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Chapter Sixteen | Don't Make It Personal
Last Updated:
2023-04-29 08:33:14Related chapters
Re-Arranged Chapter Seventeen | Impartial
Nearing thirteen hours in the kitchen, and Liviana was finally done. Placing the last dish of the first two courses onto the table, she steps back and places her hands on her hips, taking in all of her hard work that took up a good chunk of the large mahogany dining table. A smile of satisfaction forms slowly and she nods, pleased with the turnout. She hums. “Not bad.” She says, spinning on her heels and pausing as she finds another presence behind her. A small gasp escapes her lips as she startles. With a hand on her hip and another on her chest, she blows out a breath. “Don’t you think you’ve scared me enough for one day?”“Sure.” Blaze chuckles, shrugging as he approaches. “But perhaps I enjoy scaring you.”“Perhaps? I think it’s obvious that you do.” She rolls her eyes, watching him round the table and inspect the dishes. “What...” She trails, clearing her throat to get rid of the nerves that were so clearly present in her voice. “It looks good, doesn’t it?”The man nods, pullin
Last Updated : 2023-05-06Re-Arranged Chapter Eighteen | Second Thoughts
Days had passed since the surprise apology. The sun had come and gone and with the light the giant ball of fire had brought; it hadn’t just warmed the weather, but that of her soul. And, dare she say, that warmth had started to melt the ice around her husband’s chilly heart.Since the dinner, the energy in not only the vacation home but between the newlyweds had shifted. The house was no longer cold and empty, no dark cloud looming over them while Blaze stormed through the house to make his presence known with the obnoxious slamming of doors which played like alarm bells for the wife who stayed hidden alone in her room, walking around on eggshells in the house that was supposedly half hers, despite the way she acted as if she was nothing more than an unwanted guest, tiptoeing the lonely halls like a shadow. Now the shadow pressed to the wall has stepped out, and she wasn’t so scared that she felt she had to be a ghost in her own home. Liviana started to walk freely, and with cordial s
Last Updated : 2023-05-13Re-Arranged Chapter Nineteen | Step Back
Liviana sat waiting for over an hour.She had gone from pacing the house as she listened to the running water to sitting at the table, leg bouncing with anticipation until she realized she still needed to reheat the food, using it as a distraction as she watched the numbers on the microwave go down, time running out.She couldn’t help but wonder if that timer was just for the food, or if it was representing something else in her mind. Perhaps her patience, her kindness? The limit of the night? She had no clue. She just knew time was running out.The timer goes off and she sighs, pulling the plate of food out and placing it in the oven, hoping that it would still be warm by the time Blaze came downstairs, if he ever did. At this point, she was seriously doubting if he would.It was forty minutes later, minutes filled with pacing and picking at the cooling food off of her plate before finally giving up and slouching back on the couch as she debated her options.One, go knock on his door
Last Updated : 2023-05-20Re-Arranged Chapter Twenty | Homecoming
It was bright and early when Liviana was awoken by one of the maids, Georgia, who had informed her the plane would be taking off in two hours, at 8am sharp. She laid there for another twenty minutes, eyes unable to stay open after a night of stressful overthinking to add to the late night and arguments. With tears shed and a headache that overwhelmed the anxiety flowing through her veins with that of pain, Liviana was exhausted.So when she pulled herself out of bed, prying her body from her cozy bed to start getting ready, she was just about ready to call it a miracle. And then her phone rang. With a huff, the girl trudges back around the side of her bed, pulling the charger out of her phone and letting the cord fall to the floor as she swipes accept, not bothering to read the caller ID when she brings the phone up to her ear and greets the person through a yawn.“Sounds like someone’s tired.”“Morning Tino.” “So, I hear you’re going home today?”“To The Castelli’s home, yes.” She
Last Updated : 2023-05-26Re-Arranged Chapter Twenty One
Liviana was in shock through dinner. The elaborate, expensive gift had done its job in surprising her well past a limit of processing, putting her into a mode of autopilot through most of the meal, only beginning to fall out of it when dinner was over and it was time for the family to leave and let them explore their new home while they returned to their own.Violet could see the worry built into Livi’s eyes as she walks them to the door, silent as ever as her head twists and turns, looking around as they move. The blonde stops, a hand on Livi’s wrist pulling her back and separating them from the rest of the group as she asks what was wrong.“Nothing.” Liviana denies, sighing when Violet gives her a pointed look and asks if she really expected her to believe that. “It’s just... You gave me a house!” Violet frowns, a shake of her head as she asks if she didn’t like it.“No, it’s not... Of course I like it, it’s a beautiful house- but it can’t even be called a house. It’s a mansion. An
Last Updated : 2023-06-03Re-Arranged Chapter Twenty Two | A Sister Thing
Shopping with Leona Castelli was like a college. It was educating, time consuming, and expensive, and it was one hell of a ride.Liviana wasn’t sure what she was expecting when the woman had dragged her out of bed and practically forced her into an outfit that showed much more skin than she was used to, with a skirt that fell just above her knee and a tank top hidden under a leather jacket to match her black skirt and boots, but the last thing she thought was that they were going to spend their entire afternoon in the mall. Not that she was complaining. No. Truthfully, she was having a great time, being dragged from store to store and talked into trying on outfit after outfit until they had their arms filled to the brim with bags of new clothes for each of their closets and plenty of decorative items to make Liviana’s new house feel like home. Which is why, after their fourth trip to Leona’s car, Liviana decided to insist it was time they call it quits.“I think we’ve gotten more than
Last Updated : 2023-06-09Re-Arranged Chapter Twenty Three | Show Them
“So, a bucket list?”“Of sorts.” Liviana says, voice coming out in a mumble as she props herself up against her headboard, arching her back to fit a pillow between. “That’s what they called it, but I’m not actually sure if it is one. It seems kind of... Unconventional, I suppose.”“Why is it unconventional?” Tino asks, a furrowed brow as he watches Liviana’s eyes drift around her room in thought, head tilting back to look at the ceiling.“I’m not sure. It just feels a little strange.” She says, taking a breath as she turns back down to the screen, eyes flitting from her brother’s face and the blank piece of paper in front of her. “I’m lost here. I have no idea what to write. What does one put into a bucket list?”“skydiving. Swimming with dolphins. Meeting their idol.” Tino shrugs. “Something adventurous, fun. A once in a lifetime opportunity.”“I’ve missed out on twenty-four years’ worth of life, Tino. Anything could be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.”The deadpan has the Sa
Last Updated : 2023-06-17Re-Arranged Chapter Twenty Four | Schemes
The interaction she had with Blaze that night hadn’t left Liviana’s mind once. In the week that it had been since, the memory had just been floating around in the back of her mind, glowing in the midst of all her dark thoughts. And with this difficult time in her life, that little ray of hope that they were on a better path had lit her road up like the sun itself, ensuring she wouldn’t take another wrong turn.What Liviana failed to acknowledge was that at the end of the day, the sun always went down, letting the moon take its place and cast a different light, one to suit the darkness. And just like the sun, her hope was bound to vanish, though it would be for much longer than just a single night.In the week since that night, it seemed as though Blaze was avoiding her, and she had no idea as to why. Why would he avoid her after such a great night? After their best interaction yet? Didn’t he want to make progress in their relationship? Didn’t he want things to get better? She would th
Last Updated : 2023-06-23
Latest chapter
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and Two
"Livi?"The girl nearly shrieks, settling for a gasp as she pulls her bedroom door shut in a rush. "Dad!" She greets, spinning around to face the man. "Hi!""What are you doing?""Nothing," she says, frowning. "I'm not doing anything. Why do you ask?""You seem... different," he says. "Odd. Are you sure there's nothing wrong?""Yeah, mhm," she hums, offering the man an unconvincing nod. "I'm okay- everything's okay! There's nothing to worry about here, dad."He hums, eyes raking up and down his surly daughter, and she could practically feel the suspicion in his gaze. It was almost as if he was trying to look into her soul. "Well, if you're sure-""I'm sure," she swears, mustering up the most convincing smile she could as she assures him that she was alright - everything was fine."Good, good..." he trails, clearing his throat. "Listen, about dinner-""Oh, you don't have to... say anything," she says, her smile fading to something more tainted. "It's fine."He furrows a brow. "It is?"
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred and One
"Are you... serious?"At the awkward question and the meek voice it's spoken by, Ben glances up from his spot on the bed and hums. "Serious?" He echoes, unsure about what she was muttering on about. "About what?""Mom and dad," Liviana reminds, asking, "are they really that bad?"Ben sighs, attempting to offer his little sister a careful answer. "They're, uh... complicated.""Complicated?" Livi repeats, joining her brother on the bed with a frown. "I don't... I don't understand. What are they?"Ben only grows all the more confused by her questioning, and his lips tilt down in a frown of his own. "What?""What kind of people are they?" She presses. "Mom and dad, I mean - are they good people or... are they bad people?"He hums. "Well, that's a good question, kid," he says, voice soft as he offers his sister a thoughtful look. "What do you think they are?""I think..." she trails off with a sigh, nervous.He's quick to pick up on the traces of anxiety lost in her tone - seeping into her
Re-Arranged Chapter One Hundred
The Santora family sat under a thick blanket of silence, tense as they ate. Alonzo sat at the head of the table, scrutinizing his family with a heavy gaze that weighed them down, and soon enough, it felt as though he was trying to burn a hole through their heads with such an intense gaze. The eldest of his kids shortly had enough.Ben coughs, clearing his throat and folding his dinner napkin up in his lap. "So..." he trails, pasting a smile onto his lips and turning to face his father. "Is there any news?"Alonzo narrows his eyes. "News?" He echoes, watching as his son nods. "And, uh... what news would that be? Are you expecting something?""No, no," the young man shakes his head. "Not me-""Oh, and you believe you have a right to my news now too, huh?" He presses. "You think you have that privilege now, do you?""No, I don't- I don't think that. I'm sorry if that's how it came off, but I-""But you what?" Alonzo wonders, asking where he could have gotten the idea that he was somethi
Re-Arranged Chapter Ninety Nine
The Santora siblings walk into the office building, wandering through the halls together, hand-in-hand while they searched for Blaze."Hi, excuse me," Liviana gives the receptionist a bright smile, leaning onto the counter her desk hides behind when she speaks. "I was wondering if you could tell me where Blaze is?"Instead of giving her a direct answer, the employee's eyes drag up and down Liviana's figure, judging her, before they flit back up to her face. Her eyes narrow, and she asks, "and, uh... who are you?"Liviana presses her lips together into a thin line, doing all she could to maintain the kindness in her tone when she offers the woman an answer. "My name is Livi-""I didn't ask for your name," the woman points, scowling up at Liviana and repeating the question. "Who the hell are you? And what business do you have with the boss?"Tino scoffs from his sister's side, prepared to pipe up and protect Liviana's pride for her, knowing she wouldn't do so for herself, but the girl i
Re-Arranged Chapter Ninety Eight
Strolling through the hedges was difficult - awkward - and the Santora siblings couldn't handle it. They absolutely hated this heavy feeling hanging between them. Never have they ever felt so detached."Where are we going?" Tino asks, glancing around at the tall rose bushes that kept them secluded. "And why is it so freaking far?" He complains, quickening his pace to catch up to that of his nervous sister, who remains silent. "Liv?""Uh," she mutters, glancing over her shoulder at the young man. "Just... follow me," she says, insisting he not question it. Right now, she was only doing what was best for the both of them, and she needed him to trust that. "We need to get away for this, okay? It's important that no one overhears us."She couldn't risk their parents finding out about her betrayal. They would behead her at the first opportunity."Okay..." he trails, eyes narrowing at the back of his sister's head. "But why?""Because..." she shrugs it off, admitting in a whisper, "it's saf
Re-Arranged Chapter Ninety Seven
Liviana didn't know what to do with herself.After her argument with Tino, it was as if the thoughts doubled in tenfold and her mind couldn't - wouldn't - stop. All night she was forced to sit with herself, overwhelmed by her endless thoughts and memories while she retraced every inch and wondered, where did it all go wrong?She would look back on her life, spending hours sorting through all the memories, and it was as if every time she did, she could spot a new lie. It didn't take long for her to have a mental list going, and the more she added, the more she wondered, was any of it real? Where did the lies stop? Where did this act she perfected end? When was enough, enough? Nothing was ever enough for Drusilla and Alonzo - Livi scoffs at the thought, turning over where she lies in her bed. And then came the dreaded thought. What about her siblings? One was dead, one disappeared, and the other seemingly despised her. Her eyes water at the thought, and she pulls the blanket over her
Re-Arranged Chapter Ninety Six
The moment Liviana left the restaurant that night, it felt as if she was walking into a world void of air. It was as though all the oxygen had been sucked out of the planet - if not just her lungs - and she couldn't breathe for days afterward. It was all too heavy, and she wasn't sure she could handle it. How does one go about their life knowing that nothing was as it seems? Knowing that, at any God given moment, it could all be taken away from her? How was she supposed to go about her day knowing that each second could be her last? She just couldn't.Liviana was no stranger when it came to living her life in fear. She knew paranoia all too well, almost like an old friend she was introduced to by none other than her parents. Childhood was rough, and Liviana could say with confidence that she was raised in fear. It surrounded her. It became her. She was scared of everything. And that was always her biggest problem.After dinner with the detective, Liviana only grew all the more paranoi
Re-Arranged Chapter Ninety Five
A younger Liviana wrung her hands together as she climbed the stairs, following her mother's bellows all the way to her bedroom door. "Liviana?!"She flinches at the screech of her name, taking a step back to compose herself. "Breathe," she reminds herself, stilling for that of second before she's startled by another shout of her name. "Shit," she curses, rounding the corner into her mother's bedroom and asking, "yes, mom?""Finally!" Drusilla throws her arms up. "Where in God's name have you been?" She demands, asking what had taken her so long. "Didn't you hear me calling?""I'm sorry, mom," Liviana apologizes. "I was outside with-""I don't care to hear your excuses, young lady!" Drusilla scoffs, scolding the girl for her lack of responsibility. "What if I was hurt, hmm?" She questions. "What if I was in danger? Or worse, dying? What would you have to say for yourself then, huh?""I'm sorry-"Drusilla scoffs once again. "Your apologies mean nothing to me, Liviana. Do better!" She
Re-Arranged Chapter Ninety Four
Blaze could practically feel his heart tie itself into a knot in his chest at the sound of another distraction. Would he ever get the timing right? He sighs at the thought, turning around to greet the man, whose voice he recognizes immediately."Bryce," he greets, pushing out of his chair and offering the man his hand to shake. "There you are! We were beginning to think you got lost.""What can I say? I run on my own time." Bryce shrugs it off, giving Blaze's hand a shake before he rounds the table to take the seat across from the 'happy couple.'"That would have been something to mention days ago when we arranged this meeting," Blaze points, and the detective rolls his eyes. "I specifically asked for a time that suited you-""I'm here, aren't I?"Blaze only hums, narrowing his eyes at his 'old friend', and Liviana coughs."Uh- Blaze," she murmurs, reaching to take his hand in hers and giving it a gentle tug with a silent demand- if not a gentle ask for him to sit. "He's here. That's
