Chapter 175

“I tried to talk to you about it before. I told you not to trust Penelope, but you just wouldn’t believe me.”
As Juliet spoke, the frustration in her voice reached its breaking point. The tears she’d been holding back finally spilled down her cheeks.
Anastasia closed her eyes for a moment.
Now she remembered—this had happened in her previous life, too. Juliet had tried to warn her, not just once, but several times. But back then, Anastasia had put all her trust in Nora and her mother. Under their constant manipulation, she’d shut out everyone from her grandfather’s side of the family, Juliet included. How could she have ever believed her cousin?
A whole year had passed. She’d known Juliet was studying at Kingsbridge University as well, yet she’d never even reached out.
“How long has Sandra and her friends been picking on you?” Anastasia took a steadying breath, her voice icy.
Juliet hesitated, glancing at her nervously, but didn’t answer.
Anastasia could guess from her reaction.
From what she’d overheard from Sandra earlier, and now from Juliet’s confession, it probably started last semester. This was clearly not the first time.
Anastasia clenched her fist at her side, digging her nails into her palm. Suddenly, a memory surfaced from her previous life-something she’d learned by chance.
Juliet was a year younger; they shouldn’t have been in the same grade. She’d skipped a year just to catch up to Anastasia, then worked hard to get into Kingsbridge University, all because of her. She’d done so much, yet never managed to get close.
A wave of guilt, regret, and shame crashed over Anastasia, threatening to drown her.
She almost hated her old self-how could she have been so blind?
“It’s okay, I’ll clear your name. And I’ll make sure Sandra apologizes to you.” Anastasia gently straightened Juliet’s damp, tangled hair. Her voice softened. “Come on. Let’s go buy you some clean clothes.” Google seaʀᴄh
Juliet’s head shot up, her eyes wide in disbelief.
She couldn’t believe it. Was her cousin really being this kind, this patient? Hadn’t Anastasia always disliked her?
Anastasia saw the confusion and pain on Juliet’s face and felt her own guilt deepen.
Forcing a smile, she wrapped Juliet in a tight hug, not caring about the mess on her clothes. “I was wrong before, Juliet. Can you forgive me? I promise, things will be different from now on.”
That single sentence broke Juliet’s last bit of restraint. She finally let herself cry, the hurt and longing she’d carried for so long pouring out.
As a child, Juliet had always been frail and small, and her greatest hero had been Anastasia. Whenever someone bullied her, Anastasia would swoop in, make the bullies cry, and stand with hands on her hips, declaring no one could ever hurt her cousin.
But after her aunt passed away, she saw less and less of Anastasia. Eventually, her cousin stopped spending time with her altogether. In the end, Anastasia seemed to dislike her entirely.
She’d long since given up hope. She never imagined that what she’d stopped daring to wish for would one day come true.
Anastasia pressed her lips together, waiting until Juliet’s sobs finally subsided. She gently wiped away the remaining tears.
Juliet blushed, embarrassed by her outburst, but didn’t pull away-she let her cousin dab away the last of the tears.
“All right, let’s go get you some new clothes,” Anastasia said.
“Okay!”
Juliet followed close behind, her eyes shining with the same admiration she’d had as a child.
She couldn’t help recalling how cool Anastasia had looked standing up to Sandra earlier.
Anastasia took Juliet’s hand and started toward the campus gates, planning to head to the mall. But when she checked her watch, her expression suddenly changed.
-Oh no, it’s already six?!
She’d promised to make dinner for Harrison tonight!
She’d been so preoccupied with Juliet that she’d completely lost track of time.
Now all she could do was hope that Harrison wouldn’t mind too much…