Novels by PYJ

ABUELA’S POVThe first thing I became aware of was the dull, insistent throbbing in my head, followed by the faint murmur of voices, hushed yet urgent. My body felt like it had been weighed down with stones, each limb sluggish and aching. A soft groan escaped my lips as a wave of confusion clouded my thoughts. What on earth had happened to me?Memories wavered at the edge of my consciousness, fragmented and disjointed. One moment, I had been walking to my room, and then—sharp, searing pain, like a knife driving into my temple. After that, there was only darkness.My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but I forced them open, blinking against the golden light spilling through the curtains. The world came into focus in a haze of soft morning glow, and the first thing I saw were two pairs of eyes, filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite place—fear, relief, something deeper. Kiera’s gaze shimmered with unshed tears, her lips parted as if she had been mid-prayer. Gabriel’s was darker, stormier,

KIERA’S POVThe garden unfolded before me like a scene from a dream, the kind you didn’t dare wake from, no matter how unreal it seemed. Lights flickered along the pathway, delicate and soft, casting a golden glow that danced against the darkening sky. My breath caught as I moved closer, the atmosphere heavy with the scent of jasmine and roses.Then I saw him.Gabriel stood at the center of it all, surrounded by the kind of romantic decor you’d only see in movies. Lanterns hung from low branches, their light illuminating his face—a face so achingly perfect it made my heart stumble. His eyes, piercing and deep, found mine instantly, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.He wore a simple white shirt, the sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal strong forearms, the fabric clinging to his frame in a way that accentuated his broad shoulders and toned chest. Casual, yet effortlessly magnetic, he looked like he had stepped out of a TV show.“What is this?” I asked, my voice trembling as

KIERA’S POVMy mind was a jumbled mess the moment Gabriel stepped into the room, his presence filling the space like a storm cloud about to break. My nerves were already stretched thin, but I forced myself to stay composed. Barely.“What did she say?” I questioned, though I already knew the answer deep in my gut. I just needed to hear him say it.His piercing gaze rested on me for a few heavy seconds before he finally spoke. “I’m sorry, Kiera, but we have to go through with it.”The words landed like a gut punch, knocking the air from my lungs. I blinked, my vision narrowing as I let out a bitter scoff.“I can’t do this!” My voice cracked, betraying the tidal wave of emotions crashing inside me. “Everything is just—just too much! Your grandmother is relentless, Gabriel! Do you even understand what this means?” My chest heaved with every breath, a mocking laugh almost escaping my lips. “She’s talking about an engagement party now. What’s next? Planning an entire wedding? Or let me gues

GABRIEL’S POVWhat the hell was Abuela thinking? My fork paused halfway to my mouth, the food suddenly tasting like ash on my tongue. I forced myself to chew, but each bite felt like gravel, heavy and bitter. The look on Kiera’s face—wide-eyed, pale, practically trembling, was impossible to ignore. It was written all over her: she was overwhelmed, teetering on the edge of panic.My jaw tightened, muscles clenching as I set the fork down with deliberate care. If I let myself speak now, I’d regret it. Abuela’s declaration echoed in my head. "I’m hosting your engagement party tomorrow night." No warning, no consultation, just a bomb dropped in the middle of breakfast.“Abuela,” I said, my voice low, controlled, but with an edge that sliced through the hum of conversation. “I need to speak to you. Now.”Her sharp eyes flicked toward me, arching a brow in challenge, but she didn’t argue.“Fine. My study.”I pushed my chair back and stood. I caught a glimpse of Kiera’s frozen form, her hand

KIERA'S POVThe dining room was a masterpiece of elegance—crystal chandeliers dripping light like molten gold, a table so long it seemed to stretch into eternity, and a breakfast spread that could rival any royal banquet. Platters of freshly baked croissants, ripe fruits arranged like art, and silver carafes brimming with coffee and tea were just the beginning. Yet, the grandeur felt suffocating this morning, as if the walls themselves were closing in on me, ready to swallow me whole.I hesitated near the doorway, my gaze instinctively darting toward Catherine, who was sitting beside Abuela.My heart screamed for me to sit beside her, to escape the magnetic pull of Gabriel sitting opposite Abuela.Just as I took a tentative step forward, Abuela’s voice sliced through the air like a knife, “Kiera, sit next to Gabriel,” she said with a tone that brooked no argument.My stomach twisted. Of course, she’d insist. With a measured breath and a strained smile, I made my way to the chair besid

ABUELA’S POVThe phone pressed against my ear felt heavier than it should, as if the weight of the truth I was chasing had seeped into the very device. My voice was a low, sharp whisper, slicing through the silence of the morning like a blade.“What did you find out?” I asked, the words deliberate, measured.The voice on the other end hesitated, a crackle of static, a pause too long to be innocent. Then, finally, the answer came, as infuriatingly vague as the one before it.“Nothing concrete... there’s no tangible link to her background. It’s like she’s a ghost.”A ghost? The phrase lingered, sour in my mind. Ghosts bury their secrets in shallow graves, hoping no one would dig deep enough. But I had a shovel, and patience, and a gut that had never failed me.“Keep digging,” I snapped, my voice edged with the impatience of a woman who had seen far too much.“Yes, ma’am,” came the hurried reply. The line clicked dead.I placed the phone down carefully, though the urge to slam it was a t