LOGINShare
TWENTY: He's A Step Ahead
Last Updated:
2024-07-04 20:47:27
Related chapters
The 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 : 2024-07-11The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-FIVE: Her Royal Majesty
Juniper felt like a toothpick in the arms of the muscle-bound man as she struggled fruitlessly to be liberated. Her outcry was lost in the throat, subdued under the weight of the humongous hand of her abductor, clenching ever so tightly over her mouth. Earlier, she'd been so engulfed in her anguish that she didn't notice she was being followed, and as her abductor took her away, she realized he wasn't the only one tailing her. There were men in smart midnight black suits with similar buffed-out builds just like her abductor, standing alert around four cars right behind hers, and among them was a luxurious black limousine. She wasn't sure why she was being abducted or where they were taking her, but she needed no clairvoyance to know that she was in big trouble. As they reached the limousine, one of the men pulled the door open as her abductor propelled her into the car, slamming the door shut. The instant her mouth was released, Juniper began to scream her lungs out for help
Last Updated : 2024-07-14The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-SIX: Controversy In The Mansion
Back at the mansion, Chloe was spitting fire and brimstone, her anger and aggression explosive as she recounted her horrific day to her family. She paced back and forth across the living room floor, her heavy footsteps making the walls tremble, like a wild animal caged and ready to burst free as her words poured out like venom, threatening to consume everything in their path. "I just can't understand why she'd try to sabotage me like that, after all the kindness I've shown her." Chloe roared, her eyes blazing with fury as her voice ricocheted off the walls. "What if she'd succeeded. . ." She paused, her mind racing with the dire possibilities. "What if she had succeeded in making the Crown Prince fall for her tricks. . . if she had won his affections. . . where would that have left me? God! The very thought sends shivers down my spine!" With each heated word, Chloe's anger seemed to grow, filling the room with an almost tangible intensity. Her family watched her with
Last Updated : 2024-07-16The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-SEVEN: Leaving The Bellerose Mansion
The sky was already a deep shade of indigo and twinkling with stars when Juniper finally arrived at the mansion. Under different circumstances, she would have found the beauty of the starry sky breathtaking and even considered the day a good one. But it wasn't! It was an awful day that left a sour taste in her mouth, and she wished she could just blink and it would erase like it never came. With a subtle limp, Juniper made her way into the mansion, suppressing a moan with each step she took. She had made a stop at the hospital to have her cut treated, but her leg still throbbed like hell. The doctor at the emergency room had questioned her about the injury, but she had fabricated a story about accidentally cutting herself with a cleaver. Though the doctor raised a skeptical eyebrow, he hadn't pushed the issue further, thankfully. Instead, he had recommended that she be admitted for observation or undergo further checks to ensure both she and her unborn child were unharmed. Wi
Last Updated : 2024-07-18The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-EIGHT: Juniper's Tragical End?
"I'm keeping the child!" Juniper found herself declaring with all the confidence she could summon. A surge of conviction propelled her forward, and words began to flow from her lips like a river. "I'll raise him, at least until he's old enough to understand. I think every child needs their mother. Yes, he isn't biologically my child. But, I've given him a home within me. I've felt his tiny kicks, his gentle stirrings, and with every passing day, our bond grows stronger. I'm prepared to nurture him, love him, and sacrifice for him. And that, to me, makes me his mother." Antoine cleared his throat "Juniper. . ." "I know what you're about to say," Juniper interjected reasonably. "You're about to say that raising a child is a daunting task and that a Bellerose deserves to be raised in luxury and comfort—which I clearly do not have. And I agree. But, Mr. Clermont, the child needs more than just material comfort. He needs the love, protection, and devotion of a mother. Som
Last Updated : 2024-07-21
Latest chapter
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
The Surrogate's Vendetta 107: Approval
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 Surrogate's Vendetta 106: Altercation With The Queen
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
The Surrogate's Vendetta 105: Driven Away
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
The Surrogate's Vendetta 104: Chloe's Waterloo
"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 Surrogate's Vendetta 103: The Anniversary
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
The Surrogate's Vendetta 102: The Rumor
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
The Surrogate's Vendetta 101: More Suspicions
"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
The Surrogate's Vendetta 100: "I'm in love with your son"
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
