2026-01-26 23:41:01
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CHAPTER 143 PART 2
"I don't care about your circumstances!" Josh interrupted, his voice rising. "You hurt my sister! You made her care about you and then you disappeared! Do you have any idea what that—""Josh," Jessica said, putting a hand on her brother's arm. "It's not that simple. The situation was complicated. Darius had reasons for—""There's no reason good enough to justify what he did!" Josh said, pulling away from his sister's touch. He looked at Darius with an expression that mixed betrayal with anger. "I trusted you. Learned from you. Respected you. And the whole time, you were someone who hurt my sister years ago? Someone who abandoned her without even having the decency to say goodbye?""Josh, listen—" Darius started."No," Josh said, his voice cold. "You listen. I don't know what kind of relationship you had with Jessica. I don't know what happened between you. But I know my sister, and I know she doesn't get emotional over 'just friends' who lost contact. Which means whatever you two had
CHAPTER 143 PART 1
The alcove felt suddenly cramped with Josh's presence, the atmosphere shifting from emotionally charged to deeply awkward. Josh stood in the entrance, his expression confused, his eyes moving between his sister's tear-threatened face, Darius's tense posture, and Alessia's uncomfortable stance off to the side.Alessia, recognizing an opportunity to give Darius and Jessica some space—or perhaps just desperate to escape the overwhelming tension—quickly moved toward Josh."Josh," Alessia said, gently taking his arm. "Why don't we step outside for a moment? Let your sister and Darius finish their conversation?""What?" Josh said, pulling his arm back slightly. "No, I need to talk to Jessica. Someone important at the party is asking for her. I've been looking for her for fifteen minutes because her phone keeps going to voicemail.""It can wait a few more minutes," Alessia insisted, trying to guide him away from the alcove. "Whatever they're discussing seems pretty important.""So is the per
CHAPTER 142
Jessica Romano stood directly in front of Darius, so close that Alessia could see the tension radiating between them like an electric current. Neither spoke. Neither moved. They simply stared at each other with the intensity of two people who shared a history neither had expected to confront tonight.Alessia stood off to the side, her eyebrows raised, her mind racing with questions she desperately wanted to ask but didn't dare interrupt. The atmosphere was too charged, too delicate, like a single wrong word could shatter whatever fragile balance was keeping this reunion from exploding into something messier.What is happening right now? Alessia thought, watching the silent exchange between Darius and Jessica. This doesn't look like 'just friends' who lost contact. This looks like... something else. Something much more complicated.The silence stretched on—five seconds, ten, twenty—until finally Darius blinked, breaking the spell. He deliberately withdrew his gaze from Jessica's face,
CHAPTER 141 PART 2
She turned back toward the corner where she'd seen—or thought she'd seen—that impossible, familiar face.But the corner was empty now.No one matching the description she remembered stood there. No older man in formal attire observing the party with military precision. No face from her past staring back at her with those cold, calculating eyes.Nothing.Just normal party guests engaged in normal conversations.I imagined it, Jessica told herself, though doubt gnawed at her certainty. Stress and jet lag combined to make me see someone who isn't here. Someone who CAN'T be here. Because if he was really here—if Darius Kane was really at my welcome party—She pushed the thought away, refusing to complete it."I'm going to get some air," Jessica announced suddenly. "The ballroom is too crowded. Too warm. I need a few minutes outside.""I'll come with you," Josh offered immediately."No," Jessica said firmly. "Stay here. Entertain the guests. Make sure everyone's having a good time. I'll be
CHAPTER 141 PART 1
Jessica Romano stood frozen in the center of the ballroom, her champagne glass trembling slightly in her hand, her eyes locked on the corner where Darius Kane had been standing just moments ago.It can't be, Jessica thought, her practiced composure completely shattered. It can't be him. Not here. Not now. Not at my welcome party. This is impossible. I must be seeing things. Stress from the flight. Jet lag. Something.She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her vision, to convince herself that what she'd seen wasn't real.But the image remained burned into her mind—that face, those eyes, that unmistakable presence that she'd known years ago under completely different circumstances.The young men who'd been surrounding her, competing for her attention, trying to make connections with the Romano family through her, noticed immediately that something had changed."Miss Romano?" Marcus Ashford said, his practiced smile faltering. "Are you alright?"Jessica didn't respond. Didn't even
CHAPTER 140
Jessica Romano swept into the ballroom with the practiced grace of someone who'd spent years learning how to command attention without appearing to demand it. Her dress—an elegant creation in deep emerald that probably cost more than most people's monthly salary—moved perfectly as she walked, and her smile was warm but calculated."Thank you all so much for coming tonight," Jessica said, her voice carrying across the ballroom with effortless authority. "I know Josh twisted a few arms to get some of you here, but I truly appreciate you taking the time to welcome me back to Duskfort."The crowd responded with polite laughter and genuine smiles. Jessica Romano's reputation had clearly preceded her—people were eager to make good impressions on Raymond Romano's daughter."You're even more beautiful than the photos!" one young woman called out enthusiastically."The photos don't do you justice!" another guest agreed."Stanford's loss is Duskfort's gain!" a young man added with obvious admir
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