Chapter 125: Domesticated

I struggled to find the words to say just out of sheer belief. *He doesn’t believe that hoe, does he?!*

“No, I didn’t fucking hurt her! She did that to herself! I told you, she’s blackmailing me!”

“But you’ve never liked Grace…” a frown creased his lips as he looked me up and down. “And I don’t blame you after all the things she’s done to you, but… that was going too far. Listen.” He stepped closer and gave me a warm hug. “Just do as she says for a bit, make up for what you did–”

I shoved him away roughly, hard enough to make him stumble two steps back. I was mad as hell. “Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?! JULIAN!” I screamed so loud that I would be surprised if the neighbors didn’t hear me. “I’m telling you–I didn’t cut that hoe! She has a big ass knife from the kitchen! I saw–” My barks cut short when I remembered the knife. It was big. It was sharp. Big and sharp enough to slash tires.

No way… was that Grace? Did Grace slash my fucking tires?? And here I thought it was Julian!

My emotions were like a storm bigger than the one outside. Fury, doubt, guilt… was I wrong about Julian? My imagination overthinking? Was Grace the bigger threat this whole time? Did I underestimate her because of her pretty, petty princess act? Usually, women like that were all talk. It was the first time I’d come across a viper that could bite back with deadly venom.

*That piece of shit always wanted me GONE. Why is she trying to keep me here??*

That’s a thought I didn’t want an answer to.

I looked up at Julian. Can he get me out of this mess? Grace is still his twin, and he said he’s in love with me, but how deep does that go?

“Julian.” I stepped towards him after I pushed him. He didn’t look too phased, but his feelings were obviously hurt. You could see it in his puppy eyes. “Please, believe me. Why would I do that in the first place? Because I’m angry? Shit, man, did you forget we live under the same roof as our parents?? Not only that, but if I really wanted to hurt Grace, it wouldn’t be a little cut to the hand.”

Julian stared down at me silently for a few seconds, which felt like hours, until he finally turned his head away from me. “...You’ve been acting really weird lately, Beautiful.”

*What?* “What?” I thought and said my response at the same time.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know if I can completely trust you just yet.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Just do a few things and everything will be ok.”

“You gotta be fucking kidding me!” I struggled to keep myself from saying anything further. I didn’t want to lose Julian’s trust. He could be the only thing I have right now. I’m practically trapped on an island!

*To think I actually had a hint of faith in him… no. Julian doesn’t accept me and my flaws either. Nobody does.*

“Beautiful–” I turned my head away from him when he reached out to me. Are my feelings hurt? It looked that way to him, anyway. He grimaced but reached over to me again, brushing some of my curly hair out of the way so that he could see part of my face. “I’m sorry, Beautiful. But don’t worry, everything will be alright. I’ll take care of you. I’ve always said I will, didn’t I?”

I remained silent and shrugged. Yeah, he has… but trust goes a long way for me and he’s done plenty of things to fuck it up. But right now, I didn’t have much of a choice.

Julian sighed and stroked my cheek one last time before leaving. I was surprised. It felt like he was giving up. Or maybe he was giving me space. Either way, he left me on my own and I was at Grace’s mercy. To think this shitty day would come.

Hell is a place on earth, and it's right in this stupid fucking mansion.



A few things, my ass. The next three days were the same thing over and over, all day and it’s not like I could have a comfortable sleep. I was running low on fuel, not to mention my pregnancy made it worse, but something told me that she didn’t know about that. Julian must not have told her. To be honest, I don’t know how’d she react if she ever found out… it was another thought I didn’t want to think about.

It felt like I had a spiked chain around my throat, forcing me to wash the dishes, mob the floor, do the laundry, and even pick up shit after Grace. The whole time she was still threatening to cut herself up like a block of cheese if I didn’t do as she said. I was stuck at a loss. No signal, no wifi, no roads, endless thunderstorms… even my phone disappeared. By now, I had half the mind to run off into the woods. I’d rather risk being eaten by a bear than living in this hellhole.

*But then I’d put the baby at risk… fuck! Just one more chain.*

It felt as if I was washing the dishes for an hour, trying to scrub the determined, dried food stuck to plates. I knew damn well that Grace did this on purpose. My fingers were wrinkled for being wet for so long and there were a few cuts from my impatience with the knives. The scent of dried food smelt awful to my sensitive nose.

*I’m gonna fucking hurl…*

I stiffened like a wary cat when I heard footsteps approach me from behind. Part of me was worried that Grace was coming back to work me like a dog some more, but instead, two hands reached from under my arms and pulled me into a tight embrace.

*Julian.*

I wasn’t feeling safe around him anymore, either. He’s been of no help to me. All he’s done is feel up on me and stare at me with lust, though he hasn’t attempted to take me to his bed yet. What happened in Gabriel’s study wasn’t my imagination. It was obvious that Julian had run out of his medication and it was starting to show. I just wasn’t sure whether this was the length. Part of me dreaded that he’d get far worse.

Julian breathed in my scent and kissed my cheek. His hot breath against my skin gave me goosebumps. “You’re not looking so well, Beautiful.”

I didn’t bother correcting him. I knew I didn’t have that sort of power right now. “You don’t fucking say.” I still kept my sass as I lifted my hands from the dishwater. The cuts were starting to bleed again. I could feel the muscles in his arms abruptly flex as his hands darted for mine.

“You’re hurt!” He exclaimed, more shocked than I thought he would be.

“I’ve been hurt.”

“Here.” He released me and gently moved me out of the way. “I’ll do the rest of the dishes for you.”

*Well, that’s a fucking first...*

“Thanks,” I mumbled my fake gratitude. I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to get out of these chores.

“What’s going on here??” Grace stormed over here, each step giving off a loud clack from her heels.

Even with his twin, Julian didn’t look phased by Grace’s hostility. “Suki’s hands are bleeding, so I’m going to do the dishes for her.”

“So what?” Grace crossed her arms. “Let her do them. A couple of cuts couldn’t hurt someone like Sukia, right, Sis?” The way she spoke was like she was baiting my pride. Any other time, it would work.

“I’mma puke on your grave.”

Grace’s smirked sneer dropped when I didn’t fall for it, and she bared her teeth in anger. “You–!! Why are you still sick?? I know Isabella gave you medicine!”

I bit my tongue and glared at her. Yeah, I don’t think it’s a good idea if she finds out that she’s gonna be an auntie in 8 months.

“C’mon, Grace, give her a break. She’s tired.” Julian stepped in front of me, and for a brief second, I felt relief when he took my side.

“Stay the hell out of this, Julian, or I’ll tell her everything!” Grace threatened with a raised voice.

This caught my attention with alarm. “Whoa, wait, what? What’s going on here?” I looked between the twins as they fell silent and looked at me. Grace’s smug smile didn’t change, but what unnerved me was that my hero was starting to look different again. He didn’t look down at me with worry. There was a perplexing look in his eyes that showed that he was trying to decide what to do with me.