Chapter 71 Juniper, Go to Hell
Juniper clutched Isabella's arm with feigned terror, her voice tore through the air. "Help... Isabella, calm down, help me!"
The cry drew every eye nearby. Isabella's hands were locked around Juniper's throat, forcing her back toward the railing with brutal force.
"Help me... get William..."
Isabella's teeth clenched, the truth slashed through her mind like a blade—the fire had never been an accident. Juniper had planned it.
She had destroyed the sister Isabella loved most... all for William.
"I'm going to kill you, Juniper! You deserve to die!"
A cold glint flickered in Juniper's eyes. She drove her fist into Isabella's old injury at her waist, making her fold in pain.
Juniper tried to break free, but Isabella lunged again, slamming her down to the floor and striking her hard across the face.
"You vile woman! You murdered my sister! You deserve to die!"
Isabella's rage stripped away reason. Her eyes were wild, predatory, locked solely on the need to make Juniper pay.
Juniper hadn't expected her strength to be this savage. She started to fight back—until she noticed a phone raised, recording. Instantly, her expression shifted to weak, helpless.
"Isabella, stop... please, I won't fight you for William anymore... it hurts..."
"Isabella, I'm your family too. I've always tolerated you... how can you do this to me? Help! Somebody help!"
Her cries plunged the scene into chaos.
Hands reached for Isabella, trying to pull her away, but she shoved them back like a madwoman, charging at Juniper again.
"I'll kill her! Kill her!"
This time, Isabella grabbed Juniper's hair, forcing her head toward the railing, pressing her full weight down to keep her pinned.
"You murdered my sister! I'll make you pay with your life!"
Half of Juniper's body hung over the edge. Her hands locked on the rail, knuckles white.
She had guessed Isabella would lose control when she learned the truth... but not like this.
"Isabella, let go! You'll fall too! You'll smash yourself to pieces!"
"Then we die together!"
Isabella's grip tightened. Juniper's feet lifted from the floor. Gasps and screams tore through the crowd.
William burst into view, his face draining of color at the sight. He had never imagined Isabella would actually try to kill Juniper.
"Isabella! Stop! Let her go!"
Juniper seized the moment. "William! Help me! I'm slipping!"
Isla froze, her legs trembling, pointing at Isabella from a safe distance. "You lunatic! Don't drag Juniper down with you! Let her go or I'll make you regret it!"
Benjamin's voice was urgent. "Isabella, think! Don't do this—let her go!"
But Isabella heard nothing. Her mind was a single burning command—kill Juniper, avenge her sister.
Juniper slid further. Isabella's stance had her own balance on the edge, one wrong move from falling.
William's pupils constricted, fear clawing at his chest. His gaze locked on Isabella, watching her feet shift dangerously.
"Isabella! Look at me! Turn around, look at me! Pull her back and I'll forget this ever happened... otherwise, you know what I can do!"
Once, she would have obeyed.
Not now.
Her mind was fire, a fire willing to burn them both.
He realized she didn't just want Juniper dead... she wanted them both gone.
Suddenly, their bodies dropped together. William lunged instinctively, fingers brushing the fabric of her sleeve.
"Isabella!!"
His heart wrenched, his eyes wide.
Juniper stared at him in shock—he had shouted Isabella's name. In this moment, how could he call for her?
Did that mean... he loved Isabella too?
No. She could accept losing to Beatrice, but Isabella? Never.
Yet he had called her name, and his eyes had been fixed only on her.
Why?
Two heavy thuds echoed. They hit a rescue air cushion.
The staff had set it up in advance, fearing someone might fall.
William stood frozen, arms still outstretched, his chest tight—had Isabella died?
No. She couldn't die now. That would be too easy. He wouldn't allow it.
Was his heart aching for Isabella's fall... or for Juniper's danger?
It couldn't be Isabella. It had to be Juniper.
Isla collapsed into Benjamin's arms. Juniper had nearly died.
A voice in the crowd shouted, "They're fine! They landed on the cushion!"
William's eyes lit instantly. He bolted down the stairs.
On the cushion, Isabella lay dizzy from the impact, her vision swimming. She blinked, spotting Juniper crawling away.
She was still alive.
Isabella forced herself up, teeth clenched, moving toward her.
"Murderer... you're not getting away!"
Juniper's pace quickened. She hadn't expected Isabella to push her off the edge, but she had planned for it—she'd ordered the cushion set up, or she'd be dead now.
Isabella caught her ankle, yanking her back.
Juniper kicked at her head. When Isabella didn't let go, she drove a boot into her face, aiming to ruin it—so she'd be the only one who resembled Beatrice.
"I'm not letting you go! I'll kill you!"
Isabella locked her arms around Juniper's leg, stopping her from moving. She dragged herself forward, straddling her, slapping her twice across the face.
Blood pooled at Juniper's lips. She lunged for Isabella's throat. The two of them were sunk deep into the cushion's hollow, hidden from the crowd below.
Isabella rammed her forehead into Juniper's.
Pain exploded in Juniper's skull. She hadn't recovered from the fall's impact, and the blow left her vision dark.
Isabella's hands closed around her neck, squeezing with everything she had.
"You die! Die!"
William climbed onto the cushion, and this was the sight that met him.