Novels by Dimma Golden

ASTRIDHome was nothing like I imagined it to be. This was no home. This was probably a mansion in heaven. Never had I seen nothing so grand with walls stretching so high it almost resembled a fortress. Or the sprawling estate that extended for miles, more than the eyes could see. This was what he casually called home? What universe did I just walk into?As the car rolled to a stop, Arman found my eyes from the front seat. “How do you like your new home?”For a moment, I was tongue-tied. Another part of me was scared. Why were these people being kind to me and what did they want?I swallowed, nodding. “Why am I here? You said you were taking me home.”A smile broke out on his handsome face. “This is home. Wait until you meet the old man, my brothers and niece.” He made to get down but stopped and looked at me. “You have nothing to fear, princess. You’re safe with us.”Taking him at his word, I simply nodded.He jogged round to my side of the car and opened the door, holding a hand

ASTRIDJakob made sure the only thing I left with were the clothes on my back, now drenched by the falling snow. He took everything else away from me.The last look on his face remained, haunting me as I sat on the side walk. Cars blurred past and people moved quickly, but the only thought I had was of the sudden cruelty of the ones I called home. I never asked to be married to Jakob, yet somehow, they made me do it to satisfy their daughter’s selfish interests. Along the line, I fell in love with him before he proposed to me. It was me who fell first, and somehow managed to fall harder for him. By the time I truly made peace with it...everything vanished like a cloud of smoke.Gone. I splayed my blue fingers around my middle, trying to protect my baby from the blistering cold with the snow falling in earnest.Mustering the last strength I had, I picked myself up but doubled over immediately when a crippling wave of cramps struck. I leaned against a post, pressing my thighs toge

ASTRIDIt was Mia, my look-alike cousin who had chosen to be the prodigal daughter.“Mia?” My aunt asked, blinking to see if it truly was her long-lost child that just walked in.My uncle had the same dumbstruck look on his face as he approached her. “Is that really you?”All the guests had their gaze sweeping from Mia — me, to the woman at the door whose name was also Mia. They spoke in small hushes.It felt like someone snatched the world right out from under my feet.I could see everything I managed to build slowly dissipate into thin air like ash thrown to the wind. Soon, I’d have to answer questions I never even prepared for.The voice of my aunt’s teary voice brought me back to the room. “Where have you been all these while? You were gone for the longest time, I thought I’d lost you.”Never had I seen such an expert manner of theatrics before.Mia cradled her mom’s face as tears slipped down her own. Then she stretched out a finger to me. “Ask her. She is the reason I could not

ASTRID“I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”The cheers from the guests after the priest declared those words rang aloud in my head. It was the day I became Jakob Carlsen’s wife. I was overwhelmed with joy. Who wouldn’t? It wasn’t everyday you got to be the wife of the Chief Operating Officer of SolarTech Industries worldwide.I turned to look at Jakob, taking in the sweet lines of his handsome face. This man was mine forever. It was almost too hard to believe.However, the real problem landed when I moved in officially to his mansion. Our marriage lacked real affection for the first month, and each time I tried to make it work, he was either too busy. Or too tired.Every time I told my family, they asked me to endure it. When I told his family, they made up excuses for him, telling me to be patient and he’ll come around. I feared my happiness would be snatched from me too soon. My worries neared an end when he returned from work one day, more angry than