Author's point of view... Richard walked over to her still hesitant, his every step filled with regret, and tried to call her but she was so faint asleep that she didn't respond to him despite him calling her several times. She had already changed into her pajamas and on top of that, she even wore a thick hoodie to hide herself from his gaze. He felt horrible. He didn't want to scare her more but he couldn't let her sleep there under the table the whole night, could he? Left with no other choice he scooped her into his arms slowly, so gently leaning her on his broad shoulders and made her sleep on her bed. While laying her down, he felt sympathy for the little girl and slightly stroked her hair behind her ears. Though he knew he shouldn't, he couldn't help himself from kissing her forehead slightly. "I..." he whispered as he caressed her reddened cheek, "I am sorry...strawberry" he mumbled in a low voice but Juliette frowned her eyebrows a little in her slumber as if she had hear
Author's point of view... "Why did you call me here?" the girl sitting next to Richard asked in a hurry. The urge was evident in her tone. She was wearing just a normal T-shirt and a pair of jeans but her head and face were completely covered with a dark scarf. Richard took a deep breath before he made himself talk. "Anna," he began, "you need to stop this, please. Just go talk to your mother" Anna was perplexed and she became uneasy the moment she heard him saying that. "No...! No way Richard. It's not the right time." she instantly smacked off the idea of meeting her mother, "I still need some more time to tell her everything. She can't take it if I do it right away" Anna hung her head down as she recalled her mother's face when Anna refused to get engaged. Her Mom was so worried that she almost stopped breathing. "I can't..." she repeated in a haze. Richard's eyes darkened, right from the beginning, he had been trying to persuade her to tell everything and she had been repeat
Juliette's point of view... "Logan" I was intrigued by an unexpected entry, Logan, Mr. Thompson's Son. Why is he here? I remember he was a passed-out student of our school, a super senior to us but why was he here today? He walked slowly and stood before me with his hand raised a little like a big brother guarding against his sister, his eyes fixated on the figure lying on the ground. Very angrily. He is tall and has a nice personality just like his father. It was indeed weird but I felt protected for some reason. Danny was infuriated by the punch he just received and the moment he got back on his foot, he was ready to throw one at Logan but Logan instantly grabbed Danny's fist and twisted it behind him effortlessly as if dealing with a kitten. At that moment I heard cheers from around and noticed how mannish Logan was. Danny was popular among all the schoolgirls and was like an idol for the entire sports group yet Logan's appearance had shrunk his demeanor to nil. No wonder
Juliette's point of view... I froze for a while as they pressed on me with their doubts. As I got back my senses, I pursed my lips and then gave them a better answer. I know this matter won't be hidden for do long because all the players on the ground have witnessed it and now or then they will recognize me. "I...I was in the restroom when I heard from the girls earlier" I answered her sheepishly. "Oh..." both of them shook their head agreeing and then Lissa added, "Andrew called Logan to train them all for some basketball match with those scary university boys" She sounded worried, "They said those university scoundrels provoked our boys to have a challenge and some of our school girls were involved in this too. Do you guys know who those girls are?" My jaw dropped in disbelief. I stared at Lissa for a few seconds before I got my consciousness back. It was an embarrassing encounter so I asked Lissa not to tell anyone about it and she didn't do it. As the sports team was not so fa
Juliette's point of view... It wasn't his fault...! I keep hearing those words in my mind a hundred times since Anna spoke them. Does that mean I misunderstood him? But how could I forgot how he treated me back then? Wait...! What am I thinking! Though he was not in fault about the property deeds, he did force me into this marriage and that is enough to a be a reason why I must hate him. I am just nineteen and I am already married to a old man like him. Does that make sense! I know he is handsome and I did have a crush on him but that doesn't mean I will be jumping excitedly that he married me. I don't give it a damn...! He spoiled my life. As I was standing behind the door, I have no idea why my rotten mind was making me recall those things that had happened yesterday. He was just an inch away from me and my whole body was stiffened. From that incident, I got to understand something so important. Crush is crush, but getting so close to a man is horrible. I was terrified yest
Juliette's point of view... "Juliette" he called my name and rasped loudly. I stopped where I was but didn't turn to face him. "I ordered dinner for us, eat something before you go to bed. I have something to do so I won't be getting back sooner" I didn't respond and he didn't wait for it either. He left after that, slamming the door slightly behind him. Finally, I exhaled the warm air that I had been holding inside and strode into my room. What work would he be having late at night? Spending time with his girl? Was that a date? I felt a pang of anger building up in my heart at the thought but soon I was able to dodge it successfully. Why should I be bothered about his affairs? Taking a bath and having the dinner he prepared, a good serving of cheese macaroni with bacon, I went to bed earlier but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't fall asleep. I can't believe I have been checking my phone every now and then just to see the time...! Why isn't he back yet? Why was I so dist
Juliette's point of view...As I reached the classroom, I saw a woman waiting at the door. She was talking to one of the boys from our class and surprisingly that boy pointed his finger towards me. I haven't seen her before. The way she was dressed, I thought she might be a teacher or someone from the office. I was quite surprised. Is she here for me?She looked at me and raised her eyebrows."Hello, Are you Miss Juliette?" she said as I approached her. She was indeed here for me. I nodded, "Yes, how may I help you?" she smiled hesitatingly, "Hi, I am Linda, admin office assistant" she introduced herself, "Let's talk in the office" I felt a bit uneasy because I never talked to anyone from the admin office before. Everything regarding my admission and my fees was taken care of by Mom or Anna. What does she want to talk about? We walked to the office and she settled in her desk while fetching some papers from the drawer. "Aa... Here" she extended a file toward me, "Miss Juliette,
Richard's point of view... The restless day at the school ended when the bell rang. As things were not so great between us, I wanted to talk it out with Juliette. At least we can live comfortably. I wanted to tell her that she would go back to her Mom's side soon. I thought of talking to her yesterday but I had an appointment and when I came back she was already asleep. The moment the bell at the corner rang, I strode out of my office and strode near the gate. All the students came out except for the one my eyes had been waiting for. I walked all across the corridors of the campus and asked some of her classmates, but no one had seen Juliette anywhere. They said she left in a hurry and some of them even told me that she was upset. I was concerned. What is she going to do now? I thought she might be on her way home so I strode out of the school looking around to find my little wife but couldn't see her anywhere and instead of her I bumped into someone I would never want to meet.
The ground was bustling with almost all the students from the school and the University. Richard took Juliette towards the ground and made her sit at one of the safest corners. Juliette never expected that Richard would bring her here. Soon Scarlett and Lissa joined her. The game began and it was then that Juliette spotted a known figure among the players. "Richard..." she exclaimed in shock to find Richard joining the team. "What was going on? Why is he there?" she mumbled to herself and stared at the ground puzzled. The refry whistled and the ball was tossed. Though it was the university guys to grabbed the ball first, it didn't take a minute for Richard to snatch the ball and throw it in the basket. "Wow...! That was the fastest basket that I had ever seen in this game" the commentator announced excitedly. Juliette felt a strange pride in her heart. When she looked up, Richard saw her in her direction which made her heart flutter. The whistle started the game again and Richard
Juliette's point of view... Though Logan managed to hit the break right on time, the car collided with the truck and stopped. I bumped into the deck that raised a strong pain in my head and gradually, lost consciousness for quite a while. When I finally got my senses back, I saw we were still in the car. Nobody cared if we were alive. I quickly check on Logan. He looked fine as the car was not damaged that bad but when I tried to wake him up, I was dumpfonded. His forehead was bleeding so much. I searched for my phone and called Harway right away. I struggled a lot to stop his wound from bleeding, while waiting for the ambulance. Soln Harway showed up with an ambiance following him. On the way to the hospital, I was still in a maze. My hands were still trembling. Seeing my condition, Harway reassured me that Logan will be fine. With the help of the staff, he took Logan on a stretcher and carried him to the Emergency Wing. I sat outside in the waiting area and started praying to
Author's point of view... "How about having fun with us...!" the man sneered and Juliette's heart skipped a beat as she quickened her pace, hoping to slip by unnoticed. But the menacing laughter that followed her every step told her she wasn't going to be let off that easily."Hey, sweetheart, where do you think you're going?" one of the guys called out, his voice dripping with malice. The alley was dark with almost no street lights nearby. The light from far away was barely enough to point out any moving creature in that way. That man switched on his phone light and focused on Juliette. The others followed him on their bikes, focusing their headlights on her as well. Juliett's pulse quickened, her mind racing for an escape route. She was like a deer caught amid city lights. Panicked. Terrified. She wanted to scream for help but being an isolated alley, it was doubtful if anyone could hear her. Yet she didn't want to give in, but before she could react, a voice cut through the an
Author's point of view... Both of them stood before the bed staring at it as a battlefield that was waiting for them. The bed in Richard's room was hardly sufficient for one person to sleep comfortably. Juliette swallowed hard at the thought of lying beside him. She awkwardly stole glances at him thinking that it was exactly like stepping on a triggered explosion. The burning sensation of her cheeks grew worse but Richard's condition stopped her from making any discussion. She strode towards the bed and grabbed a blanket to roll it and place it on the bed as a wall between them. They both lay down quietly. Her fragile body hardly covered one-fourth of the bed but no matter how long they tried, they couldn't sleep a wink. After twisting and tossing on the bed for a few minutes, Ricard finally started a conversation. "Juliette, is this necessary?" he removed the blanket slowly from the middle and Juliette jerked sitting up on the bed. "Yes...it is" She tried to snatch it back but
Juliette's point of view... "Miss... Miss Alissa" I greeted her trying to get up but she smirked pushing me back. "Juliette, right! I will remember you" I saw Alissa looking at me menacingly then she walked passing by, deliberately stepping on my hand. "Hey...!" I hissed in pain but she didn't see back. That woman is really something. I entered the class rubbing my hand and sat on my place. Lissa instantly turned around to ask me, "Jul, why was Miss Grey asking for you? Did you meet her just now?"Miss Grey...! So she was the new teacher they were all talking about. Beautiful and flirting with boys on the very first day...! I wonder what kind of a woman she is. Few more classes gone by at ease but before the long bell, an attendee walked in from the room and called my name. He said that Miss Grey wanted to see me in her office. I was not in the mood to face that woman at all but the man before me said that she just wanted to give me some materials about the class I missed toda
Juliette's point of view... The way he was staring at me, with his eyes narrowed and his forehead all creased, I thought he would shout at me or even worse. A fear crept into my heart when I slowly hung my head.Did I do something wrong? He stepped forward and I stepped back immediately. The temperature in the room seemed to be dropping every second. I was shivering inside out. "What do you take me for? Where did you get this money?" he asked in his husky voice but in a chilled tone. I gulped down to wet my throat before answering him. "I...I...sold my chain..." I stuttered and closed my eyes. He was very angry. I couldn't help but feel the anxiety building up inside me. But soon I felt his hand over mine, the one that I had extended towards him and opened my eyes. He kept a few more notes on top of that envelope. "Return the money to your friend and get back your chain, today" he said domineeringly and I looked up at him completely blank. "But..." I wanted to tell him that I d
Juliette's point of view... We reached his office and that shameless woman was still waiting for him inside, sitting on his chair. I sheepishly stood aside peeking at that woman. What an indecent creature...!!"Richard you are back..." she instantly stood up with a smile across her face but as she saw me, her smile faded away instantly."Richard..." she called so intimately, they look so close, "Why did you bring that kid back here?" she asked as her eyes rolled over me in disdain, stopping straight at our hands, still binding together.I twisted my wrist to free myself. Richard turned around and grabbed my wrist again while closing the door behind us."Miss Alissa Grey," he turned around and called that woman's name, "I want you to meet my wife, Mrs. Juliette Solomon" he pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around me so intimately. A cold shiver run down my spine. I wiggled trying to free myself but he leaned closer and whispered. "Stop resisting or I will kiss you right before
Juliette's point of view... Even when Mr. Thompson was taking classes, my mind was swirling in a whirlwind of thoughts. Clutching the notes bundle in my hand, I recalled what that shop owner said. Richard was so much worried and was reluctant to remove that ring from his hand. I couldn't understand where to keep him, in the good side or the bad side. What is he in reality? The man who wanted to help me or a pervert who brought a woman to home? Where should I count him!! As I thought about it, if he did want to help me, why didn't he gave me the money directly? He didn't pay it directly but instead he asked Mr. Thompson to do it, just why? I am not the idiot that he thinks I am. He might be having ulterior motives behind his deeds. Fine, I won't accept his help, anyway. During the lunch hour, I strode towards his office to return the money I owed him but as I opened the door of his room, I was dumbfounded. He was crouching before a woman with his hands on her thighs and that w
Juliette's point of view... When Richard dropped me near the intersection, I saw Nathan and Scarlet waiting for me before the cafe. I initially planned to tell Richard everything about the money I needed but after hearing his mother scolding him, I was clear about one thing he himself was in short of cash, what would he possibly do to help me? I wish I was a Cinderella and he was my prince charming or at least a hidden billionaire or something like that. But...! Fictions are fiction and reality sucks. He was just a normal man with a low bank balance who could not help me right now with my situation. I called Scarlett earlier to ask her to accompany me to the pawn shop as that was my only way out. I needed the money so badly and as my family was not responding, I had no other choice but to pawn the only precious thing with me, my platinum chain. It was a gift from Mom when I stood first in my tenth standard. I never wanted to lose it but today I am hopeless. Though I called Scar