Novels by Dainne

I nodded numbly, allowing her to guide me to a bench just outside the room. My chest heaved with silent cries as I clung to the hope that my father would pull through.The minutes dragged by like hours. I barely noticed when Aunt Emilia arrived, her face pale and drawn.“Francesca,” she said, pulling me into a tight embrace. “What happened?”“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I got a call... and then...” My voice broke, and I couldn’t continue.Aunt Emilia held me, her presence a small comfort in the storm of emotions threatening to consume me. “He’s strong,” she said, though her voice wavered. “He’ll fight. He always does.”When the doctor finally emerged, his expression was grim. My heart dropped.“Mr. Colman’s condition is critical,” he said, his tone measured but serious. “We’ve stabilized him for now, but his heart is weak. He’ll need constant care and... ”I felt the weight of his words like a physical blow. The one thing I was barely holding together.“I’ll handle it,” I said, my vo

The atmosphere in the car was as suffocating as the silence. The stern stares from Marco’s family burned in my mind as if they were etched into my skin. I stared out of the window, trying to make sense of everything. My thoughts raced, but no words came out.Then Marco broke the silence. I caught the faintest hint of a smile on his face as he glanced at me before turning his attention to the driver. “Drop me here, but take her home. I have business to attend to,” he said, his tone cold and detached, the warmth I had grown accustomed to nowhere to be found.I blinked, confused. “Marco, what..” I started, but he cut me off with a sharp look out the window, his expression unreadable.“Do your part, Francesca,” he said without looking at me. His voice was calm but carried an edge that made my stomach twist. “Make them like you. This marriage depends on you, and so does your father’s health.”The words struck like a blow, the sharpness of his tone leaving no room for argument. I stared at

As we entered the room, I felt every pair of eyes in the house land on me, dissecting, judging, and undoubtedly remembering my history with this family. I clutched Marco’s arm tightly, hoping his steady presence would shield me from their scrutiny.Marco, ever composed, greeted his father. “Father,” he said with a slight nod. His voice was calm, respectful, yet firm. Don Luciano, the feared Alpha of the kingdom, looked at his son with the same intensity that sent shivers through anyone who crossed him. His piercing gaze shifted to me, his expression hardening.I couldn’t breathe under his scrutiny. The room seemed to grow colder.“And who might this be?” Don Luciano’s voice was deep, sharp, and unwelcoming.Before Marco could reply, Rahila, his mother, swept into the room like a queen. Her beauty and elegance were undeniable, but her presence was no less intimidating than her husband’s.“Marco!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up as she embraced him. For a brief moment, the warmth

I sat quietly at the long mahogany table, staring at the stack of documents in front of me, my name neatly printed alongside Marco’s. "Mr. Marco Luciano married Miss Francesca Colman", I read under my breath. It sounded so unreal. Auntie Emilia fussed with her scarf beside me, a bundle of nervous energy as she dabbed at her forehead.Marco sat at the other end of the table, impossibly composed, his blue eyes watching me with a calm intensity that made my heart flutter and my stomach churn. The weight of this moment pressed against me like a mountain.“Francesca,” Marco said softly, his voice like silk against the room’s stillness.“Yes?” I met his gaze, trying to summon the courage to speak without my voice trembling.He leaned forward, his fingers lightly tapping the table. “I understand that your love was betrayed, your pride was crushed, and you don’t trust what we’ve just started.”His words hit like a thunderclap. My chest tightened as my past came rushing back: Gianni’s lies,

The faint aroma of Auntie Emilia’s herbal tea lingered in the air, mixing with the scent of lavender she always kept in her vases. It was almost soothing, almost. But as soon as the front door slammed open, I knew tranquility wasn’t on the agenda.“Francesca! Francesca! Where are you?” Auntie Emilia’s voice boomed through the apartment like a tidal wave.I scrambled off the couch, nearly tripping over my own feet. “Yes, Auntie, I’m coming!”Her stormy presence filled the room before I could fully stand. Her eyes scanned me, sharp as ever, before she spoke. “What happened between you and Marco? I saw you both in the hospital lobby as I was leaving. You better not be in trouble with that family!” Her voice carried the weight of worry, frustration, and something else like disappointment.I winced. “No trouble, Auntie. Just a conversation.”“That family!” she muttered, pacing in front of me. “The embarrassment from Gianni was enough. And to add to it, your father… leaving no remaining sha

I froze, unable to process that he was here, of all places. Marco, my ex’s older brother, and the one man I both feared and couldn’t seem to escape. My body reacted on instinct, trying to get to my feet, but the exhaustion from the emotional beating I’d taken wouldn’t let me move fast enough. Before I knew it, Marco had scooped me up effortlessly, his firm arms cradling me as though I weighed nothing. The sheer strength of him, the familiar warmth radiating from his skin, momentarily chased away the rain’s cold bite. His scent, a mixture of musk and something darker, something primal, clouded my senses. My cheeks flushed as I tried to keep my gaze anywhere but on his face.We made our way toward the hospital lobby in silence, where a couple of guards quickly appeared, holding out a blanket to him. He wrapped it around me gently, his fingers brushing against my shoulders, lingering for just a moment. “You’re drenched,” he murmured. “Are you alright?”I blinked, his voice pulling me