Novel & Cerita The Ballad Of Never After

As my vision blurred, and I felt myself nearing death in the body I had sculpted, a sudden, frantic pounding of footsteps echoed through the hall. "Cathy!" Sebastian's voice. He lifted me out of the sculpture, concern etched deep in every movement. "It's okay. I'm here. I've got you. We're leaving." … Meanwhile, Theo had just finished soothing Hannah, yet an unreasoning irritation gnawed at him. He felt his punishment had been sufficient and was about to have someone release me. Then one of his men rushed in, clutching several reports, face pale and urgent. "Mr. Bennett, the anonymous donor who gave you a kidney after you escaped the kidnappers… We compared the records with Ms. Catherine Wol

APOV Once all of the maidens left the palace, I went to an empty table in the ballroom and practically swallowed a glass of red wine. The bitter liquid raced down my throat, lightly stirring my stomach, bringing me a familiar and comforting burn. I could hear my mother, Queen Daniella, coming up to me, her heeled shoes clicking against the marble floor.

Brandon had not expected me to catch him. Off-balance, he stumbled back even further than I had, his foot slipping dangerously close to the cliff's edge. Clutching my hand, tears streamed down his face as he pleaded, "Darling, don't let go! I beg you, I don't want to die!" I could not help but laugh at his pitiful state. "Fess up. Were you trying to kill me?" Brandon would not confess, shaking his head frantically. "No, my love! You have my word, I had no intention of killing you. It was all a joke!"

They were all nice, but I didn’t need them anymore. Fireworks lit up the night sky, filling the air with warmth and celebration. I glanced at the calendar and realized it was almost time for the new year. With the fireworks, a new year and a new life began for Enid Winter.

"Let's stop wasting time, shall we? We can get started right now." Belinda laughed maliciously and raised the whip high, aiming it at Wilson. Unfortunately, the lash didn't land as she wished. Wilson didn't move from where he stood, but he caught the whip as it hurtled toward him. The barbs on it pierced his palm, but he didn't feel the pain. His heart was in such agony that everything else paled in comparison! "Belinda Stone." He stared at the rosary on her wrist, asking coldly, "Where did you get that rosary from?"

After settling the discharge papers, the father and son quietly left. … Time flew by, and before they knew it, the first snow had arrived. Robert had finally made a full recovery, and the family of three gradually emerged from the shadow of the fire. They had barely gone out as a family since everything happened. So when they finally stepped out into the bustling streets beneath the falling snow, it felt like life was beginning again. But Robert occasionally seemed distracted. He would nervously rub the small velvet box in his pocket. The ring he never got to give Justine had become a thorn buried deep in his heart. That was why he had planned tonight's surprise. He had no idea how Justine w

I then crouched in a tight corner of the garden and burned all that junk in a heap. In the flames, one item kept catching the light and flickering. It was the necklace Elijah had given me that year. I'd always carefully displayed it in the most prominent spot in my room, even polishing it once a week to keep it dust-free. That was until I learned that Elijah had recently gone to an auction and bid on a necklace, declaring in front of everyone that it belonged to Abigail. It was then that I realized our old memories had all but rusted away. Watching the flames slowly shrink—just like my marriage to Elijah—I felt an unprecedented sense of joy. I could finally leave.

If Ryder wanted another she-wolf's pup, how could I stop him with my dying body? I picked up my phone and started making calls. I canceled the ceremony venue, called off the florist, and scrapped the last alterations to my gown. Then, I retrieved the bonding tokens I'd crafted myself—a pair of gemstone rings engraved with the Moon Goddess' blessing. I cast them into the flames. The fire swallowed their silver gleam and burst in a blinding flare. By the time Ryder came home that night, I'd already finished everything. He sank onto the couch. His expression was grave.

" Three months later, under the flash of spotlights, the final 'Caged' collection stunned the world. My broken wings had become a cloak of gold. At curtain call, a thousand white doves soared skyward from behind me. In a mold-stained rental apartment, Monica sat before a flickering TV, surrounded by empty bottles. Onscreen, the camera caught the moment I slipped an engagement ring onto Lilian's finger. She hurled a bottle at the floor, shards embedding deep in her palm. "Congratulations." Lifting half a bottle of cheap liquor to the air, she laughed to no one.

Don't you remember? The night ended on a bitter note. When I stepped outside, thick snowflakes were falling from the sky. As I got into the car, Oliver stood there in the cold. His thin figure was trembling, and his eyes were rimmed red. "I was foolish and blinded by a passing infatuation. Losing you made me realize that what I had was priceless. Please… give me another chance." His voice broke. "I'm begging you." Before I could respond, something caught my attention in the distance. Under the streetlight stood a tall man, snow collecting in his dark hair.