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I found my fiance Raymond was kissing his mistress Marina after I fought desperately to finish the killing mission he assigned to me. Marina was terrified by the blood all over me, and he responded by kicking me straight into the pool. When I woke up, he was sitting by my bedside, his voice gentle—yet it had nothing to do with my injuries. "She was just frightened. I reacted instinctively to protect her. She did nothing wrong." I let out a cold laugh, "Are you afraid I’ll kiIl her behind your back?" His face darkened instantly. "The Organization forbids infighting.” "This ends now. We'll postpone the wedding until next week. Just don't embarrass us in front of the subordinates." I nodded but wiped my memories and severing every tie, I faked my death and left the Organization. One day, a man stepped into my shop and asked me, Kathy, why have you ignored Mr. Dawson's recall orders all these years? Do you realize he destroyed the entire Ironveil Cartel for you?" I paused, a book still in my hand. "I'm sorry, but I've had my memory wiped. Who is Mr. Dawson?" --- I discovered the truth about Raymond Dawson and Marina Lowell in the early hours of our wedding day. I couldn't find him and assumed he'd been sent on an urgent assassination order. Instead, I found him on the terrace of our estate, kissing Marina—the very girl I had saved. I approached silently, raising my hand to crush his throat. My fingers were grazing his carotid artery when Marina shoved me into the pool. My head cracked against the pool wall. In that burst of pain, my mind went deathly still. It was happening again. Everyone who mattered to me eventually gravitated to Marina. Five years ago, I rescued Marina from an interstate trafficking ring. Since she was fifteen, I had kept her close, treating her like a sister. I taught her intelligence analysis, brought her onto my team, and gave her the safest logistics work. She was innocent, sweet, and always smiling, like a greenhouse flower shielded from every storm. After every bloody mission, she had a hot meal waiting. My teammates—men who lived with death—went from wary to softened by her warmth. "Finally, the team has a real woman," they said, right to my face without hesitation. Now, even the man I had loved for ten years, the man I was supposed to marry soon, was no different. When I woke up in the Organization's clinic, Raymond was sitting by my bed. But he didn't ask about my injury. "Kathy, don't take it the wrong way. Mari was just joking. If it made you uncomfortable, I won't do that again. "You saved her. She has no one else and has suffered enough. Don't hold this against her, okay?" I looked at the scar on his collarbone—from a bullet he'd once taken for me—and smiled. "Raymond, are you saying all this because you're afraid I'll kill her when no one is looking?" His expression darkened. He squeezed my hand hard, evading the question. "I know you're angry, but the Organization forbids infighting. "This ends now. We'll postpone the wedding until next week. Just don't embarrass us in front of the subordinates." I pulled my hand away and looked out at the dark night sky. He started to speak, but his encrypted communicator vibrated. My eyes were sharp enough to see the name: Marina. She claimed she was frightened and having heart palpitations. He glanced at me, his tone softening. "A new target just popped up. I have to handle the setup personally. Get some rest." He didn't wait for an answer. He left quickly—faster than he ever moved during a mission. That was the last time I saw him. I lay on the clinic bed, staring at a notification on my phone, "Memory Coding Overwrite—Start Your Life Anew." I had never tolerated betrayal. Once something was tainted, I never touched it again. So I let go of Raymond—and the decade we shared. When I walked out of Project Oblivion's lab, my mind felt wiped clean, sharp yet hollow. Some memories were locked away like encrypted archives. I knew they existed but had no access, no desire to retrieve them. The overwrite process required two stages. I had to return for final stabilization in seventy-two hours. Relying on residual muscle memory, I returned to my apartment in the Organization's safe house. The iris scanner authorized me, and the door slid open. Raucous laughter drifted from inside. "The Eastern Europe mission was a success! "Mari deserves the credit! She did us proud!" I walked into the living room, and the laughter died instantly. Raymond stood up, asking reluctantly, "Does your head still hurt?" I touched the bruise on the back of my skull. "Even if the injury were ten times worse, you'd never punish the person who caused it." The room went silent and tense. Elizabeth Harper, my partner for years, stepped forward with a forced smile to smooth things over. "Kathy, perfect timing. This is Mari's victory party. Her intel helped us eliminate the target, and Mr. McCord commended her personally." She shoved a gift box into my hands. "You brought Mari into Lycoris. It's only right that you give this to her." I didn't want conflict—not before leaving for good. I held the box out to Marina. She reached for it. The moment our fingers brushed, the box slipped and hit the floor. The face of the high-end tactical watch inside shattered against the floor. Marina's eyes welled up instantly. "Kathy, I know you're mad at me, but this watch was a gift from everyone. How could you..." She choked back a sob. "Are you still angry? I was just joking around with Ray. You misunderstood." Seeing her cry, everyone rushed to comfort her, turning on me. "Kathy, don't be like that. Mari cooks for everyone. She aced the mission. Can't you let her enjoy one day?" "Why are you always so cold? Do you really think you're in the right all the time?" I looked at the faces of people I had known for years, feeling nothing but disappointment. But the person looking at me with the most annoyance was the fiancé I had loved for a decade. "Enough." Raymond's voice cut through the chatter. He bent down, picked up the watch, and placed it back in my hand. "Mari was acting on Mr. McCord's orders. She did well. "It's fine if the gift broke. I'll get it repaired. You can give it to her again. But from now on, treat her better." His tone was calm, but his grip on my wrist tightened, grinding bone against bone. I ripped my hand away. "Don't bother. I won't be working with her anymore." I took a step back. "I'm moving out." Chapter 2 Before I could finish speaking, Marina's wailing intensified. "Kathy, are you kicking me out of Lycoris?" She whipped around to face Raymond, tears streaming down her face. "Ray, what am I supposed to do? If I go out there, those people will kill me." Raymond's expression darkened. He looked at me with cold accusation. "Katherine, are you seriously using your rank and power to push around a helpless girl? Have you no shame?" Before I could answer, the others chimed in, their voices sharp and condemning. "Katherine, you know the rules. If one of you has to leave, it's obviously her. You're practically sending her to her death." "What a cold-blooded killer. She'd even turn on her own." Elizabeth looked pained. She stepped forward and grabbed my arm. "Kathy, let it go. You were a rookie once, too. Show some mercy." I looked at Elizabeth, and my chest went cold. Years ago, she had tripped an alarm during a mission. I had already evacuated, but I went back alone, dragging her out from under a pile of corpses. Covered in blood, she had gripped my hand and sworn she owed me her life. Now, she stood against me, pleading for the girl who was stealing my fiancé. "Liz, leaving is my choice. Besides, I never said I was kicking her out." Raymond cut me off sharply. "Haven't you made enough of a scene? You're just jealous." He glared at me while comforting Marina. "This is entirely my fault. If you have a problem, take it out on me. Mari is young; she doesn't know any better. Why are you so fixated on her?" The intense emotions, compounded by the instability from my memory wipe, sent a sharp pain shooting through my temples. I didn't have the energy to argue anymore. Pressing a hand to my throbbing forehead, I turned to leave. "Kathy! Don't go, please." Marina suddenly lunged at me, throwing herself at my legs. Her sharp fingernails dug deep into the skin of my ankle. Reflexively, my muscles tensed, and I jerked my leg free. I didn't use much force, but to the onlookers, it looked like I had kicked her. Marina let out a shrill scream and fell backward, her left hand twisted at a wrong angle. Raymond shoved me aside. "Katherine, I am so disappointed in you!" Marina cradled her wrist. "My fingers... I can't move them..." Raymond held her, looking at me with a level of disgust I had never seen before. "She works in logistics and intel—she needs her hands to do her job. Were you trying to take that from her?" He scooped up Marina, who was nearly fainting from her sobs. As he passed me, he dropped a cold, harsh warning. "Katherine, if you don't want to do this work anymore, leave. Out there, without us, you're just another nobody." The room fell silent as everyone filed out. Even the newest junior recruit sneered as he brushed past me. "Katherine, face it—you're not in your prime anymore. Throwing a tantrum over a man? Grow up and take a good look at yourself!" My nails dug into my palms, but I swallowed my rage. When Raymond called, I was sitting in the study of our leader, Travis McCord, filing my resignation. Travis sounded completely calm. "Kathy, you paid off your debt to the Organization years ago. Your contributions since then have exceeded that tenfold." He looked up, his gaze sharp. "I just don't understand. Your wedding to Ray is coming up. Why quit now?" I gave a bitter smile. "Whatever we were—it's gone. We're finished..." Before I could finish, I noticed the communicator in my hand was active. I had accidentally answered the call ten seconds ago. Raymond's voice drifted from the speaker. "Katherine, what did you just say?" I raised the device to my ear, keeping my voice steady. "I'm outside. You heard wrong." Silence stretched on the other end before his tone softened. "You left your dagger here. Do you want to come get it?" It was a folding dagger we'd taken from a target's vault after our first joint mission, ten years ago. Later, he had carved our initials into the handle. He once told me, "If I ever stray, put it right through my heart." I'd kept it close for a decade, guarded it like it was precious. But this time, it left me completely numb. "Just keep it there," I replied indifferently. "We'll talk about it later." I lowered the communicator. Travis slid an encrypted chip across the desk toward me. "This is what you're owed. It's enough to start over anywhere. As for your other choices, the Organization won't interfere." Back home, a splitting headache drove me to bed early. In the middle of the night, the faint sound of footsteps jarred me awake. I bolted upright to find Raymond standing there. "I brought your dagger." He placed it on the nightstand. I glanced at it. "Thanks. You didn't have to come all this way." He shook his head. "It's been with you for ten years. It's seen everything we've been through. "Katherine, we've been together a decade. We've survived so many life-or-death situations. Why let a small misunderstanding ruin everything?" Fragments of memory surged uncontrollably through my mind. I remembered him shielding me during a mission, taking a bullet to the shoulder that nearly cost him his arm. I remembered him carrying me through the rainforest for nearly a hundred kilometers after an explosion left me unable to walk. I remembered taking the fall for him the first time, enduring torture, and him swearing with red-rimmed eyes that he would never let me down. Those were good times. But his voice dragged me back to the present. "Mari's finger is just fractured, but she needs rest. "You'll cover her logistics for the next few days. With the wedding coming up and everyone's eyes on us, we need to make it look normal." I spoke calmly, "Raymond, I don't want to marry you. Not anymore. So why should I put on an act for everyone else?" Chapter 3 He looked at me like I'd just said something ridiculous. "Katherine, since when did you start pulling this dramatic crap? "You're slipping. And I'm done entertaining it." I lowered my gaze, a mocking smile playing on my lips. I thought bitterly, "Raymond, do you honestly think I can't live without you?" When I stayed silent, his patience snapped. "Just cool off. Mari needs someone with her. Her fever isn't breaking, so I have to go watch her." The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. When I woke the next morning, my eyes fell upon the dagger on the nightstand. In the dim light, the inscription was clear, "R.C. & M.L." M.L. for Marina Lowell. This wasn't my dagger. I opened the hidden compartment in the headboard. My dagger lay there, quiet and still, inscribed with R.C. & K.M. So that was it. He had duplicated our sacred token for Marina. Without hesitation, I contacted the Organization's Security Department and wiped my access permissions for the safe house. Then I grabbed my bag and checked into a cash-only micro hotel downtown. The surroundings were unfamiliar and noisy. Even though I had to stay on guard, I felt a sense of freedom I'd never known before. However, the next day, I received an urgent order from Raymond to report to the Organization's infirmary immediately. I didn't want to go, but my fund transfer wasn't complete yet. I couldn't risk raising red flags, so I had no choice. The moment I stepped into the familiar hallway, someone lunged at me. Raymond slammed me against the metal wall. He pressed his forearm against my throat, his eyes wild. "Speak. What did you do to Mari?" His voice was tight with suppressed rage, his words cruel. "You know what Mari went through as a child. She has severe PTSD. Are you trying to drive her insane over some petty jealousy?" "It wasn't me." The pressure on my throat made my voice rasp. "I haven't set foot here in two days." Elizabeth and a few other core members walked out, but no one intervened. They just watched with cold suspicion. "Katherine, there's no point denying it," Elizabeth said. "Who else could do all that—get around the surveillance, get in close enough to scare Mari, and still slip past Ray?" Just then, the sound of Marina crying drifted from the hospital room. I shoved Raymond off and walked inside. Marina was curled up in the corner of the bed. "Look closely," I said. "Was I the person you saw last night?" She recoiled sharply, her eyes widening as she looked up, and let out a piercing scream. "Don't touch me! I'll give Ray back to you, just please let me go!" She grabbed the metal cup from the bedside table and hurled it at me. I tilted my head to dodge, but the rim grazed my brow. Blood trickled down the corner of my eye. Raymond shielded Marina with his body. "Get out! Stay away from her!" he barked at me. The others crowded around her, murmuring comfort, casting looks of blame in my direction. I wiped the blood from my face and walked out. Raymond found me after I'd cleaned the wound. His expression was still dark. "Mari is unstable. You need to be more understanding." I met his gaze. "It's fine. I won't hold it against her. You're the one juggling the mission and a patient. That must be exhausting." He paused, clearly surprised by my reaction. "I'm glad you understand." He reached out to check the cut on my brow, but I took a step back. His hand froze in mid-air, then slowly lowered into a clenched fist. I looked at him calmly. "I have to say this, though. I had nothing to do with it." He gave a cynical, arrogant smile. "In all of Lycoris, who else could have pulled it off? Did Mari frame herself? She's not capable of something like that." Seeing his certainty, I realized there was no point in defending myself. I took a deep breath. "Raymond, I'm breaking..." "Ray, it's bad!" Elizabeth ran over. "Mari is having another episode. She's cowering in the corner, crying, and won't let anyone near her." Raymond's face fell, and he immediately turned to run back to the room. Watching him walk away, I finished the sentence in my mind, "I'm breaking up with you." Tomorrow was the second memory overwrite. After that, he, Lycoris, and this whole rotten mess would be out of my life for good. I turned to leave this suffocating place. I had just reached the bottom of the stairs when I heard faint footsteps behind me. Before I could react, a sharp blow struck the back of my neck, and everything went black. Chapter 4 Consciousness returned with a splitting headache. I came to, finding myself strapped to a metal chair. One look around confirmed it—I was inside the organization's secure interrogation room. The door opened, and Raymond walked in. His face was cold, his expression steely and focused. "What do you want? Let me go!" I rasped, my voice weak despite the anger fueling it. He shook his head. "Mari has been diagnosed with severe PTSD and spotty memory loss. The doctor says the tendons in her fingers are permanently damaged. She'll never lift anything heavy again." "And what does that have to do with me?" I shot back. He stepped closer, looming over me. "You assaulted a logistics officer. That is a serious violation of our core rules. As the executor, I have to follow protocol." He signaled the door, and two masked enforcers stepped inside. "Proceed." Raymond signed the order with quick, aggressive strokes. "Raymond, you can't do this to me!" My voice trembled. He didn't even look at me. He simply turned and walked out, shutting the door firmly behind him. One of the enforcers approached, sliding thin probes connected to a machine into the back of my neck and temples. He leaned in close with a cruel sneer. "Katherine, someone put in a special request for you. Don't worry, I promise this won't leave a single mark on your skin." The device hummed to life, and the pain was instant. It felt like liquid fire was coursing through my nerves, stabbing deep into my brain. My muscles convulsed, and the pressure behind my eyes grew unbearable. I bit my lip until I tasted blood, but I refused to cry out. Time lost all meaning. When the restraints finally clicked open, I slumped out of the chair and onto the floor. My vision blurred; my ears rang. The world around me felt muffled and distant. They dragged me to the confinement room and dumped me on the floor without a second thought. I curled into a ball in the pitch black, hugging my aching body through the rest of the night. The next day, the door opened. Raymond stood in the entrance, blocking the light. Using the wall for support, I hauled myself up. I pushed past him and stumbled out, my body screaming in protest with every step. "There were too many witnesses last night. I had to go by the book." He looked at my condition, his expression torn. "I know you hate me, but rules are rules. I couldn't let you get away with hurting Mari. "Take some time to recover. I'll handle your missions for now." He trailed me down the hall, his excuses grating on my nerves. Suddenly, Marina's scream pierced the air. "Ray! Where are you? I'm scared." Raymond froze. He looked at me, offering only a clipped command, "Go back to your room. Don't cause any more trouble." Then he turned and bolted toward the sound of her voice. At that exact moment, my communicator screen lit up. The final fund transfer was complete. Fighting through the pain, I left the building. I hailed a cab and gave the driver the address of the laboratory. I leaned back in the lab chair as the doctor attached sensors to my temples. "Once the program starts, you will fall into a deep sleep. When you wake up, all your past troubles will be gone." I closed my eyes and felt my consciousness slowly slip away. My memories began to dissolve, fading one by one into nothingness until they were gone completely.
More from Alpha's Shadow
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Alpha's Shadow
After three years of marriage, Juliette discovered her husband Giovanni had been replaced by his twin, Ezekiel. Everyone knew the Powell brothers had competed for her attention, openly and secretly, for eighteen years. In the end, Juliette chose Giovanni to be her husband. But one pa ssionate night, Giovanni leaned close to her neck and whispered in a low, hoarse voice, "Darling." That name made Juliette's head spin—only Ezekiel would call her that. As he got out of bed, she grabbed his arm and asked trembling, “Who are you—Gio or Ezzie?” Giovanni turned, smiled. “ulie, even if Ezzie’s my brother, I’ll get jealous if you think of him.” However, when Juliette quietly followed him to the restroom, she overheard Ezekiel say on the phone, “Gio, when can we switch back? I’m tired of sleeping with Juliette. It’s your turn.” In that moment, everything clicked for Juliette, and her last hope shattered. On her first birthday, Juliette Sullivan clasped the hands of the Powell brothers as her gift. From that day on, she was convinced they belonged to her. The elder brother, Giovanni Powell, was polite and refined. The younger brother, Ezekiel Powell, was wild and reckless, wearing his heart on his sleeve. The two had fought both openly and secretly for her attention for eighteen long years. In the end, Juliette chose Giovanni to be her husband. But one pa ssionate night, Giovanni leaned close to her neck and whispered in a low, hoarse voice, "Darling." That name made Juliette's head spin—only Ezekiel would call her that. While the man was getting out of bed, she grabbed his arm without thinking and asked in a trembling voice, "Who are you? Are you Gio or Ezzie..." Giovanni turned his head. His handsome, sculpted, and gentle face carried a hint of satisfaction. "Julie, even if Ezzie is my brother, I'll still get jealous if you keep thinking about him." Then he stood and went into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room, pulling Juliette's thoughts back to the past. *** Giovanni and Ezekiel came from the Powell family, one of the most powerful families in New York. The twins looked exactly the same, but their personalities couldn't have been more different. Giovanni was the perfect gentleman. At nineteen, he was already chosen as the family's heir and became a role model among the city's elite. Ezekiel, on the other hand, was wild and arrogant, a man who never forgot a grudge. People said he was born to cause chaos. The brothers competed over Juliette for more than ten years. When Giovanni fed her popcorn at the movies, Ezekiel would knock the whole bucket over. When Giovanni cut steak for her at dinner, Ezekiel would hide her fork and knife. She had never liked Ezekiel, finding him too obsessive, so when she grew up, she agreed to be with Giovanni after he told her how he felt. Ezekiel, unwilling to let go, lost his mind. He kidnapped her to Iceland and kept her locked up for a month, treating her as his possession. When Giovanni found out, he beat Ezekiel up. During their fight, Ezekiel fell into the sea and disappeared. That incident left Juliette with a trauma she could never shake. Just then, the bathroom door clicked open, steam filling the air. Giovanni came out, fully dressed up. "Julie, everyone's still downstairs waiting to celebrate my birthday. I'll go entertain them. You can rest a bit longer." He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. That familiar kiss calmed the fear that had flared inside her. After Giovanni left, Juliette tried to pull herself together. She got dressed and went downstairs. From afar, she saw Giovanni chatting and laughing with a few friends in the living room. Smiling, she took a step forward, but froze when their words reached her ears. "Ezzie, you were at it with your sister-in-law for quite a while. We thought you'd never come down tonight." "Man, you're good. Pretending to be your brother for three years just so you could sleep with her." "You begged her when she chose him over you, but she just ignored you. And now? She's in your bed every night, giving you whatever you want." The mocking laughter left Juliette's mind utterly blank. What was going on? How did Giovanni become Ezekiel? She looked toward the man under the chandelier. His casual arrogance and the tilt of his chin began to stir memories of Ezekiel. Could it be that for the past three years, the man sleeping beside her had been Ezekiel all along?! Before she could figure it out, the front door opened. Juliette looked over and saw a tall, elegant man walk in. He wore a black tailored suit, exuding quiet power. He had the same striking features as the man sitting on the couch. The only difference was the golden pin on his collar. It was the symbol of the Powell family's heir! This was Giovanni. Juliette's whole body trembled. Her nails dug so deeply into her palms that they almost broke the skin. Giovanni walked straight toward Ezekiel, his calm voice laced with authority. "Ezzie, don't take it too far. I only asked you to stay with Julie in my place. I didn't tell you to hurt her." Ezekiel raised an eyebrow, his li ps curling into a cold smirk. "Gio, you're the one who said she was just a sister to you. You wanted to pursue your secretary, so you came up with this scheme, letting me take your place as her husband." "If you regret it, we can switch back. But don't forget, Grandpa wants a great-grandchild this year. If it doesn't bother you that she slept with me, then feel free to take her." Giovanni didn't reply, but his brow furrowed. That look of disgust was like a bucket of ice water, dousing the last bit of hope left in Juliette's heart. Chapter 2 The laughter in the distance went on, but Juliette quietly went back to her room alone. She sat at her dressing table, staring at her pale face in the mirror. The next second, she opened the drawer and took out a signed divorce agreement from the inner compartment. It was the one Giovanni had personally signed and given to her when they got married. "Julie, since this is my first time being a husband, this is my guarantee to you. If I ever make you feel wronged, you can use this to keep me in line." Back then, Juliette didn't understand why Giovanni's "guarantee" was a divorce agreement. He had always treated her gently and protected her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Whenever Ezekiel bullied her, Giovanni was the one who stood in front of her to shield her. Even though everyone said she had lost her innocence and was no longer worthy of him after she was rescued from Ezekiel's kidnapping, he still took her to a therapist, ignored the gossip, and gave her a wedding that shocked the entire New York. She thought he loved her. It wasn't until today that she finally understood. Giovanni only saw her as a sister. That was why he had prepared a divorce agreement long ago to leave her a way out. A sharp ache spread through her bosom, like countless tiny needles piercing her heart again and again. Juliette took a deep breath, pushed down her emotions, and, without hesitation, signed her name on the agreement. Giovanni didn't love her. He had even switched identities with Ezekiel just to deceive her. There was no reason for this marriage to exist anymore. After putting the papers away, Juliette planned to head to the courthouse. Just then, someone knocked softly on the door. A second later, the real Giovanni pushed the door open and asked her gently, "Julie, did you get some rest?" Juliette quietly hid the agreement, then looked up at him and forced a small smile. "Yeah." Giovanni naturally reached out his hand to her. "Then let's go downstairs. There's another surprise waiting for you." They walked to the living room, where the birthday party was still going on. Next to Ezekiel stood a woman in a pink dress, smiling brightly like a blooming flower. As they got closer, Giovanni's smooth, warm voice reached Juliette's ear. "Julie, Ezzie isn't dead. He just came back today. He wants to apologize to you in person for what happened back then." As soon as he finished, Ezekiel looked up at Juliette with a lazy grin. "Julie, I was too young and possessive back then. I offended you. I owe you an apology." Then he turned slightly, slipped his arm around the woman's waist, and his tone turned teasing. "Let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Leilani Wallace. When I fell into the sea, she was the one who saved me. These past few years, she's tamed me completely. I admit defeat." Leilani smiled sweetly and added, "Mrs. Powell, it's been a while. I didn't expect we'd become family." Her smile was sweet, but her eyes burned with intensity as she looked at Giovanni. Juliette's lashes trembled as she slowly recognized her. Leilani used to work at the Powell Group. She was Giovanni's secretary. She had fallen for Giovanni at first sight and even declared war on Juliette, his legal wife. Giovanni had gotten furious and fired her back then. Juliette never imagined that Giovanni had switched identities with Ezekiel just to pursue Leilani. She could no longer hold back the emotions boiling in her bosom. Instead of responding, she said coldly, "That is surprising. Ms. Wallace, as far as I know, you used to pursue Gio quite boldly. But you're already in love with Ezzie." "Julie, watch what you say." Giovanni's usually gentle voice turned sharp as he cut her off. Juliette's heart tightened. She stared quietly at him. In that moment, she confirmed once again just how much Leilani meant to Giovanni. Realizing his tone had been too harsh, Giovanni softened a little. "Julie, I didn't mean to sound angry..." Before he could finish, the lights in the living room suddenly went out. Someone in the crowd called out, "The dance is starting! Hold on to your partners!" Juliette wasn't in the mood to dance. Without saying anything to Giovanni, she slipped away in the dark. But as soon as she turned, a pair of large, burning hands grabbed her wrist. The familiar scent of mint enveloped her instantly. A moment later, a deep, husky voice whispered against her ear. "Julie, we've never tried it in the dark yet~" Chapter 3 As he spoke, the man grabbed her wrist and spun her around, pulling her into the center of the dance floor. That familiar, obsessive move could only belong to Ezekiel. Juliette froze. Her brows furrowed in discomfort. "Let go of me!" She struggled hard, but as the music filled the room, the hand around her waist only tightened, almost crushing her into his body. Out of breath, Juliette couldn't hold it in anymore and shouted, "Ezekiel, let go!" With a sharp click, the lights suddenly came back on. Juliette blinked against the brightness and saw Giovanni Powell standing beside her. Across from them, Leilani held onto Ezekiel's arm as he stared at Juliette with that calm, mocking gaze. "Julie, were you calling me just now? I'm so flattered that you were thinking about me while dancing with my brother." Leilani pouted. "Ms. Sullivan, I know you grew up with both Gio and his brother. "But come on, you can at least tell your husband and your brother-in-law apart, right?" Juliette didn't plan to stay quiet this time. She was just about to talk back. But Giovanni spoke first. "It's a misunderstanding. Ezzie just got back, and Julie probably didn't realize it yet." He turned slightly toward her, his voice gentle. "You must be tired. Let me take you back to your room." Juliette really didn't want to deal with their fake politeness anymore, but she also didn't want to keep playing the fool. She looked at Giovanni and Ezekiel, her tone laced with bitter sarcasm. "You're right. I really can't tell you two apart anymore." She didn't wait to see their reactions and walked straight upstairs. But Giovanni quickly followed, trying to explain himself. "Julie, back there on the dance floor, I was in a hurry and didn't catch your hand. It won't happen again." When they reached the room, he bent down to take off her heels, poured her some milk, and even adjusted her pillow to the height she liked. Seeing how gentle he looked, all his past kindness flooded back into her mind. When she was sick as a child, Giovanni had stayed up all night by her bedside. Why would Giovanni, who had always been her knight and favored her, lie to her? Juliette's bosom tightened, a dull ache spreading through her heart. She lifted her eyes and couldn't hold back anymore. "Giovanni, why did you lie to me with Ezekiel?" As soon as she finished asking, Giovanni's phone rang. He quickly turned off the screen. But Juliette still caught a glimpse of the name "Leila" on it. Then he said, "Julie, what did you just say? Sorry, I've got something to take care of. Let's talk later, okay?" Juliette didn't answer. Her heart had already gone cold. There was nothing left to ask, nothing left to hope for. Once she divorced him, she wouldn't have to be hurt by this fake tenderness anymore. After Giovanni left, Juliette went online to schedule an appointment at the courthouse to finalize their divorce paperwork. The next morning, just as dawn broke, Juliette put the signed divorce papers into a document folder and went downstairs. At the dining table, she saw Giovanni gently blowing on a spoonful of oatmeal for Leilani. "Just a bit more, sweetheart." That warm, patient, and focused demeanor reminded Juliette of the past. Back when Ezekiel had locked her in a freezer as a prank, and she'd fainted from a fever, Giovanni had coaxed her into drinking her medicine bit by bit, too. The memories stabbed at her heart. She looked away and walked toward the door. But Giovanni suddenly called out to her. "Gio went on a last-minute business trip last night. He was worried about you being home alone, so he asked Leila and me to stay with you for the time being. "My dear sister-in-law, would you like to have breakfast with us?" He called her "sister-in-law" so naturally. It didn't sound out of place at all. Juliette turned back and looked at him, finding it absurd. Before she could refuse, Leilani took the folder from her hand, set it on the table, and pulled her to sit down. "Julie, just have a little something with us. Don't go hungry." As she spoke, she started to serve the oatmeal. "No need." Juliette reached out to take the mug herself, but just as her fingers brushed the rim, Leilani's hand slipped. Hot oatmeal splashed across the back of Juliette's hand, turning her skin red instantly. "Leila!" Giovanni immediately grabbed Leilani's hand, checking her for burns. His pale blue eyes turned icy as he glared at Juliette. "Julie, Leila was just being kind. Why would you burn her on purpose? "No matter what happened between you two before, she's my girlfriend now. I won't let anyone hurt her!" His voice was cold and commanding, leaving no room for argument. Even though the burn was on her own hand, Juliette felt the pain cut straight to her heart. She forced back the tremor in her voice. "She dropped it herself. It had nothing to do with me..." Before she could finish, she noticed the folder on the table was also soaked with oatmeal. Her face went pale as she reached to grab it. But Giovanni's long fingers moved faster. He picked up the folder and tore it open in one smooth motion! Chapter 4 Just as Giovanni was about to pull out the divorce papers, Leilani suddenly cried out in pain. "It hurts... Will it leave a scar on my hand?" Giovanni's face changed instantly. He dropped the folder, bent down, and carried Leilani in his arms as he rushed out. "Get the car. We're going to the hospital!" Juliette looked at the document lying on the floor with the words "Divorce Agreement" printed across it, the corner of her li ps curling slightly. It was fine that he hadn't seen it. At least she didn't have to face him and make things vgly. She bent down to pick it up, treated the burn on the back of her hand, and then took a cab straight to the courthouse. Ten minutes later, she walked out of the courthouse. As she waited for a cab by the road, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a call from the photography director of ELLE. Juliette answered the call. "Julie, are you really giving up the chance to study at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London? "The photo you took, 'Grieving Beauties,' won the highest international award. You really have talent in photography." The director had mentioned the training program to her before. But back then, she hadn't known that Giovanni and Ezekiel had switched identities. She'd been lost in her so-called happy marriage, so she politely turned it down. But the truth was, all these years, the man who had been in her bed wasn't Giovanni. It was Ezekiel, the man she despised. At that thought, Juliette stopped hesitating and seized the chance. "Thank you for keeping the spot open for me. I've decided to go." The director's voice came through, surprised but thrilled. "That's amazing! I'll submit your documents right away. But... it means you and your husband will be in a long-distance relationship." The call ended, and Juliette's li ps lifted faintly. No, there wouldn't be any long-distance relationship, because she was about to be free. She slipped her phone back into her pocket, ready to wave down a cab, when a luxury car suddenly pulled up beside her. The door opened, and Ezekiel stepped out. He took her hand and pretended to speak in Giovanni's gentle tone. "Julie, I heard you burned your hand. Did you apply any medicine? It's my fault. I shouldn't have let Ezzie and Leila stay at our place." Juliette didn't know how he'd found her, but she didn't care anymore. They weren't tired of pretending, but she was tired of watching them. She pulled her hand away and said flatly, "I'm fine. It's already been taken care of." When her palm slipped from his grasp, Ezekiel's eyes darkened. But a moment later, he looked at her again tenderly. "How about this? Let me take you out for some air. A friend of mine rented out the Metropolitan Opera House tonight for a private show. You've been stuck in a creative block for your photography lately, right? Maybe you'll get some inspiration there." Before she could refuse, he was already guiding her into the car. Juliette simply closed her eyes. She was too tired to listen to whatever ridiculous story he'd make up next. Half an hour later, they arrived at the Metropolitan Opera House, the globally recognized symbol of the performing arts in New York. Ezekiel played the perfect husband. He opened the car door for her, asked the staff to prepare her favorite snacks, and even draped his coat over her shoulders. His friends saw this and began teasing him. "Come on, man, that's too much! You're making all of us single guys jealous!" Juliette didn't respond. She quietly watched the folding screens and the painted backdrop on the stage. She couldn't deny that something there really did spark a bit of inspiration in her. By the time she came back to herself, Ezekiel and his friends were gone. Only she was left sitting in the audience area. Juliette frowned and was about to stand up when the performer onstage suddenly blew out a burst of fire at her! It happened too fast. Although she dodged quickly, the back of her hand was burned by the sparks again. With new wounds on top of old ones, she couldn't help but gro an. She hurried to the restroom to cool it under running water. Just then, a few men in flamboyant costumes walked in and stared at her blatantly. "Well, well, what do we have here? Didn't expect to run into such a beauty tonight." "Don't be scared, sweetheart. We'll make sure you enjoy yourself later." Juliette's face went pale as she realized the danger. She turned and bolted for the door. But she was a second too late. One of them grabbed her wrist. "What do you want? Let go of me!" She struggled hard, but her injured hand hurt too much to fight back. No one came, no matter how loudly she called for help. Despair washed over her. Just as one of them reached to tear her blouse, bang! The door was kicked open so hard that it slammed against the wall. Ezekiel's eyes were bloodshot as he stormed in, kicking the men aside, his voice hoarse like a beast. "Get lost!" The men froze under his glare, then scrambled out in terror. When he lifted Juliette into his arms, his hands were shaking. "Julie, are you okay?" His pale blue eyes were filled with fear, as if he'd almost lost the whole world. Juliette's mind was hazy. She opened her mouth to speak, but another voice suddenly rang out. "Ezzie, why did you come in? Didn't we agree to let those guys ruin Juliette for good so Leila could get her revenge?!" Chapter 5 With those questions, Juliette could no longer hear anything clearly. When she woke up again, she found herself lying on a hospital bed. As soon as she moved her arm slightly, a sharp burning pain spread through it. The nurse who was changing her bandages smiled and said, "Ms. Sullivan, you're awake. Your husband went to pay your bill. He rushed in, holding you in his arms. He was so nervous." After saying that, she pushed her cart out of the room. Juliette twitched her li ps, her mind flashing back to the words she had heard before she passed out. Just then, the phone on the nightstand buzzed. She thought it was hers, but when she picked it up, she realized it was Ezekiel's phone. She saw the group chat messages on his phone. "Ezzie, when you suddenly ran in to save Juliette, we thought you softened up." "Gio said he was going to have Juliette's hand burned to pay Leila back for her burn. You can't let him outdo you." Ezekiel replied, "I know what I'm doing." "Juliette didn't choose me back then. I still haven't finished paying her back. Saving her was just to make sure no one else touched her. It'd make me feel sick being with her. You know who I really care about." "Back then, fighting with Giovanni over Juliette was just for fun. But after meeting Leila, I finally understood what true love really is." "But Leila likes my brother. He can give her everything she wants. As long as she's happy, I'll accept that." "Anyway, having Juliette around is enough to take care of my needs. I can do whatever I want with her." The rest of the group agreed and replied with emojis. "When you get bored with her, let the rest of us have a taste of her, too. That body of hers, curvy in all the right places... just looking at her makes me drool." Ezekiel replied a few seconds later, "Sure." Juliette's heart felt like it had been to rn open. She placed the phone back where it was and bit her li p hard, but her eyes still turned red uncontrollably. She finally understood what it meant to hurt so deeply that she couldn't even make a sound. After a long while, her face slowly calmed down. Like dying embers that had burned away the last trace of heat, leaving only cold and deadly silence. After that, during her hospitalization, Ezekiel still pretended to be Giovanni and stayed by her side. Every day, he prepared chicken broth for her himself, brought her the newest designer bags and dresses, and even brought his laptop to the ward to work while helping her look through photography work. Until one day, a phone call came, and he had to leave. Before going, he bent down to tuck her blanket in place, his eyes soft and tender. "Julie, something came up at the company. I'll be back soon. Get some rest, okay?" He even took time to remind the nurse and maid about her diet before finally leaving. When the nurse came to change her dressing, she couldn't help but sigh. "Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Powell is so good to you. So patient and thoughtful. He's the perfect husband!" Juliette tugged at the corner of her mouth slightly but said nothing. Her eyes drifted to the tablet beside her. Ezekiel's Instagram account was still logged in. He had added Leilani to his "favorites" list. In Leilani's latest post, the real Giovanni was gently dabbing medicine on her finger with a cotton swab, his expression tender. The caption read, "Just a small burn, but someone got all worried and flew me across countries to see the best skin doctors. I really can't do anything about him. Looks like I can't live without him for the rest of my life~" Juliette thought of the way Ezekiel had rushed out earlier and felt nothing but bitter irony. She didn't wait for him to come back. Instead, she handled her own discharge papers and left. Once she got home, the first thing she did was pack up everything that belonged to Ezekiel. The house had been part of his wedding gift when he married her. And she wasn't stvpid enough to walk away from the divorce empty-handed. So when that day came, the only thing she would leave behind would be those useless men. Chapter 6 When she was almost done packing, a call came from the magazine. "Julie, you still have one more wedding photoshoot booked before you go abroad. The client insisted on having you as their photographer. They said they only want you to take their photos..." "Send me the address." After Juliette got the address, she grabbed her camera and headed out. It was autumn in Aspen Snowmass. The white snowcapped peaks stood out against the colorful fall trees in the mountains. Juliette stared at the breathtaking view, dazed for a moment. She had taken her own wedding photos with Giovanni here years ago. But soon, she pushed down the ache in her heart, switched into work mode, and walked toward the shooting spot. "Ms. Sullivan, what a coincidence. I didn't expect you to be our photographer today." Juliette turned at the voice and saw Leilani in a white wedding dress, standing beside Giovanni in a black tuxedo. When Giovanni saw Juliette, his dark eyes froze for a split second. Then he quickly looked away. Leilani smiled sweetly and handed her phone over. "We took something similar in the Swiss Alps before. Please use this as a reference to capture a romantic vibe." Juliette looked at the screen. In the photo, the snowy mountains reflected the sunlight. Snowflakes fell between the couple's hair. It looked like a quiet, tender scene from a movie. But when her gaze landed on the date in the corner, her breath caught. September 25, 2023. That was the exact day she and Giovanni had taken their wedding photos, but the real Giovanni was watching the snow with Leilani at the foot of the Swiss Alps. A wave of bitterness rose in her throat. Her eyelashes trembled slightly. "Let's begin, my dear sister-in-law," Giovanni said suddenly. Juliette looked at the man, still trying to lie to her, and let out a faint, mocking smile. "Sure." This marriage would soon be over anyway. Whether it was Ezekiel or Giovanni standing there taking wedding photos with Leilani didn't matter anymore. By the time the shoot ended, the sky was already turning dark. Giovanni went to get the car. Juliette packed up her equipment, ready to leave, but Leilani suddenly walked over to her. "Ms. Sullivan, you must be very sad. You've been through a lot." Juliette frowned. "What do you mean?" Leilani smiled, took a bank card out of her bag, and handed it to her. "Stop pretending. You've already figured out that Gio switched places with Ezzie for me." "Ezzie only married you to make me happy. He's been pretending to be Gio for three years just for my sake. Take this money. It's your payment for serving him all these years." "Neither Gio nor Ezzie likes you. You're just clinging to the empty title of Mrs. Powell. Isn't that kind of pathetic? "If you're smart, take the money and leave the Powell family as soon as possible." The harsh words hit her one after another. Juliette clenched her hands so tight her nails dug into her palms. "Whether I leave the Powell family or not, that's up to me." "If you're really that capable, then have Giovanni divorce me as the head of the Powell family!" After saying that, she didn't look at Leilani's frozen expression anymore and turned to leave. Halfway down the path, rain started pouring. She shielded her camera and ran all the way down the mountain. By the time she reached the bottom, her dress was soaked through. The cold fabric clung to her skin, sending chills through her body. Just as she was shivering, a black sedan stopped beside her. A young man stepped out, took off his coat, and handed it to her. "The rain's too heavy. If you don't mind, I can give you a ride back to the city." His eyes were clear, and his manners were proper. He looked like a gentleman. Juliette was about to turn him down when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist hard. She turned and met Giovanni's dark, furious eyes. His voice was low and rough, full of restrained anger. "Julie... my dear sister-in-law, are you standing in the rain on purpose? Trying to make some random guy notice you?" Juliette froze for a second, then finally understood. Giovanni wasn't just angry that she might be having an affair. He was jealous. She yanked her hand free and gave a cold smile. "Ezekiel, even if I did it on purpose, the jealous one would be your brother, not you." Chapter 7 "How is it none of my business? I just..." Giovanni stopped himself mid-sentence and changed his tone. "My brother's not here. I can't just stand by and do nothing when I see you like this. Get in the car. I'll take you home." Juliette didn't even look at him. She turned around and got into the car of the stranger in front of her. One hour later, Juliette pushed open the door of the villa, only to find that Ezekiel was home. When he saw her, he immediately stood up and rushed over, his face full of worry and panic. "Julie, where did you go? The hospital said you were discharged on your own. You weren't home when I got back. I was so worried." Giovanni and Ezekiel were really good at acting. Juliette had been caught in the rain. Her head ached and felt heavy. She brushed him off casually. "I caught a bit of a chill. I just want to take a shower first." Then she went upstairs. Behind her came Ezekiel's puzzled voice. "Julie, you packed away my clothes. Were you planning to bvy me some new ones for the season? I don't want anything formal." Juliette froze for a moment. The one who liked formal clothes was Giovanni. She forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, I won't." After that, she sank herself into the hot bath, washing away all the exhaustion. Half an hour later, she came out of the bathroom. Ezekiel was no longer in the room. A cup of warm water and a note sat on the nightstand. "Julie, something came up at work. I had to go out." Juliette glanced at it and ignored it. She opened her laptop and sent the photos she had taken to her assistant. The assistant quickly replied, "Julie, the director said you need to fly to London in three days for training. Can you make time for it?" Juliette was about to check the progress of the divorce paperwork when her phone buzzed. "Ms. Sullivan, your divorce is now finalized. Please come by the courthouse at 9 a.m. next Monday to collect your documents." She breathed a sigh of relief and typed back to her assistant, "No problem. I'll be there on time." After that, she took some fever medicine and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next day, when Juliette went downstairs, she saw Giovanni and Ezekiel again fighting to serve breakfast to Leilani. As soon as she appeared, Ezekiel quickly put down what he was holding and came over to take her hand. "Julie, I just found out you went to help Kiel and Leila shoot their wedding photos yesterday. Was it tiring?" Giovanni's gaze flicked briefly to where Ezekiel held her hand. His voice dropped a little. "Leila booked a trip to Berlin. We're leaving in two days. You can come along too." Leilani smiled and chimed in. "That's right. The snow in Berlin is beautiful this time of year. Perfect for skiing and visiting the Christmas markets..." The three of them chatted happily about the trip, filling the room with excitement. Juliette felt like a complete outsider, but she wasn't too upset. Because two days later, she was going to collect her divorce certificate. Everything had fallen perfectly into place for her to leave. On the day of the trip, Juliette first went to the courthouse to collect her divorce certificate. She kept one copy and sent the other to the house by courier. Once everything was done, she arrived at the airport right on time. During check-in, she was about to tell the truth when Leilani suddenly gasped, then said apologetically, "Oh no... I think I only bought three tickets. I must've forgotten to get one for Ms. Sullivan." "It's fine. You can still bvy another one now," Giovanni said, glancing at Juliette. Juliette stayed calm. "It's okay, you guys go ahead. Hope you have a great trip." Just as she turned to leave, Ezekiel grabbed her hand. "Julie, I'll go get the ticket with you." Leilani interrupted gently, "But there are only two minutes left for check-in. If we miss this flight, we'll have to wait until tomorrow." She looked troubled. "I have a tandem skydiving session booked for tomorrow morning and a dinner at a castle outside Berlin at night. Everything's been arranged in advance. If you miss this flight, you'll ruin the schedule. It'll have to be just me and Kiel then." As soon as she finished, Juliette felt Ezekiel's hand loosen. She noticed Ezekiel's eyes were glued to Leilani, full of longing. Juliette quietly pulled her hand back, her voice calm. "I'll handle it myself. You guys go ahead. Don't be late." This time, Ezekiel didn't insist. He just looked relieved and said half-heartedly, "Alright, Julie, I'll wait for you in Berlin." Juliette didn't respond, only smiled faintly. "Goodbye." Then she watched them board the plane and immediately walked to her terminal to check in for her flight to London. She boarded the first-class cabin. Before takeoff, she took out her phone, snapped a photo of the blue sky with her divorce certificate, and posted it on Instagram. "Finally free. From now on, I'll live as I please, far away from it all." Then she deleted both Ezekiel's and Giovanni's contacts and numbers. The plane rose into the clouds, carrying her to freedom. *** Meanwhile, on the plane to Berlin, Ezekiel leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed. For some reason, a hollow feeling suddenly grew in his body. For a split second, Juliette's face as she said goodbye to him flashed through his mind. Over the years, he had seen her in many ways. Gentle, worried, crying for him when he was hurt, and helplessly crying when he pushed her to her limits in bed. But he had never seen her smile while her eyes looked so lonely. A dull, suffocating ache rose inside him. While Leilani went to the restroom, he turned to Giovanni, who was typing emails beside him. "Send Juliette a message. Give her the hotel address we booked in Germany." Giovanni's fingers stopped. "Why?" Ezekiel said instinctively, "She looked upset earlier. I should probably make it up to her." Giovanni didn't move. That strange, uneasy feeling in Ezekiel's body grew stronger. He took out his own phone and sent a message himself. "Julie, when you get to Berlin, go straight to The Ritz-Carlton." But right after sending it, a little exclamation mark appeared. The message was not sent. The next second, he used Giovanni's phone to send another message, but the same warning appeared. "Message not delivered. The recipient may have blocked you." At that exact moment, one of their mutual friends posted a screenshot of Juliette's Instagram post in the group chat. The first thing that caught their eyes was Juliette's clear photo of the divorce certificate.
Alpha's Shadow
After three years of marriage, Juliette discovered her husband Giovanni had been replaced by his twin, Ezekiel. Everyone knew the Powell brothers had competed for her attention, openly and secretly, for eighteen years. In the end, Juliette chose Giovanni to be her husband. But one pa ssionate night, Giovanni leaned close to her neck and whispered in a low, hoarse voice, "Darling." That name made Juliette's head spin—only Ezekiel would call her that. As he got out of bed, she grabbed his arm and asked trembling, “Who are you—Gio or Ezzie?” Giovanni turned, smiled. “ulie, even if Ezzie’s my brother, I’ll get jealous if you think of him.” However, when Juliette quietly followed him to the restroom, she overheard Ezekiel say on the phone, “Gio, when can we switch back? I’m tired of sleeping with Juliette. It’s your turn.” In that moment, everything clicked for Juliette, and her last hope shattered. On her first birthday, Juliette Sullivan clasped the hands of the Powell brothers as her gift. From that day on, she was convinced they belonged to her. The elder brother, Giovanni Powell, was polite and refined. The younger brother, Ezekiel Powell, was wild and reckless, wearing his heart on his sleeve. The two had fought both openly and secretly for her attention for eighteen long years. In the end, Juliette chose Giovanni to be her husband. But one pa ssionate night, Giovanni leaned close to her neck and whispered in a low, hoarse voice, "Darling." That name made Juliette's head spin—only Ezekiel would call her that. While the man was getting out of bed, she grabbed his arm without thinking and asked in a trembling voice, "Who are you? Are you Gio or Ezzie..." Giovanni turned his head. His handsome, sculpted, and gentle face carried a hint of satisfaction. "Julie, even if Ezzie is my brother, I'll still get jealous if you keep thinking about him." Then he stood and went into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room, pulling Juliette's thoughts back to the past. *** Giovanni and Ezekiel came from the Powell family, one of the most powerful families in New York. The twins looked exactly the same, but their personalities couldn't have been more different. Giovanni was the perfect gentleman. At nineteen, he was already chosen as the family's heir and became a role model among the city's elite. Ezekiel, on the other hand, was wild and arrogant, a man who never forgot a grudge. People said he was born to cause chaos. The brothers competed over Juliette for more than ten years. When Giovanni fed her popcorn at the movies, Ezekiel would knock the whole bucket over. When Giovanni cut steak for her at dinner, Ezekiel would hide her fork and knife. She had never liked Ezekiel, finding him too obsessive, so when she grew up, she agreed to be with Giovanni after he told her how he felt. Ezekiel, unwilling to let go, lost his mind. He kidnapped her to Iceland and kept her locked up for a month, treating her as his possession. When Giovanni found out, he beat Ezekiel up. During their fight, Ezekiel fell into the sea and disappeared. That incident left Juliette with a trauma she could never shake. Just then, the bathroom door clicked open, steam filling the air. Giovanni came out, fully dressed up. "Julie, everyone's still downstairs waiting to celebrate my birthday. I'll go entertain them. You can rest a bit longer." He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. That familiar kiss calmed the fear that had flared inside her. After Giovanni left, Juliette tried to pull herself together. She got dressed and went downstairs. From afar, she saw Giovanni chatting and laughing with a few friends in the living room. Smiling, she took a step forward, but froze when their words reached her ears. "Ezzie, you were at it with your sister-in-law for quite a while. We thought you'd never come down tonight." "Man, you're good. Pretending to be your brother for three years just so you could sleep with her." "You begged her when she chose him over you, but she just ignored you. And now? She's in your bed every night, giving you whatever you want." The mocking laughter left Juliette's mind utterly blank. What was going on? How did Giovanni become Ezekiel? She looked toward the man under the chandelier. His casual arrogance and the tilt of his chin began to stir memories of Ezekiel. Could it be that for the past three years, the man sleeping beside her had been Ezekiel all along?! Before she could figure it out, the front door opened. Juliette looked over and saw a tall, elegant man walk in. He wore a black tailored suit, exuding quiet power. He had the same striking features as the man sitting on the couch. The only difference was the golden pin on his collar. It was the symbol of the Powell family's heir! This was Giovanni. Juliette's whole body trembled. Her nails dug so deeply into her palms that they almost broke the skin. Giovanni walked straight toward Ezekiel, his calm voice laced with authority. "Ezzie, don't take it too far. I only asked you to stay with Julie in my place. I didn't tell you to hurt her." Ezekiel raised an eyebrow, his li ps curling into a cold smirk. "Gio, you're the one who said she was just a sister to you. You wanted to pursue your secretary, so you came up with this scheme, letting me take your place as her husband." "If you regret it, we can switch back. But don't forget, Grandpa wants a great-grandchild this year. If it doesn't bother you that she slept with me, then feel free to take her." Giovanni didn't reply, but his brow furrowed. That look of disgust was like a bucket of ice water, dousing the last bit of hope left in Juliette's heart. Chapter 2 The laughter in the distance went on, but Juliette quietly went back to her room alone. She sat at her dressing table, staring at her pale face in the mirror. The next second, she opened the drawer and took out a signed divorce agreement from the inner compartment. It was the one Giovanni had personally signed and given to her when they got married. "Julie, since this is my first time being a husband, this is my guarantee to you. If I ever make you feel wronged, you can use this to keep me in line." Back then, Juliette didn't understand why Giovanni's "guarantee" was a divorce agreement. He had always treated her gently and protected her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Whenever Ezekiel bullied her, Giovanni was the one who stood in front of her to shield her. Even though everyone said she had lost her innocence and was no longer worthy of him after she was rescued from Ezekiel's kidnapping, he still took her to a therapist, ignored the gossip, and gave her a wedding that shocked the entire New York. She thought he loved her. It wasn't until today that she finally understood. Giovanni only saw her as a sister. That was why he had prepared a divorce agreement long ago to leave her a way out. A sharp ache spread through her bosom, like countless tiny needles piercing her heart again and again. Juliette took a deep breath, pushed down her emotions, and, without hesitation, signed her name on the agreement. Giovanni didn't love her. He had even switched identities with Ezekiel just to deceive her. There was no reason for this marriage to exist anymore. After putting the papers away, Juliette planned to head to the courthouse. Just then, someone knocked softly on the door. A second later, the real Giovanni pushed the door open and asked her gently, "Julie, did you get some rest?" Juliette quietly hid the agreement, then looked up at him and forced a small smile. "Yeah." Giovanni naturally reached out his hand to her. "Then let's go downstairs. There's another surprise waiting for you." They walked to the living room, where the birthday party was still going on. Next to Ezekiel stood a woman in a pink dress, smiling brightly like a blooming flower. As they got closer, Giovanni's smooth, warm voice reached Juliette's ear. "Julie, Ezzie isn't dead. He just came back today. He wants to apologize to you in person for what happened back then." As soon as he finished, Ezekiel looked up at Juliette with a lazy grin. "Julie, I was too young and possessive back then. I offended you. I owe you an apology." Then he turned slightly, slipped his arm around the woman's waist, and his tone turned teasing. "Let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Leilani Wallace. When I fell into the sea, she was the one who saved me. These past few years, she's tamed me completely. I admit defeat." Leilani smiled sweetly and added, "Mrs. Powell, it's been a while. I didn't expect we'd become family." Her smile was sweet, but her eyes burned with intensity as she looked at Giovanni. Juliette's lashes trembled as she slowly recognized her. Leilani used to work at the Powell Group. She was Giovanni's secretary. She had fallen for Giovanni at first sight and even declared war on Juliette, his legal wife. Giovanni had gotten furious and fired her back then. Juliette never imagined that Giovanni had switched identities with Ezekiel just to pursue Leilani. She could no longer hold back the emotions boiling in her bosom. Instead of responding, she said coldly, "That is surprising. Ms. Wallace, as far as I know, you used to pursue Gio quite boldly. But you're already in love with Ezzie." "Julie, watch what you say." Giovanni's usually gentle voice turned sharp as he cut her off. Juliette's heart tightened. She stared quietly at him. In that moment, she confirmed once again just how much Leilani meant to Giovanni. Realizing his tone had been too harsh, Giovanni softened a little. "Julie, I didn't mean to sound angry..." Before he could finish, the lights in the living room suddenly went out. Someone in the crowd called out, "The dance is starting! Hold on to your partners!" Juliette wasn't in the mood to dance. Without saying anything to Giovanni, she slipped away in the dark. But as soon as she turned, a pair of large, burning hands grabbed her wrist. The familiar scent of mint enveloped her instantly. A moment later, a deep, husky voice whispered against her ear. "Julie, we've never tried it in the dark yet~" Chapter 3 As he spoke, the man grabbed her wrist and spun her around, pulling her into the center of the dance floor. That familiar, obsessive move could only belong to Ezekiel. Juliette froze. Her brows furrowed in discomfort. "Let go of me!" She struggled hard, but as the music filled the room, the hand around her waist only tightened, almost crushing her into his body. Out of breath, Juliette couldn't hold it in anymore and shouted, "Ezekiel, let go!" With a sharp click, the lights suddenly came back on. Juliette blinked against the brightness and saw Giovanni Powell standing beside her. Across from them, Leilani held onto Ezekiel's arm as he stared at Juliette with that calm, mocking gaze. "Julie, were you calling me just now? I'm so flattered that you were thinking about me while dancing with my brother." Leilani pouted. "Ms. Sullivan, I know you grew up with both Gio and his brother. "But come on, you can at least tell your husband and your brother-in-law apart, right?" Juliette didn't plan to stay quiet this time. She was just about to talk back. But Giovanni spoke first. "It's a misunderstanding. Ezzie just got back, and Julie probably didn't realize it yet." He turned slightly toward her, his voice gentle. "You must be tired. Let me take you back to your room." Juliette really didn't want to deal with their fake politeness anymore, but she also didn't want to keep playing the fool. She looked at Giovanni and Ezekiel, her tone laced with bitter sarcasm. "You're right. I really can't tell you two apart anymore." She didn't wait to see their reactions and walked straight upstairs. But Giovanni quickly followed, trying to explain himself. "Julie, back there on the dance floor, I was in a hurry and didn't catch your hand. It won't happen again." When they reached the room, he bent down to take off her heels, poured her some milk, and even adjusted her pillow to the height she liked. Seeing how gentle he looked, all his past kindness flooded back into her mind. When she was sick as a child, Giovanni had stayed up all night by her bedside. Why would Giovanni, who had always been her knight and favored her, lie to her? Juliette's bosom tightened, a dull ache spreading through her heart. She lifted her eyes and couldn't hold back anymore. "Giovanni, why did you lie to me with Ezekiel?" As soon as she finished asking, Giovanni's phone rang. He quickly turned off the screen. But Juliette still caught a glimpse of the name "Leila" on it. Then he said, "Julie, what did you just say? Sorry, I've got something to take care of. Let's talk later, okay?" Juliette didn't answer. Her heart had already gone cold. There was nothing left to ask, nothing left to hope for. Once she divorced him, she wouldn't have to be hurt by this fake tenderness anymore. After Giovanni left, Juliette went online to schedule an appointment at the courthouse to finalize their divorce paperwork. The next morning, just as dawn broke, Juliette put the signed divorce papers into a document folder and went downstairs. At the dining table, she saw Giovanni gently blowing on a spoonful of oatmeal for Leilani. "Just a bit more, sweetheart." That warm, patient, and focused demeanor reminded Juliette of the past. Back when Ezekiel had locked her in a freezer as a prank, and she'd fainted from a fever, Giovanni had coaxed her into drinking her medicine bit by bit, too. The memories stabbed at her heart. She looked away and walked toward the door. But Giovanni suddenly called out to her. "Gio went on a last-minute business trip last night. He was worried about you being home alone, so he asked Leila and me to stay with you for the time being. "My dear sister-in-law, would you like to have breakfast with us?" He called her "sister-in-law" so naturally. It didn't sound out of place at all. Juliette turned back and looked at him, finding it absurd. Before she could refuse, Leilani took the folder from her hand, set it on the table, and pulled her to sit down. "Julie, just have a little something with us. Don't go hungry." As she spoke, she started to serve the oatmeal. "No need." Juliette reached out to take the mug herself, but just as her fingers brushed the rim, Leilani's hand slipped. Hot oatmeal splashed across the back of Juliette's hand, turning her skin red instantly. "Leila!" Giovanni immediately grabbed Leilani's hand, checking her for burns. His pale blue eyes turned icy as he glared at Juliette. "Julie, Leila was just being kind. Why would you burn her on purpose? "No matter what happened between you two before, she's my girlfriend now. I won't let anyone hurt her!" His voice was cold and commanding, leaving no room for argument. Even though the burn was on her own hand, Juliette felt the pain cut straight to her heart. She forced back the tremor in her voice. "She dropped it herself. It had nothing to do with me..." Before she could finish, she noticed the folder on the table was also soaked with oatmeal. Her face went pale as she reached to grab it. But Giovanni's long fingers moved faster. He picked up the folder and tore it open in one smooth motion! Chapter 4 Just as Giovanni was about to pull out the divorce papers, Leilani suddenly cried out in pain. "It hurts... Will it leave a scar on my hand?" Giovanni's face changed instantly. He dropped the folder, bent down, and carried Leilani in his arms as he rushed out. "Get the car. We're going to the hospital!" Juliette looked at the document lying on the floor with the words "Divorce Agreement" printed across it, the corner of her li ps curling slightly. It was fine that he hadn't seen it. At least she didn't have to face him and make things vgly. She bent down to pick it up, treated the burn on the back of her hand, and then took a cab straight to the courthouse. Ten minutes later, she walked out of the courthouse. As she waited for a cab by the road, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a call from the photography director of ELLE. Juliette answered the call. "Julie, are you really giving up the chance to study at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London? "The photo you took, 'Grieving Beauties,' won the highest international award. You really have talent in photography." The director had mentioned the training program to her before. But back then, she hadn't known that Giovanni and Ezekiel had switched identities. She'd been lost in her so-called happy marriage, so she politely turned it down. But the truth was, all these years, the man who had been in her bed wasn't Giovanni. It was Ezekiel, the man she despised. At that thought, Juliette stopped hesitating and seized the chance. "Thank you for keeping the spot open for me. I've decided to go." The director's voice came through, surprised but thrilled. "That's amazing! I'll submit your documents right away. But... it means you and your husband will be in a long-distance relationship." The call ended, and Juliette's li ps lifted faintly. No, there wouldn't be any long-distance relationship, because she was about to be free. She slipped her phone back into her pocket, ready to wave down a cab, when a luxury car suddenly pulled up beside her. The door opened, and Ezekiel stepped out. He took her hand and pretended to speak in Giovanni's gentle tone. "Julie, I heard you burned your hand. Did you apply any medicine? It's my fault. I shouldn't have let Ezzie and Leila stay at our place." Juliette didn't know how he'd found her, but she didn't care anymore. They weren't tired of pretending, but she was tired of watching them. She pulled her hand away and said flatly, "I'm fine. It's already been taken care of." When her palm slipped from his grasp, Ezekiel's eyes darkened. But a moment later, he looked at her again tenderly. "How about this? Let me take you out for some air. A friend of mine rented out the Metropolitan Opera House tonight for a private show. You've been stuck in a creative block for your photography lately, right? Maybe you'll get some inspiration there." Before she could refuse, he was already guiding her into the car. Juliette simply closed her eyes. She was too tired to listen to whatever ridiculous story he'd make up next. Half an hour later, they arrived at the Metropolitan Opera House, the globally recognized symbol of the performing arts in New York. Ezekiel played the perfect husband. He opened the car door for her, asked the staff to prepare her favorite snacks, and even draped his coat over her shoulders. His friends saw this and began teasing him. "Come on, man, that's too much! You're making all of us single guys jealous!" Juliette didn't respond. She quietly watched the folding screens and the painted backdrop on the stage. She couldn't deny that something there really did spark a bit of inspiration in her. By the time she came back to herself, Ezekiel and his friends were gone. Only she was left sitting in the audience area. Juliette frowned and was about to stand up when the performer onstage suddenly blew out a burst of fire at her! It happened too fast. Although she dodged quickly, the back of her hand was burned by the sparks again. With new wounds on top of old ones, she couldn't help but gro an. She hurried to the restroom to cool it under running water. Just then, a few men in flamboyant costumes walked in and stared at her blatantly. "Well, well, what do we have here? Didn't expect to run into such a beauty tonight." "Don't be scared, sweetheart. We'll make sure you enjoy yourself later." Juliette's face went pale as she realized the danger. She turned and bolted for the door. But she was a second too late. One of them grabbed her wrist. "What do you want? Let go of me!" She struggled hard, but her injured hand hurt too much to fight back. No one came, no matter how loudly she called for help. Despair washed over her. Just as one of them reached to tear her blouse, bang! The door was kicked open so hard that it slammed against the wall. Ezekiel's eyes were bloodshot as he stormed in, kicking the men aside, his voice hoarse like a beast. "Get lost!" The men froze under his glare, then scrambled out in terror. When he lifted Juliette into his arms, his hands were shaking. "Julie, are you okay?" His pale blue eyes were filled with fear, as if he'd almost lost the whole world. Juliette's mind was hazy. She opened her mouth to speak, but another voice suddenly rang out. "Ezzie, why did you come in? Didn't we agree to let those guys ruin Juliette for good so Leila could get her revenge?!" Chapter 5 With those questions, Juliette could no longer hear anything clearly. When she woke up again, she found herself lying on a hospital bed. As soon as she moved her arm slightly, a sharp burning pain spread through it. The nurse who was changing her bandages smiled and said, "Ms. Sullivan, you're awake. Your husband went to pay your bill. He rushed in, holding you in his arms. He was so nervous." After saying that, she pushed her cart out of the room. Juliette twitched her li ps, her mind flashing back to the words she had heard before she passed out. Just then, the phone on the nightstand buzzed. She thought it was hers, but when she picked it up, she realized it was Ezekiel's phone. She saw the group chat messages on his phone. "Ezzie, when you suddenly ran in to save Juliette, we thought you softened up." "Gio said he was going to have Juliette's hand burned to pay Leila back for her burn. You can't let him outdo you." Ezekiel replied, "I know what I'm doing." "Juliette didn't choose me back then. I still haven't finished paying her back. Saving her was just to make sure no one else touched her. It'd make me feel sick being with her. You know who I really care about." "Back then, fighting with Giovanni over Juliette was just for fun. But after meeting Leila, I finally understood what true love really is." "But Leila likes my brother. He can give her everything she wants. As long as she's happy, I'll accept that." "Anyway, having Juliette around is enough to take care of my needs. I can do whatever I want with her." The rest of the group agreed and replied with emojis. "When you get bored with her, let the rest of us have a taste of her, too. That body of hers, curvy in all the right places... just looking at her makes me drool." Ezekiel replied a few seconds later, "Sure." Juliette's heart felt like it had been to rn open. She placed the phone back where it was and bit her li p hard, but her eyes still turned red uncontrollably. She finally understood what it meant to hurt so deeply that she couldn't even make a sound. After a long while, her face slowly calmed down. Like dying embers that had burned away the last trace of heat, leaving only cold and deadly silence. After that, during her hospitalization, Ezekiel still pretended to be Giovanni and stayed by her side. Every day, he prepared chicken broth for her himself, brought her the newest designer bags and dresses, and even brought his laptop to the ward to work while helping her look through photography work. Until one day, a phone call came, and he had to leave. Before going, he bent down to tuck her blanket in place, his eyes soft and tender. "Julie, something came up at the company. I'll be back soon. Get some rest, okay?" He even took time to remind the nurse and maid about her diet before finally leaving. When the nurse came to change her dressing, she couldn't help but sigh. "Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Powell is so good to you. So patient and thoughtful. He's the perfect husband!" Juliette tugged at the corner of her mouth slightly but said nothing. Her eyes drifted to the tablet beside her. Ezekiel's Instagram account was still logged in. He had added Leilani to his "favorites" list. In Leilani's latest post, the real Giovanni was gently dabbing medicine on her finger with a cotton swab, his expression tender. The caption read, "Just a small burn, but someone got all worried and flew me across countries to see the best skin doctors. I really can't do anything about him. Looks like I can't live without him for the rest of my life~" Juliette thought of the way Ezekiel had rushed out earlier and felt nothing but bitter irony. She didn't wait for him to come back. Instead, she handled her own discharge papers and left. Once she got home, the first thing she did was pack up everything that belonged to Ezekiel. The house had been part of his wedding gift when he married her. And she wasn't stvpid enough to walk away from the divorce empty-handed. So when that day came, the only thing she would leave behind would be those useless men. Chapter 6 When she was almost done packing, a call came from the magazine. "Julie, you still have one more wedding photoshoot booked before you go abroad. The client insisted on having you as their photographer. They said they only want you to take their photos..." "Send me the address." After Juliette got the address, she grabbed her camera and headed out. It was autumn in Aspen Snowmass. The white snowcapped peaks stood out against the colorful fall trees in the mountains. Juliette stared at the breathtaking view, dazed for a moment. She had taken her own wedding photos with Giovanni here years ago. But soon, she pushed down the ache in her heart, switched into work mode, and walked toward the shooting spot. "Ms. Sullivan, what a coincidence. I didn't expect you to be our photographer today." Juliette turned at the voice and saw Leilani in a white wedding dress, standing beside Giovanni in a black tuxedo. When Giovanni saw Juliette, his dark eyes froze for a split second. Then he quickly looked away. Leilani smiled sweetly and handed her phone over. "We took something similar in the Swiss Alps before. Please use this as a reference to capture a romantic vibe." Juliette looked at the screen. In the photo, the snowy mountains reflected the sunlight. Snowflakes fell between the couple's hair. It looked like a quiet, tender scene from a movie. But when her gaze landed on the date in the corner, her breath caught. September 25, 2023. That was the exact day she and Giovanni had taken their wedding photos, but the real Giovanni was watching the snow with Leilani at the foot of the Swiss Alps. A wave of bitterness rose in her throat. Her eyelashes trembled slightly. "Let's begin, my dear sister-in-law," Giovanni said suddenly. Juliette looked at the man, still trying to lie to her, and let out a faint, mocking smile. "Sure." This marriage would soon be over anyway. Whether it was Ezekiel or Giovanni standing there taking wedding photos with Leilani didn't matter anymore. By the time the shoot ended, the sky was already turning dark. Giovanni went to get the car. Juliette packed up her equipment, ready to leave, but Leilani suddenly walked over to her. "Ms. Sullivan, you must be very sad. You've been through a lot." Juliette frowned. "What do you mean?" Leilani smiled, took a bank card out of her bag, and handed it to her. "Stop pretending. You've already figured out that Gio switched places with Ezzie for me." "Ezzie only married you to make me happy. He's been pretending to be Gio for three years just for my sake. Take this money. It's your payment for serving him all these years." "Neither Gio nor Ezzie likes you. You're just clinging to the empty title of Mrs. Powell. Isn't that kind of pathetic? "If you're smart, take the money and leave the Powell family as soon as possible." The harsh words hit her one after another. Juliette clenched her hands so tight her nails dug into her palms. "Whether I leave the Powell family or not, that's up to me." "If you're really that capable, then have Giovanni divorce me as the head of the Powell family!" After saying that, she didn't look at Leilani's frozen expression anymore and turned to leave. Halfway down the path, rain started pouring. She shielded her camera and ran all the way down the mountain. By the time she reached the bottom, her dress was soaked through. The cold fabric clung to her skin, sending chills through her body. Just as she was shivering, a black sedan stopped beside her. A young man stepped out, took off his coat, and handed it to her. "The rain's too heavy. If you don't mind, I can give you a ride back to the city." His eyes were clear, and his manners were proper. He looked like a gentleman. Juliette was about to turn him down when someone suddenly grabbed her wrist hard. She turned and met Giovanni's dark, furious eyes. His voice was low and rough, full of restrained anger. "Julie... my dear sister-in-law, are you standing in the rain on purpose? Trying to make some random guy notice you?" Juliette froze for a second, then finally understood. Giovanni wasn't just angry that she might be having an affair. He was jealous. She yanked her hand free and gave a cold smile. "Ezekiel, even if I did it on purpose, the jealous one would be your brother, not you." Chapter 7 "How is it none of my business? I just..." Giovanni stopped himself mid-sentence and changed his tone. "My brother's not here. I can't just stand by and do nothing when I see you like this. Get in the car. I'll take you home." Juliette didn't even look at him. She turned around and got into the car of the stranger in front of her. One hour later, Juliette pushed open the door of the villa, only to find that Ezekiel was home. When he saw her, he immediately stood up and rushed over, his face full of worry and panic. "Julie, where did you go? The hospital said you were discharged on your own. You weren't home when I got back. I was so worried." Giovanni and Ezekiel were really good at acting. Juliette had been caught in the rain. Her head ached and felt heavy. She brushed him off casually. "I caught a bit of a chill. I just want to take a shower first." Then she went upstairs. Behind her came Ezekiel's puzzled voice. "Julie, you packed away my clothes. Were you planning to bvy me some new ones for the season? I don't want anything formal." Juliette froze for a moment. The one who liked formal clothes was Giovanni. She forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, I won't." After that, she sank herself into the hot bath, washing away all the exhaustion. Half an hour later, she came out of the bathroom. Ezekiel was no longer in the room. A cup of warm water and a note sat on the nightstand. "Julie, something came up at work. I had to go out." Juliette glanced at it and ignored it. She opened her laptop and sent the photos she had taken to her assistant. The assistant quickly replied, "Julie, the director said you need to fly to London in three days for training. Can you make time for it?" Juliette was about to check the progress of the divorce paperwork when her phone buzzed. "Ms. Sullivan, your divorce is now finalized. Please come by the courthouse at 9 a.m. next Monday to collect your documents." She breathed a sigh of relief and typed back to her assistant, "No problem. I'll be there on time." After that, she took some fever medicine and soon fell into a deep sleep. The next day, when Juliette went downstairs, she saw Giovanni and Ezekiel again fighting to serve breakfast to Leilani. As soon as she appeared, Ezekiel quickly put down what he was holding and came over to take her hand. "Julie, I just found out you went to help Kiel and Leila shoot their wedding photos yesterday. Was it tiring?" Giovanni's gaze flicked briefly to where Ezekiel held her hand. His voice dropped a little. "Leila booked a trip to Berlin. We're leaving in two days. You can come along too." Leilani smiled and chimed in. "That's right. The snow in Berlin is beautiful this time of year. Perfect for skiing and visiting the Christmas markets..." The three of them chatted happily about the trip, filling the room with excitement. Juliette felt like a complete outsider, but she wasn't too upset. Because two days later, she was going to collect her divorce certificate. Everything had fallen perfectly into place for her to leave. On the day of the trip, Juliette first went to the courthouse to collect her divorce certificate. She kept one copy and sent the other to the house by courier. Once everything was done, she arrived at the airport right on time. During check-in, she was about to tell the truth when Leilani suddenly gasped, then said apologetically, "Oh no... I think I only bought three tickets. I must've forgotten to get one for Ms. Sullivan." "It's fine. You can still bvy another one now," Giovanni said, glancing at Juliette. Juliette stayed calm. "It's okay, you guys go ahead. Hope you have a great trip." Just as she turned to leave, Ezekiel grabbed her hand. "Julie, I'll go get the ticket with you." Leilani interrupted gently, "But there are only two minutes left for check-in. If we miss this flight, we'll have to wait until tomorrow." She looked troubled. "I have a tandem skydiving session booked for tomorrow morning and a dinner at a castle outside Berlin at night. Everything's been arranged in advance. If you miss this flight, you'll ruin the schedule. It'll have to be just me and Kiel then." As soon as she finished, Juliette felt Ezekiel's hand loosen. She noticed Ezekiel's eyes were glued to Leilani, full of longing. Juliette quietly pulled her hand back, her voice calm. "I'll handle it myself. You guys go ahead. Don't be late." This time, Ezekiel didn't insist. He just looked relieved and said half-heartedly, "Alright, Julie, I'll wait for you in Berlin." Juliette didn't respond, only smiled faintly. "Goodbye." Then she watched them board the plane and immediately walked to her terminal to check in for her flight to London. She boarded the first-class cabin. Before takeoff, she took out her phone, snapped a photo of the blue sky with her divorce certificate, and posted it on Instagram. "Finally free. From now on, I'll live as I please, far away from it all." Then she deleted both Ezekiel's and Giovanni's contacts and numbers. The plane rose into the clouds, carrying her to freedom. *** Meanwhile, on the plane to Berlin, Ezekiel leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed. For some reason, a hollow feeling suddenly grew in his body. For a split second, Juliette's face as she said goodbye to him flashed through his mind. Over the years, he had seen her in many ways. Gentle, worried, crying for him when he was hurt, and helplessly crying when he pushed her to her limits in bed. But he had never seen her smile while her eyes looked so lonely. A dull, suffocating ache rose inside him. While Leilani went to the restroom, he turned to Giovanni, who was typing emails beside him. "Send Juliette a message. Give her the hotel address we booked in Germany." Giovanni's fingers stopped. "Why?" Ezekiel said instinctively, "She looked upset earlier. I should probably make it up to her." Giovanni didn't move. That strange, uneasy feeling in Ezekiel's body grew stronger. He took out his own phone and sent a message himself. "Julie, when you get to Berlin, go straight to The Ritz-Carlton." But right after sending it, a little exclamation mark appeared. The message was not sent. The next second, he used Giovanni's phone to send another message, but the same warning appeared. "Message not delivered. The recipient may have blocked you." At that exact moment, one of their mutual friends posted a screenshot of Juliette's Instagram post in the group chat. The first thing that caught their eyes was Juliette's clear photo of the divorce certificate.
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉
Alpha's Shadow
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