Chapter 26
Julia’s POV
“What have you done?” Alex’s voice cut through so loud and aggressively as he approached me, his cold gaze locked into mine.
“You did this,” he spat, his eyes burning with fury. “You attacked Celeste. Just as you tried to kill my grandfather a few minutes ago. I saw you!”
“Alex…”
My words barely had time to settle before he grabbed me. His hand closed around my throat in a vice grip, shoving my back against the cold wall. I gasped, my fingers clawing at his wrist, but he didn’t show any hint of emotions. His grip tightened, his face only inches from mine, seething with unrestrained anger.
“If anything happens to Celeste,” he growled, “you will suffer the same fate.”
The hatred in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let fear consume me. My pulse pounded against his fingers as I fought against his hold.
“You don’t even know what happened!” I choked out, my nails digging into his skin to free my neck. “You have no right to accuse me! Mr. Sterling saw everything.”
“Enough! That’s enough Alex!” Mr. Sterling’s old cracked voice said out loud as he approached.
With every ounce of strength I had, I yanked Alex away. He stumbled back.
“Even in front of your grandfather, you want to hit me?” I demanded, my voice sharp with the ache in my throat.
Alex said nothing, he turned, heading towards the restroom. He didn’t give me or Mr. Sterling a glance.
I took a few steps forward towards Mr. Sterling, my eyes already turning red from Alex’s torture.
“Mr. Sterling, you saw that, didn’t you? Alex will never love me… I don’t belong to his heart.” I wiped the tears that threatened to fall. I wasn’t crying because of Alex’s emotional torture but rather, I was crying because of the physical torture. My throat hurts.
“My child.” He placed his arm on my shoulder, as if no words came after that. I could see how speechless he was and didn’t know how to address the issue. He saw everything damn thing happen right in front of him.
My hands moved, rubbing my sore neck. Before Mr. Sterling could say a word, Alex reappeared, cradling Celeste in his arms.
“Pray nothing happens to her,” he warned, his voice boring into mine as cold as always. His gaze darkened further as he added, “Your savior is not here to save you, remember.”
I knew exactly who he was referring to.
“Alex, you don’t have to be this rude to her. Julia didn’t do anything.” Mr. Sterling’s words made Alex, who was already heading towards the door, turn back.
“I know what Julia can do and I know how much she hates Celeste. All she does is pretend in front of you.”
“You better keep going before you watch the love of your life die in your arms.” My statement made him snap at me.
“You are coming with me, Julia.” He wasn’t asking but commanding me.
“You can’t talk to me that way and expect me to follow you,” I shot back, my patience fraying.
“You are coming to the hospital. You should be responsible for this!”
“Take her to the car.” He commanded, gesturing to his driver Nathaniel. Nathaniel quickly approached as his arm gripped me and then he started dragging me out.
At the Hospital…
The doctor who had examined Celeste finally spoke in a soft and worried free tone.
“She had suffered from a mild ease of food poisoning, but with proper care, she’d recover quickly.” he informed Alex who sat beside Celeste. ” She needs rest and there’s nothing life–threatening.”
“I’m leaving. There’s nothing serious happening to her. She will be fine.” I said but the moment I took just a step, Alex’s statement made me halt.
“Since Celeste was unconscious for so long, this is serious,” he insisted. “You’re not leaving until she wakes up and you apologize to her.”
Chapter 26
+25 Bonus
I scoffed. “Are you kidding? Really? Apologize? For what?”
Alex’s jaw clenched. “You know exactly what.”
I sighed, glancing toward the hospital bed where Celeste lay motionless. Her eyelashes were slightly moving despite her eyes were still close. She wasn’t unconscious anymore. She was awake but pretending to still be out cold.
“Alex, Celeste is awake. She’s just pretending.” He turned to her and then to me.
“Stop being dramatic Julia. You can clearly see she’s still unconscious.” His words made me pinch the skin beneath my brows in frustration.
If she wanted to play this game, I’d play it better. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.
I stepped forward, my eyes locking to his in a seductive manner as I let my voice turn sultry, teasing. “Well, since we’re waiting, isn’t this the perfect time for you and me to get a little… closer?”
Alex’s head snapped toward me, obviously surprised I was falling willingly to him. “What?”
Before he could react further, Celeste suddenly stirred awake. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she weakly whispered, “Alex…”
How predictable. I knew she would open her eyes.
Alex instantly moved to her side. “Celeste, you’re awake.”
She blinked up at him. It was almost impressive how well she played the victim.
“How are you feeling my love?” Alex rushed towards her and sat beside her, caressing her hair.
Celeste winced, holding her head and then spoke in a very weak and pitiful tone. “I’ll be fine Alex. I’m glad that you are here with me. Your presence will make me feel better.”
I rolled my eyes in irritation.
Alex then turned to me, his eyes hardening once more. “She’s awake now, you can go ahead to apologize.”
Alex’s words were followed by Celeste’s who acted like she was just noticing my presence.
“Julia…” she called out weakly.
I tilted my head, meeting Celeste’s gaze directly before speaking.
“Grandfather saw that Celeste made the congee herself,” I stated matter–of–factly. “If she got sick after eating it, there are only two possibilities.”
“Don’t twist everything. Just apologize and leave.”
He requested but his words had fallen on a deaf ear. I ignored him and continued, my tone unwavering. “Either Celeste isn’t good at cooking, or she deliberately put something in the congee herself.”
Celeste’s fingers twitched against the bedsheets nervously. Her eyes darted toward Alex, as if waiting for him to defend her.
Alex snapped, about to approach me but his puppy stopped him.
“Just let her be Alex. Please.” Her voice was weak and immediately, Alex listened to her plea and he retreated.
I pressed on. “The remaining congee can be tested if you really want to know the truth.”
