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Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds
Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds
Author: Eucalyptus

Chapter 1

Author: Eucalyptus
...

My words froze the room.

Nathan Holland, supposedly numb to emotion, showed a crack in his blank expression.

My dad, Lucas Maddox, was not happy to hear that. He sulked, "They are Barton's children."

My sister, Valerie Maddox, gasped. "Gail, don't be so rude."

Memories of their taunts and Nathan's cruel pranks flashed across my mind. Their fake concern now made my stomach churn.

Lucas cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension. "Gail has been spoiled. Don't mind her."

He gestured for me to apologize, but I stayed silent, frowning.

Dustin stepped in, his tone smooth. "It's fine, Mr. Maddox. Gail is just straightforward. We won't take it personally."

His eyes, though, never left Valerie.

She glanced at me, her voice soft but pointed. "Dad wants us to show them around the estate. Don't be stubborn now."

I smirked inwardly, brushing her hand away, and flashed a bright smile. "Dustin is refined, his piano talent matching your skills, Valerie. You two can learn from each other. You can show him around."

Valerie's cheeks turned rosy, and she murmured, "Didn't you say you wanted to learn piano? I'm busy with competitions, and Dustin could teach you."

In my past life, I had fallen for this trap.

Resentful, Dustin made me copy sheet music a hundred times daily, teaching me only a botched version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

At Valerie's birthday party, I played it, earning mockery from the elite. My family felt humiliated and sidelined me.

Then Dustin and Valerie's duet cemented their "perfect match" status.

No one would have guessed that during the fire, Dustin, to save his precious hands, abandoned an unconscious Valerie without a glance.
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  • Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds   Chapter 9

    "There's hate, of course, but perhaps a faint trace of love lingers," I cut him off, my voice resolute. "There is only hate."I met his gaze unflinchingly. "If I told you he treated me with utter contempt in my past life, and in this one, I want nothing less than his ruin, would you believe me?"The air seemed to pause. Maurice's expression flickered, then softened into something akin to quiet delight."I believe whatever you say," he replied....Maurice discreetly released excerpts from my diary and glimpses of my life abroad, anonymously suggesting that Gail Maddox was still alive, guiding public attention toward the gallery fire.At the opportune moment, I leaked audio evidence of Dustin bribing piano competition judges and irrefutable proof of Valerie poisoning my meals.The façade of their "perfect couple" persona shattered, their reputations crumbling under the weight of public scrutiny.Now only Nathan remained standing.I drove my brush across the canvas, slashing a b

  • Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds   Chapter 8

    Valerie had ensnared herself in her own web.A rush of satisfaction coursed through me as I drained my glass of champagne....The scandal was swiftly overshadowed by the chatter of other socialites.I stepped into the hallway for air, the cold night breeze stinging my eyes."Gail?" Nathan's voice, raw and familiar, sent a tremor through my fingers.Before I could react, he seized my shoulders, spinning me to face him. His hands gripped mine with desperate urgency."It's you, right? I'd recognize you anywhere. Where have you been? I've searched for you endlessly. You're alive!" he said. "I couldn't eat or sleep, haunted by dreams of you shouting my name. Thankfully, God sent you back."I wrenched my hand free and delivered a sharp slap across his face. "Gail Maddox is dead. Look at my face."His head snapped to the side. He stood frozen, then shook his head frantically. "No, you've altered your appearance, but I could never mistake you. Not after what we shared in our past lif

  • Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds   Chapter 7

    Maurice's gaze was heavy with unspoken concern. "Are you prepared for this?"I smirked, draining a flute of champagne in a single swallow. "It's time to give them a surprise they'll never forget."The Kirkland Art Association, in collaboration with local patrons, hosted a grand exhibition, drawing an audience of society's elite in the political and business world.Maurice and I lingered in the shadows, poised for the show to unfold.The bustling crowd stirred a pang of longing within me. Had I not been betrayed, I would have stood at the heart of such an event in my past life, bathed in the glow of universal acclaim.Valerie and Dustin arrived fashionably late. Lucas followed, his once-proud frame now stooped, his hair streaked with white.I swallowed the ache rising in my chest. Maurice's warm hand rested lightly on mine, anchoring my emotions.Valerie, radiating confidence, unveiled her masterpiece to the crowd. Her stark black-and-white canvas was adorned with grotesque, cont

  • Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds   Chapter 6

    Nathan's laugh was laced with bitter fury as he watched them cling to each other.He seized Valerie's arm, pulling her forward. "If someone hadn't tampered with those paints, how could the fire have spread so quickly? You gave those cans to Gail, didn't you? You never expected she'd discard them."Valerie screamed, struggling against his grip. Tears streamed down her face. "She is my sister. I would never harm her. You'd rather believe your own delusions than face the truth? From the moment you arrived, Gail kept her distance from you. Why waste your devotion on someone who doesn't want it?"Nathan's mind roared with memories. In his past life, he had tormented me, turning me into a laughingstock across the city. He had toyed with my heart, and I had suffered for it.My coldness in this life was only natural.His fists clenched. Before he could react, Dustin punched him. "What's wrong with you? Apologize to Valerie now!"Nathan stepped back, dodging Valerie's outstretched hand. "

  • Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds   Chapter 5

    ...To celebrate Valerie and Dustin's recent piano competition triumph, they hosted a lavish banquet at the city's grandest hotel.Nathan raised his glass to Valerie, his smile bright. "You were phenomenal today, Valerie!"She returned a demure smile, her voice honeyed. "I owe it to Dustin's brilliance. Our performance wouldn't have been so dazzling without his collaboration."She delicately fed Dustin a piece of cake. Nathan's eyes flickered, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his glass, his mood visibly souring.The memory of the gallery fire gnawed at him. I hadn't been around since the chaos. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened to me.The banquet hall's doors flew open. The butler stumbled in, his voice quivering with panic. "Miss Gail Maddox... she is gone."Lucas' eyes widened, his voice faltering. "W-What were you saying?"The butler, overcome, let a newspaper slip from his trembling hands to the floor.Nathan lunged forward and picked it up. His

  • Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds   Chapter 4

    Four paint cans lay spilled, colors pooling across the floor.Valerie sat amid the mess. Her eyes teared up, her voice shaking. "I'm so sorry. I tripped.""The four cans were side by side," I pointed out. "And you knocked over all of them?"My blunt question caught her off guard, and her tears flowed harder. "I…"Nathan stepped in front of her, shielding her like a knight. "Enough! She said it was an accident. Why drag it out? Get it cleaned up and mix new paints."I clenched my fists, sneering. "My canvas is ruined. Do you know the cost of destroying this piece?"Unwilling to argue with me, he led Valerie to leave. "Don't be ridiculous. How much could your painting be worth?"Annoyed by his nonchalance, I took a deep breath and shoved him back. "Get out!"...The exhibition paused. I tore off the ruined canvas, retreating to the studio to mix new paints.Someone shouted outside, "Fire!"Screams pierced the door. Thinking of my hundreds of paintings, I grabbed a wet towel, c

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