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WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 20
Last Updated:
2025-02-01 18:12:50
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WHERE 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 : 2025-02-02WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 22
Brent's brow lifted in mild surprise, but his smile broadened. "Lily, then. A pleasure to meet you."They sat and the business nearly immediately replaced the political niceties.Vandaulf had always fancied himself the master of his universe. Of his business. Of his image. Of his life. And most importantly—of her.But tonight, something was off.Lily—no, Ina—was slipping through his fingers, her presence at the dinner a silent rebellion, an act of quiet defiance wrapped in silk and charm.And the worst part?She was thriving in it.Brent Hughes was talking, his deep voice a steady hum of conversation, but Vandaulf hardly heard him. His attention stayed fixed on her—this woman sitting beside him who looked like his wife but wasn't.She was speaking with a poise he hadn't expected, her words laced with a confidence that made Hughes lean in, intrigued. Too intrigued."Lily, you surprise me," Brent said, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "I didn't think Vandaulf's wife took any interest
Last Updated : 2025-02-02WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 23
Tension seemed to thicken the air as Ina sat at the edge of the bed, her heart pounding in sync with the ticking clock. There was an eerie glow cast through the window by moonlight and the silence could be deafening. She had waited for this moment; she had planned everything meticulously and now the moment had come.Ina glanced over at the sleeping form of Vandaulf, her husband, and a wave of resentment washed over her. He was the reason she found herself in this gilded cage, trapped in a life she never wanted. His cold, controlling gaze had broken her spirit, and she had become a mere shadow of her former self – Lily, the meek and obedient wife.But not tonight.Tonight, Ina would claim back her strength, her passion, her life. She stroked the surface of the vanity, her quivering fingers dancing with excitement, as she rubbed the dark kohl into the creases under her eyes, and painted red lips that bordered on sinful. The transformation was complete, and the woman standing before her
Last Updated : 2025-02-03WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 24
She had danced, drunk, and for a fleeting instant, forgotten.Forgotten the cage she would have to go back to. Forgotten Vandaulf's stifling control.But now, as the cold air enveloped her, reality clawed its way back into her chest.Part of her wanted to ball up her fists, stomp her heel, and cast the whole world off, diving back into the throbbing music, the anonymity, and the chaos.But instead, she walked toward the waiting car."Need a ride?"She turned, only to see Caleb standing by the curb, his hands in his pockets, his eyes unreadable.Ina smirked. "Are you always this persistent?"He took a step closer, his presence unsettling in a way that sent a thrill down her spine. "Only when something fascinates me."She laughed, shaking her head. "And what is it that fascinates you?"Caleb leaned in, his voice a murmur against the shell of her ear. "A woman pretending to be something she's not."Her breath hitched. For a second—just a second—she felt exposed.Then she masked it with a
Last Updated : 2025-02-04WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 25
Ina-no, Lily-blankly blinked, dazed, as if waking up from a dream.This is a dream, music of laughter, wild abandon. A dream of Caleb.She shook herself awake, tightening her mind into concentration. "Thank you," she said, pushing bills into his hand and sliding from the car.The moment her heels touched the cobblestone driveway, she removed them, holding them in her hand as she tiptoed toward the side entrance. Every step was calculated, every breath held, as she moved through the darkened corridors like a thief in her own home.If anyone saw her like this—her dress wrinkled from the night, her perfume still carrying the scent of the club's haze—Vandaulf would know.And he could never know.She slipped inside her room and locked the door behind her, exhaling sharply. Safe.But as she turned toward the vanity, she froze.The girl staring back at her from the mirror wasn’t the Lily that Vandaulf Carlston had married.This was a different woman; the dark kohl under her eyes, the faint r
Last Updated : 2025-02-04WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 26
Beyond the window, Brenna shifted her gaze across the 16 years of memories; the sun sank low in that bright sky while an extraordinary orange-red glow streaked the area. The wonderful smell of saltwater washed over from the ocean breeze that raced through the trees. For the James family, this would, in fact, be the second year of a long-awaited beach vacation-a sweet promise that Roosevelt made to his precious twin daughters, Lily and Lilian."Daddy! Faster! I want to get to the beach before sunset!" Lilian's voice chirped from the backseat, bubbling like soda in a shaken can."Patience, sweetheart," Roosevelt chuckled as he adjusted the rearview mirror. "We have the whole weekend to enjoy the sea."Linda James turned in her seat, beaming at her daughters. "And we have a picnic all planned! I packed your favorite sandwiches and even some of those chocolate chip cookies you love."Lily, the quieter of the two, clutched her sister's hand. "We should build the biggest sandcastle ever," s
Last Updated : 2025-02-05WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 27
Brenna James clicked her heels on the tile floor, but she barely heard it. All that she could hear was the deafening silence of grief.Her son.Her daughter-in-law.Her granddaughter.All gone.She had just left Lily's bedside, watching the frail, broken girl breathe through a machine. But now, she had to face the ones who would never breathe again.Her legs felt like lead as she approached the morgue door. Her hands were shaking.I can't do this.But she had to.Taking a breath that did absolutely nothing to settle her, she opened the metal door.She stumbled slightly from the cold like a slap on the face as antiseptic and death welled up, causing her to roll her stomach inside out. The room itself was dim, lit only faintly by florescent bulbs which cast ghastly shadows up the wall.And then she saw them.Three bodies, all covered in white.She drew in a ragged breath as her chest locked with pain.The mortician was silent. His face showed no emotion. "Are you ready, ma'am?"No.She
Last Updated : 2025-02-05WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 28
The house was too quiet. Too empty.It had been filled with laughter once—Roosevelt's deep chuckle, Linda's soft giggles, Lilian's high-pitched squeals as she ran through the halls with Lily.But now, silence hung in the air like a funeral shroud.Brenna James sat in the study, holding a half-full glass of whiskey, her knuckles white against the crystal. Her body felt exhausted after days of grieving, but her heart… it was on fire.A loud knock at the door made her flinch."Come in," she croaked, hardly knowing her voice anymore.Samuel Clark walked in, looking just as solemn as ever. He paused for a moment before saying, "Ms. James. I have news.Brenna inhaled sharply, pushing down on the lump forming in her throat. "Tell me."Clark crossed the room and thumped a folder onto the desk. "The evidence is damning."Trembling, she reached out to take it, her heart pounding in time with her pulse.Clark continued, his voice steady but dark. "The tires were cut with precision—too clean for
Last Updated : 2025-02-06
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WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 107
Her eyes lingered.Or the illusion of it, Lily guessed."To your courage," Brenna finished, lifting her glass, "and to your love—may it always be wiser than your fear."No mistaking the gravity of those words. Not for Vandaulf. Not for Lily.They lifted their glasses.And for a while, all was laughter and smooth jazz, candlelight and stolen glances. But under the table, Vandaulf grasped her hand—and when he tightened his fingers, she knew. The question he wasn't asking.Who are you, truly, Lily?For since the hospital, since the truth almost shattered the glass walls between them, he had known something lingered—unspoken. Unhealed.She leaned into him, kissed his cheek, and breathed, "Let's slip away."His eyes widened, surprised, but curious. "To where?"Vandaulf smiled as the emcee's voice boomed mock-seriously through the speakers, breaking the spell between them."Hep hep! The party isn't over yet! Get the couple out to the dance floor again!" he boomed in mock gravity. The crowd
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 106
The officiant smiled at the best man, who produced the rings."Those rings serve as a symbol of the unending circle of love. Let them always symbolize the pledge you have given here today."Vandaulf put the ring on Lily's finger."With this ring, I thee wed."Lily mimicked the gesture, putting the ring on Vandaulf's finger."With this ring, I thee wed."The golden ring shone as Lily's trembling fingers forced it onto Vandaulf's palm. It shone like a promise not sworn in gold but in fire, in tears, in forgiveness. In love that had clawed its way out of devastation.Their palms stayed—his bigger, balancing hers, their fingers intertwining in a grasp that felt the world narrowing to them alone.The officiant smiled, voice rich with fervor."Lily and Vandaulf, before your family and friends, before the spirits which watch over you, you have said the words and performed the rituals that are binding your hearts to each other in marriage. By virtue residing in me—" she smiled lovingly at the
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 105
In the daylight, she was not the one who wore a mask to hide secrets behind her smile.No.She was Lily James.The last of her line.And tomorrow… she would be Lily Carlston.A soft knock echoed against the door."Come in," she said.Brenna entered, bearing a silver tray with a teacup and a plate of calming herbs. "Couldn't sleep either, could you?"Lily turned to her. "No. It's as if it's all too loud. My heartbeat. The silence. The stars outside."Brenna put the tray down on the table and pulled in the chair. "That's how I felt the night before I married your grandfather. Like the entire world knew that I was on the precipice of something enormous.""Was it a good marriage?" Lily whispered, her voice soft. True.Brenna's smile weakened, then smiled again with a weight of remembering in her eyes. "It was. messy. But it was mine. We broke and we fixed. We promised and broke promises. But always we came back to one another." She took Lily's hand. "Love is never kind. Sometimes it comes
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 104
"Seriously," Helena said with a wicked grin, "we were just checking if you two had passed out hugging each other or eloped early."Brenna, stifling her giggles behind a silk handkerchief, contributed, "But this is better. You two are adorably sweet."Lily gently groaned and buried her face in Vandaulf's chest. "They were watching us?"Helena sauntered in, her hand waving. "Not watching. Observing. Appreciating. Lightly judging.""You two are impossible," Vandaulf grumbled, but his lips lifted into a helpless grin.Brenna advanced, wiping a thumb under Lily's tear-stained eye. "Darling, don't cry so much. You'll dehydrate before the ceremony even begins.""I wasn't crying," Lily whispered, obviously lying.Oh, sweetheart," Helena said, chuckling as she stood on her cane. "Don't lie to women who've cried in wedding dresses. We know the blotchy glow.""I should have locked the door," Lily growled."But then we would've missed this perfect little scene," Brenna winked. "The pendant… the v
WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK CHAPTER 103
The sun poured into the bridal suite in liquid gold, its warm, forgiving light bathed all it touched. Dust motes floated serenely in the beams of light that poured in through the high French windows. Below the chandelier, Lily stood on a minute circular dais, her breath suspended, her gaze locked on the mirror opposite her.The dress glowed as moonlight did—silk and lace embroidered into poetry. It clung to her contours with grace, flowing down her legs like a liquid and lighting up with fire in every move."Stand still, darling," panted the seamstress, bent over Lily's feet. Her fingers flew rapidly, tugging on the hem, pinching intermittently."I am trying," Lily panted, eyes fuzzy, voice quivering. "It just does not seem true."Brenna swept in without knocking, her entrance as gentle as a lullaby. She stood in the doorway, her breath caught."Oh, Lily," she said, placing a hand on her chest. "You look like. you emerged from a dream."Lily moved her head, eyes shining with unshed te
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
