Chapter 212 A Step Away
Juniper was getting her nails done when the message came through.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it casually, then froze.
[Ms. Miller, Mr. Spencer requests that you move in today. A car will pick you up at 3 PM.]
Sender: Dylan.
She stared at the message for a full ten seconds.
The nail polish smeared. The manicurist quietly said "sorry," but she didn't hear it.
"Ms. Miller?"
Juniper looked up and smiled at herself in the mirror.
That smile—she couldn't suppress it.
"It's fine," she said. "Just hurry up."
At 3 PM sharp, Juniper's car stopped in front of the villa.
She had changed into a new dress. Light purple, making her skin look very fair. Her hair was pinned up, exposing her slender neck. Her makeup was flawless, every eyelash curled just right.
Dylan stood at the entrance, watching her.
"Ms. Miller."
Juniper nodded, her gaze moving past him into the house.
"Where's William?"
"Waiting for you in the dining room."
Juniper smiled and walked in.
Her steps were lighter than ever.
She thought: From today, this would be her home.
Pushing open the dining room door, the lighting was soft.
William sat at the head of the table, wearing a dark gray suit. Next to him, that wheelchair was still there, that person still there.
Juniper's smile paused for a moment.
Just one second.
Then she smiled and walked over.
"William."
William looked up at her.
Those eyes were like two dry wells.
But Juniper was used to that emptiness. She sat down across from him, glancing at the wheelchair.
"How is Isabella today?"
William looked at her.
"She's fine."
Juniper nodded.
"That's good."
She picked up the pot on the table, poured herself a cup, and added a little to William's. Her movements were slow and natural.
"Dylan said you wanted me to move in."
William looked at her.
"Quiet. Isabella is still sleeping. Don't wake her."
A flicker of discomfort crossed Juniper's face, an expression she couldn't control.
"Yes."
"Isabella got up so early, she must—"
"I told you not to talk." William's voice interrupted again, cold and flat.
Juniper didn't understand what he was trying to do.
But Isabella was already dead.
There was no competition left.
Soon, she would replace her.
Moving in was just the first step.
She would win.
After all, it was just a rotting corpse.
Juniper stopped talking and waited quietly.
Showing William her grace and elegance.
Until William spoke.
"Nice weather today."
Juniper breathed a sigh of relief.
"Which room will I be staying in?"
William put down his utensils.
"Next to Isabella's."
Juniper's smile paused for a moment.
Just one second.
Then she smiled.
"Perfect. Being close to Isabella, I can take care of her better."
William looked at her.
In those empty eyes, something stirred in the darkness.
"You're willing to take care of her?"
Juniper nodded.
"Of course. We're family."
When she said this, her tone was perfectly sincere.
William looked at her for a long time.
Long enough that Juniper started to feel nervous.
Then he smiled.
That smile was light, faint.
"Good."
Dinner was over. William stood up and walked behind the wheelchair.
He bent down, gently adjusting the veil covering Isabella.
"Isabella, you have a new friend."
His voice was soft, like coaxing a child.
"You'll have company now."
Juniper stood to the side, watching this scene.
Watching him talk to that corpse, watching him use that gentle tone, watching him treat that rotting corpse like a living person.
Her stomach turned.
But her face still wore a smile.
William pushed the wheelchair toward the dining room door.
Passing by her, he paused.
Without turning his head.
"Dylan will show you to your room."
The wheelchair continued forward.
Juniper stood there, watching that figure disappear at the top of the stairs.
She smiled.
She smiled so wide her eyes curved.
Dylan stood in the hallway, waiting for her.
"Ms. Miller, this way."
Juniper followed him upstairs.
At the staircase landing, she suddenly stopped.
"Dylan."
Dylan turned around.
Juniper looked at him and smiled.
"Did William... say anything today?"
Dylan was silent for a second.
"No."
Juniper nodded.
"That's good."
She continued upward.
Reaching the third floor, Dylan stopped in front of a door.
"This is your room."
Juniper pushed the door open.
The room was large. Floor-to-ceiling windows with white sheer curtains, a big bed with light pink bedding. Fresh flowers sat on the vanity, a faint fragrance in the air.
She walked in and looked around.
"Isabella's room is next door?"
Dylan nodded.
Juniper walked to the wall and pressed her ear against it.
It was very quiet.
No sound at all.
She thought of that corpse.
Those liver spots, those sunken areas, that slightly open mouth.
Just behind this wall.
Her hand trembled.
Then she turned around, smiling at Dylan.
"I love it. Thank you."
Dylan looked at her, unwilling to say another word.
"Ms. Miller, get some rest."
He turned and left.
Juniper closed the door and leaned against it.
She closed her eyes, breathing heavily.
Her hands began to itch again.
She raised her hand, looking at her fingers. The afternoon's fresh manicure, pale pink, was set with tiny crystals.
Very pretty.
But staring at them, she suddenly remembered that hand.
That hand she had held—cold and stiff.
Right next door.
She snapped her eyes open.
Walked to the window and opened it all the way. The night wind poured in, lifting the curtains.
She stood at the window, looking at the darkness outside.
Deep breath.
Another deep breath.
"Juniper," she said to the night, "what are you afraid of? She's dead."
The wind scattered her voice.
No one answered.
But she just didn't want to turn around.
Didn't want to face that wall.
At 2 AM, Juniper lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
She couldn't sleep.
Next door was too quiet.
So quiet it made her think of that corpse.
She turned over, pulling the blanket over her head.
Closed her eyes.
But when she closed them, all she saw was that face.
She suddenly opened her eyes and sat up.
Turned on all the lights in the room.
Outside in the hallway, footsteps passed by her room.
Very light.
One step at a time.
Then stopped at her door.
The footsteps disappeared.
Juniper closed her eyes, her heart pounding like it would burst out.
She felt someone behind the door watching her.
She jumped out of bed, walked step by step to the door, gripped the handle, her heart beating even faster.
She slowly turned the handle.
The door hinge made a low sound.
In the silent night, the long hallway had no lights.
Juniper opened the door a crack. Cold wind rushed in.
The wind carried the scent of medicine.
Exactly the same medicine scent from Isabella's body.