Novels by Ammund

LAUREN'S POVHuh. To think that the dress Tessa picked out would fit me this perfectly. I tilted my head slightly as I examined my reflection in the tall mirror, running my eyes over every curve and every fold of fabric. The material really hugged my waistline with just enough firmness to show its narrowness, while the slit running up my thigh revealed just the right amount of skin — tasteful but undeniably bold. I turned slightly to the side, pressing my palm against my hip, testing how the light caught the sheen of the material. It did exactly what a dress was supposed to do: it highlighted me. It carried my figure.“You like it, huh?”I blinked, realizing I had gotten lost in admiring myself. Tessa’s voice rang from the doorway. She leaned casually against the frame, arms folded, lips curved into a knowing smile. Clearly, she had been standing there for a while, watching me drink myself in like I was the finest piece of art on display.“Well…” I dragged the word out slowly, my eyes

LAUREN'S POV Tessa leaned in closer, her sharp gaze studying me with a seriousness that made me instinctively shift back in my chair. Her eyes narrowed, scanning my face as if searching for something beneath the surface, some hidden truth I wasn’t saying out loud. Then, before I could even form a sentence, her hand shot up and pressed lightly against my neck, testing my temperature like a worried mother. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm, though her touch lingered as if she genuinely feared something was off. I rolled my eyes, brushing her hand away gently. “Was that why you were suddenly behaving like this?” I asked, my voice carrying a faint edge. “Yes,” she said quickly, pulling her hand back but not looking away from me. “Because if you’re perfectly alright, then they must have switched my friend with someone else. Why else would you ask about that bastard?” Her voice cracked, emotion rising beneath the words. Ah, of course. That’s right. T

LAUREN'S POV “How did it go?” Tessa asked, her voice calm but laced with curiosity, her eyes still fixed on the open book in her hands. She sat casually on the couch, legs tucked beneath her, the afternoon sunlight falling gently on her face as though the whole world existed in the quiet comfort of this living room. I dropped my bag on the nearby chair with a little more force than I intended, the exhaustion from the morning weighing on me like an extra layer of clothing I couldn’t peel off. “How else does it ever go, Tess? It’s always the same thing, thinking about themselves, never anyone else.” My voice came out sharper than I planned, but I didn’t care. I was still irritated. “Either way, I was already here in America, so what’s the point of turning it down? But I’ll tell you this…” I pulled my phone from my pocket. “The real person who ruined my mood this morning wasn’t the manager. It was that awfully rude lady at the office. Look what she did to my phone.” Tessa immediately

LAUREN'S POV Some girls truly don’t have any manners. Not only had she ruined my phone, but she had also practically ruined my morning before it even really started. I let out a long, frustrated sigh, wishing I could delete the whole incident from my mind, though I knew it would be nearly impossible. My fingers still tingled slightly from the sharp smack she had given me, and my thoughts kept circling back to her shoulder bump, deliberate or not. If only I had noticed her name tag, I might have avoided all of this entirely. I tried to push it aside as I straightened my shoulders and walked toward the office, reminding myself that my focus needed to be on the meeting ahead. When I entered the office, the manager was just taking her seat, placing her phone carefully on the table. She had clearly been on a call, judging by the slight pink in her cheeks and the faint lingering sound of her words as she hung up. As soon as she looked up at me, a smile appeared on her face. A small, alm

LAUREN'S POV “The manager said you can come into her office.” The receptionist said, her voice calm and neutral, though her eyes carried that flicker of recognition that told me she knew exactly what kind of reunion was about to take place. Great. That annoying, proud asshole of a manager was still in the headquarters. I had silently prayed — no, I had hoped with every fiber in me that she’d either been promoted out of here, transferred somewhere across the country, or better yet, fired for her terrible attitude. But clearly, the universe wasn’t on my side this morning. From the moment my manager back in Italy told me about my immediate transfer back to America, I had started suspecting it was her. It made too much sense. Headquarters didn’t even give me a week, not even a couple of days, to gather my things or prepare Aria. They demanded I return so quickly it felt personal, as if someone at the top had an issue with me. And who else could it be, if not her? Still, a part of me h

LAUREN'S POV Once again, I found myself slipping back into the old days of waking up early, long before the sun had fully risen. The alarm clock wasn’t even necessary anymore my body seemed to know, dragging me out of bed before dawn. I sat at the edge of the mattress for a moment, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and letting out a tired sigh. The air in the room was still cool, carrying that faint morning stillness that always felt both calming and heavy. Yes, today I had to report to headquarters early, and that was enough of a reason to wake up on time. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the true reason I had stirred from bed at this hour. Something else had pushed me awake — responsibility, planning, and a touch of nervous energy. Last night, after we’d finished arranging everything perfectly in the house, I had wasted no time diving into something that had been at the top of my list since we landed: finding a new school for Aria. It weighed on me constantly. If I was going to be

Leo claimed her mouth in a kiss that was rough and filled with longing, devouring her like a hungry wolf that had been starved for days. Amelia matched his intensity, intertwining her fingers in his hair while moaning between the kisses. His hands moved up her body, exploring every inch as if he had been waiting for this moment forever and had finally gotten the opportunity. She gasped when his fingers brushed her nipple, which was already hard and longing to be licked and devoured by his mouth. She could feel the hardness of his desire pressing against her, only intensifying her own need. “You drive me crazy Amelia Smith,” he murmured against her lips. “I miss you and I don’t want to hold back tonight. I want every part of you baby girl.” “Then don’t hold back,” she quickly replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m all yours, claim me, Daddy.” Her words made his hormones rise even further. Without breaking the kiss, he hurriedly lifted her and carried her t

The next day, the news spread online that Sophia committed suicide by hanging herself in prison. It felt strange and heavy but for Amelia, it meant a bitter-sweet relief. She woke up with a slight headache, the sunlight streaming through the curtains. Last night memories flooded through her mind—Leo's warm embrace, his apology and reassurance, the soft kiss that stirred long-hidden feelings. Her cheeks warmed and the color turned a shade of pink. She reached out for Leo who was already awake, sitting against the headboard with a look of concern etched on his face. “Morning, beautiful,” he said softly, studying her face for any signs of distress. “Morning,” Amelia replied, blushing and rubbing her temples. “What happened last night? I remember bits and pieces.” That was a lie, she remembered every single detail but just wanted to play innocent. Leo smiled gently. “You had a little too much fun celebrating your aunt's recovery. But it was a good night for us.” Ame

A month later, Aunt Elsa’s condition had stabilized. The surgical wound had nearly healed, and all that was left was some aftercare. Once home, she could take her medication and recuperate slowly without needing further hospitalization. Early that morning, Amelia went to the hospital to handle Aunt Elsa’s discharge procedures. In the hospital room, Aunt Elsa was sitting on the bed, watching TV. Seeing Amelia come in, Aunt Elsa smiled and said, “You’re just in time. Come and see this.” She pointed to the TV. Curious, Amelia looked over and saw the news playing. A familiar face appeared on the screen, and the host’s flat, detached voice filled the room. “Recently, the sensational murder case has concluded. The primary culprit, Sophia Jones, has been found guilty of her crime." "Due to the severity and serial nature of the case, she has been sentenced to life imprisonment.” Amelia blinked rapidly, her thoughts swirling as she tried to process the news. Life imprisonm

That night, Aunt Elsa woke up. Blake checked on her and found her condition better than he had expected. Perhaps Amelia’s persistence had truly moved the heavens, as the cancer cells had cleared, and even the memory loss Blake had anticipated wasn’t present. It all seemed too good to be true. When Amelia heard the news, she was naturally overjoyed. Leo also heard about Elsa’s successful surgery. He didn’t say much, but that night, he quietly ordered the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes, silently celebrating Elsa’s recovery. Amelia had agreed to marry Leo to secure Blake’s help for Aunt Elsa. Now that Aunt Elsa was nearly healed, Amelia realized her relationship with Leo was a temporary fix. She knew she had to find a way to completely cut ties with him. That night, Amelia decided to cook a few dishes herself. To prevent anyone from interrupting her plan, she sent the children out with Eleven for the night. Then, she dismissed the household staff Leo had hired for th

As Inspector Ralph led Sophia to the police station, her heart raced with a mix of fear and disbelief.Soon, they arrived, and one of the officers led her into the interrogation room and gestured towards a chair, "Miss Jones, please take a seat. Inspector Ralph will be here shortly."With that he left, leaving her all alone in the room. The cold, bare room did nothing to calm her racing heart it only made her heart beat faster with each passing second.The walls were painted a dull gray, and the only light was a flickering fluorescent bulb that buzzed overhead. The smell of cleaning products filled the air, making her even more anxious.She never imagined that one day she would end up in this kind of situation. She stood up to reduce the pacing of her heart and her trembling fingers.Soon, the door opened and Inspector Ralph walked in. Sophia sat down, trying to stay calm and composed. "What kind of nightmare is this?" She thought. "Can I wake up already?" She pinched herself and

She said in a calm voice, “You didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t need your apology.” Once, those words had been what she wanted most, but now they meant nothing to her. The bitterness of the past clung to her like a heavy fog. She’d never considered forgiving him, so how could she accept it? After Amelia finished speaking, Leo felt a tightening in his chest. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration coursing through him as he processed the weight of her words. “Don’t say that. We were all kept in the dark before. Now that the truth is out, you know I didn’t do those things on purpose, right?” he said quickly, his voice rising slightly. Amelia sneered. “Yes, you didn’t do it on purpose, but can the pain I suffered over the years be forgotten? Leo, you didn’t personally send someone to kill us, but back then, you did divorce me because of Sophia, didn’t you?” “I can’t hate you, but I can never forgive you. We can’t pretend those years never happened. Neither you nor I c

AVA'S POV The morning came quicker than I expected. I barely slept, but I was already awake before the sun even rose. My suitcase stood by the door, zipped and ready, but my heart felt heavier than the bag itself. Packing had been easy compared to this — the leaving. I kept staring around my room like it was the last time I’d see it, even though deep down I knew I’d be back. Still, something about walking away now felt different. Final in a way. A knock at the door broke my thoughts. I didn’t need to ask who it was. Sally always knocked in that playful, impatient rhythm, like she was saying, 'hurry up before I drag you out myself.' When I opened the door, there she was, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, her car keys dangling in her hand. “Ready?” she asked with a smile that didn’t quite hide the sadness in her eyes. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I whispered. She stepped in, scanning the suitcase by the door. “Good. Let’s head out before you miss your flight.” I gave her

AVA’S POVBy the time the clock inched close to six, I was already restless. My hands wouldn’t stay still. I kept moving papers from one pile to another, straightening edges that didn’t even need straightening. I wasn’t doing any real work anymore. My mind was somewhere else, counting the minutes until I could leave. My body had learned the new rhythm — don’t stay late, don’t risk it. A knock came, sharp but familiar, and before I even looked up, Sally pushed the door open. “Are you ready to leave?” she asked, leaning against the frame like she owned the place. I slid the last file into the cabinet and gave a small smile. “Almost.” Her arms crossed, her eyes narrowing playfully. “You know I’m not leaving without you. Don’t even try to argue.” A chuckle escaped me, soft but real. “I wasn’t going to argue. Not tonight.” It had become routine since the attack. Since that night Laura's dog sent me tumbling down a flight of stairs, leaving me unconscious, even though they'd been caug

AVA’S POV Fainting in Jason’s arms had been my wake-up call. I couldn’t keep pretending I was invincible, not when my own body was clearly betraying me. Sitting behind my desk now, staring at the half-finished report glowing on my screen, I knew this was it. Today would be my last day here. Tomorrow, I was leaving — not for a deal, not for a project, but for myself. For rest. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, moving in sluggish bursts, each click sounding louder than it should. The words blurred, my thoughts scattered. It was as though my body no longer belonged to me, as if it were a stranger I was dragging along against its will. The doctor’s warning still echoed, sharp and unrelenting, like it had carved itself into my bones. If you keep pushing like this, Ava, your body will give up. That single sentence haunted me every time I tried to convince myself I was fine. I wasn’t fine. I had fainted more than twice in the span of weeks. My body had been screaming at me to stop, a

AVA’S POV *A MONTH LATER* The sound of my doorbell pulled me out of my thoughts. I already knew who it was. Alex had called earlier, saying he would be coming this morning. I quickly called Rosa to bring Emma and Mason downstairs, then walked toward the door. But when I opened it, it wasn’t just Alex. Standing beside him was Cindy. My brows rose slightly. “Cindy? I didn’t know you were coming too.” She gave me a warm smile, her hands clasped together in front of her like she wasn't sure how I would take it. “I hope it’s okay. I wanted to see you.” “Of course,” I replied politely, though deep inside, I wondered what this was about. We all exchanged greetings, and I turned to Alex. “The kids’ bags are packed. Could you please help them upstairs to get everything down?” “Sure,” Alex said, giving Cindy’s shoulder a light squeeze before heading upstairs with Emma and Mason. That left just me and Cindy in the living room. The air was strangely quiet for a moment until she

AVA'S POV The morning of Laura’s court hearing came too fast. I had hardly slept the night before. My mind kept replaying every moment leading up to her arrest, the way she had been dragged out of the airport screaming. I wasn't there but the video trended on all social media platforms. I knew today was important, the day everything would finally be decided. But I wasn’t prepared to see Jason standing at my door when I opened it. I froze, my fingers still wrapped around the doorknob. “Jason?” I whispered, like maybe saying his name out loud would make sense of why he was here. He stood there dressed sharply in a tailored suit, his tie neatly knotted, his shoes polished to a shine. He looked calm, collected, almost like this wasn’t just another day in court but a business meeting he had been planning for weeks. My chest tightened at the sight. He always had this way of looking like he had it all together, while I felt like I was barely holding myself up. “Are you ready?” he ask

LAURA'S POV The silence in my hotel room was beginning to feel like a curse. I paced back and forth, my heels clicking against the cheap wooden floor, the sound filling the space like an echo of my nerves. My glasses were still on, though the lenses pressed uncomfortably against the bridge of my nose. I didn’t care. They made me feel less exposed, like I could hide behind them even in private. My phone lay on the bed, face up, taunting me with its black screen. Riper should have called by now. It had been days since his last message. Just four words: the job was done. No follow-up. No confirmation. No details. Normally, Riper disappeared after a job, but never like this. Silence was his language, but even silence had limits. This time, it stretched too long, like a thread about to snap. His number was unreachable, and that was what gnawed at me the most. I stopped pacing, gripping the back of the chair with white knuckles, and let my mind race. The news said Ava had fallen dow