Novels by H.A.D

Chapter 36: Bloodlines and Solidarity.The Blackwood estate was shrouded in the warm glow of dusk, but inside Evelyn’s private study, the air was cold and calculating. The sharp click of her heels echoed as she paced before the wide oak desk. Standing before her were her twin children, Adrian and Alexis, poised and unflinching under their mother’s penetrating gaze.Adrian, tall and sharply dressed in a tailored navy suit, exuded precision and control. His movements were measured, his posture a mirror of his mother’s authority. Beside him stood Alexis, her raven-black hair pulled into a sleek ponytail, her dark eyes gleaming with cunning. Unlike Adrian’s reserved demeanor, Alexis radiated a quiet intensity, her confidence palpable.“I’m giving you both an opportunity,” Evelyn began, her voice low but commanding. “Alex has proven to be a disappointment, and I need someone capable of cleaning up the mess he’s left behind.”Adrian smirked faintly. “Cleaning up after Alex is hardly a chall

Chapter 35: Shadows in MotionMelissa kept her steps measured, her head low, as she slipped into the poorly lit café nestled in the heart of a foreign city. The bustling chatter around her offered a strange comfort, a disguise for an important meeting. Her plain clothes and dyed brown hair transformed her into someone unremarkable, blending seamlessly into the crowd. She scanned the room briefly before settling in a corner booth.When the waiter approached, she barely glanced up. “Black coffee,” she murmured.Minutes later, a figure joined her, sliding into the seat across the table. Vale looked as casual as ever, but the tension in his jaw gave him away.“You’re late,” Melissa said flatly.Vale smirked. “You’re the one who staged your death. I figured you’d appreciate unpredictability.”She frowned. “This isn’t a game, Vale. Evelyn thinks I’m dead, and I need it to stay that way.”Vale leaned forward, his voice lowering. “Do you know how many people want you gone? Evelyn isn’t the on

Chapter 34: Mirrors and SmokeMelissa pressed her foot harder on the gas pedal, her heart hammering as the headlights behind her grew closer. The narrow alley ahead offered no escape routes, only darkness and desperation. She veered sharply to the right, tires screeching as she slipped into a side street and killed the engine. Her breath came fast, her pulse loud in her ears. She gripped the steering wheel, forcing herself to think.She couldn’t outrun Evelyn, not forever. If she wanted to survive, she had to disappear completely. Not just off the grid, but out of existence.Vale’s words echoed in her head from their last meeting. “If you want to win this war, you have to die first.”She hadn’t understood then, but she did now. Evelyn needed to believe she was gone. Only then could Melissa move without eyes on her every move. She fumbled for her burner phone and typed out one last message.“I can’t fight anymore. I’m sorry. Don’t look for me.” she wrote.She hit send and tossed the ph

Chapter 33: Turning TidesThe dim glow of Melissa’s laptop illuminated her face as she scrolled through the encrypted files Vale had sent earlier. Her fingers tapped impatiently against the desk, the weight of Evelyn’s threats still lingering in her mind. Evelyn had rattled her, but Melissa refused to let it show. Not to Rico, not to Justin, and especially not to Evelyn Hawthorne.She replayed their conversation in her head, Evelyn’s taunts cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. The mention of her past, her struggles, her mistakes, was not something Melissa was proud of. But she’d fought her way out of that life, fighting for every opportunity to get where she was. No one, especially not Evelyn, would drag her back.Her phone buzzed.Unknown Number: "Clock’s ticking. Decide where you stand."Melissa slammed the laptop shut and stood. She couldn’t let Evelyn control the narrative. She needed leverage, something Evelyn wouldn’t see coming. And if she had to dig deeper into the Hawthor

Chapter 32: Fractures and FearsThe meeting point was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The flickering lights barely cut through the shadows, adding to Melissa’s unease. She stood near the entrance, her arms crossed tightly as Rico and Justin waited in the car nearby, ready in case things went south, they also had back up plan Incase Evelyn decide to try to murder her.The heavy clang of metal doors echoed as Evelyn Hawthorne entered. She wasn’t alone. Two men followed her, their expressions blank, but their movements screamed trained professionals, ready to kill on order.Melissa squared her shoulders. “You didn’t come alone, scared of little me?” she said as she giggled dryly.Evelyn smirked. “Did you expect me to? You’re brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery doesn’t mean much when you’re outmatched.”Melissa kept her voice steady. “You’re not out of reach, Evelyn. I have enough to make you fall and me being alive saves you from so much.”Evelyn tilted her head, as t

Chapter 31: Desperate MovesThe tension in the poorly lit hideout was suffocating. Rico paced back and forth, his fists clenching and unclenching as Melissa and Justin worked frantically at the table cluttered with papers, laptops, and USB drives. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, reminding them that time was slipping away, only three hours left, and they had nothing concrete.Melissa slammed her laptop shut. "No one’s talking. I’ve contacted every informant, every scared insider I could find, and not one of them is willing to come forward."Rico stopped pacing and turned to face her. "We need something, anything. She killed my sister, Melissa. We can’t let her walk away from this."Justin rubbed his temples, his voice grim. "We’ve got dirt on Evelyn, but it’s not enough to take her down completely. And even if it was, who’s going to stand up to her? The Hawthornes practically own the police and the courts."Melissa’s eyes flickered with determination. "We’re out of time. I’m not a