Novels by Elodie

The morning sun had barely begun to climb when I woke to the sound of the front doorbell. My heart skipped a beat, a strange unease settling over me. Ares stirred beside me, noticing my sudden alertness.“Who is it?” I whispered, still in bed, listening.“I don’t know,” he replied, already moving toward the window. “Stay here.”I watched him walk toward the door, his movements calm but deliberate. I heard his voice, low and steady. “Who’s there?”There was a pause. Then a woman’s voice, unfamiliar but firm. “I’m here to speak with Valeria.”Ares’s jaw tightened. “Do you have an appointment?”“No,” she said, her tone sharp. “But it’s urgent. For her safety.”I felt a chill run down my spine. Urgency was rarely good news. Slowly, I slipped out of bed and followed him toward the door.Ares opened it, standing tall, protective. The woman stepped in, her eyes scanning the house quickly. She looked professional, but there was something calculating in the way she moved.“Valeria Hart?” she a

The morning began like any other. Sunlight spilled across the kitchen counter, painting soft patterns on the floor. I poured myself coffee, enjoying the warmth in my hands. Ares moved quietly around the kitchen, humming softly as he prepared breakfast.“Good morning,” I said softly, smiling at him.“Morning,” he replied, eyes soft. “Sleep well?”“Yes,” I admitted. “For the first time in weeks, I feel rested.”He handed me a plate with scrambled eggs and toast. “I’m glad. You’ve earned this calm.”I chuckled softly. “We’ve earned it. All of us.”He leaned against the counter, watching me. “Yes. And we need to protect it. Together.”I nodded. “Step by step, moment by moment.”“Exactly,” he said, his voice quiet, almost reverent.---After breakfast, we decided to take a walk along the property. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of flowers and soil. Our daughter ran ahead, laughing, chasing butterflies with small, eager hands. Ares and I walked slowly behind her, hands brushing

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of wet earth and distant flowers. I woke slowly, stretching and feeling the quiet warmth of the house around me. Ares was already moving about, the faint sound of dishes clinking and soft humming reaching me from the kitchen. Somehow, the calm had become a rhythm I didn’t want to leave.I slipped into the kitchen quietly. Ares looked up from pouring juice and smiled. “Good morning,” he said softly, his voice low and steady.“Morning,” I replied, taking a deep breath. “Coffee?”“Always.” He handed me a cup, and I took it, savoring the warmth. “Sleep well?”“For the first time in months, yes,” I admitted. “The house… the quiet… it feels right.”He leaned against the counter, eyes soft. “It should feel right. That’s what I wanted. A place where you can feel… home.”I smiled faintly. “You’ve succeeded.”We drank our coffee slowly, the silence between us comfortable, filled with understanding rather than words.---Later, I went to check on the

The morning light filtered through the curtains again, soft and golden, painting the walls with warmth. I stretched in bed, listening to the quiet hum of the house. There was a rhythm here, a calmness that felt new, yet familiar. I could hear Ares moving around the kitchen, the soft clatter of dishes, the hum of a kettle. It was comforting in a way I hadn’t realized I’d been craving.I got up quietly, padding to the kitchen. Ares looked up as I entered, his expression soft.“Good morning,” he said, voice low and calm.“Morning,” I replied, smiling faintly. “Coffee?”“Always.” He poured a fresh cup for me and slid it across the counter. “Sit. I made breakfast too.”I raised a brow. “You cooked?”“I did,” he said with a small shrug. “Not much, but it’s edible.”I laughed softly, taking the plate he offered. “Edible is perfect.”We sat together at the small table, sipping our coffee and nibbling on eggs and toast. The quiet between us wasn’t empty; it was comfortable, the kind of silence

The first week in the new house passed slowly, almost dreamlike. Every morning, I woke to the sunlight spilling through the windows, painting soft patterns across the floor. It was quiet. Not empty or lonely, but quiet in a way that felt deliberate, like the world had finally slowed down for us. I never imagined peace could feel so… tangible.Ares had adapted quickly, though I could see him still measuring himself, ensuring that nothing he did would push me away. He moved around the house with careful steps, keeping things orderly, thoughtful. Even his smile seemed softer, more genuine, less practiced.One morning, he was already awake when I came into the kitchen. He was humming softly as he arranged fruit on the counter, the sunlight catching the strands of his hair.“Good morning,” I said quietly.“Morning,” he replied without looking up. “Coffee?”“Yes, please.” I stepped closer, inhaling the faint scent of him—warm, clean, familiar.He finally glanced at me, eyes soft. “You’re ad

The next morning, sunlight spilled softly through the curtains, touching the edges of the room with a warm glow. I lay in bed for a moment, listening to the quiet hum of the house. The world outside seemed calm, almost like it had slowed down just for us. I felt a strange mixture of anticipation and comfort. Today wasn’t about chaos, deadlines, or confrontations. Today was about living.I stirred when I felt Ares move beside me. He sat up slowly, stretching his arms over his head before lowering them and glancing at me. “Morning,” he said softly, voice still thick with sleep.“Morning,” I replied, smiling faintly. “You sleep well?”“For the first time in months,” he admitted. “And you?”“I did,” I said honestly. “Though I woke early. Couldn’t resist the light.”He leaned back on his elbows, studying me quietly. “I was thinking we could have breakfast on the balcony. Quiet. Just us.”I nodded. “That sounds perfect.”---The kitchen wasn’t fully finished, but it was functional and warm.

The mansion was quiet.Not the uneasy quiet that had settled after the bloodshed, but a different kind—gentler, deeper. It was the hush of a house learning peace again, of walls no longer echoing with betrayal, rage, or secrets. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Alessio could breathe.The heavy weight of vengeance had lifted, leaving behind something fragile but honest. Gabriella remained close, not out of obligation or fear, but out of something they’d both fought hard to reclaim: trust.A week had passed since the night of reckoning. The bodies had been buried. The halls scrubbed clean. The old tapestries—once embroidered with the legacy of the Martini name—had been taken down. Alessio didn’t want reminders. Not of the man he had to become, and certainly not of the empire his brother had twisted into something monstrous.One bright morning, Gabriella stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, dressed simply, one hand resting gently on her belly. Alessio watched her f

Gabriella's Pov The sound cracked through the night like a curse. One shot—sharp, final.I spun around.“Leonardo!” I screamed, as my brother’s body crumpled to the ground, his breath hitching as if the air had betrayed him. Blood poured from the wound in his back, dark and thick, staining his shirt like ink spilled from a shattered bottle.I caught him before he hit the stone floor. His weight folded into me, heavier than I remembered, like the life was already ebbing out of him. Gabriella dropped to her knees beside us, hands trembling, eyes wide with disbelief. Her voice caught in her throat as she tried to speak, but no words came out—just a gasp, choked and broken.Vandel stood across the room, still holding the smoking gun. His face was stone. No regret. No hesitation. Only hatred.I cradled Leo's head against my chest. “Stay with me,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Just hold on. Please, Leo…”He coughed, and a thin line of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. “No... it’

Gabriella's Pov The night was supposed to be over. We had escaped. I thought we were safe—just for a second. Alessio’s hand gripped mine tightly, his other hand on the wheel, speeding through the darkened street like he could outrun the world. But safety, I was learning, was just an illusion. And illusions don’t last.Two headlights suddenly swerved into view behind us, fast and aggressive. My stomach twisted before my brain could catch up."Alessio..." I murmured, my voice already trembling.He glanced in the rearview mirror, his jaw tightening. "I see them."Another car came at us from the left. That’s when I knew—we weren’t being followed. We were being hunted.Gunfire cracked through the silence.Glass shattered.“DOWN!” Alessio barked.Without thinking, I threw myself across the console and lunged at him. We dropped below the dashboard as bullets punched through the windows, glass raining down in jagged pieces. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears, deafening me.“I

Alessio's Pov My heart jolted like someone had driven a knife straight through it. Unborn child—that was what Martini had just said. The words echoed in my head, bouncing around with disbelief, confusion, and something dangerously close to hope.I stared at Gabriella.Everything else—Martini’s gun pointed at my forehead, the sweat dripping down my back, the pounding in my ears—faded into the background as I searched her face for the truth. Her lips parted slightly, her eyes shimmering with something raw. Something real.“Yes,” she whispered, barely audible. But I didn’t need her to say more.She was pregnant.With my child.I blinked. My vision tunneled, not from the pressure of the gun still threatening my life, but from the gravity of her words. She was carrying my baby. Our baby.A tremor ran through me, knocking the air from my lungs. I hadn’t seen this coming—hadn’t even considered it. But as shock gave way to awe, a warmth bloomed in my chest. A fierce kind of joy. The kind of

Alessio's Pov She looked like she hadn’t aged a second—but she wasn’t the same girl I once knew.Gabriella stood across the room, framed by the long shadows of dusk bleeding in through the tall windows. The light touched her skin like it belonged there, softening the lines of worry etched into her face. But I could still see it—the fear hidden beneath the surface, the way her fingers curled around the edge of her coat just a little too tightly. She was nervous. And she should be.Because I didn’t trust her.Not anymore.I had no idea what game she was playing by coming here again, by standing beside Martini of all people. That bastard had never shown mercy a day in his life. I didn’t even know how she’d ended up in his custody—or why she hadn’t tried to escape.I studied her face, looking for something familiar, something real.And that’s when it happened.She winked.A slow, subtle flutter of her eyelid. Barely noticeable, but unmistakable.I froze.It hit me like a punch to the gut

Gabriella's Pov The morning sunlight slipped through the thin curtains like golden fingers, brushing against my face, warming my cheek. I blinked slowly, my lashes fluttering against the pillowcase as I stirred, trying to resist the gentle nudge of daybreak. My body ached in places I didn’t even know could ache, a dull soreness clinging to every limb like a second skin. Sleep had claimed me like a thief in the night, but it hadn't been kind—just necessary. I felt as though I'd fought a war in my dreams and lost.For a long moment, I just lay there, staring up at the ceiling, trying to remember how it felt to wake up without dread pressing on my chest. The events of the past few days had blurred into one tangled mess of adrenaline, pain, and fear. But there was something else too—something sharp and persistent beneath it all. A name. Alessio.Just the thought of him sent a shiver down my spine. I hated how his presence lingered in my mind, how the memory of his voice could still echo

Sienna’s PovThe morning after Roman called about Victor’s hidden server, I sat at the dining table trying to answer emails. Trying was the key word — I’d read the same message four times without absorbing a single sentence. My mind kept circling back to what Roman had said. They found proof. Victor forged everything. Only one folder’s still locked.I closed the laptop with a sigh.“You’ve been staring at that screen for twenty minutes,” Cole said from the coffee machine.“I know.”“You haven’t typed anything.”“I know.”He carried two mugs over and set one in front of me. “You’re thinking.”“A little.”“That’s more than a little,” he said, laughing softly.I wrapped my hands around the mug. “I keep wondering what’s in that folder.”“So do I.”“I don’t like not knowing.”“Neither do I.”We drank in silence for a while, Ava still upstairs getting dressed, the house quiet around us. Then Cole looked at me.“Can I ask you something?”“Always.”He hesitated, which wasn’t like him. “It’s a

Roman’s povI got to the investigation office just before eight. Already busy — officers moving between desks with files and laptops, phones ringing nonstop, everyone running on fumes after weeks of chasing Victor.An investigator spotted me and actually smiled, first time in days. “Morning, Mr. Calloway. We have something.”I stopped walking. “What is it?”“You should come inside.”The conference room was already full — most of the team gathered around a table buried in folders, a screen mounted on the wall. Nate was there too.“You got here fast,” he said.“I came the second they called.”“Couldn’t have looked worse if you tried.” He gestured at my rumpled shirt.“I didn’t exactly stop to iron anything.”“Fair enough.”The lead investigator stood and set a black metal box on the table. “We recovered this during the search of Victor’s last safe house. Hidden under the floor.”“What is it?”“A private financial server.”“So he kept everything himself.”“He trusted computers more than

Cole’s PovThe moving truck pulled into the driveway just after nine in the morning. I stepped out of the house and looked toward the road. Sienna climbed out of the passenger seat with Ava beside her. Ava looked at the house and smiled so widely that I couldn’t help smiling too.“Are we really living here now?” she asked.I nodded. “We really are.”She jumped up and down. “This is our house!”Sienna laughed. “It is.”Ava grabbed both our hands. “Come on! We have to see everything again.”“We’ve already seen it.”“I know.” She grinned. “But now it’s officially ours.”I looked at Sienna. “I think she’s more excited than we are.”Sienna smiled. “I don’t think that’s possible.”Ava pulled us toward the front door. “Hurry!”As soon as we stepped inside, she ran from room to room. “My bedroom!” She rushed upstairs. “My bathroom!” A few seconds later she shouted again. “My closet!”I laughed. “She’s going to wear herself out.”Sienna slipped her hand into mine. “I’ve never seen her this hap

Eleanor’s PovI had rehearsed this conversation in my mind for years. No matter how many times I imagined it, I could never find the right words. Some mistakes were simply too large to explain away.That morning, I stood outside the lakeside house with my hand resting on the front door. For a long moment, I couldn’t bring myself to knock. Finally, I did.A few seconds later, the door opened. Sienna looked surprised. “Eleanor.”I gave her a small smile. “May I come in?”She studied my face before stepping aside. “Of course.”The house was quiet. I looked around. “It’s beautiful.”She smiled politely. “We’re still fixing it.”“It already feels like a home.”She looked toward the kitchen. “Would you like some tea?”“I would.”While she prepared it, neither of us spoke. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was simply heavy.She placed two cups on the dining table and sat across from me. “So…” She folded her hands. “You wanted to talk.”I nodded. “I owe you the truth.” She didn’t interrupt

Sienna’s PovI couldn’t stop staring at the documents spread across the dining table. Every page carried another piece of my past. Another answer. Another wound.Margaret had already gone home after spending most of the afternoon with Ava, leaving Cole and me alone in the lakeside house. The room was quiet. Too quiet.I picked up another report. It mentioned Gerald Hale again. His name no longer felt like the name of a stranger — it belonged to the man who had been my biological father. A father I had never known. A father who had died believing he’d lost his daughter forever.I slowly put the paper down. “It’s not fair.”Cole looked up from the coffee he was making. “No.”“It isn’t.” I laughed bitterly. “He spent years looking for me.”Cole nodded. “He did.”“And someone decided he didn’t deserve to find me.” He stayed silent. I shook my head. “They stole everything.”He walked over and sat beside me. “They stole his chance to be my father.” I looked at him. “They stole my chance to

I didn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Victor’s voice again. You blamed the wrong people. I used everyone. She never knew my real motive. The words refused to leave my head.I sat alone in my office long after midnight. The lights were off, only the desk lamp still burning. A stack of company reports sat in front of me, but I couldn’t read a single line.For years, I had believed I understood what happened to Cole. I had blamed Eleanor. I had blamed the board. I had even blamed Cole for making reckless decisions. Now I knew none of us had understood the truth. Victor had been moving every piece on the board while we argued with each other.I rubbed my face. The guilt wouldn’t leave.My office door opened quietly. Nate stepped inside carrying two cups of coffee. “I thought you’d still be here.”I looked up. “You know me too well.”He placed one cup on my desk. “You look terrible.”“I feel worse.”He sat across from me. “You’ve been thinking about Victor.”I nodded. “I can

The first snow of the season dusted the estate like powdered sugar as Celeste stood at the kitchen window, watching the soft flakes fall. The house smelled of fresh pine from the holiday decorations and cinnamon from the cookies baking in the oven. Sofia arrived with the children, her face showing the exhaustion of the long custody battle. "Mom, the final hearing is next month and I'm so scared. My ex is using every old story about our family to try to take more time with the kids. The youngest keeps having nightmares about being separated from me."Celeste wiped her hands on her apron and pulled her daughter into a tight hug, feeling the tension in Sofia's shoulders. "Come sit by the fire. I've made your favorite hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. The kids can help decorate the tree while we talk." Sofia managed a tired smile as the children ran to the big Christmas tree in the living room. "Thank you, Mom. These visits keep me going."Nico joined them in the living room, moving

The autumn leaves had turned deep red and orange across the estate, creating a beautiful backdrop as Celeste walked the garden paths with a light sweater wrapped around her shoulders. The crisp air carried the scent of falling leaves and distant woodsmoke. Sofia arrived with the children for a weekend stay, looking worn from the ongoing custody battles. "Mom, the next hearing is in two weeks and my ex is bringing up every old story about our family. The kids are asking so many questions. The youngest had another nightmare last night about being taken away."Celeste pulled her daughter into a warm embrace near the rose bushes, feeling Sofia's tired body relax slightly. "Come inside, darling. I've prepared your favorite roast chicken with all the sides. The kids can play in the leaves while we talk." Sofia managed a small, grateful smile as the children ran off to jump in the colorful piles. "Thank you, Mom. I feel like I can't breathe sometimes with all of this."Nico joined them on th

The late summer sun cast a golden glow over the estate as Celeste walked through the rose garden, the petals soft under her fingers. The sweet scent mixed with the warm breeze. Sofia arrived with the children for a weekend visit, her shoulders tense from another difficult week. "Mom, the court is considering his request for more time. He keeps bringing up our family arrangement like it's something bad. The kids are so confused. The youngest asked me yesterday if we were a broken family."Celeste pulled her daughter into a warm hug, feeling the exhaustion in Sofia's body. "Come sit on the patio. I've made fresh iced tea and sandwiches. The kids can play while we talk." Sofia managed a tired smile as the children ran toward the fountain. "Thank you. I feel like I'm drowning sometimes. The lawyer says we have a good case, but the process is killing me."Nico joined them, moving slowly with his cane, the lines on his face showing his own struggles. "Sofia, you're an incredible mother. We'

The golden light of early summer bathed the estate gardens as Celeste walked slowly among the blooming roses, their sweet scent filling the warm air. She paused to touch a soft petal, thinking about how far they had come and how new conflicts still found ways to challenge them. Sofia arrived for lunch with two of the children, her face showing the strain of months of legal battles. "Mom, the latest court filing is brutal. He's claiming our lifestyle is unstable for the kids. I stayed up all night preparing my response with the lawyers. I just want this to end so we can have peace."Celeste hugged her daughter tightly, feeling the tension in Sofia's shoulders. "Come inside. I've made your favorite lemonade. The kids can play in the garden while we talk." Sofia managed a small smile as the children ran toward the flowers. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you three." Nico joined them on the patio, moving carefully with his cane. "Sofia, you're doing everything right. We're pr

The first warm days of spring brought new flowers to the estate gardens, but inside the house new conflicts tested the family once again. Celeste stood at the kitchen counter chopping fresh vegetables for dinner, the knife making steady sounds against the cutting board. The smell of garlic and herbs filled the air. Sofia walked in carrying a stack of legal papers, her face pale and tired. "Mom, the ex just filed again. He wants the kids for the entire summer and is bringing up the whole twin thing in court. I don't know how to explain this to them without breaking their hearts."Celeste wiped her hands on a towel and pulled her daughter into a hug. "Come sit down. You've been carrying so much. How are the little ones handling it?" Sofia sank into a chair and rubbed her temples. "The middle one had another meltdown at school today. She asked me why Daddy doesn't love us anymore. It broke me, Mom. I feel like I'm failing them."Nico entered the kitchen slowly, his steps careful after hi

The winter wind howled outside the estate windows as Celeste stood in the warm kitchen, chopping vegetables for a large pot of stew. The smell of onions and herbs filled the air. Sofia walked in carrying her youngest child, looking exhausted with dark circles under her eyes. "Mom, the court date is next week and I'm terrified. He’s bringing up everything again — the twins, the contract, our whole history. The kids keep asking why Daddy is so angry with us."Celeste set down the knife and hugged her daughter tightly. "I know, sweetheart. It feels endless. But remember what we went through in the beginning. We chose each other every single day. You can do this too." Nico entered the room slowly, leaning on his cane a little more than usual. "Sofia, we're all behind you. The lawyers are good. We'll get through this." Eli followed, his face tired from long days at the office. "And the company is falling apart at the seams. Two more executives quit yesterday. They said the constant media n