Novels by Author Belle

Dalia remained still under the covers while a faint sound of movement came from the other side of the room.Caius thought she was asleep. She knew because he moved carefully. He barely made a sound as he moved. Dalia’s heart tightened as she listened to the rustling of clothes, the soft click of his watch against the nightstand, and the sound of his shoes touching the floor. She was tempted to open her eyes. She wanted to ask him where he was going, she wanted to demand an explanation for everything that had happened since his return.But she controlled herself by clenching her fist and biting her lip. Caius's phone began ringing and he answered immediately. “Hello?”Dalia’s fingers curled beneath the blanket. There was a brief silence before Caius spoke again. His voice was low. “Yes I’m leaving now,” he paused. “I’ll soon be there.”Dalia’s heart began beating faster. Where? Where was he going so early? Who would book an appointment before sunrise? She listened carefully but Ca

Dalia stood before Sylvette’s bed after tucking the little girl under the blanket. She gently brushed a curl away from the little girl’s forehead and lowered her voice. “Good night, sweetheart.” She pressed a kiss on her forehead before switching off the bedside lamp and quietly left the room.The hallway was dark and silent and Dalia glanced at the clock on the wall. 11:33 pm.Her heart sank. Caius still wasn’t at home. She had told herself that whatever had taken him out of the house was related to the contract or urgent matters in the office, but as the hours passed with no message from him, her reasons became less convincing to herself. She returned to the parlor and checked her phone again. There was no calls or messages. He didn’t reply to her messages or answer her call. Her thumb hovered over his contact and it rang but he didn’t pick up.She lowered the phone. “Caius…”She had told Kimberly that she must have mistaken someone else for him, because believing otherwise mean

The bathroom door opened, and Dalia immediately looked up. Caius stepped out, his hair still damp from the shower, a towel hanging around his neck as he wiped the remaining water from his face. His expression changed the moment he noticed Dalia standing beside the nightstand with his phone in her hand.Dalia’s grip tightened around the device. “Caius…”He walked towards her without answering.Dalia opened her mouth again, ready to ask about the message but before she could get the words out, Caius gently took the phone from her hand.Then he leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips. “Go to sleep, Dalia.”She stared at him. “What was that message?”Caius slipped the phone into his hand and frowned slightly. “What message?”“The one you just received.”He stared at the message and sighed. “It’s from my mother.”Dalia stared at him, confusion settling over her features. “Cecil Ashbourne called you darling?”Caius’s expression hardened. “She’s my mother, Dalia. Is it really so strange f

Dalia’s smile remained on her face as she watched Caius bend to remove his shoes but the joy in her heart vanished. She stared at the faint red mark at the side of his neck before forcing herself to look away. Maybe something had happened at the hotel during negotiation or he had been bitten by an insect on his neck. But Dalia knew what it resembled and the knowledge of it made her uneasy. Caius had just returned home after three weeks away, Sylvette was glowing with happiness and the entire family had something worth celebrating. She wasn’t just to sit at the dining table and accuse her husband thereby ruining the happy mood.“Come on,” she said, keeping her voice light. “The food is getting cold.”Caius looked at her and smiled. “After traveling all day, that sounds like the best thing I’ve heard.”He followed her into the living room with Sylvette running ahead of them. Sylvette climbed into her chair while Caius took his usual seat and Dalia sat opposite him. The family dug in

Dalia Ashbourne put the roast in the oven and checked the clock again for the umpteenth time. 6:34 pm.She wiped her hands on the kitchen towel and glanced towards the window. Caius was supposed to arrive tonight. After three weeks on a business trip, he was finally coming home.Dalia had spent the entire afternoon preparing his favorite dishes. She had roasted lamb, prepared creamy mashed potatoes, and chocolate cake. Exactly what he loved. Tonight wasn’t just a welcome-home dinner, it was a celebration!The family company had finally secured the international contract he had been fighting for months. Dalia knew how much victory meant to him. She had watched him leave home before sunrise and return long after midnight while preparing for negotiations.He deserved to come home to something warm. Something that reminded him that despite the coldness of the business world, someone had been waiting for him.A small pair of footsteps suddenly pattered across the marble floor. “Mommy!”D