Juliet’s pov
I stared at Sherlyn who averted her gaze lightly, my chest heaving with fury, my nails digging into my palms.
A cold realization crawled up my spine. She knew exactly what Mollie had done to me at this moment.
My breathing turned ragged, my voice shaking with barely contained rage. "The medical check-up two months ago... It was a setup, wasn’t it?"
Sherlyn's lips pursed, but she didn’t deny it, while Mollie just gave me her usual smirk.
My stomach churned. I felt sick, disgusted. How far had they gone?
My voice rose, each word laced with horror. "You made sure I ended up pregnant, and now you’re forcing me to marry Nickolas! How could you?"
Sherlyn took a deep breath, smoothing the front of her dress as though that would wipe away the weight of her evil. “Juliet, think rationally,” she said, her voice adopting a patient, almost condescending tone. “You’re pregnant out of wedlock. If your father finds out, he might not survive the shock. Is that what you want? To put him in the grave?”
“Mom’s right, you know.” Mollie cocked her head. “You think you can expose this? Go ahead. I'll spread the news before you do, imagine how quickly it'll spread! Let the whole world know you’re pregnant with an unknown man's bastard. Let everyone mock you, mock this family. Ruin the Greenfield name, I dare you.”
I glared at her, hatred simmering in my veins.
She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “If I go down, I’m taking everyone with me, especially you, my dear sister.”
I felt trapped. My father was already in the hospital, and if this scandal reached him, he might not make it. I had no power, no allies, no way out.
In the end, I surrendered. “Fine,” I whispered. “I’ll marry Nickolas.”
The day of my wedding arrived like a cruel joke.
I stood alone in a white wedding dress, the fabric heavy against my skin, a cage of silk and lace. A wedding meant to be the happiest day of a woman’s life felt like the end of mine.
My vows were empty words. The cold metal of the ring pressed against my finger as I slipped it on, binding me to a man who lay lifeless in a bed. Instead of blessings, the gossip is everywhere…
“Imagine marrying your sister's fiancé…”
"Disgusting. And to think she’s even pregnant. That child can’t be Nickolas’s, can it?"
"Of course not! The man has been unconscious for two years! Everyone knows it’s someone else’s bastard."
I gripped the bouquet in my hands, my knuckles turning white.
I forced myself to keep my expression normal, ignoring the whispers of the guests and the gazes that felt like knives in my back.
From the crowd, my father sat slumped in his chair, his guilt evident in his weary eyes. He had always been a weak man and today, he was watching as his daughter was sold off like ram.
Sherlyn, on the other hand, wore a satisfied smile, while Mollie watched with pure happiness.
Across from them sat Della Ries, Nickolas’s mother. Unlike the others, her face betrayed no emotion. Her cold gaze barely lingered on me, as if I were merely another piece in a game she was playing. The guests whispered behind their hands, casting me curious and judgmental glances. I ignored them.
From this day forward, I was a member of the powerful Ries family. No one could bully me anymore.
After the ceremony, Molly approached me with a sneer, her eyes gleaming happily. She stood in front of me, arms crossed and looked me up and down.
"Well, aren't you just lucky," she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "You should be grateful to me, you know. Thanks to my brilliant little scheme, you’re now married into the Ries family."
I stood there, seething, but I didn’t speak. She wasn’t done.
"My dear sister," she continued, her smile widening. "Without this child, you’re nothing. If it weren’t for this pregnancy, Della wouldn’t agree to invest two million dollars into father’s company.”
Her words hit me like a slap in the face, but the shock wasn’t what made me react. It was the cruelty, the cold satisfaction she took in knowing how completely she had manipulated everything.
She leaned in, her breath hot on my ear, "If Nickolas doesn’t survive much longer, you’ll still have his wealth. You’ll get to spend it however you want, live in luxury, and maybe even find a better man. You’ll be the gold-digging bitch I always knew you were! Great, isn’t it?"
That was the breaking point.
I didn’t think much. I just acted and slapped her dirty across the cheek.
Mollie gasped, holding her cheek in shock. “You... ”
“You don't get to speak to me like that anymore.” My voice was steel. “Now apologize.”
She scoffed and raised her hand to slap me back, but before she could, a firm voice cut through the tension.
“Enough.”
We both turned to see Della approaching, her expression unreadable. “Apologize to my daughter-in-law, now,” she told Mollie coolly.
Mollie’s mouth fell open. “But... ”
“I won’t repeat myself.”
Mollie’s face twisted with anger, but under Della’s freezing gaze, she had no choice. She gritted her teeth and muttered, “I’m sorry.”
I stared at Della in surprise. She had defended me?
Sherlyn quickly stepped forward, forcing a smile. “Lady Della, I assure you, Mollie will be disciplined... ”
“That won’t be necessary,” Della interrupted. She turned to me. “Juliet belongs to the Ries family now. She is no longer a Greenfield.”
A stunned silence followed her words. Even Sherlyn and my father paled. They knew what this meant, I was no longer under their control.
Without another word, Della turned and strode toward the car waiting outside. I followed, still shaking from everything that had just happened.
As we drove away in her car, the silence was loud. I glanced at Della, unsure of what to say. Finally, she spoke.
“After Nickolas’s accident, I had planned to cancel the engagement, you know,” she said, her tone flat. “Then, out of nowhere, your stepmother contacted me, claiming you were pregnant with my son’s child due to some artificial insemination error.”
She turned her head slightly, her eyes piercing through me. “Tell me, Juliet. Were you really that desperate to marry into a wealthy family?”
Juliet’s POVDella’s stare was razor-sharp, slicing right through me as the car hummed softly beneath us. I clenched my hands in my lap, the words caught like thorns in my throat.But I had to speak.“I was set up,” I said quietly, the words scraping out like dry leaves. “My stepmother and stepsister… They arranged the artificial insemination behind my back. I didn’t even know until it was done.”Della didn’t move. Not a blink, not a sigh. She sat still as ice, her fingers tapping against the leather armrest...measured and cold.“You expect me to believe that?” she asked, voice smooth as glass.I swallowed. “I don’t expect anything. But it’s true. I swear it. I didn’t ask for any of this… ”“Whether you were involved or not,” she cut in, “you’re carrying the Ries heir now. That child represents this family. I will not tolerate scandal.”“I understand,” I murmured. “I’ll protect the baby. I’ll be careful.”Even if I had no idea what that actually meant.A faint smile flickered at her l
Juliet’s POV“Marie!” I shrieked, practically flying down the hallway. “He’s awake! Nickolas is awake!”Marie, who had been instructing a maid near the dining hall, turned sharply toward me. "What?" Her brows furrowed as she came closer. "What happened? Are you sure, Mrs. Ries?"“I... I don’t know,” I stammered. “I was applying lip balm because his lips were dry, and suddenly, his eyes just… opened. He looked right at me.”Instead of panicking, Marie’s expression softened with calm understanding. “Ah, yes. That’s happened before,” she said. “Young Master Nickolas has been opening his eyes occasionally these past few months. It’s a reflex. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean he’s awake yet.”My heart sank. “So... he didn’t see me?”Marie offered a reassuring smile. “I know it can be startling, but this isn’t new. Let’s go check, shall we?”I followed her back to the room, trying to tame the pounding in my chest. When we entered, Nickolas looked the same as always... still and silent, his eyes
Juliet’s POVI froze in place, staring at his furious eyes, my breath catching in my throat.That hoarse voice… it had come from him.He had spoken.For a split second, I couldn’t move, my fingers still hovering near the waistband of his pants. Then, reality slammed into me like a wave.I scrambled off the bed, the motion knocking over the water basin. The sound of it crashing to the floor was drowned out by the roar of my heart. Cold water seeped through my slippers, but I barely noticed."Marie!" I gasped, spotting the housekeeper at the foot of the stairs. "He... he spoke! He’s awake! He actually spoke!"Her brows furrowed in confusion. "What? Are you certain?""Yes!" I nodded frantically, gripping her sleeve. "He looked right at me and asked who I was. He’s awake, I swear!"A sharp intake of breath was the only response before Marie turned on her heel and pulled out her phone."I need the doctor. Now." Then, without missing a beat, she called Della. "Madam... he's awake."Within m
Juliet’s POV“You must be very disappointed that I woke up, huh?”That was the first thing I heard the next morning as I stepped out of my room for breakfast.The words hit me like a slap, freezing me in place. My legs locked, breath caught. Slowly, I leaned forward and peeked around the corner.A tall, muscular man knelt on the marble floor, head bowed low, trembling like a prisoner awaiting execution.And towering over him... without standing... sat Nickolas Ries, cold and silent in his black wheelchair.His hand was tangled in the man’s hair, yanking his head back hard.“N-No, boss,” the man stammered, face twisted in pain, eyes wide with terror.Nickolas’s smile was like a blade. “You were behind me that night. I watched my car burst into flames. And while I screamed and bled, where were you?”“I… I blacked out. I got hit too, I didn’t... ”“You passed out?” Nickolas’s grip tightened. The man cried out. “You were trained to die before I did.”He let go. The man collapsed, gasping.
Juliet’s POVHis words cut through me like a blade.“Why… Why do you hate your baby so much?” My voice barely made it past the lump in my throat.He leaned back in his chair, expression cool and distant. “Because I never wanted it. I don’t like children. Why would I want a parasite leeching off me?”The coldness in his voice made my stomach twist. I could hardly believe I was hearing this. My chest heaved, struggling to hold back the surge of emotion clawing its way out.Just then, Marie stepped in, her calm voice slicing through the tension.“Sir, it was Lady Della who wished to keep the child,” she said, standing in front of me like a human shield.Nickolas scoffed, his lips curling in a mocking smile. “Of course she did. She loves turning people into bargaining chips.”Then his eyes cut back to me, sharp and unfeeling. “And as for you... I have no use for a breeding tool.”His words stung worse than a slap. My heart clenched so tightly it hurt to breathe.“Fine,” I snapped, barely
Juliet’s POVThe door slammed behind me, sharp and final. My knees buckled as I staggered down the steps, cold air biting through my clothes, but not half as sharp as the humiliation burning under my skin.Sherlyn had kicked me out ... just like that. No warning, no mercy. Tossed me onto the street like garbage, as if burying my father wasn’t enough for one day.I stood there, numb, swallowing down the shame, swearing under my breath that one day... I’d make them all regret this. Every single one of them.But before the anger could settle, a voice cut through the wind.“Juliet?”My breath caught. My heart tripped over itself as I slowly turned toward the sound.There, standing just a few feet away, was a face I hadn’t seen in years. My mother. Connie Greenfield.She looked thinner than I remembered, her frame worn down by time and maybe too many silent battles I’d never seen. But her eyes... her eyes were exactly the same. Filled with unshed tears, staring at me like she still couldn
Juliet’s povTwo days.It had been two days since my father’s death, and not a single call came from the Ries family.I hadn’t told them though. I didn’t want to.I'd loved spending time with my Mom again and her love had given me strength but just seeing the Ries estate now sucked all that joy away. Grief sat heavy in my bones, dragging me down as I stepped out of the car. No one was waiting for me.And I wasn’t expecting warmth.But I didn’t expect a damn celebration either.Immediately, the front door opened, I was hit by the sounds of laughter and music. The rich scent of perfume and wine filled the air. My stomach churned.Nickolas sat on the velvet couch, dressed like the god, his tie slightly loosened, a rare smirk playing on his lips.Tucked beside him like a custom-tailored accessory was a woman. No... a vision.Golden curls spilled over her shoulders. Her lips were a rich red. Her dress clung to her like it had been sewn onto her skin. And she touched Nickolas like she bel
Juliet’s POVI didn’t leave my room for a full day.Marie came by twice, soft-spoken and polite, secretly bringing trays of food, but I never touched.My stomach churned with a sick kind of emptiness, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to eat. I didn’t want to move.What was the point?By evening, I was still in the same position when the door swung open and Della stepped in.I struggled to sit up, brushing tangled hair from my face, embarrassed by how pathetic I must’ve looked.Nickolas hadn’t even come to check on me. Not once.“What the hell is going on here?” Her voice cracked through the air like a whip.“You look like death, Juliet.” She turned sharply on her heel and barked, “Nickolas! Get in here. Now!”He wheeled in a moment later, casual as always, like he hadn’t been ignoring me for days. His expression didn’t change when he saw me. No guilt. No remorse. Just that icy detachment.“What?” he said flatly.Della’s eyes flashed. “What? That’s all you have to say? Look at her! She
Juliet’s POV"No man in his right mind would tolerate his wife dressing indecently and accompanying other men to bars like a whore..."I stood by the door, frozen. The book I’d brought to return—his book—slipped from my hands and hit the floor with a dull thud.Just five minutes ago, I saw his car parked outside. I told myself it was the perfect excuse. A chance to say thank you… maybe soften the tension between us.All I planned to do was drop off the book, thank him for last night, and walk away.But now…Now all I saw was red.I picked up the book with trembling fingers, stormed into the study, and slammed it onto his desk.Nickolas looked up, momentarily surprised, before his expression turned ice cold. “Did I say you could touch my books?” he snapped. “That book’s worth more than your entire wardrobe.”I didn’t flinch.“Does wearing a dress make me indecent?” I asked calmly, though my voice shook with barely-contained rage. “Or is it just existing in your suffocating little worl
Juliet’s POVDella Ries stood there, perfectly dressed in her beige designer suit and heels, but her face was worried, her lips drawn tight. For a second, I thought she was going to slap me... but then she surged forward and grabbed my hands.“Are you alright, Juliet? I thought I was going to faint when I heard what happened,” she said sharply, her voice trembling. “My blood pressure nearly killed me!”I blinked, stunned. “I... I’m sorry…”“The doctor said the baby’s fine. Thank God. But Juliet,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing. “What were you thinking going out alone in your condition? Meeting that man? You're carrying a Ries heir, not some street orphan!”“I didn’t know he...” My voice cracked with shame.She waved it off like it didn’t matter. “You should have known. You think everyone is your friend just because you smile? This world will eat you alive. You're a Ries now! Act like it!”I felt small under her sharp gaze. “I’ll be more careful next time.”Della scoffed. “Next time?
Juliet’s povMy eyes flew open and almost immediately a headache slammed into me.It was as if I was rising from a nightmare. My hands were heavy, my mouth dry, and my head throbbed with every breath I took. The ceiling above me was familiar… too familiar. It was spinning too. My gaze drifted slowly around the room.I was in my bedroom.Wearing clean pajamas.My heart jumped.How...?And then… last night.The dinner.The juice.The heat in my body.Caleb’s vile hands reaching for me.My screams.The locked door.The bottle.The blood.Then… Josh Thorn.A wave of nausea surged through me as my mind replayed everything. My fingers clutched the blanket like it could somehow hold me together. My heart was hammering now, not from fear but from rage… rage at Caleb, at this pervert who tried to force me.Luckily, Josh appeared… had he followed me on Nickolas’s orders? Did he know that I was walking into a trap? No. It couldn’t be. He hated me. He said he’d rather strangle the baby out of
Nickolas’s POVJuliet. My wife.I stood by the window and watched her hurry out of the house in a clingy slip dress. Her movements were quick, her face pretty. It was too late for her to be going anywhere decent.“What the hell is she doing?” I muttered.Josh stepped beside me, silent for a second too long.“She’s been visiting banks all week,” he said finally. “Trying to secure a loan to save her father’s pathetic company. It’s falling apart. No one will touch it. Tonight…” he hesitated, jaw tightening, “she’s meeting Caleb Weston.”My jaw clenched. Caleb Weston. That name was a red flag soaked in gasoline.“The one with the sexual harassment lawsuits?” I asked, my voice like ice.Josh nodded grimly. “Three former employees accused him of drugging their drinks during business meetings. One woman disappeared after her testimony... vanished without a trace. They found another in a psych ward, unable to speak...”I turned slowly to face him, the rage rising like a tidal wave.“And Julie
Juliet’s POVI didn’t leave my room for a full day.Marie came by twice, soft-spoken and polite, secretly bringing trays of food, but I never touched.My stomach churned with a sick kind of emptiness, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to eat. I didn’t want to move.What was the point?By evening, I was still in the same position when the door swung open and Della stepped in.I struggled to sit up, brushing tangled hair from my face, embarrassed by how pathetic I must’ve looked.Nickolas hadn’t even come to check on me. Not once.“What the hell is going on here?” Her voice cracked through the air like a whip.“You look like death, Juliet.” She turned sharply on her heel and barked, “Nickolas! Get in here. Now!”He wheeled in a moment later, casual as always, like he hadn’t been ignoring me for days. His expression didn’t change when he saw me. No guilt. No remorse. Just that icy detachment.“What?” he said flatly.Della’s eyes flashed. “What? That’s all you have to say? Look at her! She
Juliet’s povTwo days.It had been two days since my father’s death, and not a single call came from the Ries family.I hadn’t told them though. I didn’t want to.I'd loved spending time with my Mom again and her love had given me strength but just seeing the Ries estate now sucked all that joy away. Grief sat heavy in my bones, dragging me down as I stepped out of the car. No one was waiting for me.And I wasn’t expecting warmth.But I didn’t expect a damn celebration either.Immediately, the front door opened, I was hit by the sounds of laughter and music. The rich scent of perfume and wine filled the air. My stomach churned.Nickolas sat on the velvet couch, dressed like the god, his tie slightly loosened, a rare smirk playing on his lips.Tucked beside him like a custom-tailored accessory was a woman. No... a vision.Golden curls spilled over her shoulders. Her lips were a rich red. Her dress clung to her like it had been sewn onto her skin. And she touched Nickolas like she bel
Juliet’s POVThe door slammed behind me, sharp and final. My knees buckled as I staggered down the steps, cold air biting through my clothes, but not half as sharp as the humiliation burning under my skin.Sherlyn had kicked me out ... just like that. No warning, no mercy. Tossed me onto the street like garbage, as if burying my father wasn’t enough for one day.I stood there, numb, swallowing down the shame, swearing under my breath that one day... I’d make them all regret this. Every single one of them.But before the anger could settle, a voice cut through the wind.“Juliet?”My breath caught. My heart tripped over itself as I slowly turned toward the sound.There, standing just a few feet away, was a face I hadn’t seen in years. My mother. Connie Greenfield.She looked thinner than I remembered, her frame worn down by time and maybe too many silent battles I’d never seen. But her eyes... her eyes were exactly the same. Filled with unshed tears, staring at me like she still couldn
Juliet’s POVHis words cut through me like a blade.“Why… Why do you hate your baby so much?” My voice barely made it past the lump in my throat.He leaned back in his chair, expression cool and distant. “Because I never wanted it. I don’t like children. Why would I want a parasite leeching off me?”The coldness in his voice made my stomach twist. I could hardly believe I was hearing this. My chest heaved, struggling to hold back the surge of emotion clawing its way out.Just then, Marie stepped in, her calm voice slicing through the tension.“Sir, it was Lady Della who wished to keep the child,” she said, standing in front of me like a human shield.Nickolas scoffed, his lips curling in a mocking smile. “Of course she did. She loves turning people into bargaining chips.”Then his eyes cut back to me, sharp and unfeeling. “And as for you... I have no use for a breeding tool.”His words stung worse than a slap. My heart clenched so tightly it hurt to breathe.“Fine,” I snapped, barely
Juliet’s POV“You must be very disappointed that I woke up, huh?”That was the first thing I heard the next morning as I stepped out of my room for breakfast.The words hit me like a slap, freezing me in place. My legs locked, breath caught. Slowly, I leaned forward and peeked around the corner.A tall, muscular man knelt on the marble floor, head bowed low, trembling like a prisoner awaiting execution.And towering over him... without standing... sat Nickolas Ries, cold and silent in his black wheelchair.His hand was tangled in the man’s hair, yanking his head back hard.“N-No, boss,” the man stammered, face twisted in pain, eyes wide with terror.Nickolas’s smile was like a blade. “You were behind me that night. I watched my car burst into flames. And while I screamed and bled, where were you?”“I… I blacked out. I got hit too, I didn’t... ”“You passed out?” Nickolas’s grip tightened. The man cried out. “You were trained to die before I did.”He let go. The man collapsed, gasping.