Chapter 28
Hearing that response, Juliette was slightly stunned. ‘Does Luciana really not catch my attempt to stir the pot?
‘She didn’t even try to explain herself–worse, she admitted to everything!
Dorian let out a cold laugh. “So that’s why you haven’t shown up these past few days. You’ve been busy backing someone else up.”
“No, no, no!” Luciana quickly denied it. “Me not coming has nothing to do with Caleb. Even if I had nothing to do, I still wouldn’t have come Your confinement has nothing to do with me.”
The only reason Luciana followed Juliette here was to check on how Dorian was doing.
Now that she saw how pale and thin he looked, how wrinkled and unkempt made Luciana feel relieved.
his
clothes were, clearly he hadn’t been doing well. That actually
Dorian ignored the part about it having nothing to do with her and questioned her instead. “Mother said you could help me, want to.”
but you didn’t
“She really said that?” Luciana frowned and sounded doubtful.
Luciana truly didn’t want to help him, and she didn’t care if Dorian knew that. But if those words really came from Francesca, then something was off.
the
Luciana thought to herself, ‘Does Francesca not realize what those words will do to the relationship of Dorian and me? That it’ll only drive us further apart?
‘Or maybe she does know–and just doesn’t care. Her heart has always leaned toward Juliette and Dorian. There’s no place for me in it‘
Dorian sneered. “If she hadn’t sent someone to tell me, I wouldn’t have known how petty you are. You want an apology, so you’re using this to push me into it. But I didn’t do anything wrong before, and I’m not going to apologize.”
‘Want an apology?‘ Luciana didn’t even know what he was talking about.
“You’re right. You did nothing wrong. I’m the one who overstepped. I shouldn’t have gotten so involved–doesn’t matter if you’re my brother. The more I try to step in, the more annoying I become. I don’t need your apology,” Luciana said calmly.
Luciana looked at him indifferently, like she was starin
at a stranger–polite, cold, and distant.
That look startled Dorian. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he just opened his mouth and couldn’t get a word out.
Juliette hadn’t expected her little scheme to work so well, but this visit wasn’t just about that.
“Mother’s been worried sick about Caleb. Luciana, if you could just say a few words to Trenton, maybe Caleb could be released…” Juliette
tried to persuade her gently.
“Not happening,” Dorian shouted angrily before Luciana could even respond.
Since Luciana had already made herself clear, Dorian wouldn’t ask her for help.
Juliette got cut off mid–sentence, standing there awkwardly.
Luciana stood up and said to Juliette, “Like I said before–if you care about Mother, then you find a way to help. If you care about your brother, you can beg for Father yourself. Just don’t come to me.
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Chapter 28
“Mother said I could save him but wouldn’t. But I already gave you the solution, didn’t I? And none of you helped either
With that, Luciana turned to Dorian. “This wasn’t the first time you’d stolen something, I helped you before. I won’t do it again, since you. think it doesn’t matter whether I help or not, then stop bothering me.
“I’m not your only sister. Mother cares about you, and that should be enough. I won’t stay here and be in the way anymore.”
Juliette had brought Luciana here to push her into helping Dorian in person, hoping that once they met face to face, Luciana wouldn’t be able to say no.
But before Luciana even had the chance to refuse, Dorian had already turned her down. He was grounded and still that prideful.
Watching Luciana walk away, Juliette wanted to follow, but Dorian tugged on her sleeve and looked at her with sad, pitiful eyes, begging her not to leave.
Juliette hesitated, stopping in her tracks. She had no choice but to stay and chat with him half–heartedly.
“These days stuck here have been so boring,” Dorian complained, clearly upset.
Dorian still wanted to spend more time with Juliette. That thing with the god statue was just a careless mistake. It wouldn’t happen again.
Besides, Dorian figured he wouldn’t need Luciana for anything in the future anyway, so it was better to cut ties cleanly now.
Since Juliette was finally here, Dorian wanted to make the most of it.
“If you’re that bored, why not try harder to get out of here?” Juliette said while subtly inching toward the door.
Francesca had secretly arranged for Juliette to come see Dorian. If Father found out, he might take it out on her.
It was fine when Luciana was with her, but now Juliette was alone and didn’t want to get dragged into this.
Dorian had no idea what she was thinking and just kept talking. “Father’s really mad. Maybe you could go ask him for me. If you do, he’ll definitely let me out.”
Dorian was sick of being stuck here. And it had been quite a while–he figured Trenton must be waiting for someone to plead for him.
Since he didn’t want to turn to Luciana, Juliette was his only option.
Juliette was definitely better at charming people than Luciana. She knew how to soften Trenton up.
If Juliette just said a few nice things, Trenton would have to let Dorian go.
And even if he didn’t, it wouldn’t hurt her either way.
When she heard the request, Juliette froze for a second before politely turning him down. “You’ve been grounded for a while already. Father’s probably calmed down by now. I don’t need to say anything. Besides, I’m still not fully over my cold. If I passed it on to him, wouldn’t that make things worse?”
At first, Dorian didn’t catch on. But when he saw her standing by the door, glancing outside from time to time, he finally realized she was itching to leave–and clearly didn’t want to help him.
‘Afraid of getting Father sick… sure, that’s a reason. It just doesn’t sound very convincing,’ Dorian thought.
“Just wait a couple more days. He’ll let you out. If there’s nothing else, I should get going. I’ve been out too long and suddenly don’t feel so great,” Juliette said, trying to leave.
Dorian couldn’t hide the disappointment in his face. ‘Why does Juliette keep avoiding me?
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‘I haven’t done anything to upset her. But still, she always seems to be keeping her distance.
‘Is she still afraid of Luciana? Does she not want to get too close because of my relationship with her?
‘Is that really necessary? Back when Juliette was cold, I didn’t push her either, and that’s why our relationship kept drifting apart.
‘Now I’m finally trying to get close, and
me a little during the day?‘
“No. Stay a little longer,” Dorian said stubbornly, trying to guilt her into staying.
can
Juliette clearly cared about him but wouldn’t show it openly. That kind of hidden concern? Dorian couldn’t accept it.
He didn’t want to wait until he became the crown
prince. That would be too late. He’d be too old by then to cling to Juliette’s arm.
Right now was just the right time–there was still a chance for everything.
AD
