Apologies for the prolonged silence. Instead of taking a holiday, I fell very ill. I'm still not well and require ample rest, or else I risk further setbacks. Editing these chapters proved challenging. We'll have to speed things up to wrap up this book. Please bear with me during this challenging week due to my situation, but I'll do my best to update as usual. đđ˝đđ˝đđ˝
~Lilly~ A week passed, and Lesley showed no signs of having the decency to make herself scarce. Despite being caught red-handed wearing wires, her audacity knew no bounds. It was discovered she intended to record our conversations for the press, a blatant betrayal of Brandon's trust. Yet, rather than retreat in shame, she persisted in her shameless demeanour. Each encounter with her became an exercise in vigilance, with every word chosen with caution and every move calculated to avoid further exploitation. The atmosphere hung heavy with suspicion, and she remained obtuse. Her presence lingered like an unwelcome shadow, a constant reminder of Brandon's mistake caused by his desperation. The air crackled with tension whenever she entered the room, her actions leaving an indelible stain on our harmonious environment. Despite the annoyance, there was a sense of grim determination among us. We refused to allow Lesley's actions to dictate our course. Instead, we fortified our defences, e
~Lilly~ Opting for silence by refusing to respond, I observed Lesley gather her belongings from the office. It was a tedious process, stretching over an hour, much to Gemma's evident annoyance. As we stood by, obliged to monitor her, frustration simmered beneath the surface. Lesley's deliberate dawdling felt like a calculated tactic to waste our time, a subtle jab aimed at our patience.A nagging concern gnawed at me regarding my cousin's demeanour, sensing an underlying unease that demanded attention. I resolved to broach the subject with her later once we had a moment to confer privately. But for now, my immediate focus was on extricating Lesley from our home and, by extension, from Brandon's and my life. Lesley's packing remained unfinished when I received word from Ethan and Gamma Tevin about their presence in Hayland. Their purpose was evident; Lesley's looming arrest was imminent, and I welcomed the swift action. I was exhausted from dealing with her antics and eager for closur
~Lilly~ Ethan wasted no time. Lesley and her friend, Amy, were swiftly placed under arrest, the gravity of their situation sinking in as the reality of their actions began to dawn on them. Amy, desperate for leniency, pleaded with Ethan, but he remained resolute in his duty. He assured her that if she was found innocent, she would be released unharmed. It was a small comfort amidst the chaos, but it offered a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation. Witnessing the swift and decisive action taken by my cousins filled me with gratitude. Their unwavering support and quick response in ensuring justice prevailed did not go unnoticed. I knew they had acted swiftly for my sake, and for that, I was immensely grateful. In the midst of the commotion, I couldn't help but notice Pamela's demeanour. Her expression betrayed a sense of relief, a weight lifted from her shoulders with Ethan's presence in Hayland. His swift intervention had brought a sense of security, calming her fears and
~Gemma~Nervousness had somehow become me. From the moment I got out of Luca's bed till now, my heart has been unsettled. He had always been a dream guy. Girls were crazy about him in school, but the social climbing tendencies of his family stuck to him like glue, and I had been unable to separate the two. He had flashed in my mind continuously after our night together, but I dared not reach out. And when he started calling me, I began to suspect it might have been an elaborate plan to get me. Getting into the royal family was something his family members were unable to achieve. Maybe he sought to realise their dream now. I refused to be the sucker in this regard. I might be twenty-five and unmated, but I wasn't going to be desperate to the point of stupidity. So, no matter how much I yearned to see him, I controlled myself and focused on finding my fated or the right choice for me. I wasn't picky in that regard. I was also doing a good job at moving on until I found out I was pregn
~Gemma~Lucas got up and stepped back, making me look up at him."You might not believe this, but I don't regret what happened between us; I just regret how it happened. I honestly wished I could turn back the hands of time, Gemma. If we were ever going to get together, it shouldn't be when you were inebriated. I regret it. I feel like, indeed, I had taken advantage of you because I found the blood stains on the sheets in the morning. I am sorry. I, too, wasn't in my senses, but you need to understand it wasn't my intention. I would never do that to you or anyone. I feel like shit right now," he said and ran his fingers through his hair, and I realised I might be wrong about his mode of transport to Hayland. He might have been the one to mess up his hair from sheer nervousness."So why are you here now?" I finally asked him, not wanting to dwell on the matter. He looked at me with a gentle gaze."I want to do right by you, Gemma," he said and returned to squat in front of me."I want
~Winter~Three days had passed, and other than the stress of running the orphanage and trying to get the bakery running, Summer and I also had to deal with Aspen's obnoxious father. He blocked all our attempts to see the girl, and it was getting on my nerves. If Chelsea had not talked about this, I wouldn't have been bothered, but the more I realised the possibility of domestic violence being the case, the more determined I was to see her. At least I needed to know how she was doing. I wanted to talk to Noah about it. Maybe he could use his office to force Aspen's father's hand and allow us to see the girl. She would turn eighteen soon. How long did he want to hold on to her? As things looked, it seemed she wouldn't be leaving even after she turned eighteen. It was unacceptable. I didn't know if I should take the matter to Lady Amelia, but I also did not know how Noah would take it if we went that route. I am going to leave him to handle the matter. There was an urgency to it that m
~Summer~Getting to my room, I looked at the empty bedroom and Sebastien's desk, where he'd usually sit on the computer, and I felt a longing in my chest. I never knew I'd be attached to this man, but here I was, missing him. If we weren't too tired, I would have requested that Winter spend some time in the living room, but we needed to shower and rest. The day had been hectic, and honestly, a little shut eyes would definitely help.Exiting the bathroom, I decided to go to bed naked and get under the sheets. It was hard for me to fall asleep even though Sebastien's scent assaulted my senses. I was attached, and I knew it. There was no denying it, and I doubt I would survive a heartbreak. I wondered how Winter was able to survive what Brandon did to her because I could imagine she must have felt this way about him; they were fated, after all. No wonder she became a closet drunk. I am glad my friend was able to kick the habit easily. I was beginning to worry for her. I am also grateful
~Gemma~The day to leave for Lucland had finally come, and the throbbing in my chest made me uneasy. Lilly and Eleanor weren't happy that I turned Lucas down, but honestly, I wasn't lying when I said I needed time. I hoped we might still have a chance, and if not, then he wasn't meant for me. I packed my bags fully, knowing I might not be returning. My options weren't really much; it was either I left home or told my folks the truth, but I also knew that my father would not see reason and claim that Lucas did it deliberately. I knew my father would destroy him for it, and I couldn't have that. Seeing the way Lucas backed down when I said no, I knew it wasn't deliberate on his part, and he only wanted to right a wrong out of duty. I didn't want him to end his engagement and commit to me simply because he felt obligated because we accidentally had sex, and he popped my cherry. If I had accepted his offer, I would forever feel like a charity case, and that wasn't a great place to begin