My Beloved Has Risen from Death’s Embrace

“No need, it’s not Xan’s fault.”

Miranda looked down, shaking her head slightly as she picked up a cup of coffee and offered it to Xanthea. “Xan, congrats on winning the championship.”

She hadn’t finished her sentence when she burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’m falling apart. It’s just that I feel so useless, such a failure. I’ve tried so hard, for so long, and in the end, I’m nothing. My carefully prepared song couldn’t even match up to the one you sang offhand. I just don’t know what I can do anymore.”

Tears streamed down her face, and though she spoke no blame towards Xanthea, every word seemed to point towards her.

Xanthea observed the silent tension at the table and the accusing looks from her parents, and she smirked inwardly. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

What a bitch!

In her past life, it was with this masterful strategy that Miranda had won her father’s heart, infuriated her mother, and ended up with Matthew. This time around, Xanthea wouldn’t let it happen again.

“Sorry, Miranda, I didn’t mean to steal your thunder. You know I’m not really interested in fame or championships; otherwise, I would have launched my career long ago, Xanthea said, biting her lip, her face a mask of guilt. “But last night Uncle suddenly called me, saying the third surprise guest for ‘The Masked Singer’ had backed out at the last minute, and he couldn’t find a replacement. He thought of me. I wanted to refuse, but he said if no one could fill in, the show would suffer a huge loss and might even be canceled under suspicions of foul play.”

“Oliver called you?” Susanna asked, surprised.

Xanthea nodded. “Yeah, you can call him if you don’t believe it.”

She thought, “Sorry, dear uncle, but sometimes you have to play your cards.”

“I see.” Susanna’s expression softened. “Well, I can’t blame you then. Oliver is carefu his decisions; he wouldn’t have asked you unless it was absolutely necessary.”

Xanthea continued, “And I didn’t expect that the song I threw together last night would surpass the one you worked on for a month, Miranda. ‘Whispers in the Dark’ was something I crafted with care!”

“What?” Christopher was stunned. “You wrote Miranda’s competition song?

Miranda’s hand trembled as she held her coffee cup, while Ethan and Samuel looked at Xanthea in surprise.

14:57

“Yes, the song Miranda used in the finals, from the lyrics to the arrangement, was all my work. Didn’t you guys know?”

Xanthea looked puzzled at Miranda, who, under the questioning glances from around the table, had tears awkwardly hanging on her cheeks, unsure of what expression to wear.

Miranda thought, “When did she become so manipulative and innocent-looking?”

With just a few words, Xanthea had managed to cover up the fact that she had snatched the trophy, even though they had agreed to keep the songwriting between them. Now, Xanthea revealed it in front of everyone, blatantly embarrassing her!

“I-I had prepared three songs for the finals. I didn’t plan to use ‘Whispers in the Dark,’ but my coach made me draw lots, and that’s the one I picked.”

Miranda’s stuttering explanation sounded redundant to the Nightshade family. Since event the competition song was written by Xanthea, what did success or failure have to do with her? Rather, they should be thanking Xanthea.

Christopher chuckled and served Xanthea a piece of steak, “Alright, let it go. The past is the past. Whether it’s Xan winning the championship or Miranda, it’s a reason to celebrate.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Xanthea smiled happily, holding her plate, while Miranda, her nails nearly digging into her! palms, looked utterly miserable..

In her previous life, Xanthea’s downfall was due to her romantic naivety, not because she couldn’t compete. This life, she intended to make Miranda relive everything she had

endured.

“Xan, I had no idea you were not only brilliant in your studies but also so talented in music creation,” Matthew said, clearly impressed. He had heard ‘Whispers in the Dark’ be the finals and loved it, thinking Miranda was the author and even felt moved because thought he was the inspiration.

To find out the true creator was Xanthea.

He was about to ponder this when Xanthea gave him a satisfying reply, “I should rea thank you, Matt. Without you, I wouldn’t have had such great inspiration.”