Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Lovely Loner: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

Staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror, Annie barely recognized the woman before her. There was pride in her posture, elegance in every curve, and a regal glow in her eyes. The six years had done more than age her—they had transformed her. Gone was the timid girl with trembling lips and naïve eyes. The woman staring back at her had endured pain, betrayal, and abandonment—and emerged stronger. Her body had changed; she was fuller now, her curves more pronounced. Her waist-length, ash-blonde curls framed a face that was both enchanting and commanding. Those signature cat eyes—gray with flecks of gold—shone with resolve. Her milky skin looked untouched by time, and her full lips, painted a soft rose, carried secrets she no longer feared. Her white and gold bodycon gown clung to her like a second skin, every thread hugging her silhouette with reverence. The gown, her own design, shimmered under the overhead lights, catching the gold in her shoes and clutch. Her makeup was so

The drive back to the Radford mansion was heavy with silence. Judith kept stealing glances at Rex, hoping he might finally speak. Since they left the fashion show, he hadn’t uttered a word. His eyes were fixed on nothing, his thoughts clearly tangled in something—someone. Still, she decided to try one more time. “Rex, next month is your mother’s birthday,” she began gently, choosing her words with care. “What do you think we should get her? You know her better than anyone.” Rex glanced at her briefly, then returned his gaze to the road. “You can get whatever you want,” he said absently. “Just put it on my card.” Judith exhaled softly, clinging to the small win. He’d spoken, at least. Encouraged, she leaned in slightly. “She’s so picky though,” Judith continued, voice laced with warmth. “Remember last year? The custom jewelry set, the painting from Venice, even the private island getaway… and she didn’t care for any of it. I want this year to be different. I want to find something

Rex had been fighting a silent war with his sanity since the night he came face-to-face with Annie Yin. Her image—those familiar grey eyes flecked with gold, the same dimpled mocking smile, the effortless confidence—had embedded itself into his mind like a splinter he couldn’t remove. He hadn’t said a word to anyone about her. Not about how he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t breathe without wondering if he had finally seen a ghost from his past. Or worse… if the ghost was real, and she had returned with more power than he could ever anticipate. For the past several days, Rex’s life had followed a strict pattern—leave for work before sunrise, avoid any social encounters, and return to his room like a ghost in the night. He hadn’t spoken to Judith, hadn’t shared a meal, and hadn’t allowed a single moment of vulnerability. He didn’t have the energy to fight the thoughts in his head and the woman he’d been legally bound to for years. For six years, he’d convinced himself that

Judith stared at Martha with narrowed, suspicious eyes. Her voice, sharp with disbelief, cut through the silence. “Are you very sure it’s the legit Yin family? As in the Yin family we both know about? Or is there some less privileged one I don’t know of?” Martha’s face twitched, her irritation barely masked. She gave Judith a long, assessing look. Was she really this clueless? Her confusion was so convincing that for a moment, Martha herself questioned her own facts. Have I become as stupid as her just by hanging around her too long? she thought bitterly. This is why people say stupidity is contagious. If I don’t detach from this madness soon, I’ll be beyond saving. “Martha!” Judith’s impatient voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. “Martha!! Can you come out of your dazed look already? You’re staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. Just tell me what I need to know—I’m getting anxious.” Pulling herself together, Martha spoke flatly, “Judith, she was in the family photo. Th

Chapter Title: The Eyes in the MirrorJudith Radford hadn’t blinked in nearly a minute.She sat stiffly in the driver’s seat of a black Lexus SUV, parked three vehicles down from the school gates. Her hands, manicured to perfection, were clenched tightly around a pair of binoculars resting in her lap—ones she’d purchased hastily online, delivered under a false name to a P.O. box in the next town over. Her sunglasses were oversized and her scarf drawn tight around her neck, despite the rising heat in the midday sun.She’d been sitting there for over forty minutes.Waiting.Watching.Her coffee had gone cold. Her patience frayed. But her obsession—oh, that was alive and ravenous, clawing through every fiber of her being.Then she saw them.Rosy and Ryan.Annie’s children.Her husband’s children.Judith’s breath caught as the twins spilled from the school gate, laughing with their classmates, faces radiant and full of that golden light Judith hadn’t felt in years. They moved with a confi