Chapter 53 Discovered Her True Colors
The moment Juniper spoke, Isabella felt it—a sharp, cold edge in her voice, like the glint of a blade. It was nothing like the Juniper she thought she knew.
Juniper had always looked so much like Beatrice, carrying that same gentle grace. She could be a little spoiled at times, yes, but still the darling of everyone around her. A woman like that shouldn't have been capable of the venom Isabella had just heard.
Which meant all that sweetness had been a mask.
"You heard everything, didn't you?"
Juniper smiled as she stepped closer, her hands sliding onto the wheelchair handles. She leaned down, lips near Isabella's ear. "Tell me… what exactly did you hear?"
Isabella tilted her head up. "So all that kindness was fake. You never cared about my parents."
Juniper's smile widened. "Why would I care? They're not my real parents—just two fools. If it weren't for pleasing William and making you miserable, I wouldn't waste my time."
Isabella stared, stunned that she'd admit it so openly. "You're not afraid I'll tell my parents? Tell William?"
Juniper laughed softly. "Isabella, are you joking? Look at you. Do you really think they'd believe you?"
The truth hit hard. In William's eyes, in her parents' eyes, she had no credibility.
"They'd think you were jealous," Juniper went on. "And when I play the victim in front of them… guess who suffers?"
Only Isabella would suffer.
"My parents care about you so much. How can you treat them like this?"
Juniper shrugged, grinning. "I'm good to them, aren't I? I give them something to live for. I make them happy. You should thank me—without me, your precious mother would have broken long ago."
"Don't talk about my mother like that."
Juniper patted her cheek, leaning in again. "She might be precious to you, but to me, she's nothing. And if I'm not happy—"
Juniper clenched her fist slowly, deliberate in her menace. "I can make them disappear anytime."
A chill ran through Isabella's chest. This woman could not be allowed near her parents.
"I'll expose you. I won't let you hurt them."
Juniper caught her hand, slipped a phone from her pocket. It was recording. She didn't even delete the file—just put it back.
"Keep recording. If you hand it over, I have a hundred ways to make your parents pay. You don't know, do you? Your sweet, trusting mother has been begging me to stay with them. Imagine if I put a little poison in her food… or turned on the gas while they slept."
"Don't! You vicious bitch! Don't you dare touch them!"
Isabella shoved her hard. Juniper went down, hitting the floor.
William arrived just in time to hear her shouting and see Juniper on the ground. His face darkened. He strode forward and kicked the wheelchair. It flipped, sending Isabella onto the lawn outside. She stayed glaring at Juniper.
"William, don't blame her," Juniper said quickly. "She didn't mean it."
William helped her up, his voice soft with reproach. "I told you not to come near her. If I hadn't shown up, who knows what she would've done to you."
He looked at Isabella, fury burning in his eyes. He'd warned her more than once not to lay a hand on Juniper.
Juniper slipped her arm through his, playing the innocent. "It's not what you think. Isabella didn't push me. I just lost my balance. Godmother has given me all her love… I should be more patient with her."
Isabella felt sick. How could one person have two faces? Just minutes ago, Juniper's eyes had been predatory; now her voice was soft as silk.
"Are you hurt?" William asked.
Juniper shook her head, feigning pain. "No… go help Isabella. She looks awful."
William moved toward her, but Isabella's voice cut cold. "I don't need her fake concern."
He stopped, anger deepening. "Fine. If you don't need it, crawl back yourself."
He tossed the wheelchair into the fountain behind him, then walked away with Juniper clinging to his arm. She glanced back and gave Isabella a smile—victorious, warning her to stay silent.
No. Juniper was too dangerous. Isabella had to protect her parents.
She tried to stand, but her legs gave out. The chair was gone. She crawled out of the grass until a passerby spotted her, retrieved the chair, and helped her back into it.
By the time the nurse arrived, Isabella's clothes were soaked, streaked with mud.
"Ms. Tudor, what happened?"
"I'm fine."
"Sorry for the delay. Let's get you to your exam."
"No need. I've already done it."
It didn't matter now. The only thing that mattered was finding a way to show her parents Juniper's true face.
"Really? That fast? Where's the report?"
"Lost it. Doctor said I'm fine."
The nurse frowned. Isabella added, "Who wouldn't care about their own health? Just take me back."
It made sense. People came to hospitals to heal. And the doctor had said her will to live was strong.
Back in her room, the nurse handed her fresh clothes. "Here's your medication. Don't forget."
Usually she had to be coaxed into taking it. This time, Isabella swallowed it immediately, as if she cared about her recovery. The nurse relaxed.
"I'm tired. I'll rest."
"Call if you need anything."
Isabella didn't answer. The nurse left.
She pulled out her phone. The recording was still there. She wanted to send it to her parents, make them see the truth. But what if Juniper really acted on her threats? And if her mother learned the affection she'd given Juniper was fake… could she bear it?
Her pulse raced with anger and panic. She hadn't decided when the phone rang.
Juniper's name lit the screen. Isabella hesitated, then answered.
Her voice came fast, urgent. "Isabella, something's happened. Godfather's been in a car accident. He's in surgery."
Isabella's pupils tightened.
Then her mother's voice—cold, cutting—slipped through the line. "Why are you telling this troublemaker anything? For all we know, she's behind it."