The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 164
Reese was just about to speak when Dante suddenly clapped his hands, his booming voice interrupting the entire room.
“Alright! Just a small misunderstanding, don’t take it to heart! Come on, let’s cut the cake!”
The party was more than halfway through. Guests gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing amidst the clinking of glasses.
Leilani’s gaze inadvertently swept over the banquet hall entrance. Callahan’s figure still hadn’t appeared. She lowered her lashes, her fingertips gently rubbing the rim of her wine glass, a vague sense of loss rising in her heart.
“Leilani, don’t just stand there, come have some cake!” Dante beckoned her with a cheerful smile, holding a piece of exquisite cream cake.
Leilani snapped out of it, smiling as she accepted it. “Thank you.”
Dante patted her shoulder and lowered his voice. “Don’t mind those rumors. I believe in you!”
Leilani felt a warmth in her heart and nodded.
After a few glasses of wine, both Leilani and Judie were slightly tipsy.
“Let’s go, let’s get some fresh air!” Judie took her hand, grinning as they walked toward the garden. The night breeze was cool, the scent of flowers floated in the air, and moonlight spilled onto the stone path, casting two long shadows.
Leilani took a deep breath, her tense nerves finally relaxing. She took out her phone and finally saw the unread message on the screen.
[Are you free later tonight? I’d like to take you to dinner. There are things we need to discuss.]
It was from Callahan.
Leilani’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Callahan was back?
Judie leaned over and accidentally glimpsed the message, her eyes lighting up instantly. She recognized that avatar! It was Callahan’s WhatsApp profile picture!
“Whoa! Isn’t my cousin still away? How is he already asking you out for dinner? See, I told you what you said to me before was definitely a lie! If you two weren’t close, would he be privately messaging you?”
Leilani’s ears felt hot. She subconsciously wanted to put her phone away, but Judie held her down.
“Don’t hide!”
Judie puffed out her cheeks, pretending to be angry, demanding an explanation from Leilani. “Seriously, Leilani, what is going on with you and my cousin? Don’t tell me you two don’t know each other. You can’t fool a three-year-old with that, okay? Spill it, honestly.”
Leilani pressed her lips together and truthfully explained her few encounters with Callahan to Judie.
“Plus, what I told you before wasn’t a lie. We really have only met a few times. The only somewhat
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special instance was when Dante said he wanted to set us up on a blind date, and we both agreed. But then I had an accident, your cousin had to go abroad, and the date never happened.”
Judie listened with relish, thinking these two were practically enacting a rom-com plot in real life. If they weren’t meant to be, they wouldn’t have met again.
Yet, without even realizing it, Leilani had unintentionally befriended all of Callahan’s important relatives. If this wasn’t fate, what was it?
Leilani obviously understood this logic too. She suddenly felt an impulse to be bold for once. She looked up at Judie and asked softly, a bit shyly, “Judie, if… your cousin and I got together, what would you think?”
“Of course, just treat it as me talking nonsense. Please don’t tell your cousin, Dante, or Letty.”
Judie’s eyes went wide. The next second, she literally jumped for joy.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.