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TWENTY SIX (1): Harsh Words

Author: Ena Starr
last update publish date: 2024-11-19 20:54:21

Annabelle’s mind was a storm as she drove home, the quiet hum of the car’s engine doing little to settle the chaos raging inside her. She couldn’t stop replaying the kiss with Andre. Her body still remembered the heat of it, the sharp edge of his hands on her skin, the firm press of his lips against hers. And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to forget how quickly it had ended—how swiftly she had pulled away from him, shoving aside any budding feelings as if they were a distant and irrelevant thr
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  • Tangled Destinies    FORTY-SEVEN: Returning the Favor (2)

    The thought made her stomach twist. She drew in a slow breath. There would never be a perfect moment, only now, before doubt crept in and rooted her to the spot. Before she lost her nerve.Annabelle cleared her throat and Lila’s gaze lifted immediately, her brows knitting together slightly as she studied Annabelle’s expression. “What is it?”Annabelle hesitated for only a fraction of a second, then squared her shoulders despite the lingering discomfort in her body.“I need to talk to you about something,” she said, her voice more controlled now.Lila lowered her cup slowly. “Alright…”Annabelle held her gaze, refusing to look away even as a knot tightened in her chest. “I had a one-night stand with Andre.”The words landed between them and for a moment, there was no reaction. Then Lila’s eyes widened, shock blooming across her face so vividly it was almost jarring. Her lips parted, forming a near-perfect ‘o’ as she stared at Annabelle, clearly caught off guard.Annabelle’s heart thudd

  • Tangled Destinies    FORTY-SEVEN: Returning the Favor (1)

    Annabelle stirred with a low groan, her brow furrowing as consciousness dragged her back to the surface. The first thing that reached her was the warm and unmistakable scent of ginger tea. It curled through the air in soft waves, soothing and intrusive all at once. She winced, her eyes fluttering open as the light filtering through the curtains stabbed at her senses.“God,” she muttered under her breath, her voice rough, her throat dry.She pushed herself upright, immediately regretting the decision as her head throbbed in protest. The world tilted slightly, and she squeezed her eyes shut again, pressing her fingers to her temples as if she could physically hold her skull together. Her body felt stiff, her neck protesting as she rolled it slightly. She had fallen asleep in a position that could only be described as unfortunate—half-curled, half-collapsed.When she finally forced her eyes open again, she took in her surroundings more carefully. The arrangement of furniture was unfamili

  • Tangled Destinies    FORTY-SIX: On the Edge (2)

    As soon as the passenger door shut, Annabelle peeled away from the curb, her composure thinning with every passing block. She didn’t stop to think, or breathe, or collect herself. Rage simmered beneath her skin, pressing against her ribs, making it hard to breathe. She had never felt quite like this before. Not even during the company’s worst scandals, or during those humiliating public affairs that her father had brushed under the rug with money and connections. This was different.This was personal. Her father had been lying to her. To all of them. If what Andre said was true, then everything she thought she knew about the company’s stability, about their legacy, was a façade.Her hands gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles ached, and still she couldn’t loosen her hold. Her spine was rigid. It was as her body had locke

  • 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

  • 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 wi

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-30
  • Tangled 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 compl

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-30
  • 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

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-29
  • Tangled Destinies    THIRTY-ONE: What Margaret Hid (2)

    Annabelle blinked, the words hitting her like a well-aimed punch. She stared at her mother, her mouth slightly open in shock. Of all the things she had expected, this wasn’t one of them."Rachel’s affair?" Annabelle repeated slowly, her voice laced with disbelief.Margaret

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-29
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