Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Juliette frowned slightly, her expression mixed with confusion.
Daphne was looking at her, an unmistakable spark of frustration in her eyes. “On my way to get you, I saw the entertainment news. Patrick’s trending–with Bianca. Check it out.”
Daphne was clearly upset, her voice laced with irritation. She tossed her phone into Juliette.
Although Daphne had always admired Patrick’s movies–he really was incredible on screen–she had a deep dislike for
Bianca.
So, when she saw the two of them trending together, her mood soured instantly.
Juliette took the phone and immediately saw the trending news.
Apparently, Patrick had been filming a new movie, and Bianca was playing his love interest.
There was a video clip of them exiting the same dressing room.
Bianca’s lips were swollen, a rich red that screamed “just kissed.”
And Patrick’s forehead was marked by a small, clear bump like he’d just taken a light blow.
The video zoomed in on the bump and Bianca’s lips, accompanied by a caption that implied something intimate had just occurred. The internet was in an uproar.
[Patrick’s falling off the deep end? With Bianca? Absolutely not.]
[Look at Bianca’s lips–come on, she’s obviously just been kissed And Patrick’s forehead? That’s gotta be from the kiss. How could they not see it?]
[Patrick’s icy exterior is finally thawing… and it looks like Bianca’s the one to do it. Props to her, though.]
[Bianca’s got everything going for her–Vaughn family heir, rising star, talented perfumer… she and Patrick are basically destined.]
The comments were already all over the place, and Patrick’s fans were struggling to cope.
Bianca’s followers were praising her–touting her beauty, talent, and impeccable pedigree as the perfect match for Patrick. Her finger hovered over the bump on Patrick’s forehead, then she remembered.
That’s from this morning. When they collided in the hallway, she didn’t remember it being that bad.
Patrick had always been so untouchable–cold, distant, and effortlessly perfect.
The bump made him look cute.
‘So this small, seemingly insignificant thing had to spark such chaos.‘ Her eyes turned cold. ‘Wherever Bianca goes, scandals follow, she thought.
Daphne’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “See? I told you Finn used to be this perfect, gentlemanly image in my mind, but look at him now.
1/8
11:11 Thu, Jan 30 GG.
Chapter 35
+23)
“And Patrick–he’s got a kid? And no one knew about it?! It’s like he’s been hiding some big secret, just to go around sleeping with random women! How disgusting.”
Daphne was still processing the idea that Patrick had a child, a child with Juliette–and she couldn’t seem to accept it.
What made it even worse for her was that now Patrick and Bianca were caught up in a scandal.
“And now this? With Bianca? It’s like the universe is mocking you Juliette,” Daphne said with a frustrated sigh, still clearly upset. “Look at Bianca’s lips. There’s no doubt–they were kissing. And that bump on Patrick’s forehead–how is this not evidence?”
Daphne, on the other hand, wasn’t done yet. “You sure the kid is Patrick’s? When did this even happen? How come I didn’t know about it?”
Juliette’s gaze didn’t falter. She had expected Daphne to react this way, so she remained composed.
“I don’t know when I had a chance to get involved with him,” Juliette replied quietly.
Daphne nearly slammed on the brakes, shocked by the revelation. But quickly, as if a thought crossed her mind, she pressed her lips together tightly.
Daphne asked, her mind trying to catch up. “Wait–does he know? Does Patrick know you’re the mother?”
Juliette shook her head slowly. “Maybe not.” She couldn’t imagine what he did, based on everything she’d seen so far.
There was a long, heavy silence between them.
Then, Daphne’s voice broke through the stillness, urgent. “Before you break off the engagement, don’t reach out to Patrick. Let him deal with the kid for now. If the Montgomerys find out. it’s going to get messy.”
Juliette gave a simple nod, agreeing without a second thought.
She had no plans of approaching Patrick. The past few days of contact had only been to confirm her connection with Louis. Now that she had the answer, she knew she had to keep her distance from them until her revenge was finished. Daphne’s voice softened as she asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?” Her tone had shifted from frantic to serious, as if she realized the gravity of the situation.
Juliette met her gaze and said, “Keep everything about the child between us. Don’t mention the wedding break–off to anyone, either. We need to hit them when they least expect it.”
Daphne nodded, her concern deepening. She looked at Juliette, seeing the resolve in her eyes, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
She took Juliette’s hand. “I’ll never betray you. You’ve got me, always.”
Juliette had always been gentle and accommodating, always stepping back whenever her family asked her to.
But now, deciding to take revenge on Finn and Bianca–it was clear she’d been hurt deeply. Otherwise, Juliette would never have gone to such lengths.
Juliette smiled faintly. “I know. That’s why you’re the only one I’m telling everything to.”
Later that evening, Daphne treated Juliette to dinner at a private restaurant. Most of the dishes were hot, but Juliette made
11:11 Thu, Jan 30W B B
Chapter 35
3
🙂)
an excuse, claiming she wasn’t feeling well from a cold and didn’t have much of an appetite. She nibbled on some simple, cold appetizers, keeping her thoughts far from the meal.
After parting ways with Daphne, Juliette drove herself home. The fever medication was kicking in, and she felt drowsy. She parked in a quiet area and dozed off, letting the car’s stillness lull her into a light sleep.
Her phone rang, waking her from her daze. It was an unknown number.
“Is this Louis‘ parent?” The voice on the other end was calm and soothing.
Juliette blinked, her mind still foggy. “Yes.”
“Louis encountered a small issue, and we’d like to speak with you Mrs. Clarke. Could you come over?” the woman offered.
Juliette’s brow furrowed. ‘Mrs. Clarke?‘ she thought. That name was unfamiliar, and for a moment, she was unsure how to respond.
www
Juliette paused for a moment before responding, “I’m Louis‘ guardian, but not Mrs. Clarke. You can call me Ms. Vaughn. Has Louis encountered any problems at school?”
She suddenly recalled Aurora’s earlier threat, and a frown creased her brow.
Without waiting for a response, she added, “I’ll be there right away.”
However, nothing was as she expected.
The children had woken up from their nap, and the teachers had gathered them for a cookie decorating project. It was part of last week’s assignment.
The teachers sat down, tasting the cookies brought by both the children and their parents, selecting the best ones for a small reward.
The children were all excited, eagerly presenting their carefully prepared cookies. Louis‘ cookies took first place.
Then Belle, a little girl from the class, stood up.
“Louis cheated,” she accused, her eyes wide with a sense of justice. “He doesn’t even have a mom. Those cookies weren’t homemade–they were bought!”
+23)
AD
