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WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 8
Last Updated:
2025-01-23 01:55:21
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The air outside was cool, with the sounds of city life alive.She stepped out onto the grounds behind the mansion, shadows which enveloped her into a cloak of anonymity. She did not want anybody to know she was out here--did not want anyone to see the bold and liberated woman that she had become once the sun dipped into the horizon.The clicking of her heels against the stone pathway accompanied her steps toward the garden, those movements fluid and sure. Behind, the mansion loomed, its lights weakly flickering as if the house didn't know the woman walking in its grounds. For this moment, she was not obedient Lily or dutiful wife.She was Ina.And it was within that persona that she became free.With every step, she shed another layer of restraint. The world was hers to command now. She wasn’t confined to the walls of the mansion or the role that had been crafted for her. No, tonight she would be whoever she wanted, do whatever she desired.Ina's eyes scanned the garden, bathed in the
Last Updated : 2025-01-23WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 10
The cool night air nipped at Ina's skin as she stepped out of the bar, the beat of the music still throbbing in her veins. The night had been intoxicating—a whirlwind of freedom, boldness, and indulgence. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she glanced at her watch. The glowing numbers read 4:17 AM. A mischievous smile curled her lips. She had pulled it close, but responsibility tugged her back like a leash she reluctantly acknowledged.She raised her hand and hailed a cab, the yellow car screeching to the curb."Carlston Mansion," she said, climbing into the backseat. "And step on it. I need to be home by five."He glanced back at her in the rearview mirror, his eyes lingering on her hair all disheveled, lipstick smeared, and her dress provocatively cut. Still, he asked no questions. He nodded and plunged into the quiet morning traffic.Ina sat slumped in the cool leather, looking through the window where the city whizzed outside in a distorted blur. That cacophony of laughter,
Last Updated : 2025-01-24WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 11
These words struck Lily as if a hand had slapped her in the face. She was tearing up and trying not to; she would not cry. Frozen in place, Lily felt Vandaulf brush by her, and it was like a storm went sweeping through the room.Behind him, as the door closed, Helen set down her napkin and sighed. "He only wants the best for you, Lily," she said softly, though the guilt in her eyes betrayed her.Lily swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she spoke. “Does he? Or does he just enjoy making me feel small?”Helen looked at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable. “You’ll understand one day, dear. The world he comes from—it’s… ruthless. He’s only trying to prepare you.”And with that, Helen stood up from the chair, leaving Lily to sit alone in the cavernous dining room. The silence weighed on her, endless."See what happens when you keep quiet?" Ina's voice built inside her head with anger. "You let him get the better of you. You let him treat us like dirt.""What am I supposed to
Last Updated : 2025-01-25WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 12
She hauled herself up against the cold wall, her breaths shallow as she tried to calm her racing heart. Vandaulf's words haunted in her mind, sharp and venomous, but this time, something within her refused to give in. For the first time, she stood up to him, defied him, and though that sent her shaking, it left her with an unfamiliar flicker of power.She ran her fingers over the place on her arm where he had dug his fingers into her, leaving a dull ache. He had done this before; his dominance and reminder that she had her place in his world. But tonight, somehow it felt different. It was not pain; it was a reminder that she wasn't something to be owned. She was free now.She blew slowly, jerking her feet away from the corner to lead herself towards the bedroom. The dark passage stood out, so quiet aside from the slow movement of her shuffling pace. Then came Ina's voice ringing inside of Lily's mind sharp and electrified."That's the spirit," Ina declared with that triumphal gleam Li
Last Updated : 2025-01-25WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 13
It was quiet, with just a hum from the car's engine, which to me, was deafening against the weight of unspoken words.Ina kept her eyes on the window, the city lights passing by to paint fleeting patterns across her face. Her reflection stared back at her—a woman who had played the part of sweet, subservient Lily for too long. But in the quiet glow of her own defiance, this was something Ina saw a whole lot better: a flicker of liberation.A faint smile pulled at her lips, one that Vandaulf caught from the side of his eye. His jaw clenched and he shifted in his seat, the leather creaking beneath him."You think this funny?" he said, his voice low and cutting.Ina didn't look at him. "Funny? No," she replied softly, calm but edged with a subtle challenge. "Liberating? Maybe.His knuckles went white as he clasped the armrest. "Liberating?" he repeated, his voice vibrating with shadows. "Don't play games, Lily. This isn't liberation. This is you playing a very dangerous game.".She turne
Last Updated : 2025-01-26WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 14
The question was innocent enough, but Ina felt the shift in the room. Helen and Vandaulf exchanged brief glances, curiosity flickering across their features. Ina's hands tightened on her napkin under the table, but her smile didn't waver. "Of course, Grandmother," she replied, her voice light and agreeable.The board members, too, must have felt the shift in the atmosphere; Helen was quick on her feet in refocusing them on what they were there for. Brenna stood, smiling, signaling for Ina to go before her out onto the balcony over the gardens.She straightened her spine and lifted her chin as the night air snapped crisp in the doorway as Ina moved out. Waiting for Brenna to say something, she wouldn't give her that advantage of being weak."Do you feel alright, my dear?" Brenna said softly. She leaned over the railing on the balcony with sharp features made softer by moonlight. "Living here. With them."Ina blinked at the shock, momentarily speechless. "What do you mean?Exactly what
Last Updated : 2025-01-27WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 15
The ride home was heavy with silence, punctuated only by the occasional hum of the car engine. Vandaulf sat beside Ina, his jaw tight and his eyes fixed out the window as though trying to find solace in the passing scenery. Ina, however, was at ease, her head lightly resting against the car seat. The dinner had been a small victory—not in the words exchanged but in the subtle power she had claimed for herself. Brenna's quiet support gave her the strength to weather the tension that seemed to hang over the evening like a storm cloud. As they pulled into the driveway of the grand estate, Vandaulf finally broke his silence, speaking low but dripping with warning:. "Whatever games you think you're playing, I'd advise you to stop. My patience isn't infinite, Lily."Ina turned to him, her face soft but her eyes unyielding and steady. "I wasn't aware I was playing any games, Vandaulf. Maybe you're just imagining things." He snorted, his sharp eyes narrowing as the car stopped. "Don't test me
Last Updated : 2025-01-28WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 16
He nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "Sort of. I just moved back to the city, and Alicia's been introducing me around. She mentioned you might be someone worth meeting."Ina raised a brow, intrigued. "Moved back? So, you're not new to this scene after all."Jeff shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Let's just say I've been gone long enough to feel like a stranger,Ina."There was something in his tone - an undertone of mystery that Ina couldn't quite put her finger on. She leaned in slightly, interested. "And now you're back. Why?"Jeff met her gaze, unreadable. "Maybe I missed the chaos.Jeff's lips twisted into an asymmetrical smile, one of hints of mysteries and tales still locked away in them. His glass leaned against Ina with an almost inaudible salute as he tilted it, but still never withdrew his gaze while slowly drinking its contents."Chaos suits you," he said after a moment, his tone light but his eyes probing, as if he were trying to piece her together. "But you do
Last Updated : 2025-01-29
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WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 54
Vandaulf steered into consciousness through the soft glow of sunlight shining in from somewhat parted drapes and lay catatonic in cooled silk sheets. Every aching throb in his head could be attributed to the whiskey, the music, and the gluttony that had weighed down upon him and ravaged his body the night before.He stretched out beside him automatically—but the bed was chilly.Vacant.His eyes flew open, his vision coming to rest on the rumpled sheets where she had lain.She was gone.Vandaulf sat up, memories of last night surging over him like a brutal wave.The club.The masked woman.The fire.He had never felt so drawn to anyone in his life as he had felt drawn to her.It wasn't even how she'd walked, or the way she'd panted crude things against his mouth—it was something else.Something he knew.He pressed his eyes with one hand, and breathed slowly in.Her perfume still lingered on him.His gaze went over to the crumpled mask on the pillow—her mask.She was gone. Poof. No name
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She felt fear.What went on last night? Hell.She rolled over on her side, panting at what she saw.Lying next to Lily was a man; the early morning soft light silhouetted his muscular form. His chest rose and fell evenly. His face was hidden behind the mask.The same mask he wore last night.Memories flashed. The manner in which his fingers had caressed her body, ignited fires she'd never felt before. The manner in which his lips had devoured hers, starving, needy. The manner in which he'd shattered her.It was my first time… with a stranger.A queasy, falling sensation wrapped itself around her stomach.She'd been stupid.And now she didn't even know the man whose name could forever break the power of her ill-fated deed.Gritting her teeth against the pounding in her heart, she reached out with trembling fingers.If only she could see his face… if only she could know—She paused, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.Drawing a shaking breath, she slowly drew back the mask.And w
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The music pulsed around them, a hypnotic rhythm that dissolved reality and excess.Ina felt the heat of his fingers even through the depth of silk and blackness between them.Vandaulf was a storm—uncompromising, devouring, lethal.She knew she had to leave.Knew she walked a thin edge.But the alcohol that streamed through her bloodstream pushed stay.The thrill of the unknown flamed hotter than reason.And when Vandaulf's fingers caressed the length of her spine, when his lips were inches from her ear, she didn't step back.She leaned in closer."You're playing with fire," the depths of his voice were weighted with warning and promise.Ina's smile was languid and teasing. "Perhaps I like the burn."Vandaulf's grip just a little tighter on Lily-Ina's waist. His other hand fell to her wrist, his thumb tracing slow, swooning circles across her pulse.He was testing her.She was testing him.And both of them were unwilling to back down.His mouth inches from hers. Ina could feel the warm
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 51
Vandaulf stepped before the mirror, smoothing out the cuff of his suit in effortless familiarity. His image was the very model of control—icy, measured, lethal.Lily watched him from the bed, sitting on her haunches, fingers following the stitches on her dress with gentle fingertips."You look eager," she thought, her voice silky, removed.His eyes flashed to hers in the mirror. "It's business."A Halloween masquerade party thrown by one of the city's most powerful real estate moguls. Networking, power moves, and deal-making masquerading as fun.More significantly, it meant he would be away for hours.This was her opportunity.Lily hid her smile in a wine glass."Well," she stated and stood up, the silk of her robe whispering against her skin. "Don't have too much fun without me Vandaulf."Vandaulf's eyes narrowed into hers, hard and cold."I won't."She stepped closer, inches from his face. Teasing him."Good," she whispered, reaching out to touch his tie, her fingers tracing just ab
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 50
The air between them charged with electricity, but neither blinked. Neither folded."Neither grovels, darling," Ina had sneered, her voice silk and steel.And now, observing Vandaulf's face harden—his jaw muscles locked, his fists clenched—she recognized she'd gained this fight.But victory was fleeting.Vandaulf didn't lose.He didn't surrender.He struck back.Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the room, the click of his shoes against the marble floor echoing like a warning.Ina let out a slow, measured breath, her pulse still racing from the confrontation.But deep down, Lily’s voice whispered—soft, worried.This is dangerous, Ina. You’re pushing too far.Ina smirked at her reflection in the mirror. "Not far enough."The next day, she woke up to a cage.Not a physical one—not chains, not locked doors—but something worse.A silent, invisible prison built by a man who would not be ignored.She sensed it the instant she emerged from her bedroom.The abrupt tightening
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 49
The quiet was oppressive. Nigh on unbearable.The face staring back at her wasn't Lily anymore.It was Ina.Her stronger, bolder, deadlier version.She let her breath out slowly, leaning on the cold marble sink with her elbows. Her eyes. Ina's eyes, smoldered with revolt."What in tarnation was that?" Ina growled, staring at herself in anger.Lily's gentle voice, tinged with doubt, ran through her mind. "I don't know Ina.""Liar," Ina growled. "You felt it. You let him in."Lily winced within. "No. That wasn't."It was real," Ina interjected. "You enjoyed it."Lily's hands shook. "That's not true.""Oh, sweetheart," Ina sighed. "Your heart still pounds. Your skin still stings where he touched you. Don't lie to me."Lily swallowed hard. She wanted to lie, to push the sensation down as she always did.But Ina was correct.Vandaulf had touched her beneath her skin.And that was not safe.Ina leaned forward, her eyes on their reflected faces, her voice a low whisper. "You let him win."Li
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 48
The huge doors slam shut with a deafening crash, imprisoning Lily in the lion's den.Silence.Heavy. Choking.She barely had time to catch her breath before—"Where the hell were you?"His voice was deep, coarse—like gravel on steel.Lily gradually turned. Vandaulf hadn't stepped from the bottom of the stairs, yet his presence controlled the entire bloody room. Suit jacket open, rolled-up sleeves, as though pacing back and forth—awaiting.Her.Lily flicked a harsh brow, innocent. "Out."Darkening face, fists on his thighs. Mismatched reaction.He closed a cautious step, another, until all distance had disappeared. Something heavy erupted in the air."Out," he spat again, poison seeping through his words. "For seven hours, Lily?"She shrugged. "Didn't realize I was working."His jaw clenched. "You can't just bail."She nodded. "Amusing fact, since that is precisely what I did as well."His grip shattered.In seconds, he slapped his palm on her wrist—this time with more pressure.Lily d
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 47
The sun came up over the Carlston estate, but its rays did nothing to melt the frost in the air.Lily woke up as Lily.Ina had burned out during the middle of the night, leaving only fatigue behind.A loud knock on her door startled her into sitting upright."Ma'am," the maid's voice was soft but insistent. "Madam Helena and Mr. Vandaulf are waiting in the dining hall. It's time for breakfast."Lily breathed slowly, grounding herself. Play the part.As she stepped out of her room, she was not Ina, no longer incensed. She was the demure, reserved Lily—dominated, elegant, submissive.She walked down the sweeping staircase, her silk robe flowing behind her. But as she approached the dining hall, her breathing caught.Vandaulf waited there.For her.His wide shoulders rested lazily against the doorframe, arms folded, but his face was far from calm.His eyes found her at once, raking, searching.Lily maintained her even pace."Good morning," she said, voice light, neutral.Vandaulf's mouth
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 46
The instant Vandaulf's footsteps vanished down the corridor, the anger within Ina burst forth like a firestorm.She whirled, her breathing hard and uneven, her fists tight enough to have her nails cutting into her palms. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.He believes he owns me.He believes he can command me.With a cold intake of air, she clutched the first vase—frail, lace-edged porcelain Helena had presented them at their wedding feast—and with a guttural shout, smashed it against the wall.CRASH!The metallic ring split through the space, shards rippling across the gleaming marble like shattered promises.Her lungs shook as she stood before the shambles, hands shivering with pure feeling.And then, in the silence of her mind, a voice spoke to her.A soft voice, held hard back, yet absolute."Calm down, Ina."Lily.Her other half. The part of her that still clung to reason, to control."We can surpass this. Don’t let Vandaulf wreck you."Ina exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of he
