As Zayden exchanged pleasantries with Ariana, his gaze drifted toward Sadie, and with a friendly
demeanor, he uttered, “Hello, Sadie.”
Sadie swiftly snapped back to reality, hiding her disquietude as she reciprocated with a smile.
“It’s been quite a minute, Zayden.”
Zayden’s smile took on an enigmatic quality as he responded, “I believe this marks our first encounter.”
Sadie responded with a nervous chuckle but listened intently as Zayden continued, “Nevertheless, I
sense an immediate connection.”
Those words momentarily quickened Sadie’s heartbeat, but she swiftly regained her composure,
steering the conversation toward safer shores.
They exchanged pleasantries before proceeding with the film’s inaugural ceremony.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFollowing the ceremony’s conclusion, Zayden invited Sadie to accompany him to a nearby cafe, which
she accepted readily.
On the way there, unease gnawed at Sadie, but she maintained her poise and tact. She endeavored to
gauge Zayden’s attitude regarding Holden while asking, “It’s been quite a while since you’ve graced
Eleymond with your presence, cousin. What has brought you here so abruptly? Has Holden been
apprised of your arrival?”
Zayden’s smile retained a hint of enigma as he responded, “I’ve been gone for a while, so I deemed it
appropriate to catch up with Holden over a meal.”
A N G E L A ‘s L I B R A R Y
Sadie’s disquiet persisted, and she continued to employ subtle probes to glean more information from
Zayden. However, he remained evasive, upholding a courteous yet distant facade.
Reaching the cafe, they engaged in casual conversation, but Sadie sensed that she was not extracting
any substantive information from him. She contemplated relinquishing her inquiries but opted to broach
a different subject, smiling as she broached the topic of her impending wedding.
“By the way, Holden and I are set to exchange vows next month. You must come!”
Upon hearing this, Zayden regarded her with a knowing smile and replied cryptically, “I shall certainly
be in attendance. Fortunately, your wedding is drawing quite near. Otherwise, the wedding’s leading
roles may have to be changed.”
Those words caused Sadie’s heart to skip a beat, but she forced a smile and inquired, “What exactly do
you mean by that?”
Zayden abandoned the art of subtlety and stripped away the masquerade.
He leaned back, raised his hands, and said, “Ariana.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIn an instant, Sadie got it. Indeed, Zayden knew a thing or two about events from half a decade ago!
Her heart danced a nervous jig, unconsciously squeezing her hands like a vice. But she maintained her
facade of ignorance and asked, “What’s the connection between Ariana and my union with Holden?”
However, Zayden’s grin remained, his eyes fixed on her with an intelligent glint as he uttered slowly,
“Your enchanting love story with Holden has become a fireside tale in the entire Fredrick clan.
After an odyssey of years fraught with twists and turns, they all claim that my cousin has at last chosen
to wed the woman who held his heart five years ago.”
He leaned forward slightly, his index finger doing a gentle tap-dance on the tabletop.
“But in the final analysis, you alone discern the cadence of your own heart.”
Sadie’s heart raced, and her palms got sweaty, Leaving their marks on her attire. She maintained her
silence, her complexion betraying her inner turmoil.