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Chapter 23
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Ravenna stood in front of her full-length mirror, smoothing down the sleek black dress she'd chosen for the evening. Her fingers trembled slightly as she applied a final touch of lipstick. This was uncharted territory for her - even in her past life, she'd never experienced the pulsing energy of a nightclub. After marrying Rylan, such outings had been strictly forbidden.
"Ravenna! Daniella's here!" her mother's voice echoed up the stairs.
With a final glance at her reflection, Ravenna grabbed her phone and clutch, then hurried downstairs. The moment she saw Daniella, both women let out excited shrieks.
"You look amazing!" Daniella gushed, pulling Ravenna into a hug.
Ravenna's father appeared in the entryway, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. "Remember to be careful, girls," he cautioned.
"We will, Mr. Thorn," Daniella assured him with a bright smile. "I'll take good care of her."
As they climbed into Daniella's car, Ravenn
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Ravenna stared at her ringing phone, Soren's name flashing on the screen. Her heart raced as she debated whether to answer. Just as she decided to let it go to voicemail, a sharp knock on her office door made her jump."Come in," she called, expecting Emily.The door swung open, revealing Soren Blackthorn in all his imposing glory. Emily rushed in behind him, flustered."I'm so sorry, Miss Thorn! I tried to stop him, but-"Ravenna held up a hand, cutting her off. "It's alright, Emily. You can go."Emily nodded, casting a wary glance at Soren before exiting and closing the door behind her.Soren strode across the room and sat down across from Ravenna, his phone still in hand. Ravenna took a deep breath, steeling herself. But before she could speak, Soren beat her to it."Avoiding my calls, are we?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.Ravenna felt her cheeks warm. "I was busy," she lied smoothly.Soren's piercing gaze told her h
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Ravenna's eyes fluttered open, the harsh hospital lights momentarily blinding her. As her vision cleared, she saw her parents sitting beside her bed, worry etched on their faces.Her mother noticed her stirring and leaned forward, relief flooding her features. "Oh, thank goodness you're awake, sweetheart!""What... what happened?" Ravenna croaked, her throat dry.Her father squeezed her hand gently. "You collapsed in the car, honey. The doctor says your brain might have recalled something from your life before the accident."Ravenna nodded slowly, the memory of the bridge and the oncoming car flashing through her mind."They want to keep you here for at least two more days," her father continued. "And you'll need to take some time off work to rest.""No!" Ravenna exclaimed, sitting up too quickly and wincing at the resulting headache. "I'm fine. I can't miss work."Her mother tried to reason with her. "Darling, you need rest. Surely work can wait-""No, Mom," Ravenna insisted, her voic
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Ravenna stepped out onto the street, hailing a cab with a confident wave. As she slid into the backseat, the driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror."Where to, miss?""The Blue Note Jazz Club, please," Ravenna replied, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach."Sure thing," the driver nodded, pulling away from the curb.As they drove through the city streets, Ravenna checked her phone. 8:30 PM. The show started at 9. She took a deep breath, hoping Rylan would actually show up.As they neared the club, Ravenna leaned forward. "Actually, could you drop me off somewhere a bit more discreet? Maybe that alley u
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Ravenna grabbed her bag and walked past Lilith and Rylan, plastering on a polite smile. "It was nice to see you both. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.""You're leaving already?" Rylan asked, his brow furrowed. "The jazz show hasn't even ended yet.""I have work tomorrow," Ravenna replied smoothly. "I should head home and get some sleep.""Oh, right," Rylan nodded. "Well, let me escort you out at least."As he moved to stand, Lilith's hand shot out, gripping his arm tightly. "I'm sure she can find her own way," Lilith said, her voice sharp. "Can't you, Ravenna?"Ravenna could practically feel the jealousy radiating off Lilith, but she pretended to be oblivious. "Of course," she said breezily. "I'll be fine. Goodnight, you two."She placed her hand on Rylan's arm briefly as she passed, savoring Lilith's barely concealed glare. As Ravenna walked out of the jazz club, she couldn't help the triumphant smile that spread across her face. Everything was going according to plan.She
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Ravenna's fingers hovered over her phone for a moment before she dialed Rylan's number. He picked up on the second ring."Ravenna," his voice came through, a mix of surprise and something else she couldn't quite place."Rylan," she replied, keeping her tone casual. "Is everything alright? Your message seemed urgent."There was a brief pause before Rylan chuckled. "Actually, it's nothing serious. You left your watch at the jazz club last night. I found it after you'd gone."Ravenna allowed a small smile to play on her lips. Of course, she'd 'forgotten' the watch on purpose, but Rylan didn't need to know that."Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed, injecting just the right amount of distress into her voice. "I've been panicking about losing it. Thank you so much for finding it, Rylan.""It's no problem at all," he assured her, his voice warm. "I can mail it over to you if you'd like.""Oh, that's not necessary," Ravenna said quickly. "I know you'll be coming to do business with my father soon
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Ravenna sat on her bed, turning the watch over in her hands. Soren's unexpected appearance had thrown a wrench in her plans to get closer to Rylan. She needed another opportunity, and soon.Reaching for the file on Rylan, she flipped through it until a particular detail caught her eye. "Golf enthusiast," she read aloud, a smile spreading across her face. "Perfect."For the next few days, Ravenna worked tirelessly on Soren's project, determined not to give him any reason to follow through on his threats. By Saturday morning, she was exhausted but satisfied with the proposal she'd put together.Closing her laptop with a sigh of relief, Ravenna made her way downstairs. She found her parents watching TV in the living room, while her friend Daniella lounged on the couch, munching on a bag of chips.Daniella looked up as Ravenna entered. "Wow, you look horrible," she said bluntly.Ravenna rolled her eyes. "Thanks, I really needed that," she replied sarcastically.Her mother frowned with con
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Later that night, Ravenna stood in her kitchen, absently swirling a glass of wine as she stared out the window. Her mind kept circling back to Soren. What did he know about Rylan? Why was he so invested in keeping her away from him?She took a sip of wine, her brow furrowing. Maybe it was time to change tactics. If Soren truly hated Rylan as much as he seemed to, perhaps they could work together. After all, he had hinted at Rylan having blood on his hands. Could Rylan have hurt someone close to Soren?Before she could second-guess herself, Ravenna grabbed her phone and typed out a quick message to Soren: "We need to talk."She stared at the sent message, sighing. Hopefully, she could get his help without exposing too much of her own motivations.Just then, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Rylan:"I'm sorry about today. Can we talk?"Ravenna hesitated before replying: "It's fine. Don't worry about it."Almost immediately, another message came through: "I'm outside your
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Ravenna stepped into her walk-in closet, eyes scanning the rows of carefully curated outfits. Tomorrow night's date with Rylan needed to be perfect - every detail had to be just right. Her fingers trailed over silky fabrics and sleek designs before stopping on a deep burgundy dress."This is it," she murmured, pulling it out.The dress was a masterpiece of seduction - form-fitting with a plunging neckline and a slit that climbed dangerously high up her thigh. She held it up to herself, admiring the way the rich color complemented her skin tone.Ravenna smirked, imagining Rylan's reaction. "He won't know what hit him."She laid the dress out carefully, then selected a pair of strappy black heels and delicate gold jewelry to complete the look. Satisfied with her choices, Ravenna went to bed, her mind buzzing with anticipation for the following day.The next morning, Ravenna arrived at the office early, determined to get ahead on her work before her date. She was deep in concentration, p
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Ravenna and Soren made their way back inside, the tension between them palpable. As they entered the living room, Astrid's eyes lit up."Ravenna! Come sit by me," Astrid called, patting the spot next to her on the sofa. "I want to hear all about your business ventures."Grateful for the distraction, Ravenna settled next to Astrid. "Well, what would you like to know?"As the two women chatted, their conversation flowed easily from business to fashion to travel. Ravenna found herself genuinely enjoying Astrid's company, her wit and intelligence a refreshing change from the usual socialite crowd."You know," Astrid said, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "I haven't seen Soren this engaged with someone in years. You must be pretty special."Ravenna felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Oh, I don't know about that. We're just business partners."Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Mhmm. Sure you are."Across the room, Mara and Lyra were deep in conversation, their eyes occasionally darting to Ra
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Ravenna pushed open the front door of her family home, the familiar scent of her mother's cooking enveloping her immediately. She followed the aroma to the kitchen, where she found her mother, Mara, bustling about in a frenzy of culinary activity."Mom?" Ravenna called out, eyeing the array of dishes spread across the countertops. "What's going on? Are we feeding an army?"Mara turned, her face flushed from the heat of the kitchen. "Oh, Ravenna! Perfect timing. We're having guests for dinner tonight."Ravenna raised an eyebrow. "Guests? Who?""The Blackthorn family," her mother replied, turning back to stir a simmering pot. "Soren Blackthorn and his parents and sister."Ravenna felt as if the ground had suddenly shifted beneath her feet. "Soren Blackthorn? As in... my business associate, Soren Blackthorn?""The very same," her father's voice came from behind her. Ravenna turned to see him entering the kitchen, a warm smile on his face. "I recently played golf with his father, Cedric.
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Ravenna stifled a yawn as she left the office, the weight of the day's meetings and strategic planning settling heavily on her shoulders. The sun was already setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. As she walked to her car, she remembered her nearly empty fridge and decided to make a quick stop at the supermarket.The fluorescent lights of the store were a stark contrast to the fading daylight outside. Ravenna grabbed a basket and began wandering the aisles, her mind still partially occupied with thoughts of Rylan, Soren, and the intricate web she was weaving.As she turned into the produce section, her attention elsewhere, she collided with someone. Apples tumbled to the floor, rolling in every direction."Watch where you're going!" a sharp voice snapped.Ravenna looked up, an apology on her lips, but it died as she recognized the young woman before her. With striking red hair and piercing green eyes, there was no mistaking Quinn, one of Lilith's twin sisters.Quickly c
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Ravenna's heels clicked against the pavement as she hurried to meet Soren at their usual spot, a discreet café tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. Her mind raced with the events of the past few days – the confrontation with Lilith, her calculated confession to Rylan. Everything was falling into place, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking a razor's edge.As she entered the café, she spotted Soren immediately, his tall frame unmistakable even in the dimly lit space. He looked up as she approached, his face an unreadable mask."Ravenna," he greeted her, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Right on time, as always."She slid into the chair, eyeing him warily. "Well, when you say you have important information, I tend to take it seriously."Soren nodded, pushing a steaming cup of coffee towards her – black, no sugar, just how she liked it. The gesture, small as it was, reminded Ravenna of how well he'd come to know her over these past months."So," she said, t
Destined to Rise: The Return of the True Luna Chapter 35
Ravenna's heels clicked against the polished marble floor as she strode through the lobby of Rylan's office building. Her heart raced, but she kept her expression calm and confident. As she approached the security desk, she plastered on her most charming smile."Good afternoon," she greeted the guard. "I'm Ravenna Thorn, here to see Rylan Matthews."The guard checked his list and nodded. "Of course, Ms. Thorn. Mr. Matthews is expecting you. Please take the elevator to the 30th floor."As the elevator ascended, Ravenna took deep breaths, steadying her nerves. The doors opened, revealing a sleek, modern reception area. Rylan's assistant, a petite blonde woman, looked up with a bright smile."Ms. Thorn, welcome. Mr. Matthews is just finishing up a call. Please, go right in."Ravenna nodded her thanks and pushed open the heavy oak door to Rylan's office. The room was impressive – floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, while tasteful artwork adorned the walls. Rylan
Destined to Rise: The Return of the True Luna Chapter 34
The morning sun cast long shadows as Ravenna crouched behind a parked car, her eyes fixed on Rylan's office building. She'd been there for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of something—anything—that might give her an edge. But so far, all she'd seen was the usual parade of suited executives and harried assistants.Just as she was about to call it quits, a flicker of movement caught her eye. A man dressed in black, his face obscured by dark sunglasses, slipped out of an alley across the street. There was something off about him—the way he moved, the constant scanning of his surroundings. Ravenna's instincts screamed danger.Heart racing, she ducked out from behind the car and began walking briskly in the opposite direction. She could feel the man's eyes on her back, hear his footsteps echoing her own. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced it down. She wasn't some helpless victim—not anymore.Spotting a busy coffee shop ahead, Ravenna ducked inside and wove through the crowd
Destined to Rise: The Return of the True Luna Chapter 33
Ravenna groaned as she heard noise filtering up from downstairs. Groggily, she dragged herself out of bed and stumbled down the stairs, her hair a tangled mess and her pajamas rumpled. As she entered the kitchen, she froze in shock.There, sitting at her family's breakfast table, was Soren Blackthorn, casually sipping coffee with her parents."Ah, good morning, sleeping beauty," Soren smirked, his eyes trailing over her disheveled appearance.Ravenna's parents turned to greet her. "Good morning, sweetheart," her father said cheerfully. "Mr. Blackthorn dropped by to discuss the interior project."Ravenna stared at Soren, then down at her outfit, mortified. Soren's smirk widened. "Interesting pajama choice, Ms. Thorn. I particularly enjoy the mismatched socks."Ravenna's eyes narrowed. Without a word, she strode over to Soren, grabbed his arm, and started dragging him towards the garden. "Excuse us for a moment," she called over her shoulder to her bewildered parents.Once outside, Rav
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Ravenna rushed into the boutique, her heart racing with anticipation. She had less than two hours before her date with Rylan, and everything needed to be perfect."Welcome back, Ms. Thorn," the stylist greeted her warmly. "Are you ready for your transformation?"Ravenna nodded, a determined glint in her eye. "Absolutely. Let's make this unforgettable."For the next hour and a half, Ravenna was pampered and primped to perfection. Her hair was styled into loose, elegant waves that cascaded down her back. The makeup artist worked her magic, accentuating Ravenna's natural beauty with smoky eyes and a deep red lip that matched her dress perfectly.As Ravenna slipped into the burgundy dress, she couldn't help but admire her reflection. The fabric hugged her curves in all the right places, the plunging neckline and high slit adding just the right amount of allure."You look stunning, Ms. Thorn," the stylist breathed, adjusting a final curl.Ravenna smirked, her eyes glinting with satisfactio
Destined to Rise: The Return of the True Luna Chapter 31
Ravenna stepped into her walk-in closet, eyes scanning the rows of carefully curated outfits. Tomorrow night's date with Rylan needed to be perfect - every detail had to be just right. Her fingers trailed over silky fabrics and sleek designs before stopping on a deep burgundy dress."This is it," she murmured, pulling it out.The dress was a masterpiece of seduction - form-fitting with a plunging neckline and a slit that climbed dangerously high up her thigh. She held it up to herself, admiring the way the rich color complemented her skin tone.Ravenna smirked, imagining Rylan's reaction. "He won't know what hit him."She laid the dress out carefully, then selected a pair of strappy black heels and delicate gold jewelry to complete the look. Satisfied with her choices, Ravenna went to bed, her mind buzzing with anticipation for the following day.The next morning, Ravenna arrived at the office early, determined to get ahead on her work before her date. She was deep in concentration, p
