Novels by Ana Stacia

The laughter didn’t stop immediately. It lingered in the air, mixed with whispers.“Did he just hit the driver?” a woman murmured, her hand flying to her mouth.“He actually slapped him,” another man said quietly, eyes wide. “That’s insane.”Victor paid them no attention.He loomed over the cab driver, who was still on the ground, shaking as he tried to push himself up with trembling hands. Victor clicked his tongue impatiently. “Pathetic,” he muttered. “You people are always like this. Make a mess, then start begging.”“Sir, please,” the driver said again, his voice breaking. “I have a family. I was already slowing down. You came too fast—”“Lies,” Victor snapped, cutting him off instantly. “You think I don’t know how this works? You hit my car because you weren’t paying attention. End of story.”He turned slightly toward the crowd, spreading his hands as if presenting evidence. “Look at him,” he said loudly. “Always the same excuse. No accountability. No responsibility.”A few peopl

The cab drove along the road toward Connor’s mansion. The golden award was placed beside him on the seat. Connor leaned back and looked out the window. His face was calm, as if what happened at the award ceremony and Lena’s outburst no longer mattered.As he sat there calmly, all of a sudden, he heard a loud sound… BANG.The impact came without warning.The cab jolted violently to the side as another car slammed into it from the rear, the force throwing Connor forward slightly before the seatbelt snapped him back. The screech of tires was so loud Connor had to cover his ear, followed by the harsh grinding sound of metal scraping against metal. The cab shuddered, swerving before finally coming to a rough stop by the side of the road..Connor’s jaw tightened instantly.“What the hell was that?” he snapped, his calm finally cracking as he looked forward sharply.The cab driver cursed under his breath, gripping the steering wheel. “Sir, I swear, I was driving straight. That car—”“You wer

Connor stepped out of the grand doors of Rockhill Villa as though he had all the time in the world, the golden award firmly held in his hand. His expression was calm, giving the impression that nothing extraordinary had just occurred inside the award hall. People were murmuring, shaking their heads, gesturing in disbelief, still processing the dramatic events that had just unfolded inside.Some exchanged incredulous glances, others whispered in shock, “Did that really just happen?”Connor’s gaze scanned the street casually, as if he were merely on a leisurely stroll, unconcerned with the attention around him. And then, as if drawn by an invisible magnet, Lena Montgomery’s sharp, piercing gaze locked onto him. She had been walked out of the hall earlier by Mr. Wills security, her heels clicking violently against the pavement. Her voice erupted almost immediately, loud, cutting through the crowd like a blade, drawing attention from passersby and onlookers.“You—!” she began, steppi

The entire hall was still buzzing with stunned whispers when Lena suddenly rose from her seat, her movements sharp and rigid, like someone whose very bones vibrated with outrage. Her chair scraped loudly against the floor, drawing even more attention to her as she stepped into the aisle. Her heels clicked furiously with each step, announcing her fury even before she opened her mouth.“This is unacceptable!” Lena’s voice sliced through the hall with force. He turned his head to look at her. “This—this is some kind of joke, right? A very cheap, very pathetic joke?”She gestured broadly toward the stage where Connor now stood, calmly holding the golden award. Her hand trembled from anger.“We were invited here to be played with?” she demanded, her voice rising again. “Is that what this is? You called us here to humiliate us?!”Her outrage echoed through the hall, bouncing off the chandelier-lit walls.“How,” she continued, breath hitching, “how can he—” she jabbed a finger at Connor as

Connor watched Lena’s outburst on the stage with a calm expression. He remained seated, calm and almost distant, as though the chaos unfolding in front of everyone had nothing to do with him. His eyes stayed fixed on her, not with anger, not with pity, but with a kind of silent observation—almost as if he had expected this reaction from the beginning.On the brightly lit stage, Mr. Jerry Wills faced Lena with a collected smile that carried a hint of firmness beneath it. Mr. Wills raised one brow at her. “Ms. Montgomery,” he said in a tone that was polite but edged with clear warning, “I am the one presenting the awards. You do not have the authority to interrupt the process or question the structure of this ceremony.”Lena’s face hardened. She took a step toward him, her heels clicking sharply. “Explain what you meant earlier,” she demanded, her voice ringing through the hall. “Explain what you meant by saying things change. The Montgomery business has been flourishing. We have exp

Connor did not respond to anything Lena said afterwards.Not a single word escaped his lips.And somehow, that silence irritated Lena far more than anything he could have said.She sat behind him, her perfectly painted nails tapping rhythmically against her crossed arms as though the sound might force him to react. But Connor remained still, his back straight, his shoulders relaxed, his head angled slightly toward the stage as he focused on Jerry Wills.The event hall buzzed with elegant chatter. Every powerful household in the country had sent representatives, and the atmosphere carried the weight of both rivalry and prestige.But Lena was focused on only one thing—one person.Connor.She couldn’t understand why his silence angered her. Maybe it was because it felt like he was ignoring her existence. Maybe it was because he wasn’t giving her the satisfaction of reacting to her taunts. Maybe it was because, for the first time, she felt as though she had no control over him, no abili