Novels by Crystal

"Adrian Cortez," the butler repeated.The name made Ray’s brows lift slightly, though his expression stayed unreadable. The firelight caught on the edge of his glass as he slowly placed it down. Karl Mercer, seated across from him, exchanged a look that said everything neither man needed to voice."That’s... unexpected," Karl muttered.Ray’s tone was calm, but the command in it made the air heavy. "Bring him in."The butler nodded and disappeared quickly.For a long moment, only silence filled the room. The slow tick of the antique clock and the soft crackle of firewood were the only sounds between them.Karl finally said, "You trust him?"Ray’s eyes didn’t leave the door. "Trust?" His voice was quiet, steady, but sharp. "Adrian fears me. That’s enough."The doors opened again and in stepped Adrian Cortez.His presence carried wealth and polish, the kind of confidence that turned heads in boardrooms but tonight, that confidence had edges. The faint stiffness in his shoulders, the way

“Sir,” the butler’s voice broke the quiet of the study. “There’s a man outside asking to see you. He says his name is Karl Mercer.”Ray looked up from the glass of whiskey in his hand, his brows knitting in surprise. “Karl Mercer?” he repeated slowly, tasting the name as if to make sure he had heard right.“Yes, sir.”For a moment, silence filled the study. The only sound was the ticking of the old clock against the wall. Then Ray’s lips curled into a dry smile.“Bring him in,” he said. His voice was calm, but his eyes sharpened like blades.The butler gave a respectful bow and left quickly.Ray rose to his feet, straightening the cuff of his shirt. Karl Mercer showing up here, unannounced, in the middle of the night? That was not a coincidence. Karl never moved without reason. And if he had come in person… then whatever he carried was heavy.The study doors opened again, and the butler stepped aside to let the visitor in.Karl Mercer walked in like a shadow given flesh. Tall, lean, d

"Leonard," Ray’s voice cut through the silence of his private study, sharp and steady, "Tell me again. Slowly. Word for word. What exactly does that clause say?"Leonard Briggs, his long-time lawyer, adjusted his glasses nervously. He sat across from Ray, a thick folder open on the polished mahogany desk. The firelight behind them threw shadows across the room, flickering against the gold-trimmed shelves."It states," Leonard began carefully, "That you, Raymond Carter, upon signing the divorce agreement, relinquish the right to full custody of Aurora Carter. It further says that until Aurora reaches adulthood, her legal guardian remains Lisa Oakford."Ray’s jaw clenched, but his eyes didn’t waver. He leaned back in his leather chair, tapping his fingers against the armrest.Leonard went on. "In short, Lisa controls Aurora’s education, residence, and... well, almost every decision in her life. You have visiting rights, but only with Lisa’s consent, like I said before"A sharp laugh lef

RAY'S POVThe Bentley moved quietly through the city night after Ray stormed out of Lisa's house, its heavy body gliding past the noise of traffic and the lights of Lagos. Inside, the air was still, broken only by the hum of the engine.Ray sat in the back seat, one hand resting on the armrest, the other tapping against his knee. His eyes were sharp, his jaw tight.Across from him sat Leonard Briggs, his lawyer and oldest ally. A man in his fifties, calm, serious, the type who never wasted words. A thick folder rested on his lap, filled with papers that had once been weapons against Ray.Ray broke the silence first. His voice was low, steady. "Read it again. I want to hear it in your own words. Every line."Leonard adjusted his glasses, opened the folder, and began. His tone was flat, and professional, but the weight of the words was heavy."The divorce agreement states you gave up all rights to the Oakford estate, their assets, their titles. Most importantly...” He paused. "...you ga

"Lisa," he greeted smoothly, tossing his keys onto the table. "Still awake?"Her eyes narrowed. "It’s past midnight."He shrugged out of his jacket, draping it carelessly over the chair. "You know how it is. Meetings run late. Opportunities don’t wait for daylight."Lisa studied him carefully. His ease, his charm, it was his weapon, one he wielded like a blade. Normally, it calmed her. Tonight, it didn't do much.She folded her arms. "And what kind of opportunity kept you from answering my calls?"Oscar paused for a fraction of a second, barely noticeable, before pouring himself a drink. "Calls? Ah." He sipped, sighing with satisfaction. "My phone died. You know I don’t keep it charged long enough."Lisa’s lips tightened. A simple excuse, too simple."Convenient," she said coolly.Oscar chuckled, setting his glass down. "You sound like my old professor, suspicious of every shadow. Relax, Lisa. I was working. For us."She tilted her head, voice edged with sarcasm. "For us?""Yes." He l

LISA'S POVLisa’s chest heaved as she leaned against the wall, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. The words Ray had spoken still echoed in her ears, dragging at her nerves like claws."You’ll see soon enough..."Her jaw tightened as she forced herself to stand tall, but the tension in her body betrayed her. She caught the first maid’s eyes and snapped, "Get me my laptop."The maid didn’t dare ask questions. She darted off, slippers whispering against the marble floor, and returned quickly with the sleek silver device. Lisa snatched it from her hands, flipping it open as she stormed to the dining table.Her fingers clicked sharply against the keys, each sound a violent outlet for the storm raging inside her. She opened Oscar’s financial files, his statements, the Oakford investments tied to him. Her gaze swept across numbers, percentages, loans, and shares.Everything looked perfect. Too perfect.The balance sheets gleamed, the charts rose, and the figures carried no flaws.Lisa nar

The safehouse was still. The only sound was the faint hum of the generator and the ticking of the wall clock. On the table lay the photograph Calder had placed down, a grainy image but clear enough.Leonard Kane, his smug face caught mid-smile, shaking hands with a hooded man.And beside him...Dorian’s jaw tightened. His fingers curled around the edge of the table until his knuckles went white.Rowan squinted at the photo. "No way. Tell me that’s not who I think it is."Dorian’s voice was flat, cold. "It is."Harris leaned closer, his normally calm face hardening. "Commander Rourke. Your old superior."Rowan shot upright, his chair scraping the floor. "The same bastard who praised you at the farewell parade? Who swore on his honor that he’d stand by you always?" His voice rose. "That lying snake sold you out."Dorian didn’t move. His eyes stayed locked on the photograph, unreadable, but the silence around him was heavy.Calder spoke carefully. "We checked it twice, General, Rourke’s

AFTER THE GALAThe gala was over, but the night was not yet over for Dorian. Flashing lights and the hum of luxury engines rolled out onto the wide marble driveway as the city’s elite began to leave the gala.Dorian Ford walked at Selene's side, his walk calm, his eyes cold and unreadable. Selene clung to his arm without shame, her perfume a soft the air, her lips curved in a smile that spoke of mischief.Her Rolls-Royce waited at the foot of the steps, its silver body glowing beneath the golden lamps. The driver leapt out to open the door, bowing as if he served a queen.Selene tilted her head up at Dorian. "You didn’t even flinch in there," she said, her voice teasing, but her gaze sharp. "Not once. Do you always make a room feel like it belongs to you?"Dorian’s eyes flicked to hers, steady, unreadable. "Rooms don’t matter. People do."Selene laughed, brushing against his arm deliberately. "And yet you let me cling to you all evening. Some would think that means you’re mine.""You

THE GALA DAYThe Grand Marlowe Hotel blazed with gold light, its chandeliers pouring fire into the night. The gala had already begun, laughter and music spilling out like waves.Dorian Ford stepped through the entrance with Selene Cross clinging to his arm like it was her lifeline. She leaned closer than necessary, her perfume rich and intentional. Every step she took, a commanding aura."Don’t look so stuffy," Selene whispered, lips close to his ear. "Half the room already wants to know why you’re here with me. Shall we give them something to gossip about?"Dorian’s gaze stayed forward, calm and steady. "Do whatever pleases you."Her smile curled. "Oh, I intend to."Heads turned as they walked in. Gossip moved around. Selene loved every moment of it because Dorian wasn't just tall and intimidating, he was extremely handsome. Dorian on the other hand, ignored it, until his eyes landed on her.Olivia Steele.She froze, her emerald dress clashing with the sudden paleness in her face. Sh

Dorian stepped out of the restaurant into the cool night air. The city lights shimmered on the wet pavement, but he barely noticed. His mind was already three steps ahead, calculating his next moves. Alder Mark walked beside him, silent but commanding."You handled things well tonight," Alder said softly. Most would be shaken. Not you."Dorian kept his eyes forward. "It’s not about them. My focus is the mission."Alder nodded. "Good. But someone is waiting for you outside. Someone you need to meet."Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Who?""You’ll see," Alder said. "Her family and mine have known each other for years. She’s sharp and bold. I think you’ll find her interesting."Dorian’s eyes turned to the street ahead. Curiosity edged in despite himself. "Alright. Let’s meet her."A sleek black car glided to a stop. The door opened, and out stepped a woman who carried confidence in every step. Selene Cross. Dark eyes that seemed to measure everything fell on Dorian immediately. Her long blonde

"Walk with me."Alder Mark’s voice carried like a command, yet it wasn’t shouted. It didn’t need to be. The authority in it was heavier than any raised tone.The entire restaurant froze. Forks hovered, while conversations died, and even the music seemed to dull. All eyes turned between the powerful Alder Mark and the man everyone believed to be a disgraced convict.Dorian rose with calm ease, his chair scraping softly against the marble floor. His eyes didn’t leave Alder’s. For a long heartbeat, they stared at one another, recognition and power passing between them, invisible but undeniable.Then Dorian nodded once. "Lead the way."The two men walked toward the private lounge at the back of Alvero’s, waiters scrambling to open the doors, their heads bowed low. Not a soul dared to breathe too loudly until the doors clicked shut behind them.The lounge was quiet, lit only by a chandelier’s soft glow. Alder moved with the quiet confidence of a man who had stood in the halls of presidents

DORIAN'S POV"I only rot where I choose to, Olivia."The words rolled out of Dorian’s mouth composed and low, but the silence they left behind was deafening.Olivia’s chest rose and fell snappily. Her hand shook around the wine glass she still held, but she refused to let it show. She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with scorn."You think a clever sentence is going to erase the fact that you're a criminal?" she spat. "You’re a convict. You’re nothing. Don’t think appearing here in a cheap borrowed suit changes that."Dorian’s gaze didn’t waver. His lips twitched into the faintest hint of amusement. "I see you’re still good at convincing yourself of lies."Olivia’s jaw tightened, heat rising in her cheeks. Her instinct was to slap him, to demand how he had gotten out, to demand answers but with Leonard Kane sitting just behind her, watching everything, she would not give Dorian the pleasure.Leonard finally rose from his chair, sliding one hand casually into his pocket as he approac