The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 194
Tamara seemed oblivious to Leilani’s distaste. She tried to grab Leilani’s hand with feigned
enthusiasm, but Leilani avoided it with quick reflexes.
Tamara’s warm smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered, withdrawing her hand as if nothing had happened.
“Leilani, I came specifically to see you today!”
Leilani paused, a trace of coldness flashing in her eyes, though her face remained calm.
“If you have something to say, just say it. It’s just the two of us here. You don’t need to put on an act.”
Given their relationship, Leilani knew Tamara wouldn’t be looking for her for anything good.
Tamara seemed not to notice her coldness, smiling as sweetly and shyly as ever.
“Leilani, you don’t know, do you? Milford and I have set a date for the wedding. It’s next month.”
She paused, tilting her head to look at Leilani with forced cuteness, staring at her unblinkingly. She didn’t want to miss a single expression on Leilani’s face.
“I came here to invite you to our wedding. Leilani, you’ll come, won’t you?”
Leilani lowered her gaze, her eyes landing on the gold-embossed invitation Tamara was handing over. The corners of her lips curled up, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Oh? I seem to recall Milford saying he wanted to break off the engagement with you. What happened? Back together so soon?”
Tamara’s smile froze for a moment, but she quickly returned to normal. “Of course. Milford treats me very well, and his parents like me a lot too. I just threw a little tantrum before, so Milford and I were having a disagreement.”
“Is that so?” Leilani took the invitation leisurely, her fingertips gently tracing the gold patterns, her tone playful. “What about Yvonne? Is the Sherwood family just going to let her matter slide?”
Tamara’s expression changed slightly, but she quickly forced another smile. “Yvonne? Hasn’t she mostly recovered? Besides, what happened back then was just an accident…”
“An accident?” Leilani scoffed, her gaze sharp as a knife. “Pushing someone down the stairs, framing me, causing me to spend four years in prison, and causing her to lose her memory for four years-Tamara, your ‘accident’ is certainly convenient.”
Tamara’s face stiffened, and she bit her lip, looking aggrieved. “Leilani, do you still blame me? But we were both young back then, I…”
“Enough.” Leilani couldn’t be bothered to watch her act and cut her off. “I’ve accepted the invitation. I’ll be there.”
Tamara was stunned, seemingly surprised that Leilani agreed so readily. A gleam of triumph flashed in her eyes, though her tone remained soft. “Leilani, I know you might still have feelings for Milford, but you can’t force love. I hope you can give us your blessing…”
18:36
Leilani almost laughed out loud. This woman still thought she was hung up on Milford?
“Don’t worry.” Leilani glanced at her indifferently, her tone mocking. “I have no interest in Milford. However…”
She leaned in slightly, whispering into Tamara’s ear. “I’m really looking forward to seeing if you can still smile like this the day Yvonne fully regains her memory.”
Tamara’s pupils constricted sharply, and her fingers clenched involuntarily.
Leilani straightened up and waved the invitation carelessly. “See you at the wedding.”
With that, she walked straight past Tamara, leaving without looking back.
Tamara stood frozen, staring at Leilani’s retreating figure. The smile on her face gradually vanished, replaced by a dark, chilling look. She had woken up early just to come over and gloat in front of
Leilani. But Leilani’s reaction wasn’t the devastated look she had imagined at all.
18-36
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.