JULIETTE
I stand frozen, staring at Evan and Jane. My heart feels like it’s crumbling, breaking apart piece by piece as the weight of his words sinks in. He says he loves her—My sister. My entire body trembles as I look between them, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing, but there’s nothing to understand. It’s as clear as day. The betrayal almost paralyzes me. I can’t stay here. Infact, I can’t breathe. Without another word, I turn and bolt from the penthouse, my vision blurred by tears that I can’t stop. The world feels distant, as if I’m moving through a dream. An endlesss nightmare. My chest aches with every step I take, my lungs burning as I stumble into the elevator. When I finally reach the street, I hail a cab and climb in, collapsing into the seat. The driver says something, but I don’t hear him. I just give him the address and stare out the window, the tears coming faster now, unstoppable. My mind replays the scene over and over—Evan, his face so calm as he said the words, as if they meant nothing. And Jane, sitting there with that smug little smile. H-how could they? Evan was my everything. He was the one person I trusted, the only one who cared about me in this empty, hollow life. And now I have nothing. By the time I get back to the house, I’m a mess. My legs are shaky as I sneak past the main hall, avoiding anyone who might see me. I make it to my room—small and tucked away on the servants’ floor—before I collapse onto the bed. The sobs come harder, and I bury my face in my pillow, crying until my body feels like it has no tears left to give. And then brokenyl, I pray—something I haven’t done in years. I beg the moon goddess to change my fate, to undo this pain, to give me a chance at something better. Eventually, exhaustion pulls me under, and I fall into a restless sleep. -x-x- When I wake up, sunlight streams through the small window above my bed, but it does little to warm me. My head aches, my throat is dry, and my eyes feel puffy and swollen. A soft hand brushes against my face, and I blink, startled as I lock gazes with one of the maids. Sarah. “Good morning, Juliette,” she says gently, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. Her voice is kind, her expression even kinder. She’s always been like a sister to me, more than Jane ever has. Her presence makes me feel exposed, vulnerable, and the memory of yesterday crashes into me like a tidal wave. Evan. Jane. Them together. I feel sick all over again, my stomach twisting painfully. “Your father’s back,” Sarah says softly, her hand lingering on my shoulder. “He wants to see you in his study.” I nod, but I can’t find my voice. Sarah helps me sit up, her patience endless. She doesn’t ask me what’s wrong, doesn’t press for answers, and I’m grateful for it. My body feels heavy as I move, every step toward my father’s study a struggle. When I knock on the door and hear his voice call me in, I take a deep breath, trying to steel myself. I push the door open and freeze when I see who else is occupying the room. Jane is already there, sitting primly in one of the chairs in front of his desk. She turns to me with a bright smile. “Good morning, sister,” she says, her tone sweet. But there’s a smugness present in her gaze that I couldn’t miss even I was I blind. I force myself to move, taking the seat my father gestures to. I don’t meet Jane’s gaze. I can’t. My chest feels tight, and I clench my hands in my lap to stop them from shaking. My father clasps his hands together and leans forward. His expression is serious, his tone somber as he begins to speak. “I have something important to discuss with both of you.” I stay quiet. “As you know, I had a dear friend, the late King Blackstone,” he says, looking between the two of us. “Before he passed, I made him a promise.” There’s a beat of silence, and then he says, “His son, Prince Kaelan, would marry one of my daughters.” My stomach sinks. Jane sits up straighter, her brows furrowing. “The cripple?” she blurts out, her voice sharp. “Jane.” Father says, his tone a warning. Her lips press into a thin line, but the disdain in her eyes is unmistakable. “Yes, the prince.” Father nods. “I’ve given this much thought, and I’ve chosen you, Jane.” Jane’s reaction is immediate. She shoots out of her seat, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “You can’t be serious!” she exclaims, her voice rising. “You expect me to marry him? A cripple? For the rest of my life?” Father sighs, his patience clearly wearing thin. “You are my eldest daughter. You will fulfill this promise.” Jane grows frantic, her voice pitching higher. “I can’t! I won’t! I-I a-already have a mate!” The words hit me like a slap, my chest tightening painfully. Jane whirls on me, pointing an accusing finger. “Juliette can vouch for me. Tell him, Juliette! Tell him about Evan and me.” My breath catches, and I feel my father’s eyes on me. “Is this true?” he asks, his voice firm. I can barely breathe, let alone speak. My mind races, my thoughts a jumbled mess. If I tell the truth, everything will unravel. I kept my relationship with Evan a secret. If I reveal it now, I’ll look like the jealous, bitter sister trying to ruin Jane’s chances. “Juliette,” Father presses. I feel the weight of the room crushing down on me. Slowly, painfully, I nod. “It’s true,” I whisper, the words like poison on my tongue. Father’s gaze shifts between us, and Jane takes the opportunity to launch into a speech about her love for Evan, how they’re building something special, how much they mean to each other. Each word is a dagger, carving deeper into my heart. I can’t take it anymore. The room feels suffocating, and my voice comes out trembling as I interrupt, “I’ll do it.” Silence falls. “I’ll marry the Prince.” Jane stares at me, her mouth slightly open. For once, she’s speechless. Father looks at me, his brows furrowed, as if trying to gauge if I’m serious. “Very well,” he says after a moment, his tone final. The weight of his agreement settles over me, and I feel like I can’t breathe. I’ve just sealed my fate, but at least I won’t have to hear Jane speak about Evan anymore. I keep my eyes on the floor, not daring to look at either of them. My hands tremble in my lap, and all I can think about is how my life has just been torn apart, piece by piece.JULIETTELike a man on a mission, my feet don’t stop moving. Not when I make it passed the pack gates, not even when I stumble across the city lights. I keep moving with one goal in mind. And once the bar comes into view, I know I made a great decision tonight. Getting shit-faced. I had my heart broken by the one person I trusted the most in the entire world. The betrayal stung--still stings to be honest--at least I’m brave enough to admit that. The goddess plays the cruelest jokes sometimes. I’ve tried not to let myself stew in it. But sometimes, the grief just hits. I shrug off the bitterness as I step into the crowded pub. A slow grimace forms as I take in the ambience. And the men. Lots of them. It’s packed. Brimming with people with various agendas for the night. Mine is singular though, as I make a beeline for the single empty seat on the bar. My gaze travels down the line of men hunched over the long table, chugging this or that while stewing over the
JULIETTE I wake up to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains, my head pounding like a drum. For a moment, I cling to the hope that everything about last night was just a dream, a figment of my imagination brought on by exhaustion. But the dull ache in my body says otherwise. The soreness between my legs begs to differ, and when I pull the sheet tighter around me, the truth is impossible to ignore. I turn my head, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes land on him. The nameless man from last night is sprawled across the bed, lying on his stomach with the sheets barely covering his lower back. Tones muscles on full display. His blonde hair is a tousled mess, strands falling across his face, and I can just make out the rise and fall of his chest. He looks peaceful, like he belongs to a different world than mine, one without responsibilities or broken promises. For a moment, I let myself imagine staying here, freezing this fragile intimacy in time. But the weight in my
JULIETTE It’s him. The man I thought I’d never see again. My legs feel like they’re going to give out, and I grip the bouquet tighter to keep myself steady. My mind races, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. How could this… be? His blue eyes widen slightly, faintly as he stares at me, and I know he recognizes me too. The same shock I’m feeling is mirrored on his face. For a moment, the entire room seems to fade away, the weight of our shared secret pressing down on us. I don’t know how long we stay like that, frozen in each other’s gaze. But eventually, he recovers, his expression smoothing into something unreadable as he’s wheeled closer to the altar. The queen regent smiles warmly as he takes his place beside me, completely unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface. “Shall we begin?” she asks. I can barely nod, my thoughts a chaotic mess. This changes everything. It… complicates everything. But as I glance at him again, the weight in my chest shifts.
JULIETTE Waking up alone, I stare at the ceiling for a few moments, willing myself to move. The silence in the room feels suffocating, pressing against my chest like an invisible weight. But lying here won’t change anything. So, with a deep breath, I push the covers away and step out of bed. The floor is cold beneath my feet as I make my way to the adjoining bathroom. Warm water cascades over my skin, washing away the stiffness from sleep. But no amount of scrubbing can rid me of the emptiness settling in my chest. By the time I step out, I feel more awake, though my mind is still clouded with thoughts I don’t want to acknowledge. I dress quickly, choosing a soft blue gown. Simple, yet elegant. It fits my role well enough. My hands smooth down the fabric as I glance at my reflection in the mirror. My face looks calm, composed—like I have everything under control. Like I belong here. It’s a lie. Swallowing hard, I turn away and make my way downstairs. The dining hall is already s
JULIETTEI wish the ground would just open up and swallow me whole.Jane and Evan are walking toward us, hand in hand, smiling like they don’t have a care in the world. My heart pounds, my throat tightens, and my fingers curl into fists at my sides. Not only did Jane steal my mate, but now she’s parading him in front of me, as if I need another reminder of what I lost.I force a breath in. Then another.Kaelan is still beside me, his hand resting lightly on mine. I don’t move, but I can feel the weight of his presence, a silent reminder that I am not alone in this moment. But it doesn’t make it easier.“Juliette,” Jane says, her voice coated in false sweetness. “I never got to tell you congratulations on your wedding.”“Thank you,” I manage, keeping my voice steady.“You must be so happy.” Her smile sharpens, and I know she doesn’t believe it. She knows exactly what kind of marriage this is. “I mean, to think—married to Kaelan of all people. I never would have imagined it.”I hold my
KAELANAs I’m being wheeled through the crowded room toward Juliette. My heart beats slowly as I force my eyes to take her in. I know I should not care, but I cannot help it. Even now, I see that she is beautiful. Her red dress shines under the soft light like a burning ember. In another time, another life, I might have allowed myself to imagine a future with her. But that future never existed. I have an agenda of my own, one built on secrets and lies, and my own loathing for everything she stands for overshadows any chance for love. I do not want her to see the man I really am—a man who uses weakness as a weapon, a pawn in a dangerous game of chess that I’m determined to win.I know what Juliette had probably thought. She must’ve believed she was coming here to rescue a poor, helpless, crippled man. A marriage of pity, as one would say. I agreed to this marriage just to keep up appearances, but it was never part of my original plans. The party rumbles on around me, full of shallow s
JULIETTEI don’t expect to fall into the water.One moment, I’m teetering on the edge, my breath caught in my throat. The next, the world tilts, and cold water swallows me whole. My scream barely has time to escape before the icy shock steals it away.The darkness beneath the surface is endless, stretching in every direction. My arms flail, panic clawing at my chest. I can’t breathe. I can’t swim. The water presses in, unyielding, and for a terrifying second, I think, this is it.Then I remember Kaelan.I twist in the water, searching, but my movements are frantic, useless. Where is he? I see his form floating near me, unmoving. He isn’t even trying to swim.My heart pounds. Is this still part of his act?I don’t know. And I don’t have time to figure it out because my lungs are burning, my body screaming for air. Just as my strength begins to fade, strong hands grab me, dragging me upwards.The next thing I know, I’m gasping, coughing, sucking in air as hands pull me onto the dock. I
JULIETTEI’m unable to sleep throughout the rest of the night, and as soon as I sight the first signs of daybreak, I slip out of the couch, even though the room is still draped in shadows. A quiet chill lingers in the air, and I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Last night was a mistake. I shouldn’t have tried to be civil with Kaelan. His outburst still rings in my ears, sharp and cutting, like a blade pressed against my skin. I don’t understand him, and I don’t think I ever will. But it’s my fault for even trying.Shaking the thoughts away, I get lm my feet, not bothering to check if he’s awake. I have no interest in facing him so soon. Moving quickly, i freshen up, and dress in a simple gown and leave the room.The halls are quiet as I make my way to the dining hall. A few servants bow as I pass, their faces unreadable. When I enter, the scent of freshly baked bread and spiced tea fills the air. A handful of people are already seated, whispering among themselves, but I ignore th
JULIETTEI’m unable to sleep throughout the rest of the night, and as soon as I sight the first signs of daybreak, I slip out of the couch, even though the room is still draped in shadows. A quiet chill lingers in the air, and I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Last night was a mistake. I shouldn’t have tried to be civil with Kaelan. His outburst still rings in my ears, sharp and cutting, like a blade pressed against my skin. I don’t understand him, and I don’t think I ever will. But it’s my fault for even trying.Shaking the thoughts away, I get lm my feet, not bothering to check if he’s awake. I have no interest in facing him so soon. Moving quickly, i freshen up, and dress in a simple gown and leave the room.The halls are quiet as I make my way to the dining hall. A few servants bow as I pass, their faces unreadable. When I enter, the scent of freshly baked bread and spiced tea fills the air. A handful of people are already seated, whispering among themselves, but I ignore th
JULIETTEI don’t expect to fall into the water.One moment, I’m teetering on the edge, my breath caught in my throat. The next, the world tilts, and cold water swallows me whole. My scream barely has time to escape before the icy shock steals it away.The darkness beneath the surface is endless, stretching in every direction. My arms flail, panic clawing at my chest. I can’t breathe. I can’t swim. The water presses in, unyielding, and for a terrifying second, I think, this is it.Then I remember Kaelan.I twist in the water, searching, but my movements are frantic, useless. Where is he? I see his form floating near me, unmoving. He isn’t even trying to swim.My heart pounds. Is this still part of his act?I don’t know. And I don’t have time to figure it out because my lungs are burning, my body screaming for air. Just as my strength begins to fade, strong hands grab me, dragging me upwards.The next thing I know, I’m gasping, coughing, sucking in air as hands pull me onto the dock. I
KAELANAs I’m being wheeled through the crowded room toward Juliette. My heart beats slowly as I force my eyes to take her in. I know I should not care, but I cannot help it. Even now, I see that she is beautiful. Her red dress shines under the soft light like a burning ember. In another time, another life, I might have allowed myself to imagine a future with her. But that future never existed. I have an agenda of my own, one built on secrets and lies, and my own loathing for everything she stands for overshadows any chance for love. I do not want her to see the man I really am—a man who uses weakness as a weapon, a pawn in a dangerous game of chess that I’m determined to win.I know what Juliette had probably thought. She must’ve believed she was coming here to rescue a poor, helpless, crippled man. A marriage of pity, as one would say. I agreed to this marriage just to keep up appearances, but it was never part of my original plans. The party rumbles on around me, full of shallow s
JULIETTEI wish the ground would just open up and swallow me whole.Jane and Evan are walking toward us, hand in hand, smiling like they don’t have a care in the world. My heart pounds, my throat tightens, and my fingers curl into fists at my sides. Not only did Jane steal my mate, but now she’s parading him in front of me, as if I need another reminder of what I lost.I force a breath in. Then another.Kaelan is still beside me, his hand resting lightly on mine. I don’t move, but I can feel the weight of his presence, a silent reminder that I am not alone in this moment. But it doesn’t make it easier.“Juliette,” Jane says, her voice coated in false sweetness. “I never got to tell you congratulations on your wedding.”“Thank you,” I manage, keeping my voice steady.“You must be so happy.” Her smile sharpens, and I know she doesn’t believe it. She knows exactly what kind of marriage this is. “I mean, to think—married to Kaelan of all people. I never would have imagined it.”I hold my
JULIETTE Waking up alone, I stare at the ceiling for a few moments, willing myself to move. The silence in the room feels suffocating, pressing against my chest like an invisible weight. But lying here won’t change anything. So, with a deep breath, I push the covers away and step out of bed. The floor is cold beneath my feet as I make my way to the adjoining bathroom. Warm water cascades over my skin, washing away the stiffness from sleep. But no amount of scrubbing can rid me of the emptiness settling in my chest. By the time I step out, I feel more awake, though my mind is still clouded with thoughts I don’t want to acknowledge. I dress quickly, choosing a soft blue gown. Simple, yet elegant. It fits my role well enough. My hands smooth down the fabric as I glance at my reflection in the mirror. My face looks calm, composed—like I have everything under control. Like I belong here. It’s a lie. Swallowing hard, I turn away and make my way downstairs. The dining hall is already s
JULIETTE It’s him. The man I thought I’d never see again. My legs feel like they’re going to give out, and I grip the bouquet tighter to keep myself steady. My mind races, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. How could this… be? His blue eyes widen slightly, faintly as he stares at me, and I know he recognizes me too. The same shock I’m feeling is mirrored on his face. For a moment, the entire room seems to fade away, the weight of our shared secret pressing down on us. I don’t know how long we stay like that, frozen in each other’s gaze. But eventually, he recovers, his expression smoothing into something unreadable as he’s wheeled closer to the altar. The queen regent smiles warmly as he takes his place beside me, completely unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface. “Shall we begin?” she asks. I can barely nod, my thoughts a chaotic mess. This changes everything. It… complicates everything. But as I glance at him again, the weight in my chest shifts.
JULIETTE I wake up to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains, my head pounding like a drum. For a moment, I cling to the hope that everything about last night was just a dream, a figment of my imagination brought on by exhaustion. But the dull ache in my body says otherwise. The soreness between my legs begs to differ, and when I pull the sheet tighter around me, the truth is impossible to ignore. I turn my head, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes land on him. The nameless man from last night is sprawled across the bed, lying on his stomach with the sheets barely covering his lower back. Tones muscles on full display. His blonde hair is a tousled mess, strands falling across his face, and I can just make out the rise and fall of his chest. He looks peaceful, like he belongs to a different world than mine, one without responsibilities or broken promises. For a moment, I let myself imagine staying here, freezing this fragile intimacy in time. But the weight in my
JULIETTELike a man on a mission, my feet don’t stop moving. Not when I make it passed the pack gates, not even when I stumble across the city lights. I keep moving with one goal in mind. And once the bar comes into view, I know I made a great decision tonight. Getting shit-faced. I had my heart broken by the one person I trusted the most in the entire world. The betrayal stung--still stings to be honest--at least I’m brave enough to admit that. The goddess plays the cruelest jokes sometimes. I’ve tried not to let myself stew in it. But sometimes, the grief just hits. I shrug off the bitterness as I step into the crowded pub. A slow grimace forms as I take in the ambience. And the men. Lots of them. It’s packed. Brimming with people with various agendas for the night. Mine is singular though, as I make a beeline for the single empty seat on the bar. My gaze travels down the line of men hunched over the long table, chugging this or that while stewing over the
JULIETTEI stand frozen, staring at Evan and Jane. My heart feels like it’s crumbling, breaking apart piece by piece as the weight of his words sinks in. He says he loves her—My sister. My entire body trembles as I look between them, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing, but there’s nothing to understand. It’s as clear as day. The betrayal almost paralyzes me. I can’t stay here. Infact, I can’t breathe. Without another word, I turn and bolt from the penthouse, my vision blurred by tears that I can’t stop. The world feels distant, as if I’m moving through a dream. An endlesss nightmare. My chest aches with every step I take, my lungs burning as I stumble into the elevator. When I finally reach the street, I hail a cab and climb in, collapsing into the seat. The driver says something, but I don’t hear him. I just give him the address and stare out the window, the tears coming faster now, unstoppable. My mind replays the scene over and over—Evan, his face so calm