Novels by Clara

Jem's POV Every head turned towards us. Conversations died. Even Dante’s speech stopped mid-way.I froze at once.I can't believe this girl hasn't grown up yet.Is she really still this petty?Is this really who Dante was about to hand over his entire empire to?Surprisingly for me, I was still relaxed despite all the eyes on us now.I knew I was in trouble already.I could've just left when she asked me to.Now, look what I've caused upon myself.The attention—the eyes, and barely audible whispers were killing me faster than the fact that I knew I might lose my opportunity of getting paid here.Honestly… right now, nothing scares me more than losing this job.I looked around slowly. I couldn’t count the number of judgmental eyes that seemed to be casting me out. The situation reminded me of what happened at the police academy just a few weeks ago… the exact same way Mara had made the whole university turn against me with just their stares.Why does this girl want to ruin me complete

Jem's POV September 7th finally arrived—the event day—the D-day everyone has been going crazy over.I woke up knowing today mattered more than any other shift I’d ever worked.The pay alone was shocking.I couldn’t imagine how many months of night shifts it would take to earn this much. I promised myself I wouldn’t mess this up.The party was already in full swing.I was already dressed in my waiter’s uniform, a clean white towel resting naturally over my shoulder.I was good at this.It felt like I’d been a waiter my whole life, considering most of the shift jobs I worked so far.I moved through the ballroom, carefully choosing my steps so I wouldn’t trip over the long, flowing gowns of wealthy ladies I’d only ever seen on TV.Sometimes, I'd froze out of shock. I wouldn't be able to hide it—people I only ever saw on TV were seated everywhere, dressed in expensive suits and gowns.However, I didn’t let the luxury distract me completely.I straightened my uniform and focused. This wa

Jem's POV It’s been weeks since I last went home—since the night of the rain, when I discovered the longevity serum.I’ve been sleeping in the laundry room of the restaurant where I work.I couldn’t go home. Not after that rainy night. And not after my landlord called to tell me that a group of men in black suits had flooded the compound. They had a sketch of my face. They were looking for me.From the way he described it, the situation was serious. They had even forced their way into my apartment to check if I was hiding inside.The moment my landlord told me this, I didn’t need to think twice. I knew exactly who they were—the loan sharks. The company I owe money to.Since last month, I stopped paying the 0.8% interest. I stopped picking up their calls. So I wasn’t surprised when they showed up in my house.I’m a debtor as we speak. I can’t even count how many loans I’ve taken from different companies—and I haven’t paid back a single one.That night, after my landlord warned me abou

Dante's POV “Mom, you’re back? I thought you said you wouldn’t be coming back tonight?” I asked sharply as she walked up to sit beside me on the bed.Mom and I had gone to a small reception earlier today, a kind of formal gathering where a few important people had come to discuss matters I didn’t fully care about. I had been ready to leave when I asked her if she was coming with me, but she had smiled softly and said she wanted to stay a little longer. She’d told me she wouldn’t be returning tonight, so I left, thinking she’d just sleep over at the hotel.The rain had already started before I left the meeting with Shark, so it was the rain that prompted me to step out of my car for a moment to clear my head on the quiet street—right before the strange guy appeared.I was surprised to see Mom at home. I never thought she’d come back tonight.She looked completely serious. The way she ignored my question and leaned in, her eyes flashing with a strange excitement, made my heart skip a

Dante's POV By the time I got home, the rain had already stopped, though I was completely soaked, as if I had been sitting under it the whole time.The incident under the bridge replayed in my head as I walked into my bedroom—that stranger's face—the panic in his eyes.There's something about him—the way he ran up to pull me down from the ledge even though I wasn't trying to jump. He must have thought I was gonna jump, so he tried to stop me.I can't seem to stop thinking about his touch—the sudden jolt I felt when his fingers brushed my wrist.I shook my head softly and started to strip off my wet clothes.I stepped into my bathroom and grabbed a towel and dabbed it through my hair, exhaling sharply as I stepped back into my room.“Why on earth will I ever even think about jumping off the bridge?!” The question suddenly popped in my head again.I just wanted the rain—the silence. A moment where the noise in my head would stop. Yet somehow, even that had been interrupted.I've lived

Jem's POV Today wasn't just my day. I thought.Maybe I'll eventually have to walk all the way back home… Who knows?I pulled my jacket tighter over my shoulders, ready to dash through the rain and run home, when a black SUV suddenly rolled to a stop across the street, the rain commenting over its polished surface. At first, no one stepped out of the car so I didn't pay much attention to it. I looked away just immediately. However something about this car seemed different—it looked way too expensive and important for local streets like this one Finally, the driver's door slammed open and a tall man stepped out instantly.I froze at once. “That's Dante Williams!” My brain clicked.Even from a distance, I knew instantly who he was.Who on earth doesn't know him—Dante Williams—the heir to the Williams family empire, a business genius whose name has travelled farther than he has travelled himself.The same freaking rich, untouchable and at the same time cursed Dante Williams. Yes, he's