Novels by Maria-Grace

ENZO MORETTI It was going to be a busy day in the Moretti Mansion. Something that had not happened in a long while. I was so anxious about the day. Ethan was coming back home today, and Tatiana was coming for dinner along with Marco and Eloise, Marco’s closest cousin. It was going to be a feast, and right after that, it could be a disaster. I couldn’t let myself dwell on that when Tatiana’s convoy pulled into my mansion. Tatiana was Marco’s mum. She had also taken the role of being my mother after the incident. Tatiana was strong and fearless. She knew how to make an entrance and loved to be glowing from her skin to the jewelry on her body. But despite all this thirst for money and power, she wanted her sons to leave the drug business. It was how I knew she wasn't sure of what she wanted. One day, she would wake up and realize that getting us out was not the goal. Keeping us safe, untouchable. That was the goal. Today, we were using the second dining area, located

ISABELLA GARCIA Enzo kissed me like he couldn’t live without me, and I savored every bit of it. His face pressed against mine, his lips moving with a hunger that let him suck and bite, pull and hold. When he pushed his tongue in, my body melted, my eyes fluttering shut as his sweetness filled me up. Kissing him was an art. Loving him was an even greater one. But Enzo was weight to me. Sam had already said that Terry would like to talk about Enzo’s alleged involvement in some illegal dealings, as well as his approach of force against Terry. It was what Terry’s lawyer was using to build their case. They were telling the judge that I, Isabella Garcia, who has been there for my kid all these years after Terry broke our wedding bows and left me to fend for myself… They were saying I was no longer capable of doing my job because I was involved with Enzo Moretti, as though I wasn't allowed to have a life of my own. I had told Sam about that day at the parking lot. I also had to tell hi

ENZO MORETTI “You know Cruz is going to host one of his usual events soon, right?” Marco asked me as he signed off a few documents. “And we need to make an appearance,” he finished as his pen moved across the paper. “I’ve been thinking about that,” I said as I stood up from the couch. We were at one of Marco’s offices. Today was Isa’s first court hearing and I was obeying her wishes. She wanted me no where close to her. I was spending the whole day playing butler for Marco and getting him to drink a glass at least every hour. We both had good tolerance levels to work with. “Are you bringing Isa? I’m thinking of bringing Cleo,” Marco said and pasued to think about it. “She’s smart, efficient. She could be useful to the gang.” I didn’t like hearing Cleo’s name. She hadn’t earned my trust. Back at the house, she had pointed out the bloodstain on my wrist. The way she said it… I thought about it again as I grabbed a champagne bottle by its neck. It wasn’t just an observation

ISABELLA GARCIA The court case was today but I was at Ethan’s bedside that morning. I looked to Sam for some help while Ethan waited for an answer. Sam shifted his gaze to the floor in a bid to avoid me. He was simply telling me he was here as my lawyer and only my lawyer. This was why I needed Enzo or Cleo. Since Cleo was tied up at work and I didn't want Enzo anywhere close to this case, I pushed the thought away. I could do this on my own. Ethan had improved significantly since his hospital stay. According to Dr. Smith, his antibodies were finally doing their job again. His doctors allowed him to have visitors, but only under strict supervision and careful preparation. And it was only for a few hours each day. We were trying not to overwork his immune system. “You got a hairdo,” Ethan said, his small fingers running through my soft curls. “Yup. Mama got a hairdo,” I replied with a smile. I wiped a smudge off his cheek with a washcloth, gently cleaning up the remnants o

CLEO GARCIAThe letter from the court arrived while I was in the kitchen, packing a bag for Ethan and Isa.Earlier that afternoon, around two, Isa and I had lunch together. She’d mentioned that Ethan had been stronger than usual that morning. They had spent some time together, and now, while he rested, she was taking a short break before heading back to the hospital for the night.I was still packing when a quiet knock sounded at the door. One of the house staff stepped in cautiously. It was a thin, tall woman dressed in animal print and black pants.Isa held the paper in her hands, her eyes scanning it in complete silence. A full minute passed before she finally spoke.“When did this come in?” Isa asked, her voice steady but tense. That was when I walked out of the kitchen. “Yesterday morning. A lawyer is coming to the house. He was sent by Enzo. He says you only have to answer some questions,” the lady said. She reached for Isa’s hands for a moment of comfort. The lady’s eyes s

MARCO MARTIN“Catch!” I called out, throwing the keys without warning.Enzo was caught off guard and spun around, but I had already tossed them farther than he expected.He twisted back, trying to recover, but misjudged the distance. His foot slipped slightly. It was just enough to make his attempt look awkward.Predictable.I jogged past him, quick and smooth, snatching the keys off the floor just before his fingers could reach them.Enzo was still crouched down, breathing heavily. He looked up at me, his expression showing visible annoyance.I leaned against the wall to watch him and draw up my conclusions.I already had them in mind. This was just a small exercise to assure me.With a sharp exhale, Enzo straightened his shirt and stood in one fluid motion. “How’s the kid?” I asked Enzo as I eyed him. Enzo walked up to me. “Still breathing,” he said trying to sound like he didn't mind. “Maybe getting better, maybe not. It’s still hard to tell.” Enzo and I walked side by side. We

STACYThe contractions started to roll in by noon. One after another, getting stronger with time.The day had finally arrived, a day I had both anticipated and dreaded. Labor. As I sat on the edge of the bed, a wave of excitement surged through me, mingled with a healthy dose of apprehension. It was surreal to think that soon I would hold my baby girl in my arms. She would be ours, a tangible result of the love Jerome and I had nurtured over the years.I had taken classes about this and I didn’t want to worry my husband for nothing, but when it got stronger and harder to ignore, I called for him.“Jerome!”He came rushing into the room, his hair tousled and his face slightly flushed. He must have been napping, and the worried look on his face made my heart race. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”“I think it’s time,” I said, a nervous smile breaking through. His eyes widened as he

JEROMETwo years later.Dark lashes fanned against her skin, the sun soft against her flesh, her body slowly moving upward and downward, her breathing muffled on her pillow.That was the sight i had woken up to. I was the luckiest person on earth right now.I stayed perched on the edge of the bed, watching as the soft morning light took away sleep from my eyes. The sight before me was captivating: Stacy, my beautiful Stacy, lost in a peaceful slumber, her dark hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the serenity of the moment.We had come a long way since that first date, a day marked by confusion, heartache, and a beautiful, unguarded honesty that had laid the foundation for everything that followed. The journey hadn’t always been easy; there were still challenges to face and moments of vulnerability that left us both shaken. But together, we had built something extraord

STACYI still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. A joint date with Lisa? Lisa and Kiera.The thought swirled in my mind as I stood in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection. My fingers traced the hem of the dress I had picked out—simple, yet flattering enough for what felt like one of the strangest nights of my life.Lisa had convinced me, somehow, to go along with this. I wasn’t even sure how it all happened. One minute, we were awkwardly avoiding each other, and the next, we were laughing about how ridiculous it was that we were going on this double date.I heard a knock on the door and glanced at my phone—Lisa, of course, right on time.“Come in!” I called, still fussing with my hair. The door swung open, and Lisa waltzed in, her usual confidence trailing behind her.

STACYI woke up slowly, the warmth of the blankets making it hard to tell where the bed ended and my body began. The sunlight trickled in through the thin curtains, casting soft streaks of light across the room. For a moment, everything felt serene, like I could stay in this cocoon of warmth and silence forever. Then I realized Jerome wasn’t next to me.I rolled over, blinking sleep from my eyes, and saw the empty space where he should have been. The sheets were crumpled on his side, still warm. I heard the faint sound of water running and figured he must be in the shower. I lay there for a minute, listening to the sound of the water and feeling a strange sense of distance. It was odd, waking up without him beside me. We’d spent the night together, but it hadn’t felt as close as it usually did.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the cool floor, feeling the chill against my bare feet. The bathroom door was slightly

JEROMEShooting that day had been intense. We were working on one of the final scenes, the kind that was supposed to be raw and emotional, but instead of saving it for later in the production schedule, the producers wanted to get it done early for promotional material. It was all part of the business. We had to sell the movie, and nothing sold better than a sneak peek of a climactic moment.The set was buzzing with activity. Lights were being adjusted, makeup artists hovered nearby, and the crew moved around, setting up equipment and whispering about the next shot. I felt the pressure building, but I was used to it by now. This wasn’t my first film, and it definitely wouldn’t be my last.Chase called for a break, and I seized the opportunity to step away for a bit. I’d been on set all day, and I needed a breather before getting back into the set. Besides, I had something else on my mind. I was supposed to meet up with Stacy after we

STACYLisa had been gushing for weeks about how she was excited to introduce Jerome to Kiera. The way she talked about Kiera, with that glimmer in her eyes, made it impossible not to be happy for her.Everything was going to go fine today, I could already sense it.I was on shift that afternoon, taking orders and serving trays like usual. The restaurant wasn’t too packed, which gave me time to glance around, keep an eye on the door. Part of me was hoping they’d pick another spot, or maybe decide at the last minute that a fancy café was better suited for a first meeting like this. But, of course, that wasn’t Lisa’s style. She loved the casual vibe of Burger Trio, and it was one of the few places where she and Jerome could relax.The good thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them, the bad thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them.They made working but hard and pleasurable.I was

SABRINA MORALESNext, you have dinner with Alex, and you can call it a day,” Violet said as she walked around the stool.I was looking at the computer when she spoke. My hands froze over the keyboard. I was too stunned even to say anything.I had a date with Alex?!“Take this too,” Violet was saying as she gestured to stool.We’d just finished the artist shoot with Suzie’s artist, Bella.I thought I was done for the day but Violet told me that I wasn't.“A date with Alex,” I echoed slowly, as if saying it out loud would help me process itI had to remember to be normal about it. I've not been able to bring myself to tell Violet or anybody. I wasn't ready. Maybe it was time for me to tell her before she fixed my wedding without my knowledge.Violet turned away from the ruckus. We were packing up and cleaning the studio after the day’s work. There were lots of glitter on the floor, some CDs, posters…There was a little bit of everything.“Yeah. I sent you an email and a reminder every

BLAZE WILLIAMSMum had been on my neck about when I was returning home. I eventually told her.Imagine my surprise when I saw Marcy waiting for me. It wasn't hard to spot her in their crowd of people. The one person in the crowd who had a strand of her hair dyed white was Marcy.The person who locked eyes with me smiled with her teeth, and waved at me was Marcy.The person I least expected was Marcy and she was right here, pretending this was normal.Marcy could star in her imagination, but I wouldn't fuel it for her.I walked up to her out of courtesy.We used to be something more than friends. I owed it to her to be cordial.“I don’t think you’re here for me,” I started, holding my hands together at my front. “So who are you here for?” I looked around for a moment. I was looking for someone who would be recognizable too. Maybe one of Marcy’s friends. It could even be her boyfriend.Though I had not heard about her being with anyone yet.“You,” Marcy said. “Come here,” She pulled

BLAZE WILLIAMS I stayed back at Night Park because I wanted to stop thinking about Sabrina. She was invading my entire life. Sabrina was going to be my sister. We were also spending nights together and getting to know each other. I had to put a pause on that cause it was getting scary. Two days later I was booking a flight back to Miami. “Tickets, please?” The airport lady asked me. She was smiling cordially, her hair as neat as her outfit. I shook my head. I was attempting to clear the thoughts in them. I gave her the ticket. The lady looked at my credentials. She paused looking at her computer screen to give me a brief stare. In a bright but quiet voice, she said. “Your flight leaves in thirty minutes. You can wait in the lobby.” I got handed back my ticket. I had my duffel bag hanging from my shoulders. It was almost eight in the morning. I spent the previous night working and staying up with a bottle of champagne. My hotel room had never felt

SABRINA MORALES “Our bride-to-be is back!” One of my staff chorused and the rest of them started clapping and cheering. I stood at the door of my studio, heart pounding both in fear and painful nostalgia. I couldn't bring myself to take a step in. I had regretted a lot of things in life, but pnothing hurt me like lying to Violet. I was so close to banging my head on a call in a show of painful regret. Violet walked up to me. Her lips were stretched fully, eyes shining with pure joy. “Welcome back, Sabrina,” Violet said and hugged me. I had two options. To tell them the truth and destroy their view of Alex. That would bring this entire celebration to the most abrupt end. Or, I could play cool. I could take the congratulations and keep it moving. I had kept the truth from them all through the Christmas holiday. What could a little more time of avoiding the truth do? It wasn't like I was lying. I was only not telling the truth. Yet. “Thank you, Violet,”

JOSEPH WILLIAMS My fiance called me for the third time that afternoon, while I was having lunch with my ex-wife. And I thought of busying the call yet again. “Maybe you should take that. Whoever it is can't seem to get the memo,” Leticia said. Her eyes slid across the phone, then she looked up, smirking. I ignored Leti. This was how she was. She intruded on people’s personal lives. Leti might think she knew who it was but she didn't. She would never guess right. I got up, taking my phone into my hands. “Let me use the restroom,” I said and excused myself. Leticia Miller, my ex-wife and mother to my son, had been blowing up my line all through the trip. She had called, texted, and even emailed. In her words, she deserved to know what step I was taking in my life because we shared a son. “Baby, how are you doing?” I talked softly as soon as I was in the restroom. I stopped at the sink and stood in front of the mirror. Staring but not quite looking. “A

SABRINA MORALES I loved my apartment a lot. Mum wasn't a big fan of it. I had packed out of our house immediately I finished college. Mum had been against it. If it was up to her, she would have me in her house for the rest of my adult life. But I needed to experience life away from my mum. I was still mostly broke and couldn’t afford a lot. I also didn't want to take mum’s help so I got a one bedroom apartnenf unit. It was located at the suburban area, a good twenty minutes drive form our former home. Mum hated my apartment but she was going to be crashing with me for a few days. Jo had dropped us off at our family house, that is mum’s apartment. When I was at Night Park, mum had her things moved away. She had taken some of her things to Jo’s place and the other, to my place. I stood behind mum and she opened her front door. The feel of home rushed me, a sense of embrace from the environment. This used to be home to me for a very long time. “Are y