Semua Bab Love Lies and Deceit: Bab 31 - Bab 40

* Julliane *That evening, as I reached to close my bedroom door, my hand froze at the sound of voices drifting from the hallway. It was my mother and Lance, their shadows stretching long and entwined against the flickering wall sconces. I leaned closer, the cool brass handle pressing against my palm, my breath caught in my throat."You're going crazy over her, Lance! I see the way you look at her. Why? Have you also been smitten by her charm?" my mother's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.Lance, always composed, reached out to steady her, gently taking her arm. "Come to the veranda, Marriane. Get some fresh air. Talk, but not here. I can't have you shouting in front of the servants."I watched them walk slowly down the hall, his steady presence guiding her like a ship through turbulent waters. They turned into his room, the soft click of the door closing almost lost in the heavy silence. My pulse quickened. The veranda... my room shared a connecting path with hi

* Julliane *"I will give you what you want tonight, Julliane."Lance growled, his voice low and dangerous as he stepped into the room, letting the door slam shut behind him. "So you never even think about putting my name in shame again or doing it with another man!"His hands moved to his shirt, yanking it over his head with a swift, almost violent motion. Each muscle flexed under his tanned skin, the hard lines of his chest rising and falling with the force of his anger. He stood there for a heartbeat, eyes locked on mine, daring me to flinch, to look away, but I couldn't."Lance, what are you talking about?" I managed to choke out, my pulse thundering in my ears. I took a shaky step back as he moved closer, his bare feet silent against the wooden floor. "Darren and I were just talking. There's nothing else.""Just talking?" He cut me off, his jaw clenched, eyes flashing dangerously as his hands moved to the waistband of his jeans. He flicked the button open and shoved them down h

* Julliene *Lance granted me a few precious days of rest, a quiet lull before the storm he had clearly been brewing, one that would either fill Magnolia Manor with celebration or shatter its fragile peace.It was a warm, golden evening when he requested that Darren, my mother Marianne, our youngest sibling Penny, and I gather for dinner. The dining room had been prepared meticulously, fresh flowers in cut crystal vases, silverware polished to a mirror shine, and a long table draped in crisp, ivory linen. The air held a rich blend of rosemary and roasted meats, the warmth of freshly baked bread mingling with the subtle flicker of candlelight. Yet, beneath it all, a quiet tension hummed, whispering that this wasn't just any ordinary family dinner.I entered to find everyone already seated. Darren, always the charmer, grinned at me from his seat to Lance's right. Beside him, Penny's wide, curious eyes sparkled as she swung her feet beneath the table, her innocence a stark contrast to th

* Julliane *I watched the moon, a brilliant pearl casting its cool, silvery light over the balcony as the evening settled in. The air was fresh, fragrant, and alive, brushing softly through my hair, teasing it into gentle waves. Inside, the clatter of dishes and murmurs of conversation barely reached me.Only Darren, Penny, and I sat at the dining table tonight as I have recalled, my mother too weary to leave her room, and Lance, as always, consumed by his work.I sighed, letting the crisp night air fill my lungs, grounding me. It felt like a stolen moment, a breath of calm in a world that had grown so chaotic."Nice moon tonight, don't you think?"I startled at the familiar voice, turning to find him standing just behind me. Lance, his tall frame silhouetted against my bedroom light, his eyes catching the moon's glow like shards of polished glass. His dark hair fell slightly over his brow, the lines of his jaw sharp and commanding."Did you just get home?" I asked, noticing his long

* Julliane *My eyes fluttered open, and the harsh, sterile white of the hospital ceiling swam into view, its clean, uninterrupted expanse a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in my mind. For a moment, I felt disoriented, my body heavy, each limb resisting even the slightest movement. A dull, persistent ache radiated from my back, pulsing in time with the steady beeping of the heart monitor beside me.Then, I felt it a warmth enveloping my hand, a solid, grounding presence that cut through the fog of pain and confusion. I slowly turned my head, my heart stumbling over itself as my eyes met Lance's deep, stormy gaze. He was sitting beside my bed, his large, calloused hand wrapped around mine, his thumb moving in slow, comforting circles over my knuckles.The moment our eyes met, a flicker of relief passed over his face, his tense shoulders relaxing as he exhaled a breath he seemed to have been holding for too long."Oh, thank God you're awake, Jullie, sweetheart," he whispered, his v