Love Amidst Hidden Wounds; Desire Shadows

Love Amidst Hidden Wounds; Desire Shadows

Everly Drake

5.0
Comment(s)
52
View
20
Chapters

"How much longer were you going to deceive me?" Lorena's voice shook out of rage as she paced the room. "Did you not realize they were observing us? No. Not that, you actually treated me like a pawn in your little game." Alexander responded in a calm voice. "It isn't that easy, Lorena. Believe me. Yes, I knew they were watching us, so i have been trying my best to keep you safe I didn't mean to bring this much harm on you, Lorena." Lorena laughed, "Safe? Does it look like you kept me safe by turning me into some set of target?" Alex placed his hand over his head as he spoke. "You have to understand me, my love. I did everything I could to keep you safe. I thought keeping you close to me was going to be the best way to protect you." "Just stop!!!" She said before furiously walking out on him. Will Lorena stay by Alexander's side during a time of trial or will she decide to leave?

Love Amidst Hidden Wounds; Desire Shadows Chapter 1 A window to Dreams

The city buzzed outside Lorena Matthews' small apartment like an incessant hive, a rhythm of chaos she had learned to tune out. Seated by her lone window, her gaze stretched over the blinking skyline of New York City, a view she couldn't afford but held onto as if it were her last tether to hope. The stars, dimmed by the city lights, still flickered faintly-just like her dreams.

Lorena sighed, her breath misting the glass as the late evening chill seeped through the cracks of the poorly insulated room. The hum of her tiny space heater barely held the cold at bay. She pulled her worn cardigan tighter, fingers lingering over a tear in the sleeve she hadn't bothered to mend. There were always more pressing matters-rent, food, and the relentless student loans that followed her like shadows. At 24, life felt more like survival than living.

Her reflection in the glass caught her attention: tired hazel eyes framed by unruly chestnut hair she'd hastily tied up before her double shift at the café earlier. Her face carried the kind of exhaustion that couldn't be masked by makeup. Yet, beyond the fatigue, there was something else-a spark. A stubborn, almost defiant glimmer of hope.

She said to herself, "I'll get through this," barely heard above the sirens and honking automobiles in the distance. Her thoughts were interrupted as her phone chimed. She reached for it on the cracked coffee table, the screen lighting up with a notification from her bank. Another overdraft. Her stomach sank, but she quickly swiped the message away. She couldn't deal with that tonight.

She allowed her thoughts to stray to the skies instead. She used to sit on her grandmother's roof as a youngster, thinking of adventures far from the quaint hamlet she had left behind and tracking constellations. Her grandmother's words, "You were born to shine, Lorena," had always been a comforting salve against life's uncertainties. However, her grandma was no longer with her, so Lorena had to face adulthood alone.

She was shocked and brought back to the present by a tap at the door. There was Mrs. Dawson, her neighbor, holding a platter covered in foil and grinning warmly.

With the lasagna plate in hand, the elder woman added, "I thought you might be hungry." Lorena's face reddened with appreciation. "Thank you, Mrs. Dawson. You didn't have to."

"Nonsense, sweetheart. You work too hard for too little. Don't forget to take care of yourself," Mrs. Dawson said, her tone both gentle and firm.

Lorena nodded, her throat tightening. The kindness felt almost overwhelming in her current state of mind. She closed the door and sat back at the window, savoring the first real meal she'd had all week. Each bite tasted like comfort and fleeting relief.

She worked in a café, which was everything but glamorous. An varied mix of customers carried on through the afternoons, while impatient commuters demanded their caffeine fix in the mornings. Everything had been the same today, save for him.

The man who had in right before closing caught her attention.

His tall stature and well-tailored suit clung to his wide frame with an air of effortless richness. Although his dark hair was perfectly styled, she was taken aback by his eyes, which were piercing, harsh, and uncompromising. He had walked through the café with such assurance that the normal conversation had been muffled, as though the air itself had changed to make room for him. He had said, "Pardon me," in a smooth, deep voice. like velvet covering steel.

Lorena had been holding a coffee pot and had almost dropped it. "Y-yes? In what way may I assist you?

His mouth twitched into a little smile. Please, black coffee. Absent sugar.

She felt self-conscious as she poured him coffee, her hands trembling a little under the intensity of his eyes. None of the many clients she had served over the years had disturbed her as much as this one.

The silence had been broken by his question, "Hard night?"

Lorena looked up, startled. His inquiry seemed sincere, unlike the typical small talk that patrons would throw at her.

"It's been a long day," she said half-heartedly.

He seemed to comprehend more than she had stated, as he nodded. "Remain calm." The brightest stars might occasionally appear on the darkest evenings.

Long after he had left, the words continued to linger, his cologne's subtle scent still permeating the air. Something about him felt... important, even if she didn't even know his name.

Once back in her flat, Lorena rested her head against the windowpane and put the empty plate aside. Her own faith in the stars and their promise of a brighter future was echoed by the stranger's remarks, she reflected.

But who was he? A entrepreneur? A tourist just dropping in? What had made him appear so... familiar? She dismissed the idea by shaking her head. She was acting ridiculously. There was nothing more to him than another consumer.

However, her thoughts would not let go of the experience when she climbed into bed that night. For the first time in weeks, she fantasized of a life outside her small apartment, not of past-due debts or another tough shift. Her stars finally aligned in her life.

She was met with the city's typical clamor the following morning. Through her flimsy coat, the cold hurt her as she walked to work. Her breath caught as she walked toward the café.

There he was. As calm and imposing as the previous evening, they stood by the door.

His warm voice sent a chill down her spine as he replied, "Good morning, Miss Matthews."

Her heart was racing when she questioned, "How do you know my name?" With a tinge of malice in his eyes, his smile grew wider. Remember what you told me last night? I'm Alexander Steele.

She felt her world tilt a little. Steele Alexander. Although she couldn't place it, the name sounded familiar. She forced herself to seem composed in spite of the raging questions inside of her.

"Well, Mr. Steele, may I get you another coffee?" she inquired.

"Not today," he said in a mysterious tone. "I have another purpose for being here today."

Lorena's brows went down. What are you saying?

His eyes met hers for a second more before he turned and left, leaving her with more questions than answers. "You'll find out soon enough," he murmured.

It was a hazy rest of the day. Despite her inability to decide whether to be happy or afraid, Lorena couldn't get rid of the feeling that her life was about to change.

That night, as she lay in bed and gazed out her window at the stars, a peculiar feeling of anticipation filled her chest. For better or worse, she knew that her life would never be the same after Alexander Steele joined it.

Continue Reading

Other books by Everly Drake

More

You'll also like

The Billionaire's Secret Triplets: Mom's Revenge

The Billionaire's Secret Triplets: Mom's Revenge

HONEY MULLINS
4.5

Six years ago, I was a naive girl sold by my father to the powerful Sanders estate, only to be tossed onto the streets after a brutal assault they labeled "marital infidelity." I fled the country pregnant and broken, hiding from the shadow of a husband I had never even met. Now, I’ve returned to New York with my triplets to sign the final divorce papers and disappear forever. But Archibald Sanders—the man I was told was a crippled recluse—intercepted us with the cold precision of a predator. He didn't see the woman his family destroyed; he saw a gold-digger who had shamed his name. His security team hunted us to a grimy motel, using tactical force to snatch my children away and drag me to his glass-walled empire. In his office, he loomed over me, demanding a DNA test and threatening to throw me in prison while my babies were lost to the foster system. He was convinced I’d cheated, yet he stared at my sons with a haunting confusion, unable to ignore the stormy blue eyes that were a perfect mirror of his own. I stood there, paralyzed by his scent—the sharp tang of rain and expensive leather that triggered the icy dread of my worst nightmares. How could he accuse me of betrayal when he felt exactly like the monster who had shattered my life in that dark hotel room? "I'll sign anything," I sobbed, "just give me my kids." But the game changed when my five-year-old son hacked the tower’s security, holding the skyscraper hostage to save me. In the chaos, a fragile, silent boy—Archibald’s secret son—wandered into the room and reached for me as if I were his missing soul. Archibald’s face turned to stone as he tore up the agreement and locked the doors. "Until I find out why my son is looking at you like that," he growled, "you aren't going anywhere."

He Thought I Was A Doormat, Until I Ruined Him

He Thought I Was A Doormat, Until I Ruined Him

SHANA GRAY
4.5

The sterile white of the operating room blurred, then sharpened, as Skye Sterling felt the cold clawing its way up her body. The heart monitor flatlined, a steady, high-pitched whine announcing her end. Her uterus had been removed, a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding, but the blood wouldn't clot. It just kept flowing, warm and sticky, pooling beneath her. Through heavy eyes, she saw a trembling nurse holding a phone on speaker. "Mr. Kensington," the nurse's voice cracked, "your wife... she's critical." A pause, then a sweet, poisonous giggle. Seraphina Miller. "Liam is in the shower," Seraphina's voice purred. "Stop calling, Skye. It's pathetic. Faking a medical emergency on our anniversary? Even for you, that's low." Then, Liam's bored voice: "If she dies, call the funeral home. I have a meeting in the morning." Click. The line went dead. A second later, so did Skye. The darkness that followed was absolute, suffocating, a black ocean crushing her lungs. She screamed into the void, a silent, agonizing wail of regret for loving a man who saw her as a nuisance, for dying without ever truly living. Until she died, she didn't understand. Why was her life so tragically wasted? Why did her husband, the man she loved, abandon her so cruelly? The injustice of it all burned hotter than the fever in her body. Then, the air rushed back in. Skye gasped, her body convulsing violently on the mattress. Her eyes flew open, wide and terrified, staring blindly into the darkness. Her trembling hand reached for her phone. May 12th. Five years ago. She was back.

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book
Love Amidst Hidden Wounds; Desire Shadows Love Amidst Hidden Wounds; Desire Shadows Everly Drake Romance
“"How much longer were you going to deceive me?" Lorena's voice shook out of rage as she paced the room. "Did you not realize they were observing us? No. Not that, you actually treated me like a pawn in your little game." Alexander responded in a calm voice. "It isn't that easy, Lorena. Believe me. Yes, I knew they were watching us, so i have been trying my best to keep you safe I didn't mean to bring this much harm on you, Lorena." Lorena laughed, "Safe? Does it look like you kept me safe by turning me into some set of target?" Alex placed his hand over his head as he spoke. "You have to understand me, my love. I did everything I could to keep you safe. I thought keeping you close to me was going to be the best way to protect you." "Just stop!!!" She said before furiously walking out on him. Will Lorena stay by Alexander's side during a time of trial or will she decide to leave?”
1

Chapter 1 A window to Dreams

06/01/2025

2

Chapter 2 A Glimpse into the unknown

06/01/2025

3

Chapter 3 The Shadow of Complication

06/01/2025

4

Chapter 4 A world Beyond my Window

06/01/2025

5

Chapter 5 The Invitation

06/01/2025

6

Chapter 6 The Awakening

06/01/2025

7

Chapter 7 A Glimpse Beyond

06/01/2025

8

Chapter 8 A Door Opens

06/01/2025

9

Chapter 9 The Barrier That Separate Us

07/01/2025

10

Chapter 10 The Edge of Trust

07/01/2025

11

Chapter 11 The crack in the facade

09/02/2025

12

Chapter 12 Cracks in the Armor

09/02/2025

13

Chapter 13 The Edge of Betrayal

09/02/2025

14

Chapter 14 Into the Lion's Den

09/02/2025

15

Chapter 15 Breaking point

09/02/2025

16

Chapter 16 The Unraveling Truth

04/03/2025

17

Chapter 17 Dangerous Game

04/03/2025

18

Chapter 18 The Tangled Web

04/03/2025

19

Chapter 19 The Rising Storm

04/03/2025

20

Chapter 20 The Reckoning

04/03/2025