The taxi Juliette was riding in finally arrived and stopped in front of the De Lavigne family mansion, now crowded with relatives and friends. The atmosphere of mourning was so heavy that Juliette herself could only sit silently in the passenger seat, her gaze filled with sadness. No smiles could be seen from the mourners who came and went from the mansion, only swollen eyes and heavy steps, burdened by the weight of loss.
Juliette took a deep breath and stepped out of the taxi, not forgetting to pay the driver, who had patiently listened to her ramblings. She glanced down at her black dress once more to ensure everything was in place. Today, she would stand as a part of the De Lavigne family, and she wanted to appear dignified, even though her heart was in turmoil.
After hearing the news yesterday that Anthony had passed away, Juliette rushed over to support her mother. After all, her mother had loved Anthony deeply and had stood by his side for so many years. When Juliette arrived, she saw her mother completely devastated, unable to stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks. Her hollow gaze seemed to fail to accept the reality that Anthony was gone forever.
Following the decision made by the extended family, Anthony’s burial was to be held today. The delay in deciding was due to waiting for Robbin’s return from Canada, where he had been when the incident occurred. Now that Robbin had returned to New York, the funeral would proceed. Juliette had been the first to hear about Robbin’s arrival in New York, as he had called her personally to let her know.
Juliette missed Robbin after not seeing him for five years, only able to see her brother’s face through video calls and television. Yet, at the same time, she was afraid. She feared Robbin would discover her problems and offer his help, putting him in danger. Juliette didn’t want Robbin to get hurt by her psychopathic stalker just because her stepbrother was trying to protect her.
She had also informed Leo of her family’s grief, and her boyfriend had promised to come to the funeral along with Dion and some of their other friends. Juliette also received messages from her two best friends-Hannah and Tamara-saying they would come to New York to support her, just as they had done when Juliette lost her biological father. Hannah and Tamara lived in Colorado, where Juliette was born, and their loyalty had always been a source of comfort during difficult times like these.
A soft sigh escaped her lips, and with slow steps, Juliette walked toward the grand mansion that housed the De Lavigne family, a powerful conglomerate. She offered a small smile to the family butler standing by the door to welcome guests. As Juliette stepped into the foyer, she was greeted by the faces of well-known people-business people, officials, and prominent figures who had business or personal ties with the De Lavigne family.
Juliette smiled politely at the guests and continued her walk toward the grand living room where the entire De Lavigne family had gathered in sorrow. Without hesitation, Juliette went straight to her mother, who was crying on the sofa. Several other family members were in the same state. Still, Juliette noticed a few others standing in the corner, engaged in serious discussions. Among them, she spotted Robbin, her tall and dignified stepbrother, who, despite appearing strong, must have been hiding deep sorrow behind his calm gaze.
She longed to approach Robbin, to hug him, and share in his grief. After all, Anthony had been Robbin’s last parental figure. But just as Juliette stood and intended to approach him, she heard her name being called. Turning toward the voice, her eyes filled with tears as she saw Leo standing there, looking at her with a gentle expression. Juliette ran to her boyfriend and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
“Shh… everything will be alright. I’ll always be here for you, Jullie,” Leo whispered, his fingers gently stroking her back soothingly.
“Thank you, Leo. I love you,” Juliette replied, her voice trembling slightly but her eyes full of sincerity as she looked at him.
“I love you too, Ela,” Leo responded, a soft smile forming on his lips, offering strength amid the overwhelming grief surrounding them.
…
After the funeral, Anthony’s will, which had been prepared long ago, was read. The reading, which was supposed to take place a day after the funeral, was done early because both the positions of president, director, and head of the family were vacant. This caused tension as some members of the De Lavigne family claimed the position for themselves.
The De Lavigne family’s chief attorney carefully opened the will, and the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense. The attorney read out the division of the inheritance, and Anthony’s position was given to Robbin, the sole heir. Everyone in the family agreed with this decision, as Robbin was considered the perfect child, the “golden child” of the De Lavigne family. However, the atmosphere shifted slightly when Juliette’s name was mentioned. Unlike the others, Juliette received a penthouse in one of the finest residences in Paris.
While the De Lavigne family owned multiple luxury residences and hotels in Paris-now under Robbin’s control-this penthouse was one of Anthony’s most valuable assets. Juliette didn’t understand why she was included in the will, as she wasn’t a blood relative of the De Lavigne family. Nevertheless, she was grateful for whatever she received and touched by Anthony’s consideration even after his passing.
After the private reading of the will, she concluded the evening with a family dinner. Juliette sat beside Robbin and Leo as they attended a dinner filled with important guests of the De Lavigne family. The dinner was held to honor Anthony and to welcome Robbin as his successor.
Juliette smiled and made sure not to lift her head or observe anyone else, let alone meet their eyes. This etiquette had been deeply ingrained in her since she had joined the De Lavigne family, especially for a formal dinner like this. Juliette only dared glance and look at Leo, even lowering her voice to a whisper when speaking to him.
Juliette reached for the glass of mineral water she had requested from the waiter and took a sip. As the water touched her lips, she could feel an intense gaze directed at her. The gaze was so piercing that it made her slightly uncomfortable. She glanced toward Leo, who was sitting next to her, and indeed, Leo was watching her closely as if to make sure she was alright. However, another set of eyes came from across the table. The gaze belonged to Dion, who was also at the dinner tonight. His sharp eyes scrutinized Juliette’s every movement, making her more alert.
Of course, Juliette didn’t suspect anything, knowing the security at the De Lavigne residence was extremely tight, and this was a formal event held in honor of Anthony. But still, Juliette knew she had to remain cautious, especially if a suspect was present nearby.
A few minutes after drinking the water, Juliette felt dizzy and nauseous. Her vision began to blur, even though she hadn’t consumed any alcohol. It felt as though she was experiencing the effects of a hangover. She clenched her black dress tightly, her breathing becoming shallow and rapid while her heart raced. It felt eerily familiar, like a deja vu, from a condition she had experienced before.
“Juliette? Are you okay?” Leo’s voice sounded worried but seemed distant, as though coming from the end of a long corridor.
Juliette cleared her throat softly, trying to gather her strength to answer. “I think I’m feeling unwell,” she murmured, her voice weak and hoarse. “Robbin, may I excuse myself? I want to lie down for a while.” Her words were barely audible as if all the energy had been drained from her body.
Of course, Robbin nodded and granted Juliette’s request, noticing how pale she looked. Juliette whispered a thank you and then excused herself. After that, she left the dining hall with heavy steps. Climbing the stairs took extra effort, as her old room was on the mansion’s second floor. Each step felt heavier, and she had to support herself by leaning against the wall as she walked down the quiet hallway.
She finally sighed in relief when she reached her room. Juliette was too weak to turn on the lights, surrounded by darkness. Even the windows and balcony doors were covered by thick curtains, blocking the moonlight from illuminating the night. Her foot stumbled, causing her to fall onto the carpeted floor. She was lucky, or she would have bruises the next day. Juliette groaned and tried to get up, but her attempts were unsuccessful.
Gradually, she gave in, choosing to lie on the floor. Her body slowly started to feel the room’s warmth despite the air conditioner being on. Juliette removed her dress and heels. When she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, she suddenly heard the sound of her bedroom door opening.
Every nerve in Juliette’s body became alert, even though her mind was still foggy. She could hear the slow, deliberate footsteps approaching, the sound vibrating through the air around her.
Her heart began to beat faster, but the heat coursing through her body made it hard to focus. At that moment, she realized she had been drugged. The drug must have been placed in the mineral water she drank a few minutes ago.
Her ears picked up the sound of footsteps growing closer until she could sense someone’s presence nearby. A foreign hand started touching her damp skin, causing Juliette to gasp. The touch, though not rough, made her body tremble. Unexpectedly, the sensation that arose wasn’t just fear but something far more disturbing-an odd pleasure mixed with terror.
Then, the sound of cloth friction was faint in her ear, followed by a pang of pain when something hit her body. Juliette sighed with pain, but instead of just feeling the pain, a sensation of joy infiltrated amid the pain. She closed her eyes tighter and tried to process what happened. When her blurred vision caught a glimpse of the object used by the person, her brain immediately recalled the BDSM series drama he had watched accidentally on Netflix-a leather whip.
Juliette moaned and moaned when the lash hit her back. The pain is nothing, but her pride is at stake. The whiplash after the whiplash destroyed the remnants of her pride, making her feel like a disgraced slave. She gasped when her hair was pulled, making her body curl. Her whole body trembled when she saw the mask she knew was on the face of the person who whipped her. Indicates that her worst nightmare is in the same room with her.
Master D.
….