Novels by Judith Nzekwe

A week had passed since Kristin had become a Moretyi in name only, yet every day felt heavier than the last. The mansion, grand and luxurious, felt more like a prison, and Lucas remained as distant as ever. His cold words still lingered in her mind, making it clear that she was nothing more than an unwanted presence in his life.But today, she needed to step away from it all—if only for a little while. She had to see her father.Before leaving, she decided to check on Lucas. Even if he didn’t want her around, she couldn’t bring herself to ignore him completely.Kristin pushed open the door to his room, and the early morning sunlight spilled through the windows, casting a golden glow over his face. She paused.For the first time, Lucas looked… different. He wasn’t wearing his usual guarded expression. His brows were slightly furrowed, his lips parted as if he had been lost in thought—or in pain. His eyes, though closed, were puffy. Had he been crying?A strange pang hit her chest at th

Kristin lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the silence of the mansion pressing down on her like a heavy weight. But inside her head, there was no silence—only the echoes of Lucas’s cruel words."You’re just a gold digger.""I don’t need you.""Then leave."She squeezed her eyes shut, clenching the sheets in her fists. How much longer could she endure this? She never wanted this marriage, but walking away wasn’t an option either.Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.Kristin reached for it, her stomach twisting when she saw the message.Miss Kristin, we appreciate your help, but we need the funds soon. The children are struggling. Please let us know if you can still assist.She swallowed hard. The orphanage. The only place that had ever felt like home. She had promised them help, but with Lucas controlling everything now, there was no way she could get the money without him thinking she was exactly what he accused her of.As if she wasn’t already struggling enough.A loud crash from Luc

Kristin couldn’t hold it in anymore. As she continued to massage Lucas’s leg, the overwhelming emotions she had been bottling up for so long finally broke free. She tried to fight it, but the tears began to flow uncontrollably. The frustration, the loneliness, the anger—everything came pouring out as sobs wracked her body. Her chest tightened, and she could hardly breathe as she tried to suppress her sobs, but it was no use. She quickly stood up and walked out of the room, not caring if Lucas saw her break down. She couldn’t stay in there any longer. The coldness in his eyes, the hurtful things he had said—it was all too much. Once in her own room, she threw herself onto the bed and buried her face in her hands. The tears came in waves, and Kristin couldn’t stop them. She was angry—angry that she had been trapped in this marriage, angry that she was stuck with a man who didn’t even want her. She cried for the life she had been forced into, the one she never wanted. She cried because

Kristin’s hands trembled slightly as she set the glass of water down. She had just finished speaking to Lucas, and his harsh words still echoed in her mind. His anger, his accusations—nothing had prepared her for this. After everything she had done for him, stepping into a life she never asked for, he couldn’t even show her a little kindness. It felt as if she were invisible to him, a mere obligation he had to bear.Before she could process the encounter, Mrs. Moretti appeared in her room. Concern and determination mixed in the older woman’s face. She had been kind to Kristin, but Kristin could feel the weight of the family’s expectations pressing on her. The Moretti family was powerful, and she was caught in the web they had woven.“I’m so sorry for Lucas’s behavior, Kristin,” Mrs. Moretti said softly. “He’s still recovering, both physically and emotionally. His anger is misplaced. It’s not really directed at you, but at everything he’s lost.”Kristin nodded slowly, though she wasn’t

Lucas’s condition had improved, but once the machines stopped their constant beeping, his confusion quickly turned into anger. His eyes, still blurry from the coma, locked onto his mother with a fiery intensity."Why?" Lucas demanded, his voice shaking with frustration. "Why did you pick a wife for me, Mother? You care more about the Moretti name than you do about me!" His words were raw with pain.Mrs. Moretti, usually calm and composed, appeared momentarily stunned by his outburst. She stepped closer to his bed, but her usually steady hands wavered as she seemed uncertain whether to comfort or scold him."Lucas, please, calm down," she said, trying to soothe him. "This is for the good of the family, you know that."But Lucas wasn’t listening. His fists clenched as he looked at Kristin, standing at the foot of his bed, frozen. He seethed with frustration."Gold digger," he muttered bitterly, glaring at Kristin. "That’s what you are, isn’t it? You’re just here for the money, the Moret

The following morning, Kristin was jolted awake by a knock at her door. She hadn’t slept well, her thoughts spinning through the dark. She wasn’t used to this life—the cold mansion, this strange arrangement she was trapped in.Mrs. Delacroix entered, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she carried a thick book in her hands."Good morning, Miss Shaw," she said in her clipped, no-nonsense tone. "Mrs. Moretti asked me to deliver this." She handed the book to Kristin without another word. Kristin opened it to see a detailed guide on how to massage Lucas’s legs. The instructions were precise, clinical, as if this were simply another task on a long list of duties she now had to perform."You're to follow the instructions carefully," Mrs. Delacroix added. "It will help improve his circulation."Kristin nodded, still too stunned by the entire situation to speak. The housekeeper left without another word, the door closing softly behind her.Kristin stared at the book, her hands trem