novelraw Chapter 140: Deja Vu
Chapter 140: Deja Vu
Chapter 140: Deja Vu
The crowded ballroom shimmered with crystal chandeliers and buzzed with the murmur of excited conversations. Champagne flowed freely, and the air thrummed with the energy of celebration. Brandon’s CEO appointment party was in full swing, a testament to his newfound status and power. He moved through the crowd with Lily, accepting congratulations with a practiced smile, the image of Lyse lingering in the back of his mind.
He had decided against inviting her to the party. He felt like it was not the right time to be seen with her and he knew that the paparazzi would be out in force, eager to capture every detail of the event. He did not want to subject Lyse to their intrusive questions, especially given her fragile state and the sensitive nature of her separation from Levi.
He did all this because wanted to protect her, at least that is what he told himself, but a small, honest part of him knew that he did what he did because he wanted to control the narrative, to prevent any unwanted attention from being drawn to their complicated history. He also worried that someone could ask Lyse something that would trigger a memory for her, or make her go searching.
Unknown to the blissfully unaware Brandon, Brooke had other plans. Seething with a mixture of jealousy and a twisted sense of entitlement in spite of their breakup, she had decided that Lyse needed to be present, not for Lyse’s sake, but for her own.
She had secretly invited Lyse to the party, painting a picture of a celebratory occasion that Lyse should not miss. She had conveniently omitted the fact that Brandon had explicitly chosen not to invite her.
Lyse, still grappling with her amnesia and feeling increasingly isolated, had accepted the invitation. She craved connection, a sense of belonging, usually, partying and hob nobbing with the rich was not really her cup of tea but she would rather that than remain all alone at home.
She arrived at the party, dressed in a simple but elegant dress, her expression a mixture of apprehension and anticipation. She scanned the room, searching for Brooke, her heart pounding in her chest.
She spotted her near the bar, engaged in an animated conversation with Brandon. As she approached, Lyse saw Brandon turn and pull Brooke into a passionate kiss.
The sight hit Lyse like a physical blow. A wave of confusion, betrayal, and a deep, visceral pain washed over her. It was a fragmented memory that felt familiar, like deja vu, a fleeting image of betrayal, that surfaced from the depths of her amnesia.
She could not place the context, she could not fully understand the depth of the emotion, but the feeling was undeniable.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock. The clinking of glasses, the murmur of conversations, the music – it all faded into a dull roar as she stared at Brandon and Brooke, their lips still locked in a kiss.
She turned and fled, tears welling in her eyes. Brooke smirked deviously as she saw Lyse fleeing the ball room and when Brandon would have turned, she pretended to twist her ankle so that Brandon had to hold her.
Brooke was enjoying being the woman on Brandon’s arm, earlier she had paid someone to slip something in Brandon’s drink. After she had stuck close to him, flirting and fanning the flames of his desire. She was determined to end the night on a note that would ensure that Brandon would not be able to leave her.
As Lyse rushed out of the ballroom, she was met by a barrage of flashing lights and shouting voices. The paparazzi, sensing a story, swarmed around her, their cameras clicking relentlessly.
"Mrs Van Doren! Mrs Van Doren! Is it true you have separated from Mr Van Doren?" one shouted.
"What is the reason for the split?" another yelled.
"Is it true you are still involved with Brandon Marlowe after everything that has happened?" a third voice pressed.
Lyse was overwhelmed, disoriented and terrified. The flashing lights, the intrusive questions that made no sense to her, the sheer number of people surrounding her – it was all too much. She could not breathe, she could not think. She just wanted to escape.
She pushed her way through the crowd, desperate to get away from the intrusive eyes and the relentless questions. She ran blindly, not caring where she was going, just needing to escape the chaos and the pain.
She burst out of the hotel and onto the street, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She ran blindly, her tears blurring her vision. She did not see the group of men loitering ahead in a darkened alleyway until it was too late.
They saw her, a lone woman running in distress, and their eyes lit up with a predatory gleam. They moved quickly, blocking her path, their faces grim. Lyse froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She was trapped, cornered, and utterly terrified.
"Look at this pretty damsel, why do you look so upset? Who has offended you? Where are you running to" One of the men asked.
"Can’t you see that she is running into my arms," one of the other men sidled by Lyse’s side and spoke close to her, making her inch away from him. "You have come looking for me, haven’t you?"
The man ran a finger down Lyse’s bare arm and she jumped back, her eyes darting fearfully between their faces.
"You don’t have to worry, we will take care of you." Another of the men leaned close and whispered.
The fear she had felt in the ballroom, the confusion and pain, was now replaced by a primal terror. She knew she was in danger, a danger far greater than anything she had experienced before. The men closed in, their shadows looming over her, and Lyse knew, with chilling certainty, that she was alone, utterly alone.
She hardened her face and stiffened her back at the realization. She would rather fight to the death than let these men take her away and carry out whatever vile thoughts they were planning.