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Assistant: Title: Heartbreaks in the Dark
        Author: LillyMouse LillyMouse 
        Chapter: 21/23 
        Summary: Bridgerton Modern AU: Dive into the chaos where Anthony Bridgerton falls hopelessly in love with Penelope Featherington, who's just starting to get over Colin—the king of obliviousness. Meanwhile, Anthony morphs into a possessive, lovesick fool.So in short:Anthony witnesses Penelope's "warrior goddess" moment and it's all downhill from there.Penelope, freshly un-pined from Colin, now has Anthony pining after her. It's a whole mess.Eloise might be developing a bit of a drinking problem (just because I find drunk Eloise so funny).Colin remains blissfully unaware of everything, as usual.Anthony's possessiveness turns him into, well, a bit of a nightmare.Guaranteed HEA because I can't handle anything else. This will end well for Pen and Ant, at least. 
  Warnings:
 PSA: This is a Penthony fic. If that’s not your jam, just scroll on by!
        Contents: Chapter 21
    

    

        
          
          
            ... Since it's been awhilePreviously on Heartbreaks in the Dark(You need to say it in that TV show voice) Pen overhead Ben and Anthony discussing howAnthony manipulated her career in order to win her over.  Heartbroken she quits and runs away to Prague where Colin is currently travelling.  Much angst. Colin being a good friend and not taking advantage of situation. More angst ...
          
        

      
        
          My only excuse for not posting is that I have been Bridgerton baby obsessed and couldn't concentrate on anything else and did not want to make any decisions in this story while I was so concentrated on something else.🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈
            
            (See the end of the chapter for  more notes.)
            
      
  

  
  
    
     
  
When Villains Cry:The Misadventures of Master Manipulators  Anthony The whiskey burns as it goes down, but Anthony barely feels it. He sits slouched in one of the oversized leather chairs in Benedict’s apartment, the bottle between them half-empty, glasses refilled and drained more times than he can count. The once sophisticated room now reeks of booze and desperation.Benedict swirls his drink, eyes narrowed in thought, but there’s no playful glint in them tonight. Both of them are far from their usual banter. Anthony’s been wallowing in silence, staring at the amber liquid like it might give him the answers he’s too scared to face.“So, we’re villains now,” Benedict says dryly, breaking the silence. His voice carries a hint of bitterness. “Didn’t see that coming, did we?”Anthony grunts in response, his head tilting back as he takes another swig. “You didn’t do anything,” he mutters, slurring slightly. “I f@ck@d it all up.”“Oh, I definitely helped. I was promoted to your evil sidekick. If there’s a villain here, I’m your accomplice.” Benedict chuckles humorlessly, staring into his glass before draining it. “And to think, I was just trying to help you win the girl. Now I’ve been upgraded to co-conspirator of her downfall.”Anthony winces, his stomach twisting at the thought of Penelope. The sight of her resignation email still burns in his brain. He knows he hurt her, he just didn’t realise how deeply. His grip tightens around the glass, and he mutters, “She won’t even talk to me.”Benedict leans back, sighing as he rubs his face with his free hand. “Well, can you blame her? You basically orchestrated her entire career path. What’s next? A musical number about how you manipulated her life?”Anthony groans. “Not helping.”Benedict scoffs, pouring himself another drink. “I wasn’t trying to. You want help? Figure out how to fix this. Because right now, the only thing I can think of is time travel. Go back and un-f@ck everything.”Anthony rubs his temples, feeling the weight of the alcohol and the regret bearing down on him. “What do I do, Ben?” His voice is low, desperate. “How do I win her back?”For a moment, there’s silence. Benedict doesn’t answer right away, his face pensive as he stares at the ceiling. “Honestly, I don’t know. She deserves an apology, a real one. And probably a few years of therapy after dealing with you.”Anthony manages a faint, humourless smile. “And what, a big romantic gesture? Get down on one knee and beg?”“Please don’t do that,” Benedict says, shaking his head. “You’ll only make things worse. Women don’t fall for grand gestures when they’re angry, Anthony. They fall for men who stop being idiots. At least those that are actually worthy of going to one knee.”Anthony leans forward, burying his face in his hands. “She must hate me.”Benedict watches him for a moment, a frown deepening on his face. “She doesn’t hate you,” he says softly, the humour slipping from his tone. “But you humiliated her. You made her feel like she didn’t have control of her own life. You need to give her space. And for the love of God, stop trying to control everything.”A beat passes before Benedict lets out a bitter laugh. “Remember when we were kids, and you thought it was your job to decide who Daphs was allowed to be friends with?”Anthony groans, pulling his hands down his face. “Don’t remind me.”“You took it so seriously. Scaring off her friends like some sort of tiny dictator.” Benedict snickers. “Thought you were doing her a favour.”Anthony huffs out a laugh, despite himself. “I was trying to protect her.”“And now you’re here, protecting Penelope the same way, by deciding her entire career for her,” Benedict points out, raising his glass. “Congratulations, you haven’t grown up at all.”Anthony opens his mouth to respond, but the door swings open, cutting him off. Eloise strides in, her face set in a scowl, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She surveys the room, two brothers, slumped in oversized chairs, drowning their sorrows in whiskey, and her eyes narrow with disdain.“Oh, for f@ck’s sake,” she mutters, exasperation dripping from her tone. “Is this what you two have been reduced to? Sitting around like idiots while Penelope is halfway across Europe?”Anthony straightens, his pulse quickening. “I... I .. did you talk to her? How is she?”“She’s coming back,” Eloise interrupts, not in the mood for his stammering. “Colin is bringing her back to London.”He stares at her, frozen, the words barely sinking in. “She’s... coming back?” His voice is a hollow echo of the hope and fear warring in his chest. His heart stutters, a mix of relief and terror settling in his gut.“Yes,” Eloise snaps. “But that doesn’t mean she’s coming back to you. She’s hurt, and it’s your fault. And you’re going to have to do a hell of a lot more than wallow in Benedict’s apartment if you want to fix this.”Anthony doesn’t respond, the words hitting him like a punch to the gut. Eloise shakes her head, exasperated. At least she's coming back. They are going to be in the same city. Eloise pours herself a drink before sitting down, her expression still dark with frustration. "For some unfathomable reason, Penelope loves you," she says, grimacing like the thought alone is hard to digest. Normally, Anthony would argue, but at this moment, he knows she’s right. "Before your Grand F@ck Up," she continues, "she was the happiest I’ve ever seen her. And if we ignore the colossal idiocy that led to said Grand F@ck Up, you were probably the first man who treated her the way she deserves."She hesitates, and Anthony leans forward, unsure of where she’s going with this. Finally, she says, "What I’m trying to say is... I’m going to help you." For the first time in ten years, he feels an overwhelming urge to hug his prickly sister, but knowing Eloise, that would only earn him a punch. So, instead, he just rubs his temples and mumbles, “Thank you.”Benedict, ever the instigator, jumps in. “Okay, so what’s the plan? What does he need to do?”Eloise sighs, exasperated. “First off, don’t go in with a full-blown offensive. Give her some space. Stop bombarding her with messages.”“But what if she thinks I’ve given up?” Anthony asks, sounding alarmingly like a petulant child.“Are you five?” Eloise deadpans, then waves him off. “Never mind. I’ll explain it to her.”“She needs time to find her footing again,” Eloise continues. “She needs to find a new job for a start.“I know I’ve messed up, but I could still help her find a new job,” Anthony offers, a hint of desperation leaking through.“No, you idiot!” Eloise screams at him. “How thick are you?”“But you just said she needs a new job.”“Yes, but not from you, you moron.”“I have to agree with her,” Ben quips from the side.“I don't understand…”“You were dropped on your head, weren't you? You were just the trial run for the rest of us and they screwed up,” Eloise despairs.“She doesn't need you to find her a job. She doesn't need you for anything.”“Maybe just to f@ck her,” Benedict adds with a smirk.“Gross, Ben. That's disgusting,” Eloise snaps, throwing a pillow at him.“Yes, Reverend Mother,” Benedict retorts with a mock bow.“Anyway,” Eloise says, turning back to Anthony, “What I was saying before 'failed attempt number two' interrupted me… She doesn't need you to fix her problems. She is smart, competent, and capable. She can do that on her own. The only thing she wanted, and I'm saying wanted, not needed, you half-wit, is for you to love her. To stand by her. To support her.”“To f@ck her,” Ben confirms with a self-satisfied shrug.Eloise rolls her eyes. “Look You’ve done enough ‘helping.’ She needs to do this on her own. You need to back off, let her figure things out without you hovering over her like some overbearing puppet master.”Benedict stifles a laugh, but Anthony can’t find it in him to care. His mind is racing, trying to latch onto some part of this plan that doesn’t involve just waiting around. “So I’m just supposed to do nothing?” His voice cracks with frustration.“You’re supposed to stop controlling everything,” Eloise says, more softly now. “Give her space, let her breathe. And then, when she’s ready, maybe, you can start by giving her a proper apology. One where you actually admit how badly you messed up.”Anthony leans forward, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t know if I can fix this,” he admits, his voice barely a whisper.Benedict, having finally stopped smirking, leans in. “You might not ... But if there’s any chance, it starts with you getting out of your own way.” He shrugs. “For once.”Anthony sighs, knowing they’re right but feeling utterly helpless. “And what if she doesn’t forgive me?”Eloise’s expression softens, just a little. “Then that's it. But pushing her right now will only make things worse. Give her a chance to find her own way. And make sure you’re not part of the problem anymore.”Anthony stares into his glass. He’s never felt this powerless, and it terrifies him. But he knows that if he has any hope of fixing things with Penelope, he’ll have to let go of control, something he’s never been good at.Eloise stands, giving him one last look. “I’ll talk to her when she gets back. But you need to stay out of it for now. No messages, no grand gestures, I know you, no meddling. Just... wait.”Anthony nods, though every fibre of his being wants to argue. Eloise rolls her eyes and heads for the door. Benedict leans back in his chair, raising his glass with a smirk. “Well, brother, looks like for once, your best move is doing nothing. I would think you lucky, but knowing you it must be quite a torture.”Penelope The flight from Prague to London feels both endless and far too short. Penelope gazes out of the plane window, watching the clouds drift by, her mind a blur of scattered thoughts. Colin sits beside her, his presence solid and reassuring, though they both steer clear of any mention of Anthony. It’s an unspoken agreement between them at this point, and at least for now, she’s grateful for it.They talk about everything else, the sights in Prague, some ridiculous incident that happened at the airport, even a lighthearted debate about covent garden chocolate coated strawberries. Colin does his best to keep the mood easy, to make her laugh, but she can see the tension in his jaw every time the conversation teeters too close to home.When the plane finally touches down in London, Penelope takes a deep breath, steeling herself for what’s to come. This is her city, her home, but it feels different now, heavier somehow. She’s not the same person who left. And she’s not entirely sure who she’s supposed to be now.As they walk through the arrivals area, Penelope spots Eloise immediately. She’s waiting near the entrance, her arms crossed over her chest, her foot tapping impatiently against the floor. But the moment she sees Penelope, her face softens into a smile, and she waves them over.“Welcome back!” Eloise says brightly, pulling Penelope into a tight hug. There’s relief in her voice, but also a hint of tension beneath the surface. “How was Prague? Tell me everything, but nothing about certain people. We’re saving that for later,” she adds with a knowing look, her eyes flicking to Colin.Penelope can’t help but smile, a small laugh escaping her lips. “Prague was... nice,” she says, her voice light. “It’s beautiful there. I wish I was in a better mood to explore.”They keep the conversation flowing, avoiding any mention of Anthony as they make their way back to the apartment. Eloise keeps asking about random things, what restaurants they went to, if they managed to visit the Charles Bridge, what Colin thought of the local beer. It’s almost normal, almost comfortable, and Penelope finds herself relaxing, if only slightly.Once they arrive at the apartment, Colin sets down their bags, and Eloise immediately pulls out a bottle of wine from the fridge, raising an eyebrow at Penelope with a mischievous grin. “I figured we’d need this.”They settle into the living room, the tension that’s been lurking beneath the surface all day starting to creep back in as Eloise pours the wine. Penelope takes a small sip, letting the warmth of it soothe her nerves, but she knows what’s coming. She knows Eloise won’t let her avoid the subject forever.It doesn’t take long. Eloise sets her glass down and looks directly at Penelope, her eyes sharp and focused. “Alright, Pen. What’s the plan now?”Penelope blinks, her hand tightening around the stem of her wine glass. “The plan?”Eloise leans back against the couch, crossing her legs. “You know what I mean. What are you going to do? About work, about... everything?”Colin remains silent, but Penelope can feel his gaze on her, waiting for her answer. She takes another sip of wine, stalling for time, but she knows she can’t avoid it anymore. “I don’t know,” Penelope says softly, staring down at the liquid in her glass. “I quit Bridgerton Corp. I have no idea what I’m going to do for a job now. I just... I needed to get away.”Eloise nods slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Fair enough. But running away won’t solve everything, Pen. You know that, right? You’ll have to face it sooner or later.”Penelope’s chest tightens, and she looks away, the weight of Eloise’s words pressing down on her. “I know,” she whispers. “I just... I’m not ready yet. I can’t even think about him right now.”Colin clears his throat, finally speaking up. “You don’t have to figure everything out tonight, Pen. You’ve just come back. Take some time. But,” he hesitates, glancing at Eloise before continuing, “im reluctant to agree with Eloise on anything but she might be right. You can’t avoid it forever.”Penelope bites her lip, her emotions swirling inside her. “I don’t want to avoid IT,” she says quietly. “I just don’t know how to face it. How to face him.”Eloise reaches out, placing a hand on Penelope’s arm. “We’re here for you, Pen. Whatever you decide. But don’t let him or anyone else make you feel like you don’t deserve to be here. London is your home, with or without Anthony.”Penelope nods, but the uncertainty remains. She knows she can’t hide forever, but the thought of facing Anthony again, of facing the life she had before, feels overwhelming.“What do you want, Pen?” Eloise asks gently, her voice softening. “Not what Anthony wants, not what anyone else expects. What do you want?”Penelope looks between Colin and Eloise, her heart aching with the weight of the question. “I don’t know,” she admits, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I just don’t know.” ｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡ Later that night, Penelope lies awake in the quiet of her room, the moonlight casting soft shadows across the ceiling. She stares up at the familiar shapes, her mind restless, refusing to quiet. It’s been hours since Eloise and Colin left her alone, offering her the time and space they knew she needed, but instead of finding comfort in the solitude, she’s only found more questions.She turns on her side, hugging her pillow tightly, her thoughts circling back to the same nagging question that has haunted her for weeks.What do I want?For so long, she thought she knew. She wanted a career, to prove herself, to step out of the shadows of her wretched family and make a name for herself. She had been so certain, so focused on showing the world, and herself, that she was more than just the quiet, invisible girl she had once been. But now, all of that feels fragile, shattered by the truth she overheard in Anthony’s office.Her heart aches as she remembers the look on his face, the anger and desperation in his voice when he talked about manipulating her, bending the world around her without her even knowing. She had trusted him, believed in him. Rejoiced in the way he saw her. And yet, he had been controlling her life without her knowledge, pulling the strings from behind the scenes.How could he do that to me? Echoes in her mind for who knows what time.The betrayal cuts deep, but what hurts even more is how much she still misses him. Even now, lying alone in her apartment, she misses the sound of his voice, the way he looked at her like she was the most important person in the world. He had made her feel wanted, needed. Loved.The fact is she knows exactly what she wants. She wants to erase the conversation she overheard from existence. She wants to purge it from her memory. She doesn't know how to forgive so she wants to forget because it seems easier. She would give anything to go back a month in time. To when he was holding her. And kissing her. And she felt like the most special creature in the world to deserve all that attention. She wants to go back to that. Because she is sick of this desperate sorid feeling that is consuming her. She is tired of heartbreak. She wants the cosiness of his hugs. Passion of his kisses. Warmth of his embrace. She wants him. But how can she forgive him? 
  
  

    
      
        
        
          At least they are in the same city now.How long before she breaks? Or he breaks?'
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