Novels by A novel by Nancy

Three days. That’s how long it’s been since Adrianna last saw Lance. And even though they share the same mansion, he’s become more of a ghost than a man. Always out. Always shuts himself away in his study when he’s home, the heavy door closed to everyone—everyone except Robert and Bianca.She can’t decide which is worse: his absence, or his presence when he acts like she doesn’t exist.Adrianna sits stiffly on the velvet settee in the private showroom, the scent of white peonies and polished oak hanging too sweetly in the air. Her fingers clutch the armrest like it’s a lifeline. Her thoughts are a whirlwind, and she doesn’t notice Bianca leaning closer.“Adrianna! Are you okay? You seem lost in thoughts,” Bianca says, her voice coated with feigned concern as she extends a delicate hand toward her.Adrianna flinches, a reflex more than a decision, and rises to her feet. “I’m okay—just got a bit carried away,” she murmurs, her tone polite but distant.Before Bianca can pry further, the

His hand fists her hair, pulling Adrianna even closer. All her insecurities and uncertainties vanish, just like they had all those years ago when they exchanged their first kiss in his apartment. He pulls her so roughly against him that she can feel his erection poking her thigh. Unable to stop herself, she slowly rocks her thigh against him, eager to feel his skin inside her. “You're fucking sex. Adrianna.” He growls, his voice low and husky. Without wasting time, he smashes their lips together. His lips possessively suck on her lower lips, his tongue slips past her lips expertly teasing a reaction out of me. Heat pools between her legs in response and she moans into the kiss. He groans harshly, his voice mixing with her as she lets out a whimper. Adrianna can't help but curl her hands in his hair. It’s crazy, this whole thing. It’s also intoxicating. They are becoming breathless but neither of them wants to stop the kiss.Lance then tears his lips away from hers to trail open-mout

The two maids that fell quickly scramble to their feet as if jolted by an unseen force. They bow so low their foreheads nearly kiss the polished marble floor, and then, with a rustle of their simple uniforms, they melt into the shadows of a nearby corner, their eyes wide and darting. Mrs. Vallerand, her perfectly painted lips thinning into a line of pure vexation, snatches her hand back as if it had been burned. “Hold this.” Immediately, another maid, her demeanor a study in practiced subservience, extends both hands, palms up, her head bowed in supplication. The ornate whip, its leather glinting ominously, drops into her waiting hands."You know how I loathe interruption," Mrs. Vallerand's voice slices through the tense air, each word coated with icy disdain, "especially during such… instructive moments." With an air of supreme entitlement, she peels off her exquisitely crafted leather glove, the soft pliant material whispering against her skin, and hands it to the waiting-maid.

“How dare you address me in such disparaging words?” Adrianna's hands slam onto the polished mahogany table. The sound slices through the air and the sudden force startles everyone; heads turn toward her, wide-eyed and anxious.In a whirlwind of raw fury, her usually vibrant eyes now blazing with incandescent rage, lock her gaze onto Lance. Her chest heaves with each ragged breath, and a tremor runs through her slender frame. Without a word, a swift, decisive move, she slips off her elegant stiletto heel and hurls it across the room, slicing through the air like a missile aimed directly at him. The impact leaves a purplish bruise but he doesn’t flinch, he doesn't even blink. Instead, he sits motionless, an inscrutable look painted across his face. His indifference only ignites Adrianna’s wrath further“Adrianna! This is barbaric!” Mrs. Vallerand’s sharp voice cuts through the tension like a knife, her face contorted in a mask of fury. "How dare you disrupt our family dinner? Maids!

Adrianna’s heart races as she stares at the television screen, the flickering images of her face juxtaposed against headlines that scream betrayal. The news anchors drone on, their voices dripping with curiosity and judgment. “Adrianna Houston, rumored mistress of billionaire Lance Vallerand, now faces scrutiny as his engagement to Bianca Hart approaches.” Her chest feels tight, a suffocating band constricting her lungs. Wade steps closer, his eyes filled with a mixture of mockery and disdain. "With your current reputation, Adrianna, it's…it's not advisable for you to return to the company for now. The board is in an uproar, and several investors are already talking about pulling out."The words finally pierce through the fog of Adrianna’s shock, each syllable a fresh wound. Her lips part, but no sound emerges. The company, the relentless climb, the desperate pursuit of her father’s approval – it all feels like it’s crumbling around her. Her carefully constructed world, built on amb

Adrianna has always been a morning person, she loves the soft glow of the yellow light on her skin, the chirps of the birds and new determination for the day. Her gaze drifts to her bandaged finger, the white strip a stark contrast against her skin. The memory of Lance kneeling before her, tending to the small wound flickers in her mind, a scene replayed with the vividness of a freshly painted portrait. His initial concern, the gentle insistence when she hesitated, the soft touch of his fingers as he applied the antiseptic and the band-aid, each detail sent a subtle tremor through her chest. She had tried to reject his help but he was persistent, as if he was tending to his lover. A warmth, unfamiliar and unsettling, blooms in its wake.Her attention snaps to the window, a sudden movement catching her eye. Through the glass, she observes Lance and Bianca. They stand close, though not intimately, a respectful distance maintained between them as they walk towards his car. One of Lance’

Karina“I’ll send someone for you in two days,” Raoul says, draping my coat over my body, his gaze on mine. Then, he turns back to his desk and picks up the intercom receiver. I suppose that is my cue to leave. Awkwardly, I gather the coat closer to myself, making the buckle up even tighter. I bend to pick the discarded dress up.“Leave it.” He says dryly. “It will be burnt up later.”I bite my lip and turn, headed for the door. “And, Karina?” he says in a deceptively soft voice, making my steps falter to a stop.“You know what will happen if you run away, don’t you?”“Where were you?” Raine asks the moment I walk in through the door. She tries to sound flippant, but her voice has a bit of fear in it. She thought I had left.I flash her a reassuring smile, tightening my coat around myself self-consciously. She doesn't need to know what I just agreed to do. I will keep her safe as long as I can. That's the least I can do.She is lounged in front of the TV, scrolling through Netflix. Th

RaoulWhen Karina walked in, I could tell what drew Luca to her in the first place. Her thick blonde hair is tied at the nape of her neck, drawing attention to her face. She is bare-faced tonight, unlike she had been on that night four years ago. Those blue Disney princess eyes are wiped clean of makeup, framed by thick, dark lashes.She seems taut like she could snap any time soon. I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.She is wearing a black trench coat which is not knotted, revealing a high-necked black dress. Almost like she is here for a funeral. Her funeral. She hadn’t dressed so conservatively four years ago. Her supermodel figure had been on full display, the low-cut gown exposing more of her full breasts than it concealed.She had walked into my Vegas casino with her father, all killer legs and lipstick and big hair. Luca—or the twenty million dollar estate in Santorini—hadn’t stood a chance. It had been horrible. Luca almost went bankrupt. His father had threatened to disinher

Karina“NO! THAT’S LIMITED EDITION!” Mum screams as I scrape through her closet for things we can sell to thrift stores to get money. We can get about ten grand from her closet and jewelry. L’esattore won’t make us vanish if we can get him ten grand, I reason hopefully.Raine would be safe and I can get a second job or a loan from a less dangerous loan shark. I’m not dumb enough to try and escape or call the police. That would make him want to make us vanish for sure. I try not to think of where I would get the rest of the money from. The money I can scrape from Mum’s closet is as far as I would let myself think.“That was Aaron’s last gift to me!” She screams as I pack up a cashmere sweater.Well, Dad’s last gift to me and Raine was debt, so I’m not keen on those. It’s late right now but I've called a few thrift stores that would like to take on her clothes. I've even called a jeweler who would like to assess her gold and diamonds.She pulls the sweater from me and I hold on to it. I

Karina“WOULD YOU PREFER TO BE BENT OVER MY DESK?”For what seems like an eternity, I am silent.“W... what...?” I choke out.Raoul takes a look away from his computer to study me behind the lens of his glasses. His blue eyes are arctic with distaste as they take in the high neckline of the dress I have on.“Or would you prefer to fuck while standing?” He says coldly, his handsome face blank. I wonder if he's being serious or if he’s trying to scare me off.I hold on to the lapels of my coat, blood rushing to my face. I tell to think of how lucky I was a week ago when I had been blissfully unaware that my dad had screwed us all over.(One week earlier)I watch the coffin being lowered into the ground, willing myself not to break down. Mum is already a sobbing wreck and that’s not doing us any good. I look around. There’s a very small crowd of people who came to mourn my dad. Me, Mum, and Raine have made a pointed effort not to speak to me today.Dad had died as dramatically as he had