Novels by Olivia Walter

The ceiling lights cast a soft glow on the polished marble floor, complementing the long, elegant corridor that stretched ahead. Jasmine and polished wood scented the air — a beguilingly muggy degree of elegance. The soft pat of their steps echoed, and the sharp knuckles of Sofia's heels shattered all their sounds like swords.“You never would have guessed you’d end up here. Sofia's voice reverberated back through the corridor, sharp and keening as a banshee's wail. Her comments carried a clear tone of mockery, and her eyes sparkled with a blatant joy that she always felt no need to conceal. Next to Gabriella, Hannah tensed, her fingers gripping Gabriella’s hand in silent encouragement. She sensed the tension emanating from her friend — the calm, accepting strength Gabriella had consistently displayed — but this moment felt distinct. Fragile. On the verge of collapse. "That's enough, Sofia," Hannah remarked tersely, her tone quiet yet resolute. Sofia simply laughed — a harsh, joyles

Weeks went by before Gabriella's weak body started to heal from the sickness that had seized her with unyielding force after her ordeal. She had previously been a lively presence, but now, she sensed that she was hardly living. The illness had exhausted her, stripping away the essence of who she used to be. There were times—shadowy, intolerable times—when she beseeched God, imploring Him to free her from this agony. She had pleaded for her life to cease, incapable of bearing the suffocating burden of her existence any longer. However, destiny had different intentions, and in spite of her urgent requests, she realized she was holding on to life, one delicate day at a time. When Gabriella was eventually permitted to return to the upper floors of the mansion, she was beyond caring. Her spirit was shattered to such an extent that she no longer felt affected by the murmurs that trailed her, the glances that seared her skin, or the burden of her husband's treachery. Dante, the person she

Somewhere in New York.The chamber was chilly. Not the sort of chill that could be remedied with a blanket or a heater — it ran deeper than that. It was the sort of cold that seeped into your bones and caused your skin to tingle, regardless of how many layers you had on. The air felt dense, imbued with a silence that weighed on the walls. It had a slight scent of aged perfume mixed with something more intense — perhaps fear. Bianca stood before the mirror, her fingers gliding mindlessly across the swollen area on her cheek. Despite the thick makeup, it still hurt — a dull, pulsating ache that throbbed with each heartbeat. The foundation was heavy and skillfully applied, yet the bruise’s intense purple still risked showing through. She flinched as her fingers glided over the sensitive skin. It wasn't her most serious injury, yet it somehow felt that way. She should have just stayed. The idea struck her once more, piercing and relentless, as it always did. Years had passed since she

The door clicked shut, and the sound made Gabriella freeze. She stood still, listening closely as the lock turned with a harsh, scraping noise. That sound told her one thing — she was trapped. Outside the room, she heard Dante’s voice, calm but firm. There was no kindness in his tone, only authority."No one goes in or out until I say so. Not even for food."His words hit her like a blow. Through the thin wooden door, she heard the quiet movement of the guards standing outside. They didn’t question him. They simply obeyed.She remained in place, listening intently until she caught the sound of Dante’s footsteps ascending the stairs to the more affluent, upper levels of the house. The stillness that ensued felt denser than the atmosphere surrounding her.Only then did she realize she had been holding her breath.Gabriella eventually scanned the space where she had been confined. It was tiny and barren, lacking anything comforting or inviting. The walls were empty, and the sole piece of

Gabriella“This is your new room now.”Dante’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. It was icy, piercing, and utterly conclusive, enveloping my heart with the heaviness of his words like steel shackles. He towered above me, his towering figure creating a shadow so immense it seemed to engulf me entirely. And at that instant, I understood — truly understood — that any remaining hope I possessed was quickly and irretrievably fading like sand slipping through my hands.My body was in pain. My back ached with agony, and the intense, glaring light streaming in through the windows caused my head to pound. However, none of it measured up to the pain in my heartThe ache of knowing that everything was falling apart. The memories of last night hit me all at once, crashing into me like a storm I wasn’t prepared for. The whispers. The accusations. The fear. It was too much, too fast — and then before I could even catch my breath, the door burst open. It slammed against the wall so hard

Matteo."Now get out. And pray you haven’t ruined everything." The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot. I stood there for a moment, fists clenched at my sides, as the walls seemed to close in — the weight of my own frustration pressing against me. Sofia. Reckless, impulsive, foolish Sofia. I’d known from the start she’d be a liability, but I needed her. At least for now. But if she kept pushing like this… well, even my patience had its limits. And Sofia was standing right on the edge of them. I began pacing, each step tapping out my irritation on the hardwood floor. Everything had been going according to plan — perfectly, even — until she decided to take matters into her own hands. I should have seen it coming. She was ambitious, but ambition without control was dangerous. And right now, the last thing I needed was danger from my own allies. I sank onto the couch — still warm from where she’d been sitting — and let out a slow breath,