Tomorrow Will Be Better: A Novel Novels & Stories

The card read simply: "For tomorrow's rebirth. - V" I touched the earrings gently, understanding the symbolism. Tomorrow marked not just a business success but my emergence from the ashes. My introduction to the world that had forgotten Camille Lewis, the world about to meet Camille Kane. Let them celebrate tonight, I thought. Let them bask in their triumph, their perfect love story, their bright future together. Tomorrow belonged to me. And all the tomorrows after that. What awaited them was far worse than fire. It was the precise, methodical deconstruction of everything they believed secure. The surgical removal of every support structure. The clean, untraceable dismantling of their perfec

Much to my surprise, Lunara ended up giving me the best assist I could ask for. To give birth before Jayden and I got engaged, Lunara secretly took labor-inducing drugs. As a result, the baby was born prematurely and left with chronic health issues. With the season changing, even the slightest breeze would send the child to the hospital. Jayden was practically living at the hospital, his eyes full of anxiety and exhaustion. Naturally, he had no energy left to deal with company affairs.

The Night Before. We lay in bed in the darkness, not sleeping, just existing in the space between now and tomorrow. Tomorrow, when we’d drive to the Hamptons. Tomorrow, when we’d walk into Alexei’s home. Tomorrow, when everything would either work or end. Adrian’s arm was around me, his heartbeat steady against my back, but I could feel the tension in his body, coiled tight like a spring wound to breaking. “If this goes wrong—” he started. “It won’t.”

Then, she grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the door. That night, we anxiously packed up, planning to leave for a neighboring state to lie low for a while. But then Mrs. Lewis called, saying Mom had apparently gotten beaten up again. She pressed her phone against the wall, and I could barely hear what was happening next door. Mr. Jarrell yelled, "Are you out of your mind, Shannon? I swear you've drunk yourself into a stupor. You really thought this was a good idea? Do you want me to send someone to knock some sense into you first?"

"Looking forward to tomorrow." I gripped the phone tightly, as if its weight could anchor me to something real. Roy's words were simple, seemingly innocuous, but they held the promise of a world free of shadows. Tomorrow's dinner suddenly felt less like a plan and more like a fragile rebellion against chaos. But even rebellions have consequences, and I knew that James Clark's shadow wouldn't stay away for long.

Nathan suddenly recalled how he'd scaled Joanne's bedroom window in this same chilly weather back when they first began their arrangement. Whenever that happened, Joanne would always feel bad for him and pull him in through the windows to warm him up. She'd then press a warm mug of hot cocoa and some hand warmers into his hands to help chase the cold away. But now, Nathan had nothing left. Edgar continued honking, but the traffic was so congested it was practically a standstill. Nathan wiped his face with the back of his hand like he'd just made a huge decision and said, "Unlock the doors. I'll run there by myself."

He walked over and kissed my cheek. A sharp citrus perfume clung to him. "Tomorrow, I'm going to Riverton to do some sketching. I've also got a few graduation things to take care of. I'll be back the day after tomorrow." As he headed toward his room, I asked, "Who are you going with? Gwen?" He stopped. "Nellie." He glanced back at me. "When did you get this unreasonable? You're jealous over nothing. "Relax. I'll marry you after we graduate. I'll keep every promise I made."

"Because you didn't care. Your attention was always on Piper. You knew your mother treated me badly, but you could not be bothered to intervene." Cole's face went white. "That isn't true, Audrey. I know anything I say now is too late. "Life moves forward. Let's forget the unhappiness behind us. Come home with me, and I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you." I stared at him, unable to understand his reasoning, though my voice remained calm. "If life moves forward, that is even more reason I can't go back with you. "I have already found someone better than you."

"I know you misunderstood me. But what happened because of that misunderstanding—it was real." "What's done is done. You can't undo it. The scars in each person's memory don't fade." "That day in Switzerland was so cold that it finally let me let go of the past." "Zane was the one who helped me move on." "Let's just move forward. Nico, Arlo, Rhett." "We had a beautiful childhood. But from now on, I'm going the way I chose. The way I'm looking forward to." "And I hope—the Nico, Arlo, and Rhett from those childhood days—can wish me well."

He hesitated for a moment, but since he had pressing matters, he didn’t argue further. After work, I walked home alone. The setting sun painted the city streets in a warm, red glow. Suddenly, a voice called out behind me. “Tess!” It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it immediately. Hence, I stopped and turned around. The sunset’s rays hit my face, making me squint. The figure hurried toward me, and as they got closer, the blurry outline became clear. To my surprise, it was Claire. She looked nothing like the glamorous, confident woman I remembered. Her hair was messy, her face pale, and dark circles lined her eyes, evidence of long nights without rest. She wore a wrinkled coat that made