Chapter 15
Norman took the property deed from the male owner, his voice heavy with sorrow as he said, “Seth, Jullet sold the place the day after Lenny’s accident.”
Seth’s expression froze as the memory of that night flooded back. Juliet had been soaked to the bone as she’d cradled Lenny’s lifeless body.
Her eyes had been empty, brimming with tears, as she said, “Seth, Its led Lenny. She did it on purpose.”
He hadn’t believed her. Instead, he’d defended Iris, snapping at þuliet for not watching Lenny more closely. He’d accused her of being reckless and letting the accident happen. Juliet had trembled with rage as she’d ordered him out of the room. From that moment on, she’d never spoken to him again, not until the day she’d left for the concert.
That was when she’d turned to him and said solemnly, “Goodbye, Seth.”
Seth’s chest constricted as if a knife had been plunged into it.
He staggered back, his voice cracking. “So, Juliet hated me for always siding with tris. She’d already made up her mind to leave. That ‘goodbye‘ was her way of cutting ties for good!
Seth’s head dropped, heavy with despair. “Mr. Walsh, Juliet doesn’t want me as her brother anymore. She doesn’t want you, either. She’s turned her back on both of us.” Norman staggered as if struck by lightning, teetering on the edge of collapse. “No, that can’t be Juliet loves me. She wouldn’t just walk away!”
Seth looked frustrated, his tone filled with disappointment. “She won’t come back once she leaves. She’s always been stubborn, even as a kid. When she makes up her mind about something, there’s no changing it unless she has a change of heart, cools down, and decides to come back on her own.”
Norman stormed into the house, grabbed a dagger from the fruit tray, and plunged it into his thigh. “Seth, take a picture and put it on Instagram!”
Seth stared at Norman, stunned, and quickly moved to support him, “You’re being way too hard on yourself! Did you hit an artery? Hold on, I’m getting you to the hospital!” News of Norman’s injury and hospitalization quickly made its way to Iris. She hurried to visit him, only to be met with Norman’s irritation,
“Who asked you to come? Get out of here! If Juliet shows up and sees you, she’ll be furious!” he yelled.
Iris stared at him, shocked “Norman, I came all this way to see you, and you’re throwing me out because of her? My foot’s still hurt. I’m running a fever, and I feel awful…” Norman’s eyes darted nervously toward the hospital room door, his voice cutting “Someone, get her out of here!”
Iris ran out of the room in tears, half–expecting Norman to call her back, but he didn’t. Sitting on the hospital bed, he stared intently at his phone, completely oblivious to everything else.
Iris‘ expression tightened, bitterness etched across her features. Just then, she caught sight of Seth making his way down the hall toward her.
She quickly forced cut a couple of coughs, followed by a choked sob. “Norman won’t let me stay with him, Seth. Could you talk to him for me? I’m really worried about him…” Seth brushed past ber, his expression ley and detached. “Juliet doesn’t want you around. Stay away from now on.”
Ins gaped at him, completely thrown.
Seth’s expression darkened even further. If I find out you had anything to do with Lenny’s death, I’ll make sure you pay for it!”
Without another word, he strode off, not bothering to look her way.
Iris cinched her jaw in anger at their cold, indifferent attitude. But in an instant, her expression shifted to one at smug satisfaction. “Juliet, that eyesore is gone You’ll prieve for a few days, then it’ll pass. Eventually, you’ll still love me and care for me!
Norman waited another week, but Jullet never showed up to visit him. Feeling disheartened, he hided to check himself out of the hospital. As soon as he stepped through the hospital doors, two police officers stopped him. “Mr. Walsh, we’ve found Mrs. Walsh. She’s in Belcrest,”
