Chapter 6
“Come on, even if Anastasia went off the deep end today and, I don’t know, committed a crime, the law would handle it, not you!” Dominic exclaimed, his protective nature as a big brother powerfully evident.N
Back in the day, because of my secret crush, Dominic had gone to great lengths to set me up with Elijah, even resorting to some rather questionable methods. He simply couldn’t bear to see me upset.§.
Elijah was well aware of this. His voice was icy as he scowled, “Dominic, Anastasia had it out for Jules. She cut the swing’s rope, and if I hadn’t been there to catch her, it could’ve been tragic. Do you think that’s nothing?”
“Elijah, I always knew you had a tendency to lose your head, but this? This is a whole new level of stupid,” Dominic retorted, shaking his head. “I knew you’d lose your mind over Juliette, but seriously, this is insanity.”
Elijah was taken aback by Dominic’s words. “What are you talking about?”
Dominic smirked, pulling out his phone to display a video. “This is from the security cameras at our estate,” he said. “The rope was cut by Juliette herself. She staged the whole thing. Didn’t she think to block the cameras?”
Elijah stared at the footage, his face growing paler by the second. There it was, clear as day: Juliette sneaking out at night, tampering with the swing, and then pretending to be all friendly the next day when I was too busy to notice.
Realizing he’d been duped, Elijah confronted Juliette, who was still feigning innocence. “Eli, I’m in so much pain,” she whined. “The doctor said I broke two leg bones. I’ll be bedridden for months.”
“You brought this on yourself!” Elijah’s voice was glacial as he shoved the video footage in her face.”
“Look what you’ve reduced yourself to, Juliette. I thought you were kind. I thought you were good. So tell me-” his knuckles whitened around the phone, “why sabotage the swing? Why frame Anastasia?“>
Juliette’s face cycled through shades of pale and purple. She’d covered the main cameras–how could she have known about the hidden one?
The evidence glared back at her, undeniable. Yet still, she forced tears to well up.
“Eli, I did it for you. You love me, you promised to marry me. But why are you still drawn to Anastasia? Is it because she’s younger or because she’s distant, making her more appealing?“>
“You know how much I care about you. That’s why I was there for you that night.“>
“Shut up!” Elijah shouted, surprising even himself.
Both were stunned into silence. Elijah rubbed his temples, bewildered. He’d come back determined to cut ties with Anastasia and focus on Juliette. Everything was going according to plan, so why did it feel so wrong?>
It felt like something precious was slipping away, leaving him hollow.
*Juliette, you’ve crossed a line. The wedding’s off. We need a break,” he said, turning to leave.§
“Eli, I’m pregnant,” she called after him, freezing him in his tracks. “What did you say?” he asked, incredulous.
Juliette smirked, “You said you’d be responsible, Elijah. I’m carrying your child from that night.“}
As Benjamin and I returned from a walk, we overheard her bombshell. I was stunned for a moment. In a past life, I’d been in the same position–pregnant, with Elijah disappearing abroad after hearing the news. I raised our daughter, Caroline, on my own, only for her to lose her life just for calling him ‘Dad.‘”
*Ana, what are you thinking about? Try this delicious durian mille crepe I brought you. It’s fresh,” Benjamin’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I shook off the memories and took a bite of the dessert.}
“This is amazing! How did you know I love this flavor?” I asked, smiling.
Benjamin chuckled, tapping my nose playfully. “Oh, you little foodie, I know all your favorites. Your brother’s been spilling all your secrets to me. We’ve teamed up to keep you happy.“}
Chapter 7
