Novels by blessarabooks

NATALIA'S POV I called Clarisse to my room that evening. She arrived a few minutes later and closed the door behind her.“How is the search going?”She hesitated. “I haven't found anything yet.”I studied her face. “You searched the study?”“Yes. I went through everything I could, but I didn't find anything useful.”“Then search his bedroom next. If Leonardo is hiding something in this mansion, those are the two places most likely to contain it.”Clarisse frowned. “You think he could have hidden it there?”“I don’t know where he hid it. That is why you need to search both places thoroughly.”She nodded. “I'll do it.”“And Clarisse,” I called before she reached the door, “you need to move faster. I don’t have the luxury of waiting.”“I understand.”She left, closing the door behind her. I remained where I was, staring at the empty space she had occupied.Sebastian’s warning was still fresh in my mind. If he told Leonardo what he knew about the pregnancy, everything I had worked to reb

CLARISSE'S POVI decided to search Leonardo’s study that afternoon. I assigned the other maids to different parts of the mansion and waited until I was certain no one was watching before slipping into the study and closing the door behind me.I started with the bookshelves. I removed several books, checked the spaces behind them, and ran my fingers along the wooden panels, looking for anything that felt out of place. I searched behind the larger paintings, underneath the desk, inside the drawers and filing cabinets, and behind the curtains. I checked the decorative boxes, cabinets, locked drawers, fireplace, and even the edges of the rug before lifting it to examine the floor beneath.I found nothing. Frustration began to build. For a moment, I wondered if Natalia had been wrong about the mansion containing a hidden fortune. Perhaps there was nothing here at all, and I had wasted days searching for something that did not exist.I stood in the middle of the room and looked around. Leo

RILEY'S POV After my shower, I changed into a simple pair of jeans and a loose blouse before picking up my phone from the bedside table.I had a message from Leonardo: I know you need space. I won't force you to come back. But when you're ready to talk, I'll be here.I read it twice, then let my thumb hover over the reply box.There were too many things I wanted to say, and none of them felt simple enough to type. I wanted to ask why he had waited two weeks before telling me. I wanted to tell him how much it hurt to hear everything from Natalia instead of him. I wanted to hear him say that none of this had changed what he felt for me. Most of all, I wanted to tell him that I missed him.I opened the keyboard and typed the words. I miss you. I stared at them for several seconds before deleting them.I typed again: I'm still angry. I deleted that too.In the end, I locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket.I was not ready to talk to Leonardo, no matter how much a part of me wanted

NATALIA'S POVThe surprise on Leonardo's face when I suggested repeating the pregnancy test was something I would have paid to see again.For a moment, he had looked as though he didn't know how to react. He had expected me to hesitate. Perhaps he had even hoped the second test would expose me. Instead, I had walked into that hospital without fear.And when the doctor confirmed the pregnancy, the disappointment that settled over Leonardo's face was impossible to miss. He had wanted the test to prove me a liar. Instead, it had only made everything more complicated.We drove back to the mansion in silence.I didn't try to start a conversation. Whatever was occupying Leonardo's mind, I had no intention of interrupting it. He looked defeated, his attention fixed somewhere far beyond the road ahead.The moment we arrived, he went upstairs without saying a word. I watched him disappear before retreating to my room.I had barely settled on the edge of my bed when there was a knock at the do

RILEY’S POVI reached Grandma's house and stood at the entrance for a moment, suddenly unsure whether coming here had been the right decision. The estate was enormous and beautifully maintained, but I barely noticed any of it. All I wanted was somewhere I could breathe without having to think about Leonardo, Natalia, or the question that had been tearing me apart since I left the mansion.I walked up to the gate and knocked. The security opened it and looked at me with mild surprise before offering a polite smile. “Good morning, ma'am. Can I help you?”“I came to see Madam Blackwood.”“Of course. Please come in.”He stepped aside and informed one of the maids of my arrival. She came to meet me a few moments later and led me through the elegant sitting room toward the private part of the estate.The moment Grandma saw me, surprise crossed her face. “Riley?”I tried to smile, but I couldn't.Her expression changed immediately. “Child, what happened?”I opened my mouth, but the words wo

RILEY’S POV I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor. Natalia's words kept replaying in my head.A knock came at the door, followed by Leonardo's voice. “Riley.”I didn't answer and another knock followed, harder this time.“Riley, open the door. Let me explain.”“Explain?” I called back. “You had two whole weeks to explain to me, Leonardo. Two weeks, and you said nothing. I don't want to hear it now.” “I didn't know how to explain something I wasn't certain about.”I looked down at my hands. “And now you suddenly do?”There was a brief silence before he answered. “I've been trying to understand what happened between Natalia and me. The truth is, I still don't know.”My chest tightened. “So you don't even know if you slept with her?”“No, I don't.”The answer landed harder than I expected. My mind went back to Natalia standing downstairs, calm and composed as she announced that she was carrying Leonardo's child. “What if she's telling the truth?” I asked.“I don't know wh