Novels by UniqueB

His fingers drummed slowly on the steering wheel as Howard sat in his car parked in front of a house. At last, he had received the information—his spy had sent him Richard's location. Following weeks of frustration, missed opportunities and dead ends, Howard had finally secured a location. This was it. The house in question was located across the street, quiet and unremarkable, sandwiched between two others that bore a striking resemblance. The curtains were closed, and although the front yard was messy, it wasn't suspicious.Aaron and Marie had come from the one where his informant had sworn. The key was patience. He watched, looking for any movement, anyone coming or going, or anything strange. Time passed slowly.Aside from the distant barking of a dog and the occasional chirp of a bird, the neighbourhood was quiet. He didn't want anyone to notice. Not at this time. Carefully opening the car door, he stepped out once he was sure no one was looking.He silently closed it after he c

In Susann's head, the years were a jumble of memories, some too painful to remember, some too raw to confront. When her eyes closed, Susann briefly found herself back in the old run-down house she had once called home rather than in her room in the mansion. Situated in a forgotten corner on the outskirts of town, the place was small and dilapidated, and the air was heavy with the stench of decay.She could still hear the sounds of her past, the cries of a young woman who had been abused and had had her spirit gradually crushed.Susann was a completely different person thirty years ago than she is today. She had been desperate, broke and impoverished. Her life had been turned into a nightmare by her husband, a man driven by anger and alcohol.The sting of his blows landing on her body, his irate outbursts and his drunken tirades were the same every night. The violence persisted despite her repeated vows to be a better wife and her entreaties for him to stop. The storm would recommence

The soft carpet beneath her feet muffled the sound of Susann's footsteps as she moved slowly down the hallway.Every beat seemed louder than the last as she felt her heart thumping in her chest. Her thoughts were jumbled, and her breathing was shallow as though a storm were building inside her head. Like she was trying to block out the world, she quietly closed the door behind her when she arrived at her room.Her nerves were not much calmed by the deep breath she took while leaning back against the door. She felt as though the room's walls were closing in on her and that their silence was choking her. Despite its grandeur, the room felt incredibly empty and lonely.Everything that should have made her feel more at ease—the heavy drapes, the flickering candlelight, the soft, elegant furnishings—only served to increase her sense of loneliness. Her thoughts strayed back to the conversation that had broken the fragile silence she had attempted to preserve in Howard's study.Like a dull t

The burden of the day still hung over Aaron and Marie as the car pulled into the driveway of the mansion. The only sound that broke the hush that fell upon them was the gentle hum of the engine as Aaron shifted the vehicle into park.Exhausted from the emotional farewell and the long hours that followed, Marie unbuckled her seatbelt and sighed softly. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the seat in an effort to find some rest. It had taken a toll on her, and Aaron could see it in her eyes and the fatigue in her posture.Susann, along with several maids, emerged at the front door to meet them as the car's doors opened. Although her smile was friendly and welcoming as usual, Aaron couldn't help but notice something strange about her attitude.The clarity and sharpness he had grown accustomed to seeing in her eyes were absent. Aaron could sense something wasn't right, even though she was trying to hide it as she stood there with her arms folded across her

They walked toward the car with Aaron holding Marie’s hand tenderly. As they crossed the driveway, the cool, crisp evening breeze pulled at their clothing. Like a thick cloud that neither could dispel, the weight of their farewell lingered between them.Despite the redness and swelling in her eyes from the tears, Marie walked slowly and deliberately beside Aaron. Her suffering was visible even in the shadows.“Are you sure you're okay?” With a gentle squeeze on her hand, Aaron asked. Although he had hoped his words would calm her, he could sense the weight of her grief. Marie nodded, although it was obvious that she was still taking it all in.She said, “I'll be fine” in a slightly shaky voice. “It's just. Saying goodbye to him is difficult, you know. I doubt I've ever felt so devoid. She now felt as though she was losing a part of herself because of how final their separation was.“I understand,” he said softly, “But your father was correct. This is not a permanent farewell. He'll

Marie and Richard sat across from one another in the quiet living room, the soft evening light filtering through the windows. Their silence was brimming with emotions and unsaid words. Aaron watched the tender moment between father and daughter from the doorway, his face unreadable.With emotion in his voice, he remarked, “Marie, you've come a long way.” As he held her hand, it shook a little. “The amount of time that has gone by is unbelievable. I wish I could have witnessed it all.”For the past few hours, Marie had been fighting back tears, but they still managed to escape. She sobbed softly and brokenly as the floodgates opened. The weight of the words made her voice waver as she whispered, “Dad, I'll miss you so much. This is not what I wanted to happen. I wish we were still together as we once were.”Richard felt a knot in his heart. His darling daughter resembled the woman he had lost so long ago. The pain and the eyes are the same. He couldn't stand to watch her suffer in thi