Novels by Oluwapelumi

Karen's POVThe throbbing in my head was relentless. I pressed my fingertips to my temples, trying to ease the ache, but nothing worked. It had been one of those mornings—exhausting, emotional, and everything in between. The kids were at the park with Jordie, and for the first time in days, I was alone, which should’ve been a relief, but all I felt was the weight of everything crashing down on me.I sank deeper into the couch, hoping for some peace, but the silence of the house felt deafening. The walls seemed to close in, and I found it hard to breathe with the pressure that had built up inside me. The events of the past few days were replaying in my mind—my argument with Devon, the overwhelming stress of trying to keep everything together for my kids, and the loneliness that had become so familiar.The quiet was interrupted by a knock at the door, and I froze. Who could that be? I wasn’t expecting anyone.I forced myself to stand, my head spinning as I made my way to the door. When

My grip on the seat tightened as the car pulled into Karen’s driveway. The house loomed in the dim light of the streetlamp, but it wasn’t the familiar structure that caught my attention—it was Karen.She was leaning over the hood of her car, a bottle of something amber-colored clutched in her trembling hand. Her hair was disheveled, and even from this distance, I could see her shoulders shaking.My heart dropped. Karen wasn’t the type to let herself unravel like this.The car came to a stop, and I stepped out, my boots crunching on the gravel. She didn’t even look up as I approached, too consumed by her own tears and whatever thoughts had driven her to this state.“Karen,” I said softly.Her head snapped up, and her glassy eyes met mine. “You came,” she slurred, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Of course, you came. Always the hero, huh?”“What the hell is going on?” I asked, my tone gentle but firm as I took the bottle from her hand.She didn’t resist, just waved vaguely at the air.

Devon's pov He hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to leave, but her words cut through his resolve. “Come on, Devon,” Lauren said, her voice low and inviting. “Don’t you want to know? Aren’t you curious about what I have to say?”Her eyes locked onto his, a smirk tugging at her lips as she patted the space beside her on the bed. Against his better judgment, he moved forward, his jaw clenched as he lowered himself onto the edge of the mattress, keeping a careful distance between them.Lauren shifted, her posture relaxed yet calculated, her knee brushing against his. “You look tense,” she purred, her voice dripping with false concern. “You’ve always carried the weight of the world on your shoulders, haven’t you?”“Lauren, if you’ve called me here to waste my time—”“I called you here because I care, Devon,” she interrupted smoothly, her hand sliding onto his thigh. “I’ve missed you.”Her fingers trailed upward, and he stiffened, his gaze snapping to hers. Lauren leaned in, her pe

Devon's POVThe phone buzzed on the corner of my desk. O’Hara’s name lit up the screen for what felt like the hundredth time in the past two days. I’d ignored it, silenced it, even turned the damn thing face down in the hopes it would stop. But now, as I sat in the dim light of my office, the soft hum of activity from the floor below echoing faintly, I knew I couldn’t avoid it any longer.My hand hovered over the phone, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. Finally, with a resigned sigh, I picked it up and swiped to answer.“O’Hara,” I said flatly, my voice betraying none of the turmoil swirling within me.“Devon,” came the familiar oily tone on the other end. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me.”“Been busy,” I replied curtly, leaning back in my chair.“Well, I hope you’ve been busy getting me something useful. Any updates?”I hesitated, staring at the papers strewn across my desk. My fingers drummed a restless rhythm on the wood as I considered my respon

Karen's POVI picked up the phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I dialed Troy's number. The seconds felt like hours as I waited for him to pick up. When he did, his voice was a welcome comfort, steady and reassuring."Karen?" he asked, his tone instantly alert. "What's going on?"I hesitated for a moment, weighing my words carefully. "I just got a call from the police. They want me to come down to the station. Something urgent about my case," I said, my voice tight with a mix of concern and frustration.There was a pause on the other end before Troy responded, his voice low and serious. "Do they say what it's about?""No, they wouldn’t tell me over the phone," I replied, glancing at the clock again. "I’m heading over as soon as I can. I just... I don't know what’s going on, but it doesn't feel good."Troy let out a quiet sigh. "Alright. Keep me posted. Be smart about your movements. Don't do anything rash. We don't know if this is just about your case or if it’s something more."I

Karen's POV My fingers trembled as I read the note again, each word feeling like a dark omen.I set the note down, my thoughts racing. The fruit basket seemed harmless enough, but I wasn’t about to let my guard down. It was the small things, the subtle gestures, that always made me question her intentions. She had played me before, and I couldn’t afford to be a fool again. I reached for my phone, my mind racing through possibilities. I knew Troy would be the first person I’d need to consult, but as I pulled up his number, something caught my attention— the address on the note was different from what he had told me. The location wasn’t familiar. It wasn’t the one he’d mentioned in our previous conversations. My heart skipped a beat. Lauren was playing a game I didn’t understand, but I wasn’t about to let her win.The question gnawed at me: Should I go, or should I stay? It was already late, and I felt the weight of exhaustion settling into my bones. My body screamed for sleep, but m