Novels by Joanna Jade

Roman sat in his car, parked outside his own house.The engine was off. The night was quiet. But inside the car, the only sound was the relentless beep of a call that wouldn't go through.He pulled the phone from his ear and stared at the screen."What the hell Tessa?” He murmured.He had called her seven times today. Fourteen times this week. Dozens of times over the past month.Yet, no response.The line just kept beeping. No ring. No voicemail. Just... nothing.She blocked me.The thought sat in his chest like a stone.He understood things had been difficult between them. He understood she was hurt, angry, confused. But to block him completely? To cut him off without a word?That was more frustrating than he’d like to admit.He groaned and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat.His eyes fell on the items beside it — flowers, chocolates, a small velvet box he hadn't touched. Romantic things. Hopeful things. Things he had planned to give her tonight.Now he just looked stupid.He

The sound of Eleanor's heels against the marble floor echoed through the corridor.She had faced many difficult situations before. Boardroom battles. Social scandals. The return of a dead husband. But this — watching her son be led away in shackles while the world watched — this had to be the most humiliating.She put on her dark glasses and continued down the corridor."Eleanor."The voice stopped her cold.She turned.Salima and Roman walked toward her, side by side. Roman's face was unreadable. Salima's was not.Eleanor exhaled sharply. "Salima. Roman." She adjusted her sunglasses. "I believe you are here to gloat."Salima stepped closer, her shoulders high, her chin lifted. The years between them seemed to collapse into a single moment."Do you remember," Salima said quietly, "months ago... in this very courthouse... you stood there after you tried to lock up my son. And you told me that it was just the consequences of his bad decisions?"Eleanor's jaw tightened. She said nothing.

The courtroom was already packed by the time the deputies brought Grayson in.The chains around his wrists rattled softly with each step.For the first time in his life, Grayson Thorne looked small.The expensive suits were gone. The arrogance was harder to maintain in a prison uniform. Bruises still lingered along his jaw from the night of his arrest, and dark circles sat beneath his eyes.A murmur swept through the gallery as he entered.Roman watched silently from the front row.Grayson’s eyes immediately found him.The hatred there was instant.Raw and unfiltered.A deputy guided him toward the defence table.On the opposite side of the courtroom sat Eleanor and Liam.Eleanor looked immaculate as always. Perfect hair. Perfect makeup. Perfect posture.But her hands were clenched tightly together in her lap.Liam sat beside her, his expression unreadable.A few seats away sat Bernard.Salima occupied the space between Bernard and Victor.The arrangement hadn’t been planned, but Roma

Roman stood before the mirror, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. His suit was jet black, crisp and expensive. His watch clicked into place — a gift from his father, years ago, before everything fell apart.He barely recognised himself.Not because he looked different. But because he felt lighter than he had in months.It had been four weeks.Four weeks since the fire.Four weeks since Grayson had been dragged away in handcuffs while screaming threats into the night.And now the day had finally arrived.The trial.Grayson would finally face consequences. And Roman could breathe.The door opened behind him."Hi, Mom," Roman said without turning. "Good morning.”Salima stepped into the room, her heels soft against the carpet. She was dressed in a deep navy dress, understated but elegant. Her hair was pinned back. Her face was calm."Good morning," she said. She walked up to him and reached for his tie. "Let me."Roman laughed. “You know I can do that myself.”“Clearly not very well.” Sal

Tessa sat propped against the pillows, her wrists still bandaged, her arms spotted with healing burns. The room smelled like antiseptic and flowers — too many flowers, brought by people who didn't know what else to do.Daniel sat on her left. Her father, Peter, stood by the window. Gina was curled in a chair in the corner, pretending to scroll through her phone but really just watching."How are you feeling?" Daniel asked."I'm fine," Tessa said. "I've said that three times already.""You keep saying it. Doesn't make it true." Daniel said.“Maybe.” She tried to sit up. “But I’m going to be fine.”“You should just have stayed home,” Daniel said. “Told you not to go see Roman. But you wouldn’t listen. Now see where you end up.”Tessa sighed. "Daniel, please. I don't have the energy to fight with you.""Good. Because I'm not going to fight either." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "I'm here to tell you what we've decided."Tessa's eyes narrowed. "We?""Dad and me." Daniel glanced

"When you said fighting fire with fire, I didn't think you meant literally," Alec said as Roman uncapped the gasoline container in front of him.Behind him, Bernard stood still, arms crossed, saying nothing.Alec leaned against a wall, phone in hand, watching but not interfering.Roman didn't look back. He knew what he was doing. He didn't care.Grayson's cars were lined up in a row in the compound — the black Mercedes, the silver Porsche, the matte grey Lamborghini he never drove but loved to show off. Roman had seen them all before. Had listened to Grayson brag about the engines, the custom interiors, the price tags.None of it mattered now.Roman unscrewed the cap and started pouring.The liquid splashed across the hood of the Mercedes, dripped down the windshield, and pooled on the ground. He moved to the Porsche. Then the Lamborghini.The smell was thick, acrid, and familiar.The same smell Grayson had left after he tried to kill Tessa.Roman's jaw tightened.He finished the cont

Bella’s POVWe all watched Zayden go.And then Noemi scoffed. "Typical Zayden."I sat there for a moment, my heart pounding.“What is wrong with you?” Emerald said, angrily. “Nothing is wrong with me Mamma,” Noemi answered. “And it’s been years now, maybe you can finally be my mother instead of always taking Zayden’s side.”“Well for one, Zayden is not an embarrassment to me,” Emerald said sharply. “You always cause chaos, Noemi. End this now.”Noemi smiled, although she was clearly hurt. “Fine. Whatever you say.”I didn’t wait to finish eating. I couldn’t spend another second at that table.After a while, I stood. “I have to go.”They didn’t stop me. I left the dining table and went to my room. I closed the door, but I couldn't sit still. The dinner replayed in my head — the accusations, the pain, the way Zayden's face had gone cold when Noemi mentioned their father.I paced for a while. Then I stopped.He was angry.I didn't know why that mattered. I didn't know why I cared. But I

Bella’s POVThe woman smiled brightly. “Hello, brother.”My breath caught.Brother?I stared at her. The dark hair. The sharp green eyes. The elegant posture.Then recognition slammed into me.She was the woman from the gala.The woman who had sat beside me and spoken to me like we were old friends.The woman who had known things about Zayden.Except now she wasn’t some stranger from a party.She was standing in the middle of the Romano villa calling Zayden her brother.What the hell?“Can you please tell these gorillas to let me go?” she complained. “Their fingers are digging into my arms.”Zayden blinked.For the first time since I’d known him, he actually looked surprised.The guards immediately glanced toward him.“Let her go.” He said.The moment they released her, Noemi rubbed both arms dramatically.“Finally.” She frowned. “What do you people feed them? Steroids?”A few guards looked offended.Noemi ignored them, her gaze fell on Emerald. “Oh, Mamma! It’s so good to see you.”

Zayden’s POVThe car ride was silent.Not the comfortable kind. The kind that sat between us like a wall, heavy and unyielding.I spent all night terrified something had happened to her and now she was sitting beside me pretending I didn’t exist.I watched her from the corner of my eye. She was still angry — I could see it in the set of her jaw, the way her arms were folded across her chest, the way she stared out the window like she wished she were anywhere else.But that wasn't what caught my attention.What caught my attention was her nightgown.Thin. White. Almost transparent in the morning light. The fabric clung to the curves of her breasts, and I could see the hard peaks of her nipples pressing against it. She hadn't bothered to change before we left. Maybe she wanted me to notice.Either way, I couldn't look away."What are you staring at?" she asked without turning around.I didn't answer. I just took off my jacket and held it out to her."Wear this."She glanced at it, then

Zayden’s POV Alejandro stared at me as if he had seen a ghost, which is funny because I wasn’t the one who died in his home last time. “Are you going to invite me in?” I asked, hands in my coat pocket. He didn’t say a word — he simply stepped aside. “It’s been a long time since we saw one another,” I said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been the best son-in-law. Bella and I should have come to visit.” Alejandro scoffed. “What are you doing here Zayden?” “I told you I was here to get my wife,” I answered, walking further into the home. “But now that I’ve seen you. I remember we have a lot to catch up on.” I sank onto the couch and met his gaze now. “Sit.” Alejandro hesitated. “What?” “I said sit down.” He exhaled sharply, then moved to the couch opposite me. “What is this about?” He asked. “None of you called Bella ever since we got married,” I said. “She wouldn’t talk to me but I know that made her feel really sad and lonely.” “Well you're her husband, you’re meant

Zayden’s POVI pulled into the villa driveway and killed the engine.The ride back had been silent. Tomás had asked a few questions — "What happened back there?" "Is she coming home?" "Do you want me to stay?" — but I had answered with nothing but grunts until he got the message. I dropped him off at his home and drove the rest of the way alone.When I got home — I slammed the car door harder than necessary. The sound echoed through the courtyard.I made my way into the villa, my face carved from stone.The staff scattered as I stormed through the halls. Maids pressed themselves against walls. Guards straightened their postures. No one spoke. No one even breathed too loudly.Giulia was the only one brave enough to approach.She stepped out from the kitchen doorway, her brow furrowed, her hands clasped in front of her, holding a paper towel."Zayden," she said carefully. "Where is Bella?"I didn't stop walking. "She's on her way.""On her way?" Giulia hurried to keep up. "What do you m

Bella’s POVRafael led me into the living room.The house felt the same. The same scent of lavender and old wood that had followed me since childhood. But something felt different like I had outgrown it without noticing."Isabella?" My father's voice came from the staircase.I looked up.He stood there, frozen, his hand gripping the bannister. His face was pale. His eyes were wide."Dad," I said softly.He crossed the room in quick strides and pulled me into his arms. I stiffened at first — I hadn't forgotten the numerous slaps, the wedding, the way he sold me off like cargo. But his arms were warm, and his shoulders were shaking, and something in me softened."What are you doing here?" he asked, pulling back to look at me. "Where is Zayden? Did you run away? What's going on?"I stepped back. "No. I didn't run away. Zayden knows I'm here." The lie came easily. "He said it was fine for me to visit for the night."My father's eyes narrowed. "He just... let you leave?""He knew I was fee