Novels by SableInk

♦♦♦♦Two days later, Vanessa was discharged from the hospital and returned to the mansion.The atmosphere in the house had not improved....if anything, it had grown heavier.Things were still awkward between Lewis and Eleanor. He continued to show her subtle advances, lingering touches, prolonged gazes, and unnecessary concern, but Eleanor rejected him each time with calm restraint. Each rejection chipped away at Lewis’s confidence, making him feel inferior to his brother in ways he had never allowed himself to feel before.Yet Eleanor knew her restraint was thinning.The moment she saw Lucas step back into the house, she knew everything would slowly return to its rightful path.The pieces were falling into place.“Eleanor!” Vanessa called out brightly, her voice filled with exaggerated excitement as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her.Eleanor did not move.She didn’t return the hug. She didn’t smile. She didn’t even blink.She simply stared at Vanessa like she was obs

♦♦♦♦“Why can’t we just talk here?” Lewis asked, slowing his steps as he gestured toward a wooden bench beneath the dim garden lights. His tone was calm, but his eyes searched her face relentlessly. “Or are you trying to run away from me?”“Of course not,” Eleanor shook her head immediately and followed him, sitting quietly beside him. The cool surface of the bench seeped through her thin dress. “Why should I?”Lewis exhaled, leaning back slightly, his elbows resting on the bench as he stared ahead. “You’re getting married to my brother soon,” he said suddenly. “Are you happy?”The question struck her harder than she expected.For a brief moment, Eleanor stayed silent. The night air seemed to thicken between them. Then she nodded slowly.“He’s been good to me,” she replied softly. “I’m sure we’ll be fine after this misunderstanding.”Lewis turned to her at once. “How?” he asked carefully. “You like him? Since when?”That was it.Eleanor saw straight through him....and she decided to p

♦♦♦♦The air between them grew heavy, thick with words left unsaid. Lewis stood still, his face unreadable, refusing to reply even though everyone in the room seemed to expect something from him. The truth was simple....he had no intention of joining the company, not now, not ever. Whatever they wanted from him, he had already decided long ago.“Apologize to Eleanor when you get discharged,” Lewis finally said, his voice calm but edged with authority.Vanessa stiffened, then nodded hurriedly, fear flickering across her face. She lowered her gaze, swallowing hard, as though afraid he might change his mind if she hesitated for even a second.Lewis cast Lucas one last look....cold, sharp, unreadable....before turning to leave. But just as his hand brushed the door, he halted.Two familiar figures were approaching down the corridor.Their footsteps were measured, their expressions unpleasant and stern, as though the hospital air itself offended them.“Dad. Mom.” Lucas walked past Lewis wi

♦♦♦♦The knock echoed softly against the wooden door.Once.Twice.Eleanor waited.Nothing.The silence pressed against her ears, thick and deliberate, as though the house itself was holding its breath. Slowly, her fingers tightened around the shirt in her hand...the fabric wrinkling, twisting under her grip.“He left again?” she muttered, the words laced with restrained irritation.Her jaw clenched.Without waiting any longer, she turned and walked down the hallway, her steps echoing faintly against the polished floor. The living room greeted her with emptiness...no guards standing at attention, no murmured conversations, no trace of Lewis’s presence.Sunlight streamed lazily through the tall windows, dust motes floating in the air, undisturbed. Everything looked calm. Too calm.“Where’s Lewis?”She stopped a maid passing by, her voice sharp enough to cut through the quiet.The maid slowed only briefly, casting Eleanor a dismissive glance before walking past her as if she hadn’t spok

♦♦♦♦Inside Eleanor’s room, everything was quiet again.She carefully placed her necklace back where it belonged, hiding it with deliberate precision, as if sealing away both grief and leverage. Then she turned toward the mirror and changed into a deep red nightdress....thin straps, fabric clinging just enough to hint at temptation without giving everything away.She kept her makeup nude and minimal. Plain. Soft. Beautiful.Lewis would notice.She moved toward the bed, intending to sit, but a thick, familiar voice stopped her.“Can I come in?”The question felt almost absurd....the door was still hanging crooked on its hinges, broken from Lucas’s earlier kick. Yet Lewis stood there anyway, waiting.“Lewis,” she nodded, offering a gentle smile that looked harmless on the surface.He stepped inside slowly.His eyes lingered.Not rushed. Not shy.Like a man savoring dessert he had missed for far too long.The red gown barely covered her thighs, and the upper fabric was sheer enough that

♦♦♦♦Lewis’s gaze lingered on Eleanor, filled with curiosity and a growing impatience. He could sense she was holding something back, and the silence between them felt heavy, almost suffocating.“Come on, Eleanor,” he urged softly, his brows drawing together. “Tell me.”She swallowed, her fingers tightening around the bedsheet as if anchoring herself.“It… it contains my grandfather’s hair and ashes,” she finally declared, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over.Lewis froze.“What?” His eyes widened in shock. “Ashes....your…” He couldn’t finish the sentence.He dragged a hand down his face, exhaling sharply as guilt crashed over him like a wave.“When did this happen?” he asked quietly, his tone suddenly careful.“The first day of the year,” Eleanor replied, her lips trembling. “At midnight.”Lewis felt something twist painfully in his chest. “Why didn’t you tell us?” He paused, then asked more slowly, “Is Lucas aware of this?”“No,” she shook her head fain

##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