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SIXTEEN
Eli
I couldn't sleep.
It's already past 2 a.m., but here I am lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling in my room. Well, Hade's room. It's the night before our wedding, but I just can't seem to find it in me to sleep. Is this supposed to be what they call wedding jitters?
I tossed and turned around a lot more before I finally decided to get up. Tonight is supposed to be for relaxation and beauty sleep, but I don't think I'm gonna get either. Unless I do something about it. Wouldn't wanna look like a sleepless bride when I walk down in the aisle tomorrow.
I marched down the hallway while I tie my robe. I was about to walk down the staircase when I heard some noises in the opposite hallway. Hade is staying in the room in that far end, is he also awake?
I debated in my mind if I should go over and see if Hade's awake. Maybe invite him over for some midnight milk? And... maybe do that thing we did last time?
I blu
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Sand Castle SEVENTEEN
Eli I woke up on a hospital bed that morning. They asked me for my name and I gave it. I also asked for a call to the Vandenberg Residence, which was picked up by Lord Jacob. I explained everything to him, including the parts where I think I heard him having a conversation with my father. Of course, he denied it, but the sudden shift of his tone while he was talking to me on the phone was telling me something else. That was the moment I decided not to trust him or his family. There was no way I imagined everything last night. I asked the staff about how I got there, and they say they heard a long beeping sound from a pod outside the hospital. When they got outside, I was lying on the ground with no one around. Even Alexei didn't want to believe me. I thought he would have been thrilled of all people to know that our father could still be alive somewhere. He made me promise not to tell anyone in the family, as he's still current
Sand Castle EIGHTEEN
Eli I couldn't sleep my first night at the new house. I keep tossing around in this huge bed, but it just feels cold and empty, even though the fireplace was electronically on. I have to admit, I can't sleep partly because of what the butler told me earlier at dinner. I glanced at the castle-shaped clock hanging on the wall of the room in front of the bed. It's nearly midnight, but Hade is yet to come home. I wonder where he went. I wanted to talk to him about today. How it was not my intention to leave him hanging at the altar. Or crashing his pod. I wanted to apologize. So I decided to stay up and wait for him. I went down to the kitchen to get some cold coffee, and then I settled myself in the lounge room, where Winston said we will receive guests in the future. The whole mansion was awfully quiet and dimly lit, save for where I was currently sitting. It was a long cream-colored couch with a brown fuzzy rug u
Sand Castle NINETEEN
HadeThe midnight bells has just stopped ringing as Hade traced the hallway back to the banquet. His heart feels like exploding and he can't stop smiling. He feels like a five-year old happily skipping because he got to kiss his girl's cheeks.If only his mother did not interrupt. He was sure she saw what he did. Oh well, he'll save his mother's teasing for later.It was Eli's fifteenth birthday. Tonight, he's going to ask his father's blessing to ask the Hales for Eli's hand. They don't have to be married now, he knows Eli is still too young. And he just turned eighteen as well a few months ago. Besides, the house he planned as a wedding gift for her has just started building a few week ago.He wanted to ask her a year ago, when she entered the Harvest. But it was a bad time for everyone. Sir Greg has just died from battle, along with his brother Oliver. Both the Hales and the Vandenbergs wer
Sand Castle TWENTY
Eli It's not that I don't know the answer the Hade's question. It's just that I haven't ponder on it yet. Everything was the way I like it back at the boarding school. I was living the life I wanted. And then in a span of a month, my whole life turned upside down. I lost a sister, our home was bombed, my mom and two siblings got injured, and there's this whole Eye thing in my dreams that I'm not sure if I like it or not. And then I got engaged on the spot. Everything was happening so fast that I feel like if I stop to even breathe for just a second, then something bad would happen, and I fear every second for my family. My every day feels like I'm only fueled with adrenaline and the anxiety that I have to keep moving for the safety of my family. Maybe I've only realized it when Hade dropped me the question, but I've never really stopped for a moment to think about my feelings about the marriage or about... Hade.
Sand Castle TWENTY ONE
Hade It was almost sunrise when Hade got home. Winston opened the door for him, and he let himself in. He heard his butler greet him a good morning, and he greeted him back. He was about to head upstairs when he saw light coming from the lounge room on his left. "Who's in there?" He asked Winston. "The Young Lady, Lord Hade. I was just about to wake her up," Winston replied. Hade recoursed his direction and walked towards the lounge room instead. Winston followed suit. True enough, he found a sleeping Elizabeth on one of the corner couches. Her hand was still clutching a book. There's also a mug on the coffee table beside her. Hade reached to caress her cheeks. Peace was written all over her face. She looks like a sleeping angel. "Should we wake her up, Young Lord?" He heard Winston quietly ask behind him. Hade shook his head as he continued to caress her face. "No, no need." In less than three d
Sand Castle TWENTY TWO
Eli I woke up with a bright smile on my face. Millie even noticed my quirky mood. "You're glowing this morning, my Lady. Did you sleep well last night?" Millie asked. I just smiled at her response. "Not really, but I did have a good night." After dressing up, I quickly ran downstairs to the dining hall. I was excited to see Hade this morning. But by the time I got downstairs, the dining hall was empty, like usual. "No Hade again?" I asked Winston after he greeted me good morning, disappointment evident in my voice. "My apologies, Young Lady. The Young Lord had to tend to an important matter that needed his urgent attention this morning. Would you like some lemon cupcakes after your breakfast, Miss?" I sighed. I nodded at Winston and took my chair from the far end corner and dragged it towards Hade's seat. I looked at his empty seat longingly. It's not that I seem too eager to see him after that session w
Sand Castle TWENTY THREE
Hade Hade was left all alone in the assembly room after his father left. He was planning his retirement in the next few years, so he was starting to pass on all responsibilities to Hade as the next head of the entire Vandenberg clan. He was already over forty, so he knew it's time for him to step down and live whatever remaining years he has in life. Time to let his son continue his work in court. He knows very well the depth of Hade's capabilities, and that he's assured he'll do well as a seatholder. As Hade went over the council documents his father handed to him, he heard the door open. He turned around to expect his father or Eli, but it was Liv who entered. "Hey," he said briefly, and then went back to whatever he was reading. He heard the door shut close and Liv's approaching steps. He then felt a pair of hands massage his back. He looked back and tried to stop her hands. "Liv, what on earth are you doing?"
Sand Castle TWENTY FOUR
Hade Hade wasted no second and ran to the door. He passed by Winston and he was about to head to the staircase when Eli emerged from it while a servant was carrying a suitcase behind her. She's here! My Eli is really here. He couldn't believe his eyes as he stared at her. Eli must have felt his presence so she looked in his direction. Their eyes met for a second before Eli averted her gaze. He could tell her eyes were cold. And he's not used to it. He's used to Eli's warmth, and her sunshine smiles, and everything that makes her his Eli. Eli stopped walking when she was in front of him. "Take that to our room, please. Thank you, Millie." Hade remained unmoving as the servant walked away to the master's bedroom. Eli called their room "our" room. His heart sang. Hade could see as Eli fidgeted with her hands. He, too, ransacked his brain for anything to say to her, but nothing really comes to mind.
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