Novels by Evie Penheart

Chapter TwelveThe banquet ended in a storm of whispers and speculation. People left in groups, their voices buzzing with Adrian’s name, his mysterious backing, and Isabella Reyes’s shocking defense of him. To many, the night had been turned upside down; to Adrian, it was just another weight pressing against the shadows of his fractured memory.As the guests spilled into the night, Adrian walked alongside Isabella Reyes. Her heels clicked against the polished floor, her poise unshaken, but she cast him a glance that softened when their eyes met.For a while, silence stretched between them, filled only by the hushed murmurs trailing from the departing crowd. Finally, Adrian broke it, his voice low, almost hesitant.“I don’t want them to know who I am,” he confessed. His gaze remained ahead, sharp but troubled. “Not yet. Not until I can remember everything for myself.”Isabella studied him, her brows lifting slightly. The calm assurance in his tone reminded her of the man she’d once kno

Chapter ElevenThe moment Isabella Reyes stood in front of Adrian Cole, the entire banquet shifted. Silence wrapped around the room like a noose, and even those who had been mocking him minutes ago now looked uneasy, darting glances between Isabella and Adrian.Mr. Graham, Armstrong’s manager, swallowed hard. His earlier arrogance vanished, replaced by something close to fear. Clearing his throat, he managed to say, “Miss Reyes… do you know this man?”The question cracked through the hall like a whip. All eyes swung toward Isabella.Before she could answer, Lucas Brown stepped forward, his tone sharper than usual, his pride bleeding through his words. “Manager Graham, who is this woman? Why is her presence suddenly changing the tone of this conversation?”Graham turned toward him, frowning deeply. “You don’t know her?”Lucas blinked. “Should I?”The manager exhaled slowly, his voice dropping into something heavy, reverent. “That woman is Isabella Reyes—the Director of the Cole Conglom

Chapter TenThe hall was still buzzing from the shock of the verification when Lucas Brown leaned in toward Catherine Moretti, his smirk slick with venom.“Catherine,” he said in a tone just loud enough for the surrounding guests to hear, “don’t let him drag you into his mess. You should distance yourself now before he implicates you further. That man is a lowlife, a street dog. Everyone here knows it. He’s not worthy of being seen with you.”The insult drew a ripple of laughter from a few guests eager to side with Lucas. Some nodded, whispering to each other as if his words carried weight.But Catherine’s glass paused midair. Slowly, she turned her head toward him, her expression cool, her gaze razor sharp.“If anyone here should be ashamed,” she said icily, “it’s you, Lucas Brown. A man whose only weapon is his mouth. You do nothing but rant and hurl insults, hoping someone will mistake noise for power.”Her voice carried, clear and deliberate, silencing a portion of the crowd. A fl

Chapter NineThe air in the auction hall was charged, every murmur laced with anticipation. Faces leaned forward, hungry for drama, eyes glittering in expectation of Adrian’s fall.Elena could no longer contain herself. She surged to her feet, her voice breaking with panic.“Adrian, stop this madness!” Her words cut across the hall like a whip, earning curious stares. “Do you want to ruin me completely? Do you want to see me lose everything?”Her chest rose and fell rapidly, hands clenched tight by her sides. “You know what’s at stake—fifty million dollars. That’s what I poured into the project Lucas helped me secure with Armstrong’s company. If this blows up, if the deal collapses, my company will sink into bankruptcy! All because you refuse to back down.” Her voice cracked, desperation echoing against the gilded walls. “You’ve already divorced me, Adrian. Must you humiliate me too?”Her plea ignited a wave of whispers.“She’s right—he’s dragging her into this.”“What sort of man hum

Chapter EightLucas Brown’s smile widened as Adrian calmly raised his paddle again. To Lucas, there could be only one explanation—Adrian was relying on Catherine Moretti’s backing. Without her, he was nothing.So, the fool thinks he’s clever because Catherine is sitting beside him? He really has no idea how these auctions work.Lucas’s chest swelled with satisfaction. This was his stage. He had been to Armstrong’s private auctions before, and he knew the rules better than most: bidders were strictly responsible for their own payments. No one, not even someone like Catherine Moretti, could pay on behalf of another. If Adrian thought he could use her name to throw weight around, then he was walking straight into a trap.Suppressing his glee, Lucas decided not to expose Adrian just yet. Instead, he raised his paddle lazily, adding a modest increment to the price.“Ten million, three hundred thousand.”The crowd turned toward him, murmuring approval.“Mr. Brown is still competing.”“Of co

Chapter SevenLucas Brown's smile stiffened as soon as Adrian spoke. His fury boiled, though he hid it behind a mask of arrogance. To him, Adrian’s calm declaration wasn’t just a challenge—it was a direct provocation. From the moment Adrian had stepped into the banquet hall, Lucas had already despised him. Now, daring to claim the ring, Adrian had crossed a line.Let’s see how long your bluff lasts, Lucas thought, his eyes narrowing.The rest of the guests were just as eager to witness the spectacle. They were already convinced that Adrian’s words earlier had been nothing but empty bravado. Tonight, the auction would strip him bare. They wanted to see him embarrassed, to watch Catherine Moretti regret ever defending him.The lights in the hall dimmed slightly as the auction began, casting a spotlight on the stage. The auctioneer stepped forward, his voice booming with practiced energy. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this prestigious evening. Let us begin with our first item…”One a