All Chapters of The Lovely Loner: Chapter 41 - Chapter 46

The silver remote felt weightless in Judith’s hand as she flipped through channel after channel, each one as meaningless as the last. News. A soap opera rerun. A makeup tutorial. The sound barely registered in her ears. The television had become little more than moving wallpaper—something to keep the silence in her mansion from suffocating her completely.It was late. She was curled in her usual corner of the expansive cream-colored sectional, a half-empty wine glass trembling slightly between her fingers. She hadn’t eaten dinner. She didn’t feel hunger anymore—only the constant gnawing sense of waiting.Waiting for something to collapse.Waiting for something to bleed.She pressed the channel button again.A static buzz.Then—“…and we are so honored to welcome one of the most enigmatic forces in fashion and film today. She’s elegant, powerful, and unapologetically private—ladies and gentlemen, Annie Yin.”Judith’s thumb froze mid-press.Her heart lurched against her ribs like it had

The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the city’s skyline aglow with electric promise. On the rooftop of Club Artema, four silhouettes sat nestled in ambient lighting—power players moved through the air here, but tonight it felt more like a confessional than a boardroom. Rex Radford was still, framed perfectly in the crosshairs of sharp lines and urban shine. King Hin lounged next to him, the picture of unshakeable confidence. Across from them, Michael Dane traced the rim of his glass, inscrutable. And Romeo Dukeson looked like he’d stepped from a fashion campaign—taut features, still warmth in his eyes. They had arrived together—Rex escorted by his bodyguard, King cutting through the lobby alone as if he owned it, Michael slipping in without notice, and Romeo, younger but already established, sandwiched by two of the city’s heaviest hitters. It was supposed to be a night of escapism—of deals and chatter about mergers and markets. But tonight was different. The world had

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