"CONGRATS, JUNIPER! YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT! THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US."
Juniper Laurent read the text in her mind's voice over and over again, relishing in the moment, submitting to the fluttering feeling of euphoria surging through her veins. A radiant smile stretched her rosy tinged full lips as she realized that was the last debt she had to settle. Every fiber of her being wanted to leap with joy and let out a triumphant scream, but she retrained herself with what seemed like a century's worth of self-control. Nothing could beat being debt-free. Free from being hounded by loan sharks, free from living under the oppressive weight of their constant threats and demands every waking day of her life. And only those who had walked in her shoes could truly understand how liberated she felt at the moment. What has she not done? She had taken on every job that crossed her path. Waiting tables, bartending, cleaning, tutoring—just name it and Juniper would be there to grab it as long as it was legal. No opportunity was too small or insignificant. She'd worked tirelessly, juggling over eight jobs a day to pay off monstrous loans with their outrageous interest rates that multiplied every second. But now she was totally free from the shackles of debts! Hurray! It felt so surreal, too good to be true. And it was all thanks to her half-sister, Vivienne Bellerose, who had offered her the whopping sum of ten million in exchange for becoming her surrogate mother. With half of the amount as a down payment and the other half to be received after the child was born. Now she was done settling the debts her late father left behind, all she could concern herself with was to deliver a healthy baby and get what was left of her payment. Once all that was said and done, she would treat herself to a lavish vacation filled with a good amount of pampering because she deserved that much for the countless hardships she had faced. "Miss Laurent. . .? Miss Laurent!" The obstetrician's brilliant voice, firm and insistent, cut through Juniper's thoughts, hauling her attention back to the moment at hand. Juniper blinked, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she focused on the woman before her. "Um! I'm sorry, Dr. Harrison," she apologized, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "I was distracted by a text." She quickly darkened her phone and tucked it into her purse. "Could you please repeat what you just said?" In her excitement, she had momentarily forgotten that the only reason she came to the hospital and waited for hours for her doctor's availability was to discuss the results of her recent ultrasound. During her last visit to the hospital, the ultrasound technician who had gone through the process with her was good at her job and all but had left her feeling unsatisfied with her vague explanations. Hence, she'd scheduled today's appointment to speak to her doctor who had been unavailable at the time. Now here she was getting all distracted. The good doctor returned Juniper's smile, her eyes crinkling warmly at the corners. "I mentioned you have an incredibly healthy fetus. You have nothing to worry about." She adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses, perched neatly on the bridge of her nose. "Also, from your overall test result, you seemed to be in excellent health as well. That's wonderful. It's clear you've been taking good care of yourself." Halting to jot down a few notes, the doctor continued, "Even though both you and the baby are doing great, I'd like you to start taking some supplements to ensure you both receive all the necessary nutrients." After a moment of scribbling, she handed the note to Juniper. "Here's a prescription for the vitamins you'll need. You can pick them up at the pharmacy." Juniper glanced at the note, nodding even though what was written on it was a mystery to her. Rising from her seat, she smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much for your help, Dr. Harrison." Dr. Harrison flashed her a warm smile of her own. "That's my job, Miss Laurent. I'll see you at your next appointment." After her trip to the pharmaceutical department, Juniper left the hospital with her prescribed supplements in hand and a sense of relief contrary to the unease she had experienced upon arrival. With a beaming smile adorning her face, she gently stroked her still-flat abdomen. Learning that there were no complications whatsoever filled her with joy. Though it was still too soon to conclude, knowing the little guy. . . or girl in her uterus was in immediate great condition brought her immense comfort. Once again. . . All thanks to her sister. Vivienne had made it her personal mission to spoil her with the finest foods that she could never dream of, even insisting she took a break from working. In barely three months, she went from her usual scrawny 43 Kg to a healthier 51 Kg. Speaking of her sister. . . Juniper had been trying relentlessly to reach Vivienne for the past three days, hoping to remind her of the upcoming doctor's appointment. However, each call she made was met with the cold indifference of her sister's voicemail. Juniper couldn't forget the hurt in Vivienne's eyes the last time she had attended an appointment without her, and she had vowed never to repeat that mistake. But now that her sister's phone was seemingly disconnected, what was she supposed to do? It wasn't like she could postpone the appointment when it was crucial for the well-being of the baby. Something did not feel right. She barely knew Vivienne given the fact they'd met a few months ago, but the brief time with her was enough to recognize that her sudden silence was out of character. Ever since Juniper had agreed to become her surrogate, Vivienne had made a point to stay in constant contact, checking in daily and always answering her phone on the first ring. At this point, Juniper couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Retrieving her phone from her purse, she scrolled through her call history and attempted to reach her sister for the tenth time that day. As the call went unanswered, eventually leading to voicemail. . . once. . . twice. . . Juniper decided to leave a message on the third try. "Hey, Vivienne! I've been trying to reach you for a while now. I hope everything is alright. Please call me back when you get this—" "HEY, WATCH OUT!" A woman's voice rang out from across the bustling highway, interrupting her message. Juniper's breath caught in her throat as her gaze darted towards the direction the woman was pointing. There, barreling down the road at breakneck speed, was a car that she had failed to notice before crossing the road. In the face of imminent danger, most wise people would instinctively flee for their lives. But not Juniper! All her brain cells tend to die off in situations just like this one. She found herself rooted to the spot, paralyzed with fear. It was as if her mind and body were disconnected, rendering her as immobile as a statue, powerless against the rapidly approaching threat. As the vehicle closed in on her, Juniper could do nothing but squeeze her eyes shut, bracing herself for the collision that would surely bring her inevitable doom.
In the blink of an eye, Juniper felt a forceful tug, wrenching her away just in time, a bare fraction of a second between her and a one-way ticket to the great beyond. Even as she and her rescuer tumbled onto the hard pavement, Juniper's eyes remained tightly shut, her entire body trembling with terror. Then, for some inexplicable reason, she began to feel herself relax in the strong embrace of Mr. Mysterious Savior. She couldn't quite determine if it was the enticing fragrance of his cologne or the feeling of security in his arms, as though she was always meant to be there. She couldn't tell. In that moment, the stranger gently shook her, his voice—a rich baritone and deep with concern—breaking through her stupor. "Juniper! Juniper, open your eyes. Are you okay?" WHAT?! HE KNEW HER NAME TOO! Now that was enough to make Juniper flutter her eyes open, her gaze landing on the masked face of her rescuer. Despite the disguise of a face cap and mask, she recogniz
BREAKING NEWS: HEIRESS VIVIENNE BELLEROSE DIES IN A CAR ACCIDENT. The newscaster's voice, deep and sharp, boomed as he began to convey the horrible news to the public. "Good day, everyone. On today's breaking news from Valterre City. . . the heiress of the Bellerose Frangrance, Vivienne Bellerose, has tragically passed away in a car accident. According to sources from the family, Vivienne had embarked on a trip several days ago, with plans to return soon after, but communication with her had abruptly ceased. An intensive search ensued, leading to the horrifying discovery of her car submerged in the Valterre River, having apparently veered off course, skidding down the cantilevered road to Valterre City. Reports allege that the authorities are presently conducting an exhaustive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident. . ." Bolting upright in shock, Juniper's eyes grew wide with horror, fixated on the television screen as it displayed an image
Juniper stood in front of the looming massive metal gate as the morning sun cast its golden rays on the sprawling entrance of the Bellerose Estate. It seemed a world away from the life she knew and had, yet here she stood, ready to take the first step into the heart of the Bellerose family. Today was the day she had to lay everything out on the table. The day she was going to reveal the truth, a revelation that would ripple through her life and the lives of the Bellerose family, leaving no stone unturned. She'd waited for a month. A month was quite enough time for them to mourn and. . . enough for her not to lose her mind from the weight of thinking about the child growing rapidly in her womb. The clock was ticking. It was barely five months remaining before the little Bellerose would be born. The earlier she got this settled, the earlier she could move on with her life. Whatever decision they decided to take over this issue would determine the future of their gra
Antoine began to cough, sputtering and choking as the coffee he’d just swallowed slipped in the wrong direction. He definitely did not see that coming. "Are. . .are you okay?" Juniper stuttered in concern, half-rising to assist the man in any way possible, a deep-seated instinct she'd developed from years of caring for her sick mother—who had eventually passed. "I'm okay!" Antoine managed in a croaked voice, gesturing with a raised hand to reassure her. “I’m fine." He must have been taken aback by that news, Juniper thought. Her eyes drifted to his wife and apparently, Antoine wasn't the only one stunned. Florence was staring at her wide-eyed and her mouth a perfect O. She feared that the poor woman might dislocate her jaw at any moment. Maybe she shouldn't have dropped the bombshell on them that hard. But, some pieces of information were best delivered promptly without a moment of hesitation. And this one fell squarely in that category. Florence’s wor
Juniper was beyond startled that she couldn't control her eyelids from fluttering wildly. Who the hell was this weird dude? Smoking hot, no doubt. But also pretty much weird. He released her from the embrace, gazed intensely at her for a brief moment, and then pulled her back into a tight squeeze. OKAY, DUDE, CALM DOWN! PERSONAL SPACE, PLEASE! But it didn't seem like he was going to budge. "Uh. . ." Juniper chuckled awkwardly, her eyes veering to the Clermont sisters, silently pleading to be rescued from the enthusiastic man. And luckily, they picked up on her distress signal. Chloe rolled her eyes to the ceiling. "Alright, Dylan, dial it back a notch. You're creeping our guest out with your over-the-top theatrics." "Not to mention suffocating!" Audrey slotted in, her attitude mirroring that of her sister's. Finally, the man released his grip on Juniper, his moist grey eyes locked onto hers for a delicate moment before they shifted to the Cl
[BEWARE OF THE CLERMONTS!] Juniper's eyes froze at the ominous warning, her body transfixed as if rooted to the spot. What does this mean? Why was she being warned about The Clermonts? The paper trembled in her hands as her mind raced with questions and confusion. Her eyes darted around the bathroom as if she expected to find someone lurking in a corner. Was this some kind of prank or something? Juniper's eyes returned to the note again, rereading the message over and over again, uncertain what to do about the enigmatic warning. She wasn't sure whether to heed the caution or dismiss it, because it was totally absurd. The Clermonts had shown her nothing but warmth and hospitality since day one. What was this mysterious note-leaver trying to do? She had to discover the person who was behind this, but she knew she had to do it discreetly. She could tell it was one of the maids, but which one? The mystery note consumed Juniper's thoughts for days, as
Before their lips met, the thudding of someone's feet echoed through the foyer and Audrey's usually giddy voice boomed from the grand stairs. "Hey, are you guys back already?" Instantly, Juniper and Dylan tore away from each other, turning to face her. They smiled awkwardly as their voices croaked in perfect sync, "Hey, Audrey!" Their sheer abruptness made Audrey flinch backward, her eyes darting from one to the other. "Uh. . . is everything okay?" "Mm-hmm! Yeah, everything's great!" Juniper's words tumbled out in a forced cheeriness. "Absolutely! Perfectly fine!" Dylan concurred in the same spirit. Audrey dealt both of them a look of downright skepticism. "Okaaay. . ." she drawled in a raw monotone. Her tone was laced with doubt, but she seemed to dismiss her concerns, turning to Dylan with a request. "Anyways, Lanny, can I steal you away for a minute? I really need your expertise with something." Dylan nodded obligingly. "Of course, Audrey!" As he turned
CEDRIC?! Juniper couldn't stop her jaw from crash-landing to the floor. PRINCE CEDRIC WAS CHLOE'S BOYFRIEND? Before her brain could even process what was happening, the entire household suddenly bowed in reverence. "Welcome to our humble abode, Your Highness," Antoine boomed with exaggerated enthusiasm. "We, uh, weren't exactly expecting you," he added in a light tone, each word dripping with a decent amount of sarcasm. "Thanks to our lovely daughter's thoughtful planning." Chloe giggled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hey, I just wanted to surprise you all." Antoine shook his head good-naturedly at Chloe's antics, before turning his attention back to Cedric. "Please, accept our apologies for not giving you a proper welcome." Cedric let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "Oh, no need to apologize, really. And please, let's skip the formalities. I'll appreciate it if you treat me like. . ." His voice trailed off as his eyes shifted towards Juniper. As his
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
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
*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
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
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
"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
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,
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
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