Chapter 15

"Sorry I can't hangout this weekend, something came up," Ryan said.

"Oh...what's that? What's the emergency?" Juliette asked with concern.

"It's an issue with Brian," Ryan explained.

"Brian? Is he okay?" Juliette asked worriedly.

"Yes babe, he's fine. It's just his usual baby drama because he's missing his mom," Ryan replied.

"Okay then, no problem. Daddy duty calls. Let's talk on Monday, okay? And you don't have to explain yourself at times like this. We are not official," Juliette said understandingly.

"Yet..." Ryan added playfully, causing Juliette to giggle.

"Okay then, goodnight dear. I guess I'll see you at work on Monday," Ryan said.

"Goodnight to you too. Sleep well," Juliette said and ended the call.

"Are you done?" Daniel asked as he joined Juliette in the lounge.

"Yes, it was a call from work. Thanks," Juliette said as she accepted the drink Daniel offered her.

"Will you be sleeping over? It's too late to go back to your house," Daniel asked Juliette.

"Yes, I didn't even plan on returning home," Juliette replied.

"So...shall we?" Daniel suggested.

"We shall," Juliette agreed.

Daniel turned on the television and put on a movie. He retrieved a blanket from his room and returned to the lounge. Meanwhile, Juliette went to the bathroom to change into her pajamas. She then brought popcorn for both of them, another can of soda for herself, and a bottle of beer for Daniel.

"I didn't even know you brought pajamas," Daniel remarked.

"I told you I planned to sleepover," Juliette said, smiling.

"Can you please reduce the temperature of the air conditioner? I'm feeling really cold right now," Juliette requested, rubbing her arms.

"That's why I brought this," Daniel said, pointing to the blanket.

"But I'll lower the temperature a bit for you," Daniel added, making sure Juliette would feel comfortable.

He then turned off the lights as he and Juliette sat beside each other on the couch. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he gently rubbed her arm.

As they settled on the couch, they realized that the movie had already started, so Daniel rewound it back to the beginning.

"How was your week?" Daniel asked, trying to start a conversation with Juliette while they waited for the movie to begin.

"It was okay, I guess. Actually, I have some news - I'm resigning from work soon," Juliette announced.

"Really? Why?" Daniel inquired, genuinely interested.

Juliette smiled and replied, "I've saved up enough and I just want to take a break. Enjoy a carefree and youthful life for a while."

"That sounds amazing. I think I could use a break too. Maybe we should plan a vacation together?" Daniel suggested.

Just as Juliette was about to respond, the movie finally started, capturing their attention. They watched in silence, occasionally sharing sweet giggles as they enjoyed the romantic comedy.

About forty-five minutes into the film, they were startled by the sound of the doorbell.

"Huh?" Juliette said, lifting her head from Daniel's shoulder.

"Who could that be at this hour?" Daniel wondered aloud, standing up to answer the door. He cautiously peered through the peephole to see who it was.

"Oh," he said, recognizing the familiar face, and then he opened the door.

"Hey, you," Daniel said to Adrienne, surprised by her unexpected visit.

Before Daniel could say another word, Adrienne rushed forward and enveloped him in a tight hug.

"What is the problem?" he asked her, his voice filled with concern.

"Shh," she hushed him gently, her embrace tightening around him. Tears stained her cheeks as she sobbed softly into his chest.

From the distant lounge, Juliette's voice called out, breaking the moment.

"Dan, is there a problem there?"

Adrienne's heart skipped a beat as she heard Juliette's voice. She quickly let go of Daniel and composed herself as she ushered herself into his house.

"You have a woman here?" Adrienne asked, her voice laced with surprise and a hint of jealousy.

As she entered the lounge, Adrienne couldn't help but take in the quite romantic movie setup. A mix of shock and disbelief crossed her face as she reached for the lights and turned them on, revealing Juliette standing there. "You?" Adrienne said, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Oh...hi," Juliette greeted, her voice faltering slightly.

"I keep running into you more often nowadays. It's starting to feel uncomfortable," Adrienne stated, her eyes locked with Juliette's.

"I could say the same about you," Juliette retorted, a touch of defiance in her voice.

Daniel felt the tension in the room and decided to intervene. "Whoa, let's all calm down. Adrienne, this is Juliette," he introduced, hoping to diffuse the situation.

"What's your relationship to her?" Adrienne asked Daniel.

"We are cousins," Juliette quickly responded.

"What kind of cousins go on movie dates and snuggle up together?" Adrienne smirked, her words laced with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry, but I believe I do not owe you an explanation. We don't owe you anything regarding our relationship, right, Dan?" Juliette countered.

Daniel remained silent, unsure of how to navigate the intense atmosphere. Sensing the need to break the awkward silence, he gathered his thoughts.

"Why the unexpected visit?" he asked Adrienne, attempting to change the subject.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt your movie night with your girlfriend," Adrienne taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

"It's not like that," Daniel insisted, his voice firm.

Adrienne crossed her arms, a skeptical expression on her face. "You guys were at the party last Saturday, and I didn't see you talk to each other at all," she accused.

"Oh, we talked at the party. You just didn't see us," Juliette replied calmly, meeting Adrienne's gaze head-on.

The room fell into an uncomfortably heavy silence. Juliette's eyes continued to dart towards Adrienne, each glance a silent question of "when are you leaving?" Adrienne, on the other hand, couldn't help but comprehend the unspoken message behind Juliette's pointed stares.

"I only came to retrieve my forgotten jacket. I was cold," Adrienne spoke, directing her words towards Daniel. Making her way over to his room, she emerged with a sleek black jacket in hand.

"I apologize for interrupting your movie. I'll be on my way now," Adrienne stated, her voice laced with an undertone of tension, as she exited Daniel's house. Sensing her departure, Daniel swiftly followed suit.

"Adrienne," Daniel called out, desperately aiming to halt her retreat. He managed to catch up to her and grabbed hold of her hand.

"What is it?" Adrienne asked, her face turning to meet Daniel's gaze.

"I need to explain," Daniel pleaded, his voice filled with sincerity.

"Explain what?" Adrienne retorted, folding her arms across her chest.

"My relationship with Juliette," Daniel confessed.

"I didn't ask for an explanation. It's your life, Daniel. You don't owe me anything," Adrienne replied, her expression clouded with a deep frown.

"Why did you come here, then? Did you need someone to talk to?" Daniel inquired softly.

"No, I merely came for this jacket," Adrienne responded, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Babe, that's my jacket," Daniel countered.

Adrienne fell silent, her attempts to hold back tears growing evident.

"I've told you before how much I adore this your jacket. It's mine now, alright?" Adrienne declared, her voice laced with a sense of finality.

"Adri, what happened? Please, talk to me," Daniel pleaded.

"Nothing happened. Go back inside. It's pretty late. Goodbye," Adrienne stated coldly.

"Stay the night, Adrienne. I can't let you drive home like this. Or let me drive you," Daniel implored.

"John drove me here. He's waiting for me in the car," Adrienne revealed.

"I'll call you in the morning, okay?" Daniel persisted.

"Don't bother. Have fun this weekend," Adrienne remarked, her tone icy.

"Babe," Daniel called out, desperately reaching for one last chance.

"Goodbye, and don't even think about following me," Adrienne unleashed with finality before spinning on her heels to depart. Daniel sighed heavily as he watched Adrienne's retreating form, a mix of remorse and frustration washing over him. He sighed once more before turning back towards the solitude of his house.

When Adrienne arrived at Daniel's house, she instructed John, her driver who had brought her there, to head back home and not wait for her. She had planned on spending the night at Daniel's place, but now things had taken an unexpected turn and she found herself stranded with no means of transportation. The clock struck 1 am, adding to her despair.

Feeling lost and overwhelmed, she crouched down beside a sleek black car and unraveled into sobs. It had been an unsettling night, filled with one of her usual nightmares that had left her sleep-deprived and disoriented. Whenever she woke up from the terrifying dreams, snippets of different scenarios flickered before her eyes. Some involved a haunting accident, while others featured a pulsating club party. The visions overlapped in her mind, creating an indistinguishable mess that she couldn't shake off.

Summoning the strength to compose herself, Adrienne swiftly changed into a fresh outfit and dispatched a message to her driver, who resided in the staff quarters. Urging him to drive her to Daniel's place, she suppressed the urge to call Daniel himself, opting instead to seek solace in his comforting embrace as soon as she arrived.

Her heart sank as she arrived at Daniel's doorstep only to discover him in the company of another woman. The despair she had been suppressing burst forth anew, and the tears streamed down her face with renewed intensity.

After what felt like an eternity of anguish, Adrienne reached for her phone and dialed John's number. Fifteen minutes later, she watched as one of her cars came into view. The sight of his familiar face brought a glimmer of hope to her teary eyes, instantly lifting a small weight off her shoulders. It was as if she had been granted a momentary semblance of freedom amidst her emotional turmoil. Finally, a faint smile etched across her lips at the sight of her reliable driver, signaling a temporary respite from her overwhelming circumstances.

The drive back home was a solemn affair, with an air of unspoken tension. John reached out to turn on some soft music, but before he could, she halted him with a gesture. Her heart felt heavy and uncomfortable, burdened by a weight that seemed impossible to shake off. When they eventually arrived, she stepped out of the car and began to undress herself, shedding her clothing piece by piece as she made her way towards the pool. She stripped off her shirt, unhooked her bra, removed her shoes, and finally took off her trousers. Left only in her panties, she positioned herself on the edge of the pool, ready to immerse herself.

Swimming had always been her favorite way to find solace and relaxation, but to her dismay, the water was excruciatingly cold. It felt as though it was freezing every inch of her body, but despite the discomfort, Adrienne pressed on. She refused to succumb to the chill, not wanting to be engulfed by the daunting silence of surrender, or worse, the haunting nightmares that awaited her slumber.

As she floated in the pool, shivering uncontrollably, she found herself speaking aloud, her voice echoing softly in the stillness of the night.

"The nightmares will return," she whispered, the words carrying a heavy weight. The freezing water continued to gnaw at her strength, prompting a change in her demeanor. After thirty agonizing minutes, the coldness prevailed, piercing her to the core. Tears welled up in her eyes as she voiced her anguish to the empty darkness.

"Why is life so hard?" she sobbed, her words lost amidst the biting chill.

"They'll all pay for their crimes," she vowed through her tears, defying the invisible forces that sought to break her spirit. Eventually, she summoned the courage to leave the icy depths of the pool, her body quivering from the numbing cold.

"Damn, I'm freezing," she gasped, using her hands to hastily cover her bare breasts. She quickly made her way to the warmth of the main house, seeking refuge from the bitter cold that enshrouded her. The comforting heat embraced her as she let her breasts free from their restraints, finding solace in the simple liberation.

Inside the house, she approached the refrigerator and retrieved a bottle of red wine. Eschewing the need for a glass, she indulged herself by drinking straight from the bottle. A sudden realization struck her, giving birth to an idea.

"Perhaps if I get drunk tonight, the nightmares will be replaced by a mere headache in my slumber," she pondered, contemplating the somewhat reckless notion. Doubt lingered, but the stakes were worth a try.

Seizing another bottle of wine, this time opting for the alcoholic variety, she settled upon a plush couch in the lounge. As she continued to consume the wine, drops of crimson stained the fabric beneath her. Inevitably, intoxication took hold, and soon, she succumbed to the effects, passing out in a drunken haze.

Yet even in her state of vulnerability, she felt it—someone violating her, sucking at her breasts while thrusting forcefully.