Juliette waved goodbye to Daisy as she walked out before turning to look at her reflection in the mirror. Her hand unconsciously stroked her belly slowly, and she imagined that the lie she told Robbin was actually true. But as quickly as that thought came, Juliette dismissed it from her mind just as fast.
If she wanted a child at all, it would be a child from the love story she had with the man she loved-Leo. A soft sigh escaped her lips; it wasn’t the time to think about Leo, as there was a more critical task she needed to focus on. She could think of Leo and savor her longing for him by visiting his grave once all of this was over.
Just a little longer. She thought. Just a little longer, and everything would be finished, and Juliette could break free from Robbin’s obsessive grip. For her, the way she was going about it was the best: to make Robbin aware of the wrongs he had done and to give him a deterrent effect so that he would no longer diminish his actions.
After ensuring her appearance was flawless, Juliette walked out of the restroom and returned to the party hall. The first thing she did was make sure that security was alert around the hall and ensure that no harm could come to the star of the party, Robbin. Juliette also made sure that Aldrich was not around Robbin before walking over to the man who stood in the center of the hall, talking with important guests. Upon reaching Robbin’s side, Juliette immediately wrapped her arm around Robbin’s and whispered, “I’m back.”
Robbin turned his head and looked at Juliette with a flat gaze, though a slight smirk played on his lips. He leaned down and kissed Juliette’s forehead before replying, “I know.” Robbin turned back to the guests who were speaking to him. He released Juliette’s arm from around his. With the same arm, he possessively wrapped it around Juliette’s waist. Without looking at her, he said, “Did Daisy bother you?”
Blinking in confusion, Juliette asked Robbin, “What do you mean? I don’t understand.” Robbin shot a glance at Juliette when he heard her response but didn’t say anything. He chose to continue talking to the guests. Juliette stood in silence for a long time, choosing to be Robbin’s ‘display’ fiancee. She didn’t speak or draw anyone’s attention.
Her lips formed a smile that didn’t fade for a second. Occasionally, her eyes scanned the room, looking for Aldrich, as he was the only one who could disrupt her plans. However, everything changed when the music playing in the party hall shifted, signaling that it was time to dance. Juliette glanced towards William on the other side of the room, seeing him nod his head briefly.
That was a signal for Juliette! Realizing this, Juliette immediately did what she needed to do. She drew Robbin’s attention and tiptoed until her lips were aligned with his ear. Of course, he helped her by slightly bending down.
“Can we get out of here? Breathe some fresh air, maybe?” Juliette whispered shyly. Robbin immediately looked suspicious, sensing something was off with Juliette’s behavior, but that faded when he saw Juliette’s hazel eyes looking at him so innocently and the blush adorning her cheeks. Instantly, Robbin melted at what he saw and nodded in agreement. After that, Robbin excused himself to the guests before leading the woman who had officially become his fiancee out of the party hall to the back garden.
Juliette’s heart raced. She faintly heard the melodious sound of the music that resonated beautifully from the party hall. The distance between the hall and the back garden wasn’t far, yet it still offered tranquility from the hustle and bustle of the party atmosphere. Juliette released Robbin’s embrace at her waist. She walked toward one of the available garden benches nearby, placing the clutch she had in her hand on the bench.
For a few seconds, she glanced back, observing Robbin from behind, and found him with his eyes closed as if savoring the quiet and peaceful atmosphere around them. In a hurry, Juliette opened her clutch and took out the object that Daisy had given her in the restroom.
“Robby,” Juliette called softly. She walked towards Robbin and stopped right in front of him, coinciding with Robbin’s eyelids opening. She threw herself at Robbin, hugging him tightly. Her arms wrapped around Robbin’s neck, her face buried in the crook of his neck. In contrast, Robbin automatically wrapped his arms around Juliette’s waist.
“Forever you are someone important to me,” Juliette whispered with deep sorrow. Robbin chuckled softly and released one of his hands to stroke Juliette’s head gently.
“Kitten,” he murmured. Robbin tightened his embrace around Juliette and buried his face in her fragrant hair. “So am I. I would destroy the world just for you. That’s how important you are to me. You are my strength, yet my weakness.”
Juliette smiled faintly and whispered, “Is that so?” Then she pulled her head back slightly and looked up, staring into Robbin’s dark eyes, which for the first time were filled with a gentle gaze full of love and affection, something she had never seen since she discovered Robbin’s true identity. In the past, Juliette thought that the man looked at her that way because he considered Robbin to love her as a sister genuinely. Still, now Juliette understood the true meaning of that gaze.
Juliette closed her eyes for a moment, and her heart felt as though a thousand hands were squeezing it. Tonight was the night she would destroy that gaze. Tonight, she would change Robbin’s look at her to one filled with hatred. “Robby, dance with me. Let’s forget for a moment what has happened and celebrate our happiness for the baby I am currently carrying.”
Robbin chuckled again and nodded slowly. Then, they began to move and dance under the moonlight, accompanied by the sound of crickets and a gentle breeze. Juliette rested her chin on Robbin’s shoulder. It was fortunate that she wore high heels, so she didn’t have to worry about her height being shorter than Robbin’s. With Robbin’s firm embrace, Juliette’s body was slightly lifted. She still tiptoed, but it was not as complicated since she was in heels. Her hazel eyes gazed into the darkness of the garden. Her hands trembled violently, and slowly, her hands rose slightly, looking at the object she held, whether Robbin realized it or not.
“Why don’t you do something normal, Robby?” Juliette asked softly. “Why do you have to do something so extreme just to get me?”
Robbin laughed dryly, “And hear your rejection?” He then sighed softly and continued, “We’ve talked about this before, Julie.” Then he buried his face in the crook of Juliette’s neck, inhaling her scent, which was so addictive to him.
“You are all I have in this world now. I don’t have anyone else.” After that, they were once again enveloped in the silence of the night. The faint sound from the hall was like a complement to their moments together.
…