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Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-ONE
AS THE sun reached its zenith on the following day, Doris found Nora nestled at one of the lounge chairs by the pool. She was absorbed in a book, completely oblivious to the world around her. Her jet-black hair was swept back in loose pigtails, and a bucket hat shielded her eyes from the bright sun. Doris was struck by the tranquility of the scene, and at that moment, she wondered how such a tiny human was shouldering a lot all by herself and yet remained so placid. She, for instance, would run to her father for every little thing even when she was a teenager and there was this younger child, smiling despite what she was going through. The back of her eyes prickled with unshed tears as she watched her. She was like an adult in a child's body, concealing her difficulties all by herself which was not healthy one bit. She was a child and was supposed to behave like one. Doris exhaled sharply, shook off her emotions, and approached Nora. She knew she needed to be level-he
Last Updated : 2023-12-19Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-TWO
WITH A deep breath, Doris prepared herself for what was sure to be an adventure. For the first time, she was about to take an eight-year-old shopping, not just for clothes, but for an experience that would help her find confidence in her own style. It was a daunting task, but one she felt was worth the effort. She had to strike the perfect balance between letting the girl choose what she liked and guiding her towards pieces that would flatter her figure and make her feel like a million bucks. It was time to put her fashion expertise to the test. She had brought Nora to Evelyn Rodriguez's boutiques. 'Cause yeah, her best friend's line was THE BEST. Doris had become something of a connoisseur of her best friend's boutiques. She'd been to all of them back in Paris. Every single one. And that wasn't an exaggeration. She'd spent many an afternoon exploring her stores in Paris, and she'd become enchanted by the impeccable attention to detail and the bold yet sophisticated
Last Updated : 2023-12-20Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-THREE
WITH A sigh of relief, Brad finally clicked "send" on the last email of the day. He'd been burning the midnight oil for weeks, but he was determined to make time for his family. As he turned off his computer, he looked out the window to see the last rays of the sun setting its ablaze. A dark, indigo blue was beginning to spread across the horizon, like a shadow creeping in from the edges. The few clouds that dotted the sky were painted with a golden light, glowing like tiny beacons in the fading light. The air had a chill to it as if the night was trying to reclaim its territory from the day. Brad exhaled in rueful defeat. He had realized how little he spent with Nora and Max and planned to do something fun with them this Saturday but he'd been immersed in his work again and lost track of time. He quickly grabbed his keys and coat and made his way out the door. At least, he'd be in time for dinner today. Moments later, he pulled into the driveway, grabbing his case as
Last Updated : 2023-12-21Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-FOUR
BRAD'S OFFICE door sprang open with no warning. "Dad! Why did you scold Doris for what happened to me?" Nora demanded as she surged towards him. "How could you? So you're the reason she didn't come for dinner." Brad raised his head from his laptop to glance at his little lady seething and scowling intensely at him. He sighed heavily. "How did you find out?" He murmured impassively. "Maxie told me. He overheard you yelling at her. But that isn't important right now!" Nora launched at him with an anger she could not conceal. "Dad! You're not being nice to Doris and I don't like it!" "Sweetie. . .?" "Don't sweetie me," Nora retorted, lifting her hand. "If you keep this up, I'm going park my things, leave this house, and go live with her." Brad dwindled his eyes, glanced left, right, and then back at her. "Her house is just next door." "Exactly!" She said instantly. "So I wouldn't even need anyone driving me there." "Honey, it's not nice to threaten people," h
Last Updated : 2023-12-22Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-FIVE
NORA STARED dumbstruck at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She couldn't believe her eyes as she accessed her overall outfit. The gathered, flare skirt was a work of art as it flowed in a peach wave just above her knee. The skirt flared out from the waist, creating a flattering silhouette. The hemline was slightly shorter in the front. Tiny ruffles trimmed the hemline, adding a touch of playfulness to the design. The navy blue turtleneck long-sleeved top—which was tucked neatly in the skirt—was a classic piece. The soft, stretchy fabric hugged the body in all the right places, while the high collar gave it a refined feel. The sleeves were long and slim, emphasizing the top's overall sleek silhouette. Her jet-black hair was parted neatly to one side, creating a clean, polished look as her ears displayed tiny butterfly stud earrings. One was visible, the other one was hidden behind her hair. But at the base, the hair had a slight wave, adding a touch of softness. The butterfl
Last Updated : 2023-12-23Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-SIX
IS EVERYONE READY TO HAVE SOME FUN?! Doris singsonged loudly. "YAY!" The kids shouted from the back seat, bouncing on their butts. Nora and Matt were seated at the back along with their new friends: Ethan, and his little sister, Laura. "Where did you say we are going again?" Brad asked from the passenger's seat of the car. "I'm not telling," Doris said. His curiosity was cute, but if she told him that, he would be so offended. Ever since she'd told him to clear his schedule for this day, he'd asked her where they were going with every single opportunity he got. And she'd given him the same answer still. "You'll know when we get there," Doris added flippantly. Brad insisted. "Can you not just tell me?" "And ruin the whole fun? Absolutely not. It's a surprise, Brad!" Doris said, getting excited by just the thought of it. "I hate surprises," Brad grumbled under his breath. "Well, this day isn't about you, Brad!" She replied in a sassy rejoinder. "Right, Ma
Last Updated : 2023-12-24Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-SEVEN
"ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY NO WAY!" Brad spat before he spun on his heel and began to walk away. Doris ran after him, grabbed him by the elbow, and pulled him back. "I mean, we're already here. We have to ride it." "If you want to ride it so badly," he retorted. "Then be my guest. But you're not gonna do it with me." She grabbed him again as he tried to leave. "But I can't do it alone," she said. "It's much more fun when you ride with someone." Brad fixed a long, hard look on her, and then he shifted his gaze to the center of their difficulties. The famous Matterhorn Bobsleds rollercoaster. Brad's eyes followed the soaring peak of the Matterhorn, its snow-capped summit piercing the clear, blue sky like a shining beacon of adventure. It appeared to be a towering monument of adrenaline, excitement, and. . . horror with twists and turns that were hidden within its craggy walls, Brad frowned at her. "But seriously, why will you want to go on that thing?" "’Cau
Last Updated : 2023-12-29Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-EIGHT
THE NEXT day afternoon, NORA COULDN'T stop tossing and turning on her bed. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't do her home projects, she couldn't even count to ten without getting distracted. She just couldn't shake off the feeling of acknowledgment that was buzzing inside her. She needed to talk to someone. Nora straightened abruptly from her bed and reached for the walkie-talkie she and Max shared. The walkie-talkie was one of the many presents Max had gotten on his birthday which they'd turned into their personal medium of communication. And they took practicing their walkie-talkie lingo seriously. Like, VERY SERIOUSLY. "Alpha-Two-Zero, this is Bravo-One-One. Are you on the horn? Over!" Nora spoke into the walkie-talkie impatiently. When she didn't get a response in five seconds, she pressed the PTT button again. "I repeat, Alpha-Two-Zero, are you on the rubber duck? Over!" She had the click from the other end and then Max's voice followed, "Loud and clear, Bravo-O
Last Updated : 2024-01-01
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Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice WRITER'S NOTE
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice EPILOGUE
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SEVENTY
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-NINE
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-EIGHT
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-SEVEN
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-SIX
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-FIVE
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
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-FOUR
"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
