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TWENTY-THREE: CEDRIC IS BACK!
Last Updated:
2024-07-09 23:58:52
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The 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 : 2024-07-21The Surrogate's Vendetta TWENTY-NINE: Camille Thomas
Juniper wasn't sure if it was real or if she was simply hallucinating, but amidst the ear-splitting din of the compactor and the crunching of twisted metal, a distant rumble of a vehicle began to build, growing louder with each passing heartbeat, accelerating into the junkyard with maximum speed. . . and then, a thunderous collision. Suddenly, the compactor came to a clunking halt. It seemed like whoever her savior was had collided with the control panel, thereby stopping the machine from operating and saving her life. Juniper tried to move but she realized her entire body was frozen. She couldn't even move a muscle. She was still shell-shocked from her near-death experience that the frantic banging on the crumpled car door seemed muffled and far-off to Juniper's ears as if she were submerged in a foggy dream. Bang bang! "Juniper!" A woman's pleasant alto voice boomed through with a tinge of dread and urgency in it. "Juniper Laurent, are you in there?" E
Last Updated : 2024-07-22The Surrogate's Vendetta THIRTY: Vivienne's Last Will
A frown creased Camille's serene face as she asked, "Vivienne never got to fill you in before the accident?" "No," Juniper retorted, now growing impatient. "What exactly are you talking about? What is it that I do not know?" Camille sighed deeply before she began to explain, "It's about the child you're carrying, Juniper. As long as he has the Bellerose's blood running through his veins, he'll automatically inherit seventy percent of the Bellerose Empire's shares and assets the moment he's born. And whoever happens to be the parents or guardian of the child will have full control over that vast fortune until he turns twenty-two." "What?" Juniper whispered in rampant disbelief. Her senses were on high alert, but she couldn't wrap her mind around what she'd just heard. Was she truly hearing this or just conjuring it up in her frazzled mind? Her mind raced with a flurry of questions. What was the purpose of entrusting an unborn child with such immense power and w
Last Updated : 2024-07-23The Surrogate's Vendetta THIRTY-ONE: "I'll make them all pay"
Juniper felt overwhelmed, struggling to process the sheer magnitude of all the revelations. Just when she thought she was starting to grasp the situation, another shocking truth would surface, leaving her reeling. She was bombarded with information, and all she could do was sit frozen, absorb the blows, and desperately pray they did not destroy her. Sitting rigidly on the suddenly uncomfortable couch, Juniper listened keenly and emotionally shattered as Camille recounted the events that had fueled their unyielding determination to take down the Clermont Family. "We were quite younger when our parents died," Camille began, struggling to remain calm. However, she couldn't smother the rage in her voice. "I and my little brother, Adrien, had to live in an orphanage. He was still quite young and had better chances of getting adopted than I was. When I turned twelve and he, was four, a nice, wealthy family came to adopt him, but he didn't want to be parted with me. He wouldn't
Last Updated : 2024-07-24
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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
