Chapter Twelve

The docks stretched into the darkness, the wooden planks slick with moisture from the ocean spray. The salty tang of the sea clung to the air, mixing with the faint metallic scent of rusting metal from the nearby shipping containers. A dense fog rolled over the water, curling like ghostly fingers around the abandoned crates, swallowing the distant city lights. The place was eerily silent except for the rhythmic slosh of waves against the pier and the occasional groan of wood shifting under the weight of time.

Juniper pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, scanning the shadows for movement. Her fingers curled into the wool fabric, seeking warmth, but the chill that settled in her bones had nothing to do with the cold.

Every instinct screamed at her to leave.

But she forced herself to stay.

Adrian was sitting in a jail cell, accused of crimes he hadn't committed.

And she needed answers.

Her heart pounded against her ribs as she glanced around, searching for the source of the unease prickling at the back of her neck. The fog made everything feel surreal, stretching the shadows into elongated figures that disappeared if she looked too closely.

Then—

A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the mist.

The sound sent a shiver down her spine.

"Brave little Juniper." The voice was smooth, rich with taunting amusement. "I was starting to think you wouldn't show."

Juniper stiffened.

A figure emerged from the darkness, her steps unhurried, purposeful.

Victoria Langford.

Dressed in a sleek black trench coat, her blonde hair pulled into an elegant bun, she looked every bit the polished heiress she had always been. But beneath the controlled exterior, Juniper saw something feral in her eyes—something unhinged.

A predator watching its prey.

Juniper swallowed hard, willing her hands to remain steady at her sides. "You sent the note?"

Victoria smirked. "Clever girl." She stepped closer, her heels clicking sharply on the wooden planks. The sound was deafening in the eerie silence. "You want the truth, don't you?"

Juniper lifted her chin, refusing to let Victoria see the flicker of doubt creeping in. "That's why I'm here."

Victoria let out a mock sigh, tilting her head as if considering. "Fine. Since you came all this way…" She took another step, her perfume mixing with the salty air. "Yes, I framed Adrian. I leaked information, I planted evidence, I made sure the board turned against him."

Juniper's stomach tightened, her breath hitching. She knew Victoria was involved, but hearing it spoken aloud sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through her veins.

Adrian was in a cell because of her.

"Why?" she demanded, her voice cold.

Victoria's lips curled into something between a smirk and a sneer. "Because he needed to learn a lesson." Her tone was almost pitying, like she was explaining something obvious to a child. "He thought he could just throw me away? Replace me with… you?" Her eyes darkened. "I was supposed to be his wife. The woman beside him when he took over Blackwood Industries. Instead, he threw it all away for some idealistic scientist playing charity games."

Juniper clenched her fists, nails biting into her palms. "He never loved you."

Victoria's smile didn't waver. "No," she admitted. "But he was mine."

Juniper's stomach turned. This wasn't just about power, or money, or revenge. It was obsession.

She inhaled deeply, forcing her voice to stay even. "Well, now I have your confession."

Slowly, she pulled out her phone, her thumb hovering over the record button.

Victoria's eyes flicked to the device, then back to Juniper.

Then, she laughed.

A slow, deliberate laugh that sent ice slithering down Juniper's spine.

"Oh, sweetheart," Victoria cooed. "Do you really think this ends with a recording?"

The air shifted.

A ripple of danger passed between them.

Juniper's pulse quickened as Victoria reached into her coat.

A glint of silver.

Juniper's breath hitched.

A knife.

"Such a shame," Victoria murmured, her voice almost regretful as she took a step forward. "You should've walked away when you had the chance."

Juniper instinctively stepped back, the wooden planks creaking beneath her feet.

A storm was rolling in.

The wind howled through the dockyard, sending the fog twisting in chaotic swirls. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a low growl of warning.

Victoria's grip on the knife tightened.

"You'll both drown tonight."

Juniper's body tensed. "You don't have to do this."

Victoria's eyes gleamed. "Oh, but I do."

Then she lunged.

Juniper barely had time to react. She twisted to the side, dodging the first swipe of the blade, but Victoria was fast—unnervingly fast. The tip of the knife grazed her arm, slicing through fabric and skin. Pain flared, hot and sharp.

She stumbled back, clutching her arm.

Victoria smiled. "You're quick. I'll give you that."

Juniper's mind raced. She was cornered. Behind her, the dock ended in a steep drop into the churning, icy water. Ahead of her, Victoria stood between her and any chance of escape.

She had seconds.

Victoria lunged again.

Juniper ducked, adrenaline fueling her movements. She grabbed a wooden crate and shoved it between them, buying herself a moment's breathing room.

Victoria snarled, slashing at the crate. "You can't run forever."

Juniper's gaze darted around, searching—there. A rusted chain, half-coiled near a metal pole.

If she could get to it—

Another swipe. This time, Juniper wasn't fast enough. The knife sliced across her ribs, sending a searing pain through her side.

She bit back a scream.

Victoria laughed softly. "You're bleeding, darling."

Juniper gritted her teeth. Move.

She lunged for the chain, fingers closing around the cold metal just as Victoria lunged again.

Juniper spun at the last second.

And with all the strength she had left—

She swung.

The heavy chain struck Victoria across the face with a sickening crack.

The blonde woman staggered back, a startled gasp escaping her lips. Blood dripped from her temple, shock flickering across her features.

Juniper didn't wait.

With a surge of desperation, she slammed her shoulder into Victoria's chest.

The impact sent them both teetering dangerously close to the edge of the dock.

Victoria clawed at Juniper's coat, trying to steady herself—

But Juniper twisted, using Victoria's own momentum against her.

Victoria's eyes widened. "No—"

Then she was falling.

Her scream was swallowed by the storm as she plunged into the dark, raging water below.

Juniper stood frozen, chest heaving, the wind howling around her.

The waves crashed violently against the pier, swallowing Victoria whole.

For a second, she thought it was over.

Then—

A hand broke through the surface.

Victoria's fingers clawed at the dock, desperate, wild.

Juniper took a step back, watching as the storm dragged her deeper, the weight of her soaked coat pulling her down.

Their eyes met one last time.

Victoria's lips parted, her expression flickering between fury and fear.

Then she was gone.

Swallowed by the abyss.

Juniper stood there, shaking, her blood staining the wooden planks beneath her.

The storm raged on.

And in the distance—

Sirens wailed.