Novels by Paroj-Paroj

"You know, you don’t have to drive me to the hospital. I can go there by myself," I told Valerian as he opened the car door for me.He rested one elbow on the roof of his car while holding the door open with the other. His body blocked my way, leaning in just enough to trap me against the car.This teasing bastard."I’m a gentleman," he said curtly before stealing a kiss on my lips.Giving him a teasing deadpan stare, I cocked my head to the side. "You’ve got better things to do than play chauffeur, you know. Like... dealing with Athena Winters and her accusations?"His mood dipped for a second before he shrugged it off. "I moved the test to tomorrow. So, to shut that beautiful, delicious, perfect mouth of yours, we’ll handle it faster than your patience runs out." He put a period on his sentence with a playful poke to the tip of my nose."Is that supposed to make me agree to let you tag along?" I asked, raising an eyebrow."Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly asking for permission. Besides,

After visiting Liam at the hospital, I asked Valerian if he could drive to Dad's since, no matter what bad news comes, it’s apparently not a valid excuse to skip work. But he just said we could go there tomorrow—together.Fine by me. I still have a ton of stuff to sort out, especially now that Dad just sent me a message roping Valerian and me into some charity exhibit this weekend.I’ve got a million thoughts racing through my head, and just as many words I want to say. But instead, here I am, watching Valerian being way too tenacious with his phone while expertly taking off his watch and loosening his tie.He’s definitely hiding something. I’ve got this gut feeling—he’s the one who got Rachel fired.And let’s be real, Valerian’s not just powerful; he’s the kind of guy who could order a thunderstorm out of existence if it annoyed him. Still, maybe this is partly my fault. I mean, I did complain endlessly about Rachel’s articles. Maybe my whining pushed him to… "snap his fingers" and m

"So, what's the deal between you and that guy?" Valerian asked as we sat in the waiting area, a chair apart.Frankly, we hadn’t talked for minutes now, even after he insisted on driving us to the hospital just to wait for Silas to finish his report to the police. And Liam... poor Liam. I didn’t know what to think.I figured Silas would be the one to handle the case—if there even was one. He hadn’t shared the story yet. All we knew was that Liam got into an accident just an hour ago.And Valerian? He was sour."He just came by the door after twelve years of not seeing him. Just like you saw," I answered, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "He asked if we could talk.""About what?" he asked, sticking his nose in further. I couldn’t blame him. Jealousy clung to his voice like a second skin."Well, I’d know by now if he hadn’t been hit by a car," I shot back, sarcasm held my words captive as I huffed and closed my eyes. "Look, Val, don’t you think this is just not the time to

It's past noon, and Liam told me to meet him tonight. I 'could' just tell Valerian about it, but what’s really bugging me is—what the hell does Liam have to spill?Shaking my head, I tried to clear my thoughts. I could practically feel my brain splitting in two. This is all Athena’s fault. If she hadn’t shown up with that huge ass missile, I wouldn’t be stuck overthinking everything."I’ve been seeing you around a lot lately," someone said behind me, making me inhale sharply mid-pour as coffee overflowed from my mug.I spun around to find Valerian’s decent yet laid-back older brother, Theodore, leaning casually against the counter.He was dressed in a dark gray suit and black tie, his whole vibe screaming calmness and effortless charm—unlike Valerian's color scheme on a daily basis. Theo looked like the type who could host a TED Talk on "Chill Vibes Only" while rocking the same monotone wardrobe every day.The meeting must’ve been dismissed. Now he’s probably looking for someone to bl

My eyes locked onto the face of a man I never thought I’d see again—not in this lifetime, not in the next. Yet, here he is. After twelve long years. Liam. Back from my history, as if he’d never left.His straight, dark hair still framed those maddeningly familiar brown eyes. Eyes that once felt like home and now felt like a question I wasn’t ready to answer. He carried the same calm he oozes, the kind that felt almost too fragile for the chaos he used to create. But then there was that jacket—black leather, well-worn—still screaming "trouble follows me everywhere."“Liam?” I said his name, my voice unsteady, as if speaking it would bring back all the ghosts I’d worked so hard to bury.His name tasted bitter, like chewing on regret.He stood there, easily towering over me, though I hated giving him that much credit.Standing there, he just shrugged. That same damn shrug, like nothing in the world could faze him—not heartbreak, not time, not even the look on my face right now.His expre

First Rachel Took, and now this? How does someone just waltz in after eight freaking years to drop a bomb like, “Oh, by the way, you have a kid”?Athena Winters knew exactly what she was doing. She couldn’t not know about Valerian and me. What was she trying to pull?Whatever beauty she owned on her skin brought nothing but headache in me."Massaging the sides of my head, I let out a soft sigh as I listened to the faint sound coming from the radio, breaking the silence that had settled in the air.""Ellie," Valerian said softly, his hands gripping the steering wheel, eyes darting toward me. He was trying to gauge my mood, but his voice betrayed him—he was nervous.I get it, his past was a mess. But can I really blame those women when it’s Valerian Blackwood who was willing to bring them heaven?If I were one of those women who had him, I'm pretty sure I'd do whatever it takes to keep him in my pocket. But the point is, I was the

MICHAELMarried, patched up the past, and currently facing some challenges."Whoa!" I exclaimed as a flying vase welcomed me the moment I entered the house. It nearly hit my face if not for my quick reflexes."I don't want to see your face!" Natasha shouted, catching me off guard.I knew she was in a bad mood when I left this morning, but what had I done wrong?Setting the vase down on the floor, I was greeted by another jar, but this time, I failed to catch it, and it hit the wall, shattering into pieces."Baby, what's wrong? What did I do?" I asked, completely clueless about the situation."You were seeing another woman!" She accused, grabbing a flower vase from the coffee table."Baby! Baby! Stop, okay? Let's talk this through.""Talk?" She threw the vase, hitting the door. "Only guilty people would want to talk because they know they were caught!""What?" I sighed, walking closer to her."Don't you dare take another step, Michael Montero," she pointed her index finger at me, but I

NATASHAI let out a yelp as Michael suddenly scooped me up from the ground when we entered the house.The entire day had been a mix of nervousness and excitement. Now, we're wrapping it up by expressing the love we vowed in front of the altar and, well... by making love."How does it feel to finally be my Mrs. Montero?" He inquired, kissing my jaw as we climbed the stairs."I haven't felt it yet, but I think I'll find out once we get to the bed," I mischievously replied, knowing he enjoyed it.The way his face lit up and his eyes sparkled, I knew my naughty Michael enjoyed it when I let myself go wild. He likes it whenever I ride along in his mischievous side."Oh-ho, you definitely will," he chuckled, pushing open the door to our bedroom and gently laying me down on the bed, being careful not to hurt my stomach. "I want to be rough, but I can't, right?""Nope," I shook my head, biting my lower lip."That's a shame," he whispered before leaning in to kiss my lips.I could sense his ex

MICHAELThe church is ready, everyone is prepared, and I am all set. However, what's not ready is the schedule; Natasha is still not walking down the aisle.Aaron's laughter beside me only adds to my irritation. "Chill, man. I'm pretty sure Tasha won't run away this time. She's head over heels for you."Choosing him as my best man might have been a mistake. I could have picked Quintus instead, but he insisted on giving up that spot and settled for a seat in the audience. But, Pierce intervened, insisting that they both accompany Natasha down the aisle together.The process of the wedding was a challenge, it was a lot of work, a lot of planning, but now, everything was perfect.I just wish that Natasha will see this as what she expected it to be."You're sweating. I bet you'll be drenched like someone poured a bucket of water on you once she finally arrives," he teased.Rolling my eyes, I silently prayed that I wouldn't do anything inappropriate in the church, or I'd end up in hell soo

NATASHAPromises are being fulfilled one by one, leading me closer to exchanging vows with the person I want to spend my life with."Are you really sure about your choice?" Laura's question felt weighty, as if we were discussing something serious, even though we were just ordering a slice of cake at the café."I clearly said I wanted it," I replied matter-of-factly. "You're acting like you're footing the bill," I added, handing the girl at the bar the money to settle everything I ordered."I'm just worried about you. Michael mentioned you've been into sweets lately. Have you seen all the treats you ordered? All sweets," she gestured towards the three paper bags being readied at the counter. "Yes, you asked for one slice, but did you order every flavor available?"Looking around with a pout, I noticed how Laura's nagging had caught the attention of some customers."If you plan on bloating up like a balloon, you might want to postpone the wedding because the gown won't fit," she teased.

MICHAELI can feel the coldness of her hands against mine; I can see how edgy she becomes as she fidgets on her seat for the past few minutes.The soft song coming from the speakers isn't loud enough to drown out the loud beating of her heart because from where I am, I can hear it."Relax, baby. No one's going to eat you here aside from me," I joked and squeezed her hand lightly. "Unless you need me to ease you down. I'd be glad to attend you in one of the rooms available in Dad's house," I whispered to her.I expected her to scold me and slap my shoulder, but instead, she stood up and pulled me with her.Looks like her hormones are getting stronger and stronger. I like it when she's the one insisting.Passing by Richie, who's carrying a tray of food, probably for Nathaniel, I nodded at him when he looked at us with a frown. Must be because the party is about to start, and we're heading back inside the house.Wincing, I discreetly pointed at Natasha, and he already knew what it means.

NATASHAMy choice was right to drop everything I planned ahead and settle at home, in bed with my husband.I feel like a woman, a strong person while he makes me weak at the same time."You're-- you're pulling back," I said, noticing the way he doesn't move the way he did back then. Every thrust he gives me is careful and slow, tickling me."Shhh...." he hushed me before claiming my lips and kissing me endearingly. Every suck he makes on my lower lip urges me to make a sound, and every time he thrusts deep inside me, I catch my breath.My fingers run through his hair, yanking and pulling. Wanting him closer."I missed you so much," he whispered in my ear as he moved inside me.The air between us is supposed to give us the freedom to breathe properly, yet we only feel suffocated. Our skin begins glistening, sweat rolls in a breezy morning.The wind coming from the open balcony door can't outdo the heat we're making."Ah!" I scream when he hits the right spot, deep. "I'm coming," I gasp

EPILOGUE"... a massacre happened at the subdivision of **** at ****, Queensland, Australia. The police released a statement about the tragedy this afternoon and it was said that the tragic end of the lives of these people happened in the morning. The neighbors have reported the multiple gun shots that disturbed the neighborhood this morning. Two girls have witnessed the gunmen but haven't spoken anything from shock...""... the identity of 17 bodies are the family of known doctor of **** Dr. Carl Hamilton himself, his wife -Amy Hamilton-, his 3 daughters- Finley, Dolora and Ezra Halmiton- and 2 granddaughters - Helga and Gia Beaver, an AFD agent Ricochet Zimmerman, his wife Lucy Jameson-Zimmerman and daughter Judy Zimmerman, the former Detective Won Kenji, Former Inspector Hank Walker, Leonardo Olaso, a billionaire and a philanthropist Alexis peterson and his family Luke and Sandra Peterson, a pregnant woman identified as Lyka

•THE LAST CHAPTER•"I already killed you." Kenji coughed blood, his hands are trying to suppress the blood streaming out from the holes of his body.Klyde protruded his lower lip, paired it with a frown. "Do I look like a ghost to you?" He asked the former Detective and squats beside him while holding a 45 caliber gun in his hand and suck a breath, trying to be a psycho as who he is. "Aren't you scared of me? I'm alive, awoo!!" He acted like a ghost caring a kid and cackled loudly."You son of a b*tch." Kenji grunted, having a hard time breathing from the blood choking his throat.His eyes landed on the people he was with just a while ago. Having fun, eating, laughing together, having a good time. Until they were caught off guard. Armed men came barging in from the front door holding automatic weapons that finished the whole of the family's life, including the two kids. Leaving jone of them

•THE STORY LEFT BEHIND•Years earlier..."HQ, we have eyes on the suspect. Commencing force entry." He reported to the station."Clear upstairs.""Clear downstairs, he's alone."Breaking in the house and they all pointed their high powered gun at him. And there Klyde just sat there with clenching jaw."Klyde McMarrow, you're under arrest." Detective Won announced and pick a hand cuff from his pocket.He protrudes his lips. "You know I'm watching my favorite show, drinking my favorite scotch, sitting on my favorite couch and inside my favorite safe house. Now I get to see someone who's not in my favor of seeing." He uttered and placed the glass down and raised both of his hands. "I surrender." He casually says full of cockiness and even smiling.Detective Won harshly took both of his hands behind him and made

•THE REUNION•~Second to none, second to no one, for he who stayed at first and the last, for he who started the mess and will keep it going until he finish what was left in the past.After so many a day and a night passed, horrors of the Harmonica Fall tragedy has been long forgotten by many people, although some are still in fear to reminisce that view.It's been long peaceful in that small town ever since, many families that lived there stayed, some left, some never visited the town, some are sober from the incident happened.The Hamilton's vacation house has been empty ever since. The McMarrows Mansion has been eaten by the forest. The victims of the monster have been long gone and in peace.But out of peacefulness, there is this one man who left all the dreadful stories in Harmonica Fall. Tending to strike it's darkness somewhere else. Wanting

•THE NEW LIFE OF BRENNER•"Thank you for accepting my invitation. It means so much to me." Joshua Brenner sits adjacent to Finley hamilton that dressed herself decently for a formal dinner he invited her for."It's nothing, besides I have no schedule for tonight." She smiled at him and straightened her posture. "So, what kind of proposal do you actually have in mind to offer?" She "formally" asked him.Joshua has his hands t above the table, veiled with a thick table fabric. The light is dimmed, enough for a comfortable, cozy, relaxing atmosphere of this fancy restaurant they are in. White plates and organized utensils beside, clear glass to sip from poured little by a deep violet wine. All are relaxed, composed and clear but not him."No need to be that formal. It's nothing business... truthfully. I'm sorry I lied about it." He leans a bit forward with his tensed shoulders are aching from

•THE NEW LIFE OF WALKER•Inside that nursing home where his dearest grandmother stays bed ridden from her old age and in the situation of badly needing an operation to her bones, Walker carries a good news for her."My dear boy, how I missed you so much." The old Mrs. Walker smiled as soon as she saw the only grandchild that cares about her. "Come here and give me a hug." She opened her arms wide, inviting him for a hug, and who is he to say no?"Grandma." Walker walked closer to her and give her what she asked. "I missed you too, grandma." He whispered to her dearest person."I know, Hank. I know." Her old voice echoed through his ear, and it sounds like a thousand angels singing a song for him."I have good news for you, grandma." He pulled out of the hug and sits on a chair next to her bed. "I finally got the money for your operation, you're going to be healed, grand

Sitting on the toilet, I can’t help but entertain my troubled mind because of what I saw yesterday. I had to tell a little white lie to Tamara when we ran into each other in the lobby after flying fifteen floors in a hurry. Thank goodness for her—she distracted me with food and… well, she had to ask about this and that stuff. But after last night, I just can’t bring myself to be productive. Not until the clock basically screamed at me to get my ass up. “He’s a manwhore,” I muttered out of the blue, shaking my head. “And the woman he was with? She’s married. They’re having an affair!” Is that something I should tell Tamara? I’m pretty sure if that news reached his parents, his inheritance—and all the money he’s swimming in—would be gone. Kaput! “So, what if he faces his worst?” I questioned myself, trying to rationalize it. “Auntie Tamara put me there to keep an eye on him, after all.” The logical, no-nonsense side of my brain raised its hand, but then my cowardly side shoved it

Oceans in palms. Yeah, it’s possible—because I have them now. I stood right in front of the department manager, Thessaloniki—or Miss T, as she insisted.The moment I stepped into Miles Shipping Corporation's building, I felt like an alien who accidentally beamed down to a parallel universe. Everyone was dressed like they were auditioning for a black-and-white movie, and me? Well, Tamara clearly forgot to warn me about the corporate dress code when she shoved me here.I glanced around, making sure no one was staring, then discreetly yanked the lining of my bikini panties. They’d been staging a mutiny against my butt for the past hour.“What’s your name again?” Miss T asked, biting into her “type-two-diabetes-on-a-plate” breakfast. Her penciled-in eyebrows were arched so high they could’ve reached the ceiling. Her sharp, judgmental eyes bore into me like I’d just informed her how struggling her heels are too carry her weight.What did I even do to her?She inspected my ID like she was a

"Half a million dollars?!" I exclaimed, staring at the check my unofficial auntie and benefactor handed me. "Auntie, what kind of job are you offering me? You're not selling drugs, are you?" She laughed, the kind of deep, heartfelt laughter. "You silly girl, I wouldn’t go through all the hardships I’ve been through just to end up in jail. Sweetheart, I’m smarter than that." Figures. Tamara Shawn, a former beauty queen, a public figure who married a trillionaire. She was almost perfect, at least in the public's eyes. In mine, she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever met—inside and out. "I’m just asking for a little favor," she added, holding her fingers close together as if it were no big deal. "A ‘little’ favor for a million dollars?" I raised an eyebrow. That’s a little hard to believe. I’ve just finished college, and I’m not dumb enough to think there’s not something fishy going on here. She waved me off. "Do you remember my godson, Johnny Miles? You both went to the same sc