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16|Love Means Nothing
Last Updated:
2023-01-26 02:07:37
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Beautiful Disaster 17|Make It Make Sense—Part 1
By the time the birds began to chirp their morning call, Marybeth was long awake. She sat at the kitchen island, nursing a cup of instant coffee in her hand, and contemplated the several empty boxes scattered around the open plan living room floor.When she moved in two years ago with her bestie, Scarlett, she vowed never to see another cardboard box in her life again. Not until she'd found her soulmate, at least, and they had to move into their seaside mansion.But here she was, faced with a damn near impossible task of stuffing twenty-eight years of her life into cardboard boxes she'd rounded up from the building manager the previous afternoon when she got home after her disaster of a lunch with the family.A door down the hall creaked open. Barefooted steps on the tiled floor treaded closer, followed by a loud yawn as Scarlett paused inside the entryway. She blinked several times at the boxes and rubbed her bleary eyes, shaking out her messy blonde hair. "What's going on? Are we mo
Last Updated : 2023-01-26Beautiful Disaster 18|Make It Make Sense—Part 2
Scarlett gently nudged her shoulder, shaking her out of her melancholy. "I'm sorry. I'm guessing Austin didn't mention any of this to you?"Marybeth brushed off the question with a quick shake of her head. "Why would he? We're married in name only. In exactly a year, after Daddy pays him off, we'll go our separate ways.""Are you sure about that?" Scarlett asked."What do you mean?""I mean, it's not just you and Austin. There's also a little girl involved. Can you honestly walk away from her after your time is up?"Marybeth tilted her head slightly and played with her hands. "Please, Scar, don't put me on the spot. I'm still getting my head around everything. My father, his debt, Austin and our fake marriage. It's all too much for me.""I understand," Scarlett said, stifling another loud yawn with the back of her hand. "But seriously, I think this whole thing is absurd. I mean, who marries someone just to pay off a debt?"Marybeth could only nod her agreement. She, of all people, kne
Last Updated : 2023-01-26Beautiful Disaster 19|Make It Make Sense—Part 3
Sure enough, at 1:00 PM, Arno, Benji and two brawny men who could easily moonlight as bouncers were on Marybeth's doorstep.Within ten minutes, the four of them had cleared her apartment of the ten boxes with her books and keepsakes, and three suitcases stuffed to the brim with all her clothes.Marybeth ran through her apartment one last time, making sure she hadn't left anything behind. Satisfied she had everything she'd need for the foreseeable future, she turned to Austin's men with a smile. "I think I'm done."Pointing at her laptop bag and purse, Benji asked, "May I?""Sure." Marybeth gladly handed over the items and locked up the place, before she followed the men down the hall to the elevators.When Arno offered to carry the case with her mom's acoustic guitar, Marybeth politely declined. It was her most cherished possession and the only link to a woman who'd discarded her like she meant so little.Phoebe Tyson picked it up for a song at a Waterfront flea market, but she never
Last Updated : 2023-01-26Beautiful Disaster 20|Ambush—Part 1
It was an ambush. No, an intervention of some sort. Austin knew this as soon as he walked into the grand living room of his childhood home in Clarence Estate, and found not only his father, but also his aunt, Blake and Hadley, having a nice old chat over Earl Grey tea.Their nice old chat came to a screeching halt when Orlando dashed from his arms and ran straight to her grandfather's lap, screeching, "Gramps!" like the man was Santa Claus himself."There's my favourite granddaughter in the whole wide world!" Lukas cheered right back at her, his large arms enfolding her small frame in a warm embrace."What do you mean, Gramps?" Orlando asked, burying her face in his neck. "I'm your only granddaughter and your only grandchild.""That you are my button!" Lukas tapped her nose before she scrambled out of his grasp and showered her great aunt, soon-to-be aunt and uncle, with hugs and kisses while telling them all about her sleepover at Neli's."I'm hungry," she announced in the middle of
Last Updated : 2023-01-26Beautiful Disaster 21|Ambush—Part 2
Austin found Orlando sniffling in the back seat, clutching her worn stuffed toy. He pulled her close to him, asking, "What's going on, Squeak? Why are we crying?"Orlando sobbed on his chest, "You're upset, and I didn't mean to make you mad!""You're right," he replied. "I am upset. But not with you, Squeak. Your aunt and great aunt did something unforgivable.""When they told me about the wedding?" Orlando shifted slightly and peered at him, her eyes moist with tears."Yes." Austin brushed her cheeks with his thumb and kissed her forehead. "I wanted to be the one to tell you. I wanted you to hear it from me first. I'm sorry you didn't.""Why didn't I come to the wedding, Daddy? Didn't you want me there? Does Ms Tyson not like me? Aunt Hadley said she doesn't want me—" And Orlando dissolved into another gut-wrenching round of fresh tears."Oh, Orly. That's not true at all," Austin said, gently patting her back until her cries eased into gentle whimpers."Let's stop at the promenade,"
Last Updated : 2023-01-26Beautiful Disaster 22|Stardust
"Well, well, well, Beth," Austin whistled as he opened the pots simmering on the stove one at a time. His eyes grew as big as a kid's at a candy store when he saw the saffron rice and chicken stir fry.Who would have known his new wife could cook?Wasn't she just full of surprises?But it was one thing for her food to smell tantalisingly delicious. The taste had to be phenomenal before he showered her with praise.So he grabbed a spoon and stole a quick bite. But one bite led to two, and before he knew it, he couldn't stop. The food was freaking delicious, better than their three-course wedding lunch at The Windmill Hotel. In fact, it was better than any meal Mrs Allan had ever made."I was right about you, Beth," he murmured as he dipped his spoon in the wok again."Daddy!" Orlando whispered, glaring at him when she caught him red-handed as he was about to shove a spoonful of stir-fry in his mouth. "That's terrible manners!""I'm sorry, Squeak," he mumbled guiltily as he pushed the f
Last Updated : 2023-01-26Beautiful Disaster 23|The Problem With Fire
While Austin was wheeling and dealing down the hall, Marybeth stirred to life, yelping when she found a tiny-sized human sitting on the floor, gawking at her.She'd taught tiny-sized humans for seven years, hung out with the lonely and bullied during breaks, and started a music band with a few on Wednesdays. She just never had one sit and stare at her while she slept, as if she was holding a seance or summoning something scary."What is it?" Austin dashed into the room, a puzzled frown creasing his brows.Marybeth pointed at the brown-haired girl sitting cross-legged on the floor. "I'm sorry. I opened my eyes, and she was just staring at me, and I freaked out because I wasn't expecting anyone.""Orlando, we've talked about this," Austin gently admonished the little girl. "You can't just sit there and watch people sleep.""But you said I shouldn't disturb her, and I was just making sure she doesn't have nightmares. I get nightmares when I'm in a new place," Orlando explained, her roseb
Last Updated : 2023-01-26Beautiful Disaster 24|Work Of Art
Marybeth had barely made it inside when she felt Austin's powerful arms on her, slamming her to the wall as he claimed her mouth in another torrid kiss. Within seconds, she was panting and purring his name again, the heat in her core, needing only one thing to get her out of her misery. As if he could see into her x-rated thoughts, Austin lowered his hands, pressing her firmly close to him as he sensually rubbed against her, the girth and length of his erection driving her wild with need."Tonight," he murmured."No!" Marybeth gasped, pushing him away, when she heard the faint sound of a door slamming shut somewhere in the house."Not tonight. Not ever!" she reiterated as she fixed her clothes.She returned to the living room in time to see Orlando walk down the hall in her unicorn onesie and matching slippers."I'm ready to set the table, Ms Tyson," she announced, showing off her clean hands.Marybeth gently patted her head, "Can you give me a second? But you can get started in the m
Last Updated : 2023-01-26
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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
