Novels by Anthony Wyles

The rain had just stopped.Soft mist clung to the windows of the Ciel's mansion east wing, blurring the sunrise into watercolor hues, lavender, gold, and pale blue. Inside, the world held its breath.And then came the cry.High, clear, and so small.Roxanne exhaled, sinking back into the bed pillows, damp curls stuck to her forehead. Her fingers trembled, her body ached, but her heart… her heart had never felt so full.The midwife smiled gently and whispered, “You did beautifully.”Ciel had arranged for her safe delivery at home to avoid the press trying to have a glimpse of his baby's new life.Across the room, he stood frozen, one hand covering his mouth, the other gripping the edge of the chair like he needed something solid to hold onto. His eyes were rimmed red, glistening with disbelief.Then the doctor turned, gently placing a small, wriggling bundle into his arms.Ciel cradled the baby as if holding the sun.“Hi,” he said hoarsely. “Hi there.”The infant blinked up at him

At Ciel's mansion, the atmosphere was in a celebratory mood.There were lovely fragrance sprayed across the whole area of the mansion.Although out of sight, there was a string quartet playing with a low, steady and reverent sound.Everything was planned out to be spectacular for her.Roxanne stood at the edge of the corridor, one hand resting lightly on the swell of her stomach, the other clutching a bouquet of ivory peonies and olive branches. Her gown shimmered like moonlight, simple silk, no train, no veil. Just her. Powerful. Radiant, and Free.“I feel like I’m going to drop the rings,” Finn whispered beside her.She looked down at him and smiled. He was dressed in a navy-blue tuxedo, his hair slicked to one side, trying so hard to look grown. He clutched the velvet ring box in one hand and held her arm with the other, eyes wide with the kind of solemn joy only a child can feel at moments that feel bigger than life.“You won’t drop them,” she whispered. “You’ve already car

At the Bellamy headquarters, the morning air was slightly cold, but with enough breeze to rustle the new massive silk banner that is draped over the building.Roxanne just got there.She was wearing a very tailored ivory suit.It has gold embroidery along the sleeves.It looked regal.Her hair was pulled back in a sleek knot, and her eyes gleamed with elegance and raw beauty.She looked very inch a powerful woman by her looks.And truly, she was.She is the CEO of the Bellamy Couture.Ciel was standing beside her.Tall and poised, with his hand resting gently at her back.Crowds were gathered around them, outside the company.There was a Pavilion, and different people were there.Journalists,ambassadors,designers, philanthropists, and board members from three continents.The company's name glimmered under the new leadership.Only this time, the name belonged to Roxanne.She stepped forward, her voice amplified and commanding, yet warm.“Years ago, my mother built something extraordina

For some reason, Devian was arrested and charged to Court.Ciel had a hand in it.He wanted to make him fall for real this time.What he did with Reina's phone may have helped him in his plan, but he figured if he could do something like that, then he was capable of much more madness.And he could not afford to let him live free.Since his detention didn't help matters, he decided to use the law.On the day of his hearing, the police brought Devian to the court.It was raining slightly.Cameras flashed before him like lightening.He was a part of the high society, and a scandal like this definitely makes the juicy news.He didn't flinch, nor blink as he was led into the Court room.His hair was damp, his once-pristine suit wrinkled and clinging to his frame. The arrogance he once wore like armor had been stripped away, piece by piece.He looked smaller now.Inside the courtroom, the silence was almost sacred. The judge had already reviewed the files.It was over 400 pages of cybercr

Evelyn drove her car towards Roxanne's house.The drive was slow, and almost reverent.It was as if she was going for something that would make or mar her.She was putting on a plain black coat, and heels.And also had with her a leather bag, which contained just one item.A letter.As she drove, the streets blurred past her window like a memory she does not want to go after anymore.Her phone buzzed in her lap, but she didn’t check it. There was no one she wanted to hear from. Not anymore.By the time she reached Roxanne’s building, the late afternoon sun had sunk low, casting long shadows across the pavement. She pulled over, and came out of the car, with the letter tucked into her coat.She walked towards the door and stood by it for a minute before she rang the bell.Then the door opened slowly after some few minutes.Roxanne appeared before her.She was dressed in a gray lounge wear.There were some faint bruises beneath her eyes.A testament of sleepless nights, and stress.H

The house where James was hiding was walled up.He have had his men also take Reina down there to stay with him.Reina had grown used to living among them. But this one cut deeper.Living with them means different things.It means she was now privy to their private dealings and discussions.And since they got there, she had been listening to their cries of frustration.Soon, she heard James and one of his men having a low conversation. “She’s unstable,” James said coolly. “She’s a risk now. We can’t afford to keep her in the loop.”“What about the plan?”“The plan is salvaging what’s left of our network,” James snapped. “She can rot in this house or disappear. It doesn’t matter now. She’s expendable.”The word rang in Reina’s skull like a gunshot.She was Expendable!!She backed away from the door like it had burned her. Her pulse thundered. Her palms itched. Her father was ready to throw her away like garbage. After everything. After all she had gone through.All this while, s

Lydia arrived before Daniel.She chose a table at the back of the restaurant, away from the windows and far enough from the entrance that she could see anyone who walked in.She had spent the entire morning thinking about the meeting.Not about what she would ask him.About what she wouldn't.Because there were questions she had been carrying since the night he appeared at her house, questions she had been too afraid to ask then.The restaurant door opened.Daniel walked in.Their eyes met.For a moment, Lydia forgot to breathe.She had seen him alive before.That should have made this easier.It didn't.There was still something deeply unsettling about watching a man she had mourned walk toward her as if the last four years had never happened.Daniel reached the table."You came."Lydia looked at him."You sound surprised.""I wasn't sure you would.""You came to my house without warning and told me things that made me question everything I believed for four years."Daniel pulled out

Three days after signing the lease, Seraphina finally moved into her new apartment.There wasn't much to move.Most of her belongings had remained packed at Diana's house, and the few things she had accumulated over the past several weeks fit easily into the back of a moving truck.By late afternoon, the apartment finally looked like hers.There were still unopened boxes in the living room.A few clothes were hanging in the wardrobe.Her books were scattered across one of the shelves.Nothing was perfect.But it was hers.Seraphina stood in the middle of the living room and smiled.She had never realized how much having a door she could close behind her would mean.Her phone rang.Julian.She answered."Hello.""Have you moved in?""Yes.""Everything?""Most of it.""Do you need anything?""No.""You didn't even let me ask."She smiled."Because I know what you're going to ask.""And?""I'm fine."There was a pause."Good."She looked toward the window.Dark clouds were beginning to g

Seraphina stood in the bedroom she had been using at Diana's house, staring at the suitcase she still hadn't completely unpacked.She had been telling herself that she would only stay for a short while.That was before the divorce became complicated.Before Evan started delaying the proceedings.Before Julian proposed.Before the wedding became something they were actually planning.Now, every time she looked around the room, she was reminded that this wasn't her life.It was a temporary place between one life and another.She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her phone.She had a divorce that was still unfinished.A wedding that was being planned.A fiancé who had become far more involved in her life than she had expected.And she was still living in someone else's house.She picked up her phone and called a real estate agent.By the time the call ended, she had arranged to view three apartments.She felt strangely relieved.For once, there was something she could decide witho

Seraphina had been to Julian's office enough times to know the place by now.She knew the receptionist who always greeted her with a smile. She knew which elevator Julian preferred. She even knew that Marcus usually appeared at some point, either carrying a folder or quietly reminding Julian about a meeting he had almost forgotten.But she had never really seen Julian work.Usually, when she came to the office, they talked about her divorce, Evan, their arrangement, or whatever problem had brought them together that day.Today was different.She had come because Julian had asked her to spend the morning with him.When she entered his office, he was already on a call."Move the meeting to three. No, don't cancel it. I want everyone there." He paused, listening. "Then send the revised figures to my email before noon."He ended the call and looked at her."You're early."She glanced at the clock."By three minutes.""That's early."She smiled."You've said that before.""And I'll keep sa

Seraphina sat quietly in Margaret's office, watching her review the latest correspondence from Evan's side.Margaret finally closed the folder."Evan's request for another delay is not going to stop the divorce, but it may slow things down."Seraphina exhaled."How long?""A few weeks, if the court grants it."Seraphina looked down at her hands."He's doing it deliberately.""I believe so.""He doesn't want the marriage to end."Margaret studied her."That may be true, but don't let his intentions distract you from yours."Seraphina nodded."I won't."She had learned that much.Evan could delay the paperwork.He could make the process difficult.He could refuse to accept what was happening.But he couldn't make her return to him.Margaret gathered the documents."I'll keep pushing. For now, focus on what comes after."Seraphina looked up."After?""Your life after Evan."The words stayed with her even after she left the office.Outside, she sat in her car for several minutes before s

Evan sat behind his desk, staring at the papers his lawyer had sent that morning.The divorce.Again.He had already delayed the proceedings once, and now Margaret was pushing back on his latest attempt.His lawyer had warned him that the court would not allow him to delay the process forever.Evan didn't care.He needed more time.His phone rang."Hello?"His lawyer's voice came through."I've reviewed the request from Seraphina's side.""And?""Margaret is asking the court to proceed without further delays."Evan leaned back in his chair."I want another delay.""You've already asked for one.""I know.""Evan, you need to understand that the court may not grant it.""Then find another reason."His lawyer sighed."I'm trying to protect you here.""I don't need protection. I need time.""For what?"Evan looked toward the window."To settle things."His lawyer was silent for a moment.Finally, he said, "I'll see what I can do.""Do that."Evan ended the call.He looked at the divorce p