ALANNA“Because I am already addicted to you, can't you see it, I cannot stay away from you, even if I tried.”My knees were growing weak and everything in my body was about to give way at the utterance of his words.Why do I grow so weak just thinking about what his hands could do to me? Where his mouth could go in me. It is crazy, how I am unable to control myself when I am around Nolan. He knows it, he is perfectly aware of how my body responds to his touch.Just then his phone rang and he sighed.“It is from the other construction company,” he announced, disappointment etched all over his face. I sighed in relief because that call might as well just saved me from the Nolan’s effect. The rest of the day was pretty much uneventful, we went to the site and it was pretty much what we wanted, we did some inspection of the ground and decided we were going to close the deal the next day once the paperwork was ready.After that, we ordered takeout because I wouldn't risk being in the
ALANNA Waking up to Nolan by my bedside felt like old times. Only that this didn't feel like old times. In old times, Nolan would have come home late from work, hung over from his frustration of having a father who only saw the worst in him. He would reek of alcohol. In old times, Nolan would be grumpy and yell at me, he would scream about how our marriage was a mistake and wish I could just disappear. In old times, Nolan hated me, and I grew to hate him too. “Alanna, don't think too much about it,” Nolan whispered and that was when I realized he wasn’t sleeping and had been staring at me for a while. I rose from the bed, sitting up straight and resting my back on the headboard. I pulled the duvet to myself because I realized how bare my skin was in the silk nightgown. “Nothing happened, we just slept,” Nolan added, standing up from the bed, he could see the concern in my eyes.“Nolan, this isn't right, you are married and I think we should just leave it at that. We are not su
ALANNAIt has been less than twelve hours since I came back from my Vegas trip with Nolan and I was back to the office. We had taken a flight that night and came back to town. I didn't want to risk staying another night with Nolan because I feared what might happen. Nolan didn't disagree with me, instead, he said something like.“It is fine, Alanna. I know I disgust you and you are irritated by me but for the sake of business can we just at least tolerate each other?” he had asked, he wasn’t asking anything too much. I mean, tolerate Nolan Westbrook, I can do that. Or so I thought.As soon as I got out of the Elevator, I saw Brad, beaming at me. Had he been standing there waiting for me?“Alanna,” he called out, gesturing a wave towards me. Honestly, I would rather avoid everyone this morning. I gave him a half smile as he approached me, placing a kiss on both cheeks in a somewhat formal way.“Hey Brad,” I greeted as I began walking to my office. “How was your trip with Nolan?
NOLANI am a gentleman.I swear I am, but when it comes to Alanna, everything gives way and I am no longer in control of my body. Doesn't she know the effect she has on me? walking in here, looking as gorgeous as she does, acting all bossy and sassy at the same time.Doesn't she know how turned on I get at the mere sight of her? I immediately go under the influence when her hazel-green eyes pierce through mine.Gosh, she takes my breath away in every sense of the word, nothing and everything makes sense when I am with Alanna.“Nolan we agreed to keep things professional from here on out,” Alanna whispered and I stared at her, she still had her back to the table and all I could think about was turning her over, pinning her to the table, and thrusting deep into her. I miss her in that kind of way too. But instead, I loosened my grip on her hands and she took a few steps away from me and straightened her posture in a way she appeared more composed. “You make it so hard Alanna for m
NOLAN“Woah, woah men slow down, what do you mean by get a divorce, this would be the second time you are getting that,” Jake cautioned with his eyes widened in perplexion. “I can't stay married to Chloe,” I retorted. “There is no feeling between us, it is more like two strangers, living together, I am sure I am doing her a favor by setting her free,”Jake stood up and walked to me, taking the bottle of wine off my hands and placing it on the other side of the counter before I poured myself another glass, “One glass is enough for you, clearly alcohol makes you irrational,”“I am not being irrational, you know these things already, I have been complaining about my marriage way before Alanna showed up,”“But you have never thought about divorce until now and do you know the crazy thing, Alanna doesn't even want you, she had made it clear a thousand times,”I sighed, and collapsed on the stool, close to the counter, “She doesn't mean it,” I tried to defend but I wasn't sure because I
ALANNAI stared at my phone screen, my jaw dropped at the headlines of the recent breaking news. BILLIONAIRE NOLAN WESTBROOK CALLS OFF THE LAUNCH OF HIS COMPANY'S NEW PRODUCT, NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON. I couldn't believe my eyes, Nolan changed the date for me. “I wonder what you said to scare the devil out of him that made him change the date,” Angela said interrupting my thoughts. I gazed at her, “I am not sure he changed it because of me,”I knew he changed it because of me, but what I wasn't sure of was, WHY.He would be facing a lot of backlash because from the looks of it, the announcement came from his page and not the official website of the Company, and that means he made the decision solely on his own. “Oh please, Alanna, don't be modest, it is no coincidence that one minute you are confronting him, and the next minute he is changing the date for you, talk about female power,”I chuckled, “ There is no such thing as that,”“Of course, there is, just like there is su
NOLAN“Chloe, I think we should get a divorce,”The words were out there now and I couldn't take it back, there was no going back from here on out, I stared at Chloe as she gazed at me with perplexion, I watched her gaze go from rage to fury. She clenched her fist, it was as if she was trying to hold back the outburst of tears from flowing down her eyes. “What do you mean, we should get a divorce Nolan?” she asked but I didn't feel like there was any use in repeating those words. She knew what I meant. We stood there gazing at each other in silence, till Chloe decided to break the silence, “It is because of her right?” she wasn't asking. “Chloe, let us not do this,”“It is because of that bitch, Alanna, I knew this was why she came back, to take you away from me, ever since she came back it had been nothing but trouble,”“That is not fair, Chloe, you and I know that our marriage has not been working out way back before Alanna was in the picture, it isn't fair to say it is because
NOLANI could hear her but I chose not to respond, instead, I made my way out of the room, and into my car, I started driving and driving. Her words echo in my head.Is Alanna worth the fight?Is Alanna worth losing half of everything I had worked out my ass to get? It wasn't fair that Chloe wanted to do this to me. Why didn't I just get the damn prenup?My mother wanted me to, and my lawyer advised me to but I kicked against it because I felt like it was an insult to my spouse. My father had a prenup when my mum and him got married. That was why she stayed, “I stayed because of that damn prenup” my mum had told me, she knew after slaving and enduring the worst kind of abuse in the hand of this man, walking out of this marriage would mean her walking away with nothing. It would mean, I had no place in the inheritance, so she stayed, she stayed for the money. I didn't want that for Chloe, I wanted her to not feel tied down to a marriage because of a prenup, and to have the freedo
ALANNAStanding at the back of the church, the soft melody of the wedding march echoing through the air. Who would have thought that after everything—after all the pain, the heartbreak, and the betrayal—I would find myself here, about to marry Nolan Westbrook, the man I once believed was the source of all my suffering? Life has a strange way of leading you exactly where you need to be, even when you fight it every step of the way.Pedro, my rock, my father in every way that mattered, stood beside me. He looked at me with pride, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "You ready, Dear?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the emotion behind it.I nodded, feeling my heart swell with gratitude. This was the man who had taken me in, loved me unconditionally, and gave me the family I had always longed for. And now, he was about to walk me down the aisle to start a new chapter of my life.As we began to move forward, the sight before me took my breath away. The church was filled with the peop
NOLAN"Closure doesn't come from forgetting the past but from facing it head-on."The wind blew softly as we stood at Chloe's grave, the air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth and the distant hum of the city. It had taken us a long time to get here, to stand at this place with a sense of peace instead of anger or regret. I looked down at the headstone, its cold surface a stark reminder of all that had happened, all that we had lost and gained.In my arms, little Chloe stirred, her tiny hands grasping at the air. She was so innocent, unaware of the twisted history that brought her into this world. But that was how it would stay. Alanna and I had promised each other that this child, this beautiful little girl, would never know the darkness that shadowed her birth. She would be loved, cherished, and protected from the truth that could shatter her world.Alanna knelt beside the grave, placing a single white rose on the headstone. Her voice was soft, but there was strength in it
ALANNAWhen Lucas stepped out of the shadows, gun in hand, my heart clenched with a fear I hadn’t felt in years. The happiness of moments before—Nolan’s proposal, the promises of a future together—seemed to shatter like glass around us. All I could see was Lucas, his face twisted with rage and pain, his eyes filled with a darkness that sent chills down my spine.It was as if everything we’d gone through, every battle we’d fought, was leading up to this moment. But instead of feeling strong, I felt vulnerable, exposed. Lucas was no longer the boy I once knew. He was a man consumed by hatred, and that hatred was directed at me.“You came into my life and took everything,” Lucas snarled, his voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. “You took my family, you took the only love I had ever known, and now you’ve ruined everything!”I tried to find the right words, something that could reach him, something that could make him see reason. But nothing came. All I could do was stand there, f
ALANNA"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."Shopping with Angela was just the distraction I needed. The weight of everything—Nolan’s court case, the uncertainty of our future—had been pressing down on me like a storm cloud. But here, in the brightly lit aisles, surrounded by the scent of fresh clothes and the chatter of happy customers, I felt lighter. Angela had a way of making even the most mundane tasks feel like an adventure.We wandered through racks of dresses, holding up options and debating the merits of each one. Angela was in the middle of showing me a deep red dress when she suddenly paused, a small smile playing on her lips.“Jake asked me to move in with him.”The words hung in the air between us, and I felt a surge of happiness for her. “He did? That’s amazing, Angela! How do you feel about it?”Angela looked thoughtful, her fingers brushing the fabric of the dress she was holding. “I don’t know. I mean, I love him, and I can see a future with him.
Nolan"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."The courthouse loomed before me, a symbol of the justice I’d been seeking ever since that fateful day. The memories of what Brad had done—of what he’d put my family through—played on a loop in my mind. There was no forgetting the fear in Alanna’s eyes, the sound of the gunshot, the moment when everything nearly ended for us. Today was about more than just a verdict; it was about setting things right, about reclaiming the peace that Brad had stolen from us.As I sat in the courtroom, the weight of the moment settled heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just about me. It was about Alanna, about our children, about the future we’d almost lost. I glanced over at Alanna, who was seated beside me. Her hand rested in mine, her grip tight and unyielding. We had come this far together, and we were going to see it through to the end.Mr. Collins, my lawyer, stood and approached the stand where I was seated. He was calm, composed, the
ALANNA“Family isn't just about blood; it's about who stands by you when the world falls apart."As we walked into the restaurant, the warm glow of the lights and the soft hum of conversation made me feel at ease. This place, with its cozy ambiance and inviting atmosphere, was perfect for the first dinner we’d have together as a family—one that finally felt whole. I glanced around at everyone, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It had been a whirlwind of emotions since discovering the truth about my past, and now, here we were, trying to create something new from the ashes of what once was.Nolan squeezed my hand gently as we approached our table. He could sense my nerves and, as always, knew exactly what I needed—a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. The kids ran ahead, excited to see the menu and all the possibilities it promised. Mrs. Westbrook, who had become such a steady presence in our lives, followed behind them, her eyes twinkling with affection as she watched
ALANNAALANNA*"The truth is like a slow-burning fuse—inevitable and explosive, lighting up the darkest corners of our past."*The air in the room felt heavy, laden with the weight of all the secrets that had been suffocating us for years. Chloe's father sat across from me, his eyes tired and red, as if he had been wrestling with his conscience for a long time. I knew this conversation would change everything, yet I wasn’t prepared for what was coming.For so long, I had lived under the shadow of a truth I didn’t fully understand. I knew that the people I had called my parents weren’t truly mine, but beyond that, there was only darkness—a void that left me feeling lost and incomplete. Today, it seemed, that void was about to be filled.He took a deep breath, as if trying to steady himself for what he was about to reveal. "Alanna, I owe you the truth, even though it's a truth I've buried for far too long. You see, your real parents—they weren’t who you thought they were."I nodded, my
ALANNA“Some truths are too heavy to bear, but they must be carried nonetheless.”The phone rang late in the evening. Nolan and I were curled up on the couch, enjoying a rare moment of peace. When he saw Chloe’s name flash across the screen, he hesitated, the tension immediately creeping back into his shoulders. He glanced at me, his brows furrowed in concern.“I’ll answer,” I offered, knowing that whatever she had to say would weigh on him. He handed me the phone, relief mingled with worry in his eyes.“Hello?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but my mind raced with possibilities. Why was she calling now?“Alanna,” Chloe’s voice was weak, almost unrecognizable. There was an urgency in her tone that sent a chill down my spine. “I’m at the hospital. I need you and Nolan to come… please, it’s important.”Before I could respond, she hung up. I stared at the phone, my mind reeling.“What did she say?” Nolan’s voice broke through my thoughts.“She’s at the hospital. She wants us to come… N
NOLANI don't want this night to end," I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear. The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and longing. I looked into Alanna's deep blue eyes, and I knew she felt the same way."Then let's not let it end," Alanna whispered back, her fingers trailing down my chest, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. The touch of her hands on my skin sent a shiver of anticipation running through me. I couldn't resist her any longer. I swept her off her feet, carrying her up the stairs to our bedroom, where we could forget about the rest of the world and just be with each other.I couldn't help but think about how far we had come. It wasn't just about the physical connection, though that was incredible. It was about the way she looked at me, the way she touched me, the way she made me feel. I knew that I had found something special with Alanna, something that I never wanted to let go of.I kissed her deeply, my tongue exploring her mouth as our bodies pressed t