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FIFTY-THREE: The Gala (3)
Tanggal publikasi:
2026-04-30 22:17:17
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Tangled Destinies FIFTY-THREE: The Gala (3)
Lila glanced at her briefly, her expression softening for the barest second before it smoothed out again. She checked the time on her watch, then stepped back. “Don’t worry,” she said lightly. “I was leaving anyway.” She turned without another word and began to walk away, her spine straight.James felt something tighten in his chest as he watched her retreat. The conversation had barely begun, and already she was slipping out of reach again. Irritation flared within him, quick and sharp, directed as much at his father as at the situation itself. He muttered a curse under his breath before moving after her, his strides longer and more urgent, weaving through the small clusters of guests until he caught up.He caught up to her within a few steps, his hand shooting out to grasp her wrist. The contact was brief, but Lila reacted almost instinctively. She yanked her hand free with a sharp motion, taking a step back as she turned on him, her eyes flashing with unmistakable anger.“If you do
Tangled Destinies FIFTY-THREE: The Gala (2)
For a moment, James did not comply. His fingers remained wrapped around her arm, not painfully tight, but possessive enough to draw attention. There was a restless energy in him now, something unsettled and insistent, as if seeing her again had stirred too many things at once.“Where have you been?” he demanded, his voice dropping as he leaned closer. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you?” His eyes searched her face accusingly. “And now you just show up here like nothing happened? At this event of all places?”The irritation in her eyes deepened. With a sharp motion, she pulled her arm free from his grip and took a step back immediately, putting space between them, her posture straight and composed even as annoyance laced her tone. “What I’m doing here,” she said coolly, “is none of your business.”James’s jaw tightened at her response, the muscle ticking faintly as his temper stirred. His eyes narrowed, and he took a step toward her again, unwilling to let the dis
Tangled Destinies FIFTY-THREE: The Gala (1)
James lifted the champagne flute to his lips, letting the crisp, dry taste linger as his gaze swept across the hall.The ceilings soared high above, lined with intricate molding picked out in soft gold, catching the glow of the chandeliers that hung like suspended constellations. Each crystal shimmered under the warm lighting, scattering reflections across the polished marble floors below.Along the far wall, enormous panels displayed curated artwork. Clusters of guests moved between them, their voices low as they talked, laughter rising now and then like a soft ripple across water.Waiters in tailored black uniforms moved seamlessly through the crowd, offering trays of champagne, hors d'oeuvres, and small, artful desserts that looked almost too perfect to eat. Somewhere in the background, a live string quartet played.It was, James thought, exactly the kind of event a conglomerate like Winters would host.He took another sip of his champagne, his gaze drifting briefly to the figures
Tangled Destinies FIFTY-TWO: Giving In Again (2)
Annabelle let out a soft breath through her nose, something between a sigh and a quiet laugh. “No,” she agreed. “He isn’t.” She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving in a faint smile. “He already has a plan,” she added.Andre’s brow lifted just slightly, inviting her to continue.“He wants James to charm the Winters heiress at the gala. Sweep her off her feet, make her fall in love with him.” Her smile sharpened. “Once that happens, apparently, I’ll be… unnecessary.”Amusement flickered in Andre’s eyes. “Is that so?” he murmured.Annabelle huffed out a quiet laugh. “As far as plans go,” she said dryly, “it’s certainly ambitious.”Andre’s lips curved, not quite a full smile, but enough. “I expect David will have quite a shock when that time comes.” By now, he was standing close. Very close.She could smell his cologne that was now familiar to her after their night together, something edged with pinewood and it wrapped around her senses, making it harder to focus on anything else.
Tangled Destinies FIFTY-TWO: Giving In Again (1)
Annabelle lingered in the driver’s seat longer than necessary, her hands resting lightly against the steering wheel as she stared ahead without really seeing anything.The underground parking lot of the Winters company headquarters stretched out before her, quiet and dimly lit, the hum of fluorescent lights filling the stillness. She had pulled in without thinking, her mind elsewhere, Now that she was here though, she had to ask herself: What exactly was she doing?She exhaled slowly, leaning her head back against the seat for a moment before letting it fall forward again. Across the lot, a familiar SUV caught her eye, parked neatly in its designated spot. It was Andre’s car.Of course he was still here and working late, no doubt. Annabelle let out a small, humorless huff. After leaving the gallery, she had intended to go straight home.The evening had gone exactly as planned. Better, even. Seeing Lila’s face light up when Dominic appeared had been worth every bit of effort it had tak
Tangled Destinies FIFTY-ONE: Surprise, Surprise (2)
For a heartbeat, she simply stared. Her mind struggled to catch up, to make sense of what she was seeing, but her heart had already leapt ahead, racing wildly in her chest. Her lips parted, a gasp forming but no sound came out.Was she dreaming? It would make sense, wouldn’t it? That her mind, still tangled in missing him, in everything she had left behind, would conjure him here of all places.She blinked once, then twice.He didn’t disappear. If anything, the details only sharpened: the familiar lines of his face, the happiness in his eyes, the way his mouth curved into that unmistakable grin.“I missed you,” he said, his voice gentle. “More than you’ll ever know.”That was all it took. Lila closed the distance between them in an instant. She flew into his arms, her hands gripping onto him as if she needed to prove, to herself more than anything, that he was real. That he was here, solid and warm and enti
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-29Tangled Destinies THIRTY-TWO: Excuses, Excuses (1)
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 lightheart
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-29Tangled Destinies THIRTY (1): Truths at the Table
Annabelle took her time, stirring her tea with a deliberate air of calmness as she watched Rachel from the corner of her eye. Across the table, Rachel sat stiffly, her hands resting in her lap, the only betrayal of her unease being the slight trembling in her fingers. Annabelle glanced up briefly
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-28Tangled Destinies TWENTY-NINE (2): Deep Suspicions
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-28
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