Entwined Hearts: A Billionaire Romance 

nger than was called for, her gaze set on w

their last deals of the day blurring into a distant hum. She could still see Jade's figure etc

They shared almost everything she had thought. A twirl of unease curled in her stomach as she turne

th Jasmine's call, still ringing in her ears, but it wa

he could almost feel it like a thick, invisible thread tuggin

ved through the market, almost like she was trying to avoid being seen. She did

f fresh herbs and adding them to her basket. But her hands we

But right now, everything felt clouded: Jade's behavior, Axel's charming smile, wh

er mind spinning in a thousand directions. She didn't even notice that the sun was beginnin

t around her, the cheerful chatter of t

iliar dress. *Jade.* Jayla's heart skipped a beat and without thinking, she steppe

She was speaking with someone, arguing. Her voice, normally soft and modulated, was edged with something sharper now, somethi

quiet peacemaker, always working out a way to smooth everything over. But

dy flat against the cold stone of the building, her heart pounding against her ribs. The guilt of spying washed over her. Yet, t

e man Jade was speaking to a tall, shadowed f

hed as Jade yanked her arm away, her face fierce and unyielding and then, just like that,

like she'd been holding up the weight of the world. Again, she looked around once more, and Jayla ducke

ain Jade was gone, swallowed up by

tood frozen, her fee

ing held her back. Was it fear? Or perhaps the realization

r heart like a drumbeat in her ears. The colors of the market faded t

she would be able to make some semblance of sense about it all. Ma

adow that clung to her, whispering that this was just the beginning of someth

her car, her hands gripping the wheel tighter than necessary. She took

stranger, clung persistently to her mind. She started the engine, and the low purr noiselessly fil

the gas, her mind running parallel to the blur of streetlights outside her window. She tried to concentrate on the mundane-on the traffic, on

nervously against the wheel, and her eyes flicked between the road and the re

us was looming just out of her line of sight much like a

the corner onto their street-the familiar row of townhouses rising like dark looming sentinels. As she pulled i

gine idling. Her thoughts were a ta

ide, she knew there wasn't. Her sister was hiding something from her-something huge. And whatever it

ondensation from her breat

d to talk

me idea and some clue to help u

s and wood smoke hanging in the breeze She rushed up the steps to the front door, fumbling with the key as her hands still quive

e brightening as she turned away from the stove wh

Here" she said, her voice sounding distant even to her ears. She passed them over her eyes s

le faltering as she studied Jay

whispered. She leaned in closer, her voice strained with urgency. "Something happened at the market... I saw

her hand paused mid-motion on

She was. Different. And when she looked around, I swear she knew som

tly left her face. "Why didn't she tell us

her. And the way that man grabbed her arm. Jasmine, it wasn't right. She pulled away, and

"Do you think it has something to do with what Jasmine warned us

know. But I feel like we should find out.

ne broke her silence in a firm tone: "Let's wait till she gets back. We'll ask her the

ormed theories and fears. She helped her sister set the table,

ough the hallway, and both sisters looked

step into the kitchen. "Hey, how was your day?" she asked, tryi

ayla off guard for a moment. "It was great! I went to the Elysium A

be it. It was like the waves were alive, moving right off the

ous. "That sounds incred

o quickly. "I just needed some time t

, but just then, their parents walked into the

ed their dad's eyes flicker with something like unease as they fastened onto Sarah's. She watched

to settle into the room, unnoticed by most, except for Jayla. She kept

pt darting to Sarah, who now and then cast a glance toward their father. Their father, in turn, seeme

work. Jayla watched as he nearly bolted from the room, her curiosity piqued. Their mother

a split second, Jayla swore she saw something dark in her friend's eyes-something cold

ping sweet as syrup. "Tell me mo

laughed, teased each other, and made jokes. It would seem that nothing could break the bond

ed far away to a place where something was drastic

a smile. Jayla watched her go, feeling a prickle of unease run down her spine. She shrugged it

replaced by a scowl so fierce it made Jayla's blood run cold. She watched, frozen in place, as Sarah

dow. She saw Sarah enter her house and slammed the door shut behind her

Jasmine looked up, puzzled, but Jay

re demeanor shifted. The warm, friendly smile she'd worn like a mask twisted into something dark and vicious, her lips curling in a sneer.

ursts as she muttered under her breath, her words venomous and low. "Those g

ie shadows on the walls. The room was cold and sparse with minimal furniture-almost as if it were a stage set for

in moments of joy and laughter. School events, family gatherings, candid shots of them walking down the street, unaware

lective-looking out onto the lake from a family summer vacation. Sarah's face turned cold. "Yo

the picture of Jade's face, with almost tenderness, before her n

ratic. She picked up a framed picture from a nearby table-it was of the triplets together, smiling broadly, their arms d

this time, a growl. "You think no one can s

You think you're untouchable, don't you?" She started to pace back and forth her mind spiraling

sweet graciousness, with your mock concerns..." Her voice caught in her throat when she came around to Jade's ri

shove is all

ing with anticipation. She took a deep breath steadying herself. "Soon," she whispered, the word h

ating, like a predator's before the kill. She glanced at the clock on the wall-it was getting late. She needed to prepare. There wa

ward the stairs leading to the darkened second floor of her house. Her s

to settle into an unnatural stillness like it was ho

cheme she was weaving, it was clear that her ob

s. And it was on

ngle candle flickered, casting lo

she would place her next plan, her next move. Her fingers trace

houghts only she could understand. She lifted the knife, holding it to her lip

, nearly going out. And then the