He Stands at the End of My Past

Juliet didn't come to until three days later. Her wounds weren't deep, but they were scattered all over her body, as if something had gnawed holes in her skin. Thin streaks of blood seeped from them, making her look disturbingly ghastly.

Caspian was lounging in a leather chair with a book in his hand. The moment he noticed her stirring, he closed it and said coldly, "If you're awake, go apologize to Willie."

Juliet froze for a second before letting out a derisive chuckle. "And how is she worthy of that?"

Her words hit a nerve. Caspian's expression hardened in an instant, and he shot to his feet before stalking toward the bed.

He towered over her, exuding that familiar, suffocating pressure. "I must've spoiled you rotten if you've already forgotten your place."

Juliet abruptly burst into laughter. Her fingers dug into the sheets as she responded lazily, "Aren't you giving yourself a little too much credit, Mr. Henderson?"

If it hadn't been for her, Henderson Group wouldn't be what it was today. If not for her, he wouldn't be standing here so comfortably.

That title dropped between them like a stone in a well. It grated on him in a way he couldn't explain. She had always called him Cas, or Caspie, or anything playful she could come up with. Juliet had never addressed him in such a distant manner.

His expression darkened, and his tone turned frosty. "Don't forget your little group of friends."

"Caspian Henderson!" Juliet shot upright, bracing herself on the bed. The sudden movement tore at her wounds, making the color drain from her face, but her eyes burned with fury. "You're despicable!"

Caspian curled his lips in satisfaction as he took in her reaction.

"Oh, and one more thing. Willie is injured and can't work. So, you'll have to cover her shifts at the bar for a few days."

Right after saying that, he left.

Juliet trembled with rage as she watched his figure disappear through the door. Deep down, she felt nothing but disgust.

It turned out he did know how to love someone. He just never loved her.

He was willing to grind her into the dirt for another woman.

…

Night fell, and Juliet pushed through the stabbing pain and dragged her body to the bar.

The moment she entered, a set of clothes was tossed at her. The bar manager took one look at her and said, "Put that on and get to work."

Juliet pinched the fabric between her fingers. It was barely enough to cover anything. Her brows drew together. "I'm not wearing this."

Under the lights, her scabbed wounds looked dark and rough. These clothes would only draw more attention to the scars and make people stare at her like she was some kind of monster.

The bar manager sneered, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. His eyes were full of disdain as he said mockingly, "Do you still think you're the lady of the Henderson family? In this bar, whatever Mr. Henderson says goes."

That was right. She was in Caspian's territory, and she was nothing more than a drifting weed.

Juliet closed her eyes for a moment before pulling the outfit on. The fabric scraped over her scabbed wounds, making her suck in a sharp breath from the pain.

As soon as she emerged from the changing room, a crate of beer was shoved into her arms. "Deliver this to room 2061."

Juliet slowly carried the crate upstairs. When she reached the private room, loud laughter exploded from inside. "Ms. Everly, you lost the dare! You know the rules—you have to Frensian kiss the guy next to you for 30 seconds!"

"What a coincidence! The guy next to her is Mr. Henderson!"

Willow's clear, crisp voice followed, dripping with practiced innocence. "It's just a dare, Mr. Henderson. Please don't take it to heart."

Juliet had grown up in high society. She had seen all kinds of women, yet this was her first time seeing a mistress act so pure and unapologetic.

Then, she heard Caspian chuckle. "It'll be my pleasure," he rasped.

A heartbeat later, wet kissing sounds and soft moans seeped through the door. Juliet's stomach twisted, and she burst through the door, only to see Caspian cupping the back of Willow's neck.

He kissed her as though he couldn't breathe without her. Their tongues tangled in the dim light, and they were so lost in each other that they didn't even notice her walk in.

Juliet slammed the beer crate onto the table. "Here are your drinks."

The room went still in an instant.

Willow hurriedly pushed Caspian away. Then, she grabbed a tissue and wiped the corner of her lips.

Her cheeks were burning, yet her eyes were clear and bright. When she shifted her attention to Juliet, her tone was innocent. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Ms. Bennett. Mr. Henderson and I were just playing truth or dare. If it bothers you, I'll just kiss someone else next time. It's not a big deal."

"Don't you dare!" Caspian seized Willow's wrist. The desire that lingered in his eyes turned into blazing anger. He yanked her straight into his arms and kissed her cheek again and again, his voice thick with possessiveness. "You're mine."

Juliet couldn't hold it in anymore and let out a derisive chuckle. She spun on her heel and bolted out of the private room. She hurried into the restroom. Gripping the sink, she stared at herself in the mirror.

The woman staring back at her looked hollow. Her face was gaunt, her body marked with scars, and her complexion was pallid.

She was worlds apart from the woman who had married Caspian with a heart full of joy. The higher she had been then, the harder she crashed now.

Juliet splashed water on her face and turned to leave, but before she could take a step, someone grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward the door.

"Mr. Henderson asked for you."