Wait, what? She didn’t care about herself? Juliette Kingston, who only ever seems to care about what other people think of her.
My future. I didn’t even think about my future. Me being a doctor. She thought of it though, so much so that she hurt me in order to save me from it. I called her selfish in my mind, I told her that nothing could ever drive me to say vile words to her like that. But I was wrong, if I was in her position, maybe I’d do the same.
She did it forme.
I want to get up and find Stacey—I want to tear her limb by limb, but I can’t manage to do that right now. I can’t manage to do anything but feel regret.
Chapter FOURTY-THREE
J u l i e t t e
“Weneed to kill Stacey.”
I roll my eyes. “No, we don’t.”
Kai gives me a deadpan look and a giggle erupts from the back of my throat. I think that’s the first time I’ve laughed since this whole thing. Of course, I could only keep Kai at bay for so long.
I told him everything this morning and he apologised for not hearing me out sooner, but I couldn’t blame him. He tried to call Adaline straight after, but I stopped him—she needs space, it’s clear. This will only push her further away from me.
“Seriously though, when is your mother going to sort this out?” he asks in a huff.
“She’s on her way, I called her yesterday and told her I needed help with something,” I say, feeling my nerves growing.
“You’re really going to tell her?”
“Yeah.”
My mother didn’t hesitate telling me she’d be on the next flight out. She should be here fairly soon. I’m not sure if I’ll still have this courage when I see her, but I’m gonna have to force myself to.
“Are you going to Adam's wedding tomorrow?” I ask him.
His eyes soften. “Not without you.”
I avert my eyes from him. “She doesn’t want to see me.”
I’m sure it’s Adam's bachelor's party tonight too. I only know because I helped plan the party favours with her. I had to practically force her to let me help.
“That’s a cop out and you know it,” he tells me.
Maybe it is. Maybe I’m terrified to see her face again because it will make me realize everything she said is true. That she is capable of love, but she would never love me.
“Juliette!” A voice calls out from downstairs and instantly I get up from my bed, Kai following me as I walk downstairs in a rushed manner. It’s my mother, walking through the door with like fifteen bags in both of her hands.
“Hi, Miss Kingston,” Kai greets cheerily.
“Hello, Kai.” She smiles back at him. She’s always liked Kai.
I give Kai a look, inadvertently telling him to go and he obliges. He bids me and my mother goodbye. My mother walks closer to me and pulls me into a hug, it’s tight, warm, and…weird. She pulls away after a few seconds and I look at her, confused.
“So what’s the problem?” she asks me, tilting her head to the side.
“Let’s sit down.”
She nods, furrowing her eyebrows. We walk into the dining room as she puts her bags down and joins me on the table, sitting right next to me.
“What’s wrong Juliette? You’re worrying me.” She’s right, I can see it in her eyes.
I should start off small. Something to test the waters. “I don’t want to be in the company mom.” She doesn’t say anything so I keep going. “I want to open my own gallery. I’ve always wanted that.”
