All Chapters of Tangled Destinies : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

104 Chapters

THIRTY-TWO: Excuses, Excuses (1)

The sugary scent of cookie dough filled the kitchen as Lila slid the tray into the oven, her fingers still slightly from the dough even though she’d washed them twice. A small hum escaped her lips. It was a song whose lyrics she couldn’t even remember properly, but with how lighthearted she was, she didn’t really care. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this carefree. It had been an ordinary day at the shop until Marcus had decided to close early. The unexpected freedom had left her with free time she didn’t know what to do with.Her first instinct had been to text Dominic. Her hand had hovered over her phone, already composing a message in her mind. Something simple—playful, maybe. But doubts crept in before she even unlocked the screen. Would she seem too clingy? Desperate for his attention?“It’s been too long since I’ve done this,” she had muttered to herself, shaking her head as she shov

Last Updated : 2024-12-09

THIRTY-TWO: Excuses, Excuses (2)

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together.“You make it impossible to stay away,” Dominic said, his voice rough with emotion.Lila smiled, her fingers trailing along the collar of his shirt. “Maybe I don’t want you to.”He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.Dominic glanced over her shoulder, his nose twitching slightly. “So, these cookies you’re baking,” he said, his tone teasing. “Are they really for the kids, or was that just an excuse to see me?”Lila laughed, the sound light and unrestrained. “I haven’t decided yet,” she admitted, her eyes sparkling.“Well,” Dominic said, his thumb brushing against her hip, “if they’re half as sweet as you, I’m sure they’ll love them.”The compliment was simple, but it made Lila’s heart flutter all the same. She stepped back, her hand slipping into his as she led him inside. “Come on,” she said. “They’ll be out of the oven in ten minutes.”Dominic followed

Last Updated : 2024-12-11

THIRTY-TWO: Excuses, Excuses (3)

The scent of garlic and curry leaves wafted through the small kitchen as Lila flipped slices of zucchini in a sizzling pan. Annabelle sat at the counter, nibbling on a piece of bread Lila had handed her earlier, her gaze flicking between her ex-sister-in-law and the hot pan she was expertly handling.“I can’t imagine how much Winnie and Aaron must have grown by now,” Annabelle said, her tone touched with wonder. “The last time I saw them, Winnie was still toddling around with that stuffed rabbit, and Aaron couldn’t sit still to save his life.”Lila smiled as she stirred the vegetables, the soft clatter of the wooden spoon filling the pause. “Winnie still has that rabbit, you know. It’s hanging by a thread, but she refuses to part with it. And Aaron... well, he’s finally calmed down a bit, but he’s as sharp as ever. He beats me at board games more often than I’d like to admit.”Annabelle chuc

Last Updated : 2024-12-15

THIRTY-THREE: Hard Questions (1)

Dominic froze mid-step, visibly wincing as a faint blush crept up his neck. He forced a laugh, scratching the back of his head. “I thought we retired that one.”“Oh, never,” Annabelle said, thoroughly enjoying his discomfort. She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “How’s Marcus, by the way? I haven’t seen him in forever.”“He’s fine,” Dominic replied, regaining some of his composure. “He’ll be delighted to see you, I’m sure.”Annabelle’s grin widened as she leaned closer, her tone reflecting the mischief in her smile. “Not as delighted as when I tell him I found you in Lila’s bed.”Dominic’s faint blush deepened into a vibrant shade of red as he chuckled nervously. “You wouldn’t.”“Oh, wouldn’t I?” Annabelle said, her expression wickedly playful.Lila, who had been

Last Updated : 2024-12-22

THIRTY-THREE: Hard Questions (2)

The name hit Lila like a thunderclap. Her breath caught in her throat, and her body went rigid. The color drained from her face, leaving her as pale as the moonlight streaming through the kitchen window.Annabelle didn’t miss the way Lila’s hand trembled in hers or the wide-eyed look of fear and shock that overtook her expression. It was as if the very mention of Andre’s name had opened a floodgate of emotions that Lila had fought to keep buried.“Lila?” Annabelle pressed gently, though her own heart twisted at the reaction she’d gotten out of Lila.Lila swallowed hard, her hands clutching the edge of the marble island. “Why are you asking about him?”Annabelle hesitated for a beat, as if carefully choosing her words. Then, her voice dropped to a soothing tone, as if Lila was a scared child she was trying to comfort. “Because I need to know, Lila. He’s involved with the family. I think you

Last Updated : 2024-12-23

THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (1)

Annabelle stared at Lila, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly as she struggled to process the bombshell revelation. “You can’t be serious,” she finally murmured, her voice barely audible.Lila’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “I’m completely serious,” she said softly. “He’s my older brother, to be exact.”Annabelle’s brows knitted together. “But... why would your brother be doing this? Why would he care about the divorce?”“It’s complicated,” she admitted. She reached across the table to take Annabelle’s hand in hers. “Look, Annabelle, what I’m about to tell you is something I’ve never told anyone—not even James.”Without hesitation, Annabelle gave her a firm nod. “I promise. Whatever it is, it’ll stay between us.”Lila’s shoulders sagged in relief, and she closed her eyes brie

Last Updated : 2024-12-24

THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (2)

Annabelle’s throat tightened. “And did he?”Lila let out a hollow laugh. “Not at first. When I walked into his office and told him my name, he didn’t even recognize me. He looked at me like I was a stranger off the street. And when I finally explained who I was, who my mother was, he had the audacity to turn away. He refused to help.”Annabelle’s chest ached at the raw pain in Lila’s voice. She reached out, placing a comforting hand over Lila’s, but Lila barely seemed to notice.“That was the last straw for my mom,” Lila continued, her voice thick with emotion. “She’d already been through so much, and to have the man she’d once loved dismiss us like that—it broke her spirit. She told me to let it go, to stop trying to save her, but I couldn’t. I worked harder, begged every charity I could think of, but it still wasn’t enough.”Her voice shook, and f

Last Updated : 2024-12-25

THIRTY-FOUR: Lila's Truth (3)

Lila tossed and turned in her bed. Her mind was too restless for her to sleep. Annabelle’s revelation about Andre’s involvement with the Robinson family refused to leave her mind, and it had rattled her more than she had admitted to Annabelle.She had left her past behind with the hope that it would stay buried, but now it felt like that hope was slipping through her fingers. Andre was still reaching for her, determined to drag her back into the chaos she had run away from.The Winters family empire wasn’t just wealthy—it was omnipresent. From telecommunications to agriculture to media, their influence was everywhere. They had a hand in everything. The thought of that power now being directed toward finding her made her stomach churn. She knew how ruthless Andre could be, but this went beyond what she had expected.She sighed, staring at the ceiling of her bedroom in Annabelle’s seaside cottage. She had thought she was safe here, fa

Last Updated : 2024-12-26

THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (1)

Lila sat on the creaky wooden porch, her hands wrapped around the warm ceramic of her coffee mug as if it could pour its heat over the chill in her bones. The golden hues painted across the sky as the sun rose was beautiful but the beauty of it was lost on her. The faint lines etched on her face told the story of a night of restless tossing and turning.Even now, her thoughts were plagued by shadows of the past that refused to stay buried. She sipped her coffee, but even the bitter taste cut through the exhaustion clouding her mind.The front door creaked open behind her, and she didn’t have to turn to know who it was. Annabelle’s sound of relief was as familiar as the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”Lila forced a tired smile and turned her head slightly. “Good morning,” she said, her voice quiet. “I woke up early and didn’t want to disturb

Last Updated : 2024-12-28

THIRTY-FIVE: Lila's Fear (2)

The two women sat in silence for a moment. As the soft hum of the ocean filled the quiet, Lila stared into the swirling depths of her coffee, her thoughts too loud to ignore. It had gone cold, and she couldn’t bring herself to drink it anymore. Instead, she set it down. The gentle breeze carried the salty tang of the sea air, brushing against Lila's face as she took a deep breath.The scenery should have been calming, but it wasn’t. Not for her.“I’m so scared,” Lila finally whispered, her voice breaking the stillness like a fragile thread snapping.Annabelle turned her head, her brows knitting in concern. She rested a hand on Lila’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “Scared of what? Is it Dominic? Are you afraid things won’t work out between you two?”Lila opened her mouth to respond, but before she could utter a word, Annabelle pressed on, her tone light and reassuring. “If that’s what’s

Last Updated : 2024-12-29

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