Advertising For Love - Prequel: Helen's Reason: Advertising For Love

By Victoria Michaels

A moment in time can change someone forever...

 

Like glass, once shattered some people can never be made whole again.

 

When her perfect world is ripped apart Helen Barrington is forced to discover who she truly is. The good, the bad, and the sinister.

 

When her father loses everything in a real estate market crash he turns to dark vices to get himself through. The torment he causes his family sends Helen into a tailspin. Torn between love for her father and desire to protect her family Helen embarks on a journey that will change who she is forever.

 

Scarred by violence and deceit young Helen has a decision to make.

 

Everyone has a choice between good and evil. What path will Helen choose?

 

Trigger warning: domestic violence, physical violence

 

Helen's Reason is the prequel to the exciting new series Advertising for Love by Victoria Michaels. This mystery thriller series will keep you coming back for more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victoria Michaels
• Release date: Nov 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215301777

Victoria Michaels

Victoria Michaels 💋 is the author of the Stephanie Unchained series and is a best-selling breakout author of dozens of steamy romance novels. A former high school English and Literature teacher, Victoria lives in the rural Canadian Rockies with her husband and their three dogs, Jake a border collie, Madeline a Golden Retriever, and Cherry a Labradoodle. Follow Victoria on Facebook and Amazon as well! 💖

Book preview

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Continue with Advertising for Love Book 1 from Victoria Michaels

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Chapter One – Helen

Helen hummed gently to herself as she glanced through the ring display at the jewelry section, her hands clasped behind her back. Her mother was browsing through a kitchenware aisle just a few feet away, supposedly searching for new cutlery.

I wonder if mom will buy me one of these rings, Helen wondered to herself. One of the options she was admiring was especially beautiful; it was an emerald stone in an ornate gold setting, and it was unlike any of the rings she currently had in her collection. She owned many rings, some with stones that ranged in color from pink to ruby, and others that were much simpler with just a band. She rather enjoyed rings, loved the weight they left on her hands. Something about it was satisfying to her.

That was why she owned so many of them. On every holiday or special occasion, she was gifted one or two rings, and she had a solid oak cabinet in her room solely dedicated to holding the hundreds of rings she owned. Helen knew she was quite fortunate to own so many, when many girls her age had nothing.

Helen’s father was a successful realtor, though he was still quite new to the industry. Both he and Helen’s mother came from wealthy families, and for a long time her father worked for his father before starting out on his own in the realtor business. Helen was quite proud of him and of his successes, which helped contribute to their lavish lifestyles. She and her siblings, Miranda and Robert, got everything they ever wanted, and their parents never failed to express how much they loved them.

Helen was startled to see another face pop up next to her, and abruptly turned. It was another girl her age whom she didn’t recognize, and the girl looked at her with a warm smile. They’re so pretty, aren’t they?

They are, Helen agreed, grinning back and nodding. She pointed to the one she had in mind, the emerald one. That one is really beautiful.

The girl's eyes noticeably widened.  It is, she whispered.

Charlotte? An older woman approached, presumably her mother, with a shopping basket on her arm. Sweetheart, we have to go now. She offered Helen a friendly smile.

Can I have this ring, Mom? Charlotte pleaded, pointing to the emerald ring. Though Helen was interested in it, she immediately began to scan the other rings. If the girl wanted the ring, she could have it.

She was surprised when the woman gave a soft, embarrassed laugh. No, sweetheart, I’m afraid not. Helen turned her gaze back to the woman and noted the glint of guilt in her eyes as she took her daughter’s hand. It’s just not in our budget right now.

Helen took the moment to glance at the woman’s shopping basket and realized some of the items looked familiar. They were on the clearance rack that Helen and her mother passed when they first entered the store, items that her mother wouldn't look twice at.

Oh, that’s incredibly sad, Helen couldn’t help but think as Charlotte and her mother walked away. The girl gave Helen a small wave as they headed towards the registers, and she halfheartedly returned it.

Helen often forgot how privileged her life was. It was very easy to forget; she attended a private school, where all the students attending were just as privileged as she was, or even more so. It was easy for her to forget that many people couldn’t afford the luxuries that her family could. That poor girl, who just wanted a simple ring, might not actually own anything as nice.

It made Helen sad and, when her mother returned to her a few moments later, she pointed to the ring. Can I have that ring?

Her mother glanced at it and nodded, smiling. Of course, Helen. Are you ready to go?

The jeweler boxed the ring up then and there and, as her mother paid for everything, Helen scanned the various registers, looking for the girl. She spotted the girl and her mother finishing up their transaction at one near the exit and began to make their departure.

Grabbing the box, Helen quickly turned to her mother. I’ll be right back. Darting to the door in