The Young Woman Wrapped As A New Year Gift Novels & Stories

I answered, and we both chuckled. "Here it goes, ladies and gentlemen. The countdown begins... Now!" The voice of the speaker man came again, several other voices joining his as he began the countdown to New Year. Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight... "I'll be going now," the masked woman said. "It was nice meeting you." Before she could take two steps away from me, I grabbed her arm and pulled her back into my arms. Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen... "What are you doing?" Her eyes widened, but she made no attempt to pull free from my grasp.

I murmured, pulling her into a hug. She reached for my gift next, a larger one shaped like a book. Inside was a leather-bound journal, pages blank, along with a pen engraved with my initials. "For all your thoughts," she explained, watching my reaction. I flipped through the pages, the paper crisp beneath my fingers. “Perfect. Thank you, baby.” We kept exchanging gifts, a soft hand-knit scarf for her, and tickets to a show for me, something we’d been talking about for weeks. With each gift, we laughed, smiled, and shared quick kisses, wrapping paper piling up on the floor like confetti.

She smiled politely at Janiya. Thank God the upper half of her body was still operative. Janiya bowed and prayed that her words would come out. She responded in Chinese, "It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Win. I’m Janiya Jones. This is a gift for you and your husband." “Oh, my. Whatever could this be?” His grandmother smiles as she reaches for the beautifully wrapped gift. Zane’s grandmother looks at her grandson and boldly asks. “Zane, where is she?” “Who, Mama?”

"I missed you so much!" "I missed you too!" I laughed, hugging her back just as tight, then let go to unzip my backpack. I reached inside and pulled out the soft, neatly folded blue cardigan. I held it out to her. "Happy New Year," I said. Maya's mouth fell open as she looked at the sweater. She took it from my hands as if it were made of gold. "No way," Maya squealed loudly, drawing looks from two girls passing by us. "Clara! You made this for me?!"

His order twisted something inside my stomach, sending a deeper ache low between my legs. "Yes, King." He released my throat, his fingers pulling away as he straightened and stepped back. Fuck! I sucked in a breath. I tossed the sheets aside and swung my legs off the bed. The moment I stood, a burst of confetti exploded into the air, raining over me in gold and silver. The staff erupted into song, their voices harmonising Happy New Year, filling the room with surreal magic. A woman stepped forward, holding a rolled-up scroll tied with a crimson bow. “From Master Dontrell,” she said.

"I'm sorry, babe. I'm just tired. I didn't mean to take it out on you. Please don't cry, okay?" Then, as if realizing what would reassure me, he gently added, "I'll have the designer recreate the ring as quickly as possible." I thought if I could just get back soon enough, maybe things would return to how they were. So, I pushed myself harder, scrambling until I finally managed to move my flight to our anniversary. But while driving to Bernard's office, I discovered a sheer piece of fabric in the glove compartment. I recognized it. Anne had once held it up in the store, smiling at her reflection. "Hannah, look—so innocent yet alluring. It's perfect for me, isn't it?"

A freckled red-haired girl called, coming to stand in front of me, with a timid, and obsessed look in her eyes. "Yeah?" I answered, pushing my hands into my pockets. "I… I noticed you like pretty things, so… I actually wanted to give this to you as a new year gift but… but I'm a little shy, and I know you'll be packed with gifts on that day so I just thought mine could come a little earlier." She explained, and in her hands was a glass box, inside which was a golden anklet. Of course, that was my weakness. I was obsessed with pretty things that shone and stood out amongst other things, and couldn't resist them because they were simply so good to stare at.

“Or any, really.” “Hard to imagine why,” I muttered under my breath. She only laughed, unbothered. “That’s why I bring gifts for the palace staff. A smile, a token, anything to build kindness and friendship. I’m just trying to belong somewhere.” She reached into her sleek handbag and pulled out a small, gift-wrapped package, neatly tied with a red ribbon that matched her dress. “I saw this in my hometown and thought of you,” she said, offering it gently.

On New Year’s Eve, Kian Newman never came home. Instead, he had someone deliver a container of frozen ravioli and sent me a single message: "Stay safe this year." I had barely locked the screen when a photo popped up in the company group chat. Isabel Wilkinson, Kian's assistant, had posted it. It was a lavish holiday dinner spread across the table, every dish clearly homemade. The caption read: "Someone spent all day cooking so I could have a taste of home. Love you."

She must be faking it. After a moment, he put down his phone, got up, and left the room. Downstairs, in the living room, Isabel was wearing a red dress, and her hair was tied in two little buns. Liam and her, who were wearing matching clothes, were giving Madam Carter their New Year greetings. Liam said, "Great-grandma, Happy New Year." Isabel echoed, "I wish you happiness for the rest of your life!" "Hahaha, awww. I also wish you two happy and joyful days." Madam Carter smiled and took out two envelopes from behind her, handing them to the kids. "This is a present for you. Keep it well."