Novels by Dorchester

Donald remained on the balcony long after Ivy’s footsteps faded back into the mansion.The night air was cooler now. The distant sounds from the celebration below had softened into background noise, as if the world was politely continuing without demanding his attention.But his mind was no longer in the present.It was moving backward.Every conversation he had dismissed.Every emotion he had assumed was obvious.Every decision he had made quickly because he thought the facts were already clear.Now none of it felt stable.Not even his certainty about Evelyn.A notification vibrated on his phone.He didn’t answer immediately.He just looked at it.Unknown number.He finally picked it up.“Hello?”A pause.Then a voice he didn’t recognize.Male.Calm.Measured.“You don’t know me,” the voice said.“But I think you should know something before you make any final conclusions.”Donald’s eyes narrowed slightly.“Who is this?”The man ignored the question.“I was the photographer.”That se

The silence inside the lounge didn’t lift even after Donald left.It settled deeper instead, like something heavy had been poured into the room and left to spread.Evelyn was the first to move.She adjusted her grip on the baby almost mechanically, as though trying to anchor herself to something physical while everything else inside her began to drift.Margaret broke the silence in a voice barely above a whisper.“I didn’t raise you to become this.”Evelyn didn’t respond immediately.Her eyes were still fixed on the door Donald had walked through.Edmund finally spoke, his tone low and controlled.“This is no longer about upbringing.”A pause.“It is about decisions.”Margaret looked at him sharply.“Are you blaming her?”Edmund turned slightly toward his wife.“I am stating facts,” he replied.“And facts are that interference occurred.”Evelyn let out a short, strained breath.“I didn’t think it would destroy everything,” she said again.But this time, her voice sounded less like def

The room remained frozen in a tense stillness after Evelyn’s confession.No one rushed to speak, and no one dared to interrupt the weight of what had just been admitted.Donald stayed seated, elbows resting on his knees, head slightly bowed as though trying to reorganize thoughts that no longer made clean sense.Ivy stood near the door, her expression no longer angry—only tired. As if a long-standing suspicion had finally been confirmed in words.Margaret looked devastated. Edmund looked controlled, but his jaw was tight enough to suggest restraint, not calm.And Evelyn stood at the center of it all, still holding the baby, but now no longer hiding behind composure.Donald finally lifted his head.His voice was quieter than before.“So all of it…” he said slowly, “was engineered.”Evelyn didn’t answer immediately.That hesitation said enough.Donald continued anyway.“The pictures. The timing. The call. The rumors.”He paused.“You positioned everything.”Evelyn swallowed.“I didn’t f

The private lounge fell into a heavy silence.No one moved.No one spoke.The only sound in the room was the soft breathing of the baby resting in Evelyn's arms.Donald kept his eyes fixed on Evelyn."Is there anything else I should know?"The question lingered in the air.Evelyn's confidence, which had carried her through countless difficult situations, seemed to waver.For the first time since Ivy had entered the naming ceremony, she looked cornered.Margaret noticed it immediately.A mother always noticed."Evelyn," she said quietly.Evelyn avoided her mother's eyes.That simple action made Margaret's heart sink.Edmund's expression darkened.He had built businesses worth billions by reading people.At that moment, he saw something he did not like.Donald took another step forward."I asked you a question."Evelyn swallowed."What exactly do you want me to say?"Donald stared at her."The truth."Again, silence.Ivy remained near the door.Her hands were clasped together tightly.S

The atmosphere inside the naming ceremony hall never fully recovered.Even after Edmund suggested that the discussion be taken somewhere private, the tension remained.Guests whispered among themselves.Some pretended not to listen.Others openly stared.After all, moments earlier they had been celebrating the arrival of a child. Now they were witnessing the unraveling of a mystery that appeared to involve Donald, Evelyn, and Ivy.Edmund cleared his throat."Donald, Ivy, Evelyn," he said calmly. "Let us continue this elsewhere."Donald nodded.That was probably the wisest course of action.The last thing he wanted was for hundreds of guests to become spectators in a deeply personal matter.Without another word, he followed Edmund.Evelyn carried the baby.Margaret walked beside her daughter.Ivy followed several steps behind.Soon, they entered a private lounge connected to the main hall.The moment the door closed behind them, the atmosphere changed.No more spectators.No more whisp

Donald did not respond immediately.The word pictures hung in the air like a blade suspended just above skin.Around them, conversations had completely died. Even the distant music seemed muted now, as though the entire hall had been forced to listen.Ivy stood firm, her gaze locked on Donald.Not pleading.Not emotional.Focused.Donald finally spoke, his voice low.“What about them?”Ivy took a small step forward.“I didn’t send them.”A faint ripple moved through the crowd.Evelyn’s eyes narrowed immediately.Margaret shifted uncomfortably.Edmund watched carefully, saying nothing.Donald didn’t react outwardly, but his expression tightened.“You already said that before,” he replied.“I know,” Ivy said quickly.“But you didn’t let me finish.”A pause.Then she continued.“The man in those pictures is my ex,” she said.“Yes. That part is true.”Donald’s jaw clenched slightly.“But what you were shown,” she added, “was not what you think it was.”Evelyn scoffed softly from where she

The moment Scott announced that the CEO of Aurelios Group was present in the hall, the entire atmosphere shifted instantly.For a split second, there was silence.Then—the hall erupted.Loud cheers and thunderous applause filled the grand venue as guests rose to their feet in excitement. Glasses were lifted, smiles widened, and conversations turned into ecstatic murmurs.“The CEO is here!”“We’re finally going to see him!”“This is historic for Gatwick Investments!”People who had spent the entire evening speculating now felt a surge of validation. Some had claimed they already knew who the CEO was. Others insisted they had connections to Aurelios Group. But deep down, most of them were wrong.None of them truly knew.And none of them suspected the truth.Not even the Gatwick family.Scott stood proudly at the front, enjoying the attention as the applause continued. Deg, now positioned near the stage, straightened his posture, basking in the importance of the moment. Whispers began t

Amelia stood out the moment she entered the hall.She wore a short blue dress that hugged her figure elegantly, paired with matching sapphire earrings that shimmered each time she moved. The combination was simple, yet breathtaking. Every step she took seemed to carry quiet authority and charm at once.Men in the hall couldn’t help but steal glances.Some pretended to look away.Others stared too long before realizing they were being obvious.Even some of the older businessmen—men who normally maintained strict composure—found their attention briefly drawn to her presence.She was not just beautiful. She was powerful beauty.Scott stepped forward soon after her arrival, standing at the front of the hall where all eyes naturally shifted. He adjusted his suit, cleared his throat, and smiled broadly.“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began proudly, “first, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Aurelios Group for their trust in Gatwick Investments. This partnership is a milestone in ou

The grand hall of the Gatwick family celebration shimmered under golden chandeliers, each crystal reflecting light like scattered stars. Every seat was filled with elegance and expectation. The Gatwick family had gathered in full force, dressed in their finest suits and gowns, each one accompanied by friends, allies, and ambitious connections hoping to witness history unfold.Deg sat proudly near the front, flanked by Mica and several close relatives. Joyce was seated not far away, radiant in an elegant dress, her fiancé Joe sitting beside her with the calm confidence of someone who believed he had already stepped into a privileged future.Joe Collins was the heir of the Collins family—respected, wealthy, and steadily rising in Belton’s second-tier elite circles. He had a composed smile and a polished demeanor, the kind that made people instinctively adjust their posture around him. Tonight, he had brought along his close friend, Mac, a strikingly handsome young man whose presence alo

As soon as Greg answered, on the other end, a furious voice erupted instantly.“Fred! You idiot! What the hell have you done?” his father roared. “Our shareholders are dumping shares like garbage! The stock price is collapsing in real time!”Fred’s expression stiffened. “W-what… Father, what are you talking about?”“Don’t act stupid with me!” the man barked. “Every major investor has pulled out. All our partners have suspended ongoing projects with Nelson Company. Financial institutions are demanding immediate loan repayments. We are being forced into liquidation! Do you understand what that means?”Fred’s lips trembled. His confident posture from moments ago shattered instantly.“I… I didn’t do anything,” he stammered. “I was just at an event at Aurelios Group’s partner celebration…”“Then you must have offended someone there!” his father snapped. “Someone powerful enough to destroy us in minutes! Tell me, Fred—who did you cross?!”But Fred couldn’t answer.His throat had gone dry. H

Upon hearing Alina’s words, Fred’s expression tightened with visible disappointment.She was still defending Greg.Even after everything he had said, she stood her ground without hesitation, as though none of his warnings or insults carried any weight at all.Fred exhaled sharply.For a brief moment, something like frustration flickered in his eyes.Meanwhile, Greg let out a soft amused chuckle.That single reaction irritated Fred further. It made it feel like Fred was a fool. Fred was furious within him, however, he tried to mask it, forcing a cold smile, trying to regain control of the situation.“You’re really something,” Fred said, shaking his head. “Still clinging to this dimwit after everything?"He turned slightly toward Greg.“You’re nothing but a loser. A man with no direction, no status, or worth.”His gaze shifted briefly to Alina.“It’s honestly a waste. A woman like her tied down to someone like you. Let her go. Step aside. I can give her everything a loser like you will

The night of the Gatwick celebration arrived with a level of grandeur that matched the family’s obsession with status.Alina stepped out of the dressing room wearing an elegant, deep-blue designer gown that hugged her figure perfectly. The fabric shimmered subtly under the light, and every detail—from her earrings to her heels—was carefully chosen to reflect sophistication. For the first time in a long while, she carried herself with visible confidence.Beside her, Greg stood in a simple but impeccably tailored suit.It looked plain at first glance.But the craftsmanship, the fabric quality, and the perfect fit silently suggested something far beyond ordinary luxury.They entered the car together and drove toward the venue.Gatwick Celebration Venue – Brell HotelThe hotel towered over Belton like a monument to wealth. Its golden-lit exterior shimmered against the night sky, while luxury cars lined the entrance in endless rows. Staff members stood in perfect formation, bowing politely