Novels by R-A-I-A

The mansion felt both quiet and intimidating. Every corner was decorated with expensive abstract paintings and porcelain vases arranged with perfect symmetry, reflecting the personality of its owner—perfectionistic and rigid. Hellena continued walking along the second-floor corridor lined with thick burgundy velvet carpeting, causing their footsteps to make no sound at all.Kael stopped in front of a double door made of solid teak wood adorned with minimalist geometric carvings. He pushed it open and stepped inside first, leaving Hellena standing motionless at the threshold.When Hellena finally entered, her eyes widened as she took in the entire room.The master bedroom was unbelievably spacious—perhaps even larger than the entire boarding house she rented. A king-size bed covered in dark gray silk sheets dominated the center of the room. On the left side stood a large glass door leading directly to a private balcony overlooking the backyard garden and swimming pool.Hellena turned t

The luxury sedan cut through the capital's main thoroughfares at a steady speed before finally turning into an elite residential district closed to the public. The neighborhood was wrapped in an expensive silence, where each property was separated by vast gardens worth a fortune. Hellena gazed out the window, observing the rows of fan palms standing proudly along the roadside. Her heart, which had only just calmed after the drama at the hospital, began pounding once again in an irregular rhythm.The car gradually slowed as it approached a towering black iron gate operated automatically. The moment the gate swung open, the grandeur of a modern colonial-style mansion immediately greeted Hellena's eyes. The building stood magnificently with sturdy white cylindrical pillars, dominated by ivory-colored walls and expansive glass panels reflecting the afternoon sky.The car came to a stop beneath the marble-black drop-off area at the main entrance. A middle-aged man dressed in a neat suit st

Madam Hansel's grip felt incredibly sincere against Hellena's skin."Thank you, Hellena," the middle-aged woman whispered softly, her voice filled with deep emotion.Hellena paused in confusion."Thank you for what, Mother?""For curing my son's phobia," Madam Hansel replied, looking at Hellena with eyes full of gratitude.Hellena frowned slightly."A phobia?"Beside her, Hellena could feel Kael's body suddenly tense. The atmosphere around him instantly turned cold."He's afraid of falling in love and being loved," his mother continued, ignoring her son's reaction. "Ever since that terrible tragedy eight years ago, Kael has built an incredibly high wall between himself and every woman. I nearly lost hope and thought he would spend the rest of his life alone, never marrying."Hellena glanced at Kael from the corner of her eye.The man was staring out the window of the hospital room, his jaw rigid, his eyes suddenly dark and gloomy.Hellena swallowed hard.There was a huge secret in thi

The luxury sedan finally came to a stop at the lobby entrance of one of the most elite private hospitals in the capital. The glass-dominated façade reflected the silhouettes of Kael and Hellena as they stepped out almost simultaneously."Get out," Kael said shortly, without a trace of emotion.Hellena nodded obediently. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her work bag as she tried to suppress the pounding of her heart. From the whirlwind of Herry's betrayal and the rushed civil marriage earlier that day, she now had to step onto a new stage of deception: becoming a loving wife in front of the CEO's mother.They walked into the main lobby. The strong scent of antiseptic immediately assaulted her senses. Kael strode forward with long, decisive steps, while Hellena lagged slightly behind, trying to conceal the pain in her ankle that had been sprained the night before."Can you walk?" Kael asked flatly without bothering to look back."Yes, Sir.""Good. Don't look nervous or limp in

Hellena froze, her eyes widening in shock.“That stunt last night?”“Pretending to trip over the carpet just to make me catch you,” Kael accused, his expression as cold as ice.“What?!” Hellena’s voice rose instantly in protest. “That was a genuine accident! I really lost my balance because the tip of my shoe got caught!”Kael fixed her with a piercing stare.“I already told you—I don’t like being contradicted, Hellena.”“But I wasn’t trying to seduce you!”“Enough.”The single word left his lips in a flat baritone tone, yet it was enough to make Hellena immediately fall silent.She clenched her fingers behind her work bag, suppressing the frustration boiling inside her chest.What an unbelievably arrogant man.“Come inside.”Kael turned around and walked away.They entered the Civil Registry Office side by side.The administrative process proceeded quickly and efficiently.Kael had clearly used his influence and connections to arrange all the paperwork beforehand.Standing before the

The elevator chimed softly as it reached the ground floor.Hellena stepped out, the lingering tension still wrapped tightly around her chest. Instead of returning directly to her cramped apartment, she flagged down the first taxi that passed and gave a single destination:Herry’s house.Hellena refused to carry the title of Kael Willian’s wife tomorrow morning while still leaving loose ends tied to another man.This toxic relationship had to end tonight.The taxi stopped in front of a house she had visited with a heart full of longing for the past three years.Tonight, however, every step she took toward the front door felt unfamiliar and hollow.Knock. Knock. Knock.Hellena knocked steadily on the wooden door.It did not take long before it opened, revealing Herry.The man looked utterly stunned.His hair was slightly disheveled, and the flannel shirt he wore was not even fully buttoned across his chest.“H-Hellena?” he stammered, his eyes darting nervously. “What are you doing here