Novel-novel oleh SableInk

♦♦♦♦A month had passed since Eleanor had vanished from the chaos that had consumed her life, since she had closed the door on the Hales, on Lucas, on Lewis, and on everything that had once felt familiar yet dangerous. The world felt quieter now, though the quiet was uneasy, a fragile peace balanced on the edge of the past she refused to revisit.She sat alone by the lakeside, her fingers grazing the surface of the water with absent-minded rhythm. The lake reflected the fading light of the afternoon sun, turning the ripples into shards of molten gold. Birds called somewhere in the distance, and the wind whispered through the trees, but Eleanor didn’t notice the beauty. She stared straight ahead, her back rigid, her expression unreadable, a mask she wore as protection against the world and against herself.A sigh escaped her lips, heavy and tired. She hadn’t cried in weeks, hadn’t allowed herself the weakness, yet the emptiness pressed against her chest relentlessly. She missed him. Sh

♦♦♦♦That evening, the corridor outside Eleanor’s hotel room was quiet, almost painfully still. The soft lighting along the walls cast long shadows across the polished marble floor, and the faint hum of the building’s air system was the only sound lingering in the space.Lewis stood in front of her door for a long time.His hand hovered near the handle, but he couldn’t bring himself to knock. His chest felt unbearably tight, every breath heavier than the last. For the first time in years, the powerful man who commanded fear and respect everywhere he went felt completely powerless.Slowly… painfully… he lowered himself to his knees in front of the door.The movement was deliberate, almost like a silent confession.“I don’t have an excuse,” he said quietly.His voice sounded rough, strained, as though the words were scraping their way out of his throat. He lowered his head, staring at the cold floor beneath him.“I fooled you… I hurt you… I doubted you.”His fingers curled into fists on

♦♦♦♦Vanessa’s scream pierced through the hall as she lunged for the phone, her trembling fingers trying desperately to stop the video playing on the screen.“Stop it! Stop it!” she shrieked, her voice cracking with panic.But it was too late.The video had already begun spreading across the devices in the room. One by one, screens lit up, reflecting the same horrifying footage. The sound echoed faintly as the recording continued to play, exposing everything she had tried so hard to bury.On the screen, Vanessa appeared in a dimly lit hotel room.Not alone.Nicholas was there.And another man.Her stepfather.The room fell into stunned silence.Shock rippled through everyone present as they watched the unmistakable scenes unfold.... moments of intimacy and betrayal that should never have existed. Gasps broke out among the onlookers, some turning their faces away in disbelief while others stared with wide, horrified eyes.Vanessa’s entire body trembled violently.“No… no… this isn’t re

♦♦♦♦Soon, D-Day arrived.It was Lewis’s inauguration day.The grand hall of the Hales company headquarters glittered under towering chandeliers, their golden light reflecting across marble floors and polished glass tables. Influential figures from across the city had gathered.... business leaders, politicians, investors, and media representatives.... all seated in perfect rows facing the elevated stage. Expensive perfumes mixed with the scent of wine and polished wood, creating an atmosphere of wealth and quiet tension.At the center of the VIP section, Eleanor sat gracefully beside Lewis as the chairman’s woman.She wore a deep red dress that clung to her figure with quiet elegance, her makeup bold yet refined. Her posture was flawless, her chin slightly lifted as though she had always belonged in such a powerful seat.Glass clicked softly around the room as guests lifted their drinks, murmuring politely. Many of them were not happy with the sudden rise of Lewis Hale to such a domin

♦♦♦♦Morning sunlight filtered gently through the hospital window.Eleanor stirred slowly in the bed, her eyelids fluttering open as consciousness returned.Her body felt heavy and sore, but the steady beeping of medical equipment confirmed she was safe.A hospital room.She attempted to sit up.Pain shot through her muscles immediately.“Easy.”A strong arm quickly reached out to support her.The deep voice vibrated softly beside her.“Are you okay now?”Eleanor blinked slowly and turned her head.Her eyes met his.“Lewis?” she whispered.He nodded quietly.The familiar aura surrounding him confirmed it even before he spoke again.Relief washed over her face.“How… did you find me?” she asked weakly.Lewis’s expression softened slightly as he helped her sit comfortably against the pillows.“It doesn’t matter,” he said simply. “You’re here now.”Before she could say anything else, he pulled her into a tight embrace.His arms wrapped around her with a firmness that spoke volumes. For t

♦♦♦♦The air inside the Hales ancestral mansion trembled with tension.“This is the last place her phone was used,” Lewis said coldly, his voice slicing through the massive hall like a blade. His presence alone felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were shrinking under the weight of his anger. “So don’t play dumb with me, Lucas.”The grand chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling trembled slightly from the echo of his voice. Every servant in the mansion had already retreated into the shadows, too afraid to be seen.Lucas stood several feet away, his expression twisting between shock and irritation.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied, though his brows furrowed deeply. Then something clicked in his mind, and his eyes widened. “Wait… Eleanor has been with you this whole time?”His voice rose with disbelief.“And you didn’t tell me?”Lewis’s jaw clenched tightly.“Is that why you kidnapped her?” he roared.The accusation exploded in the room like a thunderclap.L

##Chapter 116Author's POVHappy Ending.“Honey? I'm home!” Lucian entered the bedroom, looking for his wife, but he heard no response. “Where's my wife?!” He went to the living room, summoning the maids.“We have no idea, sir,” they claimed. “What?! How could she leave the house right now, and none of you notice?!” He roared, running his finger through his hair as he dialed her number.“Hello, Darren!” He panicked as he dialed his friend's phone. “Hel—” Darren was saying, but he cut in. “Is Bella there?” He asked hurriedly. “Yes, why are you asking? What's the problem?” Darren asked worriedly.“My wife is missing! Call Harry and others. I will go look for her!” Lucian requested before ending the call and zoomed out of the mansion. And Darren, on the other end of the phone, panicked.“Jordan!” Darren called his bodyguard. “Yes, boss.” Jordan bowed slightly. “Protect my girlfriend, don't stay far away from her, and don't let her go anywhere till I get back.” He ordered, and Bella looked

##Chapter 115The KidnappedMichelle's POV.“What!” Bella yelled at me as I screamed. “I only called you here to reunite. What are you doing in my sacred home?!” I shouted at her. “Sacred? How rude!” She scoffed at me.Darren was quiet as he tried to avoid being noticed. He dressed properly and wanted to excuse us because of our nonstop argument. “Take me with you. This house is suffocating enough. Sacred mansion?” She hissed as she clung to her man.“Do you want to stay at my place then?” He asked, caressing her hair, and she nodded. “C'mon, let's go,” he said, and took off his coat for her to cover up. “Bye, Michelle!” They both waved at me as they left eagerly.“Those two are surely up to something bad!” I giggled seeing how they were so affectionate as they walked. “Lucian!” I called my husband's name as I ran towards the study room.Some months after,Lucian found out the truth behind his mother's death. Sandra {stepsister} was the real murderer, not Belinda {stepmother}. The old

##Chapter 114ReuniteBella's POVA few weeks later,Morning arrives like a gentle whisper, brushing the edges of dreams with golden fingertips. The sky, once cloaked in velvet night, blushes with the first hints of rose and amber, as if the sun is shy to rise but cannot resist. I lay lazily on the bed as I stared at the unfamiliar tall window frame.After Michelle picked me up from Darren's mansion, I stayed in their mansion and made sure I was invisible. I couldn't stop thinking of Darren despite being away from him. I want to see him. God, I ache to see him. Just to hear his voice, to feel that quiet calm he carries like a second skin. I'd give anything to press my face into his chest and let the world disappear for a while, but— I can't.Not because I don’t love him—because I do. Maybe that’s the worst part. Quite dangerous.I’m not what he needs right now. Maybe I never was. There’s a darkness in me I can’t explain, a storm that never quite passes. I’ve tried to keep it quiet, tr

##Chapter 113Lucian's POVRuined!I felt so bad in those moments; everything else faded away. The world shrinks to the space between us, the sound of her breath, and the scent of her skin. It's a raw, intimate connection, a reminder of the deep bond we share. I pull her close, and she buries her face in my chest. At that moment, all I wanted was to be her safe harbor, her comfort, her steady presence in the storm, but realizing I was the cause of her worries made me so sad.'She smiles so brightly that I barely noticed she was having such issues,' I mulled in my head as I patted her back. “You have nothing to worry about, Michelle. I will never do such a thing to you, you can rest assured. Your husband will never make you cry.” I kissed her neck, and she nodded.“Come here,” I carried her into my arms and walked towards the bed. I placed her down gently. “Babe,” I caressed her cheeks and stared into her eyes. “Huh?”“You are right about the investment, but it wasn't Darren's opinion.

##Chapter 112CheatingMichelle's POV“What's wrong? Why did he call sounding like that?” I panicked after hearing my friend's name. “What happened to Bella?” I asked Lucian, who was still trying to reach his friend.“I don't know either,” he mumbled worriedly. “Let's go to his place then; I think something bad is happening.” I said, trying to get dressed. “Calm down, Michelle; he would take care of it.” He said it with confidence even though he was worried.“No, Lucian, we should go check up on them.” “Michelle, it's raining!” he exclaimed, and I calmed down a little bit. He helped me sit down. “It's okay, I'm sure Darren will take proper care of whatever situation.” He reassured.“Why would Bella run away? Your friend is so unreliable.” I scoffed angrily. “Don't assume yet; Darren is responsible and won't do anything stupid.” Lucian defended him, which made me angry knowing that my friend wouldn't do anything unless it was reasonable.“Huh? Really? I'm sure your friend hurt her feel

##Chapter 111Breaking upBella's POV“Why did you walk inside the rain? What if you get sick?” He mumbled, drying my hair up. I didn't say a single word after going back to the mansion because I couldn't find the right word to use.I didn't want to leave him, but I didn't find him reliable. What if she later has her way in the future? What if he doesn't really love me? I couldn't stop thinking as he changed my clothes for me.I sighed heavily, thinking of what I did to Gina Adams earlier. I knew I shouldn't have done that, but I was just scared that he might give in.“Wear this; you can get changed when you go back to your room.” He mumbled, giving his shirts to change into. “Take care of yourself first; you are drenched. The stock price will be affected if you have a headache only; I don't want the whole country to come for me.”“Oh, that's caring coming from you,” he smiled, and he started taking off his clothes. “Go inside and do that,” I said, looking sideways. “This is where I ch