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THIRTEEN: Guilt
Last Updated:
2024-06-24 08:23:06
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The Surrogate's Vendetta FOURTEEN: Chaotic Confrontation
The air was thick with tension as Juniper's foot hovered above the next step, her heart pounding in anxiety. Slowly, she turned to face him, her voice barely above a whisper. "What did you just say?" Dylan dealt her an intense look of aggression, his grey eyes shooting icicles through her. Without any words, he stormed towards her and snatched her wrist in a death grip, forcefully tugging her away from the porch. Instinctively, Juniper placed a protective hand over her bump as she struggled to be set free. "Dylan! Let me go, Dylan! You're hurting me!" She cried as he pulled her towards the annex building. Turning a deaf ear to her pleas, Dylan yanked the door of the annex building open, hauled her in with him, and slammed it shut behind him. Immediately as he flicked the light switch on, Juniper slung her hand free from his savage hold, shrieking furiously. "What the hell is your problem, Dylan?!" Dylan had an awful glower on his face as his nostrils flared i
Last Updated : 2024-06-25The Surrogate's Vendetta FIVETEEN: Obsession
Dylan had been unrest for the past couple of days, unable to shake off the confrontation with Juniper. He was used to effortlessly charming and winning over any woman he wanted. Why was it so difficult to sway her? He couldn't deny nor ignore the fact that he was attracted to Juniper. For some reason, she reminded him so much of Vivienne, from their physical features to their mannerism. But, what seemed to set Juniper apart from her sister was her underlying fiery spirit and tenacity when she got mad, which he found irresistibly intriguing. Things had been going so well between them that he got the feeling she was just as into him as he was into her. But then, she'd begun to distance herself from me. AGAIN! Was it because she'd found someone else? Was that someone else the Crown Prince? The private investigator he had hired to keep tabs on her had sent him some damning photos of Juniper walking into a restaurant with the Crown Prince. But that was all he had to go
Last Updated : 2024-06-27The Surrogate's Vendetta SIXTEEN: Treading On Thin Ice
Ever since Cedric went back to being the busy Crown Prince of Forêt-Bleue, Juniper had been finding it difficult to cope without him around. She'd barely been able to see him or speak to him over the phone more than once a day. And she really needed someone to rely on, especially with the recent happenings in her life. WELL, I GUESS I'M ON MY OWN FOR NOW. As she stepped into the foyer, Audrey came dashing towards her, panting heavily. "Oh, my God, Juni. Thank God, you're home," she exclaimed, her every move screaming urgency. "I really need your assistance." Juniper's eyes darted side to side, a little taken aback. "Uh, okay, with what?" Audrey's utterance spilled out in a hurry, each word accompanied by a pant. "It's a package which I desperately need for an audition this evening. Dylan has it. Can you please go to his house and get it for me? PLEASE." Without a second thought, Juniper shook her head slowly in objection. The thought of being in the same proxi
Last Updated : 2024-06-28The 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 : 2024-07-05
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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
