Juliette bit her lower lip and stared at her reflection in the mirror. With all the branded items attached to her body, she felt like she wasn’t herself. From the clothes, shoes, and jewelry, everything was something Juliette never would have thought of buying. A soft sigh escaped her lips. She was like ‘herself’ but in a more elegant version. Juliette slowly ran her palm over her body, making sure what she was seeing was really her and not someone else.
This time, she wore a knee-length khaki pencil skirt that hugged her curves, a white camisole tank top, and a brown jacket. A gold necklace adorned her neck, and a luxury watch wrapped around her wrist, alongside the tracker disguised as a bracelet that Robbin had put on her an hour ago.
Juliette briefly turned her body and grimaced at the sight of the heels she was wearing. They were too high for her, but there wasn’t much she could do. Everything was Robbin’s choice, and Juliette didn’t feel like arguing with him today.
She let her long, wavy brown hair down to appear calmer, and besides, Juliette was sure Robbin would prefer her hair down. The thought made Juliette want to roll her eyes in annoyance. Her entire body suddenly tensed when she heard the sound of an essential turning, followed by the door opening and then heavy footsteps she could easily guess belonged to him.
Suddenly, Robbin’s reflection appeared in the mirror, and Juliette’s eyes immediately met his intense, dark gaze through the reflection. They stared at each other momentarily before Juliette finally decided to speak, “Where are you planning to take me?”
The corner of Robbin’s mouth lifted into a thin smile. “We could take a walk around the city. The weather’s nice today to enjoy the beauty of the city.”
What? Did Juliette hear that right? Was Robbin joking? She then glanced at her feet, adorned with the famous brand heels, and frowned in displeasure, but she said nothing and kept her mouth shut. Juliette followed the man’s game, waiting patiently for the right moment to free herself from Robbin’s grasp.
Juliette nodded and turned around, walking toward the bag lying on the bed. She walked past Robbin, catching a whiff of his masculine scent, which made her heart race. If this continued, Juliette was bound to have a heart attack soon. “So, are you taking me on a date?” she asked directly.
A grin spread across Robbin’s lips. “If that’s how you see it… but to me, this is a honeymoon,” Robbin replied, his tone thick with humor.
Juliette clenched her fists, wanting to snap back with a sharp retort, but she held back. She didn’t want to sour Robbin’s mood. It was better to deal with a good-humored Robbin than the alternative. At least she could pretend none of this was happening and imagine they were just ordinary step-siblings without the complications in their relationship.
Robbin extended his hand toward Juliette, which she immediately took. Together, they left the room that had become Juliette’s prison. Silence enveloped them, broken only by shoes and heels clicking against the marble floor.
When they reached the courtyard, Juliette inhaled deeply, taking in as much air as she could and absorbing her surroundings. Once satisfied, she noticed an SUV parked nearby. She glanced at Robbin, then back at the car. She didn’t care about the walk; all that mattered to Juliette was that she was out of that room disguised as a prison.
“Get in the car, Julie. I’ll be right there,” Robbin instructed.
Juliette obeyed and walked toward the car, occasionally glancing at Robbin, who was on the phone with someone. Seeing this, Juliette was reminded that she needed to learn more about Leo and what Robbin had done to Daisy. She wanted to gather all the evidence of Robbin’s crimes to free herself from his grasp. But what could Juliette do if she couldn’t act now?
She shook her head to dismiss the thoughts. With one last glance at Robbin, Juliette opened the car door and entered.
Juliette’s eyes lit up when the car stopped on the sidewalk of a district in Zurich. Juliette felt a hint of happiness for the first time, and a wide smile slowly spread across her beautiful face. She turned her head to Robbin, leaning against the other side of the car door, his arms crossed, dark eyes gazing at her intensely. “Did you really bring me here?” she asked.
The corner of Robbin’s mouth lifted into a smile as he replied, “I didn’t see any harm in taking a walk here. You wanted to come here, didn’t you?”
Juliette nodded enthusiastically. Full of excitement, she opened the door and stepped out. Her eyes scanned the entire area, and she couldn’t help but admire the scenery before her, just as she had seen on the internet.
At the moment, they were in Altstadt, which in German means “Old Town.” It’s one of Zurich’s tourist destinations showcasing the beauty of old buildings that have existed since ancient times.
Various shops lined the streets, offering souvenirs and other items. Juliette walked over to a nearby store, one that sold a variety of beautiful, colorful flowers. A wide smile spread across her face as she inhaled the fragrant scent of the flowers. Juliette moved to other stores after enjoying her time in the flower shop. She continued walking, occasionally stopping to admire the beauty of the buildings. It made her look like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time with their parents.
At least at this moment, he temporarily allowed her to forget what was happening in her life. Juliette could pretend everything was fine, with no complicated issues weighing her down. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Robbin walking a few steps behind. The man appeared so relaxed, with no signs of tension at all. If Robbin wasn’t wearing sunglasses, Juliette was confident his dark eyes would be gazing at her with amusement.
Juliette turned back to the front and looked excitedly at a display of cute souvenirs in one of the stores. She walked over and stopped right in front of the shop. With bright eyes, she gazed at the keychains and other souvenirs sold inside.
“Robby! Look! They have snow globes!” Juliette exclaimed excitedly when she saw the snow globes on the shelf.
Robbin immediately stepped closer and stood beside Juliette. He squinted behind his sunglasses and said, “You already have a lot of snow globes, Julie. Do you really need more?”
“Hey! Don’t blame me! You’re the one who always brings me snow globes as gifts!” Juliette protested in frustration. Suddenly, their relationship reverted to how it used to be. No intrigue, no pain, no tears. For a moment, they were just siblings on vacation together, relaxing after working hard for a long time. “Robby, I want that keychain!”
“A keychain? What for?” Juliette rolled her eyes.
“What do you think?” Juliette continued to admire the souvenirs on sale, her eyes lighting up when she saw a shirt that said “I love Swiss” hanging from where they stood.
“I also want to buy that shirt! It’s so unique! I can give it to Leo later.” The moment Juliette accidentally mentioned Leo’s name, Robbin’s posture shifted, and Juliette, realizing her mistake, also tensed up.
She glanced at Robbin for a moment and studied his face. Juliette desperately wished she could return her words, but that was impossible. Why did she have to ruin the peaceful moment between them? Juliette didn’t want the tension to return, not now. Robbin let out a small laugh, and Juliette shuddered as if it was a cold, hollow laugh. “Are you done?”
Juliette cleared her throat quietly and decided to refocus on the snow globes. After making her choice, Juliette moved on to other items, and when she was finished, she paid for her selections-of course, Robbin footed the bill as compensation for kidnapping her and bringing her to Switzerland. After shopping for souvenirs, they continued strolling along the sidewalk, admiring the buildings and architecture. Some cafes and small restaurants were bustling with visitors, mostly tourists.
Before long, it was midday, and lunchtime had arrived. They sat at a restaurant that served French cuisine. Juliette glanced around, admiring the restaurant’s interior.
A waiter approached their table and placed menus in front of them. Juliette smiled politely at the waiter before opening her menu. Her brow immediately furrowed as she scanned the food options. She glanced at Robbin briefly before focusing again on the names of the dishes.
Everything was written in French, and Juliette had yet to learn what would suit her taste. She had never eaten French cuisine before. Not only was it quite expensive, but Juliette had never considered eating such dishes-unlike other members of the De Lavigne family. Besides, sushi was Juliette’s favorite food.
“What would you like to order, Julie?”
Juliette quickly closed the menu and placed it on the table. With a slight grimace, she replied, “Err… you can order for me.”
Robbin gave a brief nod and began ordering. After the waiter left with their order, Juliette sighed softly and asked, “How long do you plan to keep me hidden here in Switzerland?” The man stared at her intensely. There was a mysterious look in his dark eyes, making Juliette wonder what was happening in his head. What was Robbin thinking? Did he feel any guilt for everything he had done?
“The answer to that question is something only I know,” Robbin said casually. “Don’t worry about it. Just sit back, be sweet, and fall in love with me. That’s all you need to think about.”
Juliette took a deep breath. “You know, if you’re interested in me and have feelings for me, why don’t you act like other men and take me on a proper date?”
“And do you think you’d accept me?” Juliette pursed her lips. Her expression alone was enough to answer Robbin’s question.
“Exactly, and I really don’t like being rejected.” Robbin leaned forward, staring straight into Juliette’s hazel eyes.
“I always get what I want, Kitten. Anything. And no one can stop me.”
Juliette bit her lip hard, holding herself back from commenting. It was better not to say anything that would provoke the man. She didn’t want Robbin to change his mind and drag her back into that prison.
No, Juliette didn’t want that. Luckily, she was saved from Robbin’s sharp, warning gaze by the waiter, who arrived with their appetizers. After that, they ate in silence.
…