691 Results with the "Thriller" genre


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      Chapter 27

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 27 begins with an everyday question that carries more weight than it seems: which dress to wear. I hold up three options—an understated cream dress, a sleek black one, and a standout plum piece from Bea’s Southern Manors collection. That last dress means something. It represents Bea’s legacy, the brand, the woman I’m still trying to understand. But when Eddie glances at my choices and picks the cream one without hesitation, I nod and comply, even though a small part of me sinks. It’s…
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      Chapter 26

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 26 begins with me walking into a place I once avoided at all costs—the church where John Rivers works. It’s not one of the grand Southern churches that stretch across whole blocks; this one looks more like a forgotten government building. Its brick walls are dull, the only indication of holiness being the stained-glass window where Jesus stands among lambs. I’ve put on a carefully chosen outfit—blue pleated skirt, crisp white blouse, matching ballet flats—something that looks polished…
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      Chapter 25

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 25 opens with the kind of small, suburban ritual I never imagined myself participating in: a morning committee meeting. As I walk into Roasted, the local coffee shop where Thornfield’s women hold court, I feel oddly composed. The pencil skirt and pink blouse are a far cry from the dog-walking uniform I used to wear in this very neighborhood. I settle in next to Campbell and Emily, both dressed in matching shades of athleisure that scream effortless wealth. Yet, for the first time, I don’t feel…
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      Chapter 24

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 24 begins with an innocent question—“Are you okay?”—but what follows reveals how far from okay things really are. The days have become heavy with heat, but my morning jogs bring a short-lived clarity, the kind that comes from movement and quiet. I like the early hours, before the world fully wakes, before the pretense sets in. The air is still, the sun soft, and for a few moments, I feel like myself again—whoever that’s becoming. My runs sometimes cross paths with Emily and Campbell.…
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      Part VI: Bea

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Part VI: Bea begins with a familiar sensation—the presence of Eddie beside me again, his thigh pressed close and the scent of mint on his breath. It should have made me recoil, thinking of what he’s done, but instead, it made the next move easier. Knowing he came here expecting intimacy gave me the power I needed. I’d planned for this. Brushed my hair until it shined, pinched color into my cheeks, rehearsed how I’d lean in. My survival now depended on reminding him of the version of me he first…
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      Chapter 23

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 23 begins with a familiar southern greeting—“Girl, I swear you’ve gotten even skinnier!”—spoken in a tone meant to flatter but laced with pressure. The summer evening is stifling, and though the church courtyard looks charming under the fading light, I can’t shake the sensation of being all wrong. Dressed in a sleek black dress that once felt elegant, I now feel like an outsider among a sea of pastel prints and floral skirts. Emily’s compliment floats in the air as I try not to glare…
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      Chapter 22

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 22 begins with mounting tension as I fall into a pattern I recognize too well—restless pacing, opening doors for no reason, searching for things that can’t be seen but are deeply felt. Since Eddie brought me to the lake house, something in me hasn’t settled. A hollow kind of loneliness creeps in, curling around my spine, making me feel more like a shadow in Thornfield Estates than someone who actually belongs here. I catch myself imagining how absurd it would sound to tell Emily or Campbell…
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      Chapter 21

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 21 begins with a veneer of normalcy, the keyword introducing a chapter that swings rapidly from cozy calm to pointed discomfort. After a pleasant dinner, conversation flows easily, wine loosens their smiles, and the glow of shared laughter briefly restores the illusion of harmony. But that peace begins to erode the moment they step back into the house. Eddie’s posture shifts—his jaw tightens, his voice flattens—and the connection they shared at dinner slips away. Rather than join the narrator…
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      Chapter 20

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 20 begins with a suggestion that feels more like a test—an invitation wrapped in nonchalance. Eddie, pouring coffee in the morning light, proposes a weekend at the lake, speaking casually as though the place didn’t carry the weight of two deaths. The narrator, mid-page in a bridal magazine, is momentarily thrown. It's not just the idea of going there—it’s what it might reveal. Her instincts tighten, warning her there’s something he’s not saying, but she agrees anyway, partly from…
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      Chapter 19

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 19 begins with the arrival of comfort food wrapped in foil, but the warmth of neighborly concern carries a subtle edge. Caroline McLaren is the first to show up, arms full with a bubbling chicken Divan and condolences that sound rehearsed. Her hug lingers too long, and she warns the casserole shouldn’t go through the dishwasher—as if that’s the most pressing concern in a house now shadowed by murder. A few hours later, Emily and Campbell arrive in tandem, bringing paper bags from the high-end…
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