Chapter 7
The elevator jolted to a stop, then steadied. A second later, the lights flickered back on.
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Henry glanced up–and immediately froze, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. ‘What the hell?! Juilette–the Vaughn family’s prim–and–proper eldest daughter–was full–on pinning my top–tier superstar against the wall?‘
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Back at the Vaughn family villa, she wouldn’t even consider being Louis’s mom. And now, she’s sniffing Patrick’s cologne one minute, and the next, she’s got him trapped in a full–blown kabedon.
‘Is she even trying to hide that she’s flirting with my boss?‘ he thought, utterly dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Juilette seemed perfectly unfazed. The touch of his collarbone registered in her mind–cool, smooth, with soft skin. Her internal verdict? Not bad.
She took a step back, tilting her head up to meet his gaze. Patrick’s back was pressed firmly against the elevator wall, arms half–raised, like he was ready to catch her–or maybe worried he’d cross some kind of line.
Juilette broke eye contact first, her gaze dropping. She casually placed her hands on his waist to steady herself, her touch lingering for a brief second. His waist was firm, lean, and strong.
‘Figures, she thought, ‘the guy works out like it’s his job. National idol, indeed!
“Stand steady,” she said flatly, like she wasn’t the one who had just caused the commotion.
Henry’s brain short–circuited. “What? Stand steady? Was that supposed to mean something?!”
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and Juilette strode out without sparing them another glance. Over her shoulder, she added, “Oh, and stop following me.”
Henry blinked, still frozen. ‘Wait… does she really think we followed her? From her house? Shit–has she already figured out who we are?‘
Patrick stayed silent, his expression unreadable as he watched her retreating figure. His brows knitted slightly, and his long fingers drifted to his collarbone, absently brushing over the spot where her lips had just been.
Juilette entered the room, but it was empty.
She frowned. Just moments ago, she’d been on the phone with Daphne. This was definitely the room Daphne had told her
to come to.
Her eyes swept across the space. On the table were pastries and cakes, Daphne’s favorites, beautifully arranged and untouched.
A cup of coffee sat nearby, with just a single sip missing. A bottle of red wine had already been decanted, waiting for someone to drink.
Juilette closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. The air carried a faint, lingering scent of balsam and vanilla–Daphne’s signature perfume.
It was a classic scent from 1969, rare and ridiculously expensive. Most people wouldn’t even recognize it, let alone own a bottle. But for Daphne? It was her absolute favorite.
11:38 Wed, Jan 29 GG.
Chapter 7
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The lingering fragrance told her that Daphne had been here not long ago–or, more likely, she’d been lured away by someone or something.
Following the faint trail of the perfume, Juilette began to search. But as she moved, fragments of her past life kept flashing through her mind.
“Juliette, I met my soulmate!”
“You don’t understand how dangerous it was. I was almost–almost attacked by three men. But then he showed up, like a knight in shining armor, and saved me! He’s everything I ever dreamed of in a prince!”
“Juliette, I love him so much. Even if we’re from completely different worlds, I don’t care. I love him.”
“Juliette, please help me. My family doesn’t approve of him. They’ll never let us be together. I’m going to run away with him!”
Daphne’s naive, lovestruck voice echoed in her ears, as vivid as if she were hearing it now.
It was here, at Golden Breeze, where Daphne had nearly been assaulted–only for Graham to appear at just the right moment and “save” her.
From that night on, Daphne was completely infatuated with him, blind to everything else.
But what she didn’t know was that it had all been a setup. Graham Anderson couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag, let alone take down three burly, drunken men to save her.
The whole thing was a joke–a carefully staged performance.
Before the time–travel incident, Daphne discovered Graham’s infidelity just before their wedding. Without hesitation, she ended their engagement without looking back.
Graham begged for forgiveness at first, but when she refused, his guilt turned to fury. In a fit of rage, he shoved her into the/ street–straight into the path of a speeding truck. Her life ended in a brutal, screeching instant.
Juliette muttered under her breath, “Daphne, how the hell did we let everything fall apart like this?”
“Daphne, this time, I’ll be there when you need me most.”
“No one will ever hurt you again. Not even Graham.”
The secluded room was eerily quiet. On the balcony sat a lonely chair, its silence mirroring the stillness of the place. Juilette reclined in it, her gaze drifting over the distant city lights–bright, chaotic, and far removed from this peaceful
sanctuary.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile. A place like this–it practically invited trouble.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud crash of the door bursting open. Heavy footsteps filled the room, followed by rough, mocking voices.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?! I’m heiress of the Hayes family! Lay a hand on me, and my father and brother will make sure you regret it!” Daphne’s voice was sharp, but the panic behind it was unmistakable.
She was trying to sound tough, but fear cracked through the surface.
11:38 Wed, Jan 29 BB.
Chapter 7
Juilette’s smirk deepened. She already understood. Daphne had been cornered, dragged here against her will.
“Come on, sweetheart. Why all the drama? You’re here now, so why not relax? Let’s have some fun, huh?”
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“Yeah, you smell amazing. Bet you’ll look even better once we strip off all those fancy clothes.” Their laughter was crude and shameless, filling the room.
Daphne, who had been spoiled and protected all her life, had never experienced such humiliation.
Even now, backed into a corner, her pride refused to break. With a sharp slap, she struck one of the men across the face.
Her voice trembled with rage as she screamed, “Bastard!”
The man froze for a second, stunned, before his expression twisted with fury. His companions snickered darkly, stepping closer.
Daphne’s face turned pale as she stumbled back, step by step, until her back hit the cold balcony railing. Her hands fumbled for balance, panic rising in her chest.
She was on the verge of falling–when she was suddenly caught in a steady, warm embrace.
Startled, she looked up to see Juilette, calm and composed as always. For a moment, her mind blanked.
“Juliette? What are you doing here? Go! Get out of here!” Daphne’s voice cracked as she tried to push Juilette away, shielding her with her own body.
Juilette’s eyes sparkled with a quiet amusement, her voice soft and steady. “I’m here for you. I’ve been waiting.”
Daphne blinked, confused, as if she hadn’t heard her right.
“Well, well. Look at that. Another beauty to join the party. Looks like it’s our lucky night,” one of the men sneered, his grin full of malice.
Juilette tightened her hold on Daphne’s waist, gently moving her behind her. Daphne struggled to protect her friend, but Juilette kept her firmly in place.
“Juliette, did you bring help? Please tell me you brought someone!” Daphne’s voice was desperate, though there was a glimmer of hope in it. Juilette was too calm. She had to have a plan.
“Yeah,” Juilette murmured, slipping on a pair of pristine white gloves.
“Help? Where? I don’t see anyone,” one of the men scoffed. “But hey, doesn’t matter. You’re both ours tonight.”
“Yeah, quit lying. You’re only making this more fun for us.” The man smirked, stepping closer.
Before he could take another step, Juilette moved. Her leg shot out in a smooth arc, slamming into his face. The sound of the impact was sharp and brutal.
He hit the ground hard, groaning in pain. Juilette didn’t hesitate she planted her boot on his face, pinning him down like a bug underfoot.
“Get her! Fuck her up!” one of them bellowed as they charged.
Juilette didn’t flinch. She stepped aside, her movements smooth and precise. Another sharp kick sent one man flying backward into the wall. He crumpled to the ground with a low groan.
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Chapter 7
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The second barely had time to react before Juilette’s hand shot out, closing around his throat like a vice. His eyes bulged as he choked, clawing at her grip. With a sharp shove, she threw him into a coffee table. He hit the edge hard, blood trickling down his face as he gasped for air.
The remaining men froze, staring at her like she’d just turned into a monster. Their anger quickly gave way to something darker–a desperate, vengeful determination.
They’d underestimated her, sure, but now they were ready to play dirty.
Their eyes
darted between Juilette’s calm, untouchable grace and Daphne’s fiery defiance.
The thought of breaking these two women burned in their minds, their blood boiling with a twisted mix of frustration and lust.
