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NINETEEN: Going Against The Powerful
Last Updated:
2024-07-02 23:42:03
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The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY: He's A Step Ahead
Juniper's eyes were still clouded with tears as she shuffled down the extensive driveway to the mansion. She needed the walk to clear her head properly for it was nothing but a jumbled mess in there. In fact, her entire soul was still a mess, filled with nothing but pain, resentment, and indignation. When she left the police station hours ago, she'd been in an irredeemable state. She'd been too busy bawling her eyes out to even comprehend what the detective was saying about the consequences of slander and whatnot. She'd just wanted to leave that suffocating atmosphere. But instead of heading straight to the mansion, she'd gone to Blue Light beach, knowing that there would be no one home but the maids and she needed to speak to someone who could help her with her current situation. In her moment of excruciating distress, Juniper's mind had gone to one person, the man she loved with her entire being—Prince Cedric. But even he had been unreachable. She'd called
Last Updated : 2024-07-04The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-ONE: Know Your Place
"Why are you so determined to defend Dylan, huh?" Juniper demanded, her voice low but as freezing as the Arctic. "Is it because you're also entangled in a secret affair with him? Is that why you're so eager to protect him?" At that point, she couldn't care less what bridge she was setting ablaze or the consequences of her accusations, all she wanted was to serve a little amount of the bitter meal being dumped on her plate. And boy. . . that one was so good! The stunned expression on Chloe's face was one that would live rent-free in her head till death do them part. Recovering from her dazed state, Chloe roared with rage, "What?! What the fu—" she restrained herself, glancing at the elders before breathing deeply to regain her composure. "What are you insinuating, Juniper?" Juniper shrugged slightly, her voice drenched in unadulterated sarcasm as she answered, "Oh, nothing, really. Just that the man you're so dying to defend told me himself that he's been sleep
Last Updated : 2024-07-05The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-TWO: A Shocking Secret About The Clermonts
[YOU'RE ALREADY TOO INVOLVED WITH THE CLERMONTS. DON'T TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES OR YOU WILL DIE. LAY LOW!] Juniper's heart slammed violently against her chest as the note slipped from her trembling hands, drifting to the floor like a fallen leaf. Instantly, her legs lost their vitality, and she crumpled into a heap right next to it. Her body began to tremble as the sinister message seeped into her very being, leaving her weak and helpless. Who was exactly this mysterious tormentor, leaving these unsettling notes in her room? Apart from the first note that had greeted her on her first day moving into the mansion, she had received a few others, warning her to leave the mansion while she still had the chance. Now, THIS. . . WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN THIS MANSION? She'd never had any doubt about The Clermonts from the first day, but considering recent events, she was starting to grow wary of them, and this mysterious note only added to her anxiety. WHAT
Last Updated : 2024-07-08The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-THREE: CEDRIC IS BACK!
CHLOE WAS ANTOINE'S BIOLOGICAL CHILD?! No matter how many times Juniper repeated the words in her mind, she could neither believe nor comprehend how that was possible. If Chloe was indeed Antoine's biological daughter, did that mean Antoine had a secret affair with the housekeeper, Florence, while still being married to Celine, Vivienne's mother? No, that could not be the case, given the fact that Vivienne and Chloe were about the same age, and according to their family's history, Antoine had married Celine when the girls were twelve—which, therefore, ruled out the affair part. But what made matters even more confusing was that Florence had already been working for the Bellerose family before anyone knew of Antoine's existence, so how exactly did she get pregnant for a man she never knew existed in the first place? Unless. . . She gasped sharply as the epiphany struck her like a lightning bolt. Hold up, could it be that. . . Antoine and Florence already had a prior relatio
Last Updated : 2024-07-09The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-FOUR: Excruciating Heartache
Juniper almost had a heart attack when Chloe appeared at the doorway like the sheer image of the Death prepared to send her on an express train to hell. She gasped sharply out of alarm, taking startled steps backward. Chloe's intense gaze pierced straight into Juniper's very soul, and then, suddenly, she burst out in a bitter raucous laughter before she began to loom towards her with intentional strides. "You know when Dylan told me you were meeting with my boyfriend without my knowledge, I thought perhaps he was losing his mind—'cause, I mean, you're not stupid enough to try something that audacious with me. . . but turns out he was right after all." Juniper's breath hooked in her throat, it was as if she'd forgotten how to breathe making her lungs throb from oxygen deprivation. As Chloe stood right in front of her, blocking off her view of Cedric, she dragged her feet backward as Chloe continued to fill in every slight gap she created between them. WHAT WAS GOING ON?
Last Updated : 2024-07-11The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-FIVE: Her Royal Majesty
Juniper felt like a toothpick in the arms of the muscle-bound man as she struggled fruitlessly to be liberated. Her outcry was lost in the throat, subdued under the weight of the humongous hand of her abductor, clenching ever so tightly over her mouth. Earlier, she'd been so engulfed in her anguish that she didn't notice she was being followed, and as her abductor took her away, she realized he wasn't the only one tailing her. There were men in smart midnight black suits with similar buffed-out builds just like her abductor, standing alert around four cars right behind hers, and among them was a luxurious black limousine. She wasn't sure why she was being abducted or where they were taking her, but she needed no clairvoyance to know that she was in big trouble. As they reached the limousine, one of the men pulled the door open as her abductor propelled her into the car, slamming the door shut. The instant her mouth was released, Juniper began to scream her lungs out for help
Last Updated : 2024-07-14The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-SIX: Controversy In The Mansion
Back at the mansion, Chloe was spitting fire and brimstone, her anger and aggression explosive as she recounted her horrific day to her family. She paced back and forth across the living room floor, her heavy footsteps making the walls tremble, like a wild animal caged and ready to burst free as her words poured out like venom, threatening to consume everything in their path. "I just can't understand why she'd try to sabotage me like that, after all the kindness I've shown her." Chloe roared, her eyes blazing with fury as her voice ricocheted off the walls. "What if she'd succeeded. . ." She paused, her mind racing with the dire possibilities. "What if she had succeeded in making the Crown Prince fall for her tricks. . . if she had won his affections. . . where would that have left me? God! The very thought sends shivers down my spine!" With each heated word, Chloe's anger seemed to grow, filling the room with an almost tangible intensity. Her family watched her with
Last Updated : 2024-07-16The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-SEVEN: Leaving The Bellerose Mansion
The sky was already a deep shade of indigo and twinkling with stars when Juniper finally arrived at the mansion. Under different circumstances, she would have found the beauty of the starry sky breathtaking and even considered the day a good one. But it wasn't! It was an awful day that left a sour taste in her mouth, and she wished she could just blink and it would erase like it never came. With a subtle limp, Juniper made her way into the mansion, suppressing a moan with each step she took. She had made a stop at the hospital to have her cut treated, but her leg still throbbed like hell. The doctor at the emergency room had questioned her about the injury, but she had fabricated a story about accidentally cutting herself with a cleaver. Though the doctor raised a skeptical eyebrow, he hadn't pushed the issue further, thankfully. Instead, he had recommended that she be admitted for observation or undergo further checks to ensure both she and her unborn child were unharmed. Wi
Last Updated : 2024-07-18
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The Surrogate's Vendetta 116: Rescue Mission
Camille geared up, preparing herself for the battle ahead of her. It was already evening and she still hadn't gotten any other response from Jerome, causing her to grow increasingly anxious. Yesterday, as soon as Adrien had left her house, she had reached out to Jerome and the Crown Prince, updating them on the latest developments. Jerome had requested a Search and Seizure Warrant before they headed out to find Juniper, but his superior had denied the request. Time was running out, and Camille couldn't afford to wait any longer. The thought of Juniper spending another night in that godforsaken place, staggering on the brink of death, was enough to send chills down her spine. She was going to take matters into her own hands and head to the location immediately. With everything in order and her plans in place, Camille used the secure burn phone to contact her brother, alerting him of her arrival. As she ended the call with her brother, her main phone buzzed to l
The Surrogate's Vendetta 115: Long-lost Brother
Three days had passed since Juniper's disappearance, and Camille was losing it at a fast rate. She had gotten everyone related to Juniper involved in the search, and exhausted every means possible to find her, but all their investigation had yielded nothing. No CCTV footage, no dashcam recordings, no single eyewitness had come forward. . . not even her car was found. It was as if Juniper had vanished in thin air Camille knew this wasn't ordinary. Yes, Juniper was capable of disappearing like this, but not without telling her. Someone was behind this. And she could only think of one person. ANTIONE CLERMONT! But where could he have kept her? It couldn't be at the Bellerose Mansion for sure. He wasn't that stupid. Even as Camille returned home, her mind still raced with thoughts and questions. But her attention was abruptly diverted when she reached the front door. She stopped mid-step, her hand hesitating on the door handle, as she realized that the s
The Surrogate's Vendetta 114: Tortured By The Monster
*TRIGGER ALERT: VIOLENCE* Juniper moaned softly, her eyes fluttering open as she slowly began to regain consciousness. At first, her vision appeared foggy, but then slowly, it became clearer and her eyes adjusted to the dimly lighted room. And in a split second, the memories came flooding in, replaying the events that took place prior to her passing out. This was Antoine's plan, no doubt. He must've sent the Krakens to waylaid and bring her to this place. But where was she, by the way? Her head throbbed like hell, making it difficult to stay focused, but she fought back the dizziness and managed to survey her surroundings. She couldn't figure out where exactly she was, but one thing she could tell for sure was this place was reserved for nothing but torture— Or worse. . . MURDER! Beside her, assorted hand-held tools splayed on a table, an electrocuting machine settled next to it, and straight ahead. . . a couple of hangman's noose dangled from a
The Surrogate's Vendetta 113: Truth Exposed
Camille was starting to get impatient, wondering what was keeping Juniper. It was 8:00 p.m. already, almost an hour past the time they'd agreed to meet but she was nowhere to be found. She'd rang her cell over and over— but to no avail. Why wasn't she here yet? Was she caught in traffic? Or perhaps was she unable to clear her schedule? If that was the case, she would've informed her beforehand. Juniper would never leave her hanging this way. Camille shook her head, waving off the unsettling thoughts that were starting to pile up in her mind. For now, she would just go to the meeting and worry about Juniper later. Lisette Austin must be waiting at the restaurant by now. The poor girl was already frightened by the consequences of speaking the truth, leaving her waiting could cause her to lose courage and change her mind. She couldn't let that happen. On reaching the restaurant, Camille wasn't surprised to find Lisette already seated at the table reserved
The Surrogate's Vendetta 112: Juniper In Trouble
Antoine still couldn't believe his wife had lost her mind. Even as the doctor had explained it over and over he couldn't wrap his head around it. He'd partially hoped his wife was putting on an act to avoid being detained but that wasn't the case, not at all! SHE HAD GONE BONKERS! What was he going to do? All of a sudden, the mansion felt so quiet and lonely. It hadn't been long since he'd lost his daughter, now his wife was conformed to a psych ward. His family were no longer here. The people he'd acquired all this wealth and power for were no longer here to enjoy it. He was left all by himself in this huge, empty mansion. This wasn't what he planned. Why was his life moving out of track? A soft knock on his door momentarily distracted him from his turbulent thoughts. Following his permission, his private investigator entered into his study. "Good day, sir," he greeted politely. "I brought news about Mr. Michaelson, the American investor." Antoine's i
The Surrogate's Vendetta 111: About Her Father
"Hey, I heard what happened at the company. Are you okay?" Camille asked Juniper, her eyes glistening with worry. But Juniper brushed off her concern with a casual smile. "As you can see. . ." She swept her hand all over her body. ". . .I'm totally okay." Camille's brows creased. "Oh, yeah? Then what are all these?" She retorted, pointing at the band-aids on her legs and arms. Juniper waved a dismissive hand, dropping into a nearby couch. "Just bruises I sustained from trying to subdue Florence. Nothing serious." Camille remained silent. She dealt Juniper a look of skepticism, her eyes narrowing into slits. When Juniper met her gaze, she lifted her shoulders slightly and said, "I'm serious. I didn't get shot or anything. I was quick enough. I mean, I learned from the master herself." Camille released a breath she had no idea she was holding and sank into the seat beside her. "So how did things go at the police station?" She asked. "Well, Florence is cu
The Surrogate's Vendetta 110: Apprehended
A WEEK LATER. . . As the newly appointed Chairperson of Bellerose Fragrance, Juniper presided over the board of directors in the boardroom, where they assembled to discuss the appointment of a new CEO. After she'd invested over a billion euros to restore the company's finances, which had been severely depleted by the scandal, the shareholders had made a unanimous decision to elect her as Chairwoman. Now, it was time to fill the CEO's seat. Juniper couldn't be more happy to finally be rid of the Clermonts from the Bellerose Fragrance. Just a little bit more and she'd totally wipe them off the Bellerose Empire. Halfway into the meeting, the double doors abruptly burst open, and in came Florence Clermont, storming into the room like a wild beast. "You heartless vultures!" She bellowed, her eyes blazing with fury. "My daughter's body is barely cold in her grave, and you're already conspiring to replace her!" The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Florence,
The Surrogate's Vendetta 109: Au Revoir
Immediately, Chloe's eyes veered to the doorway— and so did everyone else in the board room. It was Mr. Michaelson, the American investor who had bought her father's shares and had promised to vote against her resignation. For the first time that day, her heart lept with joy. Finally, things were starting to look hopeful. Finally, she could breathe a sigh of relief. Mr. Michaelson took one of the empty seats at the table, still apologizing for his unpunctual arrival. And soon after he settled in and introduced himself, Juniper leaned forward again and spoke into the mic. "Oh, Mr. Michaelson, thank you for making it to today's meeting. As you must already know, we are here to vote for or against CEO Clermont's resignation. Currently, the vote is a tie. Half of the shareholders are against her resignation, while the remaining half are for it. Your vote will be the tiebreaker and will determine the outcome of our meeting today." She paused for a breath. "So, what's
The Surrogate's Vendetta 108: The Vote
IN THE CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE. . . "I have decided and I can't put up with your scandals anymore, CEO Clermont," Juniper said firmly with zero shards of humor. "You have to step down from the CEO position." Chloe couldn't believe her ears. And so did her father, Antoine. "WHAT?!" They exclaimed simultaneously. Juniper met Chloe's gaze squarely. "You need to take responsibility for this situation. Your scandal is bringing bad press to the company. The best you can do at this point is to apologize to the public and resign from the CEO office." In a sudden outburst of emotion, Chloe vaulted to her feet. "You crazy bitch!" She thundered furiously. "This is all your plan, isn't it? This is what you wanted. Will any of this be happening if you haven't leaked that video?!" Juniper's face wrinkled with a grimace. "Mind your tone, Ms. Clermont," she grounded out, her voice vibrating with authority. "Don't you dare use such derogatory term on me, especially here in the company. I
