The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 261: Twisted Night

Chapter 261: Twisted Night

The evening had finally begun to settle. The last of the guests had departed, and now only family remained. It was a rare moment of peace, one that Adeline wished she could hold onto for just a little longer. The warmth of the celebration still lingered in the air, laughter echoing faintly from earlier festivities.

Who cared about those two unwelcome guests? The rest of the evening was perfect.

The family, now including Isabelle, sat around in the Kendrick estate’s grand backyard, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating their faces.

The newlyweds, Alaric and Isabelle, sat side by side, fingers intertwined, basking in the comfort of their new reality.

Then, of course, there was Aaron. He had been drinking for a while now, and at this point, it was impossible to ignore just how much alcohol had loosened his tongue.

His cheeks were flushed, and his movements carried a lazy, exaggerated confidence as he stood, raising his glass. "A toast!" Aaron declared, his voice just a little too loud.

Adeline, standing beside him, frowned. She had been keeping a close eye on him, but somehow, he had managed to slip past her watchful gaze and refill his glass yet again.

"You’ve already given a toast," she reminded him dryly, making an attempt to grab the glass from his hand.

Aaron sidestepped her with surprising agility for someone so obviously out of their senses. "That was a practice toast," he said with a dramatic wave of his hand. "This—this is the real one."

Adeline sighed. She could stop him, but doing so in the middle of his speech would only make more of a spectacle. Instead, she crossed her arms and reluctantly let him continue.

"To my dear brother Alaric and his lovely wife, Isabelle," Aaron said, his voice full of exaggerated sentiment. "May your days be filled with joy, your nights with peace, and may you both find happiness even in the most difficult of times."

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The soft hum of crickets filled the air in the secluded corner of the estate’s garden. The night was quiet, almost serene, but beneath that calmness lay something far darker.

Benedict stood across from Annora, his gaze unreadable, but the tension in his posture was evident. He had been watching her closely for some time now, ever since she had entered his life.

"Does she always treat you like this?" Benedict asked suddenly. His voice was low, tinged with something that could have been anger or frustration.

Annora followed his gaze, knowing immediately that he was talking about Adeline. Her fingers curled slightly, nails pressing into her palm. That name. But she could not react. Not yet.

Instead, she cast her gaze downward, schooling her expression into one of quiet hurt. "It’s fine," she murmured. "I understand her resentment."

Benedict frowned, his jaw tightening. Annora felt his anger growing, but she did not stop there. She let out a small sigh, her voice barely above a whisper. "I came out of nowhere and stole her friend."

She lifted her eyes to meet his, ensuring they looked as genuine as possible. "But I truly enjoy spending time with you," she said softly. "There are only a few people with whom I can truly be myself."

Silence stretched between them. Then, Benedict scoffed. "Stole her friend?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disgust. "Hah. She is no friend of mine. I hate her."

Annora almost let her mask slip. Hate? Her heart pounded, not out of nervousness, but anticipation. She was overjoyed.

If only you could witness this scene, Adeline. I stole him away from you, just like I stole Cassian and Dimitri... No, I did not steal them, I simply took back what was mine. You are the one who started this... You do not deserve any of the happiness that I did not get.

Annora’s mind was racing, her thoughts were a mixture of nervousness and joy. She thought she could juggle them and failed... She met her end in the worst ways imaginable, but Adeline... Hah, why did she get to experience a happy ending but not her?!

She would not take that lying down. She was going to steal them and create a happy ending for herself and after that... She would happily have them die...

"I hate the way she clings to me," Benedict continued, his voice lower now. "But since she’s the Marquess’s daughter, I have to hold myself back."Annora blinked.

Something was wrong. Marquess’s daughter? That was incorrect. Adeline was no longer the Marquess’s daughter—she was the sister of the Marquess now. That meant... Annora narrowed her eyes, though she quickly lowered her gaze so Benedict wouldn’t notice.

She needed to test something, "Do you mean the Marquess’s sister?" She asked. Benedict’s eyes seemed to brighten for a second, he whispered the name Adeline before they returned to normal.

Annora understood something, they lived in ’delusion’, well the magic that her backer had created and if they encountered a narrative that went against the things they thought were facts... They temporarily gain control... But it was temporary, right? She did not have to worry.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. Annora allowed a sad smile to grace her lips. "I don’t want to come between you two," she whispered. Benedict took the bait. "There is no ’two,’" he said firmly. "There never was."

Annora tilted her head slightly, watching him. He believed it. That was all that mattered. This was his fate. He was destined to hate Adeline, to despise her presence, to reject her no matter how much she clung to him.

Things were still intact, she did not have to worry. She did not need to interfere further. She just needed to wait.

Benedict exhaled, his expression softening slightly as he looked at her. "You like spending time with me, right?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost... Hopeful.

Annora smiled, sweet and deceptive. "Yes," she answered. "You are such a good friend."

She could see his expression contort.

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