NORA BURST into the office, her eyes flashing with frustration. She stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, staring at her father with a mixture of disbelief and indignation. "Dad!" she exclaimed as she closed the distance to his table. "Are you really going to let Doris go on a date with that guy?" Her voice was high-pitched and trembling with emotion. "Aren't you even going to try to talk her out of it?" Brad looked up from his desk, taking in the sight of his upset daughter. She looked so frustrated that she was close to tears. He couldn't help but blame Doris and her elusive beau for his current predicament. Just a few days ago, he'd met the man in question and Doris had made the introductions with an irritating sense of ease. For the first time in many years, he'd been left speechless. Every time he thought about it, his mind would spin in circles. And the more he thought about it, the angrier he became He was still trying to make sense of why Daniel ha
BRAD WAS not okay. And the dark circles under his eyes told the story of his sleepless night. He'd pretended to be busy with work, but he'd really just been waiting for Doris to return home with her date. And they'd arrived a little too late. As if his anticipation wasn't bad enough, he had to witness the couple's goodnight kiss right in front of the house. And she didn't even try to stop it. Brad felt like his heart was being ripped out. It was a pain he'd never felt before. But he refused to show the pain, refused to give her the satisfaction of affecting him. Instead, he just clenched his jaw and turned away, closing the window he had been watching them through. He could hear them in the driveway, their muffled laughter taunting him. And even as he locked himself in the bedroom, he could still hear the echo of their voices, laughing and whispering sweet nothings to each other. Now, he needed no more proof that they were now together. Well, if that was the case. . . He
BRAD COULDN'T contain his joy when he read the headline splashed across the front page of the local newspaper. "Well-known Director of Pixel Studios Arrested for Fraud," the headline proclaimed, and beneath it, a photo of Daniel Vincent being escorted into a police station. He'd never forget the look of shock and horror on Daniel's face when he'd been led away in handcuffs. It was glorious. Brad had paid a small fortune to have this story run in every major newspaper and news website, and it was worth every penny. However, he hadn't seen Daniel around Doris for a while even before his arrest. He couldn't help but wonder if something had happened between them. Had they fought? Or had Doris figured out he was a sleazebag even before his crimes were exposed? He didn't know the answer, but he was glad that he wouldn't have to see Daniel's face again, regardless of the reason. It was a small victory, but it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. However
BRAD WAS RIGHT! That was the last time he saw her. Doris had not disappeared from his life like the last time. She was still around, but she was avoiding him like the plague. It was as if she was determined to never lay eyes on him again. It seemed he'd underestimated her feelings for him, and now he was paying the price. The house was uncomfortably quiet without Doris' presence. It was as if the life and soul had been sucked out of the place. And It wasn't just him who noticed the difference, either. The whole family seemed to be affected by her absence. They all seemed to move through the days like zombies, going through the motions but with no real joy or enthusiasm. It was like a dark cloud had descended over the entire household. Mrs. Hopkins, who had once loved to watch her soaps with Doris by her side, now found them dull and uninteresting. Without Doris to gossip and speculate with, the shows just weren't the same. And the kids? They were hardly ever excited. They
HE KISSED her again, deeply, urgently, his arms holding her tight. As his tongue perforated past her parted lips, probing demanding, one hand slipped inside her nightdress to touch her bare flesh. Her head fell back in a gesture of abandonment, and she yielded herself up to him completely, without reservation. Warmth began to spread through her, a slow burn that made her fingers tingle and toes curl. She could feel the heat travel down her spine, to the tips of her fingers and toes. And without another thought, Doris leaned forward, her fingers eager to touch, to explore the expanse of skin stretched out before her. It was like a spark had been lit within her, and she couldn't help but let it burn. The heat intensified, becoming almost unbearable, a weightless feeling that left her floating somewhere between reality and a dream. As her hands wandered, her senses heightened. Every inch of skin felt like it was on fire, every breath drawn in was suffused with a heady scent that
Afterward, Doris slept soundly, a smile curving her lips as she dreamed of nothing but the most contented thoughts. The morning light gradually crept into the room, coaxing her from her slumber, and she blinked sleepily, her eyes slowly opening. The world seemed fresh and new, and for a moment, she simply lay still, enjoying the feeling of complete relaxation that washed over her. Brad, on the other hand, was still sleeping, his dark lashes fanning his cheeks, his breathing deep and even. The sheet had twisted around his waist, but he didn't seem to notice or mind. His face was turned towards her, his features relaxed in sleep, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips. He looked younger in repose, more carefree, and Doris couldn't help but fall over and over again for him. They were not quite touching, and as she watched the steady rise and fall of his shoulders she changed her position slightly, closing the distance between them, until the barest whisper of her skin met his. T
BEFORE DORIS knew it, November was over. She felt as if all she'd done was blink and the month had disappeared. Looking back, she believed that despite her occasional qualms about her relationship with Brad and where it would ultimately end, November was probably the happiest month she'd ever had. Doris sent up a silent prayer, hoping that the warmth and joy of November would continue into December and beyond. She knew that life was filled with ups and downs, and she couldn't expect everything to be perfect, but she held onto a small spark of hope. Perhaps, she thought, if she could keep her focus on the good things, the bad things wouldn't seem so overwhelming. With that in mind, Doris picked up the heavy platter of whole-grain pancakes shaped in perfect triangles, balancing it carefully in her hands as she followed Mrs. Hopkins into the dining room. The elderly housekeeper carried a platter of eggs and fresh fruit, her face beaming with pride. Doris set the pancakes d
"WHOA!" Jason's eyes widened. "I knew you'd succeed at getting your head out of your ass," he said, slapping Brad on the back with a hearty laugh. He was perhaps a little too enthusiastic with the gesture, as Brad began to choke on his wine. "Easy there, killer!" Brad said, coughing and sputtering. "I'm not trying to die before my time." Brad had taken Jason to enjoy a drink at the wet bar when Doris had pulled Evelyn away to give her a tour of her own apartment and the kids had run off to the playground. "Oh! Sorry, sorry," Jason laughed, giving Brad a not-so-sorry look. "I just can't help but be happy for you, my friend. You're finally getting your head out of the clouds and seeing things clearly. And I'm here to help you celebrate. Come on, let's toast to your newfound clarity," he said, raising his glass. "To Brad, the man who finally woke up and loved someone!" "Thanks, I guess," Brad said, clinking his glass against Jason's with a grin. "But all I said was my re
PHEW! Finally, we've come to the end of the beautiful love trip! And to everyone who boarded this ride—TENKISSES! I can't begin to express how thankful I am for giving this book a chance and I hope you loved it just as you loved the first book "When The Wrong One Loves You Right" I'd love to hear your thoughts so don't hesitate to leave me a review. It means a lot to me. Now, to my nieces, who inspired "Nora and Maxie" character, I love you so much. To my incredible readers, editor, and everyone who helped make this book a success, I'm so thankful to every one of you for your support through it all. You're all awesome! And you all deserve a Happy Forever!Big Heart, Bethel W.C. Eke
TWO MONTHS LATER. . . Doris was finally happy with her family! And she enjoyed every moment of it. Her life had been a roller coaster in less than a year. She'd been through heartbreak, and pain, and had almost lost her son. Now, all she wanted to do was enjoy the little beautiful moment she shared with her family. She'd kept her promise to Lucy. She had transferred her sister to a better hospital where she was receiving the best treatment. And as for Lucy, she dropped all charges against her. She wanted to live her life in peace and happiness and she also wanted the people around her to be happy. And that was why she was riding Sam to the Evans Mansion to meet that hard-headed father of hers. Doris had flown all the way to Italy and spent a week there just to convince Sam that no woman was better for Charles Evans than her. The moment they walked into the mansion, Doris watched as they watched each other for a long moment. No words were said. And then, th
DORIS SLOWLY made her way up the rooftop of the almost dilapidated building. Praying with every wrinkle in her that the kids were safe. As she rode alone to the address that Lucy had sent her, a lot of thoughts and questions kept swirling in her head. Why was Lucy doing this to her? What wrong did she do to deserve? She tried to think of how and when she'd offended Lucy. She'd been nothing but good to her so why was she doing this? As Doris got to the rooftop, the voices of three kids who were tied to chairs so close to the very low railings, called out to her behind the duct tape muffling their cries. Doris' heart dropped to her stomach as she watched them struggle. She ran towards them to free them from their bondage but Lucy held Max's chair, tilting it towards the low railings, causing the poor kid to whimper in fright. "Move another inch and I will let go," Lucy threatened in a matter-of-factly tone. Doris held up her hand in surrender. "Okay, Lucy," she
THE NEXT morning, Brad rode in Doris' car as they hurried toward the private apartment where the special detective, Jean, Evelyn, and Jason awaited them. Detective Jean who was helping them with Doris' stalker case had sent them a collective test that he'd gotten a lead that could help them identify the psychopath terrorizing her life. Yes, it had all been a plan! Doris coming into the limelight with all that maximum force wasn't only because she wanted to pursue her career again but also because it was a plan, she'd come up with to pull the perpetrator out of his hole in order to capture him once and for all. They were basically fishing and Doris was the bait. As Doris narrated the whole plan and where they'd left off, Brad couldn't help getting increasingly worried. He still hasn't gotten over the fact that she'd almost lost her life and that they'd lost their daughter four years ago. Now, she was putting her safety on the line to catch a criminal. A
AS EXPECTED the anonymous threats came flooding in again but this time Doris was not scared. In fact, she'd been going all out. Ever since the press conference that had announced her as the president of D&M agency and her comeback as Supermodel Doris Evans, she'd been nowhere but in the public eye. She revived her social media presence, attended as many interviews as possible, and rode on whatever publicity came her way. She'd even given Geneviève the permission to commerce project expand D&M. She was not going to let some psychopathic person pull her down. AGAIN. She wasn't about to go down without a fight. And she was very well prepared. After a busy day at work, Evelyn drove Doris back home for their once-in-a-week "Girls' Night Out". That was just their upgraded version of a slumber party. As they drove into her driveway, Doris was surprised to find Brad and Nora on her doorstep. The moment they stepped out of the vehicle, Nora screeched wit
BRAD WAS A MESS! He'd never been this messed up in his entire life. Not even when his ex-wife had cheated on him. He missed Doris so much. The thought of her consumed him and filled him with longing and regret, but he knew there was no going back. He tried to focus on the present moment, but it was like a mirage, shifting and changing before his eyes. He thought about her every moment. He was even beginning to see things. He saw her everywhere he looked, her face smiling at him from every corner of his home. . . at work. . . at the coffee shop. . . everywhere. He thought he could get over her by overrunning himself with work. But, the more Brad tried to bury himself in work, the more he found himself thinking about Doris. And when he turned to alcohol for comfort, it only served to make him feel even more empty inside. He was in a vicious cycle, unable to escape the memories of her that haunted him day and night. It was as if she had become a ghost, a specter th
IT WAS already a week and Doris still couldn't get over her pain of losing Brad again. She missed him so much. She was in great pain that it hurt to even breathe. Ever since she got back to Paris, no one knew she'd arrived. Except, Max's Nanny, Lucy who had been nothing but an angel, looking after not just Max but also Doris. Doris hadn't even contacted her best friend yet. She wanted to make sure she was at least sixty percent before she met anyone she knew, especially Evelyn. Because she was bound to have another emotional breakdown once she faced her and knowing her best friend, she would book the first flight to LA to give Brad a piece of her. And she didn't want any more chaos. Doris wasn't the only one who was wrecked by the whole situation, Max was in an even more terrible state. He'd been diagnosed with separation anxiety two days after they arrived. He couldn't eat or sleep properly. And that only added to Doris' list of concerns. She hated seeing her son thi
BRAD TURNED to face Lydia. Lean, dark features set with chilling intent as he gave her a quelling look of granite hardness. "What are you talking about? He demanded harshly. Lydia crossed her arms and gave Brad a condescending look. "Oh, please," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Don't play dumb with me, Brad. I know you're a smart guy. And I'm pretty sure you've known a long time that Nora isn't your biological daughter." Brad's hands curled into fists as he tried to curb his temper. Lydia was right. He did know that Nora was not his biological daughter. He'd found out about the onset of her condition when the hospital had run an overall test on Nora and her Blood type had come out as a Blood type O whereas he was a type AB and so was Lydia. That piqued his curiosity which had led him to run a paternity test. He'd been shocked to his bone marrow when the result came back negative. The little princess he adored, the only beautiful thing that came out of his failed marr
"WHAT IS it, Mrs. Hopkins?" Doris prompted, a mixture of anxiety and concern in her tone. "It's Nora," Mrs. Hopkins replied. "She wouldn't stop crying since she arrived from the event." "What? Why?" Doris was saying those words a lot today, that she was starting to dread them. Concern shifted to anger on the older woman's face. "Well, apparently, her so-called mother left her a few minutes after they got to the museum to attend to a very crucial appointment and promised the poor child to return just in time. But still, now, her mother is nowhere to be found. She's not even taking her calls. Nora was brought home by Ethan's mom and since then she hasn't stopped crying. . ." Doris began to hurry towards Nora's room as Mrs. Hopkins followed behind her. How could Lydia do this to her daughter? As she approached her room she could hear her whimpers from within. She knocked softly on her door. "Nora, honey, are you okay?" "GO AWAY!" Nora screeched as her wailing am