Airo and Angeline are new characters they are Lucius and Xavier's parents. Angeline is Albert Ripley's half sister.Malena is referring to the bracelet mentioned in CHAPTER 31 - Two Face***DON'T FORGET TO ADD THE STORY ON YOUR LIBRARY #VOTE #BladeAndSieve #LucianAndLatton #LattonAndLucian #HeyStranger
DOLAN woke up late the next day. When he got downstairs, Latton had gone out with Xavier. He wanted to wait for her, but he was soon called to his office as he had other patients that needed his help. Dolan could only bid Albert and Derek goodbye but promised to attend Catherine's eulogy in the afternoon. He heaves deeply while driving to his office. "I'll tell her later." He mumbles to himself. * At one in the afternoon. Catherine's eulogy started. The eulogy was set to be an intimate event that would be attended by family members, close friends, and the Caldwells, which Alicia and George are not supposed to attend since they are still exhausted from staying late last night, but Lucian forces them to go as he can only enter the manor if he is with his parents. * Shortly after, Albert stood on the podium. He took out a white piece of paper from his suit jacket and started sharing how he met Catherine. He frowned, and his face looked sorrowful. He cleared his throat and then began
THE NIGHT after Catherine was laid to rest, Latton, together with her cousins, Lucius and Xavier, and her brother Derek, who brought Dolan along hit the bar. Latton drank her heart out. She wanted to yell at the top of her lungs, but she couldn’t. She was so shaken by the severity of the events that happened in just a week. She wants to shed more tears for Catherine, but it seems like all her tears already left. Until now, she still couldn't accept that her father's affair might be the reason why Catherine died. She could only hope that that was not the case and that the last of her mishaps would be her father’s affair with her high school bully, or so she thought. She drank her liquor while discreetly glancing at Dolan who was sitting opposite her, and she felt better just knowing he was near her. Throughout the night, she focused all her attention on him to forget everything that happened even for a short time. THE NEXT DAY After drinking heavily last night, Latton was awakened b
MONDAY 10 AM at Caldwell Incorporated. Lucian was sitting still in his chair. The surrounding sounds were muffled by the rage, sorrow, and regret he felt. "She slept with Dolan." He said to himself. Shortly, the memory of the photo sent to him entered his mind, and it pains him that she smiles gleefully with Dolan. Her eyes shone bright, he could clearly see that he had lost her and perhaps this time forever. He hated the idea and unintentionally slammed his fist hard on the table. The loud thud startled everyone in the conference room and Eugene Cross, the Accounts Manager who was giving his report, almost collapsed in fear. Shortly, Lucian got back to his senses and remembered where he was. He then gestured to Eugene to continue with his report. His odd behavior did not go unnoticed and his friend John had been looking at him throughout the meeting and Lucian loathed the way he glanced at him. After the meeting, John followed Lucian to his office like a dog waiting for its master
“I’m sorry, Dolan,” Latton said as they drove away from the Merle café. “I just want to treat you out and instead of making up to you, you got hurt because of me,” she added, she lowered her head, hands clenched tightly, and soon tears fell on her hands and she sobbed silently. “Latton it's fine. It didn't hurt that badly, the punch was not even that strong. My lips are not even swollen anymore, but that slap you gave him for sure hurts a lot,” Dolan states jokingly as he holds her left hand with his right hand while driving. She laughs in between sobs. Then she wipes her tears. “How about we take a drive-thru and eat in the car or the park instead?” He asks. She nods merrily. The dismay, sorrow, and rage she felt before dissipated instantly. Shortly after, they bought food at different fast food places: Subway, Yellow Cab, McDonald's, KFC, and Starbucks. By noon, Dolan drove to a nearby park, sat at one of the picnic tables, and started placing the mountain of junk food on the t
LATTON continued going out with Dolan, and today they opted to watch a classic movie in a drive-in theater called The Roadium. “I've never been to this kind of place. Watch the movie with other moviegoers in the comfort of the car,” Latton said while waiting for the movie to start. She felt happy, perhaps too happy, and it scared her, as whenever she felt peaceful there was always something bad going to happen, but she soon brushed it off as she saw Dolan’s gleeful smile. “Next time I’ll take you hiking. We’ll go to Cistern Trail. It's known to moderately experienced hikers. It might be a bit challenging for you, but it is a little less crowded than some other trails, and I'll make sure that I will hold your hand and guide you every step of the way. The beauty of the canyon trail is breathtaking.” He explains while handing her popcorn and soda. She nodded and then noticed that his eyes were shining while talking about hiking, then after he spoke the shine in his eyes vanished and t
DOLAN drove Latton back to Ripley Manor. The ride was filled with deafening silence. Latton’s face was burning red, and she was trembling in rage. Her palms are sweating, and her eyes are teary. “Latton,” Dolan mumbled softly. She remains staring blankly outside. “I’m sorry,” he added. She ignored his words and then asked coldly, “Anything else I need to know?” He nods. “When Derek asked me to sedate you, he put guards outside your door so no one else could disturb you. Despite that, Lucian visited you, he climbed to the balcony, and he’s the one that put a rose on your ear. I also heard him apologize numerous times. I think he really likes you, Latton," he revealed. Her eyes widened, her lips started trembling, and a faint smile flickered on her lips. Shortly, they arrived at the Manor and Dolan couldn't stop apologizing. "It's fine Dolan. It's an opportunity and you grabbed it. You're not the first one my father used to manipulate me. I'm not mad at you, I'm just upset. I ju
"I NEVER thought I'd return to this place," Latton mumbles under her breath as she enters her Fleur de Ville unit. The place still gives her paranoia that someone might be watching her, even after she hired people to check the whole place for cameras, change all the door locks, and replace all the mirrors, the sensation of being trapped and caged is still on her mind. But she could not do anything about it. This was the only place she could think of where her father couldn't use anyone against her. She checks the cabinets and everything Lucian gave her is still there; clothes, bags, shoes. She heaves deeply then says, "Luckily, I didn’t return this place to him. Now I can say that I deserved everything he gave me, as payment for all the bullshit he brought to my life." She sat on her bed and checked the time. It was already 4 in the morning, she was about to close her phone when suddenly the date caught her eye. "March 30, 2024," she mumbled. She then remembers the charity ball for
MALENA was sitting in the living room browsing through her social media when suddenly a post caught her attention. It's a post about the Circle of Hope charity ball that will begin later that day. Soon she remembers that Lucian once invited her to attend that event with him, but she gave him a lame excuse not to go with him as she hates those types of gatherings. Her brows furrowed instantly, "Would he be there?" She asked herself. She soon dialed a number to confirm her suspicions. After the call ended, her face distorted in anger as she also discovered that Latton Ripley would attend the gathering. "Those two cannot be happy together. If I'm unhappy, so will they." She declares as her grasp on her phone tightens in rage. "Men like Lucian can't be happy." She added as she bit her nails, thinking of something to sow discord between Lucian and Latton. - Eight in the evening, and the Circle of Hope’s charity organization’s 35th anniversary began. It was held at an event place that co