"So, what does that have to do with me?" Juniper asked, genuinely curious. "For the past year, I've been investigating Antoine and everyone connected to him," Jerome answered solemnly. "That's how I found you. Your relationship with him and his family seemed. . . unusual. You got involved with them through your surrogacy, then vanished for two years without a word. Now, you're back, and it seems you're working against them. I don't believe that's just a coincidence." Juniper scoffed inaudibly, crossing her arms over her chest. "I must say, you've done your research quite thoroughly," she said, a hint of sarcasm creeping into her voice. "So, is that why you've been tailing me all this while?" Jerome's face scrunched up in an expression of confusion. "All this while?" He repeated slowly. "I only started tailing you today." "Huh?" Juniper breathed, confusion apparent on her face as her thought traveled back to the past few days. Camille faced her. "Has anyone els
Camille was sleeping in for the first time in forever when the insistent buzzing of her cell phone rudely interrupted her leisurely morning. Without seeing the name flashing on the screen, she knew who exactly was ringing. Who else would call her at this time on a Sunday morning but the man who thought he had the right to do pretty much whatever he wanted? Drowsily, she reached for the annoying device on her nightstand, wondering what the hell he was up to this time. "Hello, Damien," she answered the call, her tone filled with grudges. "C–Camille?" instantly, her senses went on high alert, every indication of sleep leaving her body when she heard the strain in his voice. He sounded. . . weird. Like he was in pain or something worse. "Damien?" Camille's voice took a sudden note of urgency. "Is something wrong?" "Attacked," he mumbled. "Attacked?" She sat up in the bed, her heart thundering against her chest as she heard the unmistakable twist of pain
The entire Island was vibrating with loud music and celebration. This was supposed to be the night Damien would never forget, but why was he not feeling the mood? He still couldn't believe it. CAMILLE WAS JEROME'S EX? How small exactly could this world be? He downed another glass of wine at a go. He couldn't tell if it was his fifth or sixth. Not that it mattered, because all his attention was fixated on Camille and Jerome who were chatting and laughing at the grill stand. He didn't appreciate how "chained to the hip" they'd been throughout the day. She'd always pushed him away even when he'd maintained a ten-meter distance from her, yet there she was perfectly at ease with Jerome's close affection. And why the hell did Jerome keep calling her "Cammie"? And why was she not saying anything about it? Damien's face grew dark as he watched Jerome gently remove something from Camille's hair. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened. He wasn't sure if his percepti
Camille never imagined Damien would kiss her, but what was even more unbelievable was the fact she was making no attempt to push him away. His lips were so soft and warm. They felt like plushies as they pushed pleasantly against hers. She knew she should stop him before things got out of hand, but his long fingers were already driving through her raven hair, cupping the back of her head, and nudging her closer to him. How exactly could she resist? And then, the kiss deepened. Warmth spread throughout her body like wildfire. The chilly wind about them now felt like hot steam as it awoke every dormant sense in her body. Her treacherous mind had always presumed he was to be a good kisser, but nothing prepared her for this level of perfection. There were no tongues, no sense of urgency, just needy lips against needy lips, yet he managed to make her heart— which had been stone-cold for quite a long while— do a couple of acrobatic stunts within her ribcage. She wa
Camille's mind could barely focus on the road as she drove towards the location the investigator had sent her— Dr. Philippe's current address. It had taken several months of diligent searching, but finally, the doctor who had conducted the autopsy on Vivienne's body was found, living in a small, secluded village on the outskirts of Forêt-bleue. It had been so not an easy task to find the man. Apart from the fact he tended to relocate to a different location every three months, he had changed every single thing about himself. . . down to his identity. Camille was both relieved and anxious. Relieved that they were finally blessed with an opportunity to figure out Vivienne's actual cause of death. But then again, she was filled with anxiety that meeting Dr. Philippe may turn out to be a futile attempt, considering the man had done everything in his power to stay hidden from the world. But whatever the outcome, she was not leaving this village without the truth.
"When did this happen?" Juniper asked as she and Camille followed right behind Kevin into The K&J Agency building. The modeling agency was in its usual state, bustling with stunning faces and impeccably toned physiques, as the models and staff went about their daily routines, oblivious to the devastating tragedy that had just struck. "The night before yesterday!" Came Kevin's succinct answer as he absentmindedly nodded to the salutations of his employees/subordinates." "The night before yesterday?" Camille repeated as her mind went back to that day. The day she'd been dragged to Damien's Island birthday party. She'd been out unwinding while someone's daughter had been violated when she could have done something to stop it. "If only I'd been around. . . I could have helped the poor girl." "This isn't you're fault, Cam," Juniper countered, her hand reaching out to pat her back. "No one knew this would happen. Let's focus less on self-blame and more on sending Dy
[NEWS BROADCAST: Good afternoon, and welcome to our afternoon news broadcast. Today, we have a shocking story that has sent shockwaves through the modeling industry and the entire region of Forêt-bleue. Dylan Dupont, an A-list model and the only son of The influential Dupont Family has been accused of sexual assault. Earlier this morning, a video testimony from the victim was released online along with videos and photos as clear evidence of the assault. The allegations against him are disturbing, and what's even more alarming is that this is not an isolated incident. According to reports, multiple women have come forward, claiming that they too were sexually harassed by Dylan in the past. These brave women have testified against him, sharing their own horrific experiences with the model. Report also alleged that Dylan's family, who own one of the most prestigious law firms in the region, has been responsible for covering up his crimes for the past years, using their influe
Juniper had a full-blown smirk of satisfaction, playing on her lips as Dylan poured out his heart—pathetically—over the phone. "You're the only one I can trust. My parents have turned their back on me and I have no one else. I can't go to prison, Juni. I won't survive in there." "Dylan. . ." "I swear on my life, I didn't do it on purpose. I was drunk and that little bitch took advantage of the situation to frame me. Please, help me again this once, and I promise to be indebted to you forever." Juniper loosened a deep sigh. "To be honest, Dylan. I don't know how I can help you get away with this one," she responded, her voice laced with false concern. "This isn't a minor issue. There is enough hard evidence pinning you to the crime." She paused for a moment, and let out another sigh. "But I have a way to help you evade the police. I can help you stowaway abroad and settle there for a while until things blow over here—" "I'll take it," Dylan accepted readily. "I'll do whatever it
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
Camille savored the soothing music emitting from the radio of Damien's car, nodding her head slowly to its melody. As Damien drove her home, one of his hands deftly controlled the steering wheel while the other was linked to hers perfectly. When he honked the car horn repeatedly out of impatience, Camille fluttered her eyes partially open to inspect the situation, only to find out they weren't on their way to her house, but to the Prime Minister's residence. "Uh, Damien. . . Why are we heading to your family house?" She asked lazily yet curious. He beamed, his eyes remaining fixed on the road. "My parents want us to have dinner with them." Camille's eyes immediately flew wide open and she turned to him. "What?!" she exclaimed, snatching her hands away from his. "And you're just telling me now?" Damien's lashes fluttered in confusion, his eyes unsteadily glanced from her to the road. "Why? Is something wrong?" "Yes!" Camille replied snappily. "You sho
THE FOLLOWING DAY. . . Throughout the night, Antoine boiled with rage. All he could think of was confronting the queen. But now that he was here, sitting before her in the palace's grand courtyard, he felt somewhat intimidated by her imposing demeanor to even relay his case. "Your Majesty, I beg to respectfully remind you that the union between our children is more than a mere marital bond," Antoine said. "It's an alliance between our families. You can't simply discard my daughter in this manner." Queen Catherine held his gaze for a short while that felt like hours, regarding him with nothing but sheer contempt. "Allow me to comprehend this correctly," she said haughtily, dropping her teacup on the table with a soft thud. "You expect me to still accept your daughter for my son after her scandalous behavior? Have you lost your mind, Antoine? Or do you not know what's at stake here?" "I'm well aware of what's at stake, Your Majesty," Antoine retorted, struggling to kee
Chloe hated that she was about to do the exact thing Juniper ridiculed her about, but what choice did she have left? If groveling meant she could remain in the Royal Palace, then she would grovel. And that, she did. The moment the Queen's lady-in-waiting opened the door to her, Chloe dropped to her knees and began to beg. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I swear, I never meant any of this to happen. I'm so sorry." Queen Catherine barely acknowledged her presence as she slowly leafed through the pages of a magazine. "If you must know, Chloe, I've never had expectations of anyone— Not even once. But I had high expectations of you. I truly did," she said in a flat tone, her eyes never leaving the magazine. "However, you proved to be just like every other riffraff who was merely fortunate to step into the world of the elites. But what can I say? No one can truly leave their filthy background behind, can they?" "Your Majesty, I. . . I can explain—" "What's left
"YES. OH, YES. FUCK ME! FUCK ME HARDER, DYLAN! AHHHH!!!!" Loud moanings of pleasure boomed through from the speakers, and slowly the large display TV cracked back to live, revealing random x-rated footage of Chloe being put in multiple positions as Dylan licked, sucked, and banged her in his bedroom. Chaos erupted in the hall as the audience clamored about the explicit video playing before them while the reporters hurriedly clicked their cameras, determined to capture every single detail. But all that noise was lost to Chloe, fading into the background as she stood frozen at the spot. Her hand instantly grew weak, causing the wine glass she held to fall to the ground, shattering to smithereens. What was going on? Chloe thought to herself, her eyes glued to the big screen. She remembered clearly every video that played before and every word she'd said. But all these had happened in the secrecy of Dylan's penthouse apartment. How exactly did these vi
The magnificent ballroom room of the renowned Paradis Hotels shone with exquisite lighting and decorations, setting the tone for an unforgettable evening. The entire space buzzed with prominent guests of all ranks, dressed to the tens, and eager reporters, clicking away to capture every moment of the event. The gentle hum of conversation, the soft clinking of glasses, and the melodic background music all synchronized perfectly into an electrifying atmosphere of celebration. The Bellerose Fragrance 90th anniversary celebration was like no other occasion, packed with engaging and memorable programs that were bound to live rent-free in the attendees' minds. The event featured welcome addresses that highlighted the company's history and milestones, award presentations to honor long-serving employees, mesmerizing perfume exhibitions, educating video presentations, and a ceremonial cake cutting. The entertaining programs unfolded nonstop until the attendees were
Juniper's face scrunched up in an expression of utter disgust as she stared at her phone, scrolling through article after article of the daily news. Chloe's face was plastered across the front pages of nearly every media outlet, from reputable magazines to sensational tabloids and blogs, glorified with catchy headlines that were impossible to ignore. . . [ "Meet Forêt-Bleue's Youngest CEO Who's Changing the Game: Chloe Clermont" "The Unstoppable Rise of Forêt-Bleue's Youngest Female CEO" "The Future of Business: Chloe Clermont's Inspiring Story" "CEO Sensation: Chloe Clermont's Recipe for Success" "Chloe Clermont: The Face of Modern Leadership" "From Startup to Stardom: Chloe's Journey to the Top" "The Power Player: Chloe Clermont's Impact on Bellerose Fragrance" ] It didn't stop there. The headlines kept getting more and more annoying as they came. And the articles, themselves? Nothing but overexaggerated facts to cover up her lack of better a
"Sorry, I couldn't call sooner," Damien's voice chimed through from the other end. "Did you get home safe?" Camille couldn't stop herself from grinning widely whenever she heard his voice— or stop her body from moving. I mean, how could she keep still when the entire zoo was parading in her belly? She beamed, slowly pacing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window as she interchangeably swapped the position of her phone from ear to ear. "Of course, I did. Thankfully, in one piece." "You're not changing your mind about us just because my mom disapproves, right?" He said, his voice laced with worry. "Let me apologize in her stead. She can be inconsiderate sometimes but she's totally harmless, believe me." "It's okay. I understand," she said with a smile. "And I'm never changing my mind about us. I didn't muster the courage to pour out my feelings before them only to relent afterward." A brief, silent fell at the other end of the line and Camille could bet her kidn
A short while later, they were all seated around the kitchen table, enjoying the meal Damien's parents had brought. Gabriel appeared to be taking the news of their relationship a tad better than his wife, Alice, who couldn't hide her disapproval. She never missed the opportunity to cast nasty glances at Camille and make subtle, biting comments. Damien, however, seemed completely unfazed by his mother's behavior, all his attention was focused on the woman sitting beside him. A sweet smile lit up Damien's face as he placed a bite-sized slice of charred lamb on Camille's plate. "You have to try this, it's so delish," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Returning his smile, Camille picked up the meat with her fork and savored the bite, blissfully unaware of the daggers Alice was shooting at her from across the table. The older woman cleared her throat emphatical, striving to gain their attention. When she succeeded, she spoke to Camille with a tone tin