Novels by Crown Biz

CHAPTER EIGHT IAN'S POV "This is..." Cal swallowed, looking up at her with pure appreciation. "This is easily the best thing I've eaten all year."A proud grin broke across Nonnie's face. "See? That's real food. Your grandmother always said I made the best gravy in town, and it looks like she was right. Eat up, both of you.”I sat down quietly opposite him, consuming my food instantly. But the look on his face made me pause—his eyes were fixed on his plate, a mixture of wonder and quiet disbelief softening his usual guarded expression."What? What's wrong?" I asked him, setting my fork down."I thought you said she was strict," he murmured, looking up from his plate with a light, almost emotional smile. "How come she’s so kind and lovely around me? And... if I'm being completely honest, this is the first hearty meal I’ve ever had in my life."I blinked, taking in his tone. "I always thought I'd like to be in your shoes, you know? Multi-course delicacies, planned gourmet meals... I a

CHAPTER SEVEN IAN'S POV It must be nice to be wealthy—completely, effortlessly affluent. Sliding into the plush leather seat of Callum’s sports car made my rusted bicycle feel like a relic from another century.As he accelerated onto the main road, I caught the reflection of a dark, tinted sedan pulling out from the side alley behind us, matching our speed second for second."Hey, Cal?" I asked softly, peering through the side mirror. Vehicles like that were a rare sight in this poverty-stricken area. "Is it normal for a black SUV to follow you every time you leave your house?"He checked the rearview mirror, his hands tightening on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned pale. "What the heck is the old man pulling again?" he muttered, his voice laced with sudden anger.I shrank back into my seat, the easy banter we’d shared back at the house evaporating in an instant. The shadow of his powerful family had just caught up to us, and for the first time, I realized that being in C

CHAPTER SIXCALLUM’S POVThis granny's got to be kidding me, how is she calling now? I groaned, my smile vanishing instantly. I didn't even know when I'd uttered, "She wasn't calling me, Ian... she was calling you."He picked up the phone, debating whether to answer or let it ring out, pacing the floor as if searching for the right words.Getting furious, I spoke in a sharp whisper, "Just pick up, dude."He glared at me, his knuckles white, before finally swiping to answer. "Hello?" he managed, his voice tight.A shrill voice pierced through the room, loud enough to hear snippets reminding him his 30 minutes were up and that he needed to get home to prepare for his book study and his deliveries at the restaurant.Ian's face drained of all color, his eyes widening in panic. He couldn't even manage a goodbye before the phone dropped from his hand and clattered to the floor. Slowly, he turned to face me, his mouth agape, unable to utter a single word."What's wrong, dude?" I asked, unabl

CHAPTER FIVEIAN'S POV"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath. "Who's there?" I called out, trying to picture who could possibly be on the other side."Nice coming out from the fool that stood me up yesterday." My heart skipped a beat—that was my granny."Granny, good morning. How was your night? Why are you still awake at this time? Hope there's no problem, or are you...""Shut that silly mouth of yours and get up! It's 6:00 AM already, and I'm not gonna answer your stupid questions. Next time, set your alarm right—make it one hour earlier, okay?""Yes, ma'am," I replied, standing up as fast as I could.I scrambled to smooth down my clothes, conscious of her sharp, unblinking glare."I'm waiting downstairs," she added, turning on her heel before I could even open my mouth to explain.If I knew what was good for me, I had exactly two minutes to get my act together.I darted into the bathroom, quickly rinsed my face, and brushed my teeth in a blur of frantic motion.

CHAPTER FOUR CALLUM’S POVThe drive home was effortless, the car gliding along empty, deserted streets that felt entirely foreign compared to the world I came from.My world was an avenue that breathed quiet wealth, where the silence was deliberate and heavily guarded. Smooth, jet-black asphalt rolled out beneath the tires without a single seam or bump, flanked by pristine stone curbing and wide sidewalks of polished slate.Two hours ago, I was still nursing a drink in the dim heat of The Velvet Lounge, driven there purely to burn off my rage. Yet even through my anger, I couldn’t help but notice him—a gorgeous, clearly intoxicated guy whose face caught the light through the blinds separating the VIP section from the main floor.Can't believe people like that still exist. I always thought of Kai, but the stranger's charm and radiance intoxicated me, making me forget about him entirely.Was it the encounter by the poolside, or the CPR I performed on him? Oh my, his lips were succulent

CHAPTER THREE IAN'S POV I scanned the empty area. This person has got to be kidding me. Before I could even take another step, my phone buzzed again with a follow-up text:“My bad, I guess you don't need this piece of trash.”I stared at the screen, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach. The message didn't make any sense, but I didn't have time to unravel it now. It was already 3:00 AM, and I needed to get my ass back to Granny’s side and pretend to be sound asleep—I definitely wasn't in the mood for her melodrama tonight.Turning back toward Roy, I shoved my phone into my pocket and gave him a quick, dismissive wave. “Hey, I’m heading to Granny’s place. Catch up with you later.”He opened his mouth to reply, but I was already moving, picking up my pace as the cool night air bit through my jacket. Behind me, the shadow of a figure stepped out from near the poolside, watching silently as I hurried away into the dark.There was no sign of any vehicles—just a serene, quiet night fi