Novels by Faith Muchoki

The silence in the car was different this time.Not tense.Not awkward.But charged.Lina sat beside Adrian, the file still fresh in her mind.Every name.Every message.Every betrayal.“They really planned all of this,” she said quietly.Adrian didn’t look at her.“Yes.”Her jaw tightened.“Just to destroy me?”“To destroy you,” he corrected calmly, “and weaken me.”That made her pause.“So I was just… a tool?”His gaze shifted to her.“Not anymore.”Her heart skipped.She looked away.The car stopped.Lina frowned slightly as she looked outside.“Where are we?”Adrian stepped out first.Then opened her door.“Come with me.”She hesitated.Then followed.They entered a tall glass building.Modern.Powerful.The kind of place where decisions changed lives.Lina’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she walked beside him.People turned.Whispered.Watched.“She’s the one from last night…”“Isn’t that—?”Lina stiffened slightly.But this time—She didn’t shrink.She lifted her chi

Lina didn’t sleep that night.Not really.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again—The screen.The whispers.The look on Adrian’s face when she walked away.She turned in bed, frustrated.“Why do I even care?” she muttered.This was supposed to be simple.A deal.Nothing more.But now—Nothing felt simple anymore.Morning came with a quiet knock.“Ma’am?”Lina sat up slowly.“Yes?”“Mr. Blackwood asked me to give you this.”The door opened slightly, and a small envelope was placed inside.Lina frowned.An envelope?She got out of bed and picked it up.It was plain.Simple.But something about it made her uneasy.Slowly—She opened it.Inside was a single note.“Meet me where it started.”Her heart skipped.Where it started?Her mind raced.Then—It clicked.The church.“No way,” she whispered.An hour later—Lina stood outside the same church.The place where everything had gone wrong.And somehow—Where everything had changed.Her chest tightened as memories rushed back.The

“Lina—wait!”His voice followed her.Strong.Urgent.But she didn’t stop.The cold night air hit her skin as she stepped outside, her chest rising and falling rapidly.Her mind was chaos.Her heart—Even worse.“Lina!”Footsteps approached quickly behind her.Closer.Closer.Then—Her wrist was grabbed.Again.She stopped.But this time…She didn’t turn around immediately.“Let go,” she said, her voice low and controlled.Adrian’s grip tightened slightly.“Not until you listen.”Her jaw clenched.“I’ve heard enough.”She tried to pull away—But he didn’t let go.“Look at me.”“No.”“Lina.”Something in his tone—Different this time—Made her hesitate.Slowly…She turned.His expression wasn’t the same.No calm.No control.No cold distance.For the first time—He looked… shaken.“You should have told me,” she said before he could speak.Her voice wasn’t loud.But it cut deeper than anger.“I was going to,” he said.“When?” she shot back. “After everyone saw? After I was humiliated aga

The music faded.But the tension didn’t.Lina stepped back slightly, her heart still racing from the dance.Something felt wrong.Off.Like the calm before a storm.“You’re thinking too much,” Adrian said, watching her closely.She forced a small smile.“Am I?”“Yes.”Before she could respond—A voice cut through the room.“Ladies and gentlemen…”The entire hall quieted.A man stepped onto the stage, holding a microphone.“We have a special announcement tonight.”Lina’s stomach tightened.She didn’t know why—But something inside her screamed danger.Adrian’s expression darkened slightly.“Stay close,” he murmured.“Tonight,” the man continued, smiling, “we celebrate not just business… but truth.”Lina frowned.Truth?What did that mean?Then—The large screen behind the stage flickered on.And everything changed.Images appeared.Clear.Undeniable.Lina’s breath caught.“No…”Her voice barely came out.It was her.Photos of her.Old ones.Ones she never wanted anyone to see again.He

The rest of the day felt… off.Lina couldn’t focus.Not on the mansion.Not on the staff.Not even on herself.Her mind kept replaying everything—The kiss.The woman.The way Adrian stood in front of her… like she actually mattered.She shook her head.“This is not real,” she whispered.But the feeling in her chest said otherwise.“Ma’am?”Lina turned.A maid stood behind her.“Mr. Blackwood has asked you to get ready.”Lina frowned.“For what?”“For dinner,” the maid replied. “You’ll be attending an event together.”Her stomach dropped.“Event?”“Yes, ma’am. A business gathering.”Of course.This wasn’t over.Not even close.That evening—Lina stood in front of the mirror.She barely recognized herself.The dress was stunning.Black.Elegant.Dangerous.It hugged her perfectly, making her look like she belonged in Adrian’s world.Even if she didn’t feel like it.“You clean up well.”Her breath caught.She turned—Adrian stood by the door, his eyes fixed on her.And for a moment…He

Lina didn’t stay.The moment she regained her senses, she turned and walked out of the dining hall.Fast.Too fast.Her heart was still racing.Her lips still burned.And her thoughts—Her thoughts were a complete mess.“What is wrong with me?” she whispered as she reached the hallway.That kiss…It wasn’t supposed to happen.None of this was supposed to happen.This was a deal.A contract.Nothing more.So why did it feel like everything was slipping out of control?“Running away again?”Lina froze.That voice—Too familiar now.Too dangerous.She turned slowly.Adrian stood at the end of the hallway, his expression unreadable.“I’m not running,” she said quickly.He raised an eyebrow.“You always say that.”Her jaw tightened.“I just need space.”Instead of arguing—He started walking toward her.Slow.Confident.Like a predator closing in.Lina’s breath caught.“Space from what?” he asked. “Me… or what just happened?”Her heart skipped.“Both.”That stopped him for a second.But on