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15. The Search
Last Updated:
2021-07-17 05:57:47
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The Lovely Loner 60. A Fragile Storm
The night was already deep into its glamour.Crystal lights hung like frozen stars from vaulted ceilings. A sea of gowns swept through the marble ballroom, laughter laced with secrets floated over silver flutes of champagne. Music shimmered from the grand piano, soft enough to be ignored but haunting enough to be remembered.The Solace Grand had never looked more magnificent.Judith, draped in midnight velvet, was already deep in conversation with a circle of socialites near the mirrored stairwell — nodding, smiling, laughing with impeccable timing. She knew how to mirror elegance, how to float above envy. And yet, she was restless.Her laugh faltered every few seconds.Her fingers gripped her champagne flute just a touch too tightly.Across the ballroom, Rex stood with the King.Their conversation was casual on the surface — something about investments, an estate in Cyprus, the energy markets — but beneath it, the tension simmered. The King had the kind of power that didn’t wear a cr
The Lovely Loner 59. Entrance Of Shadows
The gala was being held at the Solace Grand—a historic estate turned event venue, all columns and chandeliers, gold trim and sprawling marble. Outside, the manicured drive curved through ancient yew hedges. The night sky hovered like a dark veil above the grand estate, but tonight it felt electrified—charged with anticipation, secrets, and the sort of power you could taste on the air.A sea of photographers and journalists lined the red carpet, jostling shoulder-to-shoulder behind velvet ropes. Flashbulbs flickered like distant lightning, poised to feast.Security in tailored black suits stood at intervals—statuesque, silent, and watchful, every white shirt and earpiece a warning not to misstep.The mood rippled with excitement, fear, and something hungry:What happens when Rex Radford shows up again?Rumors of his absence—scandal, betrayal, rumors involving annuities and boardroom fireworks—had circulated for years. But no one had seen him. Not in person. Not in photos.Until tonight
The Lovely Loner 48. A Glass Mask
The night whispered of old secrets.Judith stood in front of the mirror in her dressing suite, a cathedral of low light and velvet hush. She looked like something out of a forgotten painting—elegant, fragile, precise. The midnight gown she wore rippled like an oil spill down her figure, hugging her waist before exploding into a delicate train that whispered across the rug. Every fold of velvet had been steamed, every line tailored, every curve sculpted with the silent scream of intent.She was dressed to be unforgettable.To be above comparison.To make Annie Yin disappear, not in flesh, but in presence.Judith exhaled shakily. The mirror stared back at her, pitiless and honest.Her makeup was flawless—cool-toned and severe, cheekbones like razors beneath powdered silk. Her eyes were smoked and rimmed in kohl, mouth painted in a shade just shy of blood.And still, it wasn’t enough.Still, she felt it—under the gown, under the diamonds, under the carefully neutral expression—a tremor.
The Lovely Loner 47.The Woman She Forgot
The soft sound of keys turning in the lock announced Roxie’s return. The hour was late, the hallway dim, but home welcomed her like it always did—with quiet grace, the faint scent of lavender cleaner, and a trace of garlic and basil clinging to the air from dinner long past. Her body ached—not from standing too long in heels or sifting through fabric bolts—but from the weight of unspoken memories clinging to her skin like smoke.She stepped inside and closed the door behind her with care, as if even noise felt unwelcome tonight. She leaned back against the door for a heartbeat and let her eyes fall shut. Only then did she exhale, the breath leaving her in one long, slow hiss, as if she’d been holding it since the moment Judith Radford walked into the boutique.A pair of tiny blue sneakers lay just ahead of her, one toppled on its side with a sock stuffed hastily inside. A smile ghosted across her lips—Elias had clearly made another last-minute escape from bedtime before Lee wrangled h
The Lovely Loner 46. Fit For A Rival
Judith Radford stood in front of her full-length mirror, her jaw clenched and eyes narrowed. Her reflection looked back at her—flawless makeup, perfect posture, silk robe cinched at the waist. But it wasn’t enough.Not for what was coming.The gala wasn’t just a social event this year—it was a battlefield. And Annie Yin would be there. Judith had spent the night envisioning it: the lights, the cameras, the whispers. And Rex… standing in the same room with her. Watching her. Breathing her in.Judith’s fingers trembled slightly as she picked up her phone and pressed a familiar name.Martha answered on the second ring. “Judith.”“I need a dress,” Judith said sharply. “Something new. Something that will leave jaws on the floor.”Martha was quiet for a beat. Then, dryly: “You mean something to outshine Annie Yin.”Judith’s lips thinned. “Exactly.”“Judith…” Martha sighed, already tired. “She owns the largest luxury clothing empire in the country. She creates gowns that are auctioned for si
The Lovely Loner 45. The Quiet Yes
The silence in the Radford estate wasn’t peaceful—it was suffocating. It had teeth. Judith sat alone in the sitting room, the pale light from the chandelier throwing soft gold across the marble floors. Every clock tick, every shift of the wind outside, sounded thunderous in the stillness. She adjusted the silk of her dress for the third time in ten minutes and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. The envelope sat in her lap like a loaded weapon. The Empire Foundation’s Annual Charity Gala. Every socialite, billionaire, politician, and power broker would be there. Cameras would flash. Deals would be struck. Appearances would be everything. And Rex hadn’t attended in years. But this time… This year was different. She had spent the entire afternoon rehearsing how she’d bring it up—how she’d lean in close and let her perfume do half the work, how she’d smile and say, “Let’s go together. For old time’s sake.” She’d wear the sapphire gown that clung just enough. The one he u
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