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TWENTY SIX (3): Harsh Words
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2024-11-21 16:45:02Her 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
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Her father’s silence was telling. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t immediately reply. Instead, he paced to the side of the desk, his movements deliberate.Annabelle shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “You’ve spent so much time strategizing, trying to control everyone around you, that you’ve forgotten people aren’t pawns. Lila isn’t coming back, not for James, not for you, not for this company.”“That bridge will be crossed when we find her,” David said at last, his tone brooking no argument. “But if there’s even a chance of repairing the damage James caused, Rachel has to be gone first. She’s a distraction. Worse, she’s a liability.”Annabelle let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. “And how exactly do you expect me to make that happen? Rachel isn’t going to just pack her bags and leave because I ask her to.”“That’s why I&
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The weight on Lila’s chest roused her from a dreamless sleep, and as her senses slowly returned, she registered small, warm hands shaking her head gently but insistently from side to side. Blinking groggily, she looked up to see Winnie perched on her chest, her tiny face hovering close, a mop of golden curls falling over her forehead.“Wake up now,” Winnie said in a small but commanding voice, her hands patting Lila’s cheeks with more determination than gentleness. “It’s morning!”Lila let out a soft laugh, sitting up slightly and rubbing her eyes. “Good morning, Winnie,” she said, her voice still husky with sleep. She pulled the blanket a little higher, becoming acutely aware that she was naked beneath it. She smiled at the sight of Winnie clutching a worn, dark pink stuffed monkey with a jaunty top hat.“This is Mr. Boots,” Winnie said solemnly, holding the toy up. “Say good morning, Mr. B
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With a bounce in her step, she made her way to the kitchen. Aaron and Winnie were already seated at the table—or rather, Winnie was eating while Aaron stood on his chair, trying in vain to grab a syrup jar Dominic held just out of his reach.“You’re going to be late for school,” Dominic reminded Aaron, raising an eyebrow as the boy made a desperate grab for the jar.Aaron gave up the fight when he spotted Lila. “Lila!” he shouted, jumping off the chair and rushing to hug her. He barely reached her waist, but his arms wrapped around her tightly. “Are you sleeping over again tonight?”Lila knelt slightly to hug him back. “Not tonight,” she said gently. “But I’ll come see you after school, okay?”Aaron pouted but nodded, reluctantly returning to his chair. Dominic, meanwhile, had noticed what she was wearing, and his gaze lingered on her a little too long. Lila’s cheeks burne
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The 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,
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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
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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
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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
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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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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.”
Tangled 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
Tangled 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.
Tangled 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
