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FIFTEEN
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Hade
He remembers the very first time he saw her like it happened just yesterday.
It was a small gathering back at the Hale manor. If he remembers it correctly, it was Sir Gregory Hale's birthday, and as a good friend to the Hales, his father attended the birthday banquet with him, his eldest brother, and his mother.
He was fifteen at that time and on his second year in the Harvest. It was also his first time at the Hale manor. He only stepped foot outside in the garden for a couple of minutes, but when he was about to head back to the dining hall, he realized he forgot the way back.
"It's that way," he heard someone say. He turned his head and saw a black-haired girl holding a ball. She's also wearing long sleeves and jogger pants. Her hair was tied up to a ponytail.
Inside his mind, she's very pretty.
The girl never walked towards him, she j
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Sand Castle SIXTEEN
Eli I couldn't sleep. It's already past 2 a.m., but here I am lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling in my room. Well, Hade's room. It's the night before our wedding, but I just can't seem to find it in me to sleep. Is this supposed to be what they call wedding jitters? I tossed and turned around a lot more before I finally decided to get up. Tonight is supposed to be for relaxation and beauty sleep, but I don't think I'm gonna get either. Unless I do something about it. Wouldn't wanna look like a sleepless bride when I walk down in the aisle tomorrow. I marched down the hallway while I tie my robe. I was about to walk down the staircase when I heard some noises in the opposite hallway. Hade is staying in the room in that far end, is he also awake? I debated in my mind if I should go over and see if Hade's awake. Maybe invite him over for some midnight milk? And... maybe do that thing we did last time? I blu
Sand Castle SEVENTEEN
Eli I woke up on a hospital bed that morning. They asked me for my name and I gave it. I also asked for a call to the Vandenberg Residence, which was picked up by Lord Jacob. I explained everything to him, including the parts where I think I heard him having a conversation with my father. Of course, he denied it, but the sudden shift of his tone while he was talking to me on the phone was telling me something else. That was the moment I decided not to trust him or his family. There was no way I imagined everything last night. I asked the staff about how I got there, and they say they heard a long beeping sound from a pod outside the hospital. When they got outside, I was lying on the ground with no one around. Even Alexei didn't want to believe me. I thought he would have been thrilled of all people to know that our father could still be alive somewhere. He made me promise not to tell anyone in the family, as he's still current
Sand Castle EIGHTEEN
Eli I couldn't sleep my first night at the new house. I keep tossing around in this huge bed, but it just feels cold and empty, even though the fireplace was electronically on. I have to admit, I can't sleep partly because of what the butler told me earlier at dinner. I glanced at the castle-shaped clock hanging on the wall of the room in front of the bed. It's nearly midnight, but Hade is yet to come home. I wonder where he went. I wanted to talk to him about today. How it was not my intention to leave him hanging at the altar. Or crashing his pod. I wanted to apologize. So I decided to stay up and wait for him. I went down to the kitchen to get some cold coffee, and then I settled myself in the lounge room, where Winston said we will receive guests in the future. The whole mansion was awfully quiet and dimly lit, save for where I was currently sitting. It was a long cream-colored couch with a brown fuzzy rug u
Sand Castle NINETEEN
HadeThe midnight bells has just stopped ringing as Hade traced the hallway back to the banquet. His heart feels like exploding and he can't stop smiling. He feels like a five-year old happily skipping because he got to kiss his girl's cheeks.If only his mother did not interrupt. He was sure she saw what he did. Oh well, he'll save his mother's teasing for later.It was Eli's fifteenth birthday. Tonight, he's going to ask his father's blessing to ask the Hales for Eli's hand. They don't have to be married now, he knows Eli is still too young. And he just turned eighteen as well a few months ago. Besides, the house he planned as a wedding gift for her has just started building a few week ago.He wanted to ask her a year ago, when she entered the Harvest. But it was a bad time for everyone. Sir Greg has just died from battle, along with his brother Oliver. Both the Hales and the Vandenbergs wer
Sand Castle TWENTY
Eli It's not that I don't know the answer the Hade's question. It's just that I haven't ponder on it yet. Everything was the way I like it back at the boarding school. I was living the life I wanted. And then in a span of a month, my whole life turned upside down. I lost a sister, our home was bombed, my mom and two siblings got injured, and there's this whole Eye thing in my dreams that I'm not sure if I like it or not. And then I got engaged on the spot. Everything was happening so fast that I feel like if I stop to even breathe for just a second, then something bad would happen, and I fear every second for my family. My every day feels like I'm only fueled with adrenaline and the anxiety that I have to keep moving for the safety of my family. Maybe I've only realized it when Hade dropped me the question, but I've never really stopped for a moment to think about my feelings about the marriage or about... Hade.
Sand Castle TWENTY ONE
Hade It was almost sunrise when Hade got home. Winston opened the door for him, and he let himself in. He heard his butler greet him a good morning, and he greeted him back. He was about to head upstairs when he saw light coming from the lounge room on his left. "Who's in there?" He asked Winston. "The Young Lady, Lord Hade. I was just about to wake her up," Winston replied. Hade recoursed his direction and walked towards the lounge room instead. Winston followed suit. True enough, he found a sleeping Elizabeth on one of the corner couches. Her hand was still clutching a book. There's also a mug on the coffee table beside her. Hade reached to caress her cheeks. Peace was written all over her face. She looks like a sleeping angel. "Should we wake her up, Young Lord?" He heard Winston quietly ask behind him. Hade shook his head as he continued to caress her face. "No, no need." In less than three d
Sand Castle TWENTY TWO
Eli I woke up with a bright smile on my face. Millie even noticed my quirky mood. "You're glowing this morning, my Lady. Did you sleep well last night?" Millie asked. I just smiled at her response. "Not really, but I did have a good night." After dressing up, I quickly ran downstairs to the dining hall. I was excited to see Hade this morning. But by the time I got downstairs, the dining hall was empty, like usual. "No Hade again?" I asked Winston after he greeted me good morning, disappointment evident in my voice. "My apologies, Young Lady. The Young Lord had to tend to an important matter that needed his urgent attention this morning. Would you like some lemon cupcakes after your breakfast, Miss?" I sighed. I nodded at Winston and took my chair from the far end corner and dragged it towards Hade's seat. I looked at his empty seat longingly. It's not that I seem too eager to see him after that session w
Sand Castle TWENTY THREE
Hade Hade was left all alone in the assembly room after his father left. He was planning his retirement in the next few years, so he was starting to pass on all responsibilities to Hade as the next head of the entire Vandenberg clan. He was already over forty, so he knew it's time for him to step down and live whatever remaining years he has in life. Time to let his son continue his work in court. He knows very well the depth of Hade's capabilities, and that he's assured he'll do well as a seatholder. As Hade went over the council documents his father handed to him, he heard the door open. He turned around to expect his father or Eli, but it was Liv who entered. "Hey," he said briefly, and then went back to whatever he was reading. He heard the door shut close and Liv's approaching steps. He then felt a pair of hands massage his back. He looked back and tried to stop her hands. "Liv, what on earth are you doing?"
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Sand Castle THIRTY EIGHT
EliMy body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes.Yula had an affair.I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that.I sighed. My head ached.I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me.I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks."Hey."It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window."
Sand Castle THIRTY SEVEN
Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to enter the window.
Sand Castle THIRTY SIX
Eli My body lay very still as I felt Hade's arms envelope my body. He wouldn't let go of me even though he was already fast asleep. Meanwhile, I was too preoccupied in my own thoughts that I couldn't even close my eyes. Yula had an affair. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. I couldn't believe it. It just doesn't sound like something that my sister would do. No matter what I think of, it just doesn't seem like her to do that. I sighed. My head ached. I probably should go visit my home tomorrow. Hade said there's something he needs to do back at the Capital, so he'll be gone the whole day. But he promised he'll have dinner with me. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Even though it took me a long time to sleep, I still felt myself falling into slumber. After a while, I felt someone caressing my cheeks. "Hey." It was Hade's voice. I opened my eyes and saw the sun starting to en
Sand Castle THIRTY FIVE
Hade Yula looked like she lost weight. It's been six months since the wedding, and she always looked like she was a deathbed patient. Sometimes, he could even hear her struggling to breathe. She looked like she's always exhausted and sleep deprived. Hade thought it was just her being homesick, so he would tell her to visit her family as often as she likes. She'd go home three times a week, but even that didn't seem to help. There was nothing romantically going on between them. Hade is very much aware of how his feelings are just reserved for her sister and no one else. He is not sure who Yula is in love with, or if there is even a person she likes, but he knows that Yula also does not see him romantically. She's not even trying to be wife-like to him. But they're very good friends. So he can't help but get worried. He tried everything he could to comfort her and though she might n
Sand Castle THIRTY FOUR
Eli I heard Hade screaming my name in pure terror as I was walking up the stairs to our bedroom. Adrenaline rushed up to my brain and I immediately ran upstairs. I was about to grab the door's handle when it opened and revealed a terrified Hade. "What happened—" I wasn't able to finish my question as I felt my body crash unto Hade's. His embrace was so tight I could feel his fear vibrating from his skin. His heart was beating abnormally fast as well. I let him hug me as long as he needed. When he finally calmed down, I untangled our bodies and faced him. "What happened?" Hade put his hand on his forehead as if the fear he felt just now made him dizzy. "I thought I saw you ju—" Hade immediately stopped his sentence and his face was replaced with an unexplainable expression, like he just thought of something. "Stay here, Eli. Don't go inside the room." My face contorted with confusion as I stared at him rushing do
Sand Castle THIRTY THREE
Hade The midnight moon shone brightly as it touched his wife's face. She looked so serene as she slept beside him. As if she did not just cry her heart out to him before she fell asleep. It was too much for her. That's why he ponded on telling her knowing it will hurt her so much. He just didn't expect she would know this soon. But what shook him the most is how she reacted. He totally thought she'd throw a fit, or probably not talk to him for a long time. But he'd do everything to win her feelings again, anyway. But Eli didn't do any of those. Instead, she cried in his arms as hard as she could. He didn't dare let go of her, not even for a second. He held unto her like she was his only lifeline. He whispered comfort and loving words unto his wife's ear all night. He wanted to take her pain away, but he couldn't do anything but promise her he'll do everything to make it a little bit better. It took a while befor
Sand Castle THIRTY TWO
Eli The sunlight hitting my face awoke me from my slumber. My eyelids felt so heavy I was tempted to go back to sleep. Memories of last night flooded my brain and I was instantly horny. Damn. Hade did not stop until we were both breathing hard from exhaustion and only let go of my body after dawn break. He was a monster, no doubt. I yawned while my hand automatically reached out to feel Hade's body. But only the pillows were there to catch my longing arms. My eyes instantly shot open and saw the empty side of the bed where Hade laid last night. My mood instantly soured. I sighed. What's new, right? I lazily got up and scooped the blanket to cover my body. I did not bother calling for anyone anymore, I think I can take a bath on my own just fine. After I was done, I went out of the bathroom and found the bed neatly made. There's a sage green dress on top of it as well. It has long sleeve
Sand Castle THIRTY ONE
Eli I kept my head down the entire time Hade was talking. My head was still spinning over the fact that he and Noah are brothers. "Eli..." Hade's voice trailed. I was lost in my own thoughts that I didn't realize Hade has finished talking. I raised my head and met his scared eyes. "What was the deal?" I asked. "What?" Hade asked back. "You made a deal with Noah over me. What was it?" I saw Hade close his eyes before he opened his mouth to speak. "He told me he'll watch over you if I agree to stay away from you forever. And I told him he's not allowed to fall in love with you." I tilted my head. I can't believe I'm hearing this right now. "I feel so pathetic right now." "Eli—" Hade tried to reach for my arms, but I yanked his hand away and got up. "Do you have— any idea," I paused, giving
Sand Castle THIRTY
Hade "What do you want, f*cker?" Hade could feel the distaste in his mouth as soon as he heard his brother cuss at him. He wanted to curse back at him, but he's here for a favor, so he does not want to start on the wrong foot. They were inside a coffee shop at the train station. Knowing his brother, he'd be spending his time waiting for the train to arrive in this exact spot of the coffee shop, just by the window, where he could easily see passengers scurrying off trying to bid their loved ones or chasing their train ride. Without any hesitations, Hade immediately sat down the vacant seat in front of his brother. He didn't even take his eyes off the window, it was like he had memorized Hade's presence by instinct because he hate him so much that now he does not need to look anymore to know that it's him. But Hade's not here to pick a fight. "I'm here to ask a favo
