LOGINShare
SIXTEEN: Treading On Thin Ice
Last Updated:
2024-06-28 07:07:33
Related chapters
The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTEEN: Ensnarled by the Fox
★TRIGGER ALERT!!!★ Juniper moaned softly as she toiled to flutter her eyes open. Her eyes felt heavy and everywhere seemed hazy, but as the fog began to clear off, she noticed that she was in a room— a bedroom to be exact. An extremely strange bedroom. "Where on earth am I?" Her thought screamed as her eyes surveyed the room. She could tell she was on a bed due to the plushy feeling of a mattress against her body. She tried to move but even that proved to be a struggle as her body was just too weak to respond to anything. She tried a fainter approach by shifting her hands but they won't budge either. It felt like something was clenching it in place, preventing them from moving. With great effort, she twisted her head to one corner to inspect her hand situation, and there—around her wrist—were handcuffs, binding her hand to the headboard of the bed. She checked the other side and found her hand in the condition. WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON? In t
Last Updated : 2024-06-30The Surrogate's Vendetta EIGHTEEN: The Aftermath
In the late hours of the following morning, Juniper's eyes snapped open, and the first thing that greeted her was Dylan's peaceful face right next to hers, his arm wrapped tightly around her. But as the fog of sleep cleared, the horrifying memories of the previous night came rushing back in a blast, inducing a severe feeling of repulsion through her entire being. With a blood-curdling scream, she wrenched herself free from his hold and she scrambled out of the bed. Her body trembled with fear and disgust as she snatched the duvet from his body, wrapping it around herself like a shield. The sudden movement startled Dylan awake and his eyes fluttered open in confusion. Unbothered by his current state of nudity and the turmoil he had unleashed, he stirred on the bed, releasing a low groan of exhaustion. "Hey, can you please keep it down?" He grumbled. "I'm so tired. I was up all night. . . um, making mad love to you. I need some rest to recharge my energy." "Asshole!
Last Updated : 2024-07-01The Surrogate's Vendetta NINETEEN: Going Against The Powerful
Juniper hopped on the cab she finally succeeded at halting after three attempts. She wouldn't blame the other two cab drivers who had sped past her when she'd hailed them. She would ride past herself if she was in their shoes. She looked like a total hot mess with her hair, clothes, and emotions all disheveled, but her determination was focused more on one thing—to get to the police station and report the crime committed against her. She was resolute in seeking legal action. She was going to make sure Dylan was held accountable for his actions. When Juniper got to the police station, she pushed through the glass doors and headed straight to the front desk. The young officer behind the counter—dressed in a well-fitted smart uniform that looked like it was tailored right on him—rose to his feet and flashed her a cheery smile. "How can we help you, ma'am?" If Juniper wasn't so focused on pursuing retribution, she would have noticed how good-looking the cop was
Last Updated : 2024-07-02The 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 : 2024-07-11
Latest chapter
The Surrogate's Vendetta EPILOGUE
[THREE YEARS LATER!!!] "Hi, love, sorry I had an emergency meeting with the board of directors," Juniper spoke rapidly into her phone as she alighted her car and made for the mansion. "I just got home. I'll get the boys and meet you there in a bit. Sorry. Love you. Muah!" She disconnected the line right before her husband delved into nagging mode. Nothing was as terrifying as listening to him bite her head off. As soon as Juniper walked into the mansion, her ears were greeted with the familiar screaming and giggling. She found Nanny Inés in the foyer, clutching a couple of little fur jackets, and trying to catch her breath. She needed not to ask the older woman to know what she'd been going through. After sharing a brief laughter, Juniper flashed her an apologetic smile, taking the jackets from her. "In what direction did they go?!" Without delay, Inés pointed out the direction, leading to the laundry room, and Juniper followed. "Hector! Étienne! Mommy's
The Surrogate's Vendetta 127: Final Goodbye
"Are you certain this is what you want, Your Highness?" Gabriel Christophe asked for the third time that day. Cedric understood how the Prime Minister felt, he wanted to be sure his decision was a spur-of-the-moment. And it wasn't. His mind was made up. Even as he waited hours in the Council Chamber for the Prime Minister's arrival, nothing could change his mind. "I'm certain, Mr. Prime Minister," Cedric replied, his tone calm and firm. "The Royal Family has caused more harm than good to the people of Forêt-bleue in recent years. I feel mortified to face my people knowing what my family has done. This is the only way to make things straight." He paused for a breath. "We must abolish the monarchy before the day of my coronation." "Very well, Your Highness," Gabriel said with a nod. "I'll propose this to the parliament. It would be difficult to convince them of your decision, but I'll do everything in my power to ensure they agree to it. If it's the last thing I do
The Surrogate's Vendetta 126: The Fall Of The Royal Family
Commotion ensued as Jerome burst into the room, leading a team of heavily armed forces. The royal guards were swiftly overwhelmed, surrounded, and held at gunpoint before they could even react. "Drop your weapons and put your hands on your heads," Jerome commanded in a stern voice. Queen Catherine was startled and beyond flummoxed. She couldn't comprehend what was going on. As the police disarmed the queen's aides, she slowly backed away, her eyes wavered nervously, but she managed to maintain a stern, authoritative tone. "What is the meaning of this? How dare you barge into the. . ." She trailed off the moment she sighted her son amongst the cops. He stood in a spot—unmoving—watching her. Without a doubt, she could tell he was livid. His expression spoke volumes of that fact. Regardless, she tried to act clueless. To play the victim. "C—Cedric! What— what is going on here?" She flattered anxiously. "Are you part of this? How could you bring the authorit
The Surrogate's Vendetta 125: The Queenpin And The Thorn In Her Flesh
Pigheadedly, Juniper made her way to the location. According to the blueprint, the entrance to the underground meth lab was situated in an old, dilapidated barn. And with the GPS on her phone, it wasn't too difficult to find. Noticing a group of Royal Guards patrolling the area, she hid behind a shrub. When she realized the coast was clear, she ventured stealthily into the barn. The situation inside the barn was far worse than the exterior. She wouldn't be surprised if a tarantula popped out from nowhere and attacked her. It took quite a long while of thorough searching before she found a door underneath a wooden, worn-out shelf of some sort. As she pushed the shelf aside, she noticed there was a padlock on the door. Just as she swatted to inspect the lock, a guard suddenly burst through the barn door, flashing a torch. "Who's there?!" He barked. "Show yourself." Juniper had no time for this. Rising to her feet, she secretly pulled a tranq gun from her w
The Surrogate's Vendetta 124: Blueprint
[ Dear Juniper and Jerome, First of all, I want to apologize for what I'm about to do. I know you want what's best for me but I know this is the only way to put an end to Antoine for good. Thank you for seeing the good in me. But I've done terrible things that are beyond your imagination and I don't think I deserve a second chance. I have no right to request this from you, but please look after my son. And if possible, don't bother telling him about his father. I never deserved to create such a sweet soul in the first place. I'm glad my sister had people like you around her. People who she could put her life on the line for and people who would do the same for her. And I'm glad I got to meet her people, even for a short while, before I join her. I'm sorry and thank you for everything.ADRIEN. ] Juniper and Jerome heaved a deep sigh after reading the handwritten letter Adrien had mailed to Camille's house. Yesterday, when the news of the Prison Bus Explos
The Surrogate's Vendetta 123: Depression
It was already three weeks since Camille's death, but Damien was still lost in the darkness of depression. His arrival at the National Team Training Center was already a week overdue but he couldn't care less. In fact, that was the very least on his mind. All that was on his mind was the memories of that unfortunate day. He couldn't bring himself to do anything. LITERALLY. He lay all curled up on his bed, drenching his pillows with uncontrollable tears and mumbling incoherent words to the image of Camille his mind had conjured up. "I have to find a way to let you go, or else how can I forget about you, Camille? Hmm? I still. . . I still can't believe you're no longer here. Everyone says I should forget your death and move on with my life, but how can I do that? When I see you everywhere." He sniffled. "This morning, I saw you in our driveway. I knew. . . I knew it wasn't you. I knew it was only a fantasy. Just another illusion I've created in my head. Still, my hear
The Surrogate's Vendetta 122: Let's Burn Together
Antoine shouted so loud that it was a miracle Juniper's eardrums were left intact. He dropped to the ground like a bag of hammers, clutching his bleeding knee as he writhed in agony. Now it was Juniper's turn to laugh. "Yeah, you're right," she returned, her voice dripping with sweet sarcasm. "I'm not a murderer and I can't kill you. But I can very much disable you." BANG! Juniper shot him again at his other kneecap. "That's for my father," she spat indignantly, disregarding his howling of pain. BANG! She shot one of his shins. "That's for Vivienne." BANG! She shot the other one. "That's for Camille." BANG! She buried the last bullet in his injured shoulder. "And that's for everyone else you've hurt!" At that moment, her ears picked up the soft sob of sirens in the distance. The police were on their way. Juniper stooped, about ninety degrees, baring her pearly teeth at the suffering man. "You're going to rot in jail, Antoine Clermont," she whispered
The Surrogate's Vendetta 121: Invading The Enemy's Territory
Juniper sat in her car, her fingers drumming a rhythmic beat on the steering wheel as she waited, all pumped up. She'd spent the past week recuperating and training for this day— The day Antoine would be brought to his knees A couple of days ago, Adrien had informed her that Antoine had headed to his hideout, and their window to capture him was narrowing. Juniper had pushed hard to join the operation, and after some convincing, Adrien had finally relented. No way was she missing this for anything. Suddenly, the rear door of her car swung open and Adrien hopped into the back seat. "Let's go!" He said promptly. "Now!" Juniper glanced at him from the rearview mirror and shook her head. No salutations, no small talk— Adrien was always straight to the point like the gloomy, ice cube he was. Moments like this reminded Juniper of her beginning moments with Camille before she eventually got to know the warm version hiding behind that ice wall. This behavior might
The Surrogate's Vendetta 120: Exposing The Nasty Deeds Of The Clermont Family
Even though Juniper was well aware of who stood behind her, she remained still, trying not to provoke him. And then she felt the pressure of the gun no more, just as quickly as it had come against her head. Suddenly, Adrien appeared before her, his gun pointing at her face. "Relax," he said benignly. "I mean you no harm." Unfazed, Juniper looked him dead straight in the eyes. "Well. . . from where I stand, that's hard to believe." Adrien heaved a deep sigh and lowered his gun. "I'm not here to make trouble," he returned evenly. "I'm here to ask for your help. I need to find Antoine." The next hour, Juniper and Adrien sat opposite each other at the kitchen table, each with a plate of pasta and tomato sauce in front of them, though neither had made much progress in eating. Juniper wasn't in the best of her mood but she'd had insisted on whipping up a simple dinner for them, despite Adrien's initial reluctance. "You do know the police are already handling An
