LOGINShare
TWENTY-ONE (6): Helping Out
Last Updated:
2024-11-02 16:46:01Dominic took a step closer, and Lila’s pulse beat quicker, her heart caught in the wild thrill of anticipation. There was something intoxicating in his gaze, something that made her feel as if he were peeling away her walls, layer by layer, with each unspoken word. The air between them felt , electric, and she knew if she didn’t step back now, she’d be swept away in whatever was about to happen.
His face was only inches from hers, his gaze flickering to her lips in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. Her breathing hitched. She felt herself leaning in, just a fraction, but enough to betray how much she wanted to close that small distance between them. She didn’t know what had come over her, this overwhelming desire to abandon all her worries and cautions and let herself feel something she hadn’t dared in a very long time. Dominic’s presence was waking her up, sparking something in her that she hadn’t realized she missed.
Related chapters
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-TWO (1): Ambushing Mr. Winters
Annabelle fastened the last button on her shirt cuff, the soft fabric sliding over her wrist as she adjusted it, her fingers lingering a moment longer than usual. She stared at her reflection, but her thoughts were miles away. Her mind wasn’t on her outfit, not really; it was on Andre Winters. She was about to march into his office unannounced. No appointment. No polite prelude. Just a woman who wasn’t about to let some businessman derail everything her family had worked for without a fight, but she was certain Andre wouldn’t turn her away.And, if she was honest with herself, part of her was thrilled at the idea of seeing Andre again, to test whether him giving her a hint was strictly professional—or if there was something else simmering beneath the surface. She almost laughed at herself for the thought. He’d given her that hint about his mysterious decision to pull the plug on her family’s business, and he hadn’t offered
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-TWO (2): Ambushing Mr. Winters
“You mean Rachel, the woman who lives here solely because you’re supporting her. The same Rachel who’s always ‘loved’ you—as long as there’s money involved?” She shook her head. “Let me get this straight. She’s afraid you’ll leave her… so she’s decided the best way to keep you is to scream at you?”James’s face tightened, and he visibly stiffened at her words, his face a mixture of hurt and indignation. He rubbed his eyes, sinking lower into the chair. “It’s not like that, Annabelle,” he said defensively, though he sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than her. “She’s just upset.”“Oh, it’s not?” Her tone was sharp, relentless. “Rachel might seem upset now, but that’s only because she’s terrified her free ride’s about to end. It’s not you she’s afraid of losing, James. It&rsqu
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-TWO (3): Ambushing Mr. Winters
Winters Corp. headquarters was a modern masterpiece of steel and glass that towered into the sky, its minimalist design made it stand out confidently among the other buildings in the business district. The sheer size of it made visitors feel small—a clear sign of the power of the man behind it, Andre Winters. The building seemed to say that only those worthy of respect could walk within its walls.Annabelle felt a thrill pulse through her as she stepped inside. The reception hall was stunning. Light poured in through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, lighting up the polished marble floors and high-end furnishings. To her left was a waiting area furnished with comfortable seating in soft grays and blacks. The Winters logo was etched onto the wall behind the receptionist, sharp and understated—a simple W with a line through it, full of ruthless simplicity.This time, Annabelle noticed the receptionist’s demeanor had shifted. Gone was the dismissiv
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-TWO (4): Ambushing Mr. Winters
Annabelle crossed the room with steady steps, keeping her face neutral as she met his gaze. But the closer she got, the more she felt that prickling awareness again, the same one she’d felt every time she was near him. She sat down, crossing one leg over the other and folding her hands in her lap."Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Winters," she said, careful to keep her tone level."Of course," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "I must say, I was curious when I heard you were here. I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon after our last conversation.”The corners of his mouth lifted in a faint smile, but his eyes remained unreadable. He was testing her, she realized, waiting to see what angle she would take. Annabelle met his gaze evenly.“I didn’t think so either,” she admitted, “but I couldn’t stay away—not when you gave me that hint about the contract.”He raised an eyebrow
Tangled Destinies TWENTY TWO (5): Ambushing Mr. Winters
Annabelle was momentarily at a loss, taken aback by his sincerity. But before she could respond, Andre stood and walked toward her, crossing the room with a quiet, powerful intensity. He stopped when he was just inches from her, his presence almost overwhelming as he reached down and traced a finger along her jawline. A shiver ran through her as his eyes bore into hers. His voice softened, but his words were edged with hidden anger. “But you can understand my disappointment in seeing how your family treated her. Now that she’s no longer part of the Robinson name, I have no desire to continue this arrangement. I have no reason to care about your company’s success—or failure.”Annabelle bristled at his words. His dismissal of her family was cutting, even if it was grounded in James’s reckless behavior.His fingers dropped, his eyes hardening. “I’ve heard how James treated her. And I’ve heard how she was discarded, as
Tangled Destinies TWENTY THREE (1): On Thin Ice
Annabelle gripped the steering wheel as she drove, her mind whirring through her conversation with Andre Winters. She replayed each word, every flicker of expression that had crossed his face, hunting for something she might have missed. The image of his self-assured smirk, his dark eyes glinting with secrets, lingered vividly. But what haunted her most was his revelation about Lila—how he had taken on her father’s company, not because he felt it deserved his business, but simply to make sure Lila would be provided for, hidden under the guise of business.Annabelle’s chest tightened at the thought. This admission alone raised more questions than it answered. Did Lila even know that Andre was looking out for her? Or perhaps… was there history between them that Lila had never mentioned? As much as she tried, Annabelle couldn’t shake the idea that maybe, just maybe, Andre had once been close to Lila, closer than mere friends. If that were true, why
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-THREE (2): On Thin Ice
Her father’s political career was, she knew, far more at risk than he let on. The media had long awaited any chance to dig into his volatile temper and questionable decisions, and with Andre distancing himself, they would have that opportunity. David would lose, and it would be nothing short of spectacular.Part of her almost wanted to see it happen.But another part, the part that had been raised with a relentless sense of duty to her family’s legacy, steeled her resolve. She had to save the company. If there was any chance of securing Andre’s contract again, she would have to play this carefully.She leaned back against her desk, folding her arms as she eyed her father and brother. “So,” she said coolly, “I assume you’re here to tell me something important.”“He’s pulling out,” James said, breaking the tense silence that followed Annabelle’s question. His voice was low, full of frus
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-THREE (3): On Thin Ice
As Annabelle spoke, she could see her father’s frustration rising, his temper ready to spill over. But what troubled her more than anything was the way James shrank under their father’s simmering rage, the way his shoulders hunched in defeat. She could feel the familiar tension in the air, the power struggle between her father and brother, one that had been ongoing for years.David didn’t waste any time before turning his fury on James. “You’re useless, James! Utterly useless!” he spat, his words biting through the silence. “How could you let this happen? How could you let Lila slip through our fingers? And you never even bothered to run a proper background check on her?”James flinched, his face pale. He struggled to find his words, his hands twitching at his sides as he stumbled over his answer. “I… of course, I did,” he muttered shakily, his voice betraying his nerves. “The background check cam
Latest chapter
Tangled Destinies TWENTY SIX (3): Harsh Words
Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. She glanced at it absently—it was a message from one of the servants, asking if she wanted tea before bed. She quickly sent a polite decline. Tea wouldn’t fix the turmoil in her chest. Instead, she sent Lila a short text, telling her she might come and see her this weekend. Right now, Sea’s Edge seemed more inviting than ever.She sat down at the small vanity by the window, staring at the moonlit reflection of the garden outside. Her mind wandered again to Andre. What was it about him? She hadn’t intended to let the kiss happen. She was confused and unsure of her own emotions. But then, his presence had been so consuming, so undeniable. And now she was left trying to piece together what that kiss meant. Why had she let it happen? Why had she felt so drawn to him? Her thoughts were spiraling. She knew she shouldn’t have kissed him. She didn’t even know him, not really. He was just another complica
Tangled Destinies TWENTY SIX (2): Harsh Words
“I won’t go back to being some filthy mistress, James!” Rachel screamed, her voice rising in pitch with each word. “I won’t be the one people look at with disgust every time I walk into a room. And now you’re going to leave me too? After everything I’ve done for you?”James finally turned to face her, and for a brief moment, Annabelle saw something in his eyes—a flicker of something soft, something desperate, as he held her shoulders gently. He rubbed them in an attempt to calm her down, but Rachel was having none of it.“I don’t want to go back to Lila,” James said, his voice low and strained. “I’ve already told you that. But you have to be patient. We’re in a tough spot right now. The Winters contract... if we don’t get it back, the company... everything’s at risk.”Rachel’s face twisted in frustration, and Annabelle could see the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She was clearly not in the mood for patience.“Patience? Patience!?” Rachel
Tangled Destinies TWENTY SIX (1): Harsh Words
Annabelle’s mind was a storm as she drove home, the quiet hum of the car’s engine doing little to settle the chaos raging inside her. She couldn’t stop replaying the kiss with Andre. Her body still remembered the heat of it, the sharp edge of his hands on her skin, the firm press of his lips against hers. And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to forget how quickly it had ended—how swiftly she had pulled away from him, shoving aside any budding feelings as if they were a distant and irrelevant threat. She had told him it meant nothing. She had forced herself to believe it.The kiss had been a mistake. There was no way around that. She knew better than to indulge in anything that could cloud her judgment. Andre Winters had the power to make or break her family. And for all the chemistry that had crackled between them, for all the ways he had made her feel seen and wanted, it was dangerous. His interests were tangled in business, in a world where emotions didn’t belong.The nagging voice i
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (4): A Night of Confession
Lila froze, the spark of recognition lighting up her eyes as she remembered seeing the scandal splashed across headlines. The media had dubbed it “The Lowes Low”—a twisted play on Dominic’s last name, and a reference to how low a person could sink. She remembered how every tabloid and news outlet had latched onto the story: Maria, desperate to secure more money, had orchestrated her own children’s kidnapping, thinking it would help her case. Dominic watched her as the memories came flooding back.“She planned it all,” he murmured, exhausted. “But Marcus—he hired a private investigator to follow her. That’s how we found them.”The images from those articles were still fresh in Lila’s mind, the ones that detailed how Maria had left her own children in a rundown apartment with nothing but candy to eat, only seeing them every few days as she took their father to court for every penny he had. Her throat
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (3): A Night of Confessions
But as the movie approached its end, Lila’s smile began to fade. She noticed that something seemed off. A subtle shift in tone crept in—a quiet, haunting sense of melancholy that lingered just under the surface. It was almost unnoticeable, and Aaron and Winnie, still engrossed, didn’t seem to notice. Elara and Finn eventually reached a tower hidden by fog, where, they were told, an evil witch had imprisoned their mother. The children, with the help of the friends they’d made, bravely faced the witch, banishing her and freeing their mother at last. But when the mother embraced her children, the animation took on an odd, faded quality, the colors dulling slightly, though the characters’ joy remained. The final scene showed the three of them reunited, a snowy landscape stretching out behind them.Then came the twist, so subtle that only an adult could catch it: a soft voiceover from Elara, whispering to her brother that everything would be okay now,
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (2): A Night of Confessions
When they returned, Dominic had just finished setting their plates on the coffee table. The slight tension in his face eased when he noticed Lila carrying Winnie, and when the little girl sleepily murmured, "Daddy," he seemed to visibly relax, his lips curving into a quick, grateful smile aimed at Lila. Dominic reached out, gently lifting Winnie from Lila’s arms and setting her on his lap.Aaron, far too focused on the movie to pay attention to dinner, darted toward the DVD player. He expertly removed the disc from its plastic case and popped it into the player, moving with the kind of confidence that showed he’d done it a hundred times. As he nestled himself between Lila and Dominic, he seemed to barely contain his excitement, his small frame practically vibrating with it.As the opening scenes of The Waiting Place began to play, Aaron leaned over to Lila, whispering, "You’re so gonna enjoy this."Winnie, who was now wide awake, shushed him im
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FIVE (1): A Night of Confessions
In the kitchen, Dominic focused on making a simple, familiar dinner—spaghetti with a mild tomato sauce and homemade meatballs, suitable for both the kids and Lila. He chopped fresh basil and sprinkled it into the sauce, stirring until the aroma filled the room. It was easy, quick, and one of the kids’ favorites. Winnie, who had a fussier palate, would at least eat the noodles if the mood struck her, and Aaron always loved rolling the spaghetti onto his fork like a pro.Meanwhile, in the living room, Lila sat with Aaron on the floor, sorting through Dominic’s impressive DVD collection of animated children’s films. It was a surprisingly massive selection; with nearly every popular kid’s movie she could think of—and many she hadn’t even heard of. It felt like a small treasure trove, like Dominic had quietly built up his own library to keep Aaron and Winnie entertained."How about this one?" she suggested, pulling out a bright gree
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FOUR (3): Unexpected Meeting
Just as Annabelle was about to take a deep breath and relax, Andre reappeared with two mocktails in hand, his expression one of feigned innocence."Here we go," he said, setting the drinks down in front of her. "I thought you might need a little something after that... torturous exchange."Annabelle raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were going to save me."He smirked, the glint in his eye mischievous. "Oh, I was, but I changed my mind. You see, I had to sacrifice you to her. She’s obviously really into me, and I had no choice but to let you face her alone to save myself. But you survived, didn’t you?"For a moment, Annabelle stared at him, not quite understanding. And then, the meaning of his words hit her. Her lips parted in a surprised laugh, the sound bubbling out of her before she could stop it. Andre’s mischievous grin was contagious, and before she knew it, the weight of the day seemed to lift, if only for a moment.As the laugh
Tangled Destinies TWENTY-FOUR (2): Unexpected Meeting
They found a nearby bench, surrounded by hanging plants and soft sunlight streaming through the glass roof, and settled down. Annabelle felt her tension begin to ease. It wasn’t as if she was unaware of the dangerous position she was in—she couldn’t forget for a second that Andre had the power to crush her family with the flick of his wrist. But for now, in this quiet space, she allowed herself to pretend she lived a much more normal life. She forgot about her father’s frantic desperation and the threat Andre posed. In the bubble of their easy banter, the power dynamics seemed to blur, leaving just two people talking in a quiet garden.The hours seemed to slip by as they talked— business, the weather, small things that made her forget the weight of her responsibilities. Annabelle found herself surprisingly at ease with him.It wasn’t long before she realized that she was enjoying his company. There was an undeniable chemistry between them, something that made her feel
