Novels by Penwitch

Albert’s POVAndrew is still not ready. My patience thins with every passing second as I check my watch again, exhaling sharply. The morning air is crisp, but irritation burns hotter under my skin. Finally, the door creaks open, and Andrew steps out, adjusting his cufflinks like he has all the time in the world. A wave of relief washes over me, quickly replaced by annoyance.“I told you to be early,” I say, my tone clipped, frustration lacing every word.He grins, unapologetic. “All I can say is that I’m sorry. No excuse.” He strides past me and slides into the car, leaving me to roll my eyes before getting in myself.Settling into my seat, I immediately pull out the documents, flipping through them with practiced efficiency. The low hum of the engine fills the space between us as I make last-minute adjustments, my focus narrowing in on the numbers and projections. The weight of the upcoming meeting presses down on me—this project is mine, and I won’t let anything jeopardize it.By th

Andrew’s POV My mind raced as I stared at Annabel, my throat tightening. What the hell do I even say to her? I hadn’t meant for this to happen—not like this. I should’ve been more careful. I should’ve thought this through. But now? I was caught. And by the look in her eyes, she wasn’t about to let me off easy.“Annabel, listen to me,” I said, keeping my tone calm, but my voice felt tight in my throat. She folded her arms across her chest, her gaze sharp and expectant, waiting for me to speak. But the truth was, I had nothing. Absolutely nothing. “I don’t know what to say,” I admitted, breaking eye contact as guilt settled in my stomach.Her breath hitched, and when she spoke again, her voice was thick with disbelief. “You have to be kidding me right now. You did this, and now you have nothing to say?” Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides. “You knew I wasn’t married this whole time?”“Not the whole time,” I muttered, shifting uncomfortably. “But I figured it out not too long a

Annabel’s POVI still can’t understand how he can afford this restaurant. Everything about this place screams luxury—the elegant chandeliers, the soft classical music, and the neatly dressed waiters gliding across the room. The prices on the menu must be outrageous, and yet, he sits there so casually, flipping through the pages like it’s nothing.I stare at him, trying to figure him out, but before I can stop myself, our eyes meet. Embarrassed, I quickly look away, pretending to be focused on something else. Just then, a waiter arrives and places a glass of water in front of us. I hesitate to take a sip. What if he actually can’t afford anything here? What if we end up getting kicked out? The last thing I want is public humiliation.“What would you like to eat?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. His voice startles me, and I flinch slightly.“I—uh…” I hesitate, unsure of what to say.“Is there anything you’d like?” he asks again, waiting patiently.“Not really. I don’t want to ea

Annabel’s POVThe moment we stepped out of the house, a wave of relief crashed over me, so strong that I nearly sighed out loud. Thank God. My boss had bought the act—I had gotten away with it.I turned to the man beside me, my lips curving into a grateful smile. "Thank you so much for this. You have no idea what you just did. I was able to save my job all because of you." My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag. "I owe you a big one. Just send me your account number, and I’ll transfer your payment."He didn’t move, didn’t even acknowledge my offer at first. Instead, a smirk played at the corners of his lips."I don’t need your money, madam." His voice was smooth, casual, as if helping me had been nothing but a minor favor. Then, he took a step closer.Instinctively, I stepped back.His smirk deepened. "But tell me," he continued, tilting his head slightly, "do you plan to keep up this lie about being married forever?"A frown pulled at my brows. Why does he care?"I don’t thi

"This is Alex, my husband," Annabel introduced, a hint of fear in her tone. She tried to compose herself, but the tension in her body betrayed her.Mrs. Torres stared at the supposed husband for a long moment, her expression unreadable. The silence was suffocating. Annabel’s heart pounded violently against her chest, while Andrew—calm and composed—remained unfazed by the scrutiny."Are you really Annabel’s husband?" Mrs. Torres asked, doubt laced in her tone.Annabel’s breath hitched."Yes, ma’am," Andrew replied smoothly. "My name is Alex, as Annabel introduced me earlier." He offered a beaming smile, the picture of confidence. "I’ve heard a lot about you, and I must say, I appreciate how well you’ve taken care of my wife."Annabel pinched herself , panic creeping up her spine. Andrew was handling the situation too well—tooconvincingly.Mrs. Torres studied him for another beat before finally speaking. "Very well then. Have a seat."They both sat down, Annabel instinctively positionin

Annabel and Juliet found themselves in a state of bewilderment as they stood face to face with a man donning a distinguished beard, his friendly wave capturing their attention. Amidst the moment, Juliet instinctively grasped Annabel's hand, forming an unspoken bond between them as they cautiously approached the enigmatic figure, Andrew, whose countenance bore a semblance of disguise. Juliet, seemingly oblivious to the potential clandestine nature of their encounter, couldn't help but express her amazement. "Woah, Alex, I never knew you were this hot," she complimented, punctuating her words with a playful giggle. Annabel, however, was quick to quell her friend's exuberance, gently jerking her and signaling for quiet. As their trio converged, Annabel's discerning gaze met Andrew's, finding him already fixed on her with a subtle smirk adorning his lips. This triggered a sense of familiarity within Annabel, a recognition of that smirk, yet an elusive memory left her struggling to p