Page 82 of Dreams and Desires

Juniper steps closer, her hand gently touching my cheek. “We’ll see. But no more violence. Promise me.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I promise.”

She wraps her arms around me, holding me tight, and for the first time all night, I feel a glimmer of hope. Together, we’ll find a way. Without bloodshed. Without revenge. Just us, facing the world together.

Chapter Forty-Two

Juniper

A week later, Cody is buzzing with anticipation. The Opal is glowing under the evening lights, decked out for what’s promised to be the grandest event the town has ever seen.

Here I am, standing in front of the mirror in Zade’s suite, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me. My dress hugs my curves perfectly, a deep olive green that sets off the softness of my skin and makes my hazel eyes pop. It’s elegant, sophisticated, and a little daring—all thanks to Zade's impeccable taste. I smooth a hand over the fabric, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach. My dark hair is styled in loose waves, cascading over my shoulders, and my makeup is subtle but flawless, highlighting the natural glow of my cheeks and the fullness of my lips.

As I step out of the dressing room, Zade is waiting for me. He’s already dressed, looking every bit the devilishly handsome enigma that he is in a tailored black suit that fits him like a second skin. His eyes widen slightly as they take me in, and for a moment, I see something raw and vulnerable flicker across his face.

“You look … breathtaking.” He whispers, eyes sweeping over me in a slow once-over that sparks a shiver straight up my spine.

I smile, feeling a flush creep up my neck. “You don’t look too bad yourself.”

He steps closer, his hand reaching out to lightly trace the curve of my waist. “Are you ready for this?” he asks. The question lands soft but carries a tremor of worry underneath

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. But the truth is, I have no idea what’s about to happen tonight. Zade has been tight-lipped about the details, only hinting that it’s something big. I know he’s pulling the project back. But it’s something else too.

We arrive downstairs at The Opal, and I’m stunned by the transformation. The grand ballroom is a sea of glittering lights and elegant decorations. It’s on another level from the modest gatherings this town is used to. Every person in Cody seems to be here—Tom, Dick, Harry, even people I haven’t seen in years.

Jacob is here too, looking better than he has in weeks, sitting with our parents near the front. Their faces are unreadable, but I can feel their disapproval lingering in the air like a bad odor. And then there’s Brian Ellis, standing off to the side with Dominique, trying his best to blend in. But the nervous sweat on his brow gives him away. Zade had threatened him to show up, and it’s clear Brian knows better than to cross him.

Zade’s grip on my waist tightens as we weave through the crowd, exchanging polite acknowledgments with those we pass. The murmurs and whispers follow us like a shadow, and I can’t help but feel like all eyes are on us—on me. I try to focus on the warmth of Zade’s hand, the way it grounds me, but my nerves are on edge.

We step onto the stage; the air seems to press in. He lifts the mic and starts talking—steady tempo, calm in a way that always settles me. “Thank you all for coming,” he begins, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. “I know there have been a lot of rumors and speculation about the resort project, and tonight, I want to put all of that to rest.”

The room falls silent. I hold my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“After careful consideration, I’ve decided to pull out of the project,” Zade announces, the words bouncing off the ballroom walls. A collective gasp ripples through the crowd, followed by a wave of murmurs. Zade waits for the noise to settle before continuing. “The Patterson Group has acquired the entire parkland,” he says with pride. “We’re committed to keeping it safe. The resort will not be built, and the park will remain untouched.”

A wave of relief washes over me, but before I can fully take it in, Zade unveils a sign that literally makes me gasp. “And in honor of someone who has shown incredible strength and resilience, I’m renaming it to ‘Juniper Park.’”

My heart skips a beat. Did he just say that? I turn to him, eyes wide in shock. “Zade, that sounds pretty ridiculous.”

He listens, then grins as he announces, “Alright, back to the old name then!” and the crowd laughs.

Just when I think it’s over, Zade straightens and looks out at the crowd again with a serious expression this time. “But that’s not all. I’ve got a little surprise for you all.”

The lights dim, and a large screen behind the stage flickers to life. My stomach twists with unease as a video starts playing. It’s a recording of Brian Ellis, his face smug and condescending as he talks about the town, the people in it, and the bribes he’s taken. The crowd watches in stunned silence, their shock quickly turning to anger as Brian’s words fill the room.

In the audience, Brian’s face pales, his eyes wide with horror as he realizes what’s happening. He runs towards the stage and then jumps on it, shouting something incoherent, but his words are lost in the rising murmurs and gasps from the crowd. Desperation and rage flash in his eyes as he lunges at Zade. But Zade sidesteps him easily, his expression calm, almost bored, as if he’s dealing with nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

But then, in a sudden, reckless burst of fury, Brian turns and punches Zade square in the gut. The impact is hard and immediate, and for a split second, the composed mask Zade wears slips. I see it—the wince of pain that flickers across his face, the subtle way he clutches his side. It’s clear the punch has hit a vulnerable spot, and he’s not fully recovered from the surgery.

And that’s the moment something inside me snaps. All the anger, the fear, and the humiliation that I’ve kept bottled up for so long comes rushing to the surface. Before I realize what I'm doing, I lunge at Brian, grabbing his collar in a fierce grip. Without thinking twice, I slap him across the face, hard, the sound echoing through the room.

“You destroyed my life!” I scream with everything I got. “Everything! You ruined everything!”

Brian stumbles back, clutching his cheek where my slap landed, eyes wide in disbelief. But then his shock morphs into something darker, something that makes my skin crawl. He straightens up, his lip curling into a sneer. “You were always a whore, Juniper,” he spits out. “You think anything’s changed? You’re still the same desperate slut who ruined her own life.”

His words hit me like a sledgehammer, reopening every wound I’ve spent years trying to heal. Fury surges through me. My fists fly, pounding against his chest, his arms, and any part of him I can reach. “You shattered everything I had! You ripped my life apart.” I yell in his face as tears blur my vision. But I don’t care. I can’t stop.

Before I can hit him again, Zade’s there, stepping in between us like a force of nature. He grabs Brian by his hair, lifting him off the ground as if he weighs nothing. “Keep my girlfriend’s name out of your filthy mouth,” Zade growls. And then, with a single, devastating punch, Zade slams his fist into Brian’s face. The sickening crunch of bone echoes through the room, and blood sprays from Brian’s already bandaged nose as he crumples to the floor.

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