Yours Since Nineteen

YOURS SINCE NINETEEN JEANNETTE WINTERS An original work of Jeannette Winters, 2023. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental. DEDICATION This book is dedicated to all who have faced a challenge head on, only to find your HEA on the other side! Also a huge thank you to Deepti Mahajan, one of my editors, at [email protected] . We make a wonderful team. And to my wonderful readers. You continue to challenge me and I love it. Please keep those emails coming CONTENTS Jeannette Winters Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Also by Jeannette Winters By Jeannette Winters & Lena Lane Jeannette Winters Author Contact website: JeannetteWinters.com email: [email protected] Facebook: Author Jeannette Winters Twitter: JWintersAuthor Newsletter Signup: www.jeannettewinters.com/newsletter Also follow me on: BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/jeannette-winters Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13514560.Jeannette_Winters Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorjw/boards/ Facebook Twitter WHEN WE WERE EIGHTEEN Declan spent years ensuring Venus and her daughter were safe. But their sudden disappearance changes everything. He is going to find them and ensure their safety, whatever the price may be. Learn how in this second chance romance! Declan O’Leary I’d promised never to let anything happen to Venus and her daughter. Even though we parted ways years ago, I didn’t break my word. I just altered how I watched over them, if even only from a distance. But now they’ve vanished, and no one can tell me where they went, panic consumes me. Nothing will stop me from finding them. I just hope it's not too late. All leads bring me to Tabiq. Venus never would’ve gone back there willingly. Time is of the essence. But finding her is only one piece, getting her to trust me again after all this time might prove difficult. I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and this is the most important one of my life. Venus has always been full of surprises, and this time is no different. She was willing to leave Tabiq, but on her terms, and that meant me telling her the truth about why I left her years ago. If she doesn’t forgive me, then I might not ever get the chance to tell her how I really feel. Something I should’ve done when I was nineteen. CHAPTER 1 Lenia Pravost (Venus Prada) “Mom, I can tell something is troubling you,” MaKayla said. I could see her eyes filled with worry as she reached across the kitchen table and covered my hand with hers. “MaKayla everything is fine. It's just been a long day that's all,” I lied. It was a lot more than that, but my daughter was getting married in just a couple of days. This was supposed to be a joyous time for her and for me. It was everything I'd wanted for my daughter, love, happiness, and a family. What was clouding my mood was the feeling that I didn't know where I fit into it all. I had been her mother and protector for the last twenty-five years. That role had changed, she didn't need me anymore. Not at least like she used to. But I need her more than I ever did. She shook her head. “I thought the lies between us were over. You know you can tell me anything. Is this about me marrying Damien?” I should’ve known better. Not only was she marrying a man whose whole career was about reading others and searching for the truth, but my daughter seemed to be pretty damn good at it herself. I don't know how I ever got away with lying to her for 25 years before she found out the truth about her father. “I'm sorry. You are right. It’s got nothing to do with fatigue.” “Is this about what Grandmother said last night?” I couldn’t recall anything that stood out because there had been so much talking that it had all blended together. When I didn’t reply, MaKayla added, “You know, about me not having a father to give me away.” “Oh, yeah. That. I’m sorry. She didn’t mean to cause you any pain,” I explained. “But it was out of my control. You know that don’t you?” MaKayla nodded. “Mom, everything you told me about my father had been a shock. But Uncle Steven told me everything my father had been through, or at least everything he was willing to tell me. My father might not be here to give me away, but I know he’s watching over me just like he was when he ensured you had enough money to hide me from his father.” I wanted to hug her and tell her how proud he would be of her, but I had no right to talk about him. I hardly knew the man myself. It was for Steven to do that now. Michael was his older brother. He knew Michael better than I ever did. “I’m glad you have your uncle to help you through all of this.” “And I have you too. But if it isn’t the absence of my father that has you worried, then what is it? If it is about Damien and me, you can tell me.” “Oh, goodness, no. I don't want you to think this has anything to do with you and Damien. You are meant to be together. He's a good man. I'm happy you are marrying him. I know he loves you and will always protect you.” “But?” I wished she would just drop it. This was not the time to have this discussion. She had a