Chapter 43

Juliette's POV:

“Mom!” Happy tears fell down my cheeks as she engulfed me into a tight hug and sobbed; while I still couldn’t believe that I was in her arms.

“Oh my darling!” she cooed and kissed my cheeks.

“Julie!“ I heard Jace’s voice, and pulling away from Mom, I looked behind her to find Jace standing, looking at me with teary eyes.

“You kid!” I cried and pulled him into a hug, and he wrapped his arms around my body and laughed when I punched him softly on his side.

“What is all this facial hair?” I asked as I pulled away from him and touched his cheeks.

“And you look quite tall. Did you grow or something?” I asked and he nodded and wiped his eyes.

“How are you?” he asked, and I nodded, telling him that I was fine.

“Dad!” I hugged him and he smiled down at me. Mom took out a handkerchief and blew her nose loudly and I looked at her.

“Mom!” both me and Jace said in unison.

“What? I am just too happy. I can’t help with my runny nose!” she exclaimed and blew her nose again, using the handkerchief. Her actions brought a smile to my face, but then I heard someone call name, almost like a whisper. Jace cleared his throat and took a step aside to reveal the person from behind him.

“Kiara!” I said once I took her in. She looked miserable. Dark circles under her eyes, she even looked thin, her hair was messy, and oddly enough, she was wearing simple blue jeans and a white t-shirt with black ballet shoes.

“Juliette,” she said and bit her lips, probably trying to stop herself from crying, but she failed miserably as the tears streamed down from her cheeks, and minutes later she began to sob and weep.

“Oh, Kiara!” I exclaimed sadly and walked up to her and engulfed her in a hug.

“I-I am so sorry!” she cried and encircled her arms around me, burying her head on my shoulder.

“It’s okay! Don’t cry now!” I shushed her and tried to pull away.

“No! I’m really really sorry. What I did was due to my cowardliness. You trusted me and I failed you. I-I am so sorry!” she sobbed and I patted her back and pulled away. I wiped her tears and smiled at her.

“It’s okay! Forget about it. I forgive you,” I said, and that made a small smile light up on her face.

“Really?” she asked, to which I nodded.

“She literally begged to come with us to meet you!” Jace commented from behind me, and Kiara glared at him.

“Shut up kid!” she said through gritted teeth which made all of us laugh.

“C’mon let’s go in!” I said, and everyone nodded. I took Kiara’s luggage, and as soon as I turned around we all stopped in our tracks when we saw Zachary coming our way. He stood before us. His face, unlike some hours ago, was void of any emotions, shoulders were straight, and his chin was held up high. He intimidated everyone in terms of power and strength, and Jace looked kind of nervous when Zachary’s eyes fell on him. Zachary narrowed his eyes at Kiara, which caused her to take a step back and she hid behind me, avoiding his gaze.

“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Swanson,” Zachary said and offered his hand for Dad to take. Dad shook his hand, and then Mom shook his hand too.

“You must be Jace Swanson,” Zachary said to Jace, and gave his hand for him to shake. Jace looked uncomfortable for a minute, but then took his hand for a handshake. Very unusually, Zachary smiled at him, and I watched Jace visibly relax, before giving him a smile of his own.

Then he looked at me, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

“And she must be your best friend Kiara Richmond,” he said, but I felt as if he was taunting, or more like mocking, me by saying ‘best friend.' It was pretty clear that Zachary heard the whole conversation back when Kiara behaved as if she didn’t know me.

Does he not trust her? What is this look?

Clearly, Zachary didn’t like Kiara, but why? I forgave her for that, and he must too.

“Let’s go in,” he smiled at my parents and guided them in. Jace was the last one to go, but he looked my way, and then at Kiara, who was shaking in fear behind me.

“Kiara. It’s okay! Don’t mind him. He's always like that!” I said, and she nodded frantically. I sighed, and picking up her small luggage, took her in. Once inside, we all sat in the living room, and I asked the maids to serve everyone water and other drinks. Zachary sat next to Jace, and I watched as they bonded well. Jace was smiling even more, talking to him. Zachary looked interested in hearing everything about his university, and that made me little relieved. On the other side, Kiara sat next to my dad, and Mom sat next to me.

“How have you been sweetie?” she asked and I looked at her and smiled.

“I am doing perfectly fine Mom,” I answered and looked back at Zachary, who was now looking at me. He glanced at Dad when he asked a question, and they talked to each other while Kiara sat there nervously in a stiff posture, clearly frightened of Zachary.

“And how is he to you?” Mom asked, and as I about to answer her, I heard my dad speak up.

“Did you by any chance track Vito?” he asked, and Zachary shook his head no.

“I freed Nicholas, and he is currently under my men’s watchful eyes. As soon as he tries to contact his dad, we will get them both,” Zachary answered, and I saw Jace balling up his fists. His jaw clenched, and he was visibly shaking out of anger.

“I hate that man!” Jace said through gritted teeth and I watched as Zachary looked back at him and said: “we all do!”

“He tried to hurt my sister,” Jace said, and looked in my direction with teary eyes. I mouthed to him that I was okay.

“Ugh! That man!” Dad exclaimed.

“Please, Mr. Sullivan, try to get him as quickly as you can. You have already done so much for me and my family. I can’t burden you with Juliette’s responsibility. As soon as Vito is captured, I want to take Juliette back with me to her home,” he said and smiled at me, before looking at Zachary.

My smile faded away and I looked towards, Zachary wondering how he'd respond.

“Yes, I understand that! We are trying to get him as soon as possible and to answer your first question, Juliette isn’t a burden for me,” he said and that brought a smile to my face, but his expression when my dad told him that he wanted to take me home kind of hurt me. He was neutral. Does this mean it will not affect him if I go back home?

“Oh, I’m glad to hear that!” my father exclaimed happily.

“Anyways, you all must be tired. I will let Hilda show you to your rooms. Rest well, and my parents will also be joining us tomorrow. I hope everyone to be comfortable; and if you need anything, let me know,” Zachary said, and asked Hilda to show the rooms.

“Rest well, Mom,” I said as I hugged her and she nodded.

I nodded at Kiara, who looked reluctant to go, but then she went away when Jace pulled her with him.

Now only Zachary and I were left in the room.

“I am going out for a business meeting. I won’t come back ronight. I hope that doesn’t affect the family reunion,” he said and I shook my head.

“Great! I will come back tomorrow with my family in the morning. If you need anything, ask Hilda, she will not be going home today. She will be in the staff rest room, and other than that I have people guarding the house. If any problem arises, just call me,” he said and I nodded.

“Okay,” he whispered and took a few steps back, and then walked away.

I sat down back on the sofa saddened and troubled with my mind. A lot of things were going on in my head, and I couldn’t quite decipher what to do. What type of situation is this, where I am wishing for something very unusual—for Vito to never get caught.

A sigh escaped my mouth and I got up from my seat and walked towards my bedroom. As I sat on my bed, somebody knocked on my door and I stood up.

“Is it Zachary? I thought he already left. Why is he knocking?” I whispered to myself as I walked to the door, and opened it only to reveal Kiara.

“Kiara!” I smiled and took a step aside letting her walk in.

“Am I disturbing you?” she asked as she walked to the chair and sat on it.

“Nope! Not all!” I said, and took the other seat, sitting in front of her.

“I just came here to apologize once again. Juliette trust me, I was a coward. I saw guns and blood, and when you called, some of Mr. Sullivan’s men were around me, keeping their eyes on my every move. I was scared, and that was the reason why I...You know...behaved as if I didn’t know you. I am really sorry,” she said and I could see the regret in her eyes.

“You can’t believe what I have been through. It was traumatic losing you like that. But then I believe my pain must be nothing compared to yours. Juliette,” she stood up and knelt in front of me, keeping her hands on my thighs.

“Tell me, how are you? I learned everything about Emmett being Nicholas, and I have been told that you know it too,” she asked and I nodded pursing my lips. I held her hands in mine.

“I am fine now. Honestly, I was broken both inside and out knowing that the person who I loved the most betrayed me. I was loving a fake person and that is what hurts me the most,” I sighed and she squeezed my hands.

“I am sorry for failing as a friend. I should have been there for you, but look at me. I am such a coward,” she put her head on my thigh sobbing.

“Kiara! Please stop blaming yourself. I understand and honestly, I don’t blame you. It’s okay. I’m all over it now and I have nothing to do with him anymore,” as I said that she looked up at me.

“And what about Mr. Sullivan?” she asked and I raised my eyebrows in confusion.

“How does he treat you? Did he hurt you or did he tor—” I cut her off.

“Kiara!” I said and she halted in mid-sentence. “Look around! Do you see any bruise or sadness in my face? I am free in this big house and nobody has ever tortured or hurt me. Zachary has always saved me from every problem; the only one who has ever tried to hurt me is Nicholas,” I said his name with distaste.

“Kiara, do you know this? He wants to kill me and he is after my m—” This time she cut me off.

“Your money.”

“You know?” I asked shocked and she nodded.

“Your father told me and Jace everything. Truthfully I believed that in all this, Mr. Sullivan was the villain, until I got to know about Nicholas,” she said and I nodded smiling a little.

“And yeah! It is also your fault!” she said raising her tone all of a sudden scolding me.

“What?”

“Yes, when we all told you that we didn't like him, you chose to ignore us. See what happened!” she said and got up, but then stopped when her eyes fell on the region just below my neck.

“I see bruises,” she said and sat on the chair.

“What?” I hid the damn hickey marks with my cardigan and shifted on my seat.

“When you asked me if I could see any bruises on your skin, I do! I can clearly see them,” she had a smug look on her face, which I wanted to slap away.

“No, it isn’t what you think,” I tried to explain, but she shook her head mocking me.

“Kiara!”

“Kiara, stop!”

“I will kill you!” Like kids, we were running inside the room. I chased her while she laughed and I missed her when she ran circling the chair. When we were near the bed, I grabbed a bolster and threw it at her. The bolster hit her on her face and she tumbled on the bed, and I joined her and tickled her to the point where tears streamed down her face.

“Okay! Okay, I’m sorry. I won’t tease you,” she said and then I let her go and laid down next to her.

“Do you like him?” she asked all of a sudden, looking my way.

“What? No! No, I mean I don’t know,” I sighed and then looked up, saddened and confused by my own feelings.

“What do you mean by you don’t know? What are the love bites then? Was it not mutua—” She asked and I looked at her.

“I was drunk last night!” I said, and watched as her eyes grew to the size of a saucer.

“What? Does this mean he forced himself on y—”

“Kiara!” I snapped.

“Then?” she asked.

“As much as I remember...” I licked my lips, feeling little ashamed and awkward to tell her.

“I-I kind of forced myself on him.” I completed and she jumped off the bed looking at me astonished.

“What? Oh my goodness!” and then she was laughing.

“Kiara!” I threw the pillow on her.

“Yes, I agree. You can actually do that when you are drunk,” she said and I got up in a crouching position on the bed.

“Really?” I asked and she nodded.

“You just lose it when you’re drunk. Your emotions reflect from within you, and guessing from what you just told me, I think...” she halted.

“You think what?” I asked, urging her to speak up.

“I think that you, my friend, are in love,” she sang and I rolled my eyes at her, even though I felt my cheeks burning. I fell on the bed on my side and hid my face, using the pillow.

“No, are you mad? It’s nothing like that!” I argued.

“Oh stop denying it,” she said in a sing-song tone.

“Stop it, Kiara!” I groaned.

“Fine! Tell me, does he know this? Did you tell him that you like him?” she asked, all of a sudden curious.

“No, he doesn’t know. And what will he even know? I don’t love him!” I argued.

“Okay! You don’t even like him?” she asked.

“No!”

“Okay!” she said and lied down next to me.

“You know he is handsome, and he is rich. If you have no interest in him, can I take him?” Before she could finish I jolted up from the bed and snapped. “Kiara!”

“What?”

“Don’t even think about that! Do you understand?” I snapped and felt anger boiling up my blood.

“Why? What is your problem? He may like me—”

“He. Is. Mine!” I said enunciating each word. As soon as I said that, the room fell silent and she stood there staring at me. All of a sudden, she bursted out laughing.

“Gotcha!” she said in between laughs.

“What?” I asked and sighed pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Do you remember when I told you I didn't like Emmett?” she asked and I looked at her.

“It was his behavior and the way he treated you. It was as if he always wanted to keep you wrapped around his finger. Juliette, listen to me,” she said and suddenly became serious as she walked over to me.

“Listen to me. I think Zachary Udolf Sullivan is the right choice for you. Do you know why I am saying this to you?” she asked and I waited for her to finish.

“Because he came to me and lectured me for being a coward friend. He told me that if you were in my place, then you would have never acted the way I did; in fact, you would have done anything in your capability to reach me. He asked me to come to you, and not to leave you alone. Juliette, he thinks about you. And I think he likes you too, and yes, he is the right choice for you. Don’t deny it,” she said.

“What? He told you all this?” I asked and she nodded.

“He told me that he is going to a meeting, and I should mend the relationship between us,” she said and smiled at the end.

“Juliette, listen to me. Accept him and the feelings that you feel for him before anyone tries to create a misunderstanding between you two. Accept it now or else, unfortunately, I have to tell you this,” she kept her hand on my cheeks. “You will have to go through the pain and suffering again. Trust me, challenge your feelings and accept them before it's too late. And tell him!” she said and again for the third time of the day, her words left me in deep thoughts.