Novel-novel oleh James J. Monroe

The office was quiet except for the soft click of a keyboard. Arabella sat behind her desk wearing a navy dress that fit her well, and her hair was pulled back in a neat bun. Her eyes stayed on the spreadsheet in front of her as she was already working on a financial analysis for a new acquisition, even though the morning had barely started.Once, her phone vibrated."Roman Vale has filed for paternity rights" is an unknown number.She gazed at the text, and her fingers stopped on the keyboard for a moment.Then, without a word, she pushed back from her desk and stood.Her voice was calm as she called out."Philip."Her assistant entered right away with a pile of documents. "Yes?"She handed him the phone.Without saying a word. She just passed it over.When he read it, His face shifted, and his jaw was clenched; his eyes flicked up to hers."Already?" He whispered, with a thick voice full of disbelief. "He wasted no time."She opened the filing cabinet behind her without looking at

When her office door buzzed, Arabella was discussing the terms of her contract with Philip. Sophie was dozing off on the couch in the room's corner, tucked under a blanket, at almost 6:30.Philip looked at her, then at the door. "Are you expecting anyone?"Arabella didn't raise her gaze. "No."Philip walked across the room, looked at the monitor, and then tensed up. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.Arabella's eyebrow went up. "Who is it?"Slowly, he turned. "Vale Roman."Her fingers froze on the keyboard.She raised her head. "Give him access."Philip blinked ,Uncertain. "Are you sure?"Arabella gave one nod as she spoke in a cool and even icy tone. "Yes."Philip hesitated for a breath, then pressed the unlock button.The door opened.Roman step in.He didn't resemble the man but she remembered. The haughty groom in an ivory tuxedo was no longer there. A man with tighter, older, and heavier features now stood in front of her.He stopped in the doorway as He glanced around th

Just as the sun started to peek through the heavy clouds over New York City, the private plane landed.When the wheels hit the runway, Arabella didn't flinch. Besides her sat Sophie, now four, wearing a navy blue coat and holding a stuffed fox. Her curious eyes were wide."Did you once reside here?" Peeking through the window, Sophie asked.Arabella gave a small smile. “Yes, Long ago”Like a wise child who knows more than she should, Sophie nodded in agreement.Silent as they disembarked ,No cameras, Not a crowd. Elle Laurent was an unknown name. Nobody was aware that the woman exiting the aircraft was the fugitive bride who had been featured in gossip columns.A man wearing a grey coat, wire-frame glasses, and an iPad was standing at the bottom of the stairs.He said, "Miss Laurent." Greetings from New York. The car is set up by me and the security detail is already in place, and your apartment has been prepared.Arabella gave a nod. "Philip, thank you."He gave Sophie a soft smile.

On the way back from the church ,it was too still as if one wrong movement might shatter her but Arabella remained silent.With her veil in her lap, she sat in the back of the car and gazed out the window as if her soul had been torn from her body. The driver kept glancing in the rearview mirror, unsure whether to say something or pull over and let her fall apart in peace. But he said nothing because what could anyone say?Silence pressed in, thick and brutal.Now her wedding gown felt like a costume ,a cruel and silk-stitched joke.She jolted back to life as the car turned onto her family's estate."No," she said in a raw whisper. "Avoid taking me there."The driver reduced the speed. "Miss Graham?"Anywhere else. “Simply ……not there,”. she said.The man paused. "Where should I go?"Arabella didn’t blink, she didn’t cry either.She just stared ahead with eyes dry and burning, as if tears had betrayed her too.Everything inside her was trembling, Screaming and shattering.But all she

“You don’t have to keep smiling like that, you know that your cheeks are shaking,” her mother said, as she tugged lightly at the edge of Arabella’s veil. “It’s your wedding, not a photo shoot.”Arabella didn’t answer as her eyes were fixed on the mirror in front of her.Everything looked perfect.The lace gown clung to her like a second skin.The pearls on her neck caught the light, and her lipstick was a soft red.The exact shade Roman had once said made her look beautiful.But inside, her stomach felt tight.It was supposed to be the most joyful day of her life."I'm just… nervous," she said finally.Her mother laughed, "Every bride is nervous, that's why you have bridesmaids and champagne”.Arabella looked at the glass on the dresser where she had almost picked it up before, but her hands were too shaky"You look gorgeous, darling," her mother said as she took a step back and smoothed Arabella's gown's bodice.She managed to say, "Thank you," in a hardly audible voice.In reality,