Eclipse: There is no Impossible Love

Chapter 7: Shadows of Resolve

As Juliette stood there, her shock slowly giving way to confusion, she watched the group exchange glances before Aiden finally spoke up, breaking the tense silence.

“We’re here with a lawyer, Juliette,” he said calmly, his gaze steady. “We’re here to help you with the assault case.”

Juliette’s eyes widened, and she looked from Aiden to the others, struggling to understand. Edward’s expression softened as he took a step closer.

“We couldn’t just stand by and do nothing,” he added, his voice full of concern. “This isn’t something you should have to face alone. We’re here to support you through this.”

Tyla nodded, her tone more straightforward. “You’ve been through enough, Juliette. This lawyer is going to make sure you get the justice you deserve.”

Juliette’s eyes darted back to the lawyer, the weight of the moment settling in as she realized they were all there for her, ready to stand by her side through the difficult path ahead.

Juliette’s shock shifted to frustration as she processed what they were saying. She took a step back, her voice tight and laced with disbelief.

“I didn’t ask for this,” she said, her gaze flicking between them, lingering on Edward. “Why would you all just assume that I wanted... whatever this is?”

Edward opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off, her voice rising. “This is my life! You can’t just decide things like this for me without even asking.”

Mr. Langston, the lawyer, held up a hand, his tone calm and measured. “Miss Beaufort, I understand this is overwhelming. We’re only here to help you, to protect your rights and ensure that justice is served.”

But Juliette shook her head, her frustration building. “You think bringing in a lawyer makes everything better? You all show up here, acting like you know what’s best for me—”

Colette stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. “Juliette, we’re just trying to help. After everything that happened, you don’t have to do this alone. We’re your friends, and we care about you.”

“Then maybe you should’ve thought of that before making decisions for me!” Juliette shot back, her voice raw. She glanced at each of them, her face a mixture of hurt and anger.

Aiden stepped in, his voice steady but firm. “Juliette, listen to us. This isn’t just about you; it’s about all of us wanting to see you safe and strong. We can’t stand by and let you fight this alone.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling torn between their intentions and her need for control over her life. But the concern in their eyes was undeniable, leaving her with conflicting emotions she didn’t know how to handle.

Just as the tension hung thick in the room, the door opened again, and in walked Florence, her expression unreadable, followed closely by Charles, who immediately took in the scene with a raised eyebrow.

Florence’s gaze swept across the room, landing on each of them, then finally settling on Juliette. “What’s going on here?” she asked, her voice cool and sharp.

Charles, always quick to assert himself, stepped forward with a slight smirk. “Looks like a family meeting without the family,” he remarked, glancing pointedly at Edward and the others. He placed a hand on Juliette’s shoulder, pulling her slightly towards him. “Juliette doesn’t need all of this—lawyers, interventions. We’ve got everything handled, don’t we, darling?”