Chapter 19
1540 Words
Writer's POV*
“My dear, you don’t need to worry. I’ll take care of the wedding preparations.”
Mrs. River said it with a soft smile, her hand warm over Julie’s.
The living room felt different today. Softer.
Julie sat beside Mrs. River. The three brothers stood nearby.
It was the old madam, Julie, and the three brothers.
“Thank you, Mom,” Julie whispered. She leaned her head on Mrs. River’s lap like a daughter who had finally come home.
“Adrian, take good care of her,” Mrs. River said, looking straight at her second son. “She’s a real good daughter.”
Mrs. River was in her fifties, but she still carried a youthful grace. Warm-hearted. Peaceful. The kind of woman who made a house feel like a home the second she walked in.
“Julie, why are you lying on Mom? Come to me,” Adrian said, holding out his arms. He wanted to feel the weight of his wife.
“You big bad wolf,” Zain teased, grinning.
“You’ll get to hold her later,” Mrs. River cut in, laughing.
Mrs. River had always valued daughters. She never gave birth to a girl, so she adopted June when June was little. And she loved her just as fiercely.
“You’ll get to hold her later,” Mrs. River repeated, then turned her gaze. “Now, Alessandro.”
“Yes, Mom,” Alessandro answered. His voice was calm, but his eyes told her he already knew why she’d called his name.
“You need to get married. And fast.”
“Mom, not now please,” he said quickly.
“What do you mean ‘not now’? You’re twenty-eight. You’re rich, capable, and handsome. What else do you need before you get married, huh?”
“Mom, please. It’s just not time yet. I’m working on something. When I’m done, I’ll get married. Okay?”
“Adrian will be getting married right after this year. What are you waiting for? Anyway, I just want to let you know I need my grandchildren fast. Before anything else.”
That was typical Mrs. River. Direct. Loving. A little stubborn.
Julie was drifting toward sleep when she caught their conversation.
‘I thought he was in love with Alice. What’s up with him now?’
Speaking of Alice…
She needed to see her. Now.
“Mom, I need to go see someone,” Julie said, sitting up.
Adrian, who had been scrolling on his phone, looked up immediately. Something flickered in his eyes.
“Babe, who do you want to see?”
“I need to see Alice. I haven’t set my eyes on her since we arrived. I really need to see her.”
The door opened before anyone could answer.
June stepped in, arms full of shopping bags. She’d just gotten back from a shopping spree.
“Mummy!” June ran to Mrs. River and threw herself into a big hug.
“My baby. How have you been?” Mrs. River welcomed her with open arms.
“I’m sorry, Mother. I went on a shopping spree.”
“And it couldn’t wait until you welcomed your mom? That’s not fair,” Mrs. River teased, but her eyes were fond.
“I’ll be here next time, I promise.”
June turned and noticed Julie.
“Hi, June,” Julie greeted.
“You look familiar. Have I met you before?” June asked. She had a habit of questioning everyone.
“I’m Juliet. And I guess we’ll get to know each other much better soon,” Julie said, keeping her tone friendly. Even though she knew June could be anything but friendly.
“That’s your business,” June said with a shrug. “Anyway, Mom, I need to go to my room and unpack some things. See you later. Bye.”
June blew her mom a kiss and left the room, heels clicking on the marble floor.
“So, where were we?” Mrs. River asked.
“Well, Mom, I need to go see Alice now,” Julie said again.
The room fell into a brief silence.
Zain looked at Adrian. Adrian looked at Alessandro. Alessandro’s face was expressionless.
Julie got the feeling they were hiding something from her.
“Okay… bye,” she said, standing and heading for the door.
“Wait!” Adrian’s voice cut through the room. He was at her side in two steps.
“Wait. You can go see her later.”
Julie frowned, confused.
“Wait, why? She’s my friend. I haven’t seen or spoken to her in so long. I need to see her.”
“Well… I think there’s something you need to know,” Adrian said quietly.
He took her to their room upstairs. The door closed behind them.
For the next ten minutes, Adrian explained everything that had happened in the past week. About the accusations. About the evidence. About Alessandro’s decision to keep Alice under watch.
“No,” Julie said the second he finished. Her voice shook. “Don’t tell me she’s hurt. I know Alice. She can’t do something like that. She must have been framed.”
“Even I couldn’t believe it, until I saw the video footage,” Adrian said, and he hated how heavy his voice sounded.
“And now… Sir Alessandro is holding her hostage.”
Julie felt tears burn her eyes.
“I need to see her. Please. Let me see her. Please.”
Adrian looked at her. He couldn’t deny her anything.
“Okay,” he said finally. He picked up the home line and called Nena. “Take Miss Julie to see her.”
“Julie, I’m so happy for you,” Nena said when Julie met her at the stairs. She pulled Julie into a tight hug.
“I’ve missed you guys so much,” Julie said, her voice muffled in Nena’s shoulder.
“I need to see Alice. Where is she?”
Nena didn’t answer with words. She just took Julie’s hand and led her through the back corridors of the mansion. Past the kitchens. Past the laundry. To the small servants’ quarters at the edge of the house.
The rain from earlier had left the air cold and damp.
When Nena opened the door, Julie froze.
Alice was sitting on the edge of a narrow bed. Her uniform was torn. Her shoulder was bandaged with a piece of cloth. Her left leg was propped up, swollen at the knee. Her face was pale, but her eyes… her eyes were still Alice’s. Strong. Tired. But not broken.
The moment their eyes met, Julie broke down.
“Julie!” Alice stood too fast and winced.
Julie rushed forward and pulled her into the tightest hug she could manage.
“I’ve missed you so much,” Julie sobbed into her hair. “Oh my God, Alice. What did they do to you?”
Alice hugged her back, careful not to put weight on her bad leg.
“I’m okay,” Alice whispered. “I’m okay now that you’re here.”
Nena closed the door softly and gave them a moment.
“How… how long have you been like this?” Julie pulled back and cupped Alice’s face with both hands.
“A few days,” Alice said. She tried to smile. “It’s not that bad. Really.”
“Liar,” Julie said, and laughed through her tears. “You look terrible.”
“Thanks,” Alice laughed too, and for a second it felt like old times. Like they were still girls in the garden behind the mansion, sharing secrets.
Julie sat beside her on the bed.
“Adrian told me what happened. The video. The accusations. Alice, I don’t believe it. Not for one second.”
Alice’s shoulders dropped. Like she’d been holding her breath for days.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You’re the first person who said that to me.”
“What about Alessandro?” Julie asked carefully.
Alice went quiet.
“He thinks I’m dangerous. He thinks I’m part of some gang. He won’t let me in the house until evening. He… he hurt my knee.”
Julie’s hands fisted in her lap. Anger flashed across her face.
“I’ll talk to him. I’ll talk to Mrs. River. This is wrong.”
“You don’t have to fight my battles,” Alice said softly.
“I do,” Julie said firmly. “You’re my friend. And friends don’t leave friends to sit in the cold.”
There was a knock. Nena poked her head in.
“Miss Julie, Mrs. River is asking for you.”
Julie stood, but squeezed Alice’s hand first.
“I’m not done with you. I’ll be back. And I’m bringing you real food, medicine, and a bath. Deal?”
“Deal,” Alice smiled, really smiled this time.
As Julie walked out with Nena, her mind was already racing.
Something was wrong in this house. And it started with Maria. With that video. With the way Alessandro looked at Alice like she was a threat.
She didn’t know what was coming.
But she knew one thing.
She wasn’t going to let Alice go through this alone.
Not again.
- Writer
