•Edward POV•Everything seemed blank in my head as I lay there, the drowsy feeling relieving me softly. But I had my eyes closed, the image of the incident replaying in my head until I heard Jace’s voice.His voice was like a reminder to me of how much I needed to be awake, how much I needed to be strong. I brushed my hand softly over his hair, a smile pulling up on my lips."Are you okay, Mr. Edward?" he asked, his eyes peering at me with curiosity."Yes, I'm fine," I mumbled, trying to sit up, but the ache in my arm stopped me. I winced at the pain and groaned softly."Are you okay?" Josh asked, and I looked to see him sitting on the couch next to me. My gaze drifted from him to Juliet and her friend standing close to the door, staring at me. Seeing Juliet standing there was almost like a dream to me.It only meant one thing, she had come to check up on me. I felt ease in my heart knowing the fact that she didn't hate me like she did before. She walked further into the room and stoo
•Juliet POV•My heart skipped a beat, but when I turned and saw it was Jace, I let out a deep breath and exhaled slowly."Baby, you scared the hell out of Mommy," I mumbled, placing a gentle hand on his little arm."Mommy, I was looking for you all night," he said softly. "You weren't in your room.""Baby, Mommy slept in the living room," I replied, pulling him in front of me and resting his head on my lap. I brushed my fingers through his curls. "How are you doing, my love?""I'm fine, Mommy," Jace replied with a chuckle. "But I don't feel like going to school today."I looked down at him with a smile as he turned his face to mine, his blue eyes sparkling under the chandelier light. "Okay, baby. That means you can come along with me to see Mr. Edward."His face lit up with excitement. "Really, Mommy?"I nodded softly. "But first, let’s get you freshened up and dressed."Jace got up from my lap and helped himself off the bed, now standing beside me, clapping his small hands in excitem
•Juliet’s POV•The buttery taste of the cake wrapped around my tongue like a flash of memory, and I could almost see myself with that same smile I had years ago when Edward bought that same cake for me.The feeling of hope, the expectation, and then the image of him cheating on me and lying to me, flooded my mind. I dropped the cake I’d taken a bite from and quickly gulped down the piece still in my mouth.“Are you okay?” Vera asked when she noticed the look on my face.I nodded with a faint smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.”“Well, you should be. This cake is enough to make anyone be fine. Gosh, Edward really knows how to get to a woman’s heart.”I glanced at Vera with a puzzled expression as she took another mouthful of cake, clearly enjoying herself. I couldn’t stop myself from wondering why she was suddenly speaking so positively about Edward.“Vera, I’ve noticed something weird about you these days,” I said, my voice laced with softness and seriousness.She stopped chewing and stared at me
•Juliet's POV•The ride to the hospital took longer than expected, and my mind kept spinning with thoughts, mostly fear. I didn’t know why I was feeling that way, but all I knew was that I didn’t want to lose Edward to death.I was so lost in thought, I didn’t even realize we had arrived until Eric pulled into the parking lot and reached over to open the door for me. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, giving the hospital building a glance before walking toward the entrance.The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air as I entered, and the image of Mrs. Bianca flashed through my mind. I didn’t need anyone to tell me who had killed her—I knew it was James.The hallway was painted in soft whites and pale blues, lined with posters about hygiene and health awareness. The floor gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and nurses in scrubs walked briskly past, their faces tight with focus.Eric walked up to the receptionist, leaning against the counter as he spoke. “We’re here to
•Juliet POV•I turned on the shower and stepped into the bathroom, letting the warm water run down my body. My eyes fluttered shut as I stood under the spray, feeling the steady stream graze my skin like a soft, comforting touch. The warmth melted into my sore muscles, washing away the tension from the day, a day that had threatened to tear me apart.For a few minutes, I stayed like that, just letting the water fall, grounding me in the moment. I tried not to think. I just stood there, breathing in the steam and silence.Eventually, I turned off the water and reached for a towel, wrapping it around myself. I padded into my bedroom, still dripping slightly, and pulled out a soft, knee-length cream dress from the closet. It hugged me gently, light and breathable. I ran a brush through my hair and pulled it into a simple ponytail before pausing in front of the mirror. My reflection stared back at me, quiet and thoughtful.I exhaled a long breath, the kind that came from deep in my chest.
•Juliet's POV•It took me a split second to get a grip on myself and realize I wasn't the one who had been shot. I blinked, staring at Edward. He must've rushed in front of me, shielding me from the bullet. My hand flew to my mouth, covering it as I watched him fall to the ground.Blood oozed from his shoulder, and Raya screamed in agony. I crouched beside him, trying to help him up but I couldn’t. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion, until it all faded out and Raya’s scream filled the living room.“Eddy! It’s all your fault, Juliet! You killed him!” Raya stormed in my direction, trying to pounce on me, but one of the men instinctively pulled her back.“I hate you, Juliet! You were never my sister. I hate you!” she screamed as she was dragged out of the mansion.“Please help him,” I cried, clutching Edward’s hand. My hands trembled, my heart thudding wildly as I stared at the blood on his shoulder.“Juliet… I’m fine,” Edward winced, forcing a small smile as he tried to s