The soldiers came late in the day, grim and unwavering. Everyone had expected them, but their appearances, led by a cold-eyed colonel who has been a terror in the community, was still shocking. The men of the house went out to meet them, while the daughters and their mother stayed back and watched with fear.Samara glanced through the kitchen window with panic. Rafael her brother, lurked just outside the door. He caught her eye and made an urgent gesture, she must hide. She nodded to him, but didn’t budge. She wanted to see everything.“To what do I owe this honor?” Her Father spoke, feigning a smile.The colonel looked at him spitefully, “This is not a pleasant visit”.Samara could see her Father tremble at the colonel’s voice. She felt bad. She has brought this upon her family with her uncouth attitude towards the officers earlier in the day when she had gone to pick oranges. Samara was on her way home when she had heard a sound come in on the wind, voices and a soft mewling. Unab
If he had been asked, Colonel Frederick Smyth could have put his hand on his heart and sworn that he had never met anyone as ravishingly beautiful as Samara Noel. She was beauty personified, from her pretty face, with a bright calling eyes, her well sculpted pointy nose, broad high temple, high cheek bones, curvy luscious lips, and piano keys-like dentition, to her curvy body and very smooth light skin. She was perfection.As a child, Frederick was not a good looking boy. He was chubby, and had a huge round stomach. He was always bullied by his mate. When he became a teenager, he had lost some weight, but his face was filled with acne. He was still taunted and mocked by both boys and girls of his age. No one wanted to be friends with him. Frederick felt so inferior among his mates, that he swore he was going to find a way to measure up, and even get better than them. When an opportunity to join the army came, he grabbed it. He needed so bad to excel at something. And so he did. Frede
NEVER… NEVER… NEVER…Samara kept screaming in her head as she returned home after meeting with the Colonel. She had heard many awful things about the Colonel, but after today she was sure they forgot to mention that he was also a Mad Man. If not, then how on earth did he think of making such a proposal? Or the worst that he expected that she would accept? “Why are you talking to yourself?” Samara looked up to see who had spoken to her. She was totally lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize she was not alone. A young handsome man stood before her, and she was caught aback for few seconds. He looked like a model, with thick dark brown hair and vivid eyes; Samara remembered thinking that a man with a face like his should be short, just to keep the scales balanced. Instead he was tall and had a casual masculine grace that could draw any feminine eye to him. His looks were wholly masculine. “Why are you talking to me?” She asked after regaining her composure and giving him a good
“Do you even know what effect you’re having on me right now?”Damien said as he leaned in and gently caressed Samara’s lips with his. The softness of her lips took him by surprise. Samara looked up at him with her beautiful eyes, not moving away as her lips parted slightly, inviting him. The touch of their lips kindled something in him as he fully claimed hers and sunk into a deep kiss. The kiss lasted longer than he intended, but he couldn’t pull himself away. Instead he pulled her close, and she willingly gave herself to him. His hands began to slip beneath her dress, feeling the warmth of her bare skin, at this point they were both breathing hard, as he could feel her body trembling as his hands moved higher under her dress, slowly lifting it up, revealing her body to his eager eyes.“Damien! Your breakfast is getting cold”. His mother’s voice from the living room woke him up.Damien opened his eyes, stunned by his dream. His heart was still pounding, as he remained on the bed reel
If Damien Kesley could make a wish, he would wish that the clock spin backwards to when he met her. A shiver rolled through him, rattling the spikes along his spine as he pictured her face. She is a natural beauty, with her shiny jet black hair and killer figure, her softly upturned nose and stunning hazel eyes. But it’s not just her looks. She has a sharp wit too, beauty and brain.Damien shook his head in disbelief as he sat by a tree just by the same spot he had met her yesterday. If he had ever been told that he would be this anxious just to meet a woman again, he would have doubted it. Under normal circumstances, this shouldn't bother him, he was the one who usually had such effect on people and not the other way round. This time though it was different, she was different.Tall, dark and handsome, Damien Kesley was the type of man that got ladies drooling. He has never put effort into getting or wooing a woman. They all came to him themselves. But she was different. The beautifu
As Samara Noel walked down the aisle arm in arm with her father, she struggled not to breakdown in tears. She looked very beautiful with her hair arranged in an elaborate style on top of her head, and her immaculate white wedding gown swished almost silently on the carpet aisle.The whole setting was breathtaking and close to perfect. It was like something cut out of her romance novels. The church was beautifully decorated with red and white roses. Her younger sister Callista was busy sprinkling some of the rose petals on the aisle, while her bridesmaid stood with huge smiles on their faces, looking gorgeous in their flowing scarlet knee length dresses.Samara tried to mirror their smiles, but found herself crying instead, as the tears she fought to hold back slipped down her eyes silently. Everything was perfect except for the man she was getting married to. Colonel Frederick Smyth was the last man on earth she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She thought as she finally let
Samara shivered as fingertips trailed along her skin. Her inside flutters at the feel of his warmth against her body. There was something possessive about it, something claiming. She liked the feeling.Why has she been so afraid of this before? She turned her head to face him and found him staring at her, his stare intense.Their feet touched as he pressed against her, and her heart hammered as a flash of pleasure at the touch of his hard swollen member grazing her abdomen, rushed through her. She let herself stay like that, connected to him. It felt like an offer. And an acceptance. He placed his hands on her thigh and she quickly sucked in her breath in response, then she saw the gown she wore riding up, as he makes room for his fingers to edge higher."Want to enjoy it more?" He murmurs in her ears with a seductive voice, the expression on his face, intense. Her body trembled at his words as she closed her eyes against the surge of heat she felt as his hands rode higher and closer
"Samara..."Colonel Frederick spoke softly to his wife who stood by the door to bid him farewell on his new mission. There was an ongoing civil unrest in a neighbouring state, and a peace enforcement mission has been assigned to his unit. The thought of not being around Samara for a few weeks didn't sit too well with him. Everyday he spent with Samara as his wife, made him fall even deeper in love with her. His only wish was for her to meet him halfway."Please take care of yourself”. He says and kisses her lightly on the forehead, and to his great surprise she lets him. She just stood quietly by his side lost in her own thoughts. She has been acting a bit differently ever since they moved to the city. She no longer makes nasty comments about her hatred for him. Things were seeming a bit hopeful in their marriage, but she was yet to open up to him. He was willing to give her time. They had forever to get there."Samara, are you okay?" He asked with worry laced in his voice, wondering w
As Caroline stared blankly at the bubbling pot, her mind raced with possible solutions. She quickly grabbed her phone again, hesitating for only a second before scrolling to Damien’s number.Damien always knew how to handle delicate situations. If anyone could help her deal with Harry, it was him. She pressed the call button and brought the phone to her ear, her heartbeat pounding in sync with the dial tone.“Caroline,” Damien’s smooth voice answered on the third ring. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”She swallowed hard, glancing toward the dining room to ensure Frederick hadn’t wandered in. “Damien, I need your help. It’s urgent.”There was a pause on the other end before Damien replied, his tone calm but laced with curiosity. “What’s going on?”“It’s… Harry, Ella's biological father,” Caroline said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s threatening me.”Damien let out a low hum, his voice steady as he responded. “What kind of threats?”“The kind I can’t afford to ignore,” she admi
Frederick adjusted his cufflinks as he sat at the dining table, a pile of wedding brochures and planners spread out before him. The house was quiet except for the faint hum of classical music playing in the background. Caroline entered the room, her face alight with excitement, holding a glossy catalog in one hand and her phone in the other.“Frederick,” she said, her tone laced with enthusiasm. “You won’t believe the venue I just found. It’s perfect—absolutely perfect.”Frederick glanced up, offering a polite smile. “Another one? You’ve already shown me five ‘perfect’ venues this week, Caroline.”Caroline waved her hand dismissively. “No, no, this one is different. Imagine this—a sprawling vineyard estate, with an open-air ceremony under a canopy of wisteria, followed by a reception in the grand ballroom. It screams elegance and exclusivity.”Frederick leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “Sounds… elaborate. I thought we agreed to a simple wedding?”Caroline’s smile faltered f
Caroline's breath hitched as Harry’s declaration settled in the air like a storm cloud. His unwavering gaze bore into her, rekindling the unease she had worked so hard to suppress. “She doesn’t even know you,” Caroline said, her voice sharp and steady despite the turmoil in her chest. “You have no right to waltz back into my life and make demands.” Harry leaned back, his posture casual, but his eyes betrayed his intent. “I have every right. She’s my flesh and blood. I may have made mistakes in the past, but I’m here now.” Caroline crossed her arms tightly, her nails digging into her skin as she tried to maintain control. “Ella doesn’t need you, Harry. She has everything she needs—stability, a future. Don’t you dare try to disrupt that.” “Stability?” Harry scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “With a man who doesn’t even know she's not his daughter? How long do you think you can keep that charade up, Caroline? Frederick’s no fool. Secrets like this don’t stay buried.” H
Caroline stepped into the house, her heels clicking against the polished wooden floor. She was still basking in the glow of her successful meeting with Damien, a triumphant smile tugging at her lips. Everything was falling into place—Frederick was hers, and Samara was out of the picture.The sound of clinking dishes drew her toward the kitchen. There, her mother, Eleanor, stood at the counter, slicing lemons with an air of quiet contemplation.“Mother,” Caroline said, setting her purse on the kitchen island. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”Eleanor turned, her expression unreadable. “Caroline, we need to talk.”The tone of her voice made Caroline pause. Her mother’s usual warmth was tinged with something heavier—concern? Dread? Caroline couldn’t quite place it.“What is it?” she asked, her brow furrowing.Eleanor set the knife down, wiping her hands on a dish towel before meeting Caroline’s gaze. “Harry’s back in town.”The name hit Caroline like a slap to the face. She felt the blo
Samara sat at a small table in a quiet café, nervously drumming her fingers against her cup of tea. Across from her, Frederick sat with his arm crossed, his coffee untouched. The air between them was heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. She had finally found the courage to call him, but just to discuss co-parenting schedule for Ethan.“I appreciate you meeting me,” she began cautiously, her voice soft , breaking the awkward silence. Frederick nodded, his eyes flicking toward the window. “It’s important. Ethan's well-being has to come first, and we need to figure out a co-parenting schedule that works for both of us.”She sighed, pulling out a small notebook. “I was thinking we could alternate weeks. That way Ethan has time to adjust without feeling like he’s constantly being shuffled back and forth, and we both get equal time with him.”Frederick mulled it over, his expression unreadable. “That could work. I’ll make sure my schedule accommodates it, and make sure it's s
The next morning, Frederick stood on the balcony of his house, sipping his coffee as the sun rose. The fresh air did little to clear his mind, which was still tangled in memories of Samara and Damien. Their passionate kiss still haunted him.Caroline suddenly joined him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “Good morning,” she said softly.“Morning,” he replied, his tone distant.She stepped beside him, placing a hand on his arm. "Dinner last night went perfectly, don't you think?"Frederick nodded, offering her a small smile. "Your mother seemed pleased."Caroline sighed, her expression softening. “Frederick, I know it’s not easy letting go of the past. But I’m here, and I’ll do everything I can to make this work. I promise, we're going to build something beautiful together.”He looked at her, the weight of her words pressing down on him. “I hope so, Caroline. For Ella’s sake, if nothing else.”Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “It’s not just for
In the days that followed, Caroline moved through the house with a sense of triumph. She hummed softly to herself as she set the table for dinner. This dinner was special, as they were going to announce to her mother about their engagement.She quickly glanced toward the living room where Frederick sat, seemingly lost in thought. His agreement to marry her had filled her with a newfound confidence, and she was determined to ensure nothing disrupted their path forward.As the aroma of roasted chicken filled the air, Caroline adjusted the centerpiece on the dining table for the third time, ensuring everything was perfect. Tonight’s dinner wasn’t just about the engagement announcement—it was about solidifying her place in Frederick’s life and earning her mother’s approval.In the living room, Frederick sat in silence, staring at a framed photo of Ella on the mantle. His mind was miles away, replaying the scene of Samara and Damien’s kiss over and over. Though he had agreed to marry Carol
A few days later, Samara and Damien sat together on the couch in the living room, the air between them was lighter than it had been in days, the weight of past conversations momentarily pushed aside.“Thanks for staying, Damien,” Samara said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been feeling... lost lately. It helps having someone to talk to.”Damien offered her a small smile. “I told you, I’ll always be here for you. Whatever you need.”She looked at him, her gaze softening. “You’ve been so patient with me. I don’t know how you do it.”He chuckled, leaning back. “You’re worth it, Samara. Even if you don’t see it yet, I do.”The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say. She looked down at her hands, trying to gather her thoughts.“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said,” she admitted. “About us. About letting go of the past.”“And?” Damien asked, his voice gentle but hopeful.Samara sighed, lifting her gaze to meet his.
Later that evening, Samara sat on her bed, her emotions in turmoil. Caroline’s visit had left her feeling shaken and uncertain. She stared at her phone for a moment before finally dialing her sister Debrah’s number. It rang twice before Debrah picked up. “Samara!” Debrah’s cheerful voice came through. “Hey, what’s up? It’s been a while since you called me this late. Everything okay?” Samara sighed deeply. “Debrah, I don’t even know where to start. Everything feels like it’s spiraling out of control.” Debrah’s tone immediately shifted to concern. “What happened? Is it about Frederick?” “Yeah,” Samara admitted, her voice trembling. “There’s so much going on, Debrah. I don’t even know who to trust anymore.” “Start from the beginning,” Debrah said gently. “I’m here. Just talk to me.” Samara took a deep breath and began recounting everything. She told Debrah about Frederick’s visit earlier that day, their emotional conversation, and the kiss they’d shared. She confessed how c