Raisel - POVMy heart is beating faster than his, one palm on his cheek. “Soren… I… think I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.”He blinked in surprise. I chuckled at his reaction to my confession, still holding back tears in my eyes.“When you suddenly stopped coming to college, I was heartbroken that you left without a word,” I whispered."I missed you deep down. Whenever there were articles about you published, I read every one. Kind of stalking you on social media,” I said, embarrassed to confess.“I recently learned that it wasn’t just a crush… but as I have spent time with you these past three months, I started falling for you. Alaric was not the one—he was just a mistake,” I confessed. “You broke my resolve to not love anyone, but… here I am… taking a tremendous risk…”He kissed my lips, silencing me. I gasped in surprise as he slid his tongue inside my mouth. I moaned, a smirk playing across Soren’s handsome face, making me want him even more.“You have no idea what it does
Author Note: Hey readers, This book delves into the darker side of romance, featuring explicit language, scenes, and a fast pace romance intertwined with a stalker trope. Please be aware that the content is intense and may not be suitable for everyone. If you enjoy dark romance novels and want to stay updated, follow me to my F******k group, Tracy Readrats, for more insights and discussions. Happy reading! TracyRaisel - POVMy eyes fixate on the phone screen, my fingers trembling above the display, waiting—desperately hoping—for a message from Alaric. But the screen remains hauntingly silent, the absence of his name like a knife twisting deeper with every passing second. Maybe he’s just busy at work, I tell myself, my chest tightening as dread curls around my ribs like a vise. The lie barely holds together.Needing a distraction, I turn to the charity event I’m dressing for, pulling a white, sleeveless dress from the wardrobe. The cream hue feels like a bitter joke—pure, simple, l
Raisel – POV“Fine. Let’s fake date,” I whispered in response to Soren’s bold proposal. My voice wavered, but my heart betrayed me with a flutter. His braces were gone, and so was the awkward nerd I once knew. Standing before me now was a man who looked as though he’d stepped out of a European magazine—dark, brooding eyes, sharp features, and a presence that demanded attention. He was utterly unrecognizable, and it made my chest tighten.The paparazzi swarmed us like vultures, their camera flashes blinding and relentless. My head throbbed as questions were hurled at us from every direction. Before I could react, Soren’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into him. His hold was firm yet protective, shielding me from the chaos.“Mr. Soren Dalton, we need to ask Mrs. Raisel Warden some questions,” one of them shouted.“You will not ask any questions of my girlfriend,” Soren stated with a calm, steely edge to his voice. The word “girlfriend” hung in the air like a firecracker, silenci
Soren’s POVThe apartment was silent now. Hazel and Raisel were asleep in the guest room after finishing off a tub of ice cream and hours of painful sobbing. Raisel’s cries had been raw and relentless, each one cutting through me like a knife. It was unbearable to hear her pain—her heartbreak—and knowing I couldn’t fix it entirely only made it worse. Hazel, thankfully, stayed by her side, offering the comfort of a sister.I stood by the window, glass in hand, staring at the city skyline. The lights of New York stretched endlessly before me, a stark contrast to the darkness stirring within. The sight offered no solace tonight. My thoughts were consumed by the image of Raisel—her tear-streaked face, her trembling voice, the shattered trust in her eyes. She looked utterly broken.She didn’t deserve this. Not Raisel. Never her.She was a kind soul, too good for the likes of Alaric. She had been my rock in college—the one who stood by me when no one else dared. Back then, I was the freak, t
Raisel’s POVThe tears never seemed to stop, as if they had carved a permanent path down my cheeks. Humiliation burned brighter with each passing day, fed by the hate-filled texts from strangers and the cruel messages from so-called friends who had turned their backs on me. It had been three months since I’d signed the divorce papers, three months of hiding in Soren’s penthouse. Hazel had been kind enough to gather my clothes from my old apartment and bring them to me, but stepping outside felt impossible.The cozy queen-sized guest room had become my cocoon. Soren had been… incredible. He brought me chocolates, ice cream, and the occasional sarcastic jab to jolt me out of my pity party. The housekeeper cooked meals so delicious I didn’t deserve them, and yet here I was, curled up, an empty shell of the woman I used to be.“Raisel,” Soren called from the living room. His voice was casual, light, like the weight of my crumbling life didn’t hang in the air between us. I glanced at the do
Raisel – POV“Why would he announce his marriage to Davina?” I asked, my voice trembling as tears welled in my eyes. My heart ached, and the betrayal stung anew, as if Alaric had twisted the knife in deeper. “What kind of man is Alaric to move on so easily? To flaunt it so publicly?” My voice cracked, and I pressed my trembling hands against my face to stop the flow of tears.“I know why,” Soren said, his voice calm and measured.I looked up, startled by his confidence. “Why?” I demanded.“We are the talk of the town,” he replied. “The internet believes I’m serious about you. That I’m in love with Raisin.”My cheeks burned at the nickname, but I ignored it. “How does that backfire on Alaric?” I asked, not understanding.Soren’s hazel eyes gleamed with something I couldn’t quite decipher. “I’ll explain later,” he said, waving off my question.I frowned, and Hazel mirrored my skepticism with a pointed glare.“Soren, I need an answer,” I pressed, my frustration building. “You asked me to
Content Warning:This chapter has a suicide attempt scene, which may be distressing for some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider reaching out to a trusted individual or professional support for help. Remember, you are not alone. **Raisel – POV**I woke up with a pounding headache, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the windows. Alaric was busy adjusting the drapes, flooding the room with blinding light. “Morning, Raisins,” he greeted me.“My head hurts,” I groan, my eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness. The aroma of coffee and breakfast filled the air, and I spotted Lora, the maid who always brought me delicious food.“You’re drooling,” Soren remarked, an amused glint in his eyes, clearly entertained by my lack of decorum. I didn’t care. Rolling my eyes, I reached for the coffee, but Soren stopped me, pointing to the ginger tea instead. He took the coffee mug for himself, and I growled in frustration.“I need coffee,” I whined.“Ginger t
**Soren's POV**My eyes never left her as she sat reading a book. I want to kill Alaric for what he did to Raisel—my sunshine—leaving her so broken, pushing her to the edge. I couldn't sleep last night; I just watched her like a creep. The image of her, weak and with pills in her hands, flashes in my mind like a nightmare.“You have no work?” Raisel raised an eyebrow, giving me a small smile.“I’m taking the day off,” I muttered.“I hardly see you leave the apartment,” she said in her sweet voice, her messy hair making her look beautiful. I had to avert my gaze before I gave myself away.“You sure you’re not bored of my presence?”“Oh no. I think I know why you’re stuck at home.” I stopped sipping my black coffee, our eyes meeting. I saw the sadness in her blue eyes.“It’s not you,” I assured her. It was only half the truth, but still, there were other reasons.“No need to lie,” she muttered.“Raisel, I have other reasons for staying at home. I need peace while my lawyers handle the p
Raisel - POVMy heart is beating faster than his, one palm on his cheek. “Soren… I… think I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.”He blinked in surprise. I chuckled at his reaction to my confession, still holding back tears in my eyes.“When you suddenly stopped coming to college, I was heartbroken that you left without a word,” I whispered."I missed you deep down. Whenever there were articles about you published, I read every one. Kind of stalking you on social media,” I said, embarrassed to confess.“I recently learned that it wasn’t just a crush… but as I have spent time with you these past three months, I started falling for you. Alaric was not the one—he was just a mistake,” I confessed. “You broke my resolve to not love anyone, but… here I am… taking a tremendous risk…”He kissed my lips, silencing me. I gasped in surprise as he slid his tongue inside my mouth. I moaned, a smirk playing across Soren’s handsome face, making me want him even more.“You have no idea what it does
Raisel’s POVI sat on the couch, fingers wrapped around a warm cup of tea. Across from me, Susan stared, her expression unreadable. We were alone in her office, the weight of unspoken words pressing between us.“Are you ready to hear me out?” she asked gently.I exhaled, my grip tightening around the cup. “Do I have a choice?”Her lips pressed together. “No.”I sighed. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—”“It’s okay,” she cut in. “You hate change. And secrets, especially when they appear out of nowhere.”A bitter chuckle escaped me. “After my ex-husband’s affair came to light, I’ve been forced to see the truth in places I never looked before. Maybe I was too naïve to believe the lies.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Can you believe that? A twenty-year-old, still foolish enough to trust?”Susan’s gaze softened. “You’re not naïve, Raisel. You’re kind. You believe in people, in their goodness. You forgive. But the world isn’t kind to people like you.” She paused, looking distant, as if she spoke
Raisel’s POVThe plane hums steadily in the air, and I’m clutching a glass of alcohol like it’s my lifeline. Flying? Not my thing. Drinking through it? My only coping mechanism.Across from me, Fiora watches with that amused little smirk of hers, shaking her head. “Care to tell me what’s going on?”“Bad people are behind us,” I mutter, swirling the liquid in my glass. “Alaric is—” I pause, my throat tightening.“Alaric is what?”Before I can answer, Jace appears out of nowhere, grinning. “Fiora, I’ve got a job for you.”Just like that, she’s whisked away, and I reach for another drink.“Enough, Raisel.” Soren’s voice cuts in, and his hand closes over mine before I can grab the glass.I groan, muttering a few choice words at him. “I’m not drunk.”“Good,” he says, deadpan. “Because we need you sober.”I narrow my eyes. “And what exactly do you want?”He leans in slightly, voice low. “You’re about to find out every secret I’ve been keeping from you.”My stomach flips. “Oh. Okay.”Soren c
Soren’s POVRaisel and I stood in Jace’s basement, watching the screens where he tracked people. The glow from the monitors cast eerie shadows across the room. My grandfather stood nearby, his face twisted in anger as he muttered curses under his breath."That bastard Joshua used her," he growled, pacing. "Dalton’s business is in danger because of this."I barely heard him. My eyes were locked on the grainy surveillance footage. “Zoom in,” I ordered. The image sharpened, revealing a stretcher. A doctor hovered over it, IV lines and a blood bag hooked up to the man being loaded into an ambulance.Raisel sucked in a sharp breath. "Joshua's not dead," she whispered, her voice trembling.I reached for her hand, squeezing it. "You're safe," I assured her. But deep down, I knew that safety was a fleeting illusion.My grandfather’s voice snapped me back. "We need to get Joshua. Bring him to us."I turned to him, already predicting his next move. His gaze flicked toward me, and I knew—he plan
"Your hand is hurt. Let me get the medical kit."She hurried to grab it, but as she stepped closer, I gestured for her to stop. My eyes flicked to the shattered glass on the floor."Don’t move—you’ll cut yourself. Let me clean this up.""No, you’re the one who’s hurt. I’ll clean it."I raised my hand, stopping her before she could step forward. Ignoring the sting in my palm, I carefully picked up the glass shards and tossed them in the trash. Only then did I walk over and take the kit from her hands."Please, let me," she insisted.Her touch was hesitant yet gentle as she cleaned my wound. I barely noticed the pain, too focused on her tear-streaked face, her swollen eyes. Even now, she was beautiful—strong despite everything."How did you get hurt?" she asked softly."Don’t worry about it," I muttered."How can I not?" Her voice wavered, her fingers trembling as she cupped my face. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I… I’ve been so angry at you—at the way you keep things from me. I hated i
Raisel – POVA firm hand landed on my shoulder. I flinched before slowly opening my eyes, my vision hazy, my body too weak to react. My breath hitched when I met familiar hazel eyes. Relief spread through my bones like warmth chasing away the cold.Soren.His name slipped from my cracked lips, barely a whisper. My throat burned, my chest ached. Tears—hot and uncontrollable—slipped down my face."I'm here, Raisins," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I'm sorry… I never should've left you alone."I sobbed into his embrace, my body trembling. He said nothing more, just lifted me into his arms as if I weighed nothing. No questions. No hesitation. Just unwavering presence. I buried myself in his warmth, but a deep, bone-chilling cold still clung to me as he carried me out of that godforsaken house.He set me down in the passenger seat, tucking his coat around my shoulders before sliding his shotgun into the back. His gaze met mine—dark, unreadable—but his eyes burned with something
Raisel - POVA cruel grin stretched across his lips. Slowly, he crawled onto the bed, his body moving like a predator closing in on wounded prey. Straddling me, he loomed over my frame, his weight pressing me into the mattress.“What…” I swallowed hard, fear lodging in my throat. “Get off me. I don’t want you to touch me. I don’t want you near me. Ever.”My voice shook, but I forced the words out like venom.His smirk deepened. "Feisty, aren’t we?" he taunted, his voice a low, dangerous hiss. “But you have no say in this.”My chest tightened. “You can’t force yourself on me.”He tilted his head, amused. “Force?” He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin. “You should be begging me not to take you.”There was something sickening in his voice—something laced with hunger and cruelty.My stomach churned. “If I beg… will you let me go?”His grin twisted into something darker. “You can try. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the good guy.” His words dripped with mockery.I forced myself to meet his
Soren - POVThe scent of whiskey clung to Iris’s lips as she leaned in, her breath hot against my ear."Come on, Soren. You and me—tonight—we celebrate. We’re official now, aren’t we?" she whispered, voice laced with playful intoxication.I barely spared her a glance. "Not interested," I muttered and turned to leave.I barely made it a few steps before she grabbed my arm."What the hell do you think you’re doing?" she hissed, her nails digging into my sleeve.I sighed, yanking my arm free. "What do you mean?""Don’t play dumb with me!" Her voice was low, trembling with frustration. She wanted to scream, but she knew better."This is just a deal. Take a chill pill, woman," I shot back, shaking her off completely.I walked away, ignoring the whispers and the judging stares following me. Let them talk. I didn’t give a damn. But my grandfather—he was another story. His cold, sharp gaze burned into me, a silent warning. He wasn’t happy. He wanted me to play my part, to act like I was engag
Raisel's POVThe car launch exhibition was a massive success. The presale numbers shattered records, marking a historic moment in the industry.The energy at the afterparty buzzed with celebration—music, laughter, and endless congratulations. People kept telling me how inspired they were by my work. I smiled, nodded, accepted their praise, but my eyes kept drifting.Soren and Iris. Hand in hand.I stood next to Joshua, who was effortlessly charming as he engaged in conversation. I tried to stay focused, to be polite, but the weight of his arm around my waist made my skin crawl.“Come on, Luna, this way.” Joshua’s voice was smooth, sweet—too sweet. His touch lingered, possessive. I swallowed the discomfort and endured it.“Raisel!”Hazel’s voice sliced through the noise, and relief flooded my chest. Perfect timing.“Excuse me,” I murmured, stepping away. Joshua gave me a polite nod, his hand finally falling from my waist. I turned quickly, practically rushing toward Hazel and Fiora. As