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THIRTY-TWO: Excuses, Excuses (2)
Last Updated:
2024-12-11 18:01:12
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Tangled Destinies THIRTY-TWO: Excuses, Excuses (3)
The scent of garlic and curry leaves wafted through the small kitchen as Lila flipped slices of zucchini in a sizzling pan. Annabelle sat at the counter, nibbling on a piece of bread Lila had handed her earlier, her gaze flicking between her ex-sister-in-law and the hot pan she was expertly handling.“I can’t imagine how much Winnie and Aaron must have grown by now,” Annabelle said, her tone touched with wonder. “The last time I saw them, Winnie was still toddling around with that stuffed rabbit, and Aaron couldn’t sit still to save his life.”Lila smiled as she stirred the vegetables, the soft clatter of the wooden spoon filling the pause. “Winnie still has that rabbit, you know. It’s hanging by a thread, but she refuses to part with it. And Aaron... well, he’s finally calmed down a bit, but he’s as sharp as ever. He beats me at board games more often than I’d like to admit.”Annabelle chuc
Last Updated : 2024-12-15Tangled Destinies THIRTY-THREE: Hard Questions (1)
Dominic froze mid-step, visibly wincing as a faint blush crept up his neck. He forced a laugh, scratching the back of his head. “I thought we retired that one.”“Oh, never,” Annabelle said, thoroughly enjoying his discomfort. She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “How’s Marcus, by the way? I haven’t seen him in forever.”“He’s fine,” Dominic replied, regaining some of his composure. “He’ll be delighted to see you, I’m sure.”Annabelle’s grin widened as she leaned closer, her tone reflecting the mischief in her smile. “Not as delighted as when I tell him I found you in Lila’s bed.”Dominic’s faint blush deepened into a vibrant shade of red as he chuckled nervously. “You wouldn’t.”“Oh, wouldn’t I?” Annabelle said, her expression wickedly playful.Lila, who had been
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Tangled Destinies THIRTY-THREE: Hard Questions (2)
The name hit Lila like a thunderclap. Her breath caught in her throat, and her body went rigid. The color drained from her face, leaving her as pale as the moonlight streaming through the kitchen window.Annabelle didn’t miss the way Lila’s hand trembled in hers or the wide-eyed look of fear and shock that overtook her expression. It was as if the very mention of Andre’s name had opened a floodgate of emotions that Lila had fought to keep buried.“Lila?” Annabelle pressed gently, though her own heart twisted at the reaction she’d gotten out of Lila.Lila swallowed hard, her hands clutching the edge of the marble island. “Why are you asking about him?”Annabelle hesitated for a beat, as if carefully choosing her words. Then, her voice dropped to a soothing tone, as if Lila was a scared child she was trying to comfort. “Because I need to know, Lila. He’s involved with the family. I think you
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (1)
Annabelle stared at Lila, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly as she struggled to process the bombshell revelation. “You can’t be serious,” she finally murmured, her voice barely audible.Lila’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “I’m completely serious,” she said softly. “He’s my older brother, to be exact.”Annabelle’s brows knitted together. “But... why would your brother be doing this? Why would he care about the divorce?”“It’s complicated,” she admitted. She reached across the table to take Annabelle’s hand in hers. “Look, Annabelle, what I’m about to tell you is something I’ve never told anyone—not even James.”Without hesitation, Annabelle gave her a firm nod. “I promise. Whatever it is, it’ll stay between us.”Lila’s shoulders sagged in relief, and she closed her eyes brie
Last Updated : 2024-12-24Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (2)
Annabelle’s throat tightened. “And did he?”Lila let out a hollow laugh. “Not at first. When I walked into his office and told him my name, he didn’t even recognize me. He looked at me like I was a stranger off the street. And when I finally explained who I was, who my mother was, he had the audacity to turn away. He refused to help.”Annabelle’s chest ached at the raw pain in Lila’s voice. She reached out, placing a comforting hand over Lila’s, but Lila barely seemed to notice.“That was the last straw for my mom,” Lila continued, her voice thick with emotion. “She’d already been through so much, and to have the man she’d once loved dismiss us like that—it broke her spirit. She told me to let it go, to stop trying to save her, but I couldn’t. I worked harder, begged every charity I could think of, but it still wasn’t enough.”Her voice shook, and f
Last Updated : 2024-12-25Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (3)
Lila tossed and turned in her bed. Her mind was too restless for her to sleep. Annabelle’s revelation about Andre’s involvement with the Robinson family refused to leave her mind, and it had rattled her more than she had admitted to Annabelle.She had left her past behind with the hope that it would stay buried, but now it felt like that hope was slipping through her fingers. Andre was still reaching for her, determined to drag her back into the chaos she had run away from.The Winters family empire wasn’t just wealthy—it was omnipresent. From telecommunications to agriculture to media, their influence was everywhere. They had a hand in everything. The thought of that power now being directed toward finding her made her stomach churn. She knew how ruthless Andre could be, but this went beyond what she had expected.She sighed, staring at the ceiling of her bedroom in Annabelle’s seaside cottage. She had thought she was safe here, fa
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Tangled 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Tangled 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-29
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Annabelle pushed herself harder, ignoring the ache in her limbs and the sweat dripping down her back. She had been at the gym for nearly two hours now, punishing her body in an attempt to escape her thoughts. But no matter how fast she ran, no matter how hard she punched the bag, the truth remained: she was dreading going home.How the next few days would play out now after Rachel’s lies had been exposed was at the forefront of her mind. James knew now. Their father knew. And the fallout was only just beginning. She could already picture the tense silences, the barely restrained fury in David’s expression while he decided what to do with Rachel, and James breaking down even further as he digested his new reality. She didn’t want to be around for it.Wiping the sweat from her brow, she debated whether to spend another hour on the treadmill. Maybe if she ran long enough, she would be too exhausted to care about what awaited her back home.Before she could make a decision, a voice cut th
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-EIGHT: Chance Meeting
Annabelle stood in the middle of James’ room, her eyes fixed on the door through which her father had exited moments earlier. The silence that followed his departure stretching uncomfortably as everyone tried to figure out what they were going to do next.James groaned and buried his face in his hands, his fingers tugging at his hair in frustration. “I can’t believe this,” he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief and exhaustion. He pushed himself up from the chair, his movements abrupt, and began pacing the room. The tension radiating off him almost felt tangible, and his muttered curses filled the quiet air as he stalked toward the door.“I need... I need some air,” he said, his tone clipped, as if even forming the words required too much effort. Without waiting for a response, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.Annabelle sighed deeply, running a hand down her face. “What a mess,” she murmured under
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SEVEN: Can of Worms (3)
The room was thick with silence as Annabelle let James mentally digest the words she had spoken. HE stood frozen, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. It was as if he was searching for words that would not come. His face was pale, as he stuttered incoherently, his words stumbling over one another in a desperate attempt to say anything that would make Annabelle’s reasoning invalid.“You... You couldn’t possibly know that for sure,” he finally managed, his voice trembling. “Infertile? I can’t be.”Before Annabelle could muster a response, the air in the room shifted as a heavy presence made itself known. David’s voice boomed from the doorway, cutting through the tension like a well sharpened blade.“Infertile?” he thundered, the sheer force of his voice making everyone in the room flinch. “What the hell is she talking about, James?”He stormed into the room, his lar
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
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SEVEN: Can of Worms (1)
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
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SIX: Liar Liar (4)
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
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SIX: Liar, Liar (1)
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
