
Taste of Forever
bobmanuel ibiso · Ongoing · 36.6k Words
Introduction
Chapter 1
Sighed
I sat on an empty chair beside my lodge thinking about all that has been happening to me lately.
I have parents, I have lovers, I have friends but it seems everyone has forgotten about me and move on with their lives.
My stomach growled then I realized I have starved myself again. It has been a day and yet I haven't tasted anything, not even cheap bread.
I stand from the chair which I sat and beacon to open my door when I heard the oldish land lady's voice, I frown slightly to myself and turn to her holding a bright smile.
"Good evening Ma" I greeted and she nods her head that was already covered with white hair.
Mrs. Margret is a widow who had lost her husband five years before I moved in, she looks very old but still vibrant. Lucky for her, she had her grand children and one son out of the many beside her. The lodge which I stayed also have mansion which Mrs. Margret occupies with her family.
"Eliora, how are you?" she asked with her gentle voice.
"I'm fine Ma, thank you" I thought it was her random greeting which she does to other tenants so I opened my door immediately but she stopped me again.
"Excuse me" I turned to her anxiously as she walks cautiously approaching my lodge.
"When do you intend to complete your rent?" Mrs. Margret asked with her eyes rolling left and right as if she was searching for something, I scratched my hair rather stylishly.
Actually I had no excuse, I wasn't expecting money from anyone, I am so drained financially, I just have no hope but it's better than relying on some scum back in Italy.
I don't want to talk about my Ex, I exhales maintaining the warm smile on my face.
"Ma, can you please give me some week of grace?" I begged pitifully.
If my past was watching me, it will definitely laugh at me because I was never like this. I had money, I had enough but then... everything faded so fast.
"Eliora, you say that almost every month" Mrs. Margret stepped away from the house.
"The next time I inform you, I'll give you your quit notice" with this Mrs. Margret proceed deeper into the lodge passage, I shook my head in disbelieve and went into my room.
I'll tell you a little about myself. I'm freaking nineteen years old and will be graduating in the next one year. I was in a loving relationship with a handsome successful guy in Italy but everything went south when I noticed he was seeing another lady and they will be getting married soon!
Yes, it was that mean and painful, I have had my hopes up to marry him, I learnt how to cook and all of it so... so He could see me... our two years was fun but.... I still have no idea why he did that to me.
So, I returned back to New York to face my fucking life alone. My parents didn't even care about me since I had refuse to listen to them during my relationship with the Italy guy "Romans", my so-called best friend moved on with a new neighbour who seem rich... I was left all alone to face my half done academic life.
I changed into my short jean, black singlet and took my red purse with that I locked my room door and left the estate.
The children who were having some evening gist greeted me and I waved at them and move on heading no where, so you know the purse which I held had no money in it except for my new android phone which I got with my last card.
For goodness sake I'm so hungry, who's going to save me? I have no friends in the university not to talk of the neighborhood I have lived for long.
After staring at the bustling evening streets full of life, music and lights, I exhale slyly and raise my head to the sky. At the sight of the round full moon, I smiled.
I really need a job.
How can I foot my bills when I'm not even working?
If not for the little money I got from Romans, how would I have paid my tuition fee and half rent?
At the thought of these, I decided to head back home since it was already late.
"No no no" I exclaim in pain when I opened my food locker and find it empty.
What will I eat tonight? I'll definitely contract ulcer.
Ladies my age already have a better life, meeting a handsome billionaire, falling in love and all of it. Why does nature decides to give me rock?!
I didn't have enough guts to start arguing with my third spirit if that's what's called, I just fell on my bed and slept off.
"Delicious".
"Yummy".
"I'll place another order".
"I won't miss out french fries and hot burger".
I rolled left and right on my bed licking my lips like a monkey eating banana when the sharp peirce from a mosquito touched my skin, I slapped the spot and woke up immediately.
Then I realized it was only a dream.
Sluggishly I walked into my bathroom to paste.
"Why do I even brush when I end up eating no food" at the thought of this, I brush my teeth roughly, wash my face and head back into the bedroom.
Yes, I live in a flat.
As I was about going back to sleep since I can't think of any where to get money for food then I heard sharp horn within the estate.
"What's going on?" the last time I checked, the estate doesn't need any kind of renovation because there was no space to build another lodge, the blue paints were still bright and no roofs were leaking... enough of guessing, I unlock my door and leave my room walking out of the lodges section.
There's this neon grey colored van parked in the estate and the gate was wide open, I heard people talking in distance with the land lady's son and some privies offloading belongings.
"Was someone moving in?" I ask myself as my eyes wander back and forth searching for glimpse of answer.
"Wait".
"Hope that old lady isn't planning on kicking me out" at this thought, I frown angrily and the son approached me.
"Good morning Mr. Desmond" I greeted overly courteous.
Mr. Desmond was a matured man in his middle thirty, he is divorced and currently reside with his old mother. He is so nice and one of my cool friend but he's hardly at home or should I say he prefers staying indoors.
"Pretty morning Eliora" yes, he's good at teasing.
"What's new?" I asked with my eyes going back and forth from the van to him.
"Oh! You will be having a new neighbor soon" Mr. Desmond said happily.
"New neighbor? How about Kate?" I asked anxiously because Kate has been my neighbor though we have never communicated.
"Kate got married last year, she has moved out for long so... mum wishes to rent out her space" He explained to me and I nodded.
"How would you not have known, I mean she's your neighbor" He asked and base on his facial expression he looked surprise.
"I and Kate. I busy, she not around" I replied like one who was learning how to speak.
"Ohh" He nods slowly as I stare at his eyes he looked confuse but wouldn't want to push further.
"I'll go get busy" He said and proceed walking while I stared at the van with my arms crossed.
Another thought slide into my head and immediately.
"Excuse me" I called Mr. Desmond shyly because I felt it was to early to disturb him.
"Anything.... pretty Eliora?" He asked politely and so you know, he's so obedient especially to women maybe that's why his ex-wife divorced him.
Pushing the silly thoughts away, I smiled.
"So who's moving in?"
"Another She or He" I sarcastically emphasized on the gender part and he smirked.
"It's a She and she's damn hot" He said in a whispering tone raising his brow flirtatiously and I blushed, Mr. Desmond can be so silly at times.
As he left, I shot another gaze at the van then decided to go back to my room.
Life sucks.
I really wished to call my parents to support me financially but... since my latter disobedience, it seems the whole family blocked my line... they pushed me out of their lives.
I walked back to my lodge section but at the sound of the coo voice of Old Mrs. Margret, I stopped and lean on the wall trying to hide and at the same time hear what she was saying... bad habit huh? That's your business but I don't want to be kicked out so fast when my life is still in a deep mess.
"Everything is ready, you can start living in" Mrs. Margret said.
"Thank you Ma" the young stranger who's facing me with his back said.
"How about the next room? I'd love to rent it for my little bro" the stranger said eagerly.
"Actually its free, if you want it I can ask the occupant to leave" Mrs. Margret said and as I heard this, I couldn't believe my ears. Does she really hate me? Embarrassing me in front of a stranger, I didn't move... I desired to hear more.
"You mean...".
"I mean the occupant is a debtor, I can ask her to leave" Mrs. Margret said bluntly and I couldn't hold myself any longer thus I walked out from my hiding.
"Ma" I called in provocation but I remained courteous.
"Yes?" She replied with that her usual sweet smile that will definitely melt a killers heart, as she turns the stranger follows suit and my jaw drops.
"Yes?" She calls again anxiously but I could only hear her faint voice as it was as if the beauty of the young man in front of me has swallowed me.
He was indeed cute but who is he?
Last Chapters
#22 Chapter 22: Not Me, Then Nobody
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#21 Chapter 21: Abrupt Break-up
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#20 Chapter 20: Unbearable Aches
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#19 Chapter 19: Pain
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#18 Chapter 18: Love in Disguise
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#17 Chapter 17: Change in Person
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#16 Chapter 16: And Then, He Came
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#15 Chapter 15
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#14 Chapter 14
Last Updated: 4/3/2026#13 Chapter 13
Last Updated: 4/3/2026
You Might Like 😍
The Softest Chains
“Burn those who burned me!”
Burn those who burned me is an anthology book circulated on truth; justice; and REVENGE!
Story #1 The Ballad of Rabena Price.
Story #2 The rebirth of Clara Granger
Story #3 The violin of Graceland Teague
Story #4 The list for Josie Taylor
Story #5 COMING SOON!
Tempted By The Enemy
She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath.
The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years?
What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
Part of the Temptation Series. Can be read as a standalone.
Fated to the Lycan
Ashlyn Ambrosia, the daughter of Khalid Ambrosia is a weak hybrid vampire that doesn't act like one. Unable to draw blood from a living soul and unable to kill. She's been mocked for this by her own family too. Her world comes crashing down when she's taken away by her Clutch most hated adversary.....
Lucifer Saunron is a ruthless lycan male alpha of the Nightwing pack known for his bravery, skills in war and an unquenchable taste for women. In the long feud between the lycans and the vampires and the battle that ensued, to his greatest displeasure he's fated to the daughter of the Vampire king.
He takes her in as his mistress opposing what the moon goddess proposes.....
With a life that is filled with secrets and mysteries that Ashlyn would discover, would she be able to withstand his hell as he battles with his inner demon despite his cruelty?
BROKEN TRUST
Neither of them knew she was carrying his child.
Emily’s affair didn’t just end her marriage—it erased the life she thought was guaranteed. Ryan left without looking back, carrying his anger like armor and leaving Emily alone with regret she would never outrun. Three years later, fate drags them back into each other’s world, along with a little girl who has Ryan’s eyes and a truth that shatters everything he thought he knew.
Old wounds reopen, grief masquerades as rage, and love refuses to stay buried. As parenthood binds them together and the past demands accountability, Emily and Ryan must face the question neither of them is ready to answer: is broken trust the end of their story… or the beginning of a love forged through loss, forgiveness, and brutal honesty?
The Spy Who Left
"I still can't believe she actually did it. Aria Hart, filing for divorce. Who saw that coming?"
"How long do we think it'll take before she comes crawling back?" Another voice joins the conversation.
"Three days," Victoria declares. "Five at most. She has no money, no skills, no family. Where's she going to go?"
When Aria Chen divorced billionaire Leon Hart, New York's elite sneered, betting she'd crawl back within days. She never did.
Three years later, the world is rocked when Dr. Aria Vale, CEO of a revolutionary cybersecurity empire, steps into the spotlight. The mysterious genius who built a billion-dollar company from nothing is none other than Leon's discarded wife, the woman everyone thought was just a pretty ornament.
Now, every powerful man wants the queen Leon threw away a renowned scientist seeking partnership, a financial titan proposing an empire, and an actor offering devotion. Each sees the brilliance Leon ignored.
Then Leon discovers the truth: Aria's sacrifices, her secret double life, and the daughter she's been raising without him. For the first time, the man who once took her for granted must fight for her love. But can he compete with men who valued her from the beginning?
A story of love, betrayal, and power where the king must kneel before the queen who never needed saving.
Real Heiress, Hidden Boss
On the engagement day, my fiancé slipped a ring on her finger. My parents handed me a train ticket to oblivion.
They celebrated their victory while I disappeared.
What they didn't realize was that letting me go was the worst mistake of their lives.
I am the surgical prodigy saving lives that science deems hopeless. I am the muse of the art world. I am the true heir to a dynasty they couldn't even dream of.
Now, I am back.
Not as the girl they abandoned, but as the storm they prayed would never come.
My ex-fiancé kneels in regret. My fake sister chokes on her jealousy. And the CEO who once looked through me? He is now crawling, desperate to taste the success he once threw away.
The joke isn't on me.
It's on them.
Chosen By The Lycan King
The First Female Alpha
The man I was meant to marry—the rising Alpha, the pride of the Pack—thrusting into another girl like I didn't exist.
But I didn't cry. I didn't scream. I didn't even flinch.
Because the pain had carved me hollow long before he ever touched her.
He thinks I'm weak. That I'll stand by his side in two days, smile for the ceremony, and hand him my loyalty with the Alpha title.
But he's wrong.
I'm not the broken little Luna they think I am. I'm the storm they never saw coming.
The Pack worships him, but only I know the truth buried beneath his perfect lies. So I'll take everything he wants most—the throne, the title, the crown he was born to wear—and win it out from under him, in front of everyone who ever called me unworthy.
Screw the Pack. Screw the respect. Screw being tame.
I'm fury dressed in skin, madness wearing heels, and heartbreak turned into a goddamn weapon.
They wanted a loyal Luna??
Instead...
They created a monster.
And when the throne is finally mine...
The Pack won't remember the name of the Alpha who betrayed me.
They'll remember the woman who took his crown...
and became the First Female Alpha.
Falling for My Boyfriend's Uncle
My boyfriend skipped our anniversary for her—the girl who called me a whore.
He left me walking home in the dark. When my apartment caught fire, he ignored my calls.
But his uncle showed up.
The one with the scarred knuckles and the cop badge. The one who looked at me like he wanted to burn the world down for me—or maybe burn me down instead.
Now, we live under the same roof. Three people. One bed too close.
Every time my boyfriend touches me, I flinch. Every time his uncle looks at me, I burn.
He's dangerous. He's forbidden. He's everything I shouldn't want.
Is he saving me... or does he just want to own me?
Some fires don't just burn. They consume.
My Perverse: You're mine, you son of a bitch
Vincenzo Valentini is a man who sees the world as a business counter and human beings as merchandise.
The owner of an empire built upon corpses and submission, he is the reflection of pure perversity.
When fate places Andrew Thompson, the son of his greatest rival, into his hands, the plan was simple: use him, break him, and discard him like a toy that has lost its appeal.
What Vincenzo did not expect was that, beneath the youthful skin and the appearance of innocence, Andrew hid the same abyss as he did.
Vincenzo never wanted redemption. He never wanted someone to save him from his own darkness. He was seeking a mirror. And in Andrew, he found the partner who, upon seeing his blood-stained hands, does not recoil in terror, but trembles with desire.
In this perverse game, the "little toy" proves to be the perfect executioner. The mafia leader found someone who not only accepts his cruel side but cultivates it, feeding the monster Vincenzo has always been.
Where there should have been fear, lust emerged. Where there should have been hatred, a perverse loyalty was born. Andrew Thompson is the dark reflection of Vincenzo, the soldier the underworld did not see coming, and the man who proved that, for some, paradise only makes sense if it is in the middle of chaos.
Vincenzo opened the doors to his empire, but Andrew was the only one capable of invading his heart.
They are not heroes. They are hell on earth.
The enforcer's redemption
Tyler Rodriguez is the most feared enforcer in professional hockey, six-foot-three of controlled aggression, paid to hurt people and too hollowed by guilt to care about the cost. When a brutal hit sends rival player Danny Martinez to the hospital, Tyler expects hate. What he doesn't expect is Danny's sister.
Sofia Martinez has spent two years rebuilding her life after escaping an abusive marriage, raising her daughter Emma alone, watching every exit, trusting no one who looks like violence. Tyler Rodriguez looks exactly like violence. She knows better than to let him in.
But Tyler keeps showing up. At the hospital. At her school. In the quiet spaces, she thought were hers alone. And for the first time in years, Sofia's threat assessment comes back wrong because the most dangerous thing about Tyler Rodriguez isn't his fists. It's that he listens.
As their forbidden connection deepens, Sofia's ex-husband, Marcus, is watching, and when he files for custody of their daughter, naming Tyler as evidence of Sofia's poor judgment, everything they've carefully built begins to crack.
Tyler must choose between the only language he's ever known and the man he's desperately trying to become. Sofia must decide whether protecting her daughter means keeping her walls up or finally letting the right person through them.
The Enforcer's Redemption is a sizzling, emotionally raw forbidden romance featuring a brooding hockey enforcer haunted by grief, a fiercely independent single mother rebuilding from trauma, and a slow-burn love story set against the backdrop of professional sports, custody battles, and the hardest question of all: can broken people protect each other without breaking again?
Perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy, Devney Perry, and Elsie Silver.












