
What If We Love Again?
anaelesylvia2017 · Ongoing · 79.9k Words
Introduction
Detective Jake had known it was unprofessional to form that sort of relationship with the victim of the case he had been assigned to work on. But somehow, he found himself ready to lose it all, just to be with her.
It is not only shocking, but heartbreaking when Anise ups and leaves without a trace, after the conclusion of the investigation.
Now, Anise has returned after five years, with a child he never even knew he had. Jake would go to any length to gain custody of his child, while Anise would go to any length to win Jake’s love back. The question is…
Can they love again?
Chapter 1
SEPTEMBER 2023
ANISE POV
I braced myself and walked ahead to the door, before knocking lightly. I asked myself if I knocked lightly because I was nervous, or because the right thing to do wasn’t to go hitting hard on people’s doors. After a few seconds, I knocked again and waited to be answered. Finally, the door opened to reveal Jake, and I could tell he was more shocked than surprised to see me.
“Anise?” he uttered, his voice barely audible. It was clear that my unexpected presence had caught him off guard. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, trying to comprehend why I was standing at his doorstep. I had left for years before making this decision. He probably thought he wasn’t going to see me again for the rest of his life. Little did he know I was here to torment him in the worst possible way. I wasn’t happy about that, but I had no choice as well. I couldn’t keep my daughter away from her father any longer.
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts as I looked into his eyes. There was a myriad of emotions swirling within me, but determination fueled my words. “ Hey.” I smiled, but he couldn't bring himself to reciprocate it. Instead, he asked the question I had been expecting, though not so quickly.
“ What are you doing here?” He asked. Even in his state of shock, I still couldn’t help but notice how broader his shoulders had become. How he appeared taller, and the way he towered over me, made me feel so small.
“yeah…ermmmm..I ermm….”
“Anise, just tell me what the problem is.” He rushed out impatiently, looking back to see if someone was coming. Was there a woman in his house? Why was he acting so fidgety?
He stepped aside, feeling the need to be lenient, and silently invited me into his home.
We settled into the living room, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. I began to carefully put my words together. Wondering the right time to let them out. I knew I had a lot to say but that was before I showed up at his doorstep unexpectedly. Now, my words began to fail me making it difficult to start a conversation.
“ why did you leave?” He asked with his gaze fixed on me. His words hung in the air, heavy with longing and a hint of pain. I searched his eyes, seeing the raw vulnerability within them, and I knew that I owed him an honest answer.
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my thoughts and began to speak, my voice trembling slightly. I shared the reasons behind my departure and the complexities of life that had led me down a different path. I spoke of the internal battles I had fought, the doubts and fears that had consumed me.
“well….. I had been away.” I sniffled, letting one stray tear fall. “ I had been away because I felt I didn’t deserve to be here, I was away because I had lost it all; my mother, my father, my brother, and myself in the process. I had nothing left for me here. I feel so sad that you weren’t present to watch and see your daughter grow.
The room seemed to spin as the weight of my revelation settled upon us. The silence was deafening, broken by the sound of our ragged breaths. I could see the storm of emotions raging within him. and I braced myself for his response.
“what?….. I have a child?” He exclaimed, his voice filled with pain and hurt. I nodded with my heart aching from the pain I had caused. Olivia is five years old. I had her a few months after I left.
Jake’s face contorted with anger, confusion, and a hint of longing. He took a step back, his hands trembling as he tried to process the magnitude of the news. “ How… how could you keep this from me?” He whispered with tears glistening in his eyes.
Tears streamed down my face as I reached out to him. “I thought I was protecting you, protecting our daughter. I didn’t want to burden you with my struggles, my pain. I wanted to give Olivia a chance at a better life and with your job, you already had a lot on your plate.”
“my work does not have anything to do with my child or my responsibilities as a father, Anise. If you so claimed to be what she needs, where were you all these years? Huh? You kept my child away from me and expected me to be happy about it? How am I even sure that she’s mine in the first place.” He screamed in my face and I tried my best to keep the tears at bay.
“oh please! don’t be ridiculous, Jake. You think I would come all the way to make up lies about my child.. your child?” I scoffed.
“I never kept her away from you intentionally. Life got complicated, and I made mistakes. Jake, I never thought anyone would mean so much to me as much as Olivia does. I love her and I realized that trying to keep her away from you is not the best. She has been asking about her father and I can’t keep avoiding her questions anymore. I’m so sorry Jake. I am. I know I can’t change the past but I am here now, ready to make amends. I want you to be there for our daughter. To make up for lost time. I want you to be the parent she deserves.”
“Oh, so if she had not kept asking of her father you wouldn’t be here right now? Was it even your intention to be here? Five years! And you are just telling me?” He said with rage written all over him.
“ I am going to get full custody of my child, no matter what it takes.” Anise, you need to leave”
“Jake, I only came here for us to discuss rationally. Not for you to steal my child. I know I was wrong to keep this from you for so long but you need to understand…..” I managed to say before Jake interrupted.
“understand what? You? What is there to understand? That you kept my child away from me for five years! Five good years, Anise. Please leave, I do not want to lose my temper.”
Last Chapters
#59 NOT THE KIND THAT PULLED YOU TO BED
Last Updated: 1/22/2026#58 THEN SHOW ME
Last Updated: 1/22/2026#57 THEN WE'RE EVEN
Last Updated: 1/22/2026#56 THE WALL BEHIND
Last Updated: 1/22/2026#55 THE FIRST
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#54 THEN LET US LOVE YOU WHY YOU TRY
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#53 JUST FOR AWHILE
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#52 YOU THINK WE'RE BROKEN?
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#51 BECAUSE THEY'D COME FOR ME NEXT
Last Updated: 1/21/2026#50 GIANNA
Last Updated: 1/21/2026
You Might Like 😍
Avery and the Cursed Alpha
Then a mysterious billionaire offers her a deal that sounds too good to be true.
Alexander Ravenswood is powerful, wealthy, and feared throughout Tenebrous City. Behind his perfect public image lies a deadly secret. He is the Alpha of the Nocturne Pack, cursed by an ancient bloodline that is slowly driving him toward madness and death. His only hope lies in finding the legendary Aethon Orb—or the prophesied mate destined to save him.
When Alex discovers that Avery can draw symbols connected to the long-lost artifact, he offers her a contract she cannot refuse: become his fake fiancée for six months in exchange for enough money to erase her debts and save her home.
What begins as a business arrangement quickly becomes something far more dangerous.
As they search for the missing Orb, Avery is drawn into a hidden world of werewolves, ancient prophecies, and deadly pack rivalries. Powerful enemies want Alex's throne. A jealous Alpha heiress wants Avery gone. And a ruthless rival Alpha will stop at nothing to claim the Orb for himself.
But the greatest secret of all may be Avery herself.
Because the closer she gets to Alex, the more impossible truths begin to surface about her past, her strange abilities, and the destiny that has been waiting for her all along.
With a curse threatening Alex's life, enemies closing in from every side, and a forbidden bond growing stronger by the day, Avery must decide whether to walk away from the dangerous Alpha who needs her—or risk everything for a love written by fate itself.
In a city where secrets kill and destiny cannot be escaped, can a fake engagement become a love powerful enough to change the future?
The mafia princess return
HER ALPHA, HER SAVIOUR
Kane Hellboud, charm and wealth personified, wanted only me in exchange for her treatment. No cameras, isolation, or noose-like rules were part of the deal. Behind his smile? Cold, violent possessiveness that destroyed our fake marriage.
Most of all, I didn’t know the supernatural walked among us, hiding in the cracks of ordinary life. Not until Abel Stone stepped into mine—dark-eyed, sharp-tongued, and oozing dangerous promises. He’s my new boss. He shouldn’t make my skin tingle or my pulse race. I shouldn’t feel this primal pull, this illogical recognition that tugs at something deep in my bones.
Around him, lights burst, electronics fry, and something ancient in me awakens.
Kane feels it. His grip tightens, punishments turn brutal, and he hides the truth of what I am.
Trapped between two powerful men, I’m no prey, no pawn—no helpless victim.
Prisons burn. Monsters bleed. As for me? I'm the storm in skin—deadly beyond suspicion.
The Alpha's Stripper Mate
"What?" It was out of my mouth before I could stop it. I did not wait for him to answer me, I walked toward him.
"Dance on my lap."
My head screamed at me to turn around and run. But my whole body responded to his command.
"Yes, Alpha," I pulled my dress over my body, it dropped over my head and fell to the ground behind me. I was left in nothing but my matching bra and thong. My hands covered my chest on reflex.
"Let me see."
My hands dropped to my sides.
I lowered myself into his lap, facing him. His eyes peered into mine, and I could feel his hot breath fan my face. His dick responded to all my moves, hardening against my now-moist vagina. I swallowed hard, allowing my lips to part in a ragged breath. His hands trailed up to my waist.
"No touching."
At the tender age of eleven, JoJo Wyatt was forced to grow up far sooner than she should have. Born to a cruel father and a weak mother, she quickly realized she had to become the breadwinner for herself and her sister. Nothing else mattered to her, not even the hottest men. In fact, she despised them. After one horrific night, she swore never to have any contact with the male species again. That was, until she started working for him as his stripper.
Meanwhile, Alpha Lake Rush, thirty, was the most feared Alpha in the country. Burdened by his own share of life's struggles, he had learned only to be cruel and reckless, rejecting not one but two mates. But what happens when he discovers yet another mate, and she turns out to be his stripper?
The Contract Wife: Marriage Of Malice
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
I didn't tell him to stop.
Instead, my fingers curled into his shirt, clutching the fabric as though it was my only anchor. Something in him snapped—something he had been holding back for too long. His mouth found mine in a kiss that wasn't tender, but hungry, desperate.
I gasped into him, his hand sliding up to cup my jaw, holding me as if afraid I might vanish.
"You drive me insane," he breathed against my mouth, his lips trailing to my throat. "I can't lose you, Ella. Not you."
My head fell back, a soft sound escaping me as his fingers memorized my waist. My anger melted beneath his desperation.
"James..." I whispered, more plea than protest.
His hand caught mine, fingers threading together tightly. "I'll bring him back. I swear it. Just... don't turn away from me. Please."
The word please—low, ragged, almost broken—undid me more than anything else could have.
Ella never imagined she would marry the man she had secretly loved for years in such a way.
When her brother Theo faced twenty-five years in prison for massive embezzlement, the ruthless business tycoon James Lancaster offered her a deal: marry him in exchange for her brother's freedom.
This wasn't a fairy tale proposal, but a carefully orchestrated revenge. Because in James's heart, Ella was the culprit who had killed his sister Cecilia. He wanted her to pay the price—to atone with a lifetime of suffering.
Lightborn: The Demon’s Bond
Alpha VS Omega' Twin VS Twin (A Dark Werewolf Romance)
Stripped of everything, Callum is thrown into the Rookeries, where packless wolves go to die. But he survives. He builds a pack from the broken and the damned. He falls in love with Valentina, a dhampir hunted by the same vampire Parliament that destroyed his life.
In a city ruled by immortal aristocrats and controlled by ancient dragons, Callum learns the hardest truth: individual virtue cannot defeat systemic evil. But small victories matter. And some fights are worth losing everything
Bound By Power, Torn By Love
She regards him as her only salvation, but he regards her as a pawn for revenge. When two enemies dance on the sharp knife, what will be the final outcome?
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother
"What is wrong with me?
Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?
It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.
He’s my boyfirend’s brother.
This is Tyler’s family.
I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.
**
As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.
Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.
When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.
I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.
**
I hate girls like her.
Entitled.
Delicate.
And still—
Still.
The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.
Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.
I shouldn’t care.
I don’t care.
It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.
It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.
I’m not here to rescue anyone.
Especially not her.
Especially not someone like her.
She’s not my problem.
And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.
But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
The Dragon's Last Fae Queen
“Prince? Dickhead? Asshole? Or stalker?” A slow, dangerous smile curved his lips. “Maybe I should show you the one title I want you to use.” Before I could react, his hand closed around my chin, tilting my face up. His lips crashed into mine, hard, claiming, breath-stealing. When he finally pulled back, his voice was a rough whisper against my lips. “You could call me yours… because you are mine.”
Vengeance of the Forsaken Luna
"Bella." Ethan's tone shifted, taking on that warning edge I knew too well. "Faye is vulnerable right now. She's terrified you'll resent her, that this will divide the pack. The last thing she wants is for this baby to come between us."
"Then you shouldn't have done it." I met his eyes squarely, letting him see the ice in mine. "Go back to your son."
"For fuck's sake." He dragged a hand through his hair. "How many times—it was artificial insemination. They used my sperm, yes, but Faye and I never—"
Bella let out a cold snort. Such brazen lies. Her mate had an affair with his brother's partner, and his entire family helped force her out with nothing, all to make way for the mistress to take her rightful position. Poor fool—he thought she was just an unwanted adopted daughter, easy to dismiss and control. He never knew the computer genius he'd been searching for was his own Luna.
Since he'd tainted himself, Bella was done. She rejected him and reclaimed what was hers, rising to the top with help from Victor, who'd been secretly in love with her for years.
When Ethan tried winning her back: "You don't want our child growing up fatherless."
Bella smiled mockingly. "The child's father isn't you."
The Game of Claiming
A drunken bet becomes their private game: win the maid.
The rules?
Don’t let the others know you’re falling for her.
And never, ever let her leave.
But each brother plays differently—
The eldest buys her obedience.
The second steals her breath.
The third corners her in the dark.
The youngest ruins anyone who touches her.
Lila isn’t sure if she’s a player in their game… or the prize they’ll destroy each other to claim












