Gypsy Lover

By Darla Tverdohleb

Alodia comes home just to find out her twin sister Alyanna committed suicide. She finds out the reason behind it and decides to avenge her death by hurting and shaming men-until she meets a Romanian Gypsy. She is now confused about her feelings for Harman while she keeps reminding herself that she is only playing a game with him. But will he let

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Nov 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9789360496708

Book preview

Gypsy Lover

Darla Tverdohleb

Ukiyoto Publishing

All global publishing rights are held by

Ukiyoto Publishing

Published in 2022

Content Copyright © Darla Tverdohleb

ISBN

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

To my twin flame, Vladuț Mircea

Contents

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

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Epilogue

About the Author

Chapter 1

A

lodia closed the black gate of the big white house. She paused to look around her. It was a sunny winter day. She knew it would be muddy later, because of the melting snow under the sun. She glanced around her. There were only a few people around who were bustling with their daily activities—either going to work, school, or somewhere else.

Her eyes went round when she saw a man shoveling the snow from the path of his garage all the way toward the gate, so that his car would not get stuck. Perhaps, the street snow cleaners were already done earlier that day, and he had to shovel the rest of the massive snow drifts. His back faced her, and she could not see his face. And yet, her heart drummed so hard. She was about to go deaf because of the loud pumping of it.

A handsome face of a man came to her mind. Yes, she recognized this man, although he had his back to her. He was tanned as ever. He was apparently well built far more better than before. His slightly beaky nose looked arrogant as ever, while the set of his jaw and lips was strong and manly. More than ever before. His dark hair seemed thicker and curlier than in the past.

Didn’t he have a haircut at all? Just when did he arrive? Has he found me yet? she nervously thought and asked herself.

Alodia, let’s go! Nicu, the little Romanian boy, seemed to wake her up from her dreamy state.

She turned around right away before the man who was shoveling the snow could see her. She was really nervous… and afraid.

Let’s go, she agreed with the little kid, forcing a smile on her red lips.

They still had to walk to the bus station to commute. The station was about three minutes from the house. Unfortunately, one of her employer’s cars, the one she usually uses, was broken and was not repaired yet, while the other one was driven by her employer, Nicu’s mother. The older woman was a career woman. They had been together for quite a while now. It was already about three years, and they were quite close like friends or even family.

She was not only Nicu’s stay-in governess but also his nanny. And she loved him like her own son. Therefore, she would do anything for him just like his own mother. Nicu was a sweet and caring boy, so Alodia was indeed lucky.

She would send to and pick him up from school every single day. And whenever she finished every household chore, she would either cross stitch or cook for the three of them.

I saw you staring at the man back there. He’s our new neighbor, Nicu observed. While speaking in English, he got the other passengers’ attention. She was half Filipino and half American. Her late mother was a Filipino, and her irresponsible father was an American, who turned tail upon learning her mother got pregnant and whom Alodia had never met in her entire life.

Alodia was not the only Asian in Iaşi City. However, she was always an attention grabber because of her unique features.

Even though Romania is not particularly a very rich country, because it is also the world’s source of workforce around Europe and other rich countries, it is seldom that Romanians meet someone like her everyday. There were also a lot of poor people in the country, like the Romanis or better known before as Gypsies. Alodia learned and heard there were some opportunists just to get by. Not being racist or anything at all, but it was indeed true for some. Nonetheless, it did not take a particular ethnicity to be opportunists, since it depended on the individual. Hence, she had nothing against the Gypsies, really.

Especially that there was this one particular Gypsy man she gave her heart to.

It was Harman Mihalache. The man that she just saw shoveling the snow drifts merely across her employer’s house! And that was not good news. At all.

Are you listening to me, Alodia? Nicu tugged at her scarf to get her attention when she did not answer.

Huh? I’m sorry. Did you say something, Nicu? she inquired.

She was lost in her thought while staring at the bus window. The grocery stores, pawnshops, flower shops, and people walking on the pavements as well as others were not registered in her vision as her brain was busily remembering that gorgeous Gypsy.

She thought that she had already forgotten all about him within those three years. But then again, she had not. She had to remember that she had countless sleepless nights because of him. But she had to forget him.

And if they really loved each other truly, then she had to endure this another heartache in her life…

I wanna surprise Mama. Maybe we could go to the mall first, and then we’ll go to her office after school, Nicu suggested excitedly. His eyes lit up at the mere idea.

She blinked without comprehension. Why are we going to surprise her? she asked the little blond boy with blue-gray eyes.

He sighed and pouted, giving her a hard look. You really were not listening to me, Alodia. It’s Mama’s birthday! Did you just forget about it?

She laughed half-heartedly. Of course not! But she did forget about it. It was gone if she did ever remember it earlier. It was because of Harman’s fault for appearing in her life again. She never expected it! I was… uh… thinking if I could make some salad and bake a cake for her birthday, she lied. The truth was, she was just thinking about all those now.

The boy nodded, but his eyes were still full of doubt. She could not blame him for that. He was after all a bright kid.

I think you’re distracted or something today, he continued to observe.

Who? Me? Distracted? her mind echoed.

She laughed again at the little kid. She was of course! And not only distracted, but she was also worried and stressed to the highest level!

What if Harman saw her because she was just living right in front of his house? Well, if it was really his new home now.

Alodia even left Bucharest, so that their paths would not cross again, but here he was! In Iaşi! Where else in Romania could she hide from him? She wondered at another possibility to hide from him. However, she could not just easily get away as she would want. She had no other family other than Nicoleta’s.

What am I going to do if Harman did find me?

Chapter 2

A

lodia said goodbye to Nicu when she already made sure that he was in his classroom. She went to the mall to buy the necessary ingredients that she was going to use for baking and cooking to prepare for her employer’s birthday. She was totally going to prepare a surprise for Nicoleta’s birthday. She was sure that the latter would be happy about it.

While looking for the ingredients in mind, she did not notice the man who was pushing his cart that was filled with groceries. She bumped into it, and some canned goods hit her shoulder, making her groan in pain while massaging the assaulted part.

"Pardon!"

She heard the man’s voice that spoke in Romanian. He continued to profusely ask for her forgiveness.

Her mouth suddenly hung open. That familiar voice!

Harman! her mind shouted, making her heart thump so loud against her rib cage. Sh*t! Why is he here of all places?

She tried hard not to look over her shoulder. But damn that neck of hers. It seemed to have its own mind and turned toward the owner of that sexy baritone voice.

It seemed that time and space did not exist, as they looked into each other’s eyes. Those black curly lashes and dark brown eyes…

Alodia? He recognized her instantly.

She looked in front of her to escape from his staring eyes. She quickly took the things she was going to buy and walked away fast. She wanted to get away from him as soon as possible, but he chased her and held her by the arm.

Let me go! she ordered firmly without turning and looking at him.

I have been looking for you for years! he told her, with serious eyes.

She could not stop herself from looking at him in the eyes then. He what? He was looking for her for years? When was it? Since she was gone? But why? Did he not understand why she went away? He should have known it by now! And he should have hated her! Was that why he stopped her because he wanted to confront her now?

She swallowed the huge lump in her throat and blinked fast. She raised her chin, because he was way taller than her five feet two.

And there’s nothing to talk about, is there? Even though she was guilty as a criminal, she did not want to show it to this man.

She tried hard to take back her arm and went over to the cashier to pay the goods.

He, on the other hand, was still on her heels. She could hear the soft steps of his shoes against the white tiled floor of the supermarket. She knew that his strides were longer than hers, but she tried hard to ignore him.

She paid everything, and he followed her quickly without paying. But the staff chased Harman to make him pay for the grocery. When she looked over her shoulder, she could see that he took in a deep breath and took some money from his wallet and paid everything. Afterward, he chased her again outside the mall, ignoring the people’s stares.

Alodia! He called her name, again and again.

She did not turn around, like she never heard anything. She hailed a cab and got in it quickly. She shook her head at the taxi driver when he thought they were together. She told him the address, and they were off.

I think he’s calling you, miss, he said in Romanian while peering at his rear view mirror.

I don’t know him, was her only reply.

The driver grinned at her. He obviously did not believe her, but she did not care.

Looks like he knows you well, then. Besides, he’s after us now, driving his car, he revealed.

What? Her jaw hung open, and her eyes widened.

She looked behind them, and she could tell it was that brand and make of the car that she saw in his garage earlier this morning.

Sh*t! she cursed. She then turned to the driver. Could you lose him, please? I will pay you handsomely, she requested the driver, with an awkward smile.

"Well, if you say