Novels by Meminger

Reese POVThe silence in the house was deafening, a mute scream echoing in every empty corner. I was sitting on the couch, my legs tucked under me, the phone still warm in my hand after yet another unanswered call to Elliot. Avie’s plate, with a half-eaten pancake, sat on the kitchen table, a cruel relic of the breakfast that now felt like it belonged to another life. Sammy, Avie, Elliot—they weren’t here. The house, which hours ago had buzzed with laughter and chaos, was now a tomb, and the dread gripping my chest was so overwhelming I could barely breathe.Spencer’s words still reverberated in my head, each syllable a blow: “Elliot knows he’s Avie’s real father… He’s going back to London with your kids.” I didn’t want to believe it, couldn’t, but the empty house was evidence I couldn’t ignore. I ran through the rooms again, opening closets, searching for any sign—a backpack, a toy, a note—but there was nothing. Sammy’s sneakers, always scattered around, were gone. Avie’s teddy be

Reese POV The air in Spencer’s apartment felt thick, suffocating, as his words landed like a blow to my chest: “Elliot’s heading back to London soon — with his kids.” My heart stopped, the world tilting around me. Avie, my Avie, his daughter? How could he know? How could Elliot know? The question burned, but Spencer’s mocking smile, his voice dripping with venom, held the answer before I could even ask. I stood frozen, my hands trembling, the industrial decor of his bachelor pad blurring as his accusation echoed in my mind.“What do you mean, he knows?” I managed, my voice barely a whisper, my throat tight with dread. “How does Elliot know about Avie?”Spencer leaned against the counter, his eyes cold, the warmth I’d once trusted in him gone. “Jennifer told him,” he said, his tone almost gleeful, like he was savoring my unraveling. “She cornered him, spilled the whole truth — that Avie’s his, not mine, not anyone else’s. And you know what, Venus? He’s done with you. He’s planning t

Reese POV “Reese…?” Spencer gasped as he opened the door to me. He clearly hadn’t expected me to show up at his place; I hadn’t warned him beforehand, precisely because I didn’t want him coming up with excuses to avoid me. Spencer and I had a lot to talk about.“It’s Venus to you, darling,” I said, my voice sharp as I stepped into his apartment without waiting for permission. “My real name is reserved for the truly intimate people in my life, if you catch my drift.”The place was spacious, with industrial decor that screamed single guy’s bachelor pad. “You won’t believe it, but I met your wife,” I said, sarcasm dripping from every word. “She’s so charming, treated me so well. But I’m sure you already know that, don’t you?”Spencer sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I heard about it. Alice told me Roseanne went to see you,” he admitted.In that moment, something broke inside me, a crack splintering through my heart. I’d clung to the hope that Roseanne was anything but his

Reese POV The kitchen was alive with the chaos of morning, the kind of messy, beautiful noise that made my heart feel full even when everything else was crumbling. Sammy was giggling, smearing syrup on his pancakes, while Avie babbled about a cartoon, her curls bouncing as she waved a sticky fork. Elliot sat across from me, pouring orange juice into their cups, his smile soft but strained, the same shadow in his eyes I’d noticed last night in bed. The memory of our early morning — his arms around me, the heat of our bodies, the words I’d said about our family — warmed me, but that quiet distance in him lingered, a knot of worry I couldn’t untangle.I pushed a piece of pancake around my plate, my appetite dulled by the weight of what lay ahead. Roseanne’s slap, her accusations, the way my employees had looked at me — it all churned in my mind, a storm I couldn’t escape. I’d spent yesterday broken, leaning on Elliot to hold me together, but today, I needed answers. Spencer owed me th

Elliot POV The bedroom was cloaked in the hush of four a.m., the kind of stillness that made every thought feel louder, heavier. I lay beside Reese, her body curled against mine, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold knot of betrayal in my chest. The day had been a storm — her desperate call, the way she’d collapsed against me outside Lunaris Event, the story of Roseanne’s slap and accusations spilling from her lips. I’d held her, promised to confront Spencer, brought her home, and tucked her in, but now, in the quiet, Jennifer’s words from the garage haunted me: “Avie is your daughter, Elliot. Reese has been lying to you.” The truth — if it was the truth — was a blade, and it was cutting me open.Reese stirred, her breath soft against my neck, and I turned to look at her. The faint moonlight slipping through the curtains traced her face — the curve of her cheek, the lashes resting against her skin, the vulnerability that made my heart ache even now. She’d been through hell toda

Alice POV The mirror in my bedroom reflected a version of myself I hadn’t seen in a while — a spark in my eyes, a flush on my cheeks, the kind of glow that only came from feeling alive. I smoothed the hem of my navy dress, the fabric hugging my curves just right, and checked my phone again. Connor’s text from an hour ago — “Can’t wait to see you tonight, Alice. You’re gonna knock me out.” — still sent a thrill through me, my heart doing a little flip. Every date with him was like a shot of adrenaline, each laugh and touch pulling me deeper into something I hadn’t felt in years. Maybe ever. I was falling for him, hard, and the thought made me giddy as I slipped on my heels, ready to meet him at the restaurant.I grabbed my purse, humming to myself, the anticipation buzzing under my skin. But when I opened the front door, the song died in my throat. Roseanne stood there, her hand raised to ring the bell, her blonde hair pulled tight in a ponytail, her face a mask of barely contained

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

Annie POV Peter Morton’s face was just inches from mine, staring at me. The electric blue of his eyes was so close I could see his irises dilating and contracting. “You okay, Lady Ann?” he asked. I sighed with a small smile, half in delight. “It’s been a while since anyone called me that.” Actual

Annie POV The masked boy—who I didn’t want to admit was Peter—took me to an upscale, comfortable hotel where I could spend the night safely, away from everything, and try to regain my composure and figure out what to do next. “You can stay here,” he said calmly, though his voice still carried a hi

Annie POV The masked boy led me through the dark campus, his hand firm in mine as we ran away from the ballroom. My legs trembled, the blue dress swishing with each step, and tears still streamed down my face, hot and relentless. The sound of the shouts, the judgments, still echoed in my head, bu

“No choice?” He cut me off, his tone incredulous. “Are you serious? You chose to help Madison make that video. You chose to plug it into the projector. And now Annie’s out there, broken, while you try to run from the responsibility. This doesn’t fix anything, Abby. It wasn’t supposed to end like thi

Abby POV I was there, tucked away in the shadows of the ballroom’s corner, my heart still racing as I watched the chaos I’d helped create unfold. The giant screen kept playing that horrible video, distorted and manipulated clips of Annie echoing through the room like a final verdict. People poin

Annie POV I was still on the dance floor, the warmth of the masked boy’s body against mine, my head resting on his chest as the slow music guided us. The sound of his heartbeat against my ear was almost hypnotic, and I let myself get lost in that feeling I couldn’t quite explain. He’d just said s

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'