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THE LAST SHOOTING STAR

Chapter 5 Unwelcome Realizations II

Word Count: 1484    |    Released on: 19/03/2025

le

ct was i

violently, her eyes widening as a deep, burning s

nked. "Wa

t table and turned to Ryan with the deadl

taking another sip of his whiskey as he w

slow, accusing finger at Rachael. "Hold

fifty-shade-dark tomato, c

d slightly. "Your f

shock. "No way. This...

ching the bridge of

ry. "So let me get this straight," he said, leaning toward her. "Back in high school, when

rderous glare before crossin

xaggerated gasp. "

ppear into the floor. She pointed a wa

d it. "So when you saw me dating all

nish that sentence, I will

led under

chest. "I don't know what to say. This is such a revelation. R

hat?" Sh

ed. "I dunno. Maybe I woul

he wrong t

napkin and threw it straig

thoroughly enjoying t

altering. "Wow. This is amazing. Rachael, my secret admi

seconds away from c

set his glass down and looked at Jason with mild amusemen

rked. "As

ply, still glaring a

d, lifting his gla

--

Irene stepped out with an air of composure, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she made her way up the wal

and whispers. She was a woman who really love having her space, who didn't let anyone intrude on her personal space, and her home was her sanctuary. But

it was clear her mother had other plans. The woman stood ther

. Her gaze sharpened, and she gave a look one that clearly sa

ed like she was on the verge of tears, which only softened Irene's irritation for a split second. Irene let out a de

al companion, couldn't help but laugh softly. His quiet chuckle didn't go unnoticed by Irene, and she shot

e, soft and tentative. "Irene, sweetheart,

o stay long at a party I was for

r sighed.

latly, her eyes distant as she removed her coat and draped it o

onvinced. "Irene, sweetheart, are you sure eve

e tried to conceal it. She had grown used to her mother's constant

tone colder now. "Just...work. I

ene, you're my only child, my everything. You don't have to

ifference slipping into place. "I don't need anyone to make me happy, Mo

r voice trembling slightly. "But sometimes,

ad always valued her independence, but there was no denying the weight of her mother's wor

er than to intrude. Irene and her mother had a dynamic that was unique a mo

n't want you to push everyone away, especially not those who care about you," she said, her

Mom. Really. Let me have my space," she said coldly, tur

aughter and respecting her space. She opened her mouth to

dle tomorrow." Her voice was firm, and

Irene continued up the stairs without looking back. Her mother wat

There was so much more to her than the icy exterior she showed to the world and even to her mother. But Louis

, he simply

p the stairs. It was clear that tonight was not one of those rare occasions when Irene was willing to let her guard dow

e softened as she looked at him, her voice trembling slightly when she asked, "Louis... I know you care about her. I know you've been ther

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THE LAST SHOOTING STAR
THE LAST SHOOTING STAR
“Irene Lancaster is not just beautiful she is otherworldly. Her presence alone can silence a room, leaving men mesmerized and women insecure. With her striking features and ethereal elegance, she is untouchable, unreachable. But beneath her breathtaking beauty lies an icy heart. Irene does not smile. She does not cry. She does not waste her time on friendships or love. Why bother when nothing lasts? Diagnosed with a terminal illness, she has already accepted her fate. And she refuses to let anyone love her, because love only leads to grief. But Irene is more than just an untouchable beauty she is a mystery. She is the secret force behind I.V.Y, the number one fashion empire in the United States, a brand so powerful that elites fight to be the first to own its collections. She built it from the ground up, hidden from the media, from the public, from the world. No one knows who owns I.V.Y, and that's exactly how she wants it. Yet, even that is only part of who she is. Behind closed doors, Irene is one of the most highly sought-after consultants for top corporations a hidden mastermind whose name never leaves the executive boardrooms. She transforms companies from the shadows, on one condition: secrecy. Only the highest-ranking executives know of her involvement. No leaks. No exposure. No exceptions. Just as Ryan Damien Winthrop dominates the business world, Irene Lancaster reigns over the fashion world. Ryan Damien Winthrop is the kind of man people don't just notice they worship. Handsome beyond reason, so devastatingly attractive that women have fainted at the mere sight of him, he is the definition of unattainable. But Ryan has never cared for admiration. Cold-hearted and calculating, he only has two types of people in his world: his people and everyone else. Women? They are nothing more than distractions, a nuisance he has never entertained. Until he meets Irene. It happens once. Just one meeting. One look at her, and Ryan's world shifts. For the first time in his life, a woman captures his attention so completely that it unsettles him. He doesn't understand it, and neither does his cousin who also happens to be Irene's friend. Everyone knows Ryan Winthrop does not care for women. But with Irene, it's different. Determined to figure out what it is about her that has him so captivated, Ryan pursues her. But Irene couldn't care less about his interest. She treats him with the same cold indifference she gives to everyone. She rejects him, pushes him away, refuses to acknowledge his existence. She doesn't care about his looks, his power, or the fact that every other woman in the world would do anything for his attention. Ryan should have walked away. He should have lost interest, as he always does. But for some reason, he doesn't. He keeps coming back. Irene hates it. Hates him. And so, she makes a decision. If Ryan is so determined to have her, then she will make him regret ever wanting her. She will make him fall so deeply in love that when she's gone, he will grieve. She will destroy him the way love has destroyed so many before. But as she plays her cruel game, something unexpected happens she falls. The man she wanted to break becomes the only person who makes her feel alive. His presence, once irritating, becomes intoxicating. His love, once unwanted, becomes the only thing she craves. For the first time in her life, she wants more time. But time is not on her side. As her illness worsens, she faces an impossible choice: push Ryan away to spare him the pain, or hold on to the love she never expected to find. But Ryan doesn't let go of what's his, and he refuses to lose her without a fight. In a world where love and loss are inevitable, The Last Shooting Star asks: Is love worth the pain of goodbye?”
1 Chapter 1 The Ball She Never Wanted2 Chapter 2 The Man Who Didn't Leave3 Chapter 3 A Challenge Worth Pursuing4 Chapter 4 Unwelcome Realizations5 Chapter 5 Unwelcome Realizations II6 Chapter 6 Unpredictable7 Chapter 7 Repeat Yourself And You're Fired8 Chapter 8 The Plan9 Chapter 9 Long Night10 Chapter 10 Sleepless Night11 Chapter 11 Irene I'm Not Sick12 Chapter 12 Abomination13 Chapter 13 Rumor I14 Chapter 14 Rumor II15 Chapter 15 I'm Not Giving In To A Baby's Play16 Chapter 16 Irene Lancaster17 Chapter 17 I'm not a Monster