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THIRTY-EIGHT: A Meeting With The Royal Family
Last Updated:
2024-08-04 23:37:46
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The Surrogate's Vendetta THIRTY-NINE: Prince Éti— Étienne Leaves The Palace
"She can't stay here, Your Highness!" Chloe protested loudly as she burst into Cedric's study. "She won't stay here! I won't allow it!" Cedric already knew who she was referring to without asking. He peeled his eyes away from the computer's screen to glance at her. "The decision has been made, Chloe," he said evenly, shifting his gaze back to the monitor. "There's nothing more we can do about it." But Chloe was not listening. She was furious. Maybe a little anxious too. "But I see no point letting her stay in the Royal Palace," she snapped. "We could just take your son away from her. Why should we indulge her?" Cedric barely managed to keep his tone neutral as he replied to the seething woman, "Because that was her only condition. She won't let us take Hector unless was allowed to accompany him." "And why should we even listen to her absurd demands? She's even not his biological mother. She's just a surrogate. We don't even need a good lawyer to fight for full
Last Updated : 2024-08-05The Surrogate's Vendetta FORTY: Into The Royal Palace
The sun was already dipping below the horizon when Juniper arrived at the Royal Palace. She had only been to the palace once as a kid, but now that she saw it again, she had to admit that her definition of definition was rather limited. The royal palace rose proudly like a shimmering symphony of glass, steel, and stone. Its walls were made of white marble and glass, giving it a clean and sleek look. The palace had tall towers and big arches, like traditional castles, but with a fresh and contemporary twist probably proposed by innovative architects over the years. The roof, a marvel of engineering, appeared to float above the structure, its crystalline panels glinting like a thousand tiny diamonds, casting colorful shadows on the ground. The Royal Palace was beyond magnificent. Juniper looked down at her son, whose eyes shone with excitement as he clutched her hand. "Hey, sweetie, you ready to call this incredible castle home?" "Yaaay!" Hector squealed, bouncing u
Last Updated : 2024-08-09The Surrogate's Vendetta FORTY-ONE: The Emergency Board Meeting
It was already hours since Chloe arrived at work but she was still fuming by Juniper's sheer audacity. "That sneaky, little witch!" Chloe spat aggressively. "Bold of her to think we could be FRIENDS after all she'd done." What the hell was she thinking? That she would erase from her memory everything she'd done and just be friends? Chloe was still struggling to get used to the fact that Juniper was not only the mother of her fiancé's child but also living in the same space with her. AGAIN! What kind of ill-fated relationship does she have with that woman that she wouldn't just leave her alone? What did she have to do to get rid of that woman? AHHH! Chloe screamed out of frustration, ferociously shoving files and whatnot off her table. It was when the glass nameplate, bearing her name and her CEO title, crashed onto the floor, shattering into smithereens that she popped out of her anger bubble. She squeezed her eyes shut, breathing deeply as she tried
Last Updated : 2024-08-11The Surrogate's Vendetta FORTY-TWO: Welcome To The Top Of The Pyramid
Slowly, Juniper turned to the source of the voice, and there, standing behind her was Dylan Dupont in all his cockiness and flamboyant outfit. She exhaled inwardly. And just when she thought today was the best day of her life. "Juniper! It really is you!" Dylan exclaimed with a broad smile, striding towards her in that self-assured demeanor that she'd once admired, but now only irked her. Juniper strained a smile. "Hey, Dylan," she singsonged as cheerfully as possible. "Long time, no see. What brings you to B. Fragrance?" "I could ask the same." "Well, I'm here for business. What about you?" "Something along the same line!" A lazy smile swept across Dylan's face. "Wow, Juni! You look. . ." He dealt her an intentional appraisal. It felt almost as if he was stripping her naked with his gaze. ". . .so different." "And you look the same," Juniper said in return, her facial muscles hurting from keeping that forced smile on. The smile on his face dwindle
Last Updated : 2024-08-12The Surrogate's Vendetta FORTY-THREE: Suspicions Surrounding Vivienne's Accident
"You won't believe who I met today," Juniper spat as she walked into the SID. She flung her bag onto a table and dropped into a nearby chair, seething with uncontrolled fury. Ever since she left B. Fragrance building, she'd contemplated a thousand exceeding ways to kill that chicken shit. Camille glanced up from the pile of papers and printed photos she was going through, meeting her gaze with a leveled expression. She could detect the sizzling wrath glaring on the other woman's face, but she just arched an eyebrow and asked flatly, "Who?" Juniper's nose flared, her chest rising and falling heavily as she grounded out the infuriating name. "Dylan Dupont! That miserable excuse of a human!" She scoffed in exasperation. "Do you know what he said to me?" She made an ugly face and a horrible imitation of Dylan's voice, "‘Hey, you're not still hung up on what happened between us, are you?’ The nerve of that asshole!" "Please tell me you punched his face in," Camille blurted grimly. "
Last Updated : 2024-08-14The Surrogate's Vendetta FORTY-FOUR: Picnic and Memory Lane
"HELLO, DADDY! WHAT YOU UP TO?! Cedric's heart did a double flip the moment Juniper bursted through the door of his study letting those words out in a purr and wearing a sly smile. She lounged her hips alluring against the door frame and watched him with a leery look. She looked casual and soft in that flower-patterned off-the-shoulder top, displaying those sensuous collarbones of hers and a slender neck that was adorned with a narrow, silver choker. The top was paired with a pair of high-waisted, white linen shorts, the hem perfected with a delicate lace trim, as their loose and flowy silhouette fell right above her higher thighs, making it impossible to ignore those glossy, porcelain legs of hers. It took quite an effort not to drool and humiliate himself. He hardly saw her in such cheery outfits ever since she arrived. What was the occasion? Before he could make out the reason for her arrival, she shifted her body slightly from the door frame and made way
Last Updated : 2024-08-16The Surrogate's Vendetta FORTY-FIVE: Jealous Much?
[FEW WEEKS LATER: HECTOR'S BIRTHDAY PARTY] Cedric was right, after all, Juniper thought to herself as scanned the Royal Ballroom. Hector's birthday party was more of a grand Royal Introduction than an actual birthday party. The party had begun at 7: 30pm and the celebrant was already in his room—fast asleep—way before then. The royal ballroom was teeming with influential people from around the globe, mingling and networking in their finest, high-end outfits. Everyone exuded an aura of success, prestige, and glamour that it was hard to distinguish between royalty, nobles, celebrities, and business leaders. That was the great thing about having wealth in abundance. It opened doors to exclusive circles, allowing one to rub shoulders with the elite—the rich and powerful. People who seemed like kind and generous philanthropists on the surface, flashing warm smiles and adorned in stunning attire. However, beneath their polished facade, the purest form of evil nestled comfort
Last Updated : 2024-08-19The Surrogate's Vendetta FORTY-SIX: Ensnaring The Fox
Juniper wasn't the least bit surprised when she had walked into the restaurant minutes ago and found Dylan already waiting. The man was punctual, patient, thoughtful, charming with words, and often exhibited the disposition of a true gentleman. On the surface, anyone would deem him the perfect partner. . . the epitome of every woman's fantasy. . . yadda yadda yadda. But she knew him well. She was well-acquainted with the cunning and manipulative demon he skillfully concealed behind his polished, gentlemanly exterior. "So how has Forêt-Bleue been treating you since you arrived?" Dylan asked sweetly. Juniper's lips morphed into a smile as her shoulders lifted in a subtle shrug. "Hmm, so far, so good," she said casually. Then, her smile waned, her eyes narrowing as she added with comical seriousness, "But certainly not good living in the Royal Palace. Let me tell you this. . . Living in the Royal Palace is not as rosy as it appears to be. It's like a beautiful prison wit
Last Updated : 2024-08-20
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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
