There was a sound of three knocks on the door. Meryl, who was sipping a cup of tea while reading a book in the sitting room, looked up and permitted whoever was behind the door to enter. Initially, Meryl offered a small, friendly smile to the two men who walked into her room, but that smile faded when she noticed the expressions on their faces.
“Aldrich, right?” Meryl murmured, her eyes locking onto one of the men she had always seen by Robbin’s side since his return.
“Yes, ma’am,” Aldrich replied, bowing respectfully and formally.
Meryl wondered what Robbin’s henchman wanted by visiting her, and with that thought, she closed the book she had been reading and straightened her tense back.
“What’s going on? Is something wrong? Is this about Juliette? Is that why Robbin isn’t back with Ela? Is my daughter alright?” Meryl quickly fired off questions, overly concerned for her daughter’s safety. She feared something had happened to Juliette. After returning from the hospital, Meryl had seen how Daisy was, and she prayed every day that her only daughter wouldn’t face the same issues as Daisy.
Both Aldrich and the man accompanying him remained silent, saying nothing that could be considered an answer. Meryl stood up and walked toward Aldrich, but when she was right beside him, the man unexpectedly pulled out a revolver and pressed the muzzle against Meryl’s back. “What is this? Why are you-”
“Come with us, ma’am. And don’t scream or draw attention from the other occupants in the house, or I won’t hesitate to pull the trigger,” Aldrich whispered in Meryl’s ear, his body close to hers as a barrier to ensure no one noticed the weapon pressed against the new mistress’s back.
The silent man, whom Meryl knew as Amandhiel, walked ahead, leading them toward the other side of the mansion, which Meryl recognized as Robbin’s territory. This area was reserved solely for Anthony’s immediate family, including Anthony’s late first wife, Robbin’s mother, and Robbin himself. Even Meryl, still Anthony’s wife, was not allowed to enter, as she was still considered a stranger by most of the De Lavigne family members.
Meryl didn’t mind at all. As long as her only daughter could live comfortably, she was willing to endure any unfair treatment.
They continued walking silently, the only sounds being the clatter of shoes and heels against the marble floor, filling the void between them. Occasionally, mansion staff-either servants or security-passed by them. Meryl swallowed hard, her heart racing twice as fast. She didn’t understand why she was being treated this way, but whatever the reason, it certainly wouldn’t end well.
Finally, they arrived at a large wooden door. Amandhiel knocked three times, and when granted permission from within to enter, he opened the door and allowed Meryl and Aldrich to go in.
A grin spread across Robbin’s face as he saw Meryl’s confused expression, staring at him with questioning eyes. “What’s going on, Robbin?”
Robbin placed the pen on the table and relaxed his posture. “Meryl.”
“Robbin, answer my question!”
Robbin ignored Meryl and signaled Aldrich to let her sit in a chair across from him. Then Robbin pulled a folder from the drawer and placed it on the table.
“Meryl.” Robbin paused momentarily, “The woman who married my father.” He muttered mockingly. He switched to fluent French.
Meryl, who had grown up in Paris, immediately understood what Robbin was saying. Her entire body tensed, and she gripped the arms of the chair tightly.
“What is this, Robbin?” Meryl asked, also in French.
“I think you already know my intentions,” Robbin said quietly.
Meryl bit her lower lip. “What do you mean?”
“I’m sure my father has already told you, hasn’t he?”
Meryl held her breath as she heard that question leave Robbin’s lips. She thought what her late husband had said was merely nonsense. Meryl couldn’t believe that Robbin, her stepson, had feelings for her only daughter. After all, they were family. Robbin’s care and affection toward Juliette were merely those of a brother, nothing more. Oh, how naive Meryl was. She should have listened to what Anthony said but made a mistake and brushed it aside.
Meryl clenched her fists and lowered her head, examining the texture of the table made from the finest mahogany wood. “Robbin, where is Juliette? Didn’t you say-”
“Ah, Leonardo? Juliette’s cowardly lover? I’m not lying about that, Meryl.” Robbin then pulled out several photographs from another drawer. Meryl reached for the photos and breathed as she saw Leo with another woman. How would Juliette react if she saw these photos? Meryl wondered if this was all just a trick by Robbin but decided to trust him for now.
“So what do you want from me?” Meryl asked with a trembling voice, her tongue struggling to pronounce some words in French.
Robbin clasped his hands on the table, leaned forward, and stared at Meryl with an intense yet mysterious gaze, making it difficult for her to hold his dark eyes for too long. She couldn’t sink into that endless darkness. “Allow me to marry Juliette.”
“What do you mean? What does this have to do with all of this? Robbin, you’re siblings. Don’t do this.” Meryl said in a pleading tone.
“Because only I can love her, only I can protect her.”
“Robbin…”
“Yes or no.”
“What if I say no? You’re already bound in a family relationship. What will people say? The other De Lavignes? Do you want to ruin Juliette’s reputation in their eyes?” Meryl asked.
“So that’s your answer?”
“Robbin, stop this. You just-”
“Alright if you choose not to.” Robbin nodded at Aldrich as a signal, and his trusted associate immediately understood his master’s intent. He pulled out the pistol he had hidden and aimed it at Meryl’s head from a safe distance.
“You don’t want to end up like my father, do you? No one can refuse my wishes or block my path to get what I want. You know that, don’t you, Meryl?”
Hearing the sound of the gun’s cock, Meryl shivered. Her body trembled in fear, and her eyes widened as she stared at Robbin in disbelief. “You… you… killed Anthony? Your own father?”
Robbin shrugged nonchalantly. “I was just following his orders. Nothing more.” A grin returned to Robbin’s face.
“So, Meryl. Do you want to live? Or die? It’s the same to me, because in the end, I will have Juliette.”
“You’re insane! You’re just like your mother!”
“SHUT UP!” Robbin slammed the table as Meryl’s words ignited the fire of his anger.
“I am not like my mother.” Then Robbin calmed down and sat back in a relaxed posture.
“So Meryl, if I were you, I would choose the easiest option. Just sign the contract I’m giving you, then leave this place. Isn’t that simple? I’ll give you ten billion dollars as a guarantee for your life.”
“You…”
“If you choose to die… oh, that would be very sad indeed. Juliette would surely cry for you, and the only one she can rely on now is me. What do you think?”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Meryl never imagined that her marriage to Anthony had trapped her only daughter in the clutches of a madman who was her stepson.
Her whole body shook violently, and she imagined the future Juliette would face if she agreed to Robbin’s request. Her body trembled even more when Robbin said, “Think about your decision, Meryl.”
“Will I get to see Juliette?”
“No.” Meryl held her breath upon hearing the sound of the gun’s cock as a warning sign. “I won’t hurt her, Meryl. She is the woman I love. I would never think of hurting a hair on her head.”
Meryl closed her eyes, tears flowing even more as a small sob escaped her lips. Even if she fought back, it was likely she would die before she stepped out of this room. Meryl bit her lower lip and, trembling, reached out to grab the document on the table right between them. She carefully read the document’s contents, her breath catching when she saw the points listed in the agreement. “Robbin, this…”
“Sign it now,” Robbin ordered while handing Meryl a pen. With a heavy heart, Meryl signed the agreement, trading her future and her only daughter’s happiness for money, a house, a luxurious life, and, most importantly,
her life.
If she died, then no one would be able to save Juliette, her beloved daughter. Meryl couldn’t let that happen.
Once finished, Robbin took the document and said to Meryl, “Thank you, Meryl. Now you may leave.” Robbin said this time in English, then gestured to Aldrich. When Meryl was out of the range of the hidden camera in her room, Robbin followed her, pulling out a revolver from his jacket, pulling the trigger, and shooting straight at Meryl.
.
.
.
Juliette could only remain silent as she watched her mother sign the disastrous contract. She refused to believe what she saw and thought this was just one of Robbin’s tricks. The woman she saw wasn’t her mother but someone else who looked exactly like her. Juliette could recognize the woman who had given her life, wherever and whenever. Juliette sobbed as she watched her mother seem unwilling to refuse and quickly put her signature on that paper.
She didn’t know what Robbin and her mother had discussed before signing the document, as Juliette didn’t understand their language. Still, whatever it was, it indeed had to do with negotiations involving her. Thinking about it stirred a bitter feeling in Juliette’s heart. Although she was curious about what they had discussed, she was too saddened by the betrayal of the people she considered necessary.
…
Juliette’s attention was drawn away from the laptop screen, which had gone black, signaling the end of the video to Robbin’s face, filled with a victorious expression.
“What were you talking about? Why use a different language?” Juliette asked suspiciously, unwilling to believe anything until Robbin explained and proved its truth.
“Just negotiations. Meryl ensured that you are safe with me and that I won’t hurt you. That’s all, kitten.”
“If that’s the case, let me talk to my mother.”
Robbin’s lips formed a thin line of disapproval at Juliette’s request. Still, he nodded reluctantly and pulled out his phone from his pocket. He dialed Meryl’s number and handed the phone to Juliette.
Juliette waited a while for the call to connect, the ringing tone accompanying her anticipation, but all of that vanished when the call was answered, and her mother’s voice greeted her. “Hello, Robbin?”
“Mom!” Juliette screamed hysterically.
“Julie, why are you calling me?”
“Mom, is it true that you…”
A sigh was heard from the other end of the line, followed by sobs. Hearing this made Juliette’s heart feel like it was being squeezed and then crushed to pieces with a hammer. She never expected to receive betrayal from the only parent she had.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I can’t-ugh!” Meryl’s sentence was interrupted by a groan from the woman.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
A small chuckle escaped from Meryl. “Just a little trouble with my suitcase. I’m sorry, Julie. This is the best choice. I married Anthony for money, and now I’m leaving for money. I no longer have any obligations in that house, and it’s better for me to leave with money and a secure future. Isn’t that right?”
“Mom… why…?”
“Robbin will take care of you and look after you. Goodbye, Julie.”
“Mom…!” Then the call was disconnected. Juliette stared at the LCD screen of her phone with a vacant look. Her eyes then shifted back to Robbin. Her gaze transformed into an authentic expression of hatred.
“You’ve destroyed my life.”
Robbin quickly cleared the phone and laptop away and sat beside Juliette. He lifted her onto his lap and embraced her tightly. “Shh… shh… don’t be sad, kitten.”
*’I can’t keep doing this, letting Robbin destroy my life and push away the people I love,’* Juliette thought, filled with rage. She felt Robbin stroking her head and whispering sweet, calming words that sounded like poison flowing swiftly through her veins, killing her within seconds. Juliette closed her eyes and clutched Robbin’s shirt, imagining that what she was gripping was the man’s face, intending to carve deep wounds all over it with her sharp nails.
Taking a deep breath, Juliette whispered, “You can have me, Robbin, but remember one thing: you will never have my heart. Even if I feel love for you at the end of our journey, I will never allow my heart to be given to you.”
“Do you really think so? I don’t believe that, kitten, because in the end, I will be the one who wins in this game.”
“Do you think this is a game, Robbin?” Juliette hissed. Her eyes were tightly shut, and her entire body shook with anger.
Robbin smiled cynically. He leaned down and gently kissed Juliette’s forehead. “It depends on how you interpret it. I don’t care, because in the end, your body, your heart, your soul, everything you have, even every breath you take, belongs to me.”
“You’ve really gone insane, Robbin. Where’s the brother I used to know?”
Suddenly, Robbin’s face turned bitter. His grip tightened around her, making Juliette feel a constriction in her chest. She squirmed slightly, begging Robbin to release his hold, but he ignored her. Robbin brought his lips closer to Juliette’s ear and whispered, “He never existed, Juliette. He was just a dream that can vanish at any moment.”
….