Novels by H.I Pearl

Dear Amazing Readers, Wow. What a journey this has been! From the very first chapter to this final moment, you have been with me, turning every page, feeling every emotion, and living through every twist and turn alongside Sophie and Julian. Writing this story has been an incredible experience, but what made it truly special was you—the readers who believed in it, supported it, and followed it through to the very end. Your love, your comments, your gems, your excitement, and even your theories kept me going. I am beyond grateful for each and every one of you. Your time, your emotions, and your dedication mean the world to me. Whether this story made you smile, cry, gasp, or swoon, I hope it left an imprint on your heart, just as you have left one on mine. This isn’t just my story—it’s our story. And though we’ve reached the end of this chapter, remember, every ending is just the beginning of something new(like my next book; please check it out🙃) Thank you for being a part of this

SIX YEARS LATER Sophie’s POV "Good morning, beauty." A deep, familiar voice broke through my peaceful sleep, and I felt a warm presence near me. Slowly, I fluttered my eyes open, adjusting to the morning light streaming through the curtains. Julian stood beside the bed, a soft smile on his lips, holding a tray of breakfast in his hands. "Good morning, honey," I murmured, stretching lazily before sitting up. A wave of warmth filled me at the sight before me—a plate of golden-brown toast, a perfectly fried egg, and a steaming cup of tea. My stomach grumbled in approval, making me smile. Julian placed the tray gently on the bed and sat on the edge, watching me. "I made breakfast for you," I glanced at him, my heart swelling with love. "Thank you, honey." His smile widened, and without warning, he leaned in, tilting his head to kiss me. I quickly turned my face away, causing him to freeze mid-motion. "Huh?" He blinked. I chuckled, pressing my lips together. "I haven’t brushed my

Chapter 118 Sophie’s POV It had been three hell long days since Julian fell into a coma. His face, once so vibrant and full of life, was now pale and drawn, the oxygen tubes were gone but there was still IV drips connected to his hand. His lips were slightly parted, and his chest rose and fell weakly beneath the hospital gown, but there was no other sign of movement. I sat beside him, my fingers laced through his, unable to look away from his still form. I tightened my grip on his hand, my voice barely above a whisper. "Julian, can you hear me?" No response. My throat tightened as I swallowed hard, forcing back another wave of despair. I wished for even the faintest sign of acknowledgement. I missed him—his laughter, his warmth, his voice, everything that made him who he was. "Do you remember when you first told me you loved me?" I continued, my voice trembling. "You said it so casually, as if you had always known. And I was so scared… scared that if I believed it, I’d los

Chapter 117 Sophie’s POV The ambulance doors slammed shut, and we sped through the city, sirens wailing. My hands trembled as I clutched Julian’s, his skin cold and clammy. His face was too pale, his lips slightly parted as he struggled for breath. "Stay with me, Julian," I pleaded, my voice shaking. "Please, don’t close your eyes." He tried to smile, but it was weak. His eyelids fluttered, his body barely holding on. "No, no, no," I sobbed, pressing my forehead against his. "You promised me. You said you wouldn’t leave me. You can’t break your promise now." The paramedics worked frantically, pressing gauze against his wound, checking his vitals. "He's losing too much blood," one of them muttered. "Do something!" I screamed. "We're doing everything we can," another paramedic said, trying to keep me calm. I swallowed back my panic and looked at Julian again. His chest rose and fell weakly, each breath looking more labored than the last. "I love you, Sophie," he whi

Chapter 116 Sophie’s POV The sound of the gunshot echoed in my ears, deafening. My body tensed, my breath hitched, and for a moment, I swore my heart had stopped. But there was no pain. I wasn’t hit! Slowly, I opened my eyes, my body trembling, my breath ragged. My heart pounded so loudly it nearly drowned out everything else. Celine—or rather, Victoria—was standing there, her face twisted in rage. But her grip on the gun had faltered, her hands shaking slightly. Then I noticed—someone had tackled her from the side. The gun had fired, but not at me. My breath came in short, uneven bursts as my eyes fell on the person who had tackled her. Julian. He was there, gripping Victoria’s wrist, twisting it painfully as she shrieked in frustration. The gun clattered to the floor, skidding across the rooftop. Victoria struggled wildly, her breath ragged with anger. "Let me go, you bastard!" she spat. "Not this time." Julian’s grip tightened as he shoved her backward, pinning her agains

Chapter 115 Sophie’s POV "How do I look?" I asked, turning to Julian while smoothing down the fabric of my red off-shoulder gown. The silky material hugged my curves perfectly, flowing elegantly to my feet. Julian’s gaze softened as he stepped closer, his lips curving into a fond smile. "You look as stunning as always," he murmured, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. His touch was gentle, affectionate, and when he leaned down to press a kiss on my forehead, warmth spread through me. Then, he kissed me lightly on the lips, making my heart skip a beat. "Thank you, hubby," I whispered, "You made this happen. You made everything happen. If someone had told me a year ago when I got here that everything would turn out like this, I would have asked them to shut up." Julian chuckled, his fingers tilting my chin up so I could meet his gaze. "Why?" he asked. I sighed, shaking my head at how absurd it all seemed now. "Because I never thought I would fall in love with yo

Pearl's POV “What the hell are you saying, Mom, Dad?” I shot up from the chair so fast the lilac bridesmaid dress nearly knocked over the vanity table behind me. I hate this dress. I have hated this dress since Vivienne picked it out three months ago and announced it was what her bridal train would be wearing, because Vivienne never once in her life considered whether something worked for anyone other than her.But I still wore it. I wear things that don't fit me so that my family can have what they need. Story of my life.“Pearl, you have to save your family…” Mom started, stepping toward me with that face. I know that face. She pulls it out every time she needs me to clean up one of Vivienne's messes.It has always been like that. I've always been the one clearing Vivienne’s mess, every fuck time. They are always doing everything for her as if I'm not their daughter. "By getting married to a complete stranger?" I cut her off. "Mom, do you hear yourself right now? Do you actually h

Darien's POV "This ceremony must be flawless. There can be no mistakes, no interruptions, no room for anyone to challenge the legitimacy of the binding." I said to the priest. "I understand, Alpha. I have performed many binding ceremonies in my years. This one will be no different." "This one is very different." I corrected her sharply. "This one is binding a child who isn't hers by birth. That makes it more complex, more delicate. The magic must be strong enough to sever his connection to his real mother and forge a new one with Velra. Can you do that?" The priestess hesitated for just a moment before nodding. "Yes, Alpha. As long as the circle is perfect and the ritual is performed correctly, the binding will hold." "See that it does." I said, my voice carrying a clear threat. I turned away from the platform and surveyed the rest of the hall. The seating area spread out in front of the platform in a semicircle. Rows and rows of wooden benches were being arranged by wo

Darien's POV "This ceremony must be flawless. There can be no mistakes, no interruptions, no room for anyone to challenge the legitimacy of the binding." I said to the priest. "I understand, Alpha. I have performed many binding ceremonies in my years. This one will be no different." "This one is very different." I corrected her sharply. "This one is binding a child who isn't hers by birth. That makes it more complex, more delicate. The magic must be strong enough to sever his connection to his real mother and forge a new one with Velra. Can you do that?" The priestess hesitated for just a moment before nodding. "Yes, Alpha. As long as the circle is perfect and the ritual is performed correctly, the binding will hold." "See that it does." I said, my voice carrying a clear threat. I turned away from the platform and surveyed the rest of the hall. The seating area spread out in front of the platform in a semicircle. Rows and rows of wooden benches were being arranged by wor

Darien's POV "Replace this flower with grey. I'm not a fan of pink. We aren't doing a baby shower." I said sharply, my voice cutting through the busy noise of preparation. My tone left no room for discussion or disagreement. The last thing I needed was this hall looking soft and feminine. This was a binding ceremony, a display of power and control, not some cheerful celebration. The guy arranging the flowers immediately nodded, his head bobbing up and down quickly in submission. "Yes, Alpha! Right away, Alpha!" He stammered, nearly dropping the vase he was holding in his haste to obey. His hands were shaking slightly as he set it down on a nearby table. He gestured frantically to his colleagues, waving his arms to get their attention. They rushed over, all of them working together to gather up the offensive pink flowers. Their movements were hurried and clumsy, petals falling to the floor as they tried to move quickly enough to satisfy me. They hurried off toward the back of the

FLASHBACK CONTINUES Ava's POV "Ava, you can't do this. Please, listen to us this once. Don't do anything drastic." Rhea cried out from the other side of the door, her voice breaking. I could hear her pressed against the metal, could imagine her hands flat against it, trying to reach me through the barrier between us. "No words can get to me. I already made up my mind." I cried back, my voice shaking. I was holding the hard part of the knife handle, gripping it tightly as I looked at the tip that was shining under the kitchen lights. I was going to end it right now and here. Right in this kitchen where I'd made so many meals, where I'd laughed with friends, where I'd fed my baby and Thorne. "Ava, please. Just don't do anything." Nathan pleaded, his deeper voice joining the others. I could hear the fear in his tone, something I'd never heard from him before. "I promise you I'll find a solution as soon as possible. Thorne will regain his memory and bring Kaelen back home

Darien's POV "This ceremony must be flawless. There can be no mistakes, no interruptions, no room for anyone to challenge the legitimacy of the binding." I said to the priest. "I understand, Alpha. I have performed many binding ceremonies in my years. This one will be no different." "This one is very different." I corrected her sharply. "This one is binding a child who isn't hers by birth. That makes it more complex, more delicate. The magic must be strong enough to sever his connection to his real mother and forge a new one with Velra. Can you do that?" The priestess hesitated for just a moment before nodding. "Yes, Alpha. As long as the circle is perfect and the ritual is performed correctly, the binding will hold." "See that it does." I said, my voice carrying a clear threat. I turned away from the platform and surveyed the rest of the hall. The seating area spread out in front of the platform in a semicircle. Rows and rows of wooden benches were being arranged by work

Cassius's POV"The bullet in her forearm passed through cleanly...it entered and exited without lodging, which is the best possible outcome for that wound. It has caused muscle damage that will need to be properly cleaned and sutured, but that one is the most straightforward of the three."The doctor paused there, just briefly, the way doctors do when they're about to move from the good news to everything else.I was listening. I was hearing every word. But part of my mind kept drifting back to the last thirty minutes — to rushing through those hospital doors with Crystal in my arms, to the way the nurses had swarmed around her the second they saw the blood, to all the things they had done to her since then that I stood outside and watched through a small rectangular window in a door, understanding almost none of it but unable to make myself walk away.I had never felt this helpless in my life. Not once. Not in all the years of building what I had built, surviving what I had survived,

Cassius's POV"Should I stop?" Raven asked, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror for a split second."No, don't." The words left my mouth before I could think about them properly, even though everything inside me was screaming the opposite.I turned slightly in the back seat, my jaw tight, and watched through the rear window as Crystal ran after the car. Her legs were moving fast, her arms pumping at her sides. My chest did something strange at the sight of her — something I didn't like, something I didn't want to name. Then, as if she finally realized it was pointless, she slowed down and stopped. She then stood there for a brief moment in the middle of the road, chest heaving, and then turned and walked away.I kept watching long after she disappeared from view.Fuck.I faced forward, settling deeper into the cool leather seat, and rubbed a hand down my face. I was supposed to be angry. That was the plan — stay angry, stay cold, keep distance. Anger was easy. Anger was somethin

Zara's POVNever in my life. Not even in my wildest, most twisted dream, would I have ever thought the person who wanted Cassius dead, the same person who had my sister killed, the same person who handed Xander that mission that eventually landed in my hands...was someone I had already met.Someone I had already spoken to.My stomach dropped. The realization hit me like a bucket of ice water straight to the face. That son of a gun who helped me get into the club that night. He was behind everything? He was the one pulling the strings this whole time?I searched my brain, clawing through my memory for his name. Nothing. I couldn't grab it. It kept slipping like wet soap between my fingers, and that frustrated me even more.Wait.So when he approached me at the club and helped me entered, he already knew exactly who I was. He knew my name, he knew my face and he still walked up to me like we were strangers meeting by chance.What an absolute asshole.My jaw tightened. My grip on the gun

Zara's POV "Your phone..." Raven's voice cut through as I stumbled outside the hospital. I barely registered his words. My legs were moving but I didn't know how. There was no strength in them, no life. I was just staggering forward, one foot in front of the other, like a zombie. I ignored Raven completely, acting like I didn't hear a single word he just said. My eyes stared straight ahead at nothing. What would I take the phone that beast got for me for? I don't want anything from him. I don't want anything from anyone. My sister was dead. The thought kept circling in my head, over and over, like a song I couldn't stop playing. Dead. Zylara was dead. Gone. Never coming back. Even when I'd been working as an assassin all these years, there was never any threat on my sister or me. It was always a clean job - get in, do what needed to be done, get out. Nobody ever came after me. Nobody ever knew who I was. So why is Cassius's situation different? Why do I have to suffer for his bad

Zara's POV This is it. This is the moment that's going to change everything. Part of me wanted to keep my eyes closed forever. If I never looked, then I'd never have to know. I could stay in this horrible in-between place where my sister might still be alive somewhere. Where there was still hope, still a chance. But I had to look. I had to know. My eyelids felt heavy, like they were fighting against me. My heart was beating so fast and so hard I thought it might explode right out of my chest. I could feel it in my throat, in my ears, everywhere. Thump-thump-thump-thump, over and over like a drum. Please. Please. Please. I didn't even know what I was begging for anymore. For it not to be there? For this all to be some horrible nightmare I could wake up from? My hands wouldn't stop shaking. The white sheet trembled in my grip. Just look. Just open your eyes and look, Zara. You have to know. The cold air of the mortuary bit at my skin. I could smell the chemicals they used to pr

Zara's POVCan it just not be my sister, God? I can't help but feel the fear in my whole body, like ice water running through my veins. My hands won't stop shaking. What if it really is my sister? What if it turned out I couldn't save her? Ahhh, no. Zara, don't think that way. Don't go there."Crystal...wait!" Cassius called out as I rushed out of the jet.I spun around, anger mixing with my fear. "What again? What do you want from me?! Haven't you done enough? You want to add more to it?" The words came out harsh and loud, but I didn't care. I didn't wait for his reply either. I just turned and headed straight into the hospital, my legs moving faster than my brain could keep up.The hospital smell hit me immediately - that clean, chemical smell that makes your nose burn. I hated it. I hated everything about being here."How can we help you, ma'am?" The first nurse I ran into said. She had a kind face, but I couldn't focus on that right now."I'm here to see the corpse that was claim