Novels by Itschaconne

Maximilian averted his gaze, the weight of unspoken words heavy in the air. There was something he couldn’t bring himself to say.Ariadne’s voice broke the silence. “You do realize that your silence only makes me more suspicious, right?”Maximilian turned to her, steeling himself to deliver yet another carefully crafted response. “I just got along with your brother so well,” he said, his tone deliberately casual. “I decided to help him out.”Her eyes narrowed. “Even to the point of leaving your lover?”Maximilian hesitated before answering, his words measured. “Harper, Havana, and I were together for business.” He saw a flicker of surprise in Ariadne’s expression, realizing she hadn’t known this before. “Everyone talked about how perfect we seemed, but that was all for appearances. It was just professionalism.” His voice softened as he held her gaze. “I never truly loved Havana. In fact, I never loved anyone sincerely… until I saw you.”Ariadne froze under the intensity of his gaze. F

Less than a week into their vacation, Maximilian was already eager to take Ariadne somewhere new. Her daily progress was evident, and Maximilian wanted to celebrate it by going on another outing.They left late at night, the plan as spontaneous as Maximilian Leander Milton himself—a man whose intentions Ariadne could rarely predict. She had initially refused, but her husband insisted. Thus, this morning, she found herself waking up in yet another unfamiliar bed. A pang of homesickness hit her; she missed her bed back home.Something else felt odd this morning. Not only had she woken up slightly disoriented, but Maximilian was nowhere to be found, though he had been beside her last night.“Maximilian?” Ariadne called out, wondering if he was in the bathroom. Being disciplined in every aspect of life, including personal hygiene, it was a plausible assumption. But no response came.Determined not to let her fears spiral, Ariadne tried calling again, “Maximilian Leander Milton?” Still, si

Maximilian immediately sought out Mrs. Amber, the familiar name of the garden’s owner, who was known to be a kind neighbor to both her and William's grandfather. The moment his eyes found the elderly yet vibrant figure, he waved and called out, “Mrs. Amber!” His loud call irked Ariadne, who squinted in mild annoyance.It took Mrs. Amber a moment to recognize Maximilian, but once she did, she waved back and beckoned him over. Maximilian grabbed Ariadne’s hand and pulled her along as he ran to greet Mrs. Amber Hwang. Despite her protests to walk normally, he ignored his wife—acting like he was the one returning home, not Ariadne.“Maximilian?” Mrs. Amber asked, confirming his identity. Maximilian nodded, and the two embraced, reconnecting after more than a decade apart. “You’ve grown so handsome! I almost didn’t recognize you.”“Thank you, Mrs. Amber. You’re as wise as ever.”“And who’s this? Your girlfriend?” she asked as she noticed Ariadne. Startled, Ariadne quickly greeted her polit

Today, Monday to be exact—no longer did the 'monotonous activities' apply. For today marked the beginning of a holiday for Maximilian, and for Ariadne, of course.Maximilian wasted no time inviting the young woman on vacation; he didn't want to risk whatever crazy thing Theo might do as long as she was within his reach.He even suspected that Theo might already know where Ariadne lived, so this trip also served as a way to keep Ariadne away from Theo for an indefinite period.Maximilian couldn’t predict how long he would stay at their vacation spot, but one thing was certain—he would do his best to resolve the situation with Theo as soon as possible.Ariadne didn’t know where they were going; Maximilian only told her they were going on a vacation but left out the details of the destination—he said it was a surprise.Yet, even knowing a surprise was being prepared for her, Ariadne couldn’t muster even a sliver of excitement. She was still haunted by the fear of Theo’s disturbances, whi

“Hmm?” The man pursed his lips, forming an adorably confused expression as he stared at his phone. Struggling to understand the reaction of the girl he observed from a distance, he continued to watch her, ignoring the voice calling out from the other end of the line.“Hey, Theodore Lee!” The sharp shout from the phone snapped Theo back to reality, prompting him to bring the device back to his ear.“Yes, yes! Why are you so loud? I’m right here.”“You’re not doing anything crazy with that girl, are you?”The voice on the other end sounded suspicious, and Theo’s face fell into a disappointed pout.“Do you doubt me? How could I hurt the woman I love so dearly?”“It’s not that I doubt you, but you’ve reached a point where you’re borderline insane. I helped you, but not so you’d end up in legal trouble or, worse, prison.”“Good grief, have you forgotten who I am? I’m Theodore Lee. I can do whatever I want, including protecting you from such nonsense.”“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Look, I’m busy.

Ariadne was silent at Sarah's words. For some reason, after hearing them, a strange sensation tickled her stomach and made her ears burn. She quickly sought clarification, asking, “Are you siding with him now?”Sarah swallowed hard. It seemed Ariadne’s tendency to misunderstand things was hard to shake off.“It’s not like that, darling. I’m just stating the facts. He acts that way because he cares about you and wants to keep you safe under his watch.”Ariadne fell silent, slowly digesting Sarah’s words. If she thought about it, perhaps the Bennett girl was right.She didn’t fully understand what it was like to be loved by a man as a partner. It had been so long since she felt it—ever since her relationship with her ex, who now had a happy family of his own. Perhaps her feelings had grown numb over time. Marrying Maximilian had warmed her heart again, if only she would realize it.“Stop it, Sarah. Don’t talk about Maximilian—I’m getting a headache! We’re here to have fun!” Ariadne quic

"Your fridge is stocked only with alcohol, yet your kitchen is fully equipped. Why is that?" Chateau asked, shifting the conversation. Leonard glanced at her, realizing for the first time how talkative she could be after spending more time together.It didn’t bother him, though. While Leonard generally disliked constant noise, Chateau’s voice was an exception. He found it oddly pleasant and always responded to her chatter, no matter the topic."Odette brought the cookware. She loves cooking, just like you," Leonard replied, causing Chateau to falter. Once again, Odette came up. She wasn’t sure if she was to blame for choosing the wrong topic or if Leonard intentionally mentioned Odette to provoke her. But knowing him, Chateau doubted it was deliberate."Seems like you’re very close to Odette," she said, focusing on stirring her pot, omitting the formal tone she usually used."I wouldn’t say we’re that close," Leonard replied evenly."Not close? Yet you made her your personal doctor."

Leonard awoke to a bright morning. The sunlight streamed through the large glass wall separating his bedroom from the balcony, illuminating the space with a warm glow. Though his eyes remained closed, the brightness was impossible to ignore, gently pulling him from his slumber. He inhaled deeply, as if his lungs were tasting fresh air for the first time in ages. His body felt lighter than the night before, a sign that proper care had brought improvement.Turning his head to the other side of the bed, Leonard’s senses sharpened. The spot that had been occupied by the sweet presence of a young woman last night was now cold and empty. Without hesitation, he got out of bed, moving through the apartment with measured urgency. He searched everywhere—bathroom, living area, kitchen—but found no sign of her.As he returned to the living room, the sound of the apartment door opening caught his attention. Standing there was Chateau, carrying bags filled with groceries. She froze momentarily, sta

“What?”Château felt her mind freeze instantly. She needed a moment to process Leonard’s words. Once she fully understood, her eyes widened. “Sleep together?” she repeated, her voice a mix of disbelief and accusation.“Yes.”“In the same bed?”“Yes,” Leonard replied, carefully observing Château’s expression. Was she really that opposed to the idea of sharing a bed with him? “We’re just sleeping. What are you imagining?”Château turned away, pressing her small hands over her mouth. Her heart was screaming, but instead of silencing it, she muffled her lips. No matter how loud her heart’s voice was, Leonard wouldn’t be able to hear it.“How can you say something like that so casually?” she asked, spinning back to face him.Leonard, his stormy gray eyes calm yet firm, sighed audibly. “Because that’s all it is, Château—just sleep,” he explained, hoping to curb her overreaction. “Besides, you must be tired after spending the entire day at the city park.”Leonard had a point. Château was exh

After freshening up, Château felt uneasy. She had spent the entire day outside and hadn’t bathed since arriving at Léonard’s apartment. Unwilling to disturb Léonard’s rest, she moved quietly, ensuring no sound betrayed her presence—from eating to showering.She didn’t change clothes, opting to wear the same outfit as before. She couldn’t bring herself to trouble Léonard by asking for fresh attire. With her damp hair wrapped in a small towel, she returned to his bedroom to retrieve her cardigan, seeking warmth after her shower. However, upon seeing Léonard asleep, she paused.Instead of leaving after picking up the cardigan draped over a chair, Château approached the bed. The mattress, modest in height, brought her crouched figure level with Léonard’s face. He lay peacefully, clearly exhausted from his mission.Château reached out, her bare hand brushing his forehead. “No fever. I don’t need to cool him down,” she murmured, a faint smile of relief crossing her face. With nothing else t

“He said his mother screams at him every day. The gentle woman she once was is gone, and the affection he used to receive has vanished, like a night that never sees dawn. I think… perhaps that’s why Leonard grew up cold and detached."Chateau murmured, lowering her gaze. She empathized with Leonard’s suffering, feeling the weight of his childhood pain. “When he told you all of this… did Leonard cry?” she asked softly, avoiding Sophie’s steady, composed gaze.“No,” Sophie replied with a faint, bitter smile. “I was the one who cried. Leonard lost the ability to feel or shed tears the day his mother died. That’s what he told me.”Chateau lowered her head even further. Sensing this, Sophie leaned closer, trying to catch Chateau’s face. The girl with her blonde hair tied high struggled to hold back tears. Sophie, however, only smiled. She had reacted the same way when she first heard Leonard’s tragic story. To her, it was better to not know one’s parents than to witness the destruction of

That day, Chateau was remarkably reserved about her true intentions at the city park, offering only the excuse of enjoying a casual stroll and some solitude. It was a classic justification—one Leonard Hugues had no reason to doubt, as such activities were common. Yet, Chateau concealed the truth: her real purpose that morning was to meet Sophie Vignier.Chateau arrived alone at the city park, guided by the information provided by Beatrice. According to Beatrice, Sophie—an acquaintance of Leonard’s—resided nearby, running a modest coffee shop that attracted little attention. Clutching the address she had been given, Chateau located the unassuming establishment standing before her. Indeed, this was the place Beatrice had described: Sophie Vignier’s café. Without hesitation, Chateau stepped inside.A warm greeting immediately met her ears from a woman stationed behind the bar.“Welcome,” she said cheerfully, her voice bright and her smile kind.Chateau froze, her gaze locking onto the fi