“Oh shit. She’s pregnant,” Callie sighed.
“Oh my God!” Mia howled.
“I’m not pregnant!” Odette grumbled. “Would you shut up and let him speak?”
Darien grinned and looked around the table.
“I’ve been drafted to the NFL,” he said. A cheer of approval exploded along the table.
“That’s amazing!”
“Of course, you were!”
“Who? Where?”
Darien held up his hand and gazed down lovingly at Odette.
“Ironically enough, the Miami Dolphins. Next year, I’ll be living here in Florida too.”
“Well,” Edward laughed. “The universe does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t it?”
Darien nodded, his eyes fixed on Odette’s face.
“It certainly does,” he agreed. “I would never have imagined that I would ever spend a Christmas Eve in a house like this, surrounded by people who love selflessly, but here I am.”
Odette’s eyes locked on his face, her heart swelling with happiness. She waited for the familiar feeling of dread to take her over, the boulder to come crashing down to ruin her happiness. But there was nothing but sheer giddiness inside her, as if she truly had been taken over by a Christmas miracle.
Darien reclaimed his seat at her side and she pecked him on the cheek.
“I guess I should be looking for jobs out here then,” she murmured, settling back into her chair as the meal began.
“And why not?” he replied lightly. “After all, home is where the heart is.”
She punched his arm and laughed.
“You really are cheesy,” she told him.
“You love it.”
“No,” she murmured. “But I do love you.”
I rule my entire school, but not my own life. Control is just an illusion, a vicious bitch.
And when I see Ellie’s enticing silhouette in the hallways at school, it makes me want to…torment her.
Her upturned nose defies me.
She’s the only one who dares.
What is it about her that makes me want to own her. Control her. Bend her to my will.
But she’s keeping a secret that can destroy me.
Destroy both of us.
Unless I can get to her in time…
Also by Chloe Fischer
Revenge Unleashed
Revenge Forsaken
Revenge Revealed
Neve
God, he hurt me so bad.
Who walks out on someone after taking their virginity, and professing their love for her?
Who walks out on someone after proposing?
And who the hell, walks back in, 7 years later, rich as god and famous?
I know we were young – high school seems like forever ago. But still. Who does that?
I don’t care what his reasons were – I can’t, won’t, forgive him.
Because the other thing he walked out on, the thing he doesn’t even know about, is his daughter. And I just can’t take that chance again.
Christmas is the time for miracles to happen, but not this miracle.
Connor
Goddamnit, like I didn’t have enough guilt and pain for her leaving her already, now I find out that I left her alone. And pregnant.
What the actual hell am I going to do?
She’ll never be able to understand why I left – and I can never tell her. Her family was perfect. She can’t possibly understand secrets like this.
And now it turns out we have a daughter?
How can I drag both of them to my level? To my side of the tracks?
All I know, is that I’ll do whatever it takes to be the man they need.
Whatever. It. Takes.
I promise, this will be the most magical Christmas of them all.
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I also ask for plot advice and new character names. (I used to get so excited about naming my characters – sometimes I had the name before I even had their story!) But every now and then I need advice on strong hero and heroine names. (Thanks to all my readers who have named their own heroes in my books.)
Readers Club Link
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***I’m always looking for excellent character names, so keep them coming!
Torment Page 11