LOGINShare
TWENTY-EIGHT (3): In Another Life
Last Updated:
2024-11-30 16:45:48The mental image of easygoing Marcus as some cruel, overbearing employer made Lila burst out laughing. She doubled over slightly, clutching her stomach as Dominic watched her with an amused expression.
“You’re ridiculous,” she managed between giggles.
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Ridiculous, maybe. But effective.” His gaze softened as he stepped closer, his hand sliding around her waist. His voice dropped to a low murmur. “And for the record, seeing you in my shirt is doing things to me.”
Lila felt a pleasant warmth flood her cheeks, but she met his eyes with a grin. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to bring myself to give it back.”
“Good,” Dominic said without missing a beat. “Because I wouldn’t even dream of asking you to.”
The space between them grew smaller, their laughter fading as they leaned in. Lila’s breath hitched in anticipation,
Related chapters
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-EIGHT (4): In Another Life
The bell above the bookstore door jingled faintly as Lila pushed it open, stepping inside with a sheepish smile. The soft scent of books mingled with the salty tang of the sea breeze, making the cozy shop feel like a haven. Marcus was leaning casually against the counter, his ever-present smirk already in place as he glanced at the clock on the wall.“Well, well,” he drawled, folding his arms with an exaggerated air of amusement. “Look who’s decided to grace us with her presence. Must be the ocean breeze slowing you down. Or,” he added, placing a hand to his chin thoughtfully, “you’ve decided to prioritize a few extra minutes of shut-eye over the loyal customers who await our doors every morning.”Lila laughed as she shrugged off her bag, rolling her eyes at his antics. “Oh, please,” she replied with a grin. “You and I both know we won’t see a soul walk through that door until ten o’clock. An
Last Updated : 2024-12-01Tangled Destinies TWENTY-NINE (1): Deep Suspicions
Annabelle stared at her reflection in the mirror of her vanity, her hands going still in the middle of applying her moisturizer. Her morning routine had always meditative and calming, but today it felt mechanical, as her hands moved on autopilot. A persistent thought had settled in her mind since last night, making it difficult to focus. Blackmailing Rachel, as her father had ordered, was unpleasant enough. The idea filled her with a sense of dread—not because Rachel didn’t deserve it. If anything, Rachel deserved worse. But the sordid revelation of Rachel’s affair with Victor Nolls had made her think of a more troubling possibility, one that Annabelle couldn’t ignore.What if the child Rachel lost hadn’t even been James’ at all?The idea rooted itself deeper as she remembered the way James had humiliated Lila in front of the family. Rachel had been having an affair with Victor before she even met James—what were the odds that
Last Updated : 2024-12-02Tangled Destinies TWENTY-NINE (2): Deep Suspicions
She met Rachel’s gaze evenly. "Some of us prefer silence over unnecessary chatter."“I’m just making an observation.”Annabelle didn’t look up from her plate. "And you seem overly interested in my mood this morning. Something you’d like to say?"Rachel didn’t hesitate, as though she had been waiting for this exact opening. "My cards have been restricted."Annabelle blinked, taking a small bite of her toast. She chewed slowly, savoring the crispness of the bread as Rachel’s words sank in. After swallowing, she finally said, "And how is that my problem?"Rachel leaned forward, her manicured nails tapping against the table. "I was out this morning to get a coffee. Just a coffee, Annabelle. And both of my cards declined. Both. Do you have any idea how humiliating that was?"Annabelle cut a piece of her toast in half, her expression neutral as she buttered it. "Sounds like you should t
Last Updated : 2024-12-03Tangled Destinies THIRTY (1): Truths at the Table
Annabelle took her time, stirring her tea with a deliberate air of calmness as she watched Rachel from the corner of her eye. Across the table, Rachel sat stiffly, her hands resting in her lap, the only betrayal of her unease being the slight trembling in her fingers. Annabelle glanced up briefly, noting the tension in Rachel's jaw, the way she refused to meet her gaze. It was amusing, really—this woman, who thrived on manipulation and deceit, was fidgeting before her without Annabelle needing to lift a finger. Annabelle couldn’t help the satisfaction that curled through her. Setting her spoon down with a soft clink, Annabelle folded her hands on the table. "So, shall we talk about Victor Nolls?" she began smoothly, her voice filled with mock politeness. "Are you going to deny it? Or would you rather get it all out in the open now?"The reaction was instantaneous. Rachel’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock. For a quick moment, her compo
Last Updated : 2024-12-04Tangled Destinies THIRTY (2): Truths at the Table
Rachel’s silence was all the confirmation Annabelle needed. Her pale face and trembling hands told a story louder than any words ever could.Annabelle tilted her head, her smile turning razor-sharp. "You played your cards well," she admitted. "Using that baby to manipulate James into throwing Lila out of the house? It was a bold move when it wasn’t even his. But here’s the thing about lies, Rachel—they have a way of catching up to you." She leaned forward, her smile fading as she fixed Rachel with a cold stare. "You lied," she said quietly, the words cutting through the air like a blade. "You lied to James, to my family, and you ruined Lila’s life for nothing. All because of your selfish, disgusting games."Rachel’s breathing grew uneven, her hands trembling as she gripped the edge of the table. "You... you don’t have proof," she said weakly, though her voice lacked conviction.Annabelle laughed softly, a sound devoid of
Last Updated : 2024-12-05Tangled Destinies THIRTY-ONE: What Margaret Hid (1)
Annabelle was halfway up the stairs, her mind still buzzing with the revelation she’d gotten from her conversation, when she felt a hand grab hers, sharp nails digging painfully into her skin. She gasped and turned around, expecting to see Rachel had come after her to take their fight to a physical level. But the face she saw wasn’t Rachel’s—it was her mother, Margaret’s.Her irritation flared for a moment, ready to scold her mother for sneaking up on her like that. But the harsh words froze on her tongue the moment she saw Margaret’s face. Her mother looked almost unrecognizable from the elegant beauty Annabelle was used to seeing. Her skin was deathly pale from so many days of shutting herself up in the house instead of going out into the sun. Her usually soft, pleasant features were twisted with panic, her wide eyes darting around like a frightened animal. Her thin frame seemed even smaller beneath the loose, stylish robe she wore.
Last Updated : 2024-12-06Tangled Destinies THIRTY-ONE: What Margaret Hid (2)
Annabelle blinked, the words hitting her like a well-aimed punch. She stared at her mother, her mouth slightly open in shock. Of all the things she had expected, this wasn’t one of them."Rachel’s affair?" Annabelle repeated slowly, her voice laced with disbelief.Margaret nodded miserably, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.Annabelle shook her head, trying to make sense of it. "Mother, how could you possibly know about Rachel’s affair? How long have you known?"Margaret pressed her hands to her face again, as though trying to block out Annabelle’s questions. "I didn’t mean for it to get this far," she whispered, her voice muffled. "I didn’t mean for it to spiral like this."Annabelle’s chest tightened, a cold dread creeping over her. "Mother," she said carefully, "what are you talking about? What do you mean you didn’t mean for it to spiral?"Margaret lowered her hands, her eyes bloodshot a
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Tangled Destinies THIRTY-ONE: What Margaret Hid (3)
Margaret’s face twisted with regret, her hand trembling as she reached for Annabelle. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “I took James that night because I knew it would cut your father the deepest. He always saw James as his heir, even if he never said it out loud.”Annabelle’s head snapped up, her chest tightening at her mother’s words. “His heir?” Her tone was sharp, laced with a bitterness she couldn’t suppress. So what was she? The spare?Margaret flushed, rushing to clarify. “Oh, darling, don’t misunderstand. Your father loves you too. Of course, he does—”“Stop.” Annabelle’s voice cracked like a whip, her words slicing through the air. She felt the sting of those words in her chest, the unspoken truth they carried. “I didn’t ask you to justify him. I asked you what happened that night.”
Last Updated : 2024-12-08
Latest chapter
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-NINE: Reckless Decisions (1)
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
Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SIX: Liar Liar (3)
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
