Novel-novel oleh Maria-Grace

ISABELLA GARCIAFifteen hours, forty minutes, and ten seconds. That’s how long it’s been since I last held my baby’s hands.I was out for barely an hour, and Ethan…he never came back. That was it.The doctors said it was fast, and I want that to be my focus. I want to be grateful that he didn’t suffer.I’m his mother. How can I make this anything less than sad? How can I find a silver lining when my world is gone?Enzo was always at home. When he wasn’t in the main house, he was in the smaller quarters or out on the balcony.The furthest he ever went was the mall at the end of our street. It was a five-minute drive, and he’d come back full of questions.How are you? What do you want for dinner? Can I do anything to help? Talk to me. Please. Isabella, are you there?I shook my head just thinking about it. Anger rose in the back of my throat.I was angry. I had been angry since it happened.It wasn’t the kind of anger that made you want to smash things. It was heavier, colder.I hated

MARCO MARTINS “Let’s go, baby,” I said to Cleo, resting my hand on the small of her back. Cleo turned to Isa. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?” she asked. The thing was, Isa hadn’t said a single word about her son’s death and it had been hours. Isa turned around, her hands tucked deep into the sleeves of her kitten cardigan. With every passing second, she seemed to shrink further into herself. It was hard to watch, even for someone who didn’t like her. Isa shook her head, waved at Cleo, and we started toward the car. “Babe,” I called, but Cleo’s eyes stayed fixed on the back of Isa’s head even as I led her away. “If you guys had gotten here on time, you would have saved him,” Cleo told me. Her voice was low and sharp. She turned and glared at me as she freed herself from my grasp. “Where did you keep your phone, babe?” she asked with a smile that made me swallow hard. She “We were in a meeting,” I said, frustration slipping into my voice. “I’ve

ENZO MORETTIMarco wanted to sit beside Cleo. I moved to the side, and he slid in between us. Cleo had been quiet, but as soon as Marco came over, she turned to him. “Where did you keep your phone?” she asked. Then she turned to me, adding, “Where do the two of you keep your phones? Isn’t it supposed to be your phone for a reason?” “Cleo, you’re stressed,” Marco said, trying to hold her, but she pulled away from his grip. “And you’re both not stressed enough,” she shot back, spitting the words out. She held her head in her hands. “How did this happen?” Just then, the doctor walked out, stealing everyone’s attention. We all turned to her at once, desperate for news. “We’ve finished doing a full exam on her,” the doctor said in a professional, detached tone. “She needs to rest for a few hours before she’s back on her feet.” “Can we see her?” I asked. “Absolutely.” “And the little boy? How’s he?” I added. I caught a flicker of detachment in the doctor’s face, and something els

CLEO GARCIA Enzo burst through the hospital’s glass doors, his face a mix of panic and fury. “Where are they? What’s going on?” he demanded, firing questions at me before I could even catch my breath. Marco trailed behind him, looking tense but composed, following Enzo’s lead as they rushed into the chaotic scene. Both of them looked clean and fresh, untouched by the dirt, blood, and grime that clung to Maria and me. We’d been there when the explosion happened, caught in the aftermath, but we hadn’t arrived in time to stop it. Marco and Enzo weren’t even at the scene when it all went down. “They’re still inside with the doctors. We don’t know anything yet,” I told Enzo, my voice shaky from worry. “Arash was there, he helped get them—” Enzo cut me off, his eyes blazing. “Arash is one of their doctors? Keep that man away from my family!” he roared, his voice echoing in the hallway. Before I could stop him, he stormed through the door leading to Isa’s room, his anger driving his e

CLEO GARCIA The explosion was intense, reducing the car to a twisted, charred heap of metal in seconds. Everything nearby was thrown back by the force, including Isa and Ethan, who were caught in the blast’s violent push. Isa landed a few feet away from me, crumpled on the ground in a heap. I sprinted to her side, my heart racing, with Maria close behind me, her steps echoing my urgency. Isa stirred, letting out a soft groan of pain. She’d landed on her side, her hands instinctively clutching her head for protection. Her right elbow was badly bruised, and a thin stream of blood trickled from her hairline, running down her cheek and dripping onto the rough asphalt. I gently touched her face, my fingers trembling as she struggled to open her eyes, her expression dazed and pained. “Ethan!” I shouted, my voice cracking as I scanned the chaotic scene, my eyes darting frantically to find him. I turned to Maria, who was right behind me, her face pale but focused. “He’s a seve

ISABELLA GARCIA When I arrived back at the hospital, Ethan was ready, sitting on the edge of his bed. “Enzo didn’t come,” Ethan said softly, his eyes scanning the door behind me, hoping to see someone else walk in. His shoulders slumped as he sighed in defeat. “Why didn’t he come?” Ethan asked, his voice small and disappointed. I let out a sigh, not out of frustration but from the guilt draining me. Ethan deserved so much better, and I felt awful for not making his simple request to see Enzo happen. I should’ve done more to make it right for him. Then, an idea sparked in my mind. “Enzo couldn’t make it, but he sent a special ride just for you,” I told Ethan, trying to lift his spirits. I cringed inside, knowing I’d taken Enzo’s car without his permission and was now spinning a lie to Ethan about it to keep him hopeful. “Like a car?” Ethan asked, his eyes widening with a flicker of excitement. “Yeah,” I said, forcing a smile. “He said it’s the car he’ll use to take you out

There was no slowing down after that. Larissa didn’t want to. Miguel didn’t want to.Soon she was lying on the bed and her wedding gown was hunched around her thighs.She wanted to peel her stockings away and every other thing on her body. Those were the things Miguel’s hands were making her think of.He hovered above her, moving his lips to her neck and collarbone, devouring her face with his eyes tightly shut.Larissa couldn’t look at him long enough. She couldn't concentrate.He pushed the strap of her gown away with one movement.Miguel got up to remove his shirt. Larissa knew what to do to her gown.She was about to take the stockings off when he stopped her.“Leave it on for me.” He climbed over her and picked her leg up.He kissed a trail from her knee to her stomach, then draped her legs over his waist.They were both naked, burning for one another. It ached so bad Larissa thought she would go crazy.Miguel kissed her lips before she could say anything. What would she even say

Larissa’s heart was in the clouds for the rest of the day.The priest married them and asked her husband to kiss his bride. It was going to be her first kiss.Miguel held her face in his hands before he lowered his lips, taking what was now his.He tasted as good as he looked, even better. As soon as he was kissing her, Larissa couldn’t use her head again.He sucked on her bottom lip and she returned the favor. He pushed his tongue into her and the fiery dance for dominance started after that.It wasn’t a mere kiss to Larissa. The stars were twinkling at the back of her eyes already. Her fingers held onto him.He showed her the ropes with delicate yet hungry moves and it turned out to be the most magical first kiss ever.After the ceremony, they moved out of the cathedral to take pictures and that was when she saw the convoy he had come with.There were three cars lined up close to the gate. A man came down from the first car and walked over to them.“Angel this is my wife, Larissa Di

Miguel Sebastian stood in the center of the cathedral, like a god of gods. Everyone waited for him to do something. Larissa wanted him to take off his hat. She could see his hair peeping around the nape of his neck. It was probably long. His dressing was neat, a clean shirt and pants, ironed and drowsed with a moderately musk cologne. Miguel’s strides were as long as his legs and in less than a minute, he was at the front of the church. The time felt like forever to Larissa. It felt like he was a breath away from her when he was at least four feet away. He locked his eyes on hers and Larissa curled her toes. She did it to plant herself on the ground. Looking at him also felt too damn good her insides were curling and shouting with glee. Something she had not been all day until he came along. “You are beautiful,” he said, standing with his legs slightly apart. Larissa blinked. She parted her lips and breathed in first. “Thank you.” “How many brothers do you have?” Miguel wa

Things took a turn for the worse, something Larissa didn’t see happening. She was seated on the front row of the pews. Her brother and mother tried to calm her down. An hour passed and Liam wasn’t there. Hushed gossip was starting to fly around. Was Liam coming? Was he trying to humiliate her? Larissa squeezed her gown in her hands just as her brother, Asher, stood up. She turned at the sound of the door opening, hoping to see her soon-to-be husband but it wasn’t him. It was Mauley. His nickname was gotten from the word, Maul which was given to him because of his huge stature. He approached, carrying bad new. The entire church guessed it. He was here without Liam. That was a bad sign already. Asher met him halfway and Mauley whispered into Asher’s ears. After that, Mauley turned around and left. The church was silent. Everyone was waiting for the next shoe to drop. Larissa wished she could disappear. She deserved better. Asher returned to their seat with a fallen face.

Larissa stood in front of the mirror, looking at her gown. It was beautiful, but she didn’t feel happy. She was more nervous than anything. Even if the nerves went away, she still wouldn’t feel excited.Her father and brothers had chosen Liam to be her husband.“Mama, don’t tell me to smile,” Larissa said, her voice shaking. “I’m not happy.”Her mother stood behind her, brushing her long black hair. She always looked perfect, wearing the best clothes and jewelry. She was the Queen to her husband, one of the tri capi in New Jersey.“Do you know how much your gown cost?” her mother asked, shocked. “Look at you—you’re dressed like a princess. You should feel lucky.”But Larissa didn’t feel lucky. She felt stuck.“Liam comes from a good family,” her mother said, trying to make her smile.“But he’s not one of the tri capi,” Larissa replied. Liam wasn’t good enough for her. He had some money, and he looked okay, but that wasn’t enough. Larissa was sure she could even beat him in a fight if

STACY The contractions started to roll in by noon. One after another, getting stronger with time. The day had finally arrived, a day I had both anticipated and dreaded. Labor. As I sat on the edge of the bed, a wave of excitement surged through me, mingled with a healthy dose of apprehension. It was surreal to think that soon I would hold my baby girl in my arms. She would be ours, a tangible result of the love Jerome and I had nurtured over the years. I had taken classes about this and I didn’t want to worry my husband for nothing, but when it got stronger and harder to ignore, I called for him. “Jerome!” He came rushing into the room, his hair tousled and his face slightly flushed. He must have been napping, and the worried look on his face made my heart race. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” “I think it’s time,” I said, a nervous smile breaking through. His eyes widened as he processed my words. “Really? Like, right now?” He sounded both ecstatic and terrified. “Yeah,

JEROMETwo years later. Dark lashes fanned against her skin, the sun was soft against her flesh, her body slowly moving upward and downward, her breathing muffled on her pillow. That was the sight I had woken up to. I was the luckiest person on earth right now. I stayed perched on the edge of the bed, watching as the soft morning light took away sleep from my eyes. The sight before me was captivating: Stacy, my beautiful Stacy, lost in a peaceful slumber, her dark hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the serenity of the moment. We had come a long way since that first date, a day marked by confusion, heartache, and a beautiful, unguarded honesty that had laid the foundation for everything that followed. The journey hadn’t always been easy; there were still challenges to face and moments of vulnerability that left us both shaken. But together, we had built something extraordinary—a life filled with love, laughter, and mutual support.

STACY I still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. A joint date with Lisa? Lisa and Kiera. The thought swirled in my mind as I stood in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection. My fingers traced the hem of the dress I had picked out—simple, yet flattering enough for what felt like one of the strangest nights of my life. Lisa had convinced me, somehow, to go along with this. I wasn’t even sure how it all happened. One minute, we were awkwardly avoiding each other, and the next, we were laughing about how ridiculous it was that we were going on this double date. I heard a knock on the door and glanced at my phone—Lisa, of course, right on time. “Come in!” I called, still fussing with my hair. The door swung open, and Lisa waltzed in, her usual confidence trailing behind her. “Are you *still* getting ready?” she teased, flopping onto my bed. “You’re not gonna outshine me, no matter how hard you try.” I rolled my eyes, turning to face her. “It’s called looking presenta

STACY I woke up slowly, the warmth of the blankets making it hard to tell where the bed ended and my body began. The sunlight trickled in through the thin curtains, casting soft streaks of light across the room. For a moment, everything felt serene, like I could stay in this cocoon of warmth and silence forever. Then I realized Jerome wasn’t next to me. I rolled over, blinking sleep from my eyes, and saw the space where he should have been. The sheets were crumpled on his side, still warm. I heard the faint sound of water running and figured he must be in the shower. I lay there for a minute, listening to the sound of the water and feeling a strange sense of distance. It was odd, waking up without him beside me. We’d spent the night together, but it hadn’t felt as close as it usually did. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the cool floor, feeling the chill against my bare feet. The bathroom door was slightly ajar, letting out a cloud of steam. I peeked ins

JEROME Shooting that day had been intense. We were working on one of the final scenes, the kind that was supposed to be raw and emotional, but instead of saving it for later in the production schedule, the producers wanted to get it done early for promotional material. It was all part of the business. We had to sell the movie, and nothing sold better than a sneak peek of a climactic moment. The set was buzzing with activity. Lights were being adjusted, makeup artists hovered nearby, and the crew moved around, setting up equipment and whispering about the next shot. I felt the pressure building, but I was used to it by now. This wasn’t my first film, and it definitely wouldn’t be my last. Chase called for a break, and I seized the opportunity to step away for a bit. I’d been on set all day, and I needed a breather before getting back into the set. Besides, I had something else on my mind. I was supposed to meet up with Stacy after we wrapped up for the day. We had plans to see my

STACY Lisa had been gushing for weeks about how she was excited to introduce Jerome to Kiera. The way she talked about Kiera, with that glimmer in her eyes, made it impossible not to be happy for her. Everything was going to go fine today, I could already sense it. I was on shift that afternoon, taking orders and serving trays like usual. The restaurant wasn’t too packed, which gave me time to glance around and keep an eye on the door. Part of me was hoping they’d pick another spot, or maybe decide at the last minute that a fancy café was better suited for a first meeting like this. But, of course, that wasn’t Lisa’s style. She loved the casual vibe of Burger Trio, and it was one of the few places where she and Jerome could relax. The good thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them, the bad thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them. They made working hard and pleasurable. I was behind the counter when I saw them enter. Lisa was all energy, waving at m

SABRINA MORALES I wanted nothing more than to be alone when I stepped out of Mum’s apartment. My heart felt heavy, and I needed space to breathe and process everything. The ghost of our conversation lingered, pulling me into my thoughts as I walked away. My vision was blurry, clouded by stinging tears that refused to stay back no matter how hard I tried to hold them in. They welled up, spilling over, and I couldn’t stop them. Each tear carried a piece of the pain I felt inside, making it tough to see clearly. And trust me, I really tried. I fought to keep my emotions in check, to stay strong, but the tears kept coming. It was like my heart was pouring out through my eyes, and no amount of effort could stop the flood. I climbed into my car and drove off without looking back even once. I couldn’t bear to see Mum’s face in my mind again. The image of her expression was too much, too raw, and I needed to escape it for now. The look on Mum’s face haunted me, etched into my thoughts

BLAZE WILLIAMS “It’s not what you think,” I said to Mum, rushing to her side, my voice shaky. Mum pulled away, refusing to let me touch her. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, then shifted to Sabrina, narrowing with suspicion. “How long has this been happening?” Mum’s voice boomed, her anger aimed at me. After a moment, she blinked, shaking her head as if rethinking her words. “No, I shouldn’t even ask you,” Mum said, turning to jab her accusing fingers at Sabrina. “You started this, didn’t you?” Mum snapped at Sabrina. “How long have you been seducing my son? How long have you tried to wreck his life with your schemes?” Sabrina tucked her hair behind her ear, her hands wrapping tightly around herself for protection. “Me? You’re blaming me?” Sabrina cried, her voice cracking with shock as she let out a bitter chuckle. There was no trace of humor in her tone, only disbelief. “Yes, I blame you!” Mum shouted. “Who else? My son brought a date tonight. He’s committed to someone

SABRINA MORALES Marcy kept her eyes locked on Blaze, staring him down with a fierce intensity, even though he refused to meet her gaze. Blaze avoided her completely, his eyes darting to the table, then to his lap, anywhere but Marcy, who sat right next to him, her presence impossible to ignore. Marcy’s glare burned into the side of Blaze’s head, so intense I thought his skull might split open any moment. Her eyes were like lasers, unrelenting and sharp. “I think I should leave too,” Marcy said, her voice cold and final. She shoved her chair back with a loud scrape, and I couldn’t help but watch her, my disdain growing stronger by the second. I had promised myself I’d come here with an open mind, determined not to hate her just because she was Blaze’s date. I wanted to give her a fair chance. But after sitting with her for just five minutes, I wanted to kick her out the door. Sure, her being on Blaze’s arm fueled my resentment, but it was her siding with Leticia to attack my mo

CAROLINE MORALES “Are we waiting for someone?” Caroline asked as we all settled into our seats at the dining table. Everyone was here except my daughter, Sabrina, and I didn’t want to start the meal without her presence. “My daughter,” I replied to Caroline, my voice tight with frustration from having her in my home. I was still fuming because I didn’t think I should have been the one to answer Leticia’s question. Jo was sitting right next to me, so why couldn’t he have spoken up for me instead? “Oh,” Leticia said softly, her hands dropping to her lap beneath the table. “Have you tried calling her?” Blaze asked, reaching for his phone on the table. I stood abruptly, tossing my napkin onto the table with a sharp motion. “Excuse me,” I muttered before leaving the dining room. I didn’t glance back to see the expressions on anyone’s face. I started dialing Sabrina’s number when a knock came at the door. A wave of relief washed over me, and I clutched my chest, exhaling deeply.

CAROLINE MORALES I never imagined the next person to show up at our door would be Leticia, Joseph’s ex-wife. Jo and I were just stepping into the cozy living room when Jason headed to answer the doorbell. He swung the door open, and there stood Leticia on the other side. I recognized her face instantly, not just from old photos Jo had shown me, but from all the sneaky online stalking I’d done. I couldn’t help myself. I had spent hours scrolling through her profiles. Leticia was a dazzling lifestyle and fashion star, practically a celebrity. Her face graced magazine covers, her skin glowing like smooth butter, always soft, supple, and seemingly untouched by time. She had this radiant, ageless beauty that made her stand out. I would never confess to Jo or anybody that I made fake social media accounts just to keep tabs on Leticia’s posts. Nope, that secret was staying locked away, never to be shared with anyone. “Leti’s here,” Jo muttered beside me, his voice drippi

JOSEPH WILLIAMS Caroline’s giggles echoed through the living room as she squirmed to escape my playful chase. “Someone’s at the door, baby!” she called out, pulling away from my tickling fingers with a big smile. She darted around the couch, putting it between us like a barrier to keep me at bay. “Stop it, please!” Caroline said, still giggling uncontrollably. She clutched her stomach, trying hard to put on a stern face while giving me a warning look. “Whoever’s at the door can wait a minute,” I teased, wiggling my eyebrows at her playfully. Caroline shook her head, her laughter bursting out again, filling the room with joy. Seeing her distracted by her giggles, I seized the chance and crept around the corner of the couch to get closer. Caroline let out a surprised squeal when she saw me right beside her. She jerked back, dashing away with a playful scream. “Joseph!” she shouted, her voice breaking with laughter as tears of joy sparkled in her eyes. Caroline wiped her cheeks