Evie Carter has spent years burying the past, pretending her scars both seen and unseen don't exist. She's mastered the art of keeping people at arm's length, convinced that healing is just another word for forgetting. But when Noah Reynolds walks into her life, steady and patient in a way she's never known, her carefully constructed walls start to crack. Noah has his own ghosts ones he's been running from for as long as he can remember. He sees the pain Evie tries to hide because he recognizes it. And for the first time in years, he stops running. As their connection deepens, old wounds resurface, forcing them to confront the scars that have shaped them. But some scars run deeper than others, and love alone may not be enough to rewrite the past. Unwritten Scars is an emotional, heart-wrenching novel about love, loss, and the courage it takes to let someone in.
Chapter 1: Evie's Escape
The air smelled different here and looked untouched. It carried the scent of pine and damp earth, so unlike the gasoline and concrete stench of Chicago. Evie Monroe stepped out of her car, gripping the cold metal key in her palm like it was the only thing tethering her to reality.
A tiny, forgotten house sat before her, nestled behind a field of wildflowers that swayed in the wind. It had peeling white paint, a sagging porch, and windows that looked like they hadn't been opened in years. It wasn't much, but it was hers. A fresh start.
Her stomach twisted. Can you really start over?
She swallowed hard and forced herself to move. Chicago was behind her. He was behind her. The bruises had faded, but the memories hadn't. She adjusted her grip on her suitcase and took the first step toward her new life.
The silence here was unsettling. She had spent years drowning in the noise of the city cars honking, people shouting, sirens wailing at all hours. Now, there was nothing but the whisper of the wind and the occasional chirp of a bird. It should've been peaceful. Instead, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the ground to give way.
Evie reached the porch and fumbled with the key, her fingers shaking. It took her three tries to get the door open. She stepped inside, inhaling dust and wood. The space was a small one bedroom, a tiny kitchen, a living area with just enough space for a couch. The walls were bare, the floors scuffed, but for the first time in a long time, she was alone. Safe.
She dropped her bags by the door, pressing a hand to her chest to calm the rapid thudding of her heart.
Then the sound of tires crunching over gravel made her freeze.
Her breath hitched. A dark blue truck rolled into the driveway, sending a fresh wave of panic through her body. No. No, he can't be here. He doesn't know where you are.
Her hands clenched into fists. She needed to move, to run, but her feet stayed rooted to the wooden floor.
The driver's side door opened, and a man stepped out.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Tanned skin, a day or two's worth of stubble. Hands covered in sawdust. He wiped them on his jeans as he approached, his expression unreadable.
"Evie Monroe?"
His voice was deep, steady. Nothing like Liam's.
She nodded, throat tight.
"Noah Carter," he said. "I built your furniture."
She exhaled sharply, only now realizing she'd been holding her breath. Not Liam. Just a stranger.
Noah studied her for a moment, his gaze flicking over her stiff posture, the way she kept her weight shifted toward the door as if she might bolt. He didn't say anything about it. Instead, he jerked his chin toward the house.
"Mind if I bring the pieces in?"
Evie hesitated. She didn't want to let him inside. She didn't want to let anyone inside. But she had ordered the furniture weeks ago before she decided to run, before she knew how terrifying it would be to let a man into her space again.
She forced herself to nod. "Yeah. That's fine."
Noah didn't move right away. He studied her again, his eyes dark and unreadable, but there was no pressure in them. No threat.
Then he turned and headed back to his truck.
Evie released the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She pressed a trembling hand against the doorframe, steadying herself.
Not Liam. Just a stranger.
But as Noah carried the first piece of furniture up the porch steps, something about him unsettled her. It wasn't fear, exactly. It was something deeper.
Because when she met his eyes again, she saw it and he recognized something in her.
And that terrified her more than anything.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
She spent ten years chasing after the right brother, only to fall for the wrong one in one weekend. ~~~ Sloane Mercer has been hopelessly in love with her best friend, Finn Hartley, since college. For ten long years, she's stood by him, stitching him back together every time Delilah Crestfield-his toxic on-and-off girlfriend-shattered his heart. But when Delilah gets engaged to another man, Sloane thinks this might finally be her chance to have Finn for herself. She couldn't be more wrong. Heartbroken and desperate, Finn decides to crash Delilah's wedding and fight for her one last time. And he wants Sloane by his side. Reluctantly, Sloane follows him to Asheville, hoping that being close to Finn will somehow make him see her the way she's always seen him. Everything changes when she meets Knox Hartley, Finn's older brother-a man who couldn't be more different from Finn. He's dangerously magnetic. Knox sees right through Sloane and makes it his mission to pull her into his world. What starts as a game-a twisted bet between them-soon turns into something deeper. Sloane is trapped between two brothers: one who's always broken her heart and another who seems hell-bent on claiming it... no matter the cost. CONTENT WARNING: This story is strongly 18+. It delves into dark romance themes such as obsession and lust with morally complex characters. While this is a love story, reader discretion is advised.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"