The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 8

The boarding announcement echoed through the terminal as Navier joined the line of passengers

onto the plane.

As the aircraft lifted off, she watched the city shrink beneath her and silently whispered to herself:

“Goodbye forever, Lysander Vanderbilt.”

She felt no curiosity about what might unfold at Dusktale Villa. Gazing out the window at the passing clouds, she felt lighter than she had in years.

Meanwhile, Celeste’s lips curved into a smile she had practiced countless times. With elegant

gentleness, she pressed her fingers against Lysander’s temples.

“Lysander, you should stop drinking. You’ll have a terrible headache.”

Hearing that voice–familiar yet somehow different–Lysander froze. The whiskey bottle slipped from his hand, but he couldn’t process what was happening.

-Only when the bottle shattered on the floor, shards cutting into his leg, did the pain jolt him back to

reality.

His mind reeled in confusion. Was this a dream? A hallucination? Or…?

“Ophelia? Is it… is itreally you? You came back… I waited for you. I never stopped waiting. Seven years, Ophelia–I never forgot you.”

such force it was as if he wanted to merge

very being.

voice trembled. He rested his chin in the crook of her neck as silent tears rolled down his cheeks, falling onto her skin–so cold they made her

but she played her

patted

me. I’m back now. I know. I know you waited. So I fought hard to come back

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he would

But then-

arms around her again, his voice shaking with an

came back! I’m not dreaming, am I? You must’ve suffered so much.

a way to cure it

lose you again.”

Celeste relaxed, smiling softly and

Celeste’s hand tightly

around the villa.

warm, not cold like a ghost’s. Ophelia really

else mattered. Having her by his side was all that

look–I planted these lilies in the garden myself. I remember they were your favorites. Seven years, and

you said you wanted a swing in our future home. You wanted me to push you on it. Would you like to try it