Chapter 70
In “Dreams Folding Into Broken Time,” the protagonist, Savannah, grapples with intense anxiety as she prepares to face her family at a barbecue. She employs a series of self-soothing rituals, like splashing cold water on her face and adjusting her hair, to mask her inner turmoil. Despite her efforts to present a confident facade, the weight of her emotions is palpable as she steps into the gathering, determined to confront whatever challenges await her.
Upon entering the living room, Savannah quickly senses a charged atmosphere among her family, who are fixated on Lizzie’s phone. The tension is heightened by the presence of her sister, Chloe, who stands apart, appearing distressed despite her fiancé’s attempts to comfort her. Lizzie’s excitement about a feature in Bridal Luxe magazine quickly shifts the focus, revealing that Savannah’s wedding to Roman Blackwood has stolen the spotlight that Chloe had long coveted. This revelation ignites a fierce rivalry between the sisters, exposing deep-seated insecurities and jealousy.
As Lizzie shares the news, Chloe’s reaction is explosive. She accuses Savannah of stealing her moment, questioning the legitimacy of her engagement to Roman. The confrontation escalates, showcasing Chloe’s dramatic nature and the family’s discomfort as they witness the unraveling of her composure. Savannah, however, remains eerily calm, relishing the chaos that unfolds. Her sister’s accusations only fuel her determination, as she realizes that she has finally gained the recognition that Chloe had monopolized.
The climax of the chapter is marked by Savannah’s unwavering smile amidst the turmoil, signaling a turning point in her relationship with Chloe. The once-muted tension between the sisters has erupted into an open conflict, with Savannah poised to embrace her newfound position. The chapter ends with Savannah feeling a sense of victory, having longed for this moment of empowerment and acknowledgment, even if it comes at the expense of her sister’s anguish.
**Dreams Folding Into Broken Time p>
**by Serene L. Arden p>
I splashed cold water onto my face repeatedly, the icy droplets stinging my skin, as if I could cleanse away the trembling that had taken residence in my hands. Each splash felt like a futile attempt to wash away the anxiety that clung to me like a second skin. I grabbed the hand towel, pressing it against my cheeks with more force than necessary, as if the pressure could somehow ground me.
With a swift motion, I yanked the hair tie from my hair, letting my locks cascade down my shoulders. It was a small act, but it felt liberating, hiding the tension that had knotted my neck.
I lifted my chin, forcing my lips into a practiced half-smile—neither joyful nor sorrowful, just a mask of untouchability.
Taking a few deep breaths, I inhaled slowly, then exhaled, letting my shoulders drop back into a more confident posture.
The trick wasn’t in convincing myself I was okay. No, the real trick lay in presenting myself as if I had never been knocked down in the first place.
As I stepped out of my sanctuary, it wasn’t Savannah, the girl with a secret, who emerged into the world of the barbecue—it was Savannah Hart, perfectly polished and ready for whatever battle lay ahead. I had a vendetta, and it was sharper than any blade.
However, as I descended the stairs and crossed the threshold into the living room, an unsettling feeling washed over me.
The moment I entered, I could sense the tension in the air. The entire family was gathered around Lizzie’s phone, their faces illuminated by the screen as if it held the answers to life’s greatest mysteries. They were huddled close, eyes glued to the display, a collective breath held in anticipation.
Except for Chloe.
She stood apart, isolated in a corner, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to ward off an invisible chill. Her fiancé enveloped her in his arms, whispering soothing words into her ear, attempting to console her.
From a distance, she could have easily been mistaken for a grieving widow, but I knew my sister all too well. She thrived on drama, and this was just another act in her ongoing performance.
“What’s happening?” I asked, trying to sound casual, but my curiosity was palpable.
Lizzie looked up, her face radiant, as if she had just discovered the secret to world peace. “You won’t believe this, but Bridal Luxe just posted!” She barely contained a squeal of excitement.
My stomach twisted into knots. That magazine was Chloe’s Holy Grail. She had been obsessively dreaming about having her wedding featured, pouring over every detail as if it were a lifeline.
So why this sulking demeanor? Did she not make the cut? Had they relegated her to a back-page spread? I could hardly imagine her making it to the front page.
Good riddance, I thought.
“They’re doing a feature,” Lizzie sang, her smile unwavering, as if she had just won the lottery.
Chloe’s voice sliced through the air from her lonely corner, brittle and thin. “Wait… that’s not p>
Lizzie quickly spun the phone around, revealing the screen to all of us. And there it was, in all its glossy, high-resolution glory:
*This season, we’re following the most anticipated wedding in New Hope—Savannah Hart and Roman Blackwood p>
For a heartbeat, I thought I had misread it. Then, almost as if on cue, Roman’s hand brushed against mine—light, deliberate, sending an electric pulse through me that I could hardly ignore.
Chloe’s expression froze, her face becoming a perfect porcelain mask, with cracks threatening to splinter it apart.
Well, well, well. It seemed the universe had decided to throw me a bone after all.
For a fleeting moment, it appeared as though she might lunge at me, but her fiancé held her back, his grip firm and steady.
“Are you kidding me?” she screamed, her voice echoing across the yard.
Every head turned in our direction, the atmosphere thick with tension.
“My wedding is the only reason they even looked at this pathetic town! And now it’s suddenly about you?” Her voice rose higher, hysteria dripping from every word. “Who did you sleep with?! Let me guess… Roman? I bet he paid for that spot! That’s why you’re marrying him p>
“Chloe! Enough with this embarrassment right now!” Mom gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
I stood still, a faint smile playing on my lips, maddeningly calm amidst the chaos.
Her in-laws looked on, their expressions a mix of disbelief and discomfort as they witnessed her true colors.
“You’re pathetic,” she spat, her finger trembling as she pointed at me. “You can’t stand the thought of me having something you don’t, so you had to steal it. Well, congratulations, Sav—you just made an enemy p>
The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, an ugly tension hanging in the air. Somewhere in the crowd, Alyssa muttered, “Wow p>
I didn’t blink, my smile unwavering. “Guess I’ll see you in print, Chlo p>
Her face turned crimson, and Dean had to step in again, holding her back as she took a menacing step toward me.
And for the first time that day, I smiled as if I had been waiting for this moment my entire life.
In the aftermath of the explosive confrontation, the air crackled with a mixture of shock and exhilaration. Savannah stood at the center of the storm, her façade of calmness a stark contrast to the chaos swirling around her. The tension that had once felt suffocating now transformed into a powerful sense of liberation. She had emerged from the shadows of her sister’s expectations, finally embracing her own narrative amidst the cacophony of jealousy and resentment. Each taunt from Chloe only served to solidify Savannah’s resolve, igniting a fire within her that she had long suppressed. This moment was not merely a victory over her sister; it was a reclamation of her identity, a declaration that she would no longer be overshadowed by anyone else’s dreams.
As the dust settled, Savannah felt an unfamiliar lightness, a release from the burdens she had carried for far too long. The thrill of standing her ground resonated within her, echoing the truth she had finally accepted: her worth was not contingent on anyone else’s validation. The world around her faded into a blur, and in that moment, she understood that she was not just a character in someone else’s story but the author of her own. With the promise of her wedding and the feature in Bridal Luxe, she was stepping into a new chapter—one where she would embrace her desires unapologetically. As she locked eyes with Roman, a silent understanding passed between them, a shared commitment to navigating the unpredictable waters of love and ambition together, unyielding in the face of familial chaos.
In the next chapter of *Dreams Folding Into Broken Time*, readers can expect the tension to escalate as Savannah navigates the fallout from the explosive revelation. With Chloe’s fury simmering just below the surface, the family dynamics are set to unravel in unexpected ways. Savannah’s newfound spotlight will force her to confront not only her sister’s jealousy but also her own insecurities about her relationship with Roman. Will she be able to maintain her composure, or will the pressure of the impending wedding and the family drama push her to her limits?
As Savannah grapples with her sister’s accusations and the weight of public scrutiny, the chapter promises to delve deeper into her psyche. Expect moments of introspection that reveal the cracks in her polished facade, exposing the vulnerabilities she desperately tries to hide. Meanwhile, the stakes will rise as Chloe plots her revenge, determined to reclaim her narrative. The battle lines are drawn, and the question looms: how far will each sister go to protect what they believe is rightfully theirs? With the tension thickening and alliances shifting, the next chapter will be a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving readers breathless and eager for more.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.