Two hours later, Juliette could no longer hear the conversation from behind the bookshelf. She was tired of waiting and sitting on the stairs in complete darkness. She even had to stifle a sneeze so as not to be discovered by those in the room. Why “they”? Aside from Robbin’s voice, Juliette also heard Aldrich and Christian speaking. Juliette didn’t know what the three men were discussing, but whatever it was, she didn’t want to get involved, as all she wanted was to leave the place as quickly as possible.
Although she no longer heard voices, that didn’t mean she could leave immediately. Juliette waited for ten minutes before finally daring to rise from her spot and exit the secret room. She slid the bookshelf that served as the exit.
Then, Juliette stepped out and walked toward the door, but her steps halted, and her heart almost stopped when she heard a rustling sound, like someone moving. “I didn’t know you could be that brave,” someone commented with a thick mocking tone. Juliette’s entire body froze upon hearing that familiar baritone voice.
Slowly, Juliette turned around, her eyes widening as her hazel eyes met Robbin’s dark, intense gaze, filled with emotion. “Robby,” she murmured softly and fearfully.
How could Juliette be so careless? Oh, of course, because she was so desperate to leave that she ignored her surroundings. Besides, even if Juliette had checked, she wouldn’t have noticed Robbin sitting on a single sofa in the corner of the room. She only became aware of Robbin’s presence because he had spoken to her, causing her eyes to focus on the source of the voice immediately.
Robbin clicked his tongue softly. He sat on the sofa with an arrogant and intimidating posture, one leg resting on the other. His hands were placed on the arms of the couch, and his fingers were interlocked in front of him. He leaned back against the sofa in a relaxed manner. His eyes never strayed from the pale woman standing in the middle of the room. Robbin could see her body trembling in fear. He smirked, his lips curling into a terrifying sneer, and said, “Have you found what you were looking for, Kitten?”
“You…”
Robbin rose from the sofa and walked toward the desk, his gaze shifting from Juliette to the open bookshelf where she had been hiding. “Do you like the collection I keep in there?” he asked so calmly.
Juliette couldn’t speak. She was too frightened to open her mouth. She wanted to spill everything she had been holding back, but for some reason, her tongue felt tied, and she couldn’t speak.
“Kitten, I’m asking you. Why are you just standing there silently?”
‘Stay calm, Julie. Stay calm. Don’t panic,’ her mind tried to reassure her.
“Oh, of course. I’m sure you liked it. All of that is my precious treasure.” Juliette’s lips formed a thin line, indicating her displeasure, and she gathered the courage to ask, “The painting… those paintings, did you paint them?”
“The disgraceful paintings of my naked body…” Juliette whimpered sorrowfully.
Robbin grinned, his dark eyes gleaming with a mysterious aura that sent a shiver down Juliette’s spine. “You-your body is so beautiful that I couldn’t resist painting it. I wanted to ensure that my precious memories were captured on the white canvas.”
Robbin paused for a moment, then continued, “Ah! So you were the one who destroyed them?”
“You…”
“Did you think I didn’t know you entered that room the other day?”
Juliette felt her breath catch in her throat. So Robbin knew? What about now? “You-how did you know I was here?”
“I know everything, Julie, even about Christian’s betrayal. I know that too.”
“My God…” Juliette muttered in disbelief. She was immediately terrified of Christian’s fate. That man had dared to attack Daisy, who was still family. After reading the death report on Anthony, Juliette was convinced that Robbin was responsible for Anthony’s death as well. So, Robbin wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to Christian. “He didn’t-”
“Betray me behind my back,” Robbin cut Juliette off.
“He helped you enter that room. That means I have to question his loyalty to me. Isn’t that right?”
“Robby… I… I forced him…”
“Do you think I’ll just believe that?”
“Robby…” Juliette shook her head and took a deep breath.
“You can’t hurt him. He’s your family. I beg you… let him go…”
Robbin snorted in annoyance. He walked around the desk and stopped right in front of Juliette. He lowered his head to look at her face, which was shorter than his. He raised one hand and gently caressed Juliette’s cheek.
“If I can kill my father and hurt Daisy, why shouldn’t I be able to hurt him?” Robbin murmured with a cold gaze. Hearing Juliette defend and plead for Christian successfully ignited the flames of anger and jealousy in his heart. The monster inside him stirred and became uncontrollable. Then, like the snap of a finger, Robbin cornered Juliette against the wall and wrapped his hand around her neck.
“You…” Juliette couldn’t speak because Robbin’s hand was choking her. “… monster.”
Robbin sneered and brought his face close to hers. Their noses touched, and Robbin’s breath brushed against Juliette’s face. “Haven’t you already realized that?”
“I hate you, Robbin. I truly hate you,” Juliette hissed, glaring at Robbin with eyes full of hatred. Her breath hitched when Robbin briefly kissed her lips before throwing her body to the floor. Juliette immediately screamed, and her head hit the floor, causing an injury. Her head spun, and black spots began to appear in her vision. “You…”
“Remember what I told you before I left, Kitten?” Juliette’s face paled further as she realized what Robbin meant.
But it wasn’t the threat that made her tremble; rather, it was hearing that question come from Robbin’s mouth, accompanied by a cold tone and an expression full of sadness, that made Juliette so scared.
Every time she crawled away, Robbin would walk closer, making the distance Juliette created disappear again. “Kitten, I’m asking you,” Robbin said. Juliette sobbed and shook her head quickly, refusing to answer Robbin’s question.
She moved away again, but unexpectedly, Robbin grabbed both of her ankles, pulling her body beneath his, and Juliette screamed when Robbin sat on her stomach, leaving her unable to move. “I won’t hurt you, Kitten. I promised, didn’t I? But this time… I have to punish you. So, what should I do?”
“Robbin…” Juliette murmured faintly.
“Why? Why did you kill your father?” she asked, summoning her courage.
Robbin just stared at Juliette’s face. His hands moved to grab both of her arms, pinning her hands above her head, leaving her body slightly exposed. Then, with his free hand, Robbin touched Juliette’s smooth, pale skin that was now clearly visible.
“Do you want to know, Kitten?” Robbin replied with a question.
“Robby… you… I can’t believe you did it. Why? He was your father.”
Robbin’s gaze shifted from Juliette’s face to her chest. He thinned his lips and mysteriously answered, “He asked for it, and I gladly obliged.”
“You’re cruel,” Juliette whispered.
Immediately, Robbin’s gaze returned to Juliette’s face, his dark eyes staring into her tear-filled hazel eyes. He brought his face closer until his lips brushed hers faintly.
“He was crueler than me, Kitten. My father stood in my way of getting you. He forbade me from having you, claiming you, and making you my woman.” Robbin paused for a moment.
“I always get what I want, Kitten. Anything. And no one can stand in my way, not even my father.”
Juliette’s lips trembled, holding back sobs, and her breath hitched as Robbin forcefully kissed her lips. He kissed her for a long time, only stopping when he pulled away and planted feather-light kisses around Juliette’s neck.
“What should I do with you, Kitten?” Robbin asked again.
“I have so many ideas for punishing you, but I don’t want to hurt you. The day after tomorrow is our engagement night.”
“Daisy… what about Daisy? What did she do to deserve being hurt by you too? Tortured to the point where she can no longer speak.” Juliette spontaneously asked. She wanted to stay focused on her goal, even though she was cornered and the throbbing pain in her head made it hard to concentrate, but she couldn’t stray from her purpose. After all, wasn’t this part of her plan? So Juliette had to endure.
Robbin’s lips formed a thin line, a sign of displeasure. “What are you planning in that head of yours, Kitten?” he asked suspiciously. His eyes narrowed, and he stared at Juliette with a scrutinizing gaze.
Juliette instinctively shook her head. She racked her brain, searching for a plausible excuse. “I’m not planning anything.”
“How did you know about my father?”
“I… I just guessed. I thought about the odd circumstances of Anthony’s death, then Daisy’s incident made me think you had something to do with Anthony’s death.” Juliette hoped Robbin wouldn’t get suspicious. “And you confirmed my guess.”
“Is that so?”
“I… I saw all the documents in that secret room, and I wanted to know the explanation behind them.” Juliette replied.
“Robbin, I’m going to marry you, so I have to know the truth,” she whispered reluctantly.
Robbin stared at Juliette for a long time before saying, “Because she tried to pull you away from me with her lies. I silenced her so she wouldn’t spread more lies that could destroy our relationship.”
‘He’s truly insane,’ Juliette concluded angrily. She tried to pull her hands free from Robbin’s grip, but he was too strong, and her efforts were in vain.
“Tsk. You can’t run from me, Kitten,” Robbin commented, watching Juliette’s attempt to escape.
“Robby…” Juliette gasped as Robbin suddenly stood up and then roughly yanked her up, forcing her to stand. Then, once again, he threw Juliette harshly onto the sofa.
“What about the woman’s corpse in the hotel? I saw it… the letter you signed. You bought her from an illegal place.” Juliette kept probing for information. She thought that with Robbin filled with anger and clouded thoughts, he might reveal more without realizing it. Even if he grew suspicious, it would be quickly overshadowed by his desire to punish her.
“I bought her because she looked so much like you, to make her your replacement doll, but she bored me and annoyed me by wanting more. She said she loved me and wanted my heart,” Robbin scoffed softly.
“So I killed her. She was a useless toy that was incredibly irritating.” Juliette shook her head in disbelief.
“Why is it so easy for you to kill someone? Don’t you feel any guilt at all?”
Robbin smirked. “Why should I feel guilty about getting rid of trash?”
Juliette’s hands shot up and grabbed the collar of Robbin’s blazer. “You’re a monster.”
“You’ve said that already, Kitten.”
“Leo,” Juliette whispered.
“If only I had died back then, I wouldn’t have to suffer, and I’d be in heaven with Leo,” she said, her voice filled with burning anger.
Robbin gripped Juliette’s jaw tightly and hissed, “Don’t ever say that coward’s name in front of me. And don’t you ever mention another man’s name but mine.”
“You’re truly sick, Robbin.”
Robbin said nothing, but he was so enraged by Juliette’s words that, in a fit of blind anger, he didn’t realize when he raised his hand and slapped her. He hit her repeatedly until the corner of her lip was injured and started bleeding. When he finally realized what he had done, Robbin backed away.
“No… what have I done to you…” Robbin whispered more to himself. He looked at his own hands before turning his gaze to Juliette’s face. Then, he approached Juliette, who was gasping in pain. Robbin immediately pulled Juliette into his arms and examined her face, tears welling up in his eyes.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… oh God…” Robbin touched Juliette’s cheek and cringed when she winced at his touch.
With trembling hands, Robbin took his phone out of his blazer pocket and called Aldrich to come. Shortly after that call, Aldrich entered the room and stood, waiting for instructions from his master. “Aldrich, take Juliette to the place I’ve prepared, the white room.”
“Yes, Master Eduardo.”
“And call Dr. Joseph to treat her wounds.”
“I understand.”
Aldrich walked over and took Juliette into his care. He watched as Robbin tried to touch Juliette’s head, but she flinched and tried to move away from his touch. Even Aldrich was surprised that Robbin didn’t get angry when he touched Juliette and took her away.
Aldrich glanced back to see Robbin still frozen in place with his head bowed. “Shall I prepare Christian as well, sir?”
“Of course,” Robbin replied in a chillingly cold tone.
Hearing that tone made Juliette tremble, fearing for Christian’s fate after he had kindly helped her. But Juliette didn’t say anything and kept her mouth shut. She didn’t protest as Aldrich guided her out of the room, her head bowed, her face hidden behind the curtain of her long hair. However, what neither Aldrich nor Robbin noticed was the slight smile of victory that crept onto Juliette’s lips.
Just one more step to go.
….