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136|A House Divided—Part 2
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Beautiful Disaster 137|With Time
Austin was about to pull out of the driveway when Hadley careened out of the house, waving her hands at him frantically."What now?" he mumbled as he rammed the brakes. He didn't think his day could get any worse, but the universe was determined to prove him wrong.He rolled down his window and asked, "what do you want, Hadley? Shouldn't you be with Blake right now?""He's with your father," Hadley said. "They're going over the wedding plans.""Shouldn't you be with him then?"She shook her head, asking, "can we please talk?"Austin didn't think they had anything to discuss, especially after she and Estelle tried to poison Orlando against Marybeth. But he found himself nodding at her to jump in, his heart softening at the lost, almost shattered look in her eyes.Hadley dashed to the passenger seat and made herself comfortable.Austin killed the engine and waited for her to state her case. But when two minutes passed, and she still said nothing, he turned to her, frowning, "can you tel
Beautiful Disaster 138|Not Different From Him
Austin glanced at the digital display on the radio, groaning when he saw it was after three and schools were long out. Going to Sea Point now would be an utter waste of time. So he found the nearest exit and headed to Pelican Surf, calling his handlers on the way to the beach to check where they were.Arno picked up and confirmed they were headed to Tidal Wave for Orlando's swimming lesson."Is Beth okay?" Austin asked."Why do you ask?""I don't know. She called me out of the blue today and told me she misses me.""And that's a bad thing, why?" Arno asked."I can't shake this feeling that something's wrong," Austin said.When Arno remained evasive and tried to rush him off the call, he knew something was definitely wrong. He figured the other man couldn't talk because Marybeth was with him."Anyway," he said, wrapping up the call. "I'm at the beach. Bring them straight here after the swim lesson.""Will do," said Arno before hanging up.Austin found Jerome wiping down the tables. The
Beautiful Disaster 139|Beg For It
Marybeth didn't know if she should be offended by Austin's comment or what, but she'd never turn up her nose at a bubble bath. So she leaned in and pecked him on the cheek, her lips brushing the corner of his mouth."I can get used to this," Austin murmured, spinning her in his arms to give her a back hug. "I can seriously get used to you missing me, kissing me, and begging me—""Forget it," Marybeth said, laughing, as she sprung away from him and dashed to the master bedroom. She rested her back on the door while she willed her heart to stop racing. The man just had to look at her, and she turned into putty in his hands.She didn't know how much longer she could do this...how much longer she could hold out on Austin and his tempting cock. It was becoming harder every day to not beg him to fuck her brains out."Just swallow your pride and put yourself out of this misery," she told herself as she stepped into the bathroom and ran herself a bath.She slipped inside the tub, squealing wi
Beautiful Disaster 140|Awakening
Marybeth had just finished changing into her pyjamas when Austin strolled in, a towel draped around his waist.She gawked at him, her lustful gaze jumping to his rock-hard hard abs and Adonis belt."You want more?" Austin teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm open to hearing you beg me again.""Dream on. That was my only moment of weakness. It won't happen again!" she said, throwing her towel at him before sitting on the edge of the bed. She tapped the empty spot beside her for him to join her."What's wrong now?" he asked as he sank beside her.Marybeth took a deep breath before blurting out quickly, "I think Iris's death may be connected to the dead editor and the other three people murdered last night."Austin's face crumpled under a storm of emotions, cycling through confusion, heartbreak, disbelief and back to confusion again.He opened his mouth several times and shut it without uttering a word, and Marybeth wished she could have worked a little more on her delivery."E
Beautiful Disaster 141|This Love You Speak Of
The Gopals were scheduled to arrive at 8:00 PM, but Austin was at Royal Lights at six, just to make sure the venue was in tip-top condition for what could very well be his final Battle Royale with The Corporation.Austin trusted his assistant to do her job well, but for anything involving The Corporation, he liked to be a little hands-on. So as soon as he'd settled down in his office and responded to a few burning emails, he headed to the Cigar Room at the heart of the casino's dining hub in the south wing.He found Elizabeth hard at work, coordinating with the lounge's staff."Mr Hawthorne, you're here!" she said, briefly looking up from the clipboard in her hands."In the flesh," Austin replied, rocking on the balls of his feet as he shoved his hands in his pockets, a pleased smile on his face. "How's it going over here?""As well as can be expected, I suppose, for something so at short notice."Austin narrowed his eyes at her snippy tone. He didn't like being here more than she did
Beautiful Disaster 142|The Old Guard—Part 1
At 8:00 PM on the dot, the Gopals' motorcade pulled up at the entrance. Austin would not have expected anything less. After all, Vishal, the head of the Gopal family, was a stickler for time.The bodyguards were the first to step out of their cars, surprising Austin when two of them helped Vishal out of his sleek Bentley and placed him in an electric wheelchair.Austin had known for some time now that the patriarch's health was failing him, but he would never have imagined such a rapid decline. The man in the wheelchair was a far cry from the one Austin last saw at the Foundation's charity benefit four months ago.While he was still trying to hide his horror at the elderly man's pitiful appearance, Austin's world was thrown off balance yet again when Navya, Vishal's only daughter, stepped out of the second Bentley, their capos right behind her.Exquisitely dressed in a navy power suit that did very little to hide her stunning figure, her raven hair styled in an angled bob, Navya playe
Beautiful Disaster 143|The Old Guard—Part 2
"I had nothing to do with that attack. You have to believe me," Andrei said as soon as they were alone."You had everything to do with it. If you'd kept your mouth shut about Iris' journal, your unhinged psycho father wouldn't have had any reason to come after me!" Austin growled, his anger rising to the fore again when he remembered his terror. Not for him, but for Orlando and Marybeth. "Did he tell you what he did?"Andrei shook his head, stating, "No. But I heard from my capos. And I can't apologise enough.""He crossed a line, Drei. Your old man crossed a line. Orlando was in the car with me. He always talks about how much he loves her, but the first chance he gets, he lets his dogs loose on us, and for what? For some stupid journal that doesn't even mention him?""I'm sorry," Andrei said, his face crumpled in remorse. "Tell me how to fix this. You and I…we go back a long way. You've been more of a brother to me than Leks has ever been. I don't want the shit my father pulled to af
Beautiful Disaster 144|The Old Guard—Part 3
Austin didn't know if he should be impressed or disturbed by how indifferent Winston was towards Navya and her father when they stepped into the Cigar Room moments later.If Marybeth was in the same room with him, and Austin knew she was about to marry another man in a few months, there was no way he would have been able to remain calm. But Winston was clearly a professional at hiding his feelings. Nothing about his relaxed demeanour hinted at just how madly in love he was with Navya as they all sat at the bar and nursed their drinks while they feverishly discussed the role of the private sector in the country's energy crisis, with Blake leading the conversation.At some point during the impassioned discussion, Tim leaned in and whispered for Austin's ears only, "I have mad respect for Win right now. How does he remain so…""Unbothered?""Yep, that's the word!""He's in denial," Austin said. "Give him a few weeks. He'll call. I won't be surprised if he thinks up a kidnapping plan the
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Beautiful Disaster 300|Beautiful Disaster
Rock Castle was a breath of fresh air in many ways for Austin and Marybeth. Once they'd put down their roots, they embraced their new life, immersing themselves in the community and the social scene.When they were not entertaining or attending various social events, Austin focused all his energy on growing Stardust Inc. while fulfilling his duties as a board member of De Jager Inc. and Orlando's proxy.Marybeth, too, kept herself busy with various home improvement projects, including setting up the baby's nursery. She also joined the PTA at Green Meadows Primary, championing a few fundraisers. As if she wasn't already busy enough, Lukas low-key began sending her Foundation documents to review, mostly company policies and NPO funding applications. Never mind that she'd had zero orientation since she was only supposed to start the following year.She was so busy embracing her new life as a stay-at-home mom and the Foundation's silent CEO she didn't have time to miss her old job. And tim
Beautiful Disaster 299|Loved And Wanted
Austin left Clifton Bay under a heavy cloud of complex family dynamics, his departure shrouded in controversy. But Rock Castle welcomed him with open arms. The people close to him didn't care at all about the drama and scandals he'd been embroiled in over the past few months. They were just happy to have him in the same city with them, and it didn't take long at all for Eden and Natalie to reach out to Marybeth and take her under their wing, acting as her free tour guides, pregnancy encyclopedias or sounding boards.Completely sold by their raving reviews of Dr Emily Waylon, they set up an appointment, immediately falling in love with her bedside manner on their first check-up. She was attentive, not to mention patient, answering their endless questions with a comforting calmness.Orlando and Adeline couldn't contain their joy when they broke the news about the baby that evening. Marybeth's tummy had gotten so big they could no longer hold off on telling them."Is it a boy or a girl?"
Beautiful Disaster 298|A Fresh Start
The whole time Austin scoffed down his food, he noticed Marybeth wasn't eating, absently toying with her salad. His heart shattered all over again because he knew he was responsible for her lack of appetite and dramatic weight loss."Mr Hawthorne, can we talk, please?" Elizabeth appeared beside him, stealing his attention away from his wife."Sure, let's chat inside," he replied, leading her into his study."Long time no see," he said with a smile as he sat on the edge of his desk. "You look happy and younger, too.""Traveling will do that to you," she replied, flashing a brief smile that Austin found a tad unsettling because it was so unlike her. She was always stoic."So that's what you've been up to since I left the Group?"She nodded. "The place wasn't the same without you, so I left. And that's why I'm here. I want my old job back. If you'll have me, that is.""You'll have to take a pay cut," Austin said. "I'm starting from scratch, Elizabeth, so I don't have a ton of cash flow—"
Beautiful Disaster 297|Family
Barry De Villiers was at Sea Point Police Station at 9:00 AM for Austin's release, and after completing a ton of paperwork, they were finally out of there by 11:00 AM.Austin didn't talk much on their way to Pelican Surf, lost in thought and the scenery. It was like he was seeing everything for the first time. The sun on his skin, the wind in his hair, the light glaring in his eyes…it all felt different, somehow."So, what's the first thing you'll do when you get home?" Barry asked."Hug my wife and kids until they get annoyed with me," Austin replied with the biggest smile. "Maybe eat a nice home-cooked meal...Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all the takeaways you got me, but nothing beats my wife's cooking!"Barry guffawed, throwing his head back. "Okay. What else?""Mhh, I think a nice long shower is in order, too," Austin said, sniffing himself, making sure he didn't smell like something out of a garbage can."You don't stink," Barry assured him."I know," Austin chuckled. "Just ma
Beautiful Disaster 296|Bargaining Chip
Austin's altercation with another prisoner was the last straw for Marybeth, the thing that pushed her beyond her limit and sent her over the cliff.He'd asked her to hang in there for a few more days, but the thought of him getting into another fight or possibly getting killed terrified her. The stalemate with his father would only get deadlier the longer he remained in custody. Something had to be done to bring him home, and it had to be done fast. So she called Lukas, begging him to end all the madness. But, he wasn't interested in hearing her out, telling her coldly that he was too busy picking up Austin's slack—running the family and The Corporation—to worry about her fears.Marybeth's desperation got so bad that she reached out to the one person she swore she'd never ask for help. Her mom.They met at a sleepy coffee shop in Virginia after Anna and Willem's joint funeral.As usual, Vivienne was dressed to the nines, dripping head to toe in designer labels despite the sombre occasi
Beautiful Disaster 295|The Folly Of Youth
That night, Austin couldn't bring himself to eat the takeaway Barry had brought him. How could he when his heart was in pieces?A thousand kilometres away, Willem Dejager had no appetite issues. In fact, after Maryke's death and his fallout with The Corporation, his appetite had improved, and the insomnia that had plagued him for years since Iris died had miraculously vanished. If he'd known revenge would cure all his ailments, he would have joined forces with Austin much sooner.He was still furious with him for going back on his word on Maryke. But seeing Lukas so broken, now that he didn't have an heir, more than made up for Austin's betrayal.Yes, things had gotten messy over the past few weeks, but they would only get even more chaotic once he sent the ledger to the cops. He just hadn't found someone he could trust yet. His old contact at the station—the man who'd finally given him the unredacted file on his daughter—had been recently placed on administrative leave, and Willem was
Beautiful Disaster 294|Special Kind Of A Hate
Swarms of reporters were waiting outside Sea Point's police station when Austin was dragged out of Gordon and Peterson's car. They mobbed him as soon as they saw him, pushing their cameras and microphones in his face, screaming for answers. The whole thing reeked of a badly organised PR stunt, and when Gordon and Peterson made no attempt to protect Austin from the crowd, even though it was their job, he began to think one or both of them had tipped the media off. Why wouldn't they, when they had finally taken down a member of the Hawthorne crime family? Never mind that Austin didn't belong to said crime family anymore. Never mind that they didn't have evidence to back up their charges. But who needed evidence? As far as they were concerned, this was huge, and if they miraculously managed to get the charges to stick, sending him away for twenty-five to life would be a huge career move for both of them. So parading him in front of the vultures was totally in their best interest, walking
Beautiful Disaster 293|Long Arm Of The Law
"I'm fine. Vivienne was just leaving," Marybeth nodded, grateful for the interruption; she couldn't handle any more threats from her mom."Yep, I'm on my way out," Vivienne affirmed, spinning around and making her grand exit. She turned back, calling over her shoulder, "Beautiful service, by the way. But I'm not sure if Lionel was worthy of it!""You!" Marybeth shook her fist at her, ready to go after her, but Austin pulled her back by her waist, reminding her people were watching."She's not worth your energy," he said, rubbing her back to soothe her. "What did she want anyway?""To see if there's anything she could do for me," Marybeth replied, shooting daggers at Vivienne's back as she vanished into the crowd of mourners. "And to warn you.""Warn me?" Austin asked, massaging her nape. "What for?""She said to tell you to 'wake the fuck up and fix things with your father'; her words, not mine. Apparently, there's chatter.""What kind of chatter?""I don't know," Marybeth admitted. "B
Beautiful Disaster 292|A Rare Gift
Nothing good ever happens after 1:00 AM.And no one ever calls with good news after 1:00 AM.But it was her father. Marybeth couldn't ignore him. So she hit answer and braced herself for the worst."Sweet Pea," he said, sounding awfully cheerful, considering how late it was."Daddy, what's going on?""I know it's late," he said, pausing briefly before he got to the heart of his call. "And I know we planned a road trip to Still Bay in a few weeks. But is there a way we can move it forward?""Forward?" Marybeth asked, confused by the proposal."Yeah, can we go today? I suddenly have this urge to see the sunrise. And you know how beautiful Still Bay's sunrises are."Understanding what her heart refused to accept, Marybeth's mind made all the decisions for her from that moment onward."Of course, Daddy. Let me grab a few things, and I'll be there in an hour," she told him before hanging up.She shot out of bed like a lightning bolt, threw on a lightweight tracksuit and sneakers, grabbed a
