Share
EIGHTEEN
Related chapters
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice NINETEEN
"BRAD! OPEN THE DOOR! TALK TO ME! BRAADD!!!" Brad turned his head abruptly to the direction of his room's door. What does that human vermin want this time around? Why was she causing such a ruckus on a beautiful morning like this? He closed his eyes and mentally counted to ten as he shrugged into his shirt. Just when he'd thought she'd finally left him alone and here she was again, being a total nuisance. Doris kept pounding on the door. "COME ON, BRAD! OPEN UP!" She yelled. "I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE TILL YOU TALK TO ME!" Brad sighed, walked reluctantly to the door, and swung it open. His eyes widened in surprise as she surged into his room without hesitation or permission. "Good morning to you too," he murmured. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "What do you want, Doris? And be quick about it. As you can see, I'm preparing for work." Anger and hurt swirled together inside her, and Doris found herself unable to contain her feelings any longe
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY
MAX PELTED his way to his sister's room, his miniature Hummer Jeep under one arm and an eager Squid scampering behind. "Hi, Nora!" Nora's expression sparkled. "Hi, Maxie!" Max leaped onto her bed as well as Squid. "I was thinking... Since it's a no-school day, how about we do something much more fun." Nora and Max were supposed to be at school but due to a routine inspection of the fire alarms and sprinkler system, the school administration had declared the school closed for a day. And all of the students and teachers were instructed, the day before, to remain home while the contractors worked on the safety systems. "Like what?" Nora asked in excitement. "Hmm... Like playing outside the house." His eyes glowed, equally as excited. "Let's go to the neighborhood playground." Nora's face scrunched up in an expression of skepticism. "Uh... I don't know, Maxie," she drawled, lifting a shoulder. "The neighborhood playground is just not my thing. Besides, we hav
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-ONE
AS THE sun reached its zenith on the following day, Doris found Nora nestled at one of the lounge chairs by the pool. She was absorbed in a book, completely oblivious to the world around her. Her jet-black hair was swept back in loose pigtails, and a bucket hat shielded her eyes from the bright sun. Doris was struck by the tranquility of the scene, and at that moment, she wondered how such a tiny human was shouldering a lot all by herself and yet remained so placid. She, for instance, would run to her father for every little thing even when she was a teenager and there was this younger child, smiling despite what she was going through. The back of her eyes prickled with unshed tears as she watched her. She was like an adult in a child's body, concealing her difficulties all by herself which was not healthy one bit. She was a child and was supposed to behave like one. Doris exhaled sharply, shook off her emotions, and approached Nora. She knew she needed to be level-he
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-TWO
WITH A deep breath, Doris prepared herself for what was sure to be an adventure. For the first time, she was about to take an eight-year-old shopping, not just for clothes, but for an experience that would help her find confidence in her own style. It was a daunting task, but one she felt was worth the effort. She had to strike the perfect balance between letting the girl choose what she liked and guiding her towards pieces that would flatter her figure and make her feel like a million bucks. It was time to put her fashion expertise to the test. She had brought Nora to Evelyn Rodriguez's boutiques. 'Cause yeah, her best friend's line was THE BEST. Doris had become something of a connoisseur of her best friend's boutiques. She'd been to all of them back in Paris. Every single one. And that wasn't an exaggeration. She'd spent many an afternoon exploring her stores in Paris, and she'd become enchanted by the impeccable attention to detail and the bold yet sophisticated
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-THREE
WITH A sigh of relief, Brad finally clicked "send" on the last email of the day. He'd been burning the midnight oil for weeks, but he was determined to make time for his family. As he turned off his computer, he looked out the window to see the last rays of the sun setting its ablaze. A dark, indigo blue was beginning to spread across the horizon, like a shadow creeping in from the edges. The few clouds that dotted the sky were painted with a golden light, glowing like tiny beacons in the fading light. The air had a chill to it as if the night was trying to reclaim its territory from the day. Brad exhaled in rueful defeat. He had realized how little he spent with Nora and Max and planned to do something fun with them this Saturday but he'd been immersed in his work again and lost track of time. He quickly grabbed his keys and coat and made his way out the door. At least, he'd be in time for dinner today. Moments later, he pulled into the driveway, grabbing his case as
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-FOUR
BRAD'S OFFICE door sprang open with no warning. "Dad! Why did you scold Doris for what happened to me?" Nora demanded as she surged towards him. "How could you? So you're the reason she didn't come for dinner." Brad raised his head from his laptop to glance at his little lady seething and scowling intensely at him. He sighed heavily. "How did you find out?" He murmured impassively. "Maxie told me. He overheard you yelling at her. But that isn't important right now!" Nora launched at him with an anger she could not conceal. "Dad! You're not being nice to Doris and I don't like it!" "Sweetie. . .?" "Don't sweetie me," Nora retorted, lifting her hand. "If you keep this up, I'm going park my things, leave this house, and go live with her." Brad dwindled his eyes, glanced left, right, and then back at her. "Her house is just next door." "Exactly!" She said instantly. "So I wouldn't even need anyone driving me there." "Honey, it's not nice to threaten people," h
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-FIVE
NORA STARED dumbstruck at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She couldn't believe her eyes as she accessed her overall outfit. The gathered, flare skirt was a work of art as it flowed in a peach wave just above her knee. The skirt flared out from the waist, creating a flattering silhouette. The hemline was slightly shorter in the front. Tiny ruffles trimmed the hemline, adding a touch of playfulness to the design. The navy blue turtleneck long-sleeved top—which was tucked neatly in the skirt—was a classic piece. The soft, stretchy fabric hugged the body in all the right places, while the high collar gave it a refined feel. The sleeves were long and slim, emphasizing the top's overall sleek silhouette. Her jet-black hair was parted neatly to one side, creating a clean, polished look as her ears displayed tiny butterfly stud earrings. One was visible, the other one was hidden behind her hair. But at the base, the hair had a slight wave, adding a touch of softness. The butterfl
Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice TWENTY-SIX
IS EVERYONE READY TO HAVE SOME FUN?! Doris singsonged loudly. "YAY!" The kids shouted from the back seat, bouncing on their butts. Nora and Matt were seated at the back along with their new friends: Ethan, and his little sister, Laura. "Where did you say we are going again?" Brad asked from the passenger's seat of the car. "I'm not telling," Doris said. His curiosity was cute, but if she told him that, he would be so offended. Ever since she'd told him to clear his schedule for this day, he'd asked her where they were going with every single opportunity he got. And she'd given him the same answer still. "You'll know when we get there," Doris added flippantly. Brad insisted. "Can you not just tell me?" "And ruin the whole fun? Absolutely not. It's a surprise, Brad!" Doris said, getting excited by just the thought of it. "I hate surprises," Brad grumbled under his breath. "Well, this day isn't about you, Brad!" She replied in a sassy rejoinder. "Right, Ma
Latest chapter
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice WRITER'S NOTE
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice EPILOGUE
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SEVENTY
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-NINE
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-EIGHT
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-SEVEN
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-SIX
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-FIVE
- Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice SIXTY-FOUR
