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SIXTEEN: The Man Outside
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2024-10-10 16:45:14Lila tried to focus on the book she was repairing, her hands gently smoothing the dampened pages as Marcus had shown her, but her mind kept drifting. The thin brush in her fingers that was meant to spread the adhesive across the edges, trembled slightly. She hadn’t slept much the night before, and the reason for her sleepless night.
It was the call.The man’s voice still lingered in her mind, haunting her. Each moment she dared to close her eyes, it threatened her, telling her that no matter where she went, he would find her. The memory made her fingers tighten around the delicate brush until the bristles bent. She forced herself to relax, but the tension refused to leave her body.“Are you alright?”Marcus’s voice snapped her back to reality. He was watching her closely, a faint frown of concern marring his usually carefree face. Lila plastered on a weak smile, trying to push the memory of the call to the back of her mind.“Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, her voicRelated chapters
Tangled Destinies SIXTEEN (2): The Man Outside
Dominic lingered, his eyes soft as he watched Lila fiddle with a stack of newly arrived books. She glanced up at him, feeling the warmth of his gaze, and before she could stop herself, a small smile tugged at her lips. He had a presence about him that made the quiet moments feel comfortable, as if the space between them wasn’t empty but filled with something unspoken. “So,” Dominic started, rubbing the back of his neck, a gesture that struck Lila as slightly nervous, “I was wondering if you’d be free sometime soon… maybe to have lunch with me and the kids?” Lila blinked, pleasantly surprised by the invitation. She hadn’t expected him to reach out so soon after their dinner, and certainly not with an offer to spend more time with his children. Her heart warmed at the idea of seeing Aaron and Winnie again, especially sweet little Winnie with her chubby cheeks and wide-eyed curiosity. “I’d love to,” Lila answered, her smile growing as she imagined Winnie’s
Last Updated : 2024-10-11Tangled Destinies SEVENTEEN: Bad, Bad News
Annabelle leaned back in her plush office chair, her gaze drifting from the documents scattered on her desk to the beams of sunlight streaming through her window. She had been completely buried in work for the better part of the morning and her mind constantly whirring with figures, contracts, and meeting agendas. But the flow of numbers and corporate business faded as a soft chime from her phone caught her attention. She reached for it, her mood lightening at the thought of a distraction from all her work. A notification lit up her screen, and she smiled when she saw that it was from Lila. The message was simple but filled with a kind of wonder that made Annabelle’s heart lift. "Look what I found on my walk this morning! Isn’t it gorgeous? I think it’s a lavender field... it smells heavenly! You’d love it here. Miss you xx" Attached was a picture of a sprawling lavender field, the purple blossoms stretching far into the horizon, almost blending into the soft blue of the sky. The i
Last Updated : 2024-10-12Tangled Destinies SEVENTEEN (2): Bad, Bad News
Annabelle’s phone slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor with a sharp crack, but she barely registered the sound. All she could think of was the devastation that awaited them if Andre truly broke ties. She swallowed hard, her heart racing. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she breathed, her hands trembling slightly. “Dad is going to kill you.” James nodded miserably, his face pale. “I know. Believe me, I know. But I don’t know what to do, Annabelle. I’ve tried everything. I’ve been going to Andre’s office every day for the past week, but he refuses to see me. His secretary won’t even let me in the building! And he’s not answering any of my calls. I’m completely shut out.” Annabelle’s anger flared, her hands balling into fists as she tried to steady herself. Her initial shock was giving way to a cold fury. “What the hell did you do, James?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “How did you manage to piss off Andre Winters, of all people?” James
Last Updated : 2024-10-13Tangled Destinies EIGHTEEN: Annabelle's Solution
Dinner at the Robinson mansion was usually an elegant affair, that had quiet conversation and the soft clinking of silverware against fine china. But tonight, the atmosphere was far from peaceful. The tension at the table was so thick, it seemed to choke the very air. The large dining room that was usually warm with the glow of candlelight and pleasant company, felt cold tonight. Each member of the family sat in their place, the silence stretching like a taut wire, waiting for something or someone to make it snap.David, their father, sat at the head of the table, his face thunderous as he picked at his food without appetite. His dark brows were drawn low over his eyes, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. The veins on the back of his hand stood out as he gripped his fork, making no effort to engage in the meager conversation happening around him. Tonight, they were all puppets waiting to dance to the tune of the piper, and silently, each of them knew without needing to be told
Last Updated : 2024-10-14Tangled Destinies EIGHTEEN (2): Annabelle's Solution
Margaret’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, clearly delighted by the idea of Rachel and James getting away from all the recent stress. “Oh, that sounds lovely, dear! Where were you thinking of going?”Rachel began to rattle off the names of expensive vacation destinations as though they were groceries on a shopping list. “Maybe Santorini or the Amalfi Coast,” she said, her eyes bright with excitement. “I’ve heard such wonderful things about both. Or perhaps the Maldives—those water villas look divine!”Annabelle, sitting quietly, looked from Rachel to James, waiting to see how he would react to the idea. Sure enough, he took the bait, his posture relaxing slightly as he finally seemed to engage with the conversation. “We’ll go wherever you want, Rach,” James said, smiling at her. His voice was more animated now, more like his usual self. “You deserve it.”At that moment, David barked out a laugh—loud and derisive, filled with more disdain than humor. The sudden sound echoe
Last Updated : 2024-10-15Tangled Destinies EIGHTEEN (3): Annabelle's Solution
Margaret’s lips parted, but no words came out. The accusation struck her like a blow, and she visibly recoiled from the intensity of his words. Her eyes darted toward James, who was fidgeting in his seat, clearly caught between embarrassment and fear.David’s anger surged again, his voice rising as he slammed his fist on the table, rattling the plates and cutlery. “No son of mine,” he thundered, “could have lost the Winters contract! No son of mine would be this much of a goddamn failure!”The heat in his words, the sheer disgust in his tone, seemed to burn the air around them. The Winters contract was everything to their family’s business—an anchor, a lifeline. And now, thanks to James’s incompetence, it was slipping through their fingers.James, affronted by the attack, sat up straighter in his chair. His face flushed with a mixture of humiliation and frustration. He opened his mouth, and when he spoke, his voice came out in a whiny, defensive tone that only made thing
Last Updated : 2024-10-16Tangled Destinies EIGHTEEN (4): Annabelle's Solution
Annabelle pressed on. “Winters might not take James’s calls, but he’ll take mine. And if he won’t, I’ll ambush him at his country club. I’m not going to let this contract slip away without a fight.”The room was deadly quiet again as her words settled over the table. David stood there, his chest still heaving, but the sheer force of his anger seemed to have lessened, if only marginally. His fists, which had been clenched at his sides, slowly unfurled, though the tension in his shoulders remained.For a long moment, no one spoke. David glared at Annabelle, his face still stormy, but the fire in his eyes was slowly dying down, replaced by something closer to resignation. He knew Annabelle meant business. She was the only one in the room who had both the composure and the will to fix what James had broken.Finally, with a rough, dismissive sound, David threw his napkin onto the table and turned away, stalking out of the dining room without another word. The sound of his foo
Last Updated : 2024-10-17Tangled Destinies NINETEEN: Simply Lunch
Lila stood frozen in front of her closet, eyes darting from one dress to another, her pulse racing faster than she liked. Today was the day. Lunch with Dominic and his kids. It wasn’t as if this was a date. It wasn’t. Just lunch. Her fingers traced the hem of her dress, smoothing out invisible wrinkles.Still, her heart wasn’t getting the message. She had agreed to it so casually when he first asked, thinking it would be a nice afternoon to spend with Aaron and Winnie, but now that the moment was here, her heart hammered against her chest.She couldn’t ignore the warm feeling that had bloomed inside her when Dominic sheepishly admitted that Aaron and Winnie had been asking after her. Especially Winnie, with her sweet, cherub-like face. Lila smiled to herself, her fingers lingering over a soft, pale blue dress she hadn’t worn in a while.She snapped her hand back. What was she doing? It wasn’t a date. She didn’t need to impress anyone. And yet, the thought of sitting acro
Last Updated : 2024-10-18
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Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SEVEN: Can of Worms (2)
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a whisper. “Who the hell is this?” He turned to Rachel, eyes dark with heartbreak. “Who is this man, Rachel?”Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her eyes darted frantically between James and Annabelle, her cheeks flushed with panic. She stammered, “James, I—”Annabelle didn’t give her the chance to finish. “His name is Victor Nolls,” she said, her voice hard as steel. “The man Rachel’s been seeing behind your back. And the real father of her child.”The color drained from Rachel’s face at Annabelle’s words, her reaction betraying her before she could deny it. She flinched visibly at Victor’s name, and though she shook her head weakly, her protests were unconvincing.“No, that’s not true!” Rachel finally managed to choke out. “James, I would never—”“Do
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The words landed like a thunderclap. The room fell into a stunned silence and James’s rant cut off mid-sentence. His mouth opened and closed as he stared at Annabelle, his fury momentarily giving way to confusion. Rachel, who had been clutching her cheeks and avoiding eye contact, froze completely, her face draining of color.“What are you talking about?” James finally asked, his voice quieter now but still charged.Annabelle turned her gaze to Rachel, her expression cold and unrelenting. “Would you like to tell him, Rachel?” she asked, her tone deceptively calm. “Or should I?”Rachel’s lips trembled, her eyes darting to James and then back to Annabelle. “This is ridiculous,” she said, her voice shaking. “James, she’s lying. She’s just trying to cause trouble.”“Am I?” Annabelle challenged, taking a step closer to her brother. “Do you really think I&rsquo
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Annabelle nodded placidly, her gaze sharp as it swept over the room. She ignored the pang of irritation at James’s obliviousness and focused on her next move. “Where’s Rachel?” she asked, her voice calm but carrying an undertone of steel.James blinked at the shift in her tone. “She went for a walk around the estate. She said it soothes her morning illness,” he said, frowning slightly. “Why?” His eyes darted toward Margaret, who still lingered in the doorway. The sight of their mother’s pale face deepened his frown. “Is there a problem?” he asked again, his tone growing more apprehensive.Margaret hesitated, her hands clasping and unclasping nervously. She managed a weak shake of her head but couldn’t quite muster a convincing smile.Annabelle’s smile thinned further, though her tone remained deceptively light. “No problem,” she said. “But I do have some news of my ow
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Margaret wrung her hands nervously, glancing toward the door as if afraid someone might overhear. “It’s Rachel,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “She made the announcement at breakfast. James, my poor boy, is so happy of course, but your father... He’s furious. He suspects something.”Annabelle snorted, the sound humorless. “Of course he does. He might be blind when it comes to James, but even he knows Rachel’s a liar.” She began pacing the room. “I warned her, Mother. I told her to leave before I got back. And now she pulls this? She’s trying to trap James—again.”Margaret nodded, her face pale. “I know, but—”“But what?” Annabelle snapped, cutting her off. “You know as well as I do that James can’t father a child. So why haven’t you told Father? Why haven’t you put an end to this circus?”Margaret
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SIX: Liar Liar (2)
Annabelle gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, her foot pressing harder against the gas pedal with each passing mile. The early morning light bathed the countryside in golden hues, but she barely noticed the scenery rushing past her. Her mind was a storm of fury, her thoughts circling around Rachel like a hawk homing in on its prey.How dare she?Annabelle’s jaw clenched, her teeth grinding audibly as she replayed Margaret’s words in her head. Rachel had blatantly disregarded her warning—no, her command—to leave the house. She had given that third rate nightwalker a clear ultimatum before leaving for Sea’s Edge: pack up and disappear from James’s life before her return. But Rachel had done the opposite. Not only had she stayed, but she’d played a card so bold it made Annabelle’s blood boil.The announcement of a pregnancy, whether it was real or not, was a move designed
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Their quiet time was suddenly interrupted by the sudden buzz of Annabelle’s phone. She groaned, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes. “I swear, they can’t give me one day of peace. It’s probably something about the household.” Her hand brushed against the pocket of her robe where the phone was tucked, but she didn’t fish it out. “Maybe I should just let it ring and go to voicemail.”Lila shook her head and nudged Annabelle with her elbow. “Oh, come on. What if it’s something important? You never know—it might be an office emergency where you’re needed.”Annabelle sighed dramatically, but there was a hint of resignation in her movements as she pulled the phone out. Glancing at the caller ID, her brow furrowed. “It’s my mother.” Alarm flickered in her eyes as she swiped to answer. “What’s wrong, Mum?”Her mother’s voice came through the
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (3)
The truth Annabelle had revealed had opened a floodgate and Lila couldn't stop the memories flooding her senses, dragging her back to a time she had tried so hard to bury.It was the third time she and James had tried and failed this month alone. The third time a pregnancy test had shown her the stark disappointment of a single pink line. Lila stood in their bathroom, her trembling hand clutching the negative test. The air in the room felt suffocating as she stared blankly at the tiny plastic stick, her hope draining with each passing second. It was nearly two years into her marriage with James, and she hadn’t given the family an heir yet. She bit her lip, fighting back tears. They never failed to remind her of it.When she stepped into the bedroom, James was sitting on the edge of their bed, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped as though in prayer. His jaw was set tight, and his eyes darted up to meet hers the moment she entered. He didn&
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (2)
The two women sat in silence for a moment. As the soft hum of the ocean filled the quiet, Lila stared into the swirling depths of her coffee, her thoughts too loud to ignore. It had gone cold, and she couldn’t bring herself to drink it anymore. Instead, she set it down. The gentle breeze carried the salty tang of the sea air, brushing against Lila's face as she took a deep breath.The scenery should have been calming, but it wasn’t. Not for her.“I’m so scared,” Lila finally whispered, her voice breaking the stillness like a fragile thread snapping.Annabelle turned her head, her brows knitting in concern. She rested a hand on Lila’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “Scared of what? Is it Dominic? Are you afraid things won’t work out between you two?”Lila opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a word, Annabelle pressed on, her tone light and reassuring. “If that’s what’s
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (1)
Lila sat on the creaky wooden porch, her hands wrapped around the warm ceramic of her coffee mug as if it could pour its heat over the chill in her bones. The golden hues painted across the sky as the sun rose was beautiful but the beauty of it was lost on her. The faint lines etched on her face told the story of a night of restless tossing and turning.Even now, her thoughts were plagued by shadows of the past that refused to stay buried. She sipped her coffee, but even the bitter taste cut through the exhaustion clouding her mind.The front door creaked open behind her, and she didn’t have to turn to know who it was. Annabelle’s sound of relief was as familiar as the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”Lila forced a tired smile and turned her head slightly. “Good morning,” she said, her voice quiet. “I woke up early and didn’t want to disturb
