hapter 2
Chapter 2
In the surveillance footage, Bianca walked closely beside Juliette, her expression calm and harmless.
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Then, with a subtle nudge, she pushed Juliette into the water. It was quick, almost unnoticeable, but deliberate. She flailed her arms theatrically, pretending to reach for Juliette. Then, in a dramatic flourish, she jumped in after her.
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Moments later, Evan arrived in a panic. Without hesitation, he dove into the freezing water–straight for Bianca. Dragging her to safety, he wrapped her in his coat, murmuring reassurances while ignoring Juliette completely. She was left in the icy water, forgotten, like she didn’t even exist.
The entire sequence had been captured clearly, frame by frame.
Evan had never bothered to check the footage, convinced Bianca was incapable of such cruelty. Sweet, fragile Bianca? Push someone into the water? Frame them? Never.
So when the phone was shoved into his hand and the video started playing, he was already gearing up to smash it to pieces. But before he could, something on the screen caught his eye. And then he froze.
Disbelief swept across his face as the truth unfolded in front of him.
Sensing something was wrong, Bianca staggered toward him. She snatched the phone from his hand, but the damage was done. Her eyes locked on the screen, and her face drained of color.
She stared at the video, every second hammering the truth deeper into her chest.
‘No. No, no, no… she thought. “This can’t be happening.‘ She had taken every precaution. The cameras were supposed to be disabled. There wasn’t supposed to be any footage.
And yet, there it was: clear, undeniable proof.
“Evan, it’s not what it looks like!” Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face as she turned to him, clutching his sleeve. “I swear, I didn’t mean to push her! When I saw Juliette fall, I panicked!
“I tried to grab her, but my hands must’ve slipped. I didn’t know what I was doing–I was scared, that’s all! It was an accident, I swear!”
Juliette’s cold voice cut through her frantic sobs like a knife. “An accident?” she said, her tone sharp and unforgiving. Her eyes pinned Bianca in place, unrelenting. “Do you know how investigators catch liars? They ask suspects to recount what happened.
“Sure, people lie with their words, but their bodies always give them away. You say you didn’t push me, but your hands tell a different story. You shoved me. Then, to cover it up, you jumped in after me–trying to look like the victim.”
Bianca instinctively glanced down at her hands, but she stopped herself halfway. Her fingers twitched, betraying her fear.
Juliette stepped forward, her presence cold and suffocating. “So, she said, her voice steady, “are you going to admit it, or should I help you out?”
“Sister, no!” Bianca cried, her voice shaking with desperation. “I didn’t mean to hurt you! You’ve always been so good to me- why would I ever want to harm you? I don’t even have a reason!”
Juliette laughed, low and bitter. ‘No reason?‘ she thought, her eyes narrowing.
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“Taking my place wasn’t reason enough? Watching me marry Fin, the man you’ve been drooling over, wasn’t enough?‘ Her thoughts were sharp, but she didn’t say it aloud. Not yet..
Instead, her smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, merciless expression. “Still refusing to own up? Still too proud to go to the police yourself?”
She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a deadly calm. “Fine. Then I’ll take you there myself.”
“Enough!” Evan roared, stepping forward to shield Bianca behind him. His eyes burned with anger as he faced Juliette. “You’ve gone far enough! Bianca already explained herself. She’s apologized over and over–what more do you want?
“You’re fine, aren’t you? Standing here, talking, making threats. Clearly, she didn’t do
any real harm.”
His voice rose, sharp and accusatory. “She didn’t push you on purpose! She’s been calling you her sister, treating you with respect, begging for your forgiveness, and yet you’re still threatening to send her to jail? What kind of heartless monster are you?”
Juliette let out a short, bitter laugh. Her mind replayed every moment Evan had ignored her pain, brushed her off like she didn’t matter.
And now? He was here, shamelessly defending Bianca like she was some fragile saint. The irony tasted bitter, twisting in her chest.
“Heartless?” she said, her voice icy. She stepped closer, her eyes locking on his. “Where was your heart when I needed it? When I stayed quiet, endured everything, did you care? When I was weak and powerless, did you protect me? No. You didn’t. You only cared when it was her.”
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Her voice dropped, each word cutting deeper. “If I don’t harden my heart now, then what? Do I wait for her to kill me? Is that what you want?”
Her gaze swept over both of them, sharp and unforgiving. “Here’s how this works: unless Bianca gets on her knees and apologizes–until her head bleeds–I’m not letting this go. And you, Mr. Vaughn-” her tone turned sharp as her eyes flicked to Evan, “If you’re so determined to protect her, then fine. I’ll take you both down.”
Her words weren’t loud, but the weight behind them was suffocating. They weren’t a threat. They were a promise.
Evan was furious, his face twisted with disbelief. The thought of Juliette daring to lay a hand on him was fucking insane. “With me here, don’t even think about touching a single hair on Bianca’s head!” he roared, his voice shaking with rage. “Evan…” Bianca whimpered through her tears, her voice so weak and fragile it could break anyone’s heart. “As long as you trust me and protect me, that’s all I need. If Juliette insists it’s my fault, I’m willing to beg for her forgiveness…”
She was about to beg, her tears streaming dramatically, but Evan grabbed her arm just in time.
Juliette, however, moved faster. Her leg shot up, sharp and precise, the tip of her shoe pressing against Evan’s chin and forcing his head up with a harsh snap.
“Juliette, you-“Before he could finish, she followed with a hard, brutal kick to his chest, sending him staggering back like a
sack of bricks.
Evan managed to catch his balance, his expression a mix of fury and shock. He turned to see Juliette step toward Bianca, her movements deliberate, sharp, and without hesitation. She raised her leg again and struck the back of Bianca’s knees, forcing her to drop to the ground.
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Evan’s eyes burned red. This wasn’t the Juliette he knew. The obedient, harmless woman who always kept her head down was gone. What stood in front of him now was someone ruthless unrestrained–a force of nature.
She grabbed a fistful of Bianca’s hair, jerking her head back, her grip cruel and unyielding. Then, with one sharp motion, she slammed Bianca’s head into the stone ground.
“Stop it!” Evan screamed, his voice shaking with rage, but he couldn’t get close.
The sickening sound of Bianca’s head hitting the ground echoed in the air. Blood began to trickle down her forehead, running over her pale face and mixing with her tears. Her once perfect hair was now a tangled, bloody mess.
Juliette leaned closer, her voice calm but dripping with venom. “Didn’t you say you wanted to beg for forgiveness? I’m just helping you out. Isn’t this what you wanted?”
Bianca sobbed pathetically, her weak cries filling the night. She looked completely broken, trembling and covered in blood, the picture of helplessness.
Just then, faint cries for help reached Juliette’s ears. The voice was soft, young, and achingly familiar. She froze, her grip on Bianca loosening as her head snapped toward the sound.
Without a word, she released Bianca and turned to Evan, yanking his shirt off without a second thought. Before he could react, she tied him and Bianca back–to–back, securing their arms tightly behind them.
“What the hell are you doing, Juliette?” Evan shouted, his face red with fury and humiliation.
“Shut the fuck up,” she snapped, her tone cold and dismissive. “Unless you want to make a scene in front of everyone, keep your mouth shut.”
With that, she darted off toward the cries. As she neared the lake, she caught sight of a shadow slipping away into the darkness.
The surface of the water was still rippling, splashes fading into eerie calm. Without hesitating, she dove straight in.
She swam with everything she had, kicking hard against the pull of the water until her hands finally closed around the child. The boy was heartbreakingly beautiful, even unconscious. His delicate features were almost otherworldly, his pale skin glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Juliette’s chest tightened as she knelt beside him, forcing the water from his lungs and performing CPR. “Come on,” she muttered under her breath, her hands trembling but steady.
After what felt like forever, the boy coughed, spitting out water. His long lashes fluttered open, revealing wide, glassy eyes that fixed on her with a dazed intensity, like she was the only warmth in a cold, cruel world.
“Did you… save me?” he asked, his voice small and soft, barely more than a whisper.
“Yes,” Juliette replied, her own voice quieter than she expected, thick with an emotion she couldn’t quite place.
The boy blinked slowly, his lashes damp and glistening like tiny crystals. “My dad says if someone saves your life, you have to repay them with the best thing you have.” He paused, his expression completely serious. “I’ll ask my dad to marry you. He’s handsome, rich, and he knows how to cook.”
For a moment, Juliette just stared at him, caught between shock and disbelief. Then, she let out a small laugh–her first in what felt like forever. “You don’t need to repay me like that,” she said softly, her tone gentle despite the chaos around her.
The boy’s small face twisted into a serious pout, his big eyes glistening as he said, “I’ve been looking for someone to be my
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Chapter 2
mom. And when I saw you, I knew. You’re the one.”
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Before she could respond, she felt it–a heavy, oppressive presence bearing down on her, freezing the air around her. She turned sharply, her eyes locking on a man standing just a few feet away.
He was tall, dressed in black from head to toe, his tailored shirt and trousers accentuating his broad shoulders and lean frame. His presence was suffocating, his dark eyes sharp and unrelenting, radiating an authority that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
Juliette’s instincts screamed at her to keep her distance. Slowly, she lowered the boy to the ground and took a step back, her hand curling into a fist. Her fingers brushed against two strands of hair she’d pulled from the boy’s head, still clutched tightly in her palm.
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