Novels by Meminger

Lindsay POV The dinner was a marvel, an experience that felt like a warm hug in the form of food and company. Emma Weiss insisted that I try every dish she had prepared with such care, and I couldn’t deny how much it made me feel welcomed. "My lasagna recipe is famous," she said with a proud smile,

Lindsay POV The weekend in Atlanta had a taste of novelty and nervousness. Matt had invited me to dinner at his mother's house, Emma Weiss, and the idea of meeting his family left me in a state of anxiety mixed with anticipation. I had never met the parents of someone I was dating since, well, sinc

Laura POV Jason and Terence were terrible singers, but that didn't stop them from diving into karaoke, hitting every note off-key while making their wives laugh with their comedic performance. Ava and I, now alone in a VIP area of the bar, continued the celebration of our daughters' entry into col

Laura POV"This strawberry drink is delicious," I commented, sipping my drink through a straw."Oh, nice. My pineapple one is really irresistible," Ava also commented, smiling, though the smile was somewhat reserved and awkward, just like mine.We were at a luxurious bar, a place that contrasted wit

As we walked, I thought about what Abby had said. It wasn't Caleb who mattered; it was the betrayal of a friendship I thought would last forever. The pain of losing that trust was still fresh, and perhaps that was why I didn't want to think about Caleb at all. But at the same time, there was a part

Annie POV I watched my parents' car drive away with a sense of sadness; part of me wanted to go with them and give up on everything, but I was also excited to start a new life at Oxwell. The sound of the engine fading into the distance seemed to carry away a piece of my childhood, leaving me with a

Months had passed since the moment Lilian and Jensen had united forever, and the mansion, already full of life and joy, now seemed to be living a new chapter of great happiness. The afternoon was calm, but the atmosphere inside the house was buzzing with anticipation. Lilian, in labor, was preparing to give birth to the couple's fourth child, and emotions were running high.Jensen, visibly nervous, paced back and forth. His feet tapped the floor with a constant rhythm, a reflection of the whirlwind of thoughts that wouldn't settle. He paused briefly, looking at the door of the room where his wife was being assisted by the nurses. His mind couldn't find peace, thoughts of what might happen spread, even though he knew Lilian was in good hands."You need to calm down," said Philip, the couple's friend, who stood by Jensen's side. He knew how anxious Jensen could be, and his calm had always been a pillar of support. "She's strong. And you'll be an incredible father, no matter what happens

Lilian's POVI returned to the garden where Jensen was waiting for me, his attentive gaze fixing on me as soon as he saw me. He had a way of noticing when something wasn't right, and this time was no different. He had gone to check on the children, but now, he was there, as if he knew I needed him more than ever."Hey, love," he said softly, kneeling beside me. "Is everything okay?"I looked at him, and the answer just escaped me. "I'm so happy for her, but at the same time so sad. She was a part of all this, of us, and now... she's leaving..."Jensen looked at me with silent understanding, as if he knew exactly what I was feeling. He extended his hand, and with a serene smile, he pulled me close, wrapping me in his embrace. "I understand, Lilian. I felt it too, and I know how important she was. But life goes on, and people need to take new steps. And you... you've always been wonderful with her."I gave a faint smile, the weight of his words enveloping me in a comforting way. I knew

Lilian POVThe night was calm and pleasant, with a gentle breeze caressing my face and soft lights illuminating the garden. I was there, sitting with Jensen, enjoying the tranquil moments of the party. The laughter of children and the soft sounds of celebration still echoed through the house, but for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of us.Jensen held my hand and smiled. "It was a perfect day, wasn't it?""Yes, it really was," I replied, resting my head on his shoulder. "I feel so happy that we managed to pull all this off."We sat in silence for a few minutes, simply enjoying each other's company. But then, a familiar figure approached from the garden. It was Sadie, with that wide smile that always accompanied her."Hi, Lilian! Mr. Grimes! Congratulations, really, your wedding was wonderful," she said, smiling sincerely as she approached. "Everything was impeccable, and the kids were so happy. I've never seen them so excited.""Thank you, Sadie. I'm very glad you

Lilian POVIt was an ordinary day. The sun came through the windows of the house, illuminating the room with a golden light. Children were playing in the yard, their laughter filling the air. I was in the kitchen, tidying up some things, while Jensen seemed mysteriously busy somewhere in the house. "You're very quiet today, Jensen. What are you up to?" I asked, half joking, while washing some fruit. "Me? No big deal." He replied, appearing in the doorway with a mischievous smile. "You're terrible at keeping secrets." I laughed, drying my hands. He just shrugged. "Trust me. Just come with me." "Now?" I asked, surprised. "Now." He took my hand and led me to the conservatory. When we entered, I noticed the atmosphere was different. Flowers were scattered across the floor, forming a path to a small table where there was a velvet box. My heart started to race. "Jensen..." I started, but he interrupted me with a tender look. "Let me speak first, Lilian." He took a deep bre

Lilian POVDays after everything that happened, we were back in Richmond, at our home. Or rather, in Jensen's mansion. I knew things would never be the same, but I also knew we no longer had to carry the weight of Kate or any other threat. She was tried and sentenced to many years in prison for killing Finn and screwing Jensen and me. It was a relief, but not a cure for everything we went through.The children and I, to my surprise, were more excited than I imagined, despite all the turbulence we had experienced, we returned to the mansion, because it was what felt right. I didn't want to be away from Jensen again. He was always in my thoughts, and more than ever, I knew that our family needed to be together.When we arrived at the mansion, Jensen was there, waiting at the door, with that comforting smile. He seemed more relaxed now, maybe because we'd finally gotten through the storm. When he saw us, his face lit up, and he stepped forward, arms open to welcome the children."Welcome

Sadie POVI woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, but to be honest, I had literally barely slept. I spent the night tossing and turning, thinking about Micah. How was he? Was he alone? Had he eaten anything? I need to see you.I looked at the clock. It was still six in the morning, but I couldn't stay in bed. With a heavy sigh, I got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. I washed my face, trying to shake off the tiredness that seemed to be clinging to me, and got dressed quickly. Nothing too elaborate: jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweater. In the kitchen, I made some toast and a cup of coffee. My stomach was upset, but I knew I needed something to eat to get through the day. As I nibbled on the toast, my mind continued to wander. The image of Micah that night never left my head, his expression of pain mixed with determination. Micah had done a lot of stupid things, but he had also put himself at risk to protect us. It didn't erase his mistakes, but it was a gesture I couldn'

Reese POVI was still on the balcony, gazing at the dark sky, trying to focus on the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. My mind was trapped in the last conversation I’d had with Elliot Goodwin, and I still couldn’t fathom how everything had shifted so quickly."Reese!" Alice’s voice cut through my thoughts abruptly. She approached me with haste, her steps determined and firm, as if she were ready to wage a war. "He’s a first-class jerk! How dare he show up here, after everything he did, and then bother you on top of it? And how are you, darling?"I looked at her but couldn’t answer right away. Alice had always been my number one defender. She was fierce when it came to protecting the people she loved, and I knew Elliot showing up at the party had infuriated her as much as it had me. Her eyes were filled with indignation and concern, a combination I knew well."I’m fine," I lied. My voice sounded weak, and it was obvious even I didn’t believe it. Alice frowned, crossing her arm

Reese POVI stood there, frozen, not knowing what to say, staring at him as if he were a hallucination in the middle of a desert. His words echoed in my mind, but I simply couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He was sorry? He wanted me back? After everything?I had never allowed myself to forget my son. Never. Every day since he was torn from me, I remembered him. Every victory of mine, every step I took, it was all so that one day I could pull him from Elliot Goodwin’s grasp. I hated that man with every fiber of my being. He destroyed me, discarded me as if I were nothing. And now he was here, begging me to come back to him. As if it were that simple."Reese..." His voice was hoarse, thick with emotion. But I didn’t trust it. Not anymore. "I separated from Jennifer. She never meant anything. I don’t know how I listened to my mother and her. I was blind, I made mistakes, but I never stopped loving you. I moved to Chicago with Sammy. He misses you. He wants you there."I felt a pang in

Reese POVWhen Spencer introduced me to my ex-husband as his wife, it made me look at him with a question mark in my eyes. No, I wasn't married to him; I wasn't married to anyone, actually. My life in recent years had been too hectic to add love to it.I mean, I was chasing opportunities and achieving my goals—becoming an independent woman, in control of myself, and autonomous, which hadn't been easy at all. But nowadays, I could say I had reached a certain status even in the entire city; my event company was in high demand, and they even said my piano performance was the cherry on top of the night. Creating all this from scratch hadn’t been easy, even with my friends' help, so I had chosen to disconnect from everything else and focus on my growth. After all, I had this goal, and no matter how many years passed, I would gather everything necessary to achieve it.So at first, I didn't understand where Spence was going with introducing me to Elliot as his wife—something that wasn't tru

Elliot POVWhen I saw Reese at that engagement party of the young entrepreneur Josh Carter, her there playing the piano, her fingers delicately playing a melody so well-known to both of us, the sensation I felt was as if my heart wanted to leap out of my mouth. I really didn't expect to see her in that place, after all the places I had searched for her over all this time, to find her so randomly when I least expected it truly caught me by surprise.And Reese was such a different woman that I almost didn't recognize her. Her hair, her makeup, her clothes, they made her look like another woman I didn't know, but her mannerisms were still there, her voice and her gaze too, especially when her beautiful hazel eyes locked onto me.I saw a slight agitation form in her look when she recognized me, proving to me that she was as surprised as I was. "So this is where you've been hiding, my love?" My eyes asked this, conveying the tenderness I was feeling inside.Reese returned to playing her pi

Reese POVThere, seated at the piano at the engagement party of young entrepreneur Josh Carter and his fiancée Bethany Skyland, immersed in a performance that had become my escape and my expression, my soul vibrated with each note. But when my eyes, almost by chance, found Elliot in the midst of the room, the world seemed to stop.It had been so long since I had last seen him that, for a moment, I thought my eyes were deceiving me. But there he was, at that engagement party, as real as the keys beneath my fingers.On the outside, I maintained the serenity that characterized me now, but inside, a whirlwind of emotions and past traumas stirred. A thousand thoughts collided in my mind: "Should I get up and run? Ignore him? Pretend I don't know him? Keep him away?" But then, I remembered that time had passed, and I was no longer that vulnerable woman. Now, I was Venus, a new version of myself, strong and independent.I kept my fingers on the piano, continuing to play, but my mind wandered

Elliot POVThe day started with a firm handshake with Joshua Carter, a young billionaire and CEO of a renowned wine producer. Joshua was a long-time friend who had invited me to work with him here in Chicago."Welcome to the team, Elliot. I'm glad you accepted," said Joshua, with a broad smile as he shook my hand."Thanks, Josh. I'm eager to start," I responded, feeling a mix of anxiety and hope. It was a new chance, a new life for me and Sammy.Joshua laughed, giving a friendly pat on my shoulder. "And let's not forget, you're invited to my engagement party tonight. It's going to be quite the event.""Of course, I wouldn't miss it for anything," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic, although my heart wasn't really in the mood for parties.He continued, the excitement evident on his face. "Bethany hired the best event planner in the city. A mysterious woman named Venus. She's the most sought-after among Chicago's men.""Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Seems like you're setting

Nancy“Argh, don’t tighten it too much… You’re hurting my neck!” Peter was grumbling with a grimace as I straightened his tie.“Remain calm; just lift your chin; I’m almost done,” I told him, adjusting my collar. Today was my wedding day with Jake. I was already dressed as a bride and everything, and the ceremony would start in a few minutes. I was so nervous. Not only that, but I really hoped everything would go well.He grumbled in disgust. “Did you know that children shouldn’t be present at their parents’ weddings, Mom?” he said, making me frown.“What? Why do you think that?” I asked.“Because naturally, children are not born before their parents marry. It's not the natural order of things, let alone divorce and second marriages,” he said, being clear in his opinion, as he didn't want to accept my relationship with Jake.I sighed, smoothing his jacket after straightening his tie. “You're getting so big. You're even taller than me.” I smiled softly, and I stroked his black hair. “I

NancyMoments later, Jason and Jake were in the wine cellar, somewhere in the mansion, talking about wine and things like that. Laura and I were walking in the manicured gardens of their mansion, which were so beautiful and comforting.“Why aren’t they coming?” I asked after a while, looking behind me to see if her husband and my fiancé were coming to catch up with us, since they were just getting us some wine to drink and talk on the sofas that were there in the garden under a cozy porch."Oh my God! Jason must have stuck him with a long wine conversation,” Laura said with a long chuckle. “We received bottles of the first line from a friend of ours in Chicago, Carter,” she added.“Are you talking about Joshua Carter?” I asked because I knew that name and knew that he had a wine production company.“Yes, I am,” Laura nodded. “What a fortuity that you know him, too.”“Um, I actually met him because of Bruce,” I said. “The Mortons were an influential family, and from time to time Bruce

NancyJake and I traveled to New York to visit our friends who lived there, the couple Jason and Laura Davies, who, since the last time we had seen them, had evolved a lot in their relationship, that is, when I met them, they were still fighting and trying to see what they were going to do in their relationship because they also had issues to resolve. But I remembered Laura's words, when she told me at the time that her husband had hurt her heart, but that nothing he had done compared to what Bruce had done to me. So today it was very satisfying for me to be able to see the two of them together and happy after having solved all their problems. They had even had another set of twins, and they seemed so happy now that their eldest daughter was playing with the babies, running around exuding happiness and joy while Jake, I, and the couple were sitting on the mansion's porch, drinking wine and talking about everything that had happened. This couple had been very important in helping us

Nancy "What? Give it back in kind and make him taste his own medicine? What are you suggesting, Lanie?” I asked, being a little dumbfounded. She and I were still at the dinner table, and she had just suggested that. She shrugged now. "Yes. Didn't your husband go to bed with someone else? Then you also go to bed with another man, and then you become equals,” she explained, making me gasp. “How can you suggest such a thing? Do you think I'm such a vulgar woman up to this point? Do you think me going to bed with another man will solve things for me?” I asked, shocked that she was suggesting such a deviant thing. “It probably won't solve anything, but it will make you feel a little better. What is it? Do you think Bruce deserves happiness after all these years he played with you?” She retorted. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to smudge my body by getting involved with someone I don’t know just to get revenge on him,” I countered. Lanie laughed, waving her hand. “I don't see it

Days were passing, and I thanked the heavens that everything was going so well, but today in particular, it was a year since Lanie, my dear friend, had died, and I was terribly sad remembering her.I remembered how she had done everything she could to cheer me up when I was at rock bottom after finding out who Bruce Morton really was.I remembered in detail what the season at her house had been like and how much she helped me, God in heaven...Nancy On that day, the ringing of my cell phone woke me up, and I felt my lamp, picked up the device, and saw that my daughter was calling me. “Hi, my love,” I said as soon as I answered, rubbing my face with my hand, still drowsy. “Hello, Mom? Haven’t you come home yet?” Amber asked on the other end of the line. "Um… Not yet, darling,” I replied a little fearfully. It had been two weeks since I was at my friend Lanie's house. "Um... Okay? When do you plan to return?” She asked in a somewhat petulant manner. I sighed. “To be honest, I

NancyThe last few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions. After everything that happened with Candace, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders. The scars of pain and struggle were still there, but the feeling of relief was in the air. It was a new beginning for all of us. Like a good mother, I tried my best to care for Candace, and now, seeing her at home, taking a deep breath and starting to rebuild her life, my heart is filled with hope.It was on a mild morning that we realized that life was returning to normal. Amber's laughter echoed through the house as she tried to decide what to wear for a date. I watched her from the kitchen, where she was preparing a simple but nutritious breakfast. The smell of toasting bread mixed with the aroma of fresh coffee, creating a welcoming atmosphere.“Amber, do you need help?” I asked, trying to hide my smile at seeing her so excited and nervous at the same time.“No, mom, I can do it!” she replied, a little louder than usua