Nine By Nine Novels & Stories

"I'm here at the office. Where are you? Why aren't you here?" "I'm already at the hospital." Bryan kept quiet for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry. There was traffic on the way." I chuckled. "It's fine. You can use a free pass to cancel it out." Bryan exhaled in relief, only to hear me continue saying, "This means you've used up all 99 free passes now, Bryan, so let's get a divorce."

Samuel's puzzled voice came from behind me. "Ms. Johnson, you're taking the cable car down? You're not walking?" I turned around and met the confusion in both Samuel's and Hayden's eyes. A bitter feeling rose in my chest. For three years, ninety-nine visits to draw a fortune stick. Every time, I had climbed the mountain on my knees. Then I limped all the way back down. All of it was to show heaven how sincere I was. I thought if I was sincere enough, I would eventually receive a supreme blessing.

Even though we had married and divorced nine times like a game, I was still the ex-wife. The night grew quiet. The wind outside howled, as if carrying my words far away. After a long silence, Jake lifted his head, attempting an explanation. "Divorcing you… It was my fault. But I couldn't let Carla bear the shame of being involved with a married man." I took a few irritated steps back, unable—and unwilling—to understand. Carla couldn't bear the blame, so that meant I deserved to be divorced nine times?

The old woman's words hung in the air long after she said them. "The Bride of the Ninth Life has returned." Nobody moved. Not Kai, Not Draven, Not even the servant. The whole courtyard had turned to stone around me, and I stood in the middle of it, shaking, with no idea why a stranger kneeling on cold marble made me feel like the ground had opened under my feet. Ninth life?? What did that even mean? I looked at Kai. His jaw was tight enough to crack. I looked at Draven. For the first time since I'd met him, he wasn't smiling.

This was the dignity expected of a Donna. Downstairs, the family dinner had already started. The long table was covered with food, and servants stood in the corners waiting. Chiara sat next to Enzo, leaning against him slightly with one hand on her swollen belly. My mother kept putting food into her bowl. “Eat more. You need nutrition.” Across the table, Enzo reached over to adjust Chiara’s position. “Be careful. Do not tire yourself.” Chiara gave him a sweet smile. “I am fine. You are here.”

I looked into his eyes — those beautiful eyes — and asked one last time, "Do you still love me?" He laughed like I'd said something funny, came back over, patted my head, and answered without missing a beat. "Of course I do. Don't overthink it. I'll be back tomorrow. We'll celebrate our anniversary then — I already made a reservation." He sounded so sure of himself. I nodded. "Okay. I'll wait for you." For the first time in nine years, I lied to him. I turned and started walking back to my room. But Jason — who had been in such a hurry to leave — was still standing by the door. He hadn't moved.

After remembering for the eighth time that I am the real heiress to the wealthy Fletcher family, my brothers are about to hypnotize me again for the ninth time. My three older brothers, Dustin, Dominic, and Derek Fletcher, make me draw lots to decide the role that I'm going to have to assume after I'm hypnotized. The three lots are labeled "fake heiress", "the maid's daughter", and "the impoverished student the family is sponsoring". "Draw one." I don't move a muscle. Dustin's face turns grim first. "If you still want to continue living in the Fletcher household, Autumn, then stop trying to steal Daphne's identity away from her!" Dominic frowns and says impatiently, "Can't you be more

Nine opened his door as Jack opened his side door. "I wanted to impress you handsome. That’s why I bought all this. But at the end it’s me fallen for you. You, being my friend is enough for me for now, Jack". He told him honestly. "Hmmm. So. Let’s meet day after tomorrow". Jack said bidding him goodbye and waited until Nine left in his car. ---- Tabby

#ROAD_TO_ABUJA 💦🔞 #Chapter_9 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 🎃🎃🎃🎃

And tomorrow, every detail of that statement would matter. His phone buzzed on the table. A text from Louis. 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑. 𝐸𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑡ℎ. 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒. Dimitri typed a short reply: 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑.