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WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 13
Last Updated:
2025-01-26 11:06:44
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WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 14
The question was innocent enough, but Ina felt the shift in the room. Helen and Vandaulf exchanged brief glances, curiosity flickering across their features. Ina's hands tightened on her napkin under the table, but her smile didn't waver. "Of course, Grandmother," she replied, her voice light and agreeable.The board members, too, must have felt the shift in the atmosphere; Helen was quick on her feet in refocusing them on what they were there for. Brenna stood, smiling, signaling for Ina to go before her out onto the balcony over the gardens.She straightened her spine and lifted her chin as the night air snapped crisp in the doorway as Ina moved out. Waiting for Brenna to say something, she wouldn't give her that advantage of being weak."Do you feel alright, my dear?" Brenna said softly. She leaned over the railing on the balcony with sharp features made softer by moonlight. "Living here. With them."Ina blinked at the shock, momentarily speechless. "What do you mean?Exactly what
Last Updated : 2025-01-27WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 15
The ride home was heavy with silence, punctuated only by the occasional hum of the car engine. Vandaulf sat beside Ina, his jaw tight and his eyes fixed out the window as though trying to find solace in the passing scenery. Ina, however, was at ease, her head lightly resting against the car seat. The dinner had been a small victory—not in the words exchanged but in the subtle power she had claimed for herself. Brenna's quiet support gave her the strength to weather the tension that seemed to hang over the evening like a storm cloud. As they pulled into the driveway of the grand estate, Vandaulf finally broke his silence, speaking low but dripping with warning:. "Whatever games you think you're playing, I'd advise you to stop. My patience isn't infinite, Lily."Ina turned to him, her face soft but her eyes unyielding and steady. "I wasn't aware I was playing any games, Vandaulf. Maybe you're just imagining things." He snorted, his sharp eyes narrowing as the car stopped. "Don't test me
Last Updated : 2025-01-28WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 16
He nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "Sort of. I just moved back to the city, and Alicia's been introducing me around. She mentioned you might be someone worth meeting."Ina raised a brow, intrigued. "Moved back? So, you're not new to this scene after all."Jeff shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Let's just say I've been gone long enough to feel like a stranger,Ina."There was something in his tone - an undertone of mystery that Ina couldn't quite put her finger on. She leaned in slightly, interested. "And now you're back. Why?"Jeff met her gaze, unreadable. "Maybe I missed the chaos.Jeff's lips twisted into an asymmetrical smile, one of hints of mysteries and tales still locked away in them. His glass leaned against Ina with an almost inaudible salute as he tilted it, but still never withdrew his gaze while slowly drinking its contents."Chaos suits you," he said after a moment, his tone light but his eyes probing, as if he were trying to piece her together. "But you do
Last Updated : 2025-01-29WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 17
The estate loomed dark and silent, with only the first hints of dawn brushing against the horizon. The heavy iron gates looked bigger in early morning stillness, almost menacing. Ina glanced round hastily, checking that no guards or staff were to be seen; she knew the routine of the house inside and out. Everyone would be asleep-or so she hoped.She walked fast; the sound of heels clicking soft on stone announced her approach, then she paused. A pressure was on her chest. That wasn't quite right. The house belonged not to her but to another: she was slipping into a lover's bed as one not desired.Ina shook off the thoughts and slid toward the servants' entrance. It had become her secret gateway, a lifeline to moments of freedom that were fleeting but necessary. Tonight had been exhilarating, and she wasn't ready to let the weight of the estate smother that feeling just yet.She opened the door with a faint creak. Her breath caught, but she moved inside, the heels now muffled against t
Last Updated : 2025-01-29WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 18
The golden hues of morning bled through the tall windows of the grand estate, casting long shadows across the breakfast table. The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee, buttered toast, and something heavier—unspoken tension.Ina was gone. At least, for now.She was Lily again.She sat at the far end of the long dining table, back straight, fingers daintily curved around a fine china teacup. Opposite her, Vandaulf watched, his sharp eyes not once tearing away from her face. The silence between them wasn't comfortable-it was measured and calculated.Helena sat at the head of the table, her fingers curled around a teacup, as if oblivious to the storm swirling just below. The silverware clinked against the plates with soft murmurs as servants worked in silence, refilling glasses and adding a few more dishes.Lily had no appetite.She knew what was coming on.Vandaulf finally spoke, his voice low with an authority he was not accustomed to losing. "You will act like a decent woman from now
Last Updated : 2025-01-30WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 19
Vandaulf exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the empty glass in his hand. His grandmother's words clung to him, unwelcome and intrusive. You will lose her.He scoffed under his breath. Lose her? As if Lily had anywhere to go. As if she could simply walk away from him, from this life. He had chosen her. She belonged to him.And yet…Something about Helena's tone unsettled him. She was rarely wrong.He stood up from his chair and walked to the large window. The morning sun was bathing the grounds in soft golden light, but Vandaulf's gaze was elsewhere - fixed on the path leading to the gates.If she tried to leave at all, would I even see it coming?It angered him. No. Lily was impulsive, but she was not stupid. He had provided her with life, status, protection. There was nothing in it for her to turn on him.A small part of his mind whispered doubt, insidious and hard. He wanted to remind her of her position.Lily had hardly walked into the garden when she became aware of him
Last Updated : 2025-01-31WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 20
Vandaulf stood, unmoving, his whole body rooted to the earth as though it had also been frozen there. The morning breeze rustled through the edges of his coat, and he did not feel it. All he felt was the slow, simmering burn beneath his skin. His hands curled into fists at his sides, nails digging into palms as his breath came slow and measured.He should pull her back. Tuck her away. That's what Lily was waiting for, wasn't it? That's what he had always done. Kept her on a string, reminded her of her station, made certain she knew who was in control of this thing between them.He didn't.Not because he had to.Because he didn't know what he'd do if he did.She was dangerous in the way that made him shift his opinion completely; not like that of some girl who threw herself recklessly about, unaware and constantly crossing limits. She changed. And it was even worse—because she was changing him.She wasn't afraid of him anymore.And God, it pissed him off.Because if she didn't fear him
Last Updated : 2025-02-01WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 21
As the moon hung high over the estate, the walls of Lily's bedroom bore witness to a silent war. She stood before her full-length mirror, her fingers trailing over the fabric of the scandalous red dress she had just slipped into. It clung to her curves in a way that left little to the imagination, the plunging neckline and high slit teasing rebellion with every stitch.Ina smirked at her own reflection, tilting her head, admiring the audacity of it.“Perfect,” she murmured.But before she could turn away, a voice interrupted her.“Not that one.”Ina froze.The smirk on her lips faltered as Lily’s voice echoed inside her mind—soft, firm, disapproving.“You should wear something elegant. Something proper. Not a dress that screams you’re looking for trouble.”Ina scoffed, rolling her eyes as she placed a hand on her hip. “I am looking for trouble, Lily.”“No.”The voice was stronger now.“We’re not trying to provoke him. We’re trying to win.”Ina let out a breath, gripping the vanity’s e
Last Updated : 2025-02-02
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WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 102
The post-engagement days were a fantasy woven out of strands of golden sunlight and gentle laughter. The Carlston Estate, foreboding and dark, was now radiant. It pulsed with purpose—florists dashing along hallways with arms loaded with ivory roses, tailors darting to and from with packages of silk draped over their arms, and cooks darting back and forth with taste-test plates that sent fragrant odors wafting through the air. There was laughter once more. There was music. There was hope.And in the midst of it all—Lily and Vandaulf.“You’re breathing too loud,” Lily muttered without looking up from her sketchpad, a pencil tucked behind her ear, the other in her hand, tapping against the paper.“I’m literally just existing,” Vandaulf replied from the couch, watching her from over a stack of fabric swatches. “You’re the one judging ribbon samples like they hold state secrets.”"Yes, they do keep state secrets," she told him sternly, holding two very similar champagne-colored swatches in
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 101
Morning sunlight streamed through the Carlston house windows, bathing the stone floors in a warm golden glow once filled with power, secrets, and tears. But now, the quiet was serene. The war was over. Brigs Carlston had died. The ghosts were serene. And life—sweet, still life—started to take back its space again.At the heart of the estate garden in which sorrow previously grew like weeds, now blossoming roses graced that space.Vandaulf was among them.His eyes also looked for her simultaneously. Lily sat beneath the ancient tree where she had fled from the world. Her dark black hair fell down the sides of her shoulders like ink, and a half-opened journal lay across her lap. She wasn't writing anymore—just sitting with it. Remembering, maybe. Letting go.He swallowed hard. His heart pounded harder, the moment in his chest balancing like gravity."She deserves better," he whispered.“I’d say she deserves everything,” a familiar voice teased gently behind him. Vandaulf whirled, surpr
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 100
James & Monroe Holdings, Boardroom – Friday MorningThe lift moved slowly as if delayed by frost to reach its forty-eight floor. Lily was quite alone. She wore a black turtleneck blouse, a buttoned, cream-colored placket displayed with black trousers.A blazer fit close to her, arms rolled back in a casual fashion to expose the monogrammed cufflinks belonging to her father.Her hair was pulled back in a neat, every inch of her person assembled.Her fingers were shaking.Not out of fear.Out of anticipation.The instant the elevator doors slid open with a gentle chime, the hallway fell silent, as if the building itself acknowledged who now filled its corridors. Assistants looked up from their desks. Phones ceased ringing. Men in suits halted their conversations.The heir had come home.Vandaulf moved beside her in silence, one step behind. He was not here to make speeches on her behalf.He was present to see her reclaim all that had been taken.They approached the dark mahogany doors of
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 99
The gates of the James estate slowly swung open, leading to the curved, winding driveway lined with cypress trees that reached as high as the sky. The morning sun filtered through their leaves, casting golden spangles on the pavement. It was the same. And nothing was the same.Lily stepped out of the dark car, the gravel beneath her boots grinding. Her heart pounded in her chest, loaded with memory and significance. Vandaulf stood behind her in silence, letting her take it all in. It was sixteen years ago.The house stood like a sleeping giant—regal, proud, un touched since the world shattered. Ivy crawled up its stone front, and several of the windows were shrouded in mist, but it was still beautiful. Still hers.Brenna moved out of her way, the wind whipping clumps of her silver hair. "Your father designed every aspect of this house. Every beam, every tile, every windowpane. he wanted it to last for generations."Lily felt a wave of emotions. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to s
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 98
"I'm not here to intrude," Helen whispered. "To tell you something I should have told you ages ago."The room was quiet."I'm sorry. For all the things Brigs did. For what he hurt me. For not saying anything."Lily rose, her voice shaking. "Why now?"Lily's eyes flicked rapidly. "You saved me. That night. If you hadn't. shot him."Helen dropped her eyes. "That was the last thing I was able to do right."Silence descended once more, but not cold."I don't seek forgiveness," Helen continued. "I just needed you to hear it."She was going to leave, but remained."And Lily? He was afraid of you, you know. Even at the end. That's why he wanted to kill you. Because you reminded him that he could never be good."Then she departed, the door closing quietly.Lily breathed out. The room somehow was clearer."She's shattered," Brenna stated."We're all that," Lily whispered. "But some of us are trying to put the pieces together."Vandaulf embraced her once more and sat down beside her."No more m
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 97
The sun had stretched long shadows on the steps of the courthouse in the morning, gold-glazing the sandstone walls in a light too gentle for the day to come. A wave of reporters waited below, microphones poised like weapons, their voices a rising hum of anticipation. Cameras flashed simultaneously, as if thousands of eyes eager to devour the moment.Behind the courtroom doors, Lily remained trapped, back stiff but palms sweaty. Varnished wood and paper's aroma still lingered behind the halls of justice behind her, but outside—it was pandemonium.She turned the microphone attached to her blouse, hands shaking."Ready?" Vandaulf's voice whispered by her side, steady like an anchor, blazing like the sun she hardly remembered loving.She swallowed hard. "As ready as I'll ever be grandma.""Don't let them shake you Lily," Brenna said over her shoulder, her voice weighed down by years of pain and resilience. "Tell your truth. That's all that matters."The massive doors creaked as they opene
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 96
"You've said nothing since the verdict."He blinked, his jaw clenched. "Because I spent years wondering whether justice was possible at all.""And now?" she asked.He glanced at her—actually looked—and something relaxed in his face."Now I know it is. Because you made it possible."Her heart wrenched. She ached to stumble into his arms and stay still forever, but the pressure of it all hung out there still like a hurricane just past the window."I need air," she blurted suddenly.They moved out into a blaze of flashbulbs and camera equipment."Lily! Miss James—one word, please!""Did the Carlstons intimidate you?""Was Brigs the only one in it?"Vandaulf stepped in front of her, interposing himself. "No comment.They pushed their way through, security flanking them until they reached the car parked by the curb.As soon as the doors closed, quiet came over them once again.Brenna placed her hand on Lily's knee. "You don't have to talk now. Just breathe."But Lily couldn't breathe—not y
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 95
The courthouse loomed like a monolith, its towering shadow sweeping over the cluster of reporters spilling onto its steps. Flashbulbs popped. Microphones pushed their way forward like swords. Voices clashed in argument."Is it true Brigs Carlston planned the James family crash?""Ms. James! Will you testify?""Do you think justice will now be served?Lily was at the rear of the tinted windows of the bulletproof vehicle, her heart pounding. The burden of a thousand unsaid things pressed in her chest like concrete. She hadn't dressed in black, not today—today she'd dressed in white. Not because she forgave. But because she had to be heard."Do not tell anyone anything," Brenna warned, clutching her hand in a tight grip. "Let them prattle. What goes on here is all that counts."Vandaulf, sitting across from them, was a tempest contained in thin threads. Jaw clenched, fists clenched in his lap. "I want him to look into your eyes when the truth emerges."The car stopped. The door opened.Li
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 94
The hospital room was silent—too silent for the tempest that seethed within the man who lay motionless beneath white blankets. The machines beeped continuously. But Brigs Carlston's breathing was no longer continuous.His eyes flew open.The world dissolved and throbbed, sound coming back in waves. He attempted to rise, winced as agony constricted his chest. A nurse screamed."He's awake! Call Dr. Yashir!"Brigs blinked, struggling to recall why his throat was as dry as sand, why his muscles felt pulled through the fire. Then… the memories filtered in.The girl.The car.The fire.The screams.Lily.His jaw clenched. The last shred of the James family. A thread he'd thought long severed.She lived.A rasp tore his throat as he ripped the oxygen mask away. "Where… is she?" he croaked.The nurse took a step back, eyes wide. "Sir, please—don't move too much—""LILY JAMES." His voice cracked into a harsh cough. "Is she alive?""I—I don't know—please, sir, lie back, the doctor—"He shoved
