Novel-novel oleh Judith Nzekwe

Chapter 20: Drifting ApartKristin woke up to the warmth of Luca’s arm wrapped around her waist, his body pressed close against hers. His grip was firm, almost as if he was afraid to let go.But even in his arms, she felt empty.The silence in the room was unbearable. Last night had been desperate—two broken people clinging to each other, trying to forget, trying to find comfort in a loss that couldn’t be undone.But it hadn’t changed anything.Kristin turned slightly, looking up at him. His face was relaxed in sleep, but his brow was still furrowed, like even his dreams wouldn’t let him rest.She reached up hesitantly, brushing her fingers against his cheek. “Luca…” she whispered, hoping—begging—for him to hold her like he had last night.His eyes opened slowly, and for a second, there was something soft in them. But it disappeared just as fast, replaced with distance.Luca exhaled and sat up.“I have a meeting.” His voice was rough, distant.Kristin’s heart sank. “Luca, please don’t

Chapter 19: A Love Tested by LossKristin sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. She hadn’t showered in Luca’s room, afraid he would notice the changes in her body—her swollen, tender breasts, the exhaustion that never seemed to go away, and the constant nausea that left her feeling weak and disgusted with herself.She had been spitting into tissues all day, throwing up when no one was around, doing everything she could to hide the signs. But Luca wasn’t a fool.And tonight, she knew he wouldn’t let it go.Luca entered the room, his piercing gaze locking onto her immediately. His presence always commanded attention, but tonight, there was something different about him—an air of frustration, of quiet demand.Kristin’s heart pounded as he walked toward her."You’ve been avoiding me," he said, his voice calm but sharp.She forced a weak smile. "I’m just tired."Luca crossed his arms. "No, it’s more than that. You barely look at me. You flinch when I touch you. And your body…"

Kristin had been feeling off for days. Her appetite was gone, her body felt different—her chest was more sensitive, and waves of nausea hit her unexpectedly. She brushed it off as stress, telling herself it was nothing serious. But deep down, something didn’t feel right.She had trouble sleeping that night, tossing and turning in bed while Luca lay beside her, breathing steadily. Giving up on sleep, she slipped out of bed, the cold floor sending a shiver up her spine. As she moved down the hallway, she noticed a faint light glowing from the maid’s quarters.That was strange.Kristin slowed her steps, her curiosity piqued. It was well past midnight—who would still be awake?She approached the slightly open door and peered inside.Helena, one of the housemaids, was hunched over a small wooden table, her hands trembling as she poured a powdery substance into a vial. Kristin’s eyes narrowed. Something about the scene felt… off.Then, she saw it.A bottle of Luca’s medication sat right bes

The hospital room was unnervingly silent, except for the steady beeping of the machines. Kristin sat beside the bed, holding her father’s cold, frail hand. His breathing was shallow, each inhale a struggle.She had spent years preparing for this moment, yet nothing could numb the sharp ache in her chest."Kristin..." His voice was barely above a whisper.She straightened, forcing a smile despite the tears in her eyes. "I’m here, Dad."His fingers trembled slightly in hers. "The... research..."Kristin frowned. "What research?"His weak gaze locked onto hers. "The cancer project... the cure..." He struggled for breath. "I wanted to finish it."Her heart pounded.Her father had dedicated years to developing a groundbreaking treatment, but he had always kept most details private. Now, in his final moments, he was trying to tell her something."You don’t have to worry about that now," she whispered, tightening her grip on his hand."Promise me..." His voice cracked. "Promise me you won’t

CHAPTER 16: A NIGHT TO FORGETKristin sat at the dining table, absently stirring her tea as the hushed murmurs of the staff filled the background. Her appetite had disappeared long before the food even arrived, replaced by a weight that had been sitting in her chest for days now.Luca had been different.Distant. Restless. Unpredictable.At first, she chalked it up to stress—running a billion-dollar empire wasn’t easy. But the shift in his behavior wasn’t just stress.It was something deeper.She’d caught him staring blankly at files in his study, eyes unfocused. He’d been forgetting things—small details at first, then bigger ones. Conversations they’d had the previous day, appointments he never used to miss.And worst of all, he didn’t seem to notice.Kristin had tried bringing it up casually."You're not yourself lately," she'd said two nights ago.Luca had just smirked and kissed her forehead. "You worry too much."But was she?The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her out of

Kristin had been avoiding Luca. At first, she didn’t think much of it—choosing to keep her distance, making excuses to be busy, pretending not to notice the way he watched her. But as the days passed, it became clear that she was actively avoiding him. She no longer waited for him at night, didn’t stop by his study, and barely spoke more than a few words when they were in the same room. And Luca noticed. At first, he let it slide. He gave her space, watching quietly as she withdrew. But tonight, he was done waiting. Kristin was curled up on the couch in the lounge, pretending to read, when she heard his footsteps. She tensed but didn’t look up. Luca stopped a few feet away, arms crossed. “Are you going to keep ignoring me, or are you finally going to tell me what’s wrong?” Kristin flipped a page in her book. “I’m not ignoring you.” Luca exhaled sharply, then reached over and pulled the book from her hands. “Hey—” He tossed it onto the couch. “Try again.” Kristin fro