Novels by Marie Writes

Chapter sixSethThe room didn't settle after the announcement.It erupted. Conversations erupted in hushed voices. Chairs scraped against the polished floor as directors exchanged uneasy glances, some whispering among themselves, others pretending not to.I remained where I was.Still.Across the table, Emily couldn't say the same.She hadn't moved, yet the file in front of her trembled ever so slightly beneath her fingertips. She lowered her gaze for a brief moment before looking back at the lawyer."...I would advise that you end your relationship," the lawyer said carefully.Advice?Interesting.Emily's brows drew together."This doesn't seem right."Her voice was calm, but there was a tightness beneath it.The kind people carried when they were trying very hard not to lose control.She swallowed once before asking,"Is there anything else I should know?"The lawyer shook his head."Nothing else."Silence stretched between them.Emily slowly rose from her chair."I'll take my lea

CHAPTER FIVESethPacking had never felt this unnecessary.I moved around the hotel room in silence, folding clothes with mechanical precision. My mind wasn’t here.It hadn’t been for a while.The outreach was supposed to end in four days.Now I was leaving early.I didn’t like unfinished things.Especially not when I wasn’t given a reason.I slipped on a brown hoodie, grabbed my phone and wallet, and stepped out.The team was already waiting in the lobby.Seven of them.Tired.Focused.Disciplined.Good.The faint mix of coffee and antiseptic hung in the air.Familiar.Reliable.“You all know the work doesn’t stop because I’m leaving,” I said, my voice steady.Their eyes locked onto mine immediately.“No slacking. If I hear otherwise, there will be consequences.”“Yes, sir,” they responded in unison.I held their gaze a second longer.Then nodded once and walked out.The drive to the airport was quiet.Too quiet.My thoughts filled the space instead.The outreach.The sudden meeting.

CHAPTER FOUREmilyI didn’t sleep well that night.Something felt… off.Not wrong exactly.Just unsettled.Like something was about to happen, and I was the only one who didn’t know what it was. Like being kept in the dark.I could just feel it.The next morning came too quickly.Before I knew it, I was already at the airport.Grandma insisted on coming with me, even though I told her not to stress herself.“You just got here and now you’re leaving again,” she complained softly.“I’ll be back,” I said, forcing a smile.I hugged her tightly.Maybe a little tighter than usual.“I’ll call you when I land.”“You better.”I nodded, then turned before she could see the hesitation on my face.Because for some reason…I didn’t feel like I was just going back to work.It felt bigger than that.The flight was quiet.Too quiet.Which meant my thoughts were loud.Tristan crossed my mind.Again.Just this time without an ounce of respect to the thought of him.Then Seth.Unfortunately.I frowned,

Chapter ThreeEmilyThe entire courtyard fell silent.Not the comfortable kind of silence, but the kind that wrapped around you, heavy enough to make every heartbeat sound louder than it should.I remained on the ground for one humiliating second too long.My palms stung from hitting the ground, and I could feel tiny grains of gravel digging into my skin. The white skirt I'd carefully handpicked that morning was now streaked with dirt.Wonderful.Someone coughed.Another person whispered.Then came the laughter.Not loud, but enough to make my cheeks burn.I pushed myself to my feet before anyone could offer a hand. My fingers brushed frantically over my skirt, dusting off invisible specks that refused to disappear. The wrinkles remained. So did the shame and dirt that increased on my skirt.Don't cry.Not here.Anything but here.I kept my eyes fixed on the ground.If I looked up, I'd meet dozens of curious faces.And one face in particular.I didn't have to search for him to know h

CHAPTER TWOEmily“Don’t go too far, my darling. You’re not familiar with this town anymore.”Grandma’s voice echoed in my head as I walked down the quiet street.It had been two days since I arrived.Two days of trying to breathe again.Two days of trying not to think about Tristan.And somehow… I was getting better.A little.But then-Seth Hernandez.Even thinking about his name made my mood drop instantly.I scoffed under my breath.What exactly does he have that I don’t? Why does everyone worship him like he hung the moon?Especially Grandma.I kicked a small stone on the road, annoyed.My phone buzzed in my hand, snapping me out of my thoughts. An email from my secretary.Work.Of course.I tapped on it, about to open it–And walked straight into something solid.Or rather… someone.A chest.Warm. Firm.I stepped back immediately.And looked up.Oh.Just perfect.Seth Hernandez.He was already looking down at me, those sharp eyes studying my face like he had all the time in the

CHAPTER ONEEmilyI stepped out of the plane the moment it landed, my body heavy with exhaustion.But none of that mattered.All I could think about was Tristan.A small smile tugged at my lips as I dragged my luggage along. I couldn’t wait to see his face. I hadn’t told him I was coming back. It was supposed to be a surprise.Maybe I’ll just spend a day or two with him, I thought.“Baby!” I called out as I stepped into his house.Dropping my bags by the entrance, I looked around, my excitement bubbling.“Baby?” I called again.No response.But I knew he was home. The door wasn’t locked.I headed upstairs, my heart beating a little faster.“Tristan, baby!” I called louder.Still nothing.Then I heard voices.I stopped.“What do you mean I have a babe? Of course I don’t,” Tristan said.I froze.“But you do. I always see you with her,” a female voice replied through the phone. It was on speaker.My heart skipped.“Maybe that was my sister you saw.”Sister?I almost choked.Tristan doesn