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SIXTY-EIGHT: Let's End This Game
Last Updated:
2024-10-08 21:48:29
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The Surrogate's Vendetta SIXTY-NINE: A Sick Merman
Juniper's voice poured out from the other end of the line, vibrating with excitement. "It's been hella hectic all day around here that I didn't get the chance to contact you earlier, but I have news for you. . ." . she paused for suspense before dropping the bombshell. "Cedric asked me to marry him." Of everything Camille expected to hear today, that was the very least of them. The Crown Prince proposed to Juniper even though the public still acknowledged Chloe as his fiancée? Does he not realize how much backlash that would bring to the Royal Family? Whatever charm Juniper had on that man was really effective. "So what was your response to his proposal?" Camille asked even though she knew the answer. Juniper's response was accompanied by an unsettling laughter, "I said yes, of course. Why would I refuse such a proposal?" "So what exactly is your plan? To be the Queen?" "No. I aim to destroy the Royal Family. To let Cedric watch as his beloved family slowly crumble to d
Last Updated : 2024-10-16The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTY: Fireworks!
Camille swiftly jerked her hand back, not because his head was burning like hot coals, but to escape the traitorous surge of "Mama Hen" tendencies that surfaced and made her go all soft around vulnerable people. She DID NOT want to feel that way around this complicated man. He was already dangerous enough hale and hearty, she didn't want to find out how much more dangerous he could get with that fragile expression plastered on his pretty face. "What did I say about boundaries, Damien?" She complained, her tone taking on its usual coldness. Ignoring her dismissive tone, Damien coughed raspily, cleared his stuffy nose into the napkin in his hand, and whined weakly, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I usually never get sick. I always take good care of my health." He scowled at her in feigned annoyance. "Maybe it's because I've been spending too much time with a certain frosty companion." "Or maybe because you thought it was cute to keep swimming in the wint
Last Updated : 2024-10-28The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTY-ONE: Something Smells Fishy
It was quite a hassle to have a one-on-one conversation with the Queen due to the New Year's Feast yesterday, but now that the festivity craziness was gradually blowing over, Juniper got her chance. Juniper gave the lady-in-waiting a polite nod as soon as she permitted her to proceed into the Queen's Study. A meaningful smile took over her chocolate-tinted lips as she strode into the glamorous working space of Forêt-Bleue's monarchess. "Good evening, Your Majesty," Juniper said with a respectful bow before settling into the seat in front of her. Her gaze hovered around, taking in the splendor of the grand room. "I'm truly humbled to be granted this rare audience. I must have saved a nation in my past life. To be frank, I half-expected my request to be denied," she added with a soft chuckle, her fingers splaying across her chest. "It's really an honor to be in the presence of the Queen of Forêt-Bleue herself." Without her lifting her gaze from the documents before her,
Last Updated : 2024-11-03The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTY-TWO: New Year Resolution
Camille let loose a heavy sigh when her phone rang, revealing her annoying boss' ID on its screen. "Hey, I need your help," Damien's voice poured from the other end as soon as she answered the call. "What do you want this time?" Camille drawled grudgingly. "Meet in front of your house, I'll give you the deets. I'm waiting." "How do you—" And he hung up. Truth to his words, Damien's sleek sports car sat outside her gate, its polished lines gleaming in the light. And there he was, leaning nonchalantly against the driver's side door, looking all gorgeous in a tan, woolly turtleneck sweater paired with light blue ripped jeans and tan shin-length boots. In addition, a luxurious beige fur coat draped elegantly over his shoulder, complimenting his casual ensemble and accentuating his handsome features. As soon as he noticed her, Damien flashed her a million-dollar smile and took off his designer sunshade, revealing his ever-glowing jade eyes. "Hey, you," he si
Last Updated : 2024-11-08The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTY-THREE: What Have You Gotten Us Into?
Juniper paced restlessly in the hall of Camille's house, murmuring to herself. "What are we going to do? What have I gotten us into?" But nothing eased her anxiety than seeing Camille burst through the front door. "Oh, Camille! Thank God you're finally here." "What is it? What's wrong?" Camille asked snappily, her eyes searching the other woman's face. Juniper noticed the slight bruises and scratches on her face and neck, not to mention the large ruddy stain on her shirt, but there were more pressing matters. Besides, if she looked this much of a mess, her opponent must be resting in a morgue at the moment. "HIM!" she replied tersely, her finger pointing directly at the problem at hand. A horrified expression took over Camille's face as her gaze followed Juniper's gesture to the lifeless man on the floor. His wrists and ankles were tightly bound with duct tape, and a crumpled grocery bag covered his head, obscuring his face. "Did you kill him?" she asked hesitantly, h
Last Updated : 2024-11-21The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTY-FOUR: Request For Cooperation
"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
Last Updated : 2024-12-03The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTY-FIVE: Island Party
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-16The Surrogate's Vendetta SEVENTY-SIX: Confession
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-28
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
