Novels by Annabelle

Katherine's POVThe doorbell rang, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I took one last look in the mirror, smoothing down my blue dress, and took a deep breath.You've got this. It's just dinner. Just two people talking.But as I opened the door and saw Jason standing there, all my carefully rehearsed calm flew out the window.He was wearing a dark suit, perfectly tailored, his hair slightly tousled. He looked nervous, his hands shoved in his pockets, a tentative smile on his face. When he saw me, his eyes widened, and he let out a low breath."Katherine," he said, his voice soft. "You look... you look stunning."I felt my cheeks flush. "Thank you. You look nice too.""Nice?" He laughed, shaking his head. "I was going for 'devastatingly handsome,' but I'll take nice."I laughed, the tension easing slightly. "Modest as always."He offered me his arm. "Shall we?"I took it, and we walked to his

Katherine's POVThe text from Jason arrived just as I was settling onto the sofa with a cup of tea. My phone buzzed, and when I glanced at the screen, my heart skipped a beat.The last time we had spent together with Olivia had indeed been a memorable one. And I guess he too had been looking forward to another time like that just as I was."Katherine, I know this might be a lot to ask, but I'd love to take you to dinner this weekend. Just the two of us. Let me know if you're open to it. - Jason"I stared at the message, my thumb hovering over the screen. A dinner date. Just the two of us. It felt like a big step, a leap into something I wasn't sure I was ready for.What if I'm making a mistake? What if I let him in and he hurts me again?But another part of me—a small, hopeful part—whispered that maybe things were different now. Maybe this was the beginning of something new.I was still lost in thought when my phone

Mikel's POVI laughed, the sound surprising me. "Dad, I've never beaten you. And I don't expect to start today.""We'll see about that," he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.We headed out to the course, the early morning mist still clinging to the grass. The air was cool and fresh, the only sounds the chirping of birds and the distant hum of the city. For a while, I was able to forget about the conspiracy, the fear, the endless questions. I was just a son, spending time with his father.Patrick teed off first, his swing smooth and effortless. The ball soared through the air, landing perfectly on the fairway. He turned to me, a smug grin on his face."Not bad for an old man, eh?"I shook my head, laughing. "You're showing off.""Of course I am. That's the point."I stepped up to the tee, my own swing feeling rusty in comparison. The ball sliced to the right, landing in the rough. I groaned.

Mikel's POVThe morning had been perfect. Sophie's smile, the warmth of her body beside mine, the easy flow of conversation over breakfast. For the first time in months, I had felt something other than the weight of the past pressing down on me.But as I watched her walk out the door, a familiar unease settled in my chest.Is this real? Am I truly ready to move on?I pushed the thoughts aside. I had made a choice. I had chosen Sophie. And I was going to give this relationship everything I had.I was just cleaning up the kitchen when my phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at the screen—it was Marcus.My heart quickened. I had asked him to dig deeper into Victor's past, to find any connection to Jonathan Richmond's death. I hadn't expected to hear back so soon.I answered, my voice steady. "Marcus. What do you have?""Mr. O'Connor." His voice was grave, professional. "I've uncovered more information about

Sophie's POVI woke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, the warmth of Mikel's arm wrapped around me, his chest pressed against my back. For a moment, I lay still, afraid that if I moved, the dream would shatter.But it wasn't a dream. It was real. I was in Mikel's bed, in Mikel's arms, and the night before had been everything I had ever wanted.I turned slowly, my eyes tracing the lines of his face. He was still asleep, his expression peaceful, his dark lashes resting against his cheeks. He looked younger in sleep, softer, the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.I reached out, my fingers brushing against his cheek. He stirred, his eyes fluttering open."Morning," I whispered, a smile spreading across my face.He smiled back, his golden eyes warm with affection. "Morning, beautiful."I felt my cheeks flush. "I'm not beautiful. I just woke up.""You're always beautiful," he said, pulling me closer. "Especially in the morning."I laughed, the soun

Sophie's POVI arrived at Mikel's penthouse, my heart pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears. I had changed my outfit three times before settling on a simple cream dress—elegant but not trying too hard. I wanted him to see me, really see me, not the desperate woman I had been just hours ago.The door opened before I could knock. Mikel stood there, his golden eyes soft, a tentative smile on his face. He looked tired, but there was something else in his expression—something that looked almost like hope."Sophie," he said, his voice warm. "You came.""Of course I came." I managed a smile, my voice steadier than I felt. "You invited me."He stepped forward, and before I could react, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. It was brief, gentle, but it sent a shockwave through me.I blinked, surprised. He had never done that before. Not like this."Come in," he said, stepping aside to let me enter.I walked into the penthouse, the familiar space feeling different somehow. L