In the late hours of the following morning, Juniper's eyes snapped open, and the first thing that greeted her was Dylan's peaceful face right next to hers, his arm wrapped tightly around her. But as the fog of sleep cleared, the horrifying memories of the previous night came rushing back in a blast, inducing a severe feeling of repulsion through her entire being. With a blood-curdling scream, she wrenched herself free from his hold and she scrambled out of the bed. Her body trembled with fear and disgust as she snatched the duvet from his body, wrapping it around herself like a shield. The sudden movement startled Dylan awake and his eyes fluttered open in confusion. Unbothered by his current state of nudity and the turmoil he had unleashed, he stirred on the bed, releasing a low groan of exhaustion. "Hey, can you please keep it down?" He grumbled. "I'm so tired. I was up all night. . . um, making mad love to you. I need some rest to recharge my energy." "Asshole!
Juniper hopped on the cab she finally succeeded at halting after three attempts. She wouldn't blame the other two cab drivers who had sped past her when she'd hailed them. She would ride past herself if she was in their shoes. She looked like a total hot mess with her hair, clothes, and emotions all disheveled, but her determination was focused more on one thing—to get to the police station and report the crime committed against her. She was resolute in seeking legal action. She was going to make sure Dylan was held accountable for his actions. When Juniper got to the police station, she pushed through the glass doors and headed straight to the front desk. The young officer behind the counter—dressed in a well-fitted smart uniform that looked like it was tailored right on him—rose to his feet and flashed her a cheery smile. "How can we help you, ma'am?" If Juniper wasn't so focused on pursuing retribution, she would have noticed how good-looking the cop was
Juniper's eyes were still clouded with tears as she shuffled down the extensive driveway to the mansion. She needed the walk to clear her head properly for it was nothing but a jumbled mess in there. In fact, her entire soul was still a mess, filled with nothing but pain, resentment, and indignation. When she left the police station hours ago, she'd been in an irredeemable state. She'd been too busy bawling her eyes out to even comprehend what the detective was saying about the consequences of slander and whatnot. She'd just wanted to leave that suffocating atmosphere. But instead of heading straight to the mansion, she'd gone to Blue Light beach, knowing that there would be no one home but the maids and she needed to speak to someone who could help her with her current situation. In her moment of excruciating distress, Juniper's mind had gone to one person, the man she loved with her entire being—Prince Cedric. But even he had been unreachable. She'd called
"Why are you so determined to defend Dylan, huh?" Juniper demanded, her voice low but as freezing as the Arctic. "Is it because you're also entangled in a secret affair with him? Is that why you're so eager to protect him?" At that point, she couldn't care less what bridge she was setting ablaze or the consequences of her accusations, all she wanted was to serve a little amount of the bitter meal being dumped on her plate. And boy. . . that one was so good! The stunned expression on Chloe's face was one that would live rent-free in her head till death do them part. Recovering from her dazed state, Chloe roared with rage, "What?! What the fu—" she restrained herself, glancing at the elders before breathing deeply to regain her composure. "What are you insinuating, Juniper?" Juniper shrugged slightly, her voice drenched in unadulterated sarcasm as she answered, "Oh, nothing, really. Just that the man you're so dying to defend told me himself that he's been sleep
[YOU'RE ALREADY TOO INVOLVED WITH THE CLERMONTS. DON'T TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES OR YOU WILL DIE. LAY LOW!] Juniper's heart slammed violently against her chest as the note slipped from her trembling hands, drifting to the floor like a fallen leaf. Instantly, her legs lost their vitality, and she crumpled into a heap right next to it. Her body began to tremble as the sinister message seeped into her very being, leaving her weak and helpless. Who was exactly this mysterious tormentor, leaving these unsettling notes in her room? Apart from the first note that had greeted her on her first day moving into the mansion, she had received a few others, warning her to leave the mansion while she still had the chance. Now, THIS. . . WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN THIS MANSION? She'd never had any doubt about The Clermonts from the first day, but considering recent events, she was starting to grow wary of them, and this mysterious note only added to her anxiety. WHAT W
"CONGRATS, JUNIPER! YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT! THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US." Juniper Laurent read the text in her mind's voice over and over again, relishing in the moment, submitting to the fluttering feeling of euphoria surging through her veins. A radiant smile stretched her rosy tinged full lips as she realized that was the last debt she had to settle. Every fiber of her being wanted to leap with joy and let out a triumphant scream, but she retrained herself with what seemed like a century's worth of self-control. Nothing could beat being debt-free. Free from being hounded by loan sharks, free from living under the oppressive weight of their constant threats and demands every waking day of her life. And only those who had walked in her shoes could truly understand how liberated she felt at the moment. What has she not done? She had taken on every job that crossed her path. Waiting tables, bartending, cleaning, tutoring—just name it an
In the blink of an eye, Juniper felt a forceful tug, wrenching her away just in time, a bare fraction of a second between her and a one-way ticket to the great beyond. Even as she and her rescuer tumbled onto the hard pavement, Juniper's eyes remained tightly shut, her entire body trembling with terror. Then, for some inexplicable reason, she began to feel herself relax in the strong embrace of Mr. Mysterious Savior. She couldn't quite determine if it was the enticing fragrance of his cologne or the feeling of security in his arms, as though she was always meant to be there. She couldn't tell. In that moment, the stranger gently shook her, his voice—a rich baritone and deep with concern—breaking through her stupor. "Juniper! Juniper, open your eyes. Are you okay?" WHAT?! HE KNEW HER NAME TOO! Now that was enough to make Juniper flutter her eyes open, her gaze landing on the masked face of her rescuer. Despite the disguise of a face cap and mask, she recogniz
BREAKING NEWS: HEIRESS VIVIENNE BELLEROSE DIES IN A CAR ACCIDENT. The newscaster's voice, deep and sharp, boomed as he began to convey the horrible news to the public. "Good day, everyone. On today's breaking news from Valterre City. . . the heiress of the Bellerose Frangrance, Vivienne Bellerose, has tragically passed away in a car accident. According to sources from the family, Vivienne had embarked on a trip several days ago, with plans to return soon after, but communication with her had abruptly ceased. An intensive search ensued, leading to the horrifying discovery of her car submerged in the Valterre River, having apparently veered off course, skidding down the cantilevered road to Valterre City. Reports allege that the authorities are presently conducting an exhaustive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident. . ." Bolting upright in shock, Juniper's eyes grew wide with horror, fixated on the television screen as it displayed an image