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TWENTY-NINE (2): Deep Suspicions
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2024-12-03 16:45:06She 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
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Tangled 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
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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.”
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The sugary scent of cookie dough filled the kitchen as Lila slid the tray into the oven, her fingers still slightly from the dough even though she’d washed them twice. A small hum escaped her lips. It was a song whose lyrics she couldn’t even remember properly, but with how lighthearted she was, she didn’t really care. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this carefree. It had been an ordinary day at the shop until Marcus had decided to close early. The unexpected freedom had left her with free time she didn’t know what to do with.Her first instinct had been to text Dominic. Her hand had hovered over her phone, already composing a message in her mind. Something simple—playful, maybe. But doubts crept in before she even unlocked the screen. Would she seem too clingy? Desperate for his attention?“It’s been too long since I’ve done this,” she had muttered to herself, shaking her head as she shov
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When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together.“You make it impossible to stay away,” Dominic said, his voice rough with emotion.Lila smiled, her fingers trailing along the collar of his shirt. “Maybe I don’t want you to.”He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.Dominic glanced over her shoulder, his nose twitching slightly. “So, these cookies you’re baking,” he said, his tone teasing. “Are they really for the kids, or was that just an excuse to see me?”Lila laughed, the sound light and unrestrained. “I haven’t decided yet,” she admitted, her eyes sparkling.“Well,” Dominic said, his thumb brushing against her hip, “if they’re half as sweet as you, I’m sure they’ll love them.”The compliment was simple, but it made Lila’s heart flutter all the same. She stepped back, her hand slipping into his as she led him inside. “Come on,” she said. “They’ll be out of the oven in ten minutes.”Dominic followed
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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
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Annabelle slowly stirred, her body warm despite the cool morning air. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this deeply satisfied, with contentment wrapping around her like a second skin. As she shifted, a slow ache bloomed through her body; a delicious reminder of the night before.She was sore everywhere – her arms, her thighs, her shoulders. For Pete’s sake, she was sore in places she didn’t even know one could get sore in. And it made her want to do it all over again. Her lashes fluttered open, and for a moment, she simply lay there, absorbing the quiet intimacy of the moment. The room was dimly lit with the heavy hotel curtains keeping the morning light at bay even though the sun was already risen. The sheets were tangled around her legs, cool against her skin, but it was the solid weight of the arm slung over her waist that held her still. Andre.The realization sent a ripple of surprise through her. She had expected to wake up al
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Lila’s fingers trembled as she scribbled a quick note to Marcus, her vision blurred by unshed tears.“I’m sorry, but I need to step out for a break.”She hesitated for a brief second before placing the note where she knew he would see it. As she gathered her things and slipped out of the bookstore, a cool gust of wind brushed against her damp cheeks. The streets of Sea’s Edge were quiet this afternoon, with most of its population at work. She should feel relieved that today was a slow day. Marcus wouldn’t struggle to handle the few customers that trickled in. But relief never came. Only a hollow ache in her chest as her feet carried her down the familiar path back to the cottage.Every step, her mind replayed her conversation with Dominic in excruciating detail.The moment he had asked her if they weren’t enough of a reason for her to fight. The way his expression had hardened. The hurt in his eyes when he realized she was choosing to leave rather than stay and fight for them.She pus
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Annabelle’s brows lifted, unimpressed. She folded her arms and leaned back against her chair. “Wow,” she drawled. “That’s a very serious accusation, James. Do you have any proof, or are we just throwing wild theories around now?”His jaw twitched. “Don’t play games with me. You’re the only one who cared enough about her to help her disappear. You must know something.”Annabelle exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. “You sound paranoid.”James took a step closer. “Don’t do that. Don’t act like I’m crazy.”“You are, though.” She tilted her head, a sharp glint in her eyes. “Because yesterday, you weren’t even asking about Lila. You didn’t care where she was. You weren’t checking in on the so-called search effort. But now, all of a sudden, you’re this devoted ex-husband who’s desperate to find her?”
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After a cold shower in the gym’s locker room, Annabelle towel-dried her hair, taking her time as the icy water’s effect dulled the fire simmering in her belly. She knew it wouldn’t last. Even as she dressed in a fresh set of clothes, her mind wandered. She could have sworn her body was humming. She wasn’t naive to let herself think this was about emotions or romance. No, this was about doing something for Annabelle for once, and not for the company and certainly not for the family.With her hair satisfactorily dry, she left the building, her gym bag hung on her shoulder. Sliding into her car, she pulled out her phone and quickly booked a suite at an upscale hotel. With a few taps and a confirmation email, a suite at the prestigious Meridian was booked.She deliberately chose a neutral setting, somewhere neither nor Andre could claim dominance. If she was going to have this night with him, she wanted it to be free from the weight of their family names, their business interests, their t
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Annabelle was the first to pull away, though it took every ounce of willpower she possessed to do so. Her breath came in short, uneven pants, and she could still taste Andre on her lips, still feel the firm press of his body against hers. His hands still rested on her waist, his grip firm, as if he wasn’t quite ready to let go. Maybe that was a hint he thought that she might take back what she'd just done. But Annabelle had no intention of second-guessing herself. Not this time.She placed a hand against his chest, creating a sliver of space between them, but it did nothing to cool the heat simmering in her veins.She swallowed, taking a moment to calm herself before she spoke. “We need to set some ground rules.”Andre’s fingers flexed against her waist, his thumb grazing over the damp fabric of her workout top. “Rules?” he asked. His voice was rougher than usual, less composed. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t secretly delighted in the fact that she had shaken that assured composu
