Chapter 15
Jules’s eyes widened at my confession, but he quickly regained his composure. A slow smile spread across his face as he leaned closer.
“Oh really? Do you now?” His voice dropped to a husky whisper.
Before I could respond, he moved toward me with deliberate steps. I found myself backing up until my shoulders pressed against the car door. He placed one hand on the window beside my head, effectively caging me in.
“W–what are you doing?” I stuttered, my heart hammering against my ribs.
His face was inches from mine, his cologne enveloping me. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. My breath caught in my throat as he leaned even closer.
Then he chuckled and stepped back..
“Nothing,” he said simply, returning to his seat as if nothing had happened.
The tension dissipated, but the lingering warmth on my skin remained. I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and tried to calm my racing pulse.
By the time we arrived back at the mansion, twilight had descended. I excused myself to shower, desperate to wash away the events of the day–the blood, the abandoned school, Hank’s beaten face. The hot water helped, but couldn’t quite erase the memory of Jules’s face so close to mine
in the car.
When I emerged from my room, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. Lola’s name flashed on the screen. My finger hovered over the decline button, but something made me answer. Perhaps I wanted final closure, to end this chapter completely before blocking her for good.
“Hello?” I answered, putting the call on speaker as I towel–dried my hair.
“You fucking bitch!” Lola’s voice erupted through the speaker, raw with emotion. “Where is he? Where’s Hank?”
I frowned, glancing at the phone. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me!” she shrieked. “You and your psycho boyfriend better return Hank safely, or I swear to God you’ll face consequences!”
Jules appeared in my doorway, drawn by the commotion. He raised an eyebrow questioningly as I gestured toward the phone.
“Lola, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, confusion creeping into my voice. “We let Hank go. Hours ago.”
“Liar!” she spat. “His phone is unreachable, and he hasn’t come home or called me. What did you do to him?”
I looked at Jules, who appeared equally perplexed. He mouthed, “We did let him go.”
“Lola, listen to me,” I said firmly. “I’m done with both of you. I don’t need to play games or seek revenge. I told Jules to let Hank go, and he did.”
“Bullshit! If you’ve hurt him-”
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“I don’t give a fuck about Hank anymore,” I interrupted, my patience wearing thin. “But I promise you, we didn’t do anything fatal to him. He was alive when we left.”
“You’re lying! You’re-”
I ended the call mid–tirade, unable to stomach another second of her accusations. I looked up at Jules, who seemed deep in thought.
“Your men did release him, right?” I asked.
Jules nodded slowly. “They confirmed it. Let me ask them to gather more information.” He turned and walked out of the living room, already pulling out his phone.
I sank onto the sofa, rubbing my temples. What had happened to Hank after we left? Had he run off somewhere, too ashamed to face Lola‘ after being so thoroughly humiliated? Or was something else going on?
The click of heels against marble interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see Vella striding into the room, her perfect features twisted in a sneer.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the gold–digging bitch,” she drawled, looking me up and down with undisguised contempt. “Using my brother–in–law for your benefit. How pathetic.”
I ignored her, turning my attention back to my phone. But Vella wasn’t finished. She circled behind the sofa, and before I could react, her fingers tangled in my damp hair, yanking my head back painfully.
“Fuck off and leave this place as soon as you can,” she hissed into my ear, “or you’ll face heavy consequences.”
Pain shot through my scalp, but anger flared hotter. I reached back, grabbing a fistful of her perfectly styled hair, and pulled hard. She shrieked as I dragged her forward, forcing her to the ground.
Vella landed with a thud, her designer dress hiking up her thighs. Her face contorted with shock before she launched into dramatic wails, tears instantly streaming down her cheeks.
‘Morris! Morris!” she screamed.
Heavy footsteps thundered down the hallway. A man burst into the room–tall and broad–shouldered like Jules, but older, with silver threading through his dark hair. He wore an impeccable suit that couldn’t quite hide the hardness in his physique.
‘What’s going on here?” he demanded, his gaze darting between me and the sobbing Vella on
the floor.
When his eyes landed on me, they narrowed dangerously. “What are you doing to my wife?” he shouted.
Wife? Then I remembered–Morris Prime, Jules’s elder brother.
‘What’s a maid like you doing manhandling my wife?” Morris snarled, advancing toward me. “I’ll hang you upside down and destroy that face of yours.”
He raised his hand, and I instinctively closed my eyes, bracing for impact. But the blow never
came.
When I opened my eyes, Jules stood between us, gripping his brother’s wrist in what looked like a painful hold.
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“Touch her,” Jules said, his voice deadly quiet, “and it will be the last thing you ever do.”
Vella scrambled to her feet, “She attacked me first!” she wailed, pointing an accusing finger at
- me.
“She grabbed my hair and threatened me,” I countered, meeting Morris’s glare with one of my
own.
Jules released his brother’s wrist but didn’t step aside. “I believe her,” he said, his eyes never leaving Morris’s face. “Vella, move away from Monica. Now.”
Something in his tone made Vella shrink back, cowering behind her husband.
Morris rubbed his wrist, looking between Jules and me with growing comprehension. “Who is she?” he demanded. “And why is she here? I don’t like her presence in this house.”
Jules smirked, sliding an arm around my waist and pulling me close. “You know exactly who she is. Don’t pretend you didn’t just threaten my woman.”
He turned to me, his expression softening as he checked for any injuries. Then his face hardened again as he looked back at his brother.
“Apologize to her,” Jules commanded. “Both of you. Then get out of my sight.”
Vella started to protest, but Morris silenced her with a raised hand.
“You’re making a grave mistake,” Morris warned, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ll regret this.”
Jules’s smile was cold. “I won’t. And you know that very well.”
For a tense moment, neither brother moved. Then Morris’s jaw clenched, and he ground out, “I apologize, Miss Monica.”
He turned to leave, Vella at his heels, but Jules’s voice stopped them.
“Nuh–uh. I said both of you.”
Vella gasped, her face flushing with indignation. But one look at Jules’s expression had her mumbling a hasty, “Sorry,” before hurrying after her husband.
As they disappeared down the hallway, I leaned against Jules, suddenly exhausted.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Jules’s arm tightened around me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this confrontation was just the beginning.
The look in Morris and Vella’s eyes had been pure venom. They were planning something- something that didn’t bode well for either of us.
Chapter 15
