Novels by awfultendenc1

The gates of my childhood home loomed before me, tall and ornate, their iron bars twisted into intricate designs that had once inspired awe but now felt cold and unyielding. The sprawling estate beyond them was just as I remembered. Immaculate gardens, fountains that sparkled in the sunlight, and a driveway so polished it reflected the sky. It was a palace, a sign of wealth and power that I had turned my back on years ago. And now, I was returning. Not as the rebellious daughter who had defiantly walked out, but as a woman who had been broken, who had lost everything, and who had nowhere else to go.The gates creaked open, and I drove through, the tires of my modest car crunching against the pristine gravel. My chest tightened with every foot closer to the grand mansion. I could feel the weight of my father’s disapproval already, even though I hadn’t yet seen him. The thought of facing him after all these years made my stomach churn, but I pushed the fear aside. This was the only plac

The morning sunlight spilled through the thin curtains of my bedroom, casting long streaks of golden light across the walls. I had been awake for hours, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything in my head. Today was the day I had died. Or, at least, the day I should have died. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but it also fueled the fire burning inside me. This time, I wouldn’t let fate run its course. This time, I was in control.I swung my legs out of bed and stood, the cold floor grounding me. The faint sounds of the city waking up drifted through the windows, cars humming on the streets below, birds chirping somewhere in the distance. It felt ordinary, unremarkable, but I knew better. Today wasn’t just any day. Today was the day I would take control of my life.Moving with purpose, I pulled an old suitcase out from the back of my closet and threw it open on the bed. I didn’t have much time to waste. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to leave, to put as much distanc

The first thing I felt was air. Cold, sharp, and biting. It filled my lungs in a rush, making me gasp as though I had been underwater for too long and had finally broken the surface. My body jerked upright, my chest heaving as I coughed and sputtered. My head throbbed, my vision swimming in and out of focus. The faint hum of a ceiling fan above me came into view, its blades slicing the air in a rhythmic, monotonous sound. I blinked rapidly, trying to orient myself. The dim light filtering through the curtains of my bedroom cast long shadows across the walls. My bedroom. My apartment. I was in my bed. I stared at the worn wooden nightstand beside me, the faint scent of lavender from the candle I had left unlit the night before hanging in the air. A wave of disorientation swept over me, so strong I thought I might vomit. I was supposed to be dead. My fingers instinctively gripped my arms, running over my skin, checking for wounds, for bruises, for any sign that I had just fallen from

The air was suffocating, thick with the smell of rain-soaked concrete and freshly cut grass. I tightened the grip on my umbrella, the cold metal biting into my palm as I trudged through the muddy pathway leading to Jarem’s apartment. I’m not sure why I’m here. I wasn’t supposed to be. Not tonight, not when he was still mad at me for demanding a little bit of his time. But I feel this gnawing tug in my gut urging me to come. I sighed, trying to compose myself, as I felt the need to puke. Call it what you want, intuition or paranoia, but it had been eating me all day.Jarem... he had been distant lately. Not in the obvious way, no. He still smiled at me, he still kissed me on the forehead like he always did. But his eyes... they no longer lingered on me. His laughter felt hollow, like it belonged to a script he was so tired of reading. Was he tired of me too?As I reached his door, I felt my world stop. The faint sound of laughter drifted through the cracks, muffled but unmistakable. It

The ballroom was alive with the hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter. The Blackwood charity gala was everything I had expected it to be—grand, opulent, and utterly suffocating. Hundreds of guests in designer gowns and tailored suits drifted through the space, their movements as polished as the marble floors beneath their feet. It was a performance, a carefully orchestrated ballet of wealth and influence, and I was the reluctant dancer at its center. Julian’s hand rested lightly on my lower back as he guided me through the crowd, a gesture that looked intimate but was anything but. His touch was impersonal, like I was just another accessory to complement his perfectly tailored tuxedo. To these people, we were the perfect power couple, the Blackwoods in all their shining glory. But beneath the glittering facade, the cracks in our foundation were deep and irreparable. “Smile,” Julian murmured under his breath, his voice low enough that on

The days following Julian’s absence were a blur of emptiness. I spent most of my time wandering the penthouse, avoiding the staff with their pitiful glances and pretending I didn’t feel the suffocating loneliness creeping in through every corner of the cold, sprawling space. The walls seemed to echo with the silence, a constant reminder of how isolated I was in this hollow marriage.Julian hadn’t returned since the honeymoon. Or rather, the lack of one. I didn’t know where he was, and I didn’t dare ask. The villa staff had been kind enough to inform me that he was 'attending to business matters,' but I knew better. Business matters didn’t require disappearing without a word, and they certainly didn’t involve neglecting your new wife. Julian’s absence wasn’t about work—it was about avoidance. Avoidance of me and of a marriage he clearly wanted no part of.And yet, a small part of me, a part I hated, kept hoping the door would open and he’d walk in. That he’d at least offer some kind of

I woke up to the soft golden light of the morning streaming through the curtains. For a moment, I forgot where I was. The sheets felt impossibly soft, the faint sound of waves crashing against the cliffs outside was soothing, and for just a few seconds, I let myself believe I was back in my old life, where things were simpler and where I still had control over my own fate. But reality came crashing down like the tide. I blinked up at the unfamiliar ceiling and slowly turned my head. The other side of the bed was empty—untouched, as though no one had ever been there in the first place. My heart sank, though I didn’t know why I was surprised. Julian hadn’t exactly been warm or welcoming last night. The bitterness in his drunken words still lingered in the air, and I could still see the cold, unyielding look in his eyes. There was no reason for him to stay. And yet, seeing the empty space beside me hurt more than I cared to admit. I sat up, rubbing my temples in an attempt to shake o

The honeymoon suite was breathtaking. It was the kind of place people dreamt about, a secluded villa perched on a cliffside overlooking the serene, turquoise waters of the Amalfi Coast. The floor-to-ceiling windows framed a view so picturesque it could have been pulled straight from a postcard. There was an infinity pool that seemed to stretch into the ocean itself, and the villa was adorned with elegant furnishings that exuded luxury. It was perfect.And yet, it might as well have been a prison.I sat at the edge of the massive king-sized bed, still in my pale blue sundress. My hair was still styled in the soft curls the stylist had worked on that morning before we’d boarded the private jet. I hadn’t bothered to change or freshen up after we’d arrived. What was the point? I’d spent hours waiting for Julian to show up, but the villa was silent except for the gentle lapping of the waves outside. He was nowhere to be found.I sighed, glancing at the small table in the corner of the roo

I woke up to the sound of distant church bells ringing faintly through the cool morning air. For a brief moment, as I blinked against the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the curtains, I forgot what day it was. I forgot the weight pressing on my chest, the ache deep in my stomach. But then reality came crashing down, and with it, the suffocating reminder that today was my wedding day.I sat up slowly, my movements sluggish as if my body was rejecting the idea of moving forward with the day. The silk robe I wore felt foreign against my skin, smooth and cold, much like the life that awaited me. I glanced toward the vanity table where a team of stylists had already begun unpacking their tools, the sight of them making my stomach twist. They were here to make me look beautiful, to transform me into the perfect bride for a man who despised me.“Elena?” The soft, familiar voice of my best friend, Margot, pulled me from my thoughts. I turned toward her, and just seeing her standing th

The day I met Julian Blackwood was the day I realized that my life, already slipping out of my hands, would now be entirely devoid of any control. I had braced myself for hostility, for cold indifference, but nothing could have prepared me for the storm of disdain and arrogance that was Julian Blackwood.The car ride to his penthouse was silent except for the low hum of the engine. My father sat beside me, his face impassive, as though this wasn’t the moment he was handing me over to a man I barely knew. My hands rested on my lap, clasped tightly together to stop them from trembling. The city blurred past the window, tall buildings and bustling streets cloaked in the golden hue of the setting sun. It was beautiful, in a way. Mockingly beautiful, as if the world was celebrating my misery.The car pulled up to the towering skyscraper that housed Julian’s residence, and my stomach twisted into knots. The driver opened the door for me, and my father stepped out first, his movements brisk