Chapter 9

In the days that followed, Juliet stayed home and prepared for her trip abroad. On the day before her departure, Henry got drunk at Damien's bachelor party. After receiving the call, she left the house to pick Henry up. Soon, she arrived at the Kane residence and rang the doorbell. Before long, the butler greeted her at the door and led her in. In the past, Juliet would tag along and visit with Henry whenever she had the chance, just to see Damien. So, she knew the place like the back of her hand. But now, after just a month of not visiting, the villa felt strangely unfamiliar. The villa was draped in cascading florals and twinkling string lights for a warm yet romantic ambiance. The towering ancient trees in the yard were gone and replaced by sprawling beds of roses in full bloom. The once black-and-white interior was replaced with soft blues and greens for a refreshing change. The hall was filled with wedding ornaments and adorable plush toys. The butler, who knew her well, introduced the place with a smile as he led her across the hall. "Mr. Kane's been so busy and tied up with wedding preparations, Ms. Marlowe. It's been a while since you last visited, so you probably feel like you don't know your way around anymore. "You've always loved the thriving pine trees in the yard, but it's such a pity the future Mrs. Kane isn't too fond of them, so Mr. Kane had them chopped off. All the furniture and decor were changed to her taste. It looks nice, doesn't it? "According to Mr. Kane's orders, everything in the house will be done according to her wishes from now on. I never imagined he'd change so much after finding the woman he loves. He must really adore her, don't you think?" Juliet listened quietly and replied softly, "Yeah. Anyone can see that he loves her." They crossed the long hallway and arrived at the noisy lounge. Juliet refused to enter, so she called Henry to tell her she had arrived. Moments later, the door swung open. Damien appeared, half-supporting the dead-drunk Henry. When he spotted Juliet, he froze for a second. She greeted him calmly and politely. Henry rubbed his bleary eyes and waved at Damien. Then, he slurred drunkenly, "I-I'm not going to… your wedding tomorrow. I have to s-send…" Before he could finish, he lost consciousness. Damien frowned. "What's he busy with tomorrow that he can't even come to my wedding?" Juliet knew Henry would be driving her to the airport. But since she didn't want Damien to know she'd be leaving, she shook her head and pretended not to understand. "Maybe he has something important going on, or he's just drunk-talking." She stepped forward to take Henry's arm and was ready to leave when Damien called out behind her, "What about you? Are you coming to the wedding tomorrow?" Juliet paused mid-step, and her gaze flickered slightly. Her voice was light and steady as she replied, "Since Henry doesn't want me there, I doubt you'd want to see me either, so I'm not going. I'll just say it here since this might be the only time to do it. Congratulations on your wedding, and best wishes!" Damien's heart skipped a beat after hearing her words. "This might be the only time to do it…" What did she mean by that? Confused, Damien was about to ask when his phone rang with a call from Callie. He hesitated for a few seconds before choosing to answer. "Damien, don't get too drunk tonight, alright? If you're late tomorrow, you know what's gonna happen…" "Alright, whatever you say." Listening to his gentle, coaxing tone, Juliet smiled faintly and took Henry home. … After a night of dreamless sleep, Juliet woke up at 8:00 am. Henry sent her to the airport after she had breakfast. Her flight was at 11:00 am sharp. Seeing that there was time, she turned to Henry and said, "You still have time to catch the wedding, Henry. They must be waiting for you. I promise I'll call you when I land." Henry checked his watch and sighed. Then, he nodded. She watched him leave before walking alone through the departure gate and boarding the plane. Just before her takeoff, she was about to switch off her phone when it rang with a call from Damien. She stared at it for a moment and declined the call. Then, she blocked his number. When the plane took off, she took one final look at the city she had lived in for over 20 years. Then, she closed her eyes and let go.