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THIRTY-THREE: Hard Questions (1)
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2024-12-22 16:45:11Dominic froze mid-step, visibly wincing as a faint blush crept up his neck. He forced a laugh, scratching the back of his head. “I thought we retired that one.”
“Oh, never,” Annabelle said, thoroughly enjoying his discomfort. She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “How’s Marcus, by the way? I haven’t seen him in forever.”
“He’s fine,” Dominic replied, regaining some of his composure. “He’ll be delighted to see you, I’m sure.”
Annabelle’s grin widened as she leaned closer, her tone reflecting the mischief in her smile. “Not as delighted as when I tell him I found you in Lila’s bed.”
Dominic’s faint blush deepened into a vibrant shade of red as he chuckled nervously. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, wouldn’t I?” Annabelle said, her expression wickedly playful.
Lila, who had been
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Tangled Destinies THIRTY-THREE: Hard Questions (2)
The name hit Lila like a thunderclap. Her breath caught in her throat, and her body went rigid. The color drained from her face, leaving her as pale as the moonlight streaming through the kitchen window.Annabelle didn’t miss the way Lila’s hand trembled in hers or the wide-eyed look of fear and shock that overtook her expression. It was as if the very mention of Andre’s name had opened a floodgate of emotions that Lila had fought to keep buried.“Lila?” Annabelle pressed gently, though her own heart twisted at the reaction she’d gotten out of Lila.Lila swallowed hard, her hands clutching the edge of the marble island. “Why are you asking about him?”Annabelle hesitated for a beat, as if carefully choosing her words. Then, her voice dropped to a soothing tone, as if Lila was a scared child she was trying to comfort. “Because I need to know, Lila. He’s involved with the family. I think you
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (1)
Annabelle stared at Lila, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly as she struggled to process the bombshell revelation. “You can’t be serious,” she finally murmured, her voice barely audible.Lila’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “I’m completely serious,” she said softly. “He’s my older brother, to be exact.”Annabelle’s brows knitted together. “But... why would your brother be doing this? Why would he care about the divorce?”“It’s complicated,” she admitted. She reached across the table to take Annabelle’s hand in hers. “Look, Annabelle, what I’m about to tell you is something I’ve never told anyone—not even James.”Without hesitation, Annabelle gave her a firm nod. “I promise. Whatever it is, it’ll stay between us.”Lila’s shoulders sagged in relief, and she closed her eyes brie
Last Updated : 2024-12-24Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (2)
Annabelle’s throat tightened. “And did he?”Lila let out a hollow laugh. “Not at first. When I walked into his office and told him my name, he didn’t even recognize me. He looked at me like I was a stranger off the street. And when I finally explained who I was, who my mother was, he had the audacity to turn away. He refused to help.”Annabelle’s chest ached at the raw pain in Lila’s voice. She reached out, placing a comforting hand over Lila’s, but Lila barely seemed to notice.“That was the last straw for my mom,” Lila continued, her voice thick with emotion. “She’d already been through so much, and to have the man she’d once loved dismiss us like that—it broke her spirit. She told me to let it go, to stop trying to save her, but I couldn’t. I worked harder, begged every charity I could think of, but it still wasn’t enough.”Her voice shook, and f
Last Updated : 2024-12-25Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (3)
Lila tossed and turned in her bed. Her mind was too restless for her to sleep. Annabelle’s revelation about Andre’s involvement with the Robinson family refused to leave her mind, and it had rattled her more than she had admitted to Annabelle.She had left her past behind with the hope that it would stay buried, but now it felt like that hope was slipping through her fingers. Andre was still reaching for her, determined to drag her back into the chaos she had run away from.The Winters family empire wasn’t just wealthy—it was omnipresent. From telecommunications to agriculture to media, their influence was everywhere. They had a hand in everything. The thought of that power now being directed toward finding her made her stomach churn. She knew how ruthless Andre could be, but this went beyond what she had expected.She sighed, staring at the ceiling of her bedroom in Annabelle’s seaside cottage. She had thought she was safe here, fa
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (1)
Lila sat on the creaky wooden porch, her hands wrapped around the warm ceramic of her coffee mug as if it could pour its heat over the chill in her bones. The golden hues painted across the sky as the sun rose was beautiful but the beauty of it was lost on her. The faint lines etched on her face told the story of a night of restless tossing and turning.Even now, her thoughts were plagued by shadows of the past that refused to stay buried. She sipped her coffee, but even the bitter taste cut through the exhaustion clouding her mind.The front door creaked open behind her, and she didn’t have to turn to know who it was. Annabelle’s sound of relief was as familiar as the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”Lila forced a tired smile and turned her head slightly. “Good morning,” she said, her voice quiet. “I woke up early and didn’t want to disturb
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (2)
The two women sat in silence for a moment. As the soft hum of the ocean filled the quiet, Lila stared into the swirling depths of her coffee, her thoughts too loud to ignore. It had gone cold, and she couldn’t bring herself to drink it anymore. Instead, she set it down. The gentle breeze carried the salty tang of the sea air, brushing against Lila's face as she took a deep breath.The scenery should have been calming, but it wasn’t. Not for her.“I’m so scared,” Lila finally whispered, her voice breaking the stillness like a fragile thread snapping.Annabelle turned her head, her brows knitting in concern. She rested a hand on Lila’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “Scared of what? Is it Dominic? Are you afraid things won’t work out between you two?”Lila opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a word, Annabelle pressed on, her tone light and reassuring. “If that’s what’s
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Tangled Destinies THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (3)
The truth Annabelle had revealed had opened a floodgate and Lila couldn't stop the memories flooding her senses, dragging her back to a time she had tried so hard to bury.It was the third time she and James had tried and failed this month alone. The third time a pregnancy test had shown her the stark disappointment of a single pink line. Lila stood in their bathroom, her trembling hand clutching the negative test. The air in the room felt suffocating as she stared blankly at the tiny plastic stick, her hope draining with each passing second. It was nearly two years into her marriage with James, and she hadn’t given the family an heir yet. She bit her lip, fighting back tears. They never failed to remind her of it.When she stepped into the bedroom, James was sitting on the edge of their bed, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped as though in prayer. His jaw was set tight, and his eyes darted up to meet hers the moment she entered. He didn&
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Tangled Destinies THIRTY-SIX: Liar, Liar (1)
Their quiet time was suddenly interrupted by the sudden buzz of Annabelle’s phone. She groaned, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes. “I swear, they can’t give me one day of peace. It’s probably something about the household.” Her hand brushed against the pocket of her robe where the phone was tucked, but she didn’t fish it out. “Maybe I should just let it ring and go to voicemail.”Lila shook her head and nudged Annabelle with her elbow. “Oh, come on. What if it’s something important? You never know—it might be an office emergency where you’re needed.”Annabelle sighed dramatically, but there was a hint of resignation in her movements as she pulled the phone out. Glancing at the caller ID, her brow furrowed. “It’s my mother.” Alarm flickered in her eyes as she swiped to answer. “What’s wrong, Mum?”Her mother’s voice came through the
Last Updated : 2024-12-31
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Tangled Destinies FORTY-SIX: On the Edge (1)
Annabelle remained frozen in her seat long after Andre’s departure, her mind a mess of disbelief. She felt as if the walls around her had crumbled, leaving behind something ugly and raw and burning her with truths she hadn’t even known were buried.Beside her, Lila let out a sharp breath and pressed a hand to her temple, her brow deeply furrowed. She didn’t speak for a few moments, and then she said bitterly, “For someone who made my life a living hell, he’s awfully poetic now, isn’t he?”Annabelle said nothing.Lila leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the wall. “I just… it doesn’t make sense. That company, that inheritance, it was his whole world when I met him. He was willing to lie, cheat, threaten me just to hold onto it. So why now? Why give it up so easily?” Her tone was laced with suspicion, but beneath that, curiosity tugged at her voice
Tangled Destinies FORTY-FIVE: Unforgiving
Andre let out a wry, humorless laugh that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “When they announced you as the sole heir,” he said to Lila, “I lost my footing. I was furious. I had spent years building my reputation, trying to prove myself worthy of the Winters name. And then, out of nowhere, the daughter of a woman I didn’t even know existed became the heir to everything.” He gave a slow shake of his head. “I did things I’m ashamed of, Lila. Things I wouldn’t expect you to forgive. Not ever. But I’m here now because I want to make things right.”Lila didn’t soften. Not even a little. She gave a brittle laugh, all edges and pain. “If you thought I’d jump for joy at this little apology tour of yours,” she said, voice cold, “then you do
Tangled Destinies FORTY-FOUR: A Hard Conversation
The sheer gall of that remark would’ve earned him another slap if it had come from anyone else, but Lila, still practically vibrating with rage, held back. Her chest rose and fell with the effort of restraint. Slowly, and with stiff dignity, she walked to the chair opposite his and sat down.Annabelle, recovering from her stupor, followed and settled beside Lila. She reached over and gently patted Lila’s knee, partly to reassure her and partly to silently request for calm. She had never seen Lila this furious before. Not even when James had kicked her out. Not even when she'd been betrayed, humiliated, left with nothing. This was deeper and older than all of that.Lila didn’t waste breath on pleasantries. Her voice, when she spoke, was cool and cutting.“Why are you meddling in my life?&rdquo
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Annabelle knocked softly before slipping into Lila’s hotel room the morning of their meeting with Andre Winters, a paper bag from Quick Bites tucked under one arm. The scent of spicy mayo and fried potatoes filled the space instantly, drawing a faint smile from Lila, who was sitting cross legged on the edge of the bed.“Payment for emotional labor,” Annabelle said dryly, holding the bag out. Lila accepted it with a quiet laugh, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.“I appreciate it.”Annabelle sat down beside her, glancing sideways. “You ready?”Lila nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”But that nod, it was too quick and too practiced. And the way Lila kept her shoulders s
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Annabelle stepped out of Lila’s hotel room, closing the door behind her with a quiet click. The hallway was dimly lit, the patterned carpet muffling the sound of her footsteps as she made her way toward the elevator. She let out a deep breath, pressing the button and watching the numbers descend. It was only after ten o’clock but it already felt like she had had a long morning, partially because her mind was beginning to think out all the ways Lila’s sudden reappearance could change the ways things were not. Not only with Andre, but also with the family.At least Lila seemed certain about her decision. Annabelle could respect that, even if she wasn’t entirely sure how things would play out. Just before stepping into the elevator, she heard Lila’s voice call after her. “Annabelle!”She turned back, raising an eyebrow as Lila peeked out from the door frame, looking slightly sheepish.“Can you bring me something from Quick Bites when you come back?” Lila asked, naming a fast-food chain t
Tangled Destinies FORTY-TWO: Surprise Surprise (3)
Annabelle drove through the noisy streets of the city, her hands gripping the wheel a little too tightly. The shock of Lila’s sudden return hadn’t left her system yet. She stole a glance at said woman, who sat in the passenger seat, gazing out of the window with an unreadable expression."You sure about this place?" Annabelle asked, slowing as they neared the discreet hotel Lila had given her directions to.Lila nodded, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. "Yeah. I don’t need anything fancy. Just a place to stay for the night."Annabelle didn’t love the idea of Lila staying in a hotel alone, but she also understood why Lila wouldn’t want to stay at her place. Annabelle herself didn’t want her anywhere near the Robinson mansion, not with James so suddenly interested in wanting to know where Lila was after all this time just because Rachel was no longer an option.Still, Annabelle wasn’t about to let her hand
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"I'm in the city," Lila repeated, her voice slightly breathless. "I just got off the train. I—" She paused, then let out a small, self-conscious laugh. "I know it's sudden. But I wanted to let you know before I get to a hotel."Annabelle sat back on the closed toilet lid, pressing her free hand against her forehead. Lila had been in Sea’s Edge just last night. The last time they spoke, she said nothing of wanting to leave and now she was here?"You’re looking for a hotel?" she asked, catching on to that last part."Yeah. I… I didn’t really think this far ahead. I just knew I needed to come back," Lila said. "I’m trying to find a taxi now.""Don’t," Annabelle said immediately. "Don’t get into any taxis. I’ll come pick you up.""You don’t have to—""I will," Annabelle interrupted firmly. "Just wait for me at the station. I’ll start coming now."Lila sighed teasingly but didn&rsq
Tangled Destinies FORTY-TWO: Surprise Surprise (1)
Annabelle slowly stirred, her body warm despite the cool morning air. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this deeply satisfied, with contentment wrapping around her like a second skin. As she shifted, a slow ache bloomed through her body; a delicious reminder of the night before.She was sore everywhere – her arms, her thighs, her shoulders. For Pete’s sake, she was sore in places she didn’t even know one could get sore in. And it made her want to do it all over again. Her lashes fluttered open, and for a moment, she simply lay there, absorbing the quiet intimacy of the moment. The room was dimly lit with the heavy hotel curtains keeping the morning light at bay even though the sun was already risen. The sheets were tangled around her legs, cool against her skin, but it was the solid weight of the arm slung over her waist that held her still. Andre.The realization sent a ripple of surprise through her. She had expected to wake up al
Tangled Destinies FORTY-ONE: Things Fall Apart (2)
Lila’s fingers trembled as she scribbled a quick note to Marcus, her vision blurred by unshed tears.“I’m sorry, but I need to step out for a break.”She hesitated for a brief second before placing the note where she knew he would see it. As she gathered her things and slipped out of the bookstore, a cool gust of wind brushed against her damp cheeks. The streets of Sea’s Edge were quiet this afternoon, with most of its population at work. She should feel relieved that today was a slow day. Marcus wouldn’t struggle to handle the few customers that trickled in. But relief never came. Only a hollow ache in her chest as her feet carried her down the familiar path back to the cottage.Every step, her mind replayed her conversation with Dominic in excruciating detail.The moment he had asked her if they weren’t enough of a reason for her to fight. The way his expression had hardened. The hurt in his eyes when he realized she was choosing to leave rather than stay and fight for them.She pus
