fire in his eyes remained unextinguished. He had escaped Ravenna’s clutches only hours before, aided by the automated chaos Kael had unleashed in the sub-levels. "I had to ensure Victoria’s guards were occupied with the 'glitch' in the kitchen’s security
Last Updated: 2026-05-10
Chapter: 30. Shadow Intervention
Ravenna was on her knees, her wrist held in Kael’s iron grip."K-Kael," she whimpered. "I did it for us. I did it because they were going to kill you anyway. I thought if I controlled the fall, I could save you."Kael leaned in closer, his silver eyes devoid of any warmth, any memory of their shared childhood. "You didn't do it for me, Ravenna. You did it for the throne you thought I’d let you sit on. You sold my life, you sold my mother’s sanity, and you dared to threaten the woman who carries my legacy."He increased the pressure on her wrist until a soft ‘pop’ echoed in the room. Ravenna let out a sharp, strangled cry."You want to know what a ghost does to those who betray him?" Kael’s voice dropped to a whisper that felt like a blade against her throat. "I’m not going to kill you, Ravenna. That would be too quick. I’ve already sent those photos of you and Damien to Victoria. By the time you reach the main hall, she will have stripped you of every cent, every name, and every prot
Last Updated: 2026-05-10
Chapter: 29. The Ghost’s Ledger
The air inside Kael’s private office was stagnant, preserved in a state of suspended animation since the night of the explosion. The heavy steel doors had groaned as they slid open, a sound that felt like the mansion itself was protesting the intrusion. Evie stepped inside, her midnight-blue silk suit a sharp contrast to the mahogany and dark leather of the room. This was the sanctum. The heart of the Voss empire. Behind her, the doors hissed shut, sealing her in a silence so profound it made her ears ring. “I am in," she whispered, tapping the discreet transmitter tucked behind her ear. “Proceed with caution, Evelyn," Kael’s voice crackled, sounding distant yet intensely focused. “The room is a minefield of analog and digital traps. Do not touch the desk. Go to the bookshelf behind the fireplace. The third volume of 'The Divine Comedy'. Pull it." Evie followed his instructions, her movements precise and tactical. Gone was the girl who had trembled in the wine cellar. Her ha
Last Updated: 2026-05-10
Chapter: 28. Return of the Widow
The gates of the Voss Mansion groaned as they swung open, a low, metallic roar that sounded like a beast conceding its territory. A sleek, silver Rolls-Royce Phantom—provided by Kael’s offshore holdings—purred up the long, winding driveway. The gravel crunched under the tires with a rhythmic finality. Inside the car, Evie smoothed the fabric of her dress. She was no longer wearing the limp, dusty black of a mourning victim. Today, she wore a tailored, midnight-blue silk suit that hugged her curves like armor. Her hair was pulled back into a sharp, low bun, and her eyes were hidden behind oversized designer sunglasses. On her finger, the Voss emerald—the one Victoria had tried so hard to claw back—glinted with a cold, green fire. “Remember," Kael’s voice whispered in her ear, though he was miles away in the subterranean silence of The Styx. “They expect you to be broken. They expect a ghost. Give them a queen instead." Evie stepped out of the car before the driver could even reac
Last Updated: 2026-05-10
The CEO’s Curve of Fate

The CEO’s Curve of Fate

"I was his family’s multibillion-dollar lifeline, but to my husband, I was just a shameful, oversized secret." To save King Enterprises from total bankruptcy, ruthless billionaire Darel King was forced to marry me—Giselle Davis, a plus-size heiress with a heavy appetite and curves he absolutely despised. For years, Darel treated our marriage like a prison sentence, banishing me to eat in the kitchen and openly declaring that his elegant, runway-slender ex, Julia Lee, was the only woman he could ever truly desire. The very day his family's empire stabilized, Darel threw the divorce papers in my face, casting me out into the cold New York rain to run back to Julia. He thought he had broken me. He thought I would waste away in despair. He was dead wrong. Taken in by Braden Martin—Darel’s fiercest, most dangerous rival on Wall Street—she turned her heartbreak into raw fuel. Under Braden's protective gaze, she conquered her demons, sweat through her insecurities, and transformed into a stunning, unstoppable force. When Darel falls to his knees, weeping and begging for the beautiful woman I’ve become, he learns too late that some debts can never be repaid.
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Chapter: 13. After the Storm
The black luxury sedan glided smoothly through the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan. Inside, the atmosphere was silent.Giselle leaned her head against the cool glass of the window, watching the city lights blur into streaks of gold and red. Beside her, Braden remained quiet, giving her the space she needed to process everything that had just happened.When the car finally pulled up in front of Giselle’s apartment building, the driver stepped out to open the door. But neither Giselle nor Braden moved right away."You were very brave back there," Braden said softly, breaking the silence. His dark eyes held a warm, steady light as he looked at her.Giselle turned to him, offering a small, contemplative smile. "I used to tremble whenever Darel raised his voice. For two years, I thought his anger was my fault—that if I had just been a better wife, a better hostess, a better woman, he wouldn't look at me with so much coldness."She lowered her gaze to her hands folded in her lap. "But ton
Last Updated: 2026-08-30
Chapter: 12. Boundaries
The smooth elevator ride back down to the lobby felt entirely different for Giselle. Resting safely inside her jacket pocket was the matte-black keycard, and beside her stood Braden, carrying the small leftovers of their homemade pasta. "I'll have my driver take you back," Braden said quietly as the elevator approached the ground floor. Giselle smiled up at him. "You don't have to escort me all the way to the car, you know." "I know," Braden replied, his eyes soft as he looked down at her. "I want to." Ding. The heavy doors slid open into the opulent, dimly lit main lobby of the Martin Residence. But the usual serene atmosphere was entirely gone. Near the front desk, two tall security guards stood in a rigid stance, blocking a man in a sharp, dark tailored suit. "I told you, I am not leaving until I speak with Mr. Martin," a cold, tight voice echoed across the marble floor. Giselle’s steps halted instantly. Her breath hitched in her throat, her stomach dropping into a cold, par
Last Updated: 2026-08-30
Chapter: 11. Get Her Back
After lunch, they cleaned the modern kitchen together in an easy, domestic rhythm—Braden washing the cookware while Giselle dried each piece with a soft cotton towel. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden reflection over the sleek marble island. It felt entirely natural, as if they had shared this exact routine a hundred times before. "How has your energy been this week?" Braden broke the silence, rinsing a heavy cast-iron pan under the running water. "Honestly? So much better," Giselle smiled, her expression bright and unburdened. "No dizziness, no brain fog, and absolutely no starving myself." "I'm glad to hear it," he murmured, his voice low and warm against the quiet ambient music playing in the background. Giselle tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with light playful mischief. "I even made my own oatmeal yesterday morning. Voluntarily." Braden paused, turning his head toward her with a look of feigned, utter shock. "Without my strict sup
Last Updated: 2026-08-30
Chapter: 10. Sunday Dinner
Sunday morning arrived wrapped in golden sunlight spilling through Giselle’s bedroom window. She stood barefoot in front of the digital scale, clutching the hem of her oversized T-shirt. It had been nearly two weeks since she last stepped on it. Braden had practically forbidden the daily check-ins. "The scale only measures your relationship with gravity," he had told her with that grounded, calm authority of his. "It doesn't measure your discipline, your strength, or your progress." Still, today curiosity won. Inhaling deeply, she stepped onto the glass platform. The digital numbers blinked, shifted, and finally settled. Giselle blinked, frowning in disbelief. She stepped off, took a breath, and climbed back on. The numbers remained exactly the same. A slow, radiant smile spread across her face, her hands flying to her mouth. "Three kilos..." she whispered the words under her breath, as if saying them too loudly might make the victory vanish. She had officially lost three
Last Updated: 2026-08-21
Chapter: 09. You're Always Welcome
"I still can't believe I actually ate churros today," she murmured, looking out at the passing skyline. Braden kept his eyes focused on the road, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "You also walked exactly twelve thousand three hundred and eighteen steps." She turned toward him, her eyebrows raised in disbelief. "You were counting?" "I always count.” Giselle let out a soft laugh. "Note to self: never play hide-and-seek with you." "You'd lose." "I probably would." The easy, unforced laughter between them filled the quiet cabin of the car, completely replacing the sharp awkwardness that used to define their interactions. Giselle unbuckled her seat belt and turned to face him. "Thank you, Braden." He shifted in his seat to look at her. "For what?" "For today. For teaching me that food isn't my inherent enemy." "I only reminded you of something you already deserved to know," he said faintly. Giselle lowered her gaze, tracing the seam of her hoodie. "You
Last Updated: 2026-07-17
Chapter: 08. The Cheat Day
Giselle stared down at the digital screen in disbelief. She stepped off, took a deep breath, and climbed back on, but the screen flashed the exact same result. A whole week of effort, and not a single pound lost. After everything she had done—every early morning, every grueling workout, and every carefully weighed meal—nothing had changed. She sighed heavily and sat on the edge of her bed, wrapping her arms around her knees. Maybe Darel had been right all along. Maybe this body simply wasn't meant to change. Her phone vibrated on the mattress, breaking her downward spiral. Braden: I'm outside. *** Fifteen minutes later, Giselle climbed into Braden's car. Usually, she greeted him with a bright smile or a sarcastic quip, but today, she immediately turned her head to stare out the window. Braden noticed the shift before he even pulled out of the driveway. "Tough morning?" "I'm fine," she forced a rigid smile. "Hmm," Braden started the engine. "You've been spending t
Last Updated: 2026-07-15
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