Romance Books for Women
Bestsellers Ongoing Completed
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What a Lovely Sweetie
"Larissa Wilson, only 19, has to seek the help of her father’s friends to protect her family business after her father’s death. Larissa hears that her father and Glen Lake, the most powerful and richest man in City J, are partners, so she asks him for help. However, asking for help is not an easy thing. Larissa clearly knows that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, so she has to pay something for this. Unexpectedly ... Glen: The only thing you need do is to marry me. Larissa: What?!"/0/46646/coverorgin.jpg?v=2f103554abde11dddb48c7272b509479&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The Rejected Wife
Elizabeth, a dreamy young woman mistreated by her father. She is the only girl in the Wolf family and should be protected by her father, but he doesn't have any affection for his daughter. Her fate is determined after the death of her mother; her father intends to sell her as revenge against his deceased wife. However, there is someone who cares for her. Her protector will arrange for someone in his own family to take care of her. Elizabeth strikes a deal with Jonathan Larson, the nephew of the Chief of the United States. Her uncle would never leave the daughter of his beloved deceased in the hands of someone bad, but unknowingly, that is exactly what he does. Elizabeth is sweet and intelligent, even though she is deprived of education, she receives help from her brother to acquire knowledge. But nothing she has learned from books prepares her for what is to come. She will have to prove that she is deserving of this marriage and of Jonathan's heart. She will fight against her father's lies to live this love. Jonathan will marry a woman he despises, and the lies told by his father-in-law will make him hate the woman who will be his wife. However, nothing stays hidden forever, and he will discover that Elizabeth possesses more virtues than he expected to find. It will be his turn to fight for their love. A romance inspired by the tale of Beauty and the Beast with a mafia backdrop, filled with action and breathtaking hot scenes. A story crafted to make the reader sigh, with the premise that forgiveness is the path to happiness./0/28030/coverorgin.jpg?v=3be039dd28a4480f6929c7861e300d88&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Billionaire's First Love
Katy and Alan were a pretty popular couple in their high school. Katy is beautiful and gentle. Alan studied very well. However, love is opposed by Alan's mother. Because Alan has a fiancée. Donna is the daughter of Alan's business partner. Alan's mother tries to stop Alan and Katy's love. Alan's mother put on a show, luring Katy to come. She gave her medicine and lay in bed with the two men. Alan sees and misunderstands her. Then Alan's mother transferred Katy a large amount of money and told Alan that Katy negotiated the money for her to leave him. Katy went to Alan to explain and saw Alan kissing Donna at the birthday party. She is heartbroken and breaks up with Alan. Katy doesn't know, this is just a fun game at the birthday party of Alan and friends. After the two broke up, a big event happened to Katy. Katy goes to city X, never seeing Alan again. Years later the two meet again, in two different positions, under two different circumstances, but with one thing in common, Alan's fiancee sneaks around with Katy's fiance, betraying both. And the remarkable thing is Alan's hostile attitude towards Katy. Originally thought it was just a random reunion, then they would never meet again, but God had other arrangements. Katy's company fell into crisis to transfer to someone else, ironically the new director is Alan. Reluctantly both have to work together, Alan hates Katy, she left him for money. At work, it always makes it difficult for her, not giving her peace and freedom. But Alan did not let Katy quit her job, threatened Katy to stay by his side, accepting to let him torture her. During the time of working together, the two's feelings gradually improved. But in the quiet time, a series of old secrets were accidentally revealed. Including the reason why Katy left, that secret is extremely serious leading to a great misunderstanding between Alan and Katy, the relationship that has just flourished is in danger of ruining again. Not to mention, Katy has to suffer from the bad games that Alan's fiancée causes, to separate her and him. However, in the end, after trials and tribulations, going through storms together, the two reached a happy shore./0/54155/coverorgin.jpg?v=69e7a4d0dbca8b8e409056fa0745ba52&imageMogr2/format/webp)
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Live Broadcast, Dead Girl's Revenge
Two years have passed since my death. Now, my old roommate, Jessica, stands on a grand stage, accepting the "Annual Community Contributor" award. Millions across the nation are watching her flawless smile, her humble nod—a true paragon of virtue. Then, a catastrophic glitch. My old laptop’s desktop, with a candid photo of my stepbrother Michael, flickers onto the massive screen behind her. Michael, in the front row, snarls loud enough for every microphone to catch it, “What is that dead girl’s junk doing here? So damn disrespectful!” The live chat goes wild, demanding this "trash" be removed, calling me sick, a psycho, forever "bad news." The host, David, clicks open my "Sarah's Private Posts" folder, exposing my innermost thoughts, my hidden struggles, one excruciating entry at a time. He reads my very first post—detailing a secret donation I made, the same one Jessica brazenly claimed as the start of her own famous charity work. Jessica feigns shock and Michael, clutching her hand, reinforces their elaborate deception, branding me as an obsessive, selfish liar who brought all her troubles on herself. My name, once again, is dragged through the mud, my tragic end blamed on my own "faults," even from beyond the grave. The cameras fixate on Jessica’s carefully staged sorrow, Michael’s theatrical disgust, and the world believes them, condemns me. Didn’t my sacrifices, my pain, my desperate attempts to uncover the truth mean anything? But David, the host, doesn’t stop. He scrolls to the next post, and the one after that. They have no idea what else I left behind. Because my carefully documented words, my secret recordings, and undeniable evidence are about to bring their entire empire crashing down, live on national television./0/21929/coverorgin.jpg?v=12fdcbdbed599082d0497a94340e82fc&imageMogr2/format/webp)
MY NAUGHTY LOVER
A Supernatural Romance/Fantasy Novel. MY DEMONIC NAUGHTY LOVER is a suspenseful, supernatural fantasy story which tell us about a young beautiful lady by name Nina who came to New York with her Mother and her Lil-sister Lena. Everything have been going well for the family until Nina decided to go out and look for a job somewhere to support her Mom. Her Mom work as a Fashion designer at a modeling industry and Nina wanted to give a trial by looking for any kind of job. Until, she came across a guy who incidentally lives around the neighborhood as well. His name is Ryan Gordon. Ryan on the other hand is a cute, handsome, innocent looking guy and also a domineering kinda person who gets what he wants by all means. He is also not human in nature. Some kinda half demon, half human which Nina had not idea of. Everything about Nina changed the moment she set her eyes on Ryan and that was how their Naughty lives began. Will they continue to live this naughty life of theirs? Is Nina meant to be with Ryan? What will happen when Nina founds out about who Ryan truly is? This book deals with supernatural, Its powers and love at the same time… Which includes demons and it’s lover…. FIND OUT MORE IN THE STORY…. By:- Moni Sky (M.B.N)/0/18331/coverorgin.jpg?v=e9668f9828b1e3675779fb44d889f2e3&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Remembering the Gravity
My eyes widened as he quickly reached out and pulled me against his chest, his hands wrapping my waist like a snake. I was trapped. "It hurts me to know that you are being touched by another man other than me, Lianne. You find his kisses pleasurable? I will show you what a real kiss is." With those words out, my mind went blank. I stiffened. I couldn't do anything when his face inched nearer. I couldn't explain the feeling when our lips touched, but I honestly thought I was in euphoria. His lips massaged mine with finesse and oh, I didn't care less if I was breathing or not. Despite my surprise, I reciprocated it, sparred my tongue with his and traced his perfect jawline with my hands. I can't explain it, but there was this longing feeling inside me. A longing I can't deny myself. The moment he first kissed me in my apartment, I honestly wanted more. Was that even our first kiss? Or had he kissed me so many times before just like my dreams had numerously suggested to me? A sequel to Ceaseless Gravity. All Rights Reserved 2020 JMFelic Books/0/40858/coverorgin.jpg?v=8461ce37ddd5f47587dff50c0188e222&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Diamonds in the Rough
"In a twist of fate, their lives collide under tragic circumstances. Bound by a dying wish, they find themselves tied together in matrimony without love. As the wife grapples with her father's final request, she must navigate a loveless marriage while her heart yearns for freedom. But amidst the shadows of obligation and manipulation, secrets unfold, unveiling a web of intrigue. Will they succumb to the weight of their circumstances, or will love find its way through the cracks of their arranged union?"/1/110629/coverorgin.jpg?v=fb75c2cf3e8d12d402778c1709c7b2da&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Betrothed To Moron
"Do you know what marriage is?" Evelyn asked with a raised brow. "Marriage is 'I do' and 'you do', then boom, children come in anytime they want," Drake replied with a cute smile. "How do children come in?" She asked knowingly. "Man and a woman call them," he replied foolishly. "How do they call them?" She probed. "Just like this..." He placed his phone to his ear. "I already forgot that it's useless talking to you," Evelyn got annoyed and walked away *** Twenty years old Evelyn Brown was forced to marry the son of the richest man in the country, Drake Valentino. She thought her life was perfect, not until she was forced to get married to a man she barely knows because of money. Evelyn had thought the arranged marriage wasn't bad as her groom was a handsome young man from a rich family, just like hers until she entered the marriage. She was shocked into disbelief when she realized her husband wasn't as normal as she thought he was, he was a complete... Moron!/0/54781/coverorgin.jpg?v=354efbfa666b3d6a17bc5db12909e4fe&imageMogr2/format/webp)
THE SECOND CHANCE LOVE
Up until now, Alyssa has no idea why Brent married her. Clearly, she accepted the marriage proposal not out of love, but the man suddenly came to her house, met with her parents, and directly asked for her hand in marriage. Everything just went along, and now Alyssa feels exhausted with the marriage. Will Alyssa stay in their marriage?/0/20052/coverorgin.jpg?v=bad86292329e1c62051d8a60f247f043&imageMogr2/format/webp)
A Stranger I Met
It had never always been this way. In fact, it had always been smooth and rosy, but everything changed when a mysterious stranger appeared. ☆ Daniel Jones agrees to go clubbing with his lousy roommate on a Friday night. To him, this is his first and last time in a club. However, the unexpected happens and he gets stuck with clubbing: he meets someone at the club who changes his life forever; someone who exposes him to raw emotions he never knew existed – emotions such as pain, hatred, jealousy and above all, LOVE in its intensity. The cool-headed, nerdy, and bookworm Daniel becomes a hot-tempered and violent man who would do anything to protect the woman he met in just one night – a night he would forever live to remember./0/84817/coverorgin.jpg?v=ebc6d26118637160a8da48988d619bdc&imageMogr2/format/webp)
My Wedding, Her Ex
My wedding day was set, my music career soaring, and I was about to marry the woman I loved more than anything. Then, a data alert exposed thousands of international calls on my fiancée Chloe' s phone, followed by a hushed conversation in my driveway. "Daniel, I told you, I\'m handling it," she whispered, her voice laced with a tenderness I thought was reserved for me. "He doesn\'t suspect a thing. Yes, the wedding will be on the same day. Our wedding." My world shattered. She was planning to marry her ex, Daniel-the same day, same venue, same guests. The betrayal was a physical blow, leaving me gasping on the floor, my heart threatening to give out. The thought of being the city' s laughingstock, the pathetic musician left at the altar, twisted something inside me. The humiliation burned hotter than any rage. No. I wouldn't let that happen. A cold, hard resolve settled over me. She wanted a wedding on that day? Fine. There would be a wedding. My wedding. And I knew just the forgotten family pact to make it happen./0/83722/coverorgin.jpg?v=0f17a215640bcd0976ae97c1f17e6844&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The Wife Who Fought Back
I was seven months pregnant, living a fairytale life as the wife of a powerful Congressman. Julian stroked my belly, whispering dreams of our son' s future, and I truly believed I had it all. Then, a cold dread seized me. I' d just overheard Julian on the phone, his voice urgent, planning to use me as bait for a predatory federal prosecutor. Not for us, but to save his high school sweetheart, the woman he truly loved. My perfect world didn't just crack; it exploded into a million sharp pieces. Every intimate moment, every precious gift, was a cruel, recycled memory from his past with her. In his eyes, I was a mere tool, a sacrifice. My heart pounded a sick rhythm as I stared at the man I thought I loved, now revealed as a calculating monster. The betrayal was an Arctic wind, chilling me to the bone, but beneath it, a burning rage began to smolder. He thought I was a naive girl from the wrong side of the tracks, easily manipulated. He was gravely mistaken. I wasn't his victim; I was about to become his reckoning./0/86225/coverorgin.jpg?v=07147f4a1e4ec64cf990786e6eef484c&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Her Heart, His Deadly Secret
The expensive leather of the car seat felt cold against my skin. My fiancé, Mark, was driving, his hand holding mine tightly, his warm smile promising safety. In the passenger seat, Chloe Davis beamed, "Almost there, Ava. You' re going to love the surprise." "Something even better," Mark said, squeezing my hand. "A final getaway before we' re officially Mr. and Mrs. Stevens. Just for us." But the car slowed, turning onto a gravel road. The city disappeared, replaced by dry fields and a high fence topped with barbed wire. A heavy iron gate blocked the road, guarded by two men with rifles. My smile faded. "Mark, where are we?" The car stopped. The engine cut out, and silence was sudden and heavy. Mark let go of my hand, his own sweating. He wouldn' t look at me. "I' m sorry, Ava." He finally turned, but the warmth was gone from his eyes. It was replaced by something cold. Chloe turned, her sweet smile twisted into a sneer. "He' s not sorry. Not really." A guard grabbed my arm, his grip like iron. "Mark, what is this? Help me!" I screamed, my eyes locked on his. He just looked away, his face pale. The gravel bit into my knees as I stumbled and fell. I looked up at the compound beyond the gate, the concrete buildings. A wave of ice washed over me. It wasn't just fear. It was recognition. A deep, soul-crushing recognition. I knew this place. I had spent two years trying to forget it, three years running from the man who built it. "No," I whispered, the sound catching in my throat. "No, no, not here." Chloe nudged my side with her expensive shoe. "Your inheritance was just sitting there, Ava. Mark and I need it. And you' re the key." "What are you talking about?" I choked out, my mind reeling. "They pay well here," Chloe said, casual. "Especially for someone like you. Unbroken. Pretty. They' ll get the money out of you. And what' s left of you will still fetch a good price." Betrayal was a cold, sharp thing. My fiancé and his lover, selling me back to the one place on earth I feared most. A hysterical laugh bubbled up. I looked past Chloe, past the guards, at the main building. The man I once loved. The man who had owned me, body and soul. The man I had betrayed to gain my freedom. "You idiots," I whispered, the words tasting of blood and dust. "You have no idea what you' ve done." Three years. I fought for three years to build a new life, to pretend I was normal. I got engaged to a kind man. I thought I had escaped. And now, the man I chose to escape to had just sold me right back to the devil I ran from. The cruel irony was suffocating. I was home. And I was going to make them pay./0/80124/coverorgin.jpg?v=e28b12e9d238b7a85a357afed11400e0&imageMogr2/format/webp)
His 'Practice' Bride, Her Real Wedding
For five years, Ava Miller navigated a passionate, secret relationship with Ethan Hayes, her best friend's younger brother. High above the New York skyline, she lived in their bubble, cherishing his touch and believing his fervent promises that their hidden love would "soon" be revealed to the world. She devoted herself, feeling vibrant and truly loved. One devastating night, her carefully constructed world shattered. Hiding just outside a half-open door, Ava overheard Ethan tell his closest friends she was nothing more than "great practice"—a mere "walking manual" for him to hone his boyfriend skills for his true, long-held obsession, Chloe Vance. Five years of her life, dismissed as a calculated "training program." The revelation was a gut punch. Ethan, the man who pursued her so ardently, abandoned her at her sickest to fuss over Chloe’s minor scrape. He allowed Chloe to publicly gloat, calling Ava a "warm-up act" and "convenient." Every tender word, every intimate gesture, now felt like a meticulously rehearsed lie. The man she loved saw her as a disposable tool. How could someone be so callous? Was her entire five-year relationship a horrifying, humiliating charade? The sheer audacity, the betrayal, left her reeling, disgraced and utterly heartbroken. What was she if not a placeholder, a learning experience for someone else? Refusing to be a discarded practice doll any longer, Ava made a stark choice. She severed all ties, sold her life in New York, and fled to Charleston, determined to build a new, honest life—one where she was truly valued. But would her past, and Ethan’s eventual realization, allow her to move on untouched?/0/84035/coverorgin.jpg?v=4584c34146b0b156b43e8c1f55d9f9f6&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Unraveling Fifty Years of Silence
At seventy, my body failed, but my mind was sharp with the bitterness of a fifty-year marriage to a woman I was certain never loved me back. My final words, a rasping confession of lifelong regret, were, "If I could do it all over again, I would never love you." Then, darkness, a profound silence, and suddenly, light flooded my vision as I shot awake, an eighteen-year-old in my childhood bedroom, strong and healthy. This was my second chance, and I vowed to rewrite my bitter past, starting with Jocelyn Anderson, the ice queen who had unknowingly broken my heart for half a century. I meticulously planned to shun her, using my knowledge of the future to build an empire, while deliberately acting aloof and uninterested, pushing her away at every turn. But then, she inexplicably transferred to my school, sat next to me in class, and shockingly appeared on the football field with Gatorade. My carefully constructed aversion shattered as I accused her of loving another, blinded by the phantom pain of my first life's perceived betrayal. Just as I walked away, broken-hearted and accepting my fate, her trembling voice hit me like a physical blow: "You think you're the only one who remembers?" "You were my husband for fifty years, Ethan," she whispered, her words confirming the impossible. But then Wesley Fowler, whom I believed was her lover, arrived, pulling her away and reigniting the crushing certainty that she was still lying, still choosing him. How could this be happening again, even with a second chance, even with her claiming to remember? The universe seemed to be playing a cruel joke, ensuring my sorrow spanned two lifetimes, leaving me with an agonizing question: if we both remembered, why was she still choosing him, still living the lie that destroyed us? I fled, seeking escape in Maine, only for her to follow, confronting me with a truth so profound it would either heal my soul or shatter it completely, forcing me to confront the fifty-year misunderstanding that defined my existence./0/33193/coverorgin.jpg?v=d8c586fc5fb1fce3909b2bad0f61aa44&imageMogr2/format/webp)
Her Sweet Revenge
Meet Asanel, a sweet beautiful girl aged 16 and has a close who is Jason, the governor's son. Despite the long lasting feud between both families, both kids fall in love and have a night stand and Asanel gets pregnant. However, her life changes drastically when her parents name gets dragged in the mud and is murdered in cold blood by the governor and his wife in an attempt to kill her child. On hearing the news of her parents death, she vows to avenge them and her baby. She leaves the country through the help of an influential business woman and everything changes. Seven years later. Asanel returns with a new face, new identity to destroy those who hurt her? But then she saw her first love again. What happens next? Find out in this intriguing book./0/24589/coverorgin.jpg?v=b1e4ddeffce58c01e27eeb75e73c1157&imageMogr2/format/webp)
The Secret Millionaire
Karishma Jones doesn’t want a relationship, especially not with Seth Parker. In her eyes, he was the enemy because defenders shouldn’t mix with prosecutors. However, Karishma can’t deny the sparkling chemistry that they share between them. Seth Parker is the definition of handsome and sweet. He knew what he wants and he goes after it. He doesn’t care if Kari stands on the opposite side of the courtroom, he wants her. Kari battled between her job and her heart, which does she choose?/0/85443/coverorgin.jpg?v=74b0f6e3efc4ea115210c7a6543a82b3&imageMogr2/format/webp)
His Last Regret: A Wife's Escape
The key turning in the lock was my daily alarm, signaling Ethan' s return and the inevitable judgment that followed. "Ava? Are you here?" he' d call out, his voice sharp, immediately spotting the dinner plates from last night. Then his gaze would drift to the piled-up breakfast dishes, and the familiar annoyance would seep into his tone. "Seriously? I work a twelve-hour day, and I come home to this? What have you been doing all day?" My usual apologies, my explanations of morning sickness and dizziness, died on my tongue. Not anymore. I just watched him, the familiar coldness spreading through my chest. "There," he' d said, not looking up from his phone, after sending me $5,000. "Go buy yourself something nice. A new bag or something. Maybe that' ll make you feel better." For nine years, money was his solution to everything, a payment for my silence. But as I stared at the notification, the money meant nothing. My eyes landed on his phone, and it wasn' t my picture, or our daughter Lily' s, on his lock screen. It was another woman, Chloe, kissing his cheek, his genuine smile a stark contrast to the irritation he'd shown me for years. "Let' s get a divorce," I said, my voice quiet but clear. He scoffed. "Is this about the dishes? Your hormones are all over the place. Just take the money, go shopping tomorrow, and you' ll forget all about this." But then his phone buzzed again, and the truth solidified. "Don' t start," he warned, seeing my gaze on the screen. "I' m not starting anything," I replied, the words eerily calm. "I' m ending it." He walked away, taking a call, his voice suddenly soft and gentle. "Chloe is taking Lily to her piano lesson tomorrow." My blood ran cold. He was letting that woman, his mistress, get involved in our daughter' s life. He was replacing me, piece by piece, right in front of my eyes. "The baby is gone," I told him, watching his face drain of all color. He stumbled back, horrified, accusing me of lying. But the truth was, he wasn' t there for any of it – the high-risk appointments I went to alone, the emergency visit, or the miscarriage that followed. He was always busy helping Chloe. When I needed him most, he asked, "Which hospital? I' m busy, will try to stop by later." He never came. I had gone through it all by myself. "You… you killed our baby?" he gasped, his words like a slap. "Yes, Ethan," I said, the venom in my voice surprising even me. "If that' s what you need to hear, then yes. I killed it. Are you happy now? You' re free. No more inconvenient pregnant wife to weigh you down." He fell silent, his face pale. Where was the man who promised me forever, the one who held me when my father died, the one who vowed to protect Lily and me? I looked at this stranger wearing my husband' s face. "Because I' ve been alone for a very long time, Ethan. You just weren' t paying attention." The next day, in the hospital hallway, I saw her. Chloe. And then Ethan, his face a mix of surprise and guilt. He asked why I was there, not if I was okay. When he grabbed for my hospital file, it slipped, revealing "Surgical Abortion" in stark letters. Chloe gasped, feigning shock, while Ethan, blaming her, demanded, "Why didn't you tell me she was here?" "It doesn' t matter," I said, collecting the papers. "I' m still filing for divorce, Ethan. This changes nothing." "We' re not getting a divorce," he snapped, as Chloe moved to comfort him, subtly asserting her place. His eyes, however, fixed on a cardiovascular awareness poster behind me, his face paling, as if everything around him had vanished. But I didn't care. "I'll have the papers sent to your office," I said, walking away. This was the end. Two months later, I had moved in with Lily. Ethan fought me every step of the way, sending flowers I returned, texts I ignored. Then came the family gathering he called a meeting-a calculated ambush. His mother, Chloe, even Lily, were there. "Lily, honey, sit up straight," Chloe cooed, adjusting Lily' s collar, a gesture of ownership. Ethan' s mother beamed, praising Chloe as a woman who "knew how to take care of a family." Chloe then presented Ethan with a blood pressure monitor, cooing, "We can' t have you getting sick." But my heart seized when I saw Lily. Her knuckles were white, her right hand scratching anxiously at her left arm. A wave of dread washed over me. "I want full custody of Lily," I declared, cutting through their cheer. Silence fell. "You have no right!" his mother exploded. "After abandoning your family, you want to take his child away? What kind of monster are you?" "Is she fine, Ethan?" I shot back, my gaze locking with his. "Are you so blind that you can' t see how miserable she is? Or do you just not care?" I stood, ready to leave, his face flushing with embarrassment. "You' re making a scene," he hissed. "A scene?" I laughed, raw and angry. "You cheated on me while I was pregnant. You let me go through a miscarriage alone because your girlfriend had car trouble. You let this woman play mother to my daughter." He crushed the blood pressure monitor in his hand, a sharp crack echoing in the room. He looked at the broken device, then at me, a dawning horror in his eyes. It was the first time I had seen genuine remorse on his face. But it was far, far too late. "Get your hands off him," I told Chloe, who was rushing to his side. "You' re scaring her," Ethan said, trying to shield Chloe. "Good," I responded. He tried to justify his affair, claiming I was never there for him. "I wasn' t there for you?" I asked, my voice dangerously quiet. "For nine years, my entire life revolved around you. I managed your health for years, Ethan. You were so absorbed in yourself you never even noticed." His face went slack with shock. "You think I' m a monster?" I swept my gaze over his silent family. "Fine. I' ll be the monster. I' d rather be a monster who protects her child than a 'good woman' who lets her family be destroyed." "Lily. Come on, honey. We' re leaving." Chloe reached for Lily. "Lily, stay here with Daddy." Lily flinched, then shrieked, "NO! Don' t touch me! I don' t want to stay with you!" "What did you do to her?" I demanded of Chloe. Ethan tried to dismiss it as a tantrum. "That is not a tantrum, Ethan," I stated calmly, "That is fear." I pulled out the divorce papers. "Here are the divorce papers. I signed them this morning. I' m taking Lily with me. If you fight me, I will make sure every single person in this city knows exactly what kind of man you are, and what kind of 'caretaker' you left our daughter with." With Lily by my side, clinging to me, we walked out, leaving the ruins of our family behind. That night, alone with Lily, I saw them: faint, bluish-purple bruises on her arms, and raw, red scratches. Guilt, a crushing weight, suffocated me. I had been so consumed by my own pain that I hadn' t seen what was happening to her. I had failed to protect my daughter. I spent the next day making up for lost time, watching Lily' s joy as she fed giraffes, her laughter a balm to my soul. That evening, my friend Mark came over, seeing me finally free. He suggested setting me up with someone. "Slow down. I' m not even divorced yet. And I think I' m going to be single for a very, very long time." Then my phone buzzed. "Ava, pick up the phone. It' s Ethan. I' m using my mother' s cell." Another text followed. "Why aren' t you answering? Where is Lily? You have no right to keep my daughter from me." A hot flash of anger surged. He accused me of being a bad mother. I walked into Lily' s room, took a photo of the bruises on her arm, and sent it to his number. His immediate reply: "What is this?" I blocked him. The silence that followed was more satisfying than any argument. Life moved on. Work was good. My colleague, Ben, a bright, funny guy, constantly found reasons to talk to me. He even asked me out, offering me a ticket to an art exhibit. I gently declined. "Thanks, Ben, but I have plans with my daughter." The divorce was almost final. Any day now. I couldn' t wait to be free. The day the divorce was supposed to be finalized, Ethan was waiting for me at my office entrance. With Chloe. "Ava, we need to talk," he said, blocking my path. Chloe stepped forward, a forced, tight smile on her face. "Ava, I' m sorry. For everything. I' m really, truly sorry." Her performance was for him. I just stared, my face a blank mask. "Okay." He tried to stop me, a strange, desperate expression on his face. He looked broken, aged ten years. He reached out to touch my arm. I flinched. "Don' t touch me," I said, the words sharp and cold. The rejection hit him. Chloe, seeing her apology fail, jumped in. "He's just trying to do the right thing, Ava! Why do you have to be so difficult? He's been a wreck since you left!" "Shut up, Chloe," Ethan snapped. She was stunned. My phone rang, Lily' s school. "Mrs. Patterson? Lily… she' s missing." Panic seized me. "What do you mean, missing?" I shrieked. "How could she be missing?" I dropped everything, my keys clattering. Terror filled Ethan' s eyes, but all I could think was, He can' t find her before I do. If he found her, he' d use it against me. She was my daughter. I had to find her first. I sprinted through the streets, a frantic prayer repeating in my mind: Please be safe, please be safe, please be safe. My phone rang again. It was Ben. "I have her," he said quickly. "I have Lily. She' s safe." Relief washed over me so intensely my knees buckled. I burst into the cafe where he was with Lily, her face tear-streaked while sipping a hot chocolate. She ran into my arms, sobbing, "I was scared, Mommy. I wanted you." After I' d calmed down, Lily confessed. "Aunty Chloe came to school yesterday. She told me that you and Daddy were getting back together and that I would have to live with her again. She said if I told you, she would… she would lock me in the dark closet again." The air left my lungs. This wasn' t just neglect. It was abuse. A cold, hard rage settled deep in my bones. I took Lily straight to the police station. Then to a child psychologist. I filed a report against Chloe. I documented everything. Ethan fought me, furious. "You' re going to create a public scandal! This will ruin me! And it will traumatize Lily, dragging her through this!" "She' s already traumatized, Ethan," I said, my voice devoid of emotion except ice. "Because of who you chose to bring into her life. I don' t care about your reputation. I care about my daughter. This is over." I hung up. With the police report and psychologist' s testimony, the custody battle was short. I was granted sole and full custody. All of Ethan' s visitation rights were suspended pending a full investigation. The day the divorce decree was officially stamped, I felt nothing. I had expected relief, joy, freedom. But there was only quiet emptiness. Nine years of my life, a marriage, a family – all reduced to a signature on paper. The love had died so long ago there was nothing left to mourn. Ben appeared at my side, holding a single, bright sunflower. "I heard the news," he said softly. "I just wanted to say… congratulations. I guess." He handed me the flower. "For new beginnings." I looked at him, then at the school gate where Lily would soon appear. A new relationship was the furthest thing from my mind. "Thank you, Ben," I said honestly. "But right now… I just want to be on my own. With Lily. We need to heal." For the first time, my future was entirely my own. It was a blank page. And I was the only one who would get to write on it. A month later, Ethan was at my door, looking terrible, holding a file. "It' s about Lily," he croaked. He' d gone to her pediatrician, revealing a heart murmur that could be genetic. "My family has a history of heart conditions. She needs both her parents, Ava. She needs a stable home. We should get back together. For her." I stared at him, dumbfounded. He was using a minor, common health issue to manipulate me. "Are you insane?" "I' ve changed, Ava," he insisted. "I realize what I lost. Please… just give me one more chance." "No," I said, simple and absolute. "Why not? I know you still love me." I almost laughed. "Love you? Ethan, the love I had for you wasn' t a fortress. It was a house. And you took a sledgehammer to it, day after day, for years. You don' t miss me, Ethan. You miss having a wife." "That' s not true! It' s for Lily! A child needs her father!" "Lily needs to be safe. She needs to be happy. She doesn' t need a father who ignored her suffering and prioritized his girlfriend over her well-being." Lily appeared, her little face hardened. She ran to me, glaring at Ethan. "Go away. I don' t like you. You let the mean lady hurt me." Ethan flinched. The condemnation from his own child was more powerful than anything I could have said. "You heard her," I said softly. "It' s time for you to go." I closed the door, locking it. He stayed on my doorstep, slumped, head in hands, all night. A few weeks later, rumors trickled in. Mark told me Ethan' s work was suffering; he' d lost a major client. His family, of course, blamed me. Then, Chloe cornered me in the parking garage, looking as haggard as Ethan. "This is all your fault," she hissed. "He won' t even look at me anymore. All he talks about is you. What did you do to him?" "I didn't do anything, Chloe," I said, walking toward my car. "He did this to himself. And to you." "He loves me!" she insisted. "You know, Chloe," I said, turning to face her. "A man' s love is like a bank account… He emptied his account with me a long time ago. And it looks like he' s doing the same to you." She lunged, fingernails outstretched. I held up my phone. "I wouldn' t do that if I were you. The security guards are on their way. And this is all being recorded." She froze, then ran off, sobbing. I drove home, not giving her another thought. That night, a storm rolled in. The sky opened up, washing the world clean. The doorbell rang. It was Ethan, soaked, shivering, looking utterly hopeless. "Go away, Ethan," I said through the intercom, ignoring him. The next morning, the rain had stopped. I opened my front door and almost tripped over him. He was curled up on my doormat, unconscious, burning up with fever. "Oh, for God' s sake," I muttered. Against my better judgment, I called Mark. Together, we dragged Ethan inside and dumped him on my couch. I didn' t want the drama of paramedics. I just wanted him gone. A few hours later, he woke, disoriented. He tried to clean up the mess in my yard. "What are you doing?" I asked, annoyed. "I' m just cleaning up. I made a mess by being here," he mumbled. "Stop it. You' re sick. Just sit down." I gave him pills and water. "Take these. And then you need to leave, Ethan." "I can' t," he whispered. "I lost my job... My mother… she kicked me out. I sold the apartment. I have nowhere else to go." He looked up at me, a mask of shame and desperation. The powerful, arrogant man I married was gone. In his place was this… shell. A slow, sarcastic smile spread across my face. "Fine," I said. "You can stay. For now. You can sleep on the couch. But you' re going to work for your keep." He looked at me, confused. "Work?" "Yes," I said, my smile widening. "You can be the nanny." For two weeks, Ethan lived on my couch and worked. He cooked, cleaned, did laundry, took Lily to and from school, played with her, read to her. He was, for the first time, a full-time, hands-on parent. It was a perfect, sickening imitation of the life I' d always wanted. I watched him like a stranger, a hired hand. The emotional chasm was too vast. Lily remained wary. She was polite, but never offered him easy affection. One evening, as I tucked her in, she whispered, "I love you, Mommy. You' re the best mommy in the whole world. I' m glad we live with just you." Her words were a comfort, a validation. At the end of two weeks, I handed Ethan an envelope of cash. "What's this?" "It's your salary. For the two weeks of childcare and housekeeping services. Now your services are no longer required. You can leave." Humiliation and disbelief flooded his face. "Ava, you can't be serious. I did all this to show you I've changed." "You're a little late," I said, turning away. "Lily and I are going on vacation. We leave in an hour." Our bags were already packed. "Vacation? Where? Are you… are you going with that guy?" His jealousy was transparent. "Who I go with is no longer your business, Ethan." I didn't confirm or deny. I owed him no explanations. I took Lily' s hand. "Come on, sweetie. Time to go." We walked out. He followed us to the taxi. "Ava, please," he begged. "Don' t do this. Don' t leave me." I put our bags in the trunk. I looked at him one last time. "It' s not that I' m leaving you, Ethan," I said, my voice soft but final. "It' s that I already left, a long time ago. You just didn' t notice." I got into the taxi. He ran alongside, his face pressed against the window, forming my name. As the taxi pulled away, I watched him in the rearview mirror, a lone figure shrinking, until he was gone. Lily looked up at me. "Mommy, where are we going?" I smiled, stroking her hair. "Anywhere we want, baby. Anywhere at all." I was free. We were free. And our new beginning was waiting just for us./0/18488/coverorgin.jpg?v=6aa369f6b4323955d84c9435bbc7cff7&imageMogr2/format/webp)
