The Bloodstained Ring Hidden in the Wall of Our New House
Lily · Completed · 5.5k Words
Introduction
Chapter 1
My perfect husband built a thick soundproof wall in our new house, strictly forbidding me from touching it. When he left, I took a hammer to the drywall. Hidden inside the dark void was a bloodstained engagement ring belonging to a missing woman. Am I sleeping next to a killer?
——
"Why do you insist on touching that wall, Nadine?"
The voice of my husband, Rowan, drifted from the doorway, edged with a barely detectable tension.
I paused with the tape measure in my hands and turned to look at him.
Wearing a perfectly tailored dark-gray trench coat and holding a bag of Blue Mountain coffee beans from an artisanal roaster, he looked the very picture of the perfect partner.
But his eyes weren’t on my face. They were locked onto the soundproof wall in the basement behind me.
"Because the proportions are all off, Rowan," I explained.
"The load-bearing structure of this house is on the east side, yet this wall juts out an extra fifteen inches for no reason."
"It completely throws off the flow of the entire basement."
"I’m going to tear it down and put in a built-in wine cooler."
"I told you, absolutely not." Rowan set the coffee beans down on the workbench, strode over, and snatched the tape measure right out of my hands.
"That wall houses old heating pipes and the main electrical wiring."
"If you just start hacking away at it, we could be looking at thousands of dollars in repairs, or worse, start an electrical fire."
"I can get a professional contractor in here to assess it," I insisted, meeting his gaze.
"Nadine, listen to me." He sighed, reaching out to cup my face in his hands, his thumbs gently grazing my cheekbones.
His hands were freezing—so cold I had to fight the urge to flinch.
"I bought this house so you’d have a quiet place to work on your designs."
"That soundproof wall keeps out the street noise."
"Trust me. I’m an architect; I know what’s best for this house."
His tone was flawlessly gentle, yet an inexplicable chill washed over me.
Rowan was a control freak. I’d known that before we got married, but he usually had much more subtle ways of manipulating me into a compromise.
Right now, however, his protectiveness over this wall bordered on paranoia.
"Alright," I said, forcing a smile as I took a step back, slipping out of his grasp.
"You’re right. Maybe I’m just being too nitpicky."
"There you go, sweetheart." Rowan smiled, looking thoroughly satisfied, and leaned in to press a kiss to my forehead.
"I have to head up to Portland this afternoon to meet with a client. I won’t be back until tomorrow night."
"Will you be alright here by yourself?"
"Of course. I’m going to catch up on the interior decor plans for the second floor."
The moment Rowan’s car backed out of the driveway and disappeared down the street, my smile dropped.
I hurried back down to the basement and locked the door at the top of the stairs behind me.
Rowan was lying.
After a decade working as an interior designer, I could map out a house’s plumbing and wiring in my sleep.
In a 1920s home like this, there was absolutely no way the main electrical panel ran through that wall.
More importantly, the drywall seams were fresh. Six months old, tops. Which meant Rowan must have secretly hired someone to build it right before we moved in.
What exactly was he hiding? Or rather—what did he bury inside there?
Walking over to my toolbox, I grabbed a claw hammer and a flat pry bar.
My heart hammered wildly against my eardrums. With every swing of the tool, it felt like I was physically shattering the illusion of our perfect marriage.
The drywall was much flimsier than I expected.
Within minutes, I had punched a fist-sized hole near the baseboard.
No wiring. No heating pipes.
Just a hollow, pitch-black void—and a rush of cold air that carried a pungent scent: a mix of plaster dust and something sickeningly sweet and rotten.
I flicked on my phone’s flashlight and held it up to the breach.
The fiberglass insulation was torn and mangled. Wedged in the narrow gap between two wooden studs, something caught the light.
I grabbed a pair of needle-nose pliers and carefully pinched it out.
It was a woman’s white-gold ring.
The breath hitched in my throat.
The inside of the band was crusted with a dark, rust-colored stain. Dried blood.
I dug my thumbnail into the grime, scraping away a layer of the blood. Under the harsh glare of my flashlight, a line of incredibly fine, cursive engraving revealed itself:
'To M.V., Forever Yours. R.'
R.
Rowan?
A tremor started in my hands, violent and uncontrollable.
Rowan had sworn to me that before we met, he was a staunch bachelor. He claimed he had never bought a ring for another woman in his life.
So, who the hell was "M.V."?
And why was her bloody ring sealed inside the walls of my basement?
Last Chapters
You Might Like 😍
Luna On The Run- I stole The Alpha's Sons
But Axton is more than just a rival, he's her fated mate. And he's been searching for her not for love, but for revenge and a chance to destroy her father's pack. The next morning, Elena rejects him, walking away before he can trap her in his ruthless schemes.
But Axton does not take rejection lightly, and his retaliation is brutal: a leaked video, a ruined reputation, and a family that turns their backs on her drive her to flee the city in disgrace.
But when Elena disappears, she takes something Alpha Axton never planned to lose - his sons. Now, he'll stop at nothing to get them back. He wants his heirs, he wants his mate, and Elena will learn that no one runs from the Alpha.
Tango 2 the Alpha's Heart
My gaze snapped to his. He was smiling, causing my heart to skip a painful beat. Before I could respond, the music began, and my body instinctively reacted to the sweet melody.
I found myself molded to Lex's will, my feet irresistibly following the dance steps.
The crowd gasped as Lex pulled me into a more intimate position, his hands roaming over my body in a seductive manner.
The experience was both terrifying and magical, allowing me to feel every longing emotion through the dance.
I soon found myself lost in his arms.
When the music finally stopped, my arms were wrapped around his neck, his hands resting on my back, our noses almost touching. He gazed deeply into my eyes.
The ballroom fell silent.
Was he about to kiss me?
Lilly’s life was never easy; she lost her memory and family in a blazing fire. Angelica found and took her in—only to make her a slave to the household.
Years of torment and abuse left Lilly weak, vulnerable, and believing she was without a wolf, but that didn't mean that all hope was lost.
At night, in her dreams, he would patiently wait for her—the man who brought sunshine into her darkest moments.
They would dance the night away, but as dawn approached, he would vanish into the morning sun.
Lilly had given up hope of finding a mate, having a family, and leading a normal life.
But things are about to drastically change for her...
Secrets, lies, betrayal... and a baby on the way.
What if Lilly wasn't wolf-less? What if it was all a lie?
What if she had a living family? Would she stay and bond with them or make a run for freedom?
Exchanging Vows: The Swapped Wife Is a Top Shaman
Rejected By My Family, Desired By The Mafia
While the real heiress struggled to survive, the nanny’s daughter, Talia, was raised in luxury as the beloved jewel of the Laurent family, pampered by Camille’s parents, adored by her three brothers, and even promised to the prestigious Matteo Devereux through a childhood engagement arranged by their grandparents.
Then the truth came out.
Six months ago, Camille was finally brought back to the Laurent family. To protect the family reputation and prove their devotion to their bloodline, the Laurent patriarch transferred 35% of his personal shares into Camille’s name overnight, instantly making her one of the wealthiest heiresses in the country.
It brought anxiety to all the Laurent family. But what they don’t know…is that Camille never needed them.
Behind her elegant smile lies a woman filled with secrets powerful enough to shake the whole family. She's a miraculous healer capable of curing the incurable poisons.
Yet despite everything, her family still chooses Talia.
Every accusation against Talia is forgiven. Every scheme against Camille is brushed aside. Even Matteo, the man who was supposed to be Camille’s fiancé—cannot let go of the woman he always believed belonged by his side.
But while the Laurent family underestimates Camille, another man begins to see exactly who she is.
Dante Moretti.
The ruthless heir of an old-money dynasty. A billionaire CEO worshipped by the public…and the merciless king of a criminal empire hidden beneath the city’s glittering surface. When Dante is poisoned by a rival syndicate with a deadly toxin no doctor can cure, he offers a fortune for anyone who can save him.
Only Camille can. Their deal is simple: she becomes his personal physician, and he gives her anything she wants.
Taste of Fate: The Vampire King's Human Mate
He reached for the back of my head and pulled me up just enough to reach my neck. When his fangs slid into me, the pain was instant, electric. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My hands found his shoulders, clawing for something to hold. My legs kicked. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
He moaned against my throat as he drank, and the sound was devastating.
After Divorce，I Became His Only Love
Then, on their wedding anniversary, she walked into his private club and heard him whisper to another woman: "Take care of our baby."
The woman was his brother's wife.
Everything—the gentleness, the restraint, the so-called love—had been an elaborate performance. And when Serena demanded a divorce, Leo didn't beg. He didn't apologize. He smiled and said: "Your grandmother wouldn't want that."
Now Serena must fight her way out of a marriage designed to cage her, a family that wants her silent, and a past that still has teeth. But the man who appears from the shadows to help her… is the same one who abandoned her years ago.
And he has secrets of his own.
Fated to the three Alphas of MOONCREST college
Fated to the three alphas of MOONCREST college... book 1
Fated at mooncrest: Stuck with the two alphas.... book 2
A half-blooded girl. Three charismatic Alpha Wolves. And a destiny-bound bond.
Malia Reed always felt she was nothing special except for her bloodline; she only wanted to survive in the shadows.
Until she entered Mooncrest college…everything changed. A destined, inescapable bond bound her to the powerful and handsome Alpha Wolves—Aiden, Cian, and Rowan Moonfall Wolf.
The entire academy was abuzz with excitement; everyone was talking about it.
As her hidden powers awakened, the dark secrets of her parents surfaced. Enemies drew closer. And what about her three destined companions? Their feelings were subtly shifting…
But only one could truly win her heart.
MOONLIT CHASE
But no, I had to walk through the park at midnight like an idiot. Now I've seen something I can't unsee—a massive black wolf tearing apart three men, then shifting into the hottest guy I've ever laid eyes on.
Kieran Vaughn. Wealthy lawyer, werewolf, and apparently, he thinks I'm his mate.
Here's the problem: I don't do relationships. I definitely don't do supernatural things. I absolutely don't do rich guys who think they can control my life just because their inner wolf has decided I smell like home.
When hunters start targeting me to get to him, Kieran drags me into his pristine penthouse for "protection." Now I'm living with a man who looks at me like I'm his last meal, whose touch sets my skin on fire, and who's barely holding onto his control.
He says everyone he loves dies. I say that's not my problem except it is because I'm falling for this broken, dangerous man and his beast.
And in his world? Love will get you killed.
Bonds at War: The Virgin is Mine
Perhaps then they would stop controlling my every move. Maybe my brothers would stop resenting me. Perhaps I wouldn’t feel so invisible anymore.
No one believed I could do it—not even my mate, Alpha Jaxon Trevane.
The night I planned to tell him... I found him tangled in bed with my best friend.
Heartbroken and humiliated, I left everything behind and went to Elite alone.
But the academy isn’t the fairytale I dreamed about.
Beneath the grand halls and traditions, a brutal game is being played.
The four ruling Alphas of the North, South, East, and West fight for power, dominance... and now, for me.
A virgin. Untouched. Unclaimed. The prize they all want.
There’s the mate who shattered my heart and swears he’ll win me back.
The brilliant strategist who wants me as his Luna.
The dangerous playboy who promises no one will ever touch me but him.
And the cold, possessive Alpha who watches from the shadows—and would destroy anyone who dares to take me from him.
But in a place where love is a battlefield and lust is a weapon... falling in love might be the most dangerous thing I ever do.
Welcome to Elite Order Academy—where every desire has a price, and my body is the ultimate trophy.
Where The Ice Gives Way
Blake Atlas scents his mate the moment Charlotte arrives. The bond hits hard and unmistakable, but Charlotte doesn’t recognise it. She doesn’t know why her chest keeps pulling toward the one boy she absolutely cannot afford to want. Blake is Charlie’s new hockey captain. Charlie’s chance at making something good. Charlie makes it clear; his sister is off-limits and Blake tries to do the right thing, but secrets don’t stay buried forever. Rogues prowl the edges of town. The ice cracks. The bond tightens. Then Charlotte’s rare white wolf awakens, the very thing that makes her powerful, also makes her a target.
Shanti needs Shakti. (Peace needs strength.)
Where the Ice Gives Way is a slow-burn YA paranormal romance filled with fated mates, protective alpha energy, fierce sibling loyalty, found family pack bonds, hurt/comfort, and quiet, aching tension. It’s a story about first belonging, learning to be cared for, and what happens when the girl who has always held everyone else up finally falls, and someone catches her.
The MC Hacker’s Stolen Princess
She did not come to find out her father had promised her to another man.
As the only daughter of Shane “Rook” Rourke, president of the Lost Coast Renegades MC, Taryn has always known club business comes first. But when Rook signs a treaty with the dangerous president of Iron Mesa, he crosses a line even she never imagined.
Safe passage through Arizona territory comes with a price.
Her.
Kellan Stroud is thirty, powerful, ruthless, and already waiting at Sturgis to meet the woman he expects to marry.
Taryn wants no part of him, no part of the agreement, and definitely no part of a future chosen for her by two men who think a signature is enough to decide where she belongs.
Then she meets Bobby Fuentes.
At twenty, Bobby is one of the youngest fully patched members of the Sons of Doom MC. He is quiet until he has something to say, dangerous when he needs to be, and smart enough to get into places no one else can. Hacking is what he does best.
Until Taryn gives him a new problem to solve.
One reckless connection at Sturgis becomes something neither of them can ignore, and when Bobby realizes exactly what Rook has promised away, walking away stops being an option.
But stealing another president’s future wife is not a misunderstanding.
It is an insult.
A betrayal.
And in the MC world, it can mean war.
Taryn refuses to be anyone’s property.
Bobby has never been good at following rules.
And Kellan Stroud does not forgive what he believes belongs to him.
The road out of Sturgis may cost them everything first.
Reborn and Unleashed: The Boss Lady Takes No Prisoners
Now reborn, Vivian refuses to hide her strength. She's revealing her true identity, claiming her power, and rewriting her fate. No more submission, no more misunderstandings—this time, she'll take control of her life and her love.
As regretful brothers beg for forgiveness and powerful enemies fall at her feet, Vivian has one goal: to rise without mercy and make the man she once loved fall for her all over again—on her terms.
