Chapter 8 Anita Baker Novels & Stories

On a beautiful day, Dylan Carter - Ivy's four-year boyfriend - declares his intention to marry Ruby, Ivy's half-sister from her father's side, instead of Ivy. Faced with betrayal from her lover and sister, and pressured by her own family, Ivy reluctantly agrees to both marriages because Ruby is pregnant. The pain continues when Ivy is forced to marry Ryan, a stranger to her from the Blake family. Despite vehemently opposing the situation, Ivy ultimately had to give in. On her wedding day, Ivy accidentally discovered her husband being intimate with another woman, leading her to misunderstand the true purpose of their marriage. Filled with anger, disappointment, and pain, Ivy decided to abandon everything, unwilling to become a sacrificial pawn, and ran away from the wedding. Seven years later, Ivy and Ryan coincidentally meet again in an unexpected situation, leading to mutual hatred. Subsequently, Ivy reluctantly becomes Ryan's personal secretary. During their time working together, love blossoms between them. However, secrets from the past emerge, challenging their relationship. Will their love be strong enough to overcome, or is this encounter just another chapter of tragedy?

Lenie was left by her ex-boyfriend, Dexter, which led her to seek help from her friend Alice to find a new job and start a fresh chapter in her life. However, even Alice betrayed her by leaving her baby with Lenie and disappearing without a word. To support Javi, Lenie applied to the company where Alice used to work. When she got the job, she never expected to catch the attention of her boss, Alexis Ramirez. Over time, she found herself falling for him, and the feeling became mutual. However, Lenie had a secret she couldn’t reveal to Alexis—employees with children were not allowed in his company. She didn’t know how to explain her situation to him. While contemplating a solution to her problem, her former friend Alice suddenly returned to take back her child. Having cared for Javi for years, Lenie found it extremely difficult to give him up to his biological mother. To stay close to Javi, Lenie turned to Alexis for help. Little did the two know that Alexis’ simple act of helping would significantly change their relationship and their lives forever.

Victoria never wanted the spotlight. She wanted a quiet life with King Adeyemi,the self-made billionaire who's proposed three times and been refused three times because of a secret she couldn't afford to spill. But when Chief Donald Okereke her father,dies under suspicious circumstances 8 weeks before his crucial election, she is dragged into a world of power, politics, and forbidden desire. Seeing her brother shattered and her family's legacy crumbling, Victoria must choose either to run from her destiny or claim the Senate seat her father died fighting for. King has loved Victoria obsessively for three years. Every rejection cuts deeper, but he won't stop pursuing the only woman who's ever made him feel alive. When her father's death pulls her into the ruthless political machine King knows too well, he'll use every resource in his billion-dollar empire to protect her,even if it means exposing the dangerous connection between his business and her father's enemies. As Christmas lights flicker over a city drowning in corruption, Victoria discovers that politics is foreplay and power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. The man she loves might be her salvation or her destruction.In the middle of the noise, Victoria stood still,her heart cracked only when her secrets leaked and love was tested. Apparently obsession becomes the only thing standing between her and ruin,will it protect her or become the weapon that destroys her?

It has been 8 years but Hailey Greene was still haunted by her past. The past that she dreaded the most. It wasn't her intention to hurt Nick Smith, the love of her life but due to her family's debt she has no choice but to sacrifice everything even the love she had for him. Moving on, Hailey left without a word, bringing only good memories of them together. And who would've thought that leaving Nick will eventually lead her to a life that she never knew existed. A life of motherhood. And to that, she felt reborn. And years passed, she met an old friend, Mikan Grey, Nick's best friend. Mikan learned everything about her, even Annie as Nick's daughter. They would meet every now and then. Mikan always had this thing with Hailey but he knew that he couldn't replace Nick in her heart. He wanted to give Hailey and Annie a good life which led to a marriage proposal. Hailey would always shrug off the thought of Mikan's proposal but Mikan would always say that he just wanted Annie to have a good life and that its been three years since Hailey and Nick saw each other. And that's why here they are getting married not because she had moved on but because this is what's best for Annie. There's no better man than Mikan, she thought. But the idea of seeing Nick again after three years, gives her shivers. Will everything change if they meet again?

"if you knew you were in love with my sister,"I asked quietly, "why did you sleep with me then?". The room froze at the question ,Rhea turned to him sharply."You slept with her?".She asked in a disgusting tone. Damien ran a hand through his hair." I am so sorry,I could not control myself,the mate bond was too overwhelming" he said So cheap of him to blame the bond.Rhea inhaled deeply and then looked at me coldly."He has apologized,” she said. "Just accept it" . Accept it like that would change anything. I looked at all of them,my parents,the Alpha,the Luna,my mate,my twin and it dawn on me that I have lost my home and there was no place for me here. Not as a daughter,not as a sister and definitely not as a mate. On her graduation day in the Gifted academy, Raven met her mate Damien Wood,the heir to the Woodcroft pack and they were intimate but the next morning Damien disappeared without a word. What felt like a beginning of a new chapter became a one night stand to Raven , Damien left her just like that but unlike Damien,she knew who he was and where exactly to find him.

Nineteen-year-old Hannah Jones has always been the unwanted daughter—overlooked, undervalued, and sacrificed for her family's sake. When her father's company faces bankruptcy, she's forced to marry billionaire Elijah Martinez in place of her spoiled younger sister, Janet. Framed by her own family as a jealous schemer, Hannah endures cold indifference from Elijah and cruelty from his family. Broken and alone, she finally escapes, leaving the country, her toxic family, and her loveless marriage behind. Seven years later, Hannah returns as a successful writer and designer with twin children and a fortune of her own. She's ready to divorce Elijah and close that painful chapter forever. But Elijah, who spent years searching for her after uncovering the truth, refuses to let her go. He's determined to win the heart of the woman he once ignored even if she no longer needs him. "You're still my wife, Hannah. You're not going anywhere." "Your wife? I have more money than your entire family now, Elijah. I don't need you or your name anymore."

A year ago, my life was simple. I was just Ariel Anthony…a regular college student, cheerleader with decent grades, daughter of a struggling baker, and recently appointed step-sister to a guy I barely knew. Nothing special. Then came the storm. Not just the thunderstorm that trapped me in Professor Grayson's apartment that night, but the storm that followed. The one that's still raging around me, that I created. They don't warn you about men like Luther Grayson in freshman orientation. They don't tell you how a single glance from the right person can make you question everything you thought you knew about yourself. About what you want. About what you'd risk to get it. They also don't warn you about guys like Ethan Cross, with his perfect smile hiding something dark. The kind of guy who's used to getting what he wants and doesn't understand the meaning of the word "no." And no one, absolutely no one…prepares you for what it feels like when the person who's supposed to be your brother looks at you with something else in his eyes. Mom once said I had a gift for making complicated situations worse. If she only knew. My phone buzzed beside me, and I glanced down to see Luther's name on the screen. My heart still jumps every time, even when I'm aware of what could happen if people learned about the two of us. I should ignore it. I should block his number, focus on my classes, help Mom with the bakery, and pretend none of this ever happened. But I'm already reaching for the phone. That's the thing about crossing lines… once you step over them, it's almost impossible to step back. And I've crossed so many lines now, I can't even see where I started.

Damon said nothing, but his eyes were hooded and heavy. “Just one kiss, Wendy. Just one. I have to kiss you. It’s all I’ll demand for now, and then he put his arms around her. She stood frozen in the circle of them as his heavy dark gaze followed the line of her throat Without waiting her consent, he swept his mouth over hers. Finally. Her sweetness exploded onto his tongue the moment he licked over her lips. . It was everything she’d dreamt about, their kiss. The taste, the feel, the joy at the sheer fineness of Damon Paige, in all his tall, beautifully built splendor, thrilled her and filled her with exquisite sensations. And for that moment, all the complications of getting involved with Damon melted away as if they’d never existed…. When he raised his head abruptly, she thought it was so he could say something personal and intimate. He didn’t. He stared down at her, and she could see his tortured expression before he closed his eyes briefly and then put her away from him. The look in his eyes was brooding and somber. “I should never have done that.” he said. ---------------------- Wendy Morgan relocates to New York and reunites with Deborah Paige, her best friend from high school, despite the fact that her father disagrees with her decision. But Wendy is tired of letting her father dictate every aspect of her life, especially now that he has arranged for her to marry Jordan Baker, so she is convinced that she has made the right decision by leaving. Soon, Wendy finds herself in the same situation with Damon Paige.... Will she walk away this time? She only has to pretend to be Damon's fiance for a while though.... She could do that. What could possibly go wrong?

Vera thought she had it all. The fancy life, a loving husband, a place she could proudly call home. But it turned into a nightmare when her husband’s HER returned. She came to her breaking point after her darling husband, Anthony publicly humiliated her, threatening to jail her for confronting his mistress disguised as his business partner. Done with her husband’s excesses, she opted for divorce but Anthony taking advantage of her poor status, threatened her to stay for his benefits. Except that life opened an astounding chapter for Vera when she discovered she’s the lost daughter of the richest family in metropolis. Not only did she become the youngest of the five most powerful men in the city, they doted and swore protection to her. Now wielding so much power, Vera becomes the only link for Anthony to win the billion dollar deal with the Hudson’s which he had longed for. With tables turned, guess who knelt before Vera begging? But what makes this drama more interesting is that decisions don’t solely rest on Vera’s shoulders but Anthony has to confront her overprotective brothers who swore to ruin him for hurting their sister.

Elena Brooklyn dreamed of a simple life: marrying an ordinary man and living happily ever after. But fate had other plans. After a whirlwind encounter with Alex Baron, the enigmatic billionaire playboy, her quiet dreams were shattered forever. She only agreed to marry him because of his son, one of her beloved students, who begged her to become his stepmother—and because the boy’s fragile health left her no room to refuse. Now, carrying Alex’s twins, Elena finds herself tangled in a web of love and betrayal. Just when she starts to believe in their future, Alex’s ex-wife—the woman who vanished from his life seven years ago—returns, determined to reclaim her place in his heart. Caught between loyalty and doubt, Alex makes a devastating choice, one that leaves Elena heartbroken and questioning everything. Two years later, a shocking revelation shakes Alex’s world. “Boss! Madam is in Australia—with your twins!” Can Alex win back the woman he let slip away? Or will Elena finally close the chapter on the man who couldn’t see the truth when it mattered most?