Chapter 5
“What swing?” I was stunned by the slap, my phone still displaying the photos Benjamin and I had taken earlier that day. Elijah glanced at them, his expression darkening even further. He grabbed my phone and smashed it to the ground.”
“Do you really think you can fool me with these photos right now?” he seethed.
‘Anastasia, do you think having a boyfriend to cover for you clears you of suspicion for hurting Jules? Keep dreaming!“}
Ignoring my protests, he dragged me outside to the swing set. The ropes were snapped. Juliette insisted I had deliberately cut them.” “Elijah, I can’t stay in Anastasia’s house anymore,” Juliette cried, playing the victim. “I know she’s infatuated with you. I thought she had given up, but now she’s just waiting for her chance, hoping that if I’m out of the picture, she can be the bride at your wedding.“}]
“I can’t compete with Anastasia’s scheming,” Juliette wept. “I give up, Elijah. I’ll move out once I’m discharged from the hospital.”}] Elijah’s eyes were blazing with anger.
“Move? I’ll help you move right now!” he snapped. “Anastasia, I gave you chances, but you keep crossing the line, hurting Jules! People need to face the consequences of their actions!” he declared, signaling to a dozen bodyguards who surrounded me. I sensed trouble.” “What are you planning to do?” I asked. “I told you, I didn’t cut the swing ropes!“}]
Elijah’s anger only grew, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“You’re telling me, in the entire Hawthorne family, it wasn’t you? Dominic wouldn’t do something like this. So, was it Juliette herself who cut the ropes to hurt herself?”
I looked up, startled. It was a possibility. She’d been known to play the victim in the past.
“Elijah, I have no reason to do something like this-“}
But I was cut off as Juliette continued her tearful accusations. “Anastasia told me herself that if she can’t marry you, she wouldn’t let me either. I thought she was just upset at the time, but she actually wants me dead.“}
Elijah’s expression was colder than ever. Without giving me a chance to defend myself, he ordered the bodyguards to restrain me.
“I won’t stoop to hurting you, but I want you to experience what Jules went through,” he declared. “She fell from the swing, so you’ll relive that moment too.“@
I was dragged up to the second–floor balcony.
“There’s no swing here, so we’ll just toss you off. You won’t die, and there’s a doctor ready to patch you up!” Elijah commanded. “Stop!” “Stop!”
Two voices overlapped, and I turned with relief to see Benjamin and my brother Dominic rushing over.
Dominic, his face a mask of anger, shouted at Elijah. “Elijah, if you lay another finger on Ana, consider this friendship over!“>
Benjamin, calmer but no less intense, addressed Elijah. “Mr. Kensington, no matter what you think Ana did, there are ways to handle it. Ordering your men to do this? That’s attempted murder.“}
“Ana?” Elijah repeated, his gaze colder still. “Mr. Calloway, I didn’t realize you were involved in this. Anastasia might have made mistakes, but as her brother, it’s my job to handle it. Even if you’re backed by the Calloway family, I suggest you stay out of it.”
Dominic was furious. “What kind of brother are you, Elijah? I’m her brother, and it’s my responsibility to deal with Ana, not yours! I care deeply for my sister. She once had feelings for you, and I tried to support that. But now, she’s moved on, and you won’t lay a hand on her!”
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