Until You
Until You
Until Series, Volume 1
Lily Orevba
Published by Lily Orevba, 2017.
Copyright
Until You
Copyright © 2017
Lily Orevba
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means including but not restricted to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, without the prior written permission of the author except in the case of critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction belonging to Lily Orevba. Resemblance to places, persons —living or dead– is purely coincidental.
Also by Lily Orevba
Until Series
Until You
Standalone
A Bride For Us
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also By Lily Orevba
About The Author | Lily Orevba's writing career started on Wattpad, an online free reading site, where most of her books are published and freely made available for readers. When she's not writing, she's on her bed, lost in the huge world that exists only in her head. She has a degree in Law but would much rather spend the rest of her life writing.
Dedication
Prologue
II
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
Chapter Thirty Three
Chapter Thirty Four
Chapter Thirty Five
Chapter Thirty Six
Chapter Thirty Seven
Chapter Thirty Eight
Chapter Thirty Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty One
Chapter Forty Two
Chapter Forty Three
Chapter Forty Four
Chapter Forty Five
Chapter Forty Six
Epilogue
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About The Author
Lily Orevba's writing career started on Wattpad, an online free reading site, where most of her books are published and freely made available for readers. When she's not writing, she's on her bed, lost in the huge world that exists only in her head. She has a degree in Law but would much rather spend the rest of her life writing.
If you find her work, UNTIL YOU, fascinating, you can check out more of her books on Wattpad, under the username @Leeleekez.
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Dedication
To my readers on Wattpad,
I could not have imagined in a million years, finishing this book without all of you. Your support is everything to me! Thank you so much for being here, for all your supportive comments and for being all the encouragement a girl could ever need. Thank you for being my 'unofficial' editors. You never failed to point out all the typos and horrid use of grammar. For your kind and gentle corrections, for pushing me to write, in a few weeks, what would have ordinarily taken months to write. My greatest fear is trying to write down all your names, because if I do, I will fail miserably to do so without leaving a lot of people out. This book is dedicated to you all.
To Rawan Ameer, Siri and Nosyuu, thank you so much for your support.
To my family; my parents, my brother Emmanuel and my sister, Sharon, thanks for being a supportive family.
To my Heavenly father,
Without whom there will certainly be no me, thank you.
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Prologue
New York, 1901
“I do apologize, Matt, but I just can't picture a life with you. While you do have a lot of money to your name, I'm afraid it's not enough.”
Her own words echoed in her ears –a mistake from her past coming back to haunt her several months later as the image of Matthew on his knees, holding up an engagement ring to her, flashed before her eyes. She watched as her rejection sank into him, helping to extinguish the fire that once burned in his hazel eyes. She watched the blood drain from his face, the weight of her words settling on his shoulders until his fingers could no longer maintain their grip on the ring. She watched the love of her life fall apart before her, but rather than go to him, she had turned her back on him and it had turned out to be the worst decision of her life.
She knew, as she stood on the dock with her gaze fixed on the ship ahead, that that one decision, inspired by greed and ignorance, had stirred her life in a completely different direction, forcing her to leave everything she ever loved behind and embark on a journey to a country she knew nothing about.
Straightening, she let out a breath as the cool evening breeze caressed her face –she feared she was making the wrong decision by choosing to leave. The part of her that longed desperately to hold on to the past seemed to keep her feet glued to its position on the dock. Yet, the part of her that knew the past was broken, urged her on. She couldn’t turn back because Matthew hadn’t just moved on by marrying another woman, but her own family had become bankrupt. Moving to London and accepting a job with a dressmaker was the only option she had.
Still, it was the fear of an uncertain future that held her bound to her position for several more minutes, her own heart warring with her mind. Eventually, her mind prevailed, common sense silencing her emotions temporarily as she stepped forward; a step that would take her away from the life she once knew and into an uncertain future.
A future in London.
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II
London
It wasn't until the sun began to lighten up the sky with its rays piercing through the curtains that covered the window, that Ethan began to feel the weight of staying up all night, sink into his rigid body.
He glanced at his fingers that were now becoming stiff from holding a pen all night, and flexed it as a soft yawn escaped his lips.
Deciding that he was too tired to go up the stairs to his now empty bed that no longer possessed the sleeping beauty with long, straight mass of dark brown hair, or the warmth that her body provided, he brought his head to a rest on the massive mahogany table before him and pulled his eyelids close; he would sleep for about an hour, giving in to the darkness and illusion of peace that his slumber would create. Then, he'd be jolted awake by an invisible alarm clock set to go off in what was left of his broken heart.
Ethan would never concede to being heartbroken out loud but deep down, he knew he was. Being shamed by the woman he loved was one thing, but being pitied by his servants was another. Ethan Williams was a rich, powerful, twenty eight year old man with lands and vessels spread across England. He would have a lot of things, but he was never going to have pity.
Somewhere in the midst of his disheveled mind, he must have drifted to sleep because he was suddenly jolted awake by the banging and shaking of the massive wooden door that managed to keep him locked up in his study, away from the prying eyes of his servants and the desperate hands of the town's spinsters –he frowned as the image of the pesky mothers and their highly annoying daughters flashed before his eyes. They had all began vying for his attention since the news of his wife’s disappearance spread around town like wild fire.
The continuous banging on the door was powerful enough to jolt him back to the present. With a sigh, he pushed his aching body to its feet and slowly began walking toward the door, deciding to scold whoever it was that was bold enough to disturb him. He imagined that his constant sour mood since his wife, Juliet’s disappearance had made it quite clear to his servants that he wished to be alone.
Releasing the latch that secured the door, he pulled it open, the weight of the door almost proving to be too much for his weary body. He stepped back as the door gave way, revealing Jacob’s aged face.
A small frown immediately pulled on the edges of his brows as he took in the butler’s disheveled appearance; his silver hair stuck to his wrinkly forehead, held bound by the liquid that was now dripping off of his face. His blue eyes spoke of urgency and while he stood before Ethan with his hands clasped before him, seemingly waiting patiently for the command to speak, he seemed rather anxious to make his mission known.
Ethan nodded once, giving Jacob the opportunity to address him.
"There's a problem, my lord," he said, "a child was left on the front porch. No one knows at what time this event occurred but the maids were left with no choice but to bring her in, considering the intensity of the late night's rain."
Ethan blinked, confused. He heard Jacob clearly –perhaps too clearly– but his mind seemed unable to comprehend the words being spoken. A child; it was the most absurd thing he had heard his entire life.
He rubbed his throbbing forehead. "This child was abandoned?" The words barely formed on his lips, confusion and fatigue making it nearly impossible to speak as his eyes searched Jacob’s for signs of foul play. It was true that the butler had worked for him for five years and proved his allegiance in those years, but Ethan couldn't help the feeling of suspiciousness.
Jacob shook his head. "A note addressed to you was found in the child's basket.”
"Where is this note?”
“It is with the child, my lord. She is with Adeline right now. If you are willing, I shall take you to her." Jacob bowed slightly.
Ethan thought of rejecting the offer because he was uncertain he ever wanted to set his eyes on the child. On the contrary, his first instinct was to send her off to the orphanage where abandoned bastards like her belonged.
Yet, rather than go with his instincts, he nodded his head in acceptance of Jacob’s offer –he would see the child and read the note. For reasons that transcended his understanding, someone had the audacity to abandon a bastard on his doorstep while simultaneously addressing a note to him. Not only did the fool’s actions upset him, it gained his attention and created some sort of curiosity in him that could only be placated once he had read the note and taken a look at the child. Once his curiosity was put to rest, he would get rid of the child.
He followed Jacob through the dimly lit hallway of the building –an old castle-like building restructured to appear a lot more modern. He had only purchased the building in fulfillment of the promise he made to Juliet who had once had a silly childhood dream of living in a castle.
Ethan's fingers balled into a fist as his mind wandered briefly to Juliet and her schemes. He clenched his teeth, and shook his head, choosing instead to focus his attention on the path and the task ahead. When they reached the underground part of the house reserved for his servants, he kept his gaze straight ahead, ignoring the greetings of his servants as he passed by, until Jacob was pausing before a closed door and pounding on it.
Frowning slightly, Ethan watched as the door opened up before them and a young maid appeared with a bundle in her arms.
“My lord,” she bowed her head, her gaze falling immediately to the floor.
He turned from her and to the bundle in her arms, a slight frown creasing his face as he stared at the little finger that stuck out of the gray blanket.
The desire to see more than just a finger urged him forward until he was pushing the blanket aside.
A sharp breath immediately escaped his lips at the sight before him —a red cheeked baby who painfully resembled his dead mother.
He shook his head, trying and failing to push the thought away. The more he stood staring at the child, the more it seemed like the painting he had of his mother as an infant had suddenly taken on flesh.
"Adeline, Lord Williams demands to see the letter that came with the child." Jacob said, dragging Ethan back to the present.
"Of course," Adeline said, holding the sleeping child forward.
Without stopping to consider his actions, Ethan received the child into his arms.
"I didn't mean..." The maid appeared surprised, her face paling slightly.
Shaking his head to her unspoken apology, Ethan understood that she had meant to hand the child over to Jacob.
Turning to the sleeping child who snuggled close against him, he ignored the slight tug on his heartstrings as he watched her suck on her thumb, and for a brief second, he found himself truly believing that she belonged in his arms. There was a desire to protect her, one that saw him cursing himself for agreeing to come here in the first place. He thought that perhaps he should have sent Jacob to bring the note to him, or perhaps he should have gotten rid of the child and the note without bothering to take a look at it?
Ethan didn’t think he needed the complication of raising a stray child added to his already messed up life. He was so unstable that he was starting to see a resemblance between an abandoned child and his own mother!
The maid returned in what appeared to be a second, relieving him of the child as she handed him the note. He ignored the pang in his chest and the emptiness of his arms once the child was taken away, focusing instead on unfolding the note and reading its content.
Ethan,
Congratulations on being a father. I tried motherhood for six months and failed. Good luck.