Hi Babes, how are you doing tonight / today?
So, the next chapter is called ‘Almost Paradise’ ;) I know, such a cliche one. We’re going to say goodbye to Gio in the next chapter and there’s that time skip again. We’re entering Cali and Evan’s world out of the island.
I’ll apologize now, I won’t be able to update tomorrow night. I’m not feeling well since yesterday, and I don’t think I can function well. This last chapter is shaky, but please stay. It’ll get better and bumpier ;) haha, love you, babes.
Anyway, I hope you’re still enjoying the ride. There’s more to come and I hope you’ll continue to support my babies.
Much Love,
Ljxx
~~
P.S. Just a friendly reminder, Babes. This novel is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
~Cali~ The anticipation is killing me. My chest feels so full, as if the air I’m breathing thickened I’m finding it hard to inhale. The throbbing of my heart is louder than the wheezing breeze from Carlisle Bay. My clammy palms rest on Gio’s chest, clutching tightly on his dress shirt as I wait for his declaration. His honey eyes regarded me in a tender gaze before he spoke, “Giovanni is my middle name-“ The ringing of his phone cut him off. Gio’s eyes fluttered close, a groan leaving his lips. “It’s given to me by my biological-“ the annoying phone rang again. This time, he couldn’t just ignore it. His brows knitted together after taking it out of his pocket, and I took it as a sign to give him some privacy. “Answer it.
~Cali~ There are moments since that day when I question my actions. I should’ve stayed and asked him what the call was about, or at least gave him the night and waited for him to tell me about it himself. I regret leaving like that, like a runaway princess that I already am. Every time there’s a new article about him, about his company, I can’t stop looking because I am curious if it’ll have an announcement about his marriage. But I read nothing about it. Even about that child. I want to ask him now, but what face do I have? None. I chicken out, so I settled on moving forward with m
~Cali~ ‘When will you stop running away, Princess?’ My slippers’ silent taps echoing as I follow a hazy, invisible catwalk while I keep chewing on my lip. It’s midnight and all I could do is stare at his face - painting of his face. I couldn’t sleep. I’m wide awake as an owl, a bloody battle taking place in my thoughts. He’s staring back at me, honey eyes watching while I’m suffering in my own impulsive actions. All he does is smile, that annoying sexy smirk of his that I can’t push out of my head. No matter how much time I put into hating that gorgeous face, I just can’t. I’m going mad. He must’ve seen me earlier. “Why?” I asked out loud, not knowing what I really meant wit
~Cali~ My heart hummed at the sweet melody of his voice. He’s here, right behind me. I can sense it, the intensity of his gaze burning holes in the back of my head. “Fuck off, Carter,” honestly, I couldn’t care less about what Dixon is saying, or about my computer that will probably need a hard disk saving by now. I don’t want to be here, but I want to be here. I’m going mad. My heart is going crazy. It wants to come out of my body and jump to the owner of that voice. However, my feet have other plans. My hands clutched the lining of my coat, shivers drowning me. It was instinct that had my feet moving away from him, not wanting
~Cali~ Days went on after that brief encounter I had with him. He left me confused, wondering what the hell his problem was. I waited for his email, or for any gift from him - anything - but none came. It’s like he never existed in my life again. Maybe he’s still mad about his pained nuts. Or he realized how much of a lame lay I am, how hard it is to understand me. I don’t even understand myself; how can I expect him to understand me? I hate feeling like this. ~~ It’s almost time for me to get ready for the first launch of Ren’s label. Yet here I am, with a hazy mind from hanging upside down from my bed. The blood rushing in the wrong way is not good for my brain cells. His
~Evan~ I’ve been watching her all night since she arrived with her father. Such a beauty she is. I willed myself not to drink tonight, needing my head to be clear of alcohol influence when I talk to her - try to talk to her. The little black dress she has on further enhanced her creamy skin. She showed enough skin on her chest, back and legs for every man’s mouth in this function hall to water with the sight of her. My hands balled on my side, needing to wipe their lustful glare at my Princess. Devin’s words are turning into an unbreakable prophecy. Now that I learned who she is, how perfect her life compared to my shitty one - how perfect she is - made me want her more. I’m not worthy of her, I know this, but I need her in my life, but am I willing to ask her to fight for me?
~Cali~ Cold night loomed over Manhattan. Everyone headed home for the weekend, and I’m still in the office, working overtime again. I sighed, deciding to call it a day, holding my bag in one hand and my phone with the other, stepping inside the lift. I was still answering a few important emails while returning the greetings of the few night shift employees on the way to the basement parking. I yelped when a quick hand snatched my phone and bag. “What the-“ a hand covered my mouth. I stumbled back up to the car behind me, and blazing honey brown eyes met my widened green ones. I dreaded the day I would see him again. He invaded my dreams, my paintings, and my mind, but seeing him in person has proven to be another kind of reality. An unnerving kind.
~Cali~ A sour laugh left my mouth as I mumbled, “why? Why did I leave?” I shook my head, taking another bottle of the beer set on top of the counter. I down some more alcohol to ease my parched pipes. “Why wouldn’t I? You lied to me-“ He shook his head, regarding me with emotions I can’t point out. Disappointment? Pain? “Don’t stare at me like that.” I tilted the bottle in my lips. “I asked you if you were in a relationship-“ “That’s not what I’m asking, Princess.” He’s as calm as a windless summer day - the opposite of me, a hailstorm mess. “Why did you leave without asking me?” “Ask you what?” my voice rising as I continued, “ask you who Shannon is? If she’s pregnant with your child?”
Aw… and that’s a wrap, lovelies. I hope you enjoyed your ride with Cali and Evan. They’ll be signing off for now, until Klaus comes out. Yep, he’s bound to come out soon. Although the title might drift off from the series of the boys because I already saw a few books with that title, I believe you will know it's his story. ;) If you are looking for another book to read, check out my novel Falling For My Husband. It's already up on my profile. Again, thank you. Please comment and leave a review if this book is worth the ride. I’d love to hear from you. xx See you later, lovelies…
So… I don’t know if anyone would want to know what happens with Nathan… but, I believe his character needs a little peace, although not a total closure but peace between the two brothers… I really feel bad for him throughout this book… *sigh* xx This happened six months after the wedding ~~ ~Evan~ I love my wife. By now it’s clear that I’d do anything for her… just not this... she asked me to come and visit Nathan in prison. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for attempted rape and conspiracy. It was damn easy for him. And now Cali is asking me to do the impossible. There’s no denying that his father had something to do with the trial. He’s a damn powerful man, but
~Evan~ One year later... Bridgetown Barbados. This is where everything began. This place will forever hold a special place in our lives. The soft sand, cold under the soles of my bare feet, sent a smile on my lips as I relished the tickling sensation of the water lapping over my tired skin. The tide is still high and I admired the waves from a distance, huge and powerful, as if they could destroy anything in its path. Magnus Construction is just a distant memory now. I am handling my new company, The Ár mbaile Constructions. I have accepted no penny from my wife but my father-in-law is a different story. Before we flew to Ireland for our wedding, I asked for Cali’s hand from her father. He gave us his blessing in one con
I believe you need pampering, my love ;) enjoy these free chapters.. xx ~~. ~Cali~ Our wedding is an intimate one. I guess it has become a tradition in our family to have weddings away from people’s prying eyes. We flew to Castlebar, where Evan’s mother and sister are residing. I was nervous as hell as the plane landed in Ireland. I don’t know if his mom would like me or not. His sister Aoibhe is the only person I got to talk to over the phone for the details of our wedding and I knew we would be really good sisters. Shawn and Daniel flew three days early to secure every detail regarding the preparation. “Princess?” Evan pressed my hand as we drove to his mom’s place. Our family and friends came with us, but they’ll be s
~Cali~ It took me a moment to calm down. These last few days have been so overwhelming, I can barely keep up with my emotions. Olivia, sitting beside me, is still clasping my hands in her delicate ones. There is something about a mother’s touch. It’s like magic hands that penetrate through my heart that magically squeeze away all my worries, as if the soothing sensation tells me that everything is going to be okay. Ren has that ability to calm me. Now I have another motherly warmth to take refuge into in Olivia’s form. I sipped the chamomile tea that she prepared for me. The warm liquid slipped down my esophagus, soothing my nerves. “H-how are you not mad at me?” I finally found my voice, and gazed into the eyes of the w
~Cali~ Tangled in each other’s arms, we have had no sleep yet, both spent and exhausted. My head rests on Evan’s chest, fingers tracing the patterns of his perfect pectorals while my ears pressed above his heart, its beating gentle and calm. “Why do you want to marry me, Princess?” He asked, fingers threading through my sweat-damp hair. I looked up at him, chin resting above my closed knuckles. He’s as beautiful as ever, even with those worry lines on the side of his eyes and forehead. “I need you.” Evan regarded me as if he’s waiting for another kind of explanation. “If this is about my company, I don’t want it, baby. I do want to be with you - forever, but if you’re doing this because of the case-” With my forefinger o
~Cali~It was three in the morning when Evan returned to bed, his usual routine. He smells of mint and eucalyptus, masking the scent of bourbon. He thought I was asleep, kissing my forehead before wrapping his arms around my waist.“Evan?” I spoke, my voice was hoarse from the emotions I’ve been holding in since I heard his talk with Sander.“Did I wake you?” he leaned on his hand, propping himself up with his elbows digging on our pillow. I turned to face him, his hands instantly coming up to brush my cheek, up and down, soft caress with the back of his hand.His wrist is healed now, he sprained it again when he punched Nate, but he’s nursing a wound that can’t be cured with any kind of over-the-counter medicines.
~Cali~ “Fuck,” Nate stood up, wiping his bleeding lip with the back of his hand, “you will pay for this.” Evan cupped my face, “get in the car, Cali.” He kissed my forehead and Nate continued to mumble threats after threats. “You shouldn’t be here, Evan,” I whispered. My brain is finally working. We broke the deal with Nate, with him being here. His company - everything we worked for will go to waste… because of me. “She’s right. You should’ve stayed away,” Nate butted in. “It’s okay, baby, get in the car, please?” Evan pleaded. I waved my head. “Evan… he will release those files.” Evan sighed, closing his eyes. “I don’t care ab
~Cali~It hurts everywhere, but the pain in my head is the dominant one. A continuous whopping pound kept ringing, hammering my brains out.I shifted in my lying position, hoping for an angle to relieve a little of the throbbing. The jasmine fragrance on the pillow tells me I am in my room even without needing sight. I buried my face deeper into the cushion, wishing the feather feel of the material would grace me with little ease - it didn’t.“Hey.” My eyes forced open in recognition of Evan’s voice.He’s here, sitting on the chair beside my bed, gazing at me with pale honey eyes. “Evan…” I breathe out, forgetting about the headache I was nursing seconds ago. He’s always been a good medicine of mine.