Novels by Authouress Debbie

ALANNAStanding at the back of the church, the soft melody of the wedding march echoing through the air. Who would have thought that after everything—after all the pain, the heartbreak, and the betrayal—I would find myself here, about to marry Nolan Westbrook, the man I once believed was the source of all my suffering? Life has a strange way of leading you exactly where you need to be, even when you fight it every step of the way.Pedro, my rock, my father in every way that mattered, stood beside me. He looked at me with pride, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "You ready, Dear?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the emotion behind it.I nodded, feeling my heart swell with gratitude. This was the man who had taken me in, loved me unconditionally, and gave me the family I had always longed for. And now, he was about to walk me down the aisle to start a new chapter of my life.As we began to move forward, the sight before me took my breath away. The church was filled with the peop

NOLAN"Closure doesn't come from forgetting the past but from facing it head-on."The wind blew softly as we stood at Chloe's grave, the air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth and the distant hum of the city. It had taken us a long time to get here, to stand at this place with a sense of peace instead of anger or regret. I looked down at the headstone, its cold surface a stark reminder of all that had happened, all that we had lost and gained.In my arms, little Chloe stirred, her tiny hands grasping at the air. She was so innocent, unaware of the twisted history that brought her into this world. But that was how it would stay. Alanna and I had promised each other that this child, this beautiful little girl, would never know the darkness that shadowed her birth. She would be loved, cherished, and protected from the truth that could shatter her world.Alanna knelt beside the grave, placing a single white rose on the headstone. Her voice was soft, but there was strength in it

ALANNAWhen Lucas stepped out of the shadows, gun in hand, my heart clenched with a fear I hadn’t felt in years. The happiness of moments before—Nolan’s proposal, the promises of a future together—seemed to shatter like glass around us. All I could see was Lucas, his face twisted with rage and pain, his eyes filled with a darkness that sent chills down my spine.It was as if everything we’d gone through, every battle we’d fought, was leading up to this moment. But instead of feeling strong, I felt vulnerable, exposed. Lucas was no longer the boy I once knew. He was a man consumed by hatred, and that hatred was directed at me.“You came into my life and took everything,” Lucas snarled, his voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. “You took my family, you took the only love I had ever known, and now you’ve ruined everything!”I tried to find the right words, something that could reach him, something that could make him see reason. But nothing came. All I could do was stand there, f

ALANNA"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."Shopping with Angela was just the distraction I needed. The weight of everything—Nolan’s court case, the uncertainty of our future—had been pressing down on me like a storm cloud. But here, in the brightly lit aisles, surrounded by the scent of fresh clothes and the chatter of happy customers, I felt lighter. Angela had a way of making even the most mundane tasks feel like an adventure.We wandered through racks of dresses, holding up options and debating the merits of each one. Angela was in the middle of showing me a deep red dress when she suddenly paused, a small smile playing on her lips.“Jake asked me to move in with him.”The words hung in the air between us, and I felt a surge of happiness for her. “He did? That’s amazing, Angela! How do you feel about it?”Angela looked thoughtful, her fingers brushing the fabric of the dress she was holding. “I don’t know. I mean, I love him, and I can see a future with him.

Nolan"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."The courthouse loomed before me, a symbol of the justice I’d been seeking ever since that fateful day. The memories of what Brad had done—of what he’d put my family through—played on a loop in my mind. There was no forgetting the fear in Alanna’s eyes, the sound of the gunshot, the moment when everything nearly ended for us. Today was about more than just a verdict; it was about setting things right, about reclaiming the peace that Brad had stolen from us.As I sat in the courtroom, the weight of the moment settled heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just about me. It was about Alanna, about our children, about the future we’d almost lost. I glanced over at Alanna, who was seated beside me. Her hand rested in mine, her grip tight and unyielding. We had come this far together, and we were going to see it through to the end.Mr. Collins, my lawyer, stood and approached the stand where I was seated. He was calm, composed, the

ALANNA“Family isn't just about blood; it's about who stands by you when the world falls apart."As we walked into the restaurant, the warm glow of the lights and the soft hum of conversation made me feel at ease. This place, with its cozy ambiance and inviting atmosphere, was perfect for the first dinner we’d have together as a family—one that finally felt whole. I glanced around at everyone, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It had been a whirlwind of emotions since discovering the truth about my past, and now, here we were, trying to create something new from the ashes of what once was.Nolan squeezed my hand gently as we approached our table. He could sense my nerves and, as always, knew exactly what I needed—a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. The kids ran ahead, excited to see the menu and all the possibilities it promised. Mrs. Westbrook, who had become such a steady presence in our lives, followed behind them, her eyes twinkling with affection as she watched

ATLASMoments after Elena left the office..moments after I’d given her permission to go home, myself, I still felt this strange uneasiness in the pit of my stomach.It’d very much seemed like she was pissed about something, or something was on her mind. But those fierce green eyes of hers confused me as hell.I was so restless, trying to figure out what the problem was, and at the same time worrying about my father.No matter how much I thought about it, I wasn’t sure I’d stoop so low for him…like he was asking.I couldn’t do it…But I knew I wouldn’t be let off the hook easily if I didn’t do it.So, I was just caught in a tough spot.That aside, I was also worried about the fact that Luke and his mother wouldn’t just get off my back.What would I have to do to get them off? Heck, why was everyone coming at me all at once?So much was going on in my head I found it so difficult to concentrate..These days, I've been slacking with my shipments too. And I was nowhere near securing the d

ELENAThis wasn’t exactly news to me, but I still struggled to believe my ears.Atlas was really getting married to this woman.But what did I expect?I mean, I’d always known that all those gasps of pleasure and looks of love meant nothing. But deep down, I’d hoped that maybe..just maybe..“Listen, Rhoda,” I watched as he reached across the desk and covered his large palm over hers, “I really don’t want us skipping moments, you know. Things like this aren’t meant to be rushed. If you ask me, a wedding’s sort of a big deal, and I’d like to make it special for you, if you let me.” He stared so deep in her eyes I felt my heart give way to sheer pain. “Don’t you want our wedding to be the talk of the town?”“Of course I want that, Atlas,” she whined, leaning in closer, “but this is really not about me. It’s my father on my neck..besides, you seem to be delaying on purpose. Is there something you’re not telling me?”Atlas stared at her for a heartbeat too long before he responded. “What?”

ELENAI stared slack-jawed at Jeremy, who just sat there with a straight face, after what he’d said.Those words had shook me a tad bit, and I couldn’t believe he’d uttered them.What was his aim? Trying to jump-scare me or something? To sway me? I couldn’t understand it…So I did what was easiest for me.“Hmm,” I lifted the glass of marmalade and took a long sip, my gaze intent on his face. “Sounds like a fairytale to me.”“Wait,” he sat forward, narrowing his gaze on my face. “You don’t believe me? They—““God. Give it a rest, Jer. I’m really not interested in stories like that.”He stared at me a moment too long, like he was trying to figure out if I was being serious. A mix of confusion and disbelief painted across his face.Finally, he shrugged. “Fine. I’ll respect your wish.”But he didn’t look quite happy about that.***********A WEEK LATERI sat in my own secretarial space in the outer workings of Atlas’s private office—which was about a few miles away from me, but clearly in

ELENAAs soon as I got out of the car in front of Emily’s house, I thanked the driver and made my way to the front doors.I knew the passcode to her house, so I just let myself in.But Emily was already hurrying to the front door, golf club firmly gripped in her hands, just to make sure that it wasn’t a thief breaking into her house.She did a double take when she saw me, the golf club falling limply to her side. “Bitch,” she cursed under her breath, her eyes roaming my entire frame slowly. “You decide to come back the same way you left, huh? Creeping in and out..”My lips stretched in a wide smile as I dropped the bag to the floor and half-jogged all the way to her, throwing my arms around her in a bear hug.“Mm,” I shut my eyes as the familiar feeling of peace engulfed me completely, a citrusy scent filling my nostrils. “I missed you too, bitch.”She pried me away and observed me at arm’s length, a smile tugging on her lips where her eyes were deep-set. “There’s that glow,” she mumb

ATLASI waved my hand dismissively, forcing a smile on. “It’s nothing.”“It’s not nothing,” she insisted in a firm voice. “Your phone has clearly been blowing up nonstop with calls from your father. Can you at least take the call?”I let out a deep sigh, switching off the phone. “I told you it’s nothing. I can simply deal with it later.”She stared at me for a few seconds more, then she leaned back against her seat and stared out the window.We barely exchanged any more words until we arrived at the airport.“Welcome, boss,” the pilot greeted as we got onboard the jet, and I acknowledged him with a slight nod.“Listen,” I turned to Elena, handing her one of the headphones, “I’ll ask my driver to take you home when we land in New York.”She cocked a brow at me, her lips pursed. “Really?”“Yeah, I have to do a thing or two before I head back.”She shrugged, settling into one of the seats in the jet and throwing her gaze out the window.Throughout the flight back, my mind was preoccupied

ATLASWell, damn. That was fire.I lay in the midst of the tousled, soaked sheets, tangled up with Elena, whose face was flushed and hair attractively messy.She had a small smile playing on her lips, her eyes twinkling with the same bliss I was reveling in.“This was why you wanted a detour, isn’t it?” Her voice came out in a soft breath, fanning my chest.I shrugged, threading my fingers through her soft, blonde curls. “I guess it just happened.”She chuckled quietly, shaking her head, and in the silence that followed, my thoughts strayed.I really liked this..being here with her..sharing little, harmless jokes that let me enjoy the melody in the laughter that spilled from her sensuous lips..holding her in my arms..reveling in the heavy smell of our passion that hung in the air…But I was too overwhelmed by the past, too afraid to let myself feel these things deeply. I was too afraid of the aftermath, of the pain that would most likely follow.The last thing I wanted to do was hurt