The building was quiet except for the pack of goods around. This was a warehouse. Right in the middle was the unconscious Juliet tied up to a chair. 
"Wake up you bitch!" Susan shouted angrily and slapped Juliet's face tilting her head to the side. She was already panicking because she knew they were coming for her, but even if she were jailed, she wants to torture her arch-enemy to death.
"Water. Water." She muttered and opened the bag she came with. She took out a water bottle and poured the content on Juliet's head wetting her hair partially. Whether it was a miracle or Juliet was going to wake up that day, she started coughing softly which was followed by painful moans. There was a severe headache and the wound on her stomach wasn't healed but the ropes were tightened around it. Her ward shirt was wet with blood already. The frantic laughter before her made her raise her head.
"So you're finally awake huh?", Susan laughed.
"Susan? ", she mutters all confused.
"You're wondering what you're doing here right? The vice CEO of Utopia was attacked by hitmen and is now in a temporary coma. No one knows when she's waking up." Susan sneered.
"Attack? You......", Juliet's eyes cleared more remembering the fatal attack.
"Yes. I ordered them too." Susan confirmed.
"Where's Luke and Chloe?" Juliet was already worried and asked.
Susan laughed and said, "Those two? They are dead already. "
"No. You're lying. Stop lying." Juliet shook her head and cried. This can't happen. Luke and Chloe can't be dead. Susan was just joking.
"You think I will bother lying to you? I know I will be captured soon but I must bring you down with me too. You all destroyed my family, put my father in jail, and turned Shi corp upside down. I had to take care of debts and threats while you two show off your love and even plan a wedding. I couldn't stand that. So, I used my remaining money and ordered those hit men to kill you all. They failed to do so the first time but not this time."
Juliet was just finding it hard to believe what Susan had said to her.
"You are a witch. You're not getting away from this!" she shouted with the little energy she had.
"Oh? You're coming with me girl. " she laughed instead and pulled a pistol from her trousers pointing it at Juliet.
"You of all people just have to survive. If I don't kill you, I won't die in peace. My life was perfect without you. I had Luke by my side and he never shouted at me once until you came into the picture. My stupid father wanted you two to be close so that he can break you from the inside. Blaming you for everything that might happen in Utopia would be easy and after Mr. Li's confession, your leaving Luke will make you a suspect too. He will think you got close to him just to destroy their family. My family will go free but you two just had to trust each other strongly and the stupid me let jealousy ruin our plans. It would have been easier if you had died then but you just had to survive. I'll kill you and end this!!"
"You're crazy Susan. Crazy. You just don't understand what is not yours can never be yours." Juliet said weakly.
Susan sneered and added, "Luke can't be mine so he can't be yours either. Just go to hell!"
A loud bang at the door made Susan flinch.
"Keep your weapon down miss Shi. We already have this place surrounded. You can't escape!"
The police got her quickly after seeing the footage at the hospital and traced the car. They quickly surrounded the warehouse and were now careful as Susan had a hostage and was holding a gun.
Juliet spotted the worried Luke and Dad and sighed with relief. He's still alive. Goodness.
"Better don't come closer or I'll kill her!" Susan shouted and pointed at Juliet.
"Susan don't you dare!" Luke shouted back angrily. Juliet was originally hurt and now this. It broke his heart to see her suffer this way.
"You're the one to speak. Huh, Luke? You broke our friendship and despised me just for this stranger." She glared at him her hands tightening on the gun.
"You're not thinking straight. Drop your gun and stop all this!" He said gritting his teeth.
"So she can live?", she scoffed. "I rather die too." She shouted and aimed the gun at Juliet. Before she pulled the trigger, the police had already shot her hand making the gun fall from her hand. They quickly rushed over and caught it.
Luke ran quickly and squatted before Juliet. He loosened the rope and cupped her face. Seeing her look at him again made him tear up.
"Juliet. " he smiled and kissed her deeply before hugging her close. Juliet just smiled faintly and her eyes closed again. Luke heard silence and pulled back.
"She's still injured, Luke. Let's take her back to the hospital. ", Dad tapped his back and said. Luke nodded and raised her before placing her on the stretcher that was brought quickly. He followed them but stopped sighting his old friend that was being cuffed by the police. He walked over and stared at her frantic expression.
"You are my childhood friend that's why I find it hard to believe that you'll turn out like this. Be a good person in your next life. ", he stated and entered the ambulance. Susan just teared up as she was pushed into the car.
Luke held Juliet's hand as the doctor they came with helped her quickly.
"I'm sorry I let her take you. From now I won't leave your side ever again.", he said softly.
He felt her fingers move and looked at her face abruptly. Her eyes were slightly opened.
"Thank God you're awake." He smiled and kissed her knuckles.
Juliet smiled weakly and said, "I'm glad you're fine love. Where's Chloe?"
"She's okay. sister is okay," he answered quickly.
"That's great. " she smiled. "Luke. I love you so much," she muttered tears running down her cheeks.
"I love you too Julie. I love you." He smiled wiping her tears.
She chuckled faintly and continued, "We'll soon get married and start our family. I'll get well soon and our wedding will be held. You have to look extra handsome in your wedding suit. Have I ever told you were the most handsome man in the world?"
"I have the most beautiful woman beside me. My best friend and my wife. " Luke chuckled too.
"My arrogant handsome husband. " Juliet smiled and said gently. "You once asked me if you can kiss me anytime you want. Can you kiss me again now? I missed you so much."
"I'll kiss you every day, you'll get tired of it." Luke nodded and kissed her warmly again. She closed her eyes as she slept off again.
....................
"Mummy!" A tiny cute voice called out as a two-year-old-looking girl crawled behind a blue sofa. Her black hair was tied in pigtails and she had round cute eyes just like her parents. The living room was surrounded by three light blue fur sofas and a white carpet in the middle. The table rested there with the tv at the front. Right behind the room was the kitchen.
"Lily. Get up now." A lady's voice came next and she squatted a little distance before the girl. She was dressed in a long-sleeved casual blue dress and had a striking resemblance with the kid, Lily. The lady was naturally Juliet and the little girl was her daughter with Luke, Lily Cheng. The little girl was almost two years old.
After the kidnapping case, Juliet was taken back where she recovered quickly. The wedding took place a month later and it had been two years since then. They lived in a flat modern house close to Dad.
Lily smiled brightly and stood up before running into her mother's embrace. Juliet rubbed her hair fondly and pulled her cheeks while the little girl giggled. Lily just keeps reminding her of Chloe.
"Mummy are you making cake?", Lily asked expectantly.
"I promised to make one today. So I did. You're my favorite. " Juliet smiled back.
"Strawberry cake!" Lily raised her arms in excitement. Juliet's phone suddenly rang from the sitting room. She glanced at Lily and inquired, "I wonder who at this time!"
"Daddy!" Lily clapped at the familiar ringing tone. Juliet held her hand and rushed to the sofa. She picked up her phone and smiled. It was a video call. She connected it to her laptop and held Lily on her lap answering the call.
Luke's image appeared in his new office.
"Daddy!" Lily shouted excitedly.
"Hi, sweetheart.  Love." He waved at them.
"Who's your love and Who's your sweetheart?", Juliet asked pouting.
"Mummy is love and I am a sweetheart. Right Daddy?", Lily said and they laughed. "Daddy, Mummy is making a strawberry cake!" She informed happily.
"Hmmm. Cake. Mummy?" Luke asked and raised his eyebrow at Juliet. She pursed her lips and said, "Better come home early."
"About that. Julie can you please come back to work?", he asked with Puppy dog eyes.
"I thought we agreed until Lily starta3 school and it's in three months," Juliet replied. She does work from home but not fully. They didn't want to leave Lily alone.
"But your husband is going to collapse before then," he grumbled.
"You have a child and you're acting like a baby." She rolled her eyes.
"Common. There's a pile of work on my head and I have to attend several meetings at the same time. Please help me. How about this, we'll send Lily to your mother before she starts school." He suggested.
Juliet hummed and said, "It will depend on Lily."
"Just watch." He waved his hand and smiled at Lily. " Baby. Do you want to go to grandma's place?"
"Yay! Grandmummy! " Lily shouted making Juliet gasp. Luke gave her a look and added, "your aunty is also there currently. " Chloe was currently working with an agency in Shanghai.
"Yay aunt Chloe!" Lily laughed again.
"See. She wants to go. Just three months before she starts school and her birthday. " Luke smiled at Juliet.
She nodded. "I'll call Mummy now. You do look worked out and I don't like that. But we're going to go to Lily every weekend. "
"I can't bear staying away from my baby." He smiled and someone entered his office. "Okay. See you soon. I love you." He waved.
"We love you too Daddy. " Lily waved back. Juliet winked at him and he ended the call.
"Mummy I'm going to go to Grand Mummy and aunt Chloe right?", Lily asked excitedly.
"Yep." Juliet nodded.
"What about you and Daddy?", she asked curiously.
"Mummy and Daddy have some work to do. We'll come to visit every weekend," she promised.
"Okay. I trust you." She smiled and Juliet hugged her. She wouldn't want what happened to her to ever affect her daughter. She was willing to stop working permanently to stay with Lily and Luke always creating time for the family.
Lan Yi arrived the next day and after a round of goodbyes at the airport, Lily left with her. Luke stretched as they came back home.
"Why does this house seem so different all of a sudden?" He inhaled with his hands on his hips.
"How so?" Juliet asked folding her arms. He smirked and grabbed her waist.
"No child around. Just two adults who are in love with each other."
"Our daughter just left and you're like this. I already missed her." Juliet gasped and pouted.
"I do too. I know how to make you forget." He smiled and she shook her head knowing his meaning. He pulled her closer and she wrapped her hands around his neck as they broke into a passionate kiss.
...............
Miss Lan was in the kitchen while Lily was playing with her toys in the room when the doorbell went on.
"Aunt Chloe!" Lily shouted and rushed towards the door as Chloe came in.
"Lily!" She shouted too and hugged her twirling her around.
"You look chubby than before. We just met a month ago." She dropped her and gasped dramatically.
"Mummy feeds me well." Lily winked and they giggled.
"Hello, aunty!" Chloe greeted as Lily pulled her to the sitting room.
"Chloe you're here." Miss Lan smiled.
"Aunt Chloe let's play," Lily asked excitedly.
"Bet you that. Let's dance. " Chloe smiled and took her phone from her handbag playing loud music immediately. Lily clapped and they started dancing joyfully even jumping on the couch. Miss Lan just shook her head. She still can't believe this girl was engaged.
Chloe loved staying with Lily who was a product of her brother and 'sister' as they were so much alike. A few years back, he brother was just a grumpy, arrogant guy wanting nothing to do with others especially girls while her sister was a downcast lady searching for her mum after a lonely childhood. They were all in the dark until they met and turned each other's lives into light.
The End.
Thank you to everyone who has been reading Unexpected Bond from chapter one. A big heart to you for following Luke and Juliet's journey from strangers, to friends to siblings and a couple. Your comments mean a lot to me.
I can't help but also feel sad as we part with our lovely characters. I have been with them for two years now from their imagination to their written form.
Who do you like the best?
Juliet Li
Luke Cheng
Chloe Cheng
Mr. Cheng aka Dad
Mr. Li
Miss Lan Yi
Susan Shi
Mr. Shi
David
Yvonne
Yu Luo
Charles Lin
Juju
Lu
Hugo
and our sweet little Lily Cheng
Don't forget. When two opposite sides meet, it always gives a reaction. No matter what you go through in life, don't ever forget your family. Trust is what keeps a relationship alive.
Byeeee