All Chapters of Heart's Desire: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The salty air stung my eyes as I watched Terry and Alex disappear beneath the surface, their laughter echoing through the air. "Whew!" I exclaimed, my voice a mixture of exasperation and fear. I wanted to scold them for their reckless antics, but I was rooted in place, my hand clutching a jagged rock for dear life. The ground beneath me was uneven, a treacherous landscape of submerged rocks and shifting sand. With every wave, the water rose and fell, threatening to pull me under."Lara, are you okay?" Terry's voice, laced with a mischievous undertone, reached my ears."Do I look okay?!" I retorted, my voice sharp with irritation. They both laughed, their amusement a stark contrast to my growing anxiety."You're not going to drown, will I put you in danger?" Terry asked, her laughter echoing through the air. I splashed the water towards them, a futile attempt to express my annoyance. They just laughed harder, their carefree spirit a stark contrast to my growing fear."Haha! Hila

The throbbing in my head was a constant reminder of the previous night's events. My throat felt like sandpaper, a testament to the excessive amount of alcohol I had consumed. I stumbled out of bed, my body still heavy with the remnants of the night's debauchery, and headed towards what I thought was my bathroom."Agh!" I yelped, my head colliding with the wall. I was still in the cabin. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. I banged my forehead against the wall a few more times, the pain a welcome distraction from the turmoil within me."Stupid," I whispered, my voice a mix of self-reproach and self-pity."Good morning!" The voice startled me, sending a jolt of adrenaline through my system. I turned to see Rexon standing in the doorway, a tray of breakfast in his hands."Here's your breakfast. The yacht has docked. Eat before you go down," he said, his voice a gentle reminder of the day that was dawning.I couldn't immediately process his wor

"I took a deep breath as they approached our table. The smiles on their faces as they chatted were evident. My heart clenched, but I shouldn't show it, right? Because I shouldn't. Dawzon's gaze shifted to me before turning to Isabelle, who continued talking beside him."Hello, guys!" Isabelle greeted their group, including Rexon, as they got closer.She even greeted each of them with a kiss on the cheek before facing us."Wow, Isabelle Altamirano!" Jeff exclaimed in disbelief."Is that your full name?" He laughed in front of her before taking a seat. Dawzon returned to my side, while Isabelle sat beside him."When did you get back from Madrid?" Jeff asked again."Just last week, it's hard to contact Zon," she glanced at Dawzon, who just chuckled.Zon? That word felt like a stab in my heart. Why not, since they have a history together."You look even more beautiful and sexy." Skye, who was handed a glass of alcohol, said.But Dawzon snatched it, took a straight shot, and handed it back

I entered the next day as if everything was natural to me. Even though it felt heavy, I still tried to keep myself happy.Dawzon's letter, crumpled and damp with tears, was a constant reminder of my own hasty judgment. His words, raw and vulnerable, had pierced through my defenses, revealing a side of him I'd never seen before.I found myself trying to maintain a facade of strength, smiling at my friends. "I'm sorry to hear about Tito Mike. We'll accompany you when you go home, we'll visit Tito." Terry's hand on my shoulder as we hung out at Junspark."Yeah, thank you." I avoided looking at them. I chose not to open up about what happened. I chose to be strong and not show that I was struggling in the situation."Lara, don't keep it all in, we're your friends." Terry continued to say.But I chose to be strong. I smiled vigorously, then drank a can of coke."That's the Lara we know. Strong and sturdy." Japs spoke, which made me chuckle as I drank."Thank you, I'm okay." I said lightly.

The white corset bodice of my wedding dress felt like a cage, constricting not just my body but my spirit as well.I was staring blankly in front of the mirror. Even the application of makeup on my face felt like I couldn't feel it."Smile, Lara, so the blush on will look good." The makeup artist said to me.I smiled, but the dullness in my eyes couldn't be shaken off."Perfect!" He said loudly as he closed the compact and focused on my braided hair."That's enough, don't make it too beautiful." I said lifelessly.I winked my eye and I forced a smile, but the reflection staring back at me was a stranger – a beautiful, hollow shell. It was a picture of an heiress, but without the wealth, without the joy, without the love. My mind raced back to the dreams of my youth, the fantasy of walking down the aisle, a bouquet of roses in my hand, the envy in the eyes of the guests. It was a dream built on love, a promise whispered in front of the altar. But that dream had been shattered, replaced