All Chapters of The Lovely Loner: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

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

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 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. Un