Chapter\u00a0768<\/p>\n
For\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0moments,\u00a0we\u00a0ate\u00a0in\u00a0silence,\u00a0each\u00a0consumed\u00a0in\u00a0our\u00a0own\u00a0thoughts.\u00a0Taylor\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0to\u00a0break\u00a0the\u00a0quiet.\u00a0He leaned\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chair,\u00a0his\u00a0smile\u00a0tugging\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0crooked,\u00a0that\u00a0easy\u00a0charm\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0slipping\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0like\u00a0sunlight\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0curtains.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0lifting\u00a0his\u00a0glass.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0suppose\u00a0I\u00a0should\u00a0start\u00a0practicing\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0walk\u00a0without\u00a0tripping\u00a0over\u00a0a\u00a0tuxedo.\u00a0It\u2019s been\u00a0a\u00a0while\u00a0since\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0gone\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0formal\u00a0event,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0never\u00a0do\u00a0well\u00a0with\u00a0them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eliza\u2019s\u00a0lips\u00a0curved\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0smoothed\u00a0her\u00a0napkin\u00a0across her\u00a0lap.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe\u00a0you\u00a0should\u00a0take\u00a0me\u00a0out\u00a0more,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0teased\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0me.\u00a0\u201cLast\u00a0time\u00a0he\u00a0took\u00a0me\u00a0somewhere\u00a0nice,\u00a0he\u00a0managed\u00a0to\u00a0spill\u00a0his\u00a0wine\u00a0all\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0table,\u00a0ruining\u00a0my\u00a0dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0bit\u00a0my\u00a0lip\u00a0to\u00a0stifle\u00a0a\u00a0laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0was\u00a0one\u00a0time,\u00a0and\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0an\u00a0accident,\u201d\u00a0Taylor\u00a0shot\u00a0back,\u00a0mocking offense.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0I\u00a0bought\u00a0you\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0one.\u00a0Didn\u2019t\u00a0I?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0did,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0leaning\u00a0over\u00a0and\u00a0pecking\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0with\u00a0hers.\u00a0\u201cAn\u00a0even\u00a0better\u00a0one,\u00a0I\u00a0might\u00a0add.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0all\u00a0bad,\u201d\u00a0Taylor\u00a0said,\u00a0shrugging\u00a0one\u00a0shoulder.<\/p>\n
Eliza\u00a0giggled,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0but\u00a0smile\u00a0at\u00a0their\u00a0affection;\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0both so\u00a0consumed\u00a0with\u00a0work\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0forget\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0a\u00a0mated\u00a0and\u00a0loving\u00a0couple.\u00a0It\u00a0makes\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0swell\u00a0knowing\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0have found\u00a0one\u00a0another,\u00a0and\u00a0they\u00a0stuck\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0no matter what\u00a0life\u00a0threw\u00a0at\u00a0them.\u00a0No\u00a0amount\u00a0of\u00a0distance\u00a0could\u00a0come\u00a0between\u00a0their\u00a0mate\u00a0bond,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0wondered\u00a0if\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0ever\u00a0reach\u00a0that\u00a0point.\u00a0I\u00a0still\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0our\u00a0bond\u00a0was\u00a0fragile,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0because\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0still\u00a0so\u00a0new.<\/p>\n
Irene\u00a0was\u00a0also\u00a0watching\u00a0Taylor\u00a0and\u00a0Eliza;\u00a0her\u00a0expression\u00a0was\u00a0more\u00a0somber,\u00a0though.\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0thinking\u00a0about\u00a0Chuck\u00a0at\u00a0that\u00a0moment.\u00a0Chuck,\u00a0her\u00a0mate,\u00a0who\u00a0lived\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Blood\u00a0Thorne\u00a0Pack\u00a0and\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0invited\u00a0Irene\u00a0to\u00a0move\u00a0in\u00a0with him,\u00a0or\u00a0made\u00a0any\u00a0attempt\u00a0to\u00a0fully\u00a0claim\u00a0her\u00a0yet.\u00a0The\u00a0mate\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0convinced\u00a0was\u00a0with\u00a0other\u00a0women\u00a0when\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0with\u00a0her,\u00a0even\u00a0though\u00a0she\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to admit\u00a0that out\u00a0loud.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0family\u00a0vacation for\u00a0her\u2026\u00a0nor\u00a0was\u00a0it\u00a0for\u00a0me.\u00a0We\u00a0were\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0mission\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0if\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0true.\u00a0To\u00a0see\u00a0if\u00a0the\u00a0man\u00a0she\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0love\u00a0over\u00a0these\u00a0last\u00a0few\u00a0months\u00a0truly\u00a0was\u00a0cheating\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0making\u00a0a\u00a0fool\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0heart\u00a0ached\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0thought\u00a0of\u00a0something\u00a0like\u00a0this\u00a0happening\u00a0again.\u00a0Irene\u00a0deserved\u00a0a\u00a0happily\u00a0ever\u00a0after,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0thought\u00a0of\u00a0yet another\u00a0man\u00a0playing\u00a0her\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0comprehend.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0conversation\u00a0shifted\u00a0to\u00a0more\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0business\u00a0aspect\u00a0on\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0and Taylor\u2019s\u00a0end.\u00a0I\u00a0heard\u00a0Zachary\u00a0Blackwell\u00a0coming\u00a0up\u00a0a\u00a0couple\u00a0of\u00a0times,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0my\u00a0blood\u00a0go\u00a0cold\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sound\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Blackwells\u2018\u00a0name.\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0had\u00a0any\u00a0further\u00a0dreams\u00a0like\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0nights\u00a0ago,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0old\u00a0woman\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0still\u00a0echoed\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0head,\u00a0something\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0never\u00a0forget.<\/p>\n
Blood\u00a0calls\u00a0to\u00a0blood.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s\u00a0now\u00a0known\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0Blackwells,\u00a0now\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0are\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0hiding,\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0collaborate\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Landry\u00a0Foundation,\u00a0though\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0sure\u00a0if\u00a0Gavin\u00a0has\u00a0fully\u00a0accepted\u00a0the\u00a0offer yet.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0lost\u00a0in\u00a0thought\u00a0since\u00a0we\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0manor\u00a0a\u00a0few days\u00a0ago,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0wanting\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0running\u00a0through\u00a0his\u00a0head,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0knew\u00a0he\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0the\u00a0truth.<\/p>\n
\u05de.<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0768<\/p>\n
+25\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
When\u00a0dinner\u00a0concluded,\u00a0Eliza\u00a0and\u00a0Taylor\u00a0left\u00a0so\u00a0they\u00a0could\u00a0get\u00a0a\u00a0head\u00a0start\u00a0on\u00a0packing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0some\u00a0phone\u00a0calls\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0office\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0sure\u00a0everything\u00a0is\u00a0taken\u00a0care\u00a0of\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0weekend,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0tells\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0presses\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0mouth.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0up\u00a0shortly.\u00a0You\u00a0should\u00a0start\u00a0packing\u00a0too.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0bit\u00a0colder\u00a0this\u00a0time\u00a0of\u00a0year\u00a0in\u00a0France,\u00a0so\u00a0pack\u00a0accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u00a0sir,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said,\u00a0my\u00a0lips\u00a0tipping\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0smirk.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0raised\u00a0his\u00a0brows\u00a0and\u00a0wrapped\u00a0an\u00a0arm\u00a0around\u00a0my\u00a0waist,\u00a0pulling\u00a0me\u00a0close\u00a0to\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir,\u00a0huh?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0asked,\u00a0a\u00a0flirtatious\u00a0glint\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0tone.\u00a0He\u00a0pressed\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0ear\u00a0and\u00a0whispered,\u00a0\u201cSave\u00a0that\u00a0for\u00a0later.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0flushed\u00a0and\u00a0bit\u00a0back\u00a0a\u00a0grin\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0placed\u00a0another\u00a0kiss\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0temple\u00a0and\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0dining\u00a0room.\u00a0Matt\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0taken\u00a0off,\u00a0so\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0pack\u00a0his\u00a0stuff\u00a0as\u00a0well;\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0more\u00a0excited\u00a0for this trip\u00a0than\u00a0anything.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0I\u00a0started to\u00a0make\u00a0my\u00a0way\u00a0upstairs\u00a0and\u00a0towards\u00a0the\u00a0bedroom,\u00a0I\u00a0spotted\u00a0Irene,\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0disappear\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0said\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0close\u00a0the\u00a0door.\u00a0She\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0red\u00a0with\u00a0unshed\u00a0tears.\u00a0I\u00a0swallowed.\u00a0\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0doing\u00a0okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0longer\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0scared,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cBecause\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0no\u00a0idea\u00a0what\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0find\u00a0once\u00a0I\u00a0get there\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever\u00a0it\u00a0is,\u00a0we\u00a0will\u00a0face\u00a0it\u00a0together.\u00a0You\u00a0know\u00a0we\u00a0have\u00a0your\u00a0back,\u00a0Irene,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her,\u00a0hoping\u00a0my\u00a0words\u00a0came\u00a0across\u00a0as\u00a0genuine.<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0reply,\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0rang.\u00a0She\u00a0glanced\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0screen,\u00a0and\u00a0more\u00a0tears\u00a0filled\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0have\u00a0ot\u00a0take\u00a0this,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0whispered.\u00a0She\u00a0pushed\u00a0the\u00a0talk\u00a0button\u00a0and\u00a0pressed\u00a0the\u00a0phone\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0ear.\u00a0\u201cHey,\u00a0Babe,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0shut\u00a0the\u00a0door.<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 768 Chapter\u00a0768 For\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0moments,\u00a0we\u00a0ate\u00a0in\u00a0silence,\u00a0each\u00a0consumed\u00a0in\u00a0our\u00a0own\u00a0thoughts.\u00a0Taylor\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0to\u00a0break\u00a0the\u00a0quiet.\u00a0He leaned\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chair,\u00a0his\u00a0smile\u00a0tugging\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0crooked,\u00a0that\u00a0easy\u00a0charm\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0slipping\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0like\u00a0sunlight\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0curtains. \u201cWell,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0lifting\u00a0his\u00a0glass.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0suppose\u00a0I\u00a0should\u00a0start\u00a0practicing\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0walk\u00a0without\u00a0tripping\u00a0over\u00a0a\u00a0tuxedo.\u00a0It\u2019s been\u00a0a\u00a0while\u00a0since\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0gone\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0formal\u00a0event,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0never\u00a0do\u00a0well\u00a0with\u00a0them.\u201d Eliza\u2019s\u00a0lips\u00a0curved\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0smoothed\u00a0her\u00a0napkin\u00a0across […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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