Til' Death Do Us Part ✅

Chapter 2

Juliette

As I arrived home, I saw someone pulling up behind my car. I had my mace in one hand, and my thumb on the panic button of my keyfob.

"Jules, it's me." I stopped as I couldn't believe who it was.

"Cole?"

"The one and only."

"Oh gawd, where in the hell have you been?"

"In South America. Did you miss me?"

I slapped him on the arm.

"Ouch!"

"What the hell do you think?! First off, it's been two years since I've seen you. Secondly, you left without a trace and thirdly...," holding back tears, "I'm so glad to see you." I pulled him in my arms hugging him tightly.

I wiped my face. "Come on. I was just about to heat up some jambalaya. Want some?"

"If you made it, count me in." I smiled opening the door.

"This is so you Jules," he said walking in.

"Thanks. I had to let my personality show."

My townhouse was located off Carrollton Avenue. I had decorated it bringing the New Orleans's culture inside. I loved this place as it felt like home.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Some water would be good." He sat down at the kitchen island and I slid a bottled water to him.

Cole Sanders was my childhood friend. We met when we were in fourth grade and had been besties since then. We both graduated from LSU and after, I decided to go to culinary school while he took a job with an IT firm. The day I told him I was marrying Gregory, he stopped coming around and eventually he disappeared. It was like he dropped off the face of the earth until he wrote me a letter the night before my wedding telling me how much he loved me and that I was making a mistake marrying Greg. I was hurt at first but over time I just missed my friend.

Cole was tall, with brown hair with dreamy grey eyes. He was a true born country boy. We would go fishing and crabbing at his uncle's camp and ride in the airboats through the swamps in the summers. He was kind and to be honest, I never knew he loved me as more than just a friend.

"I still can't believe you are married Jules."

"I can tell. I haven't forgotten about the letter you wrote me. I'm not mad anymore, but that was some heavy stuff you laid out. The night before my wedding Cole, that was wrong," I said placing his food in front of him. He began to eat.

"You were my best friend. I was going to make you my man of honor."

He looked at me with scrunched up brows.

"Everything I said in that letter, I meant."

"Why did you wait? Was it because you were jealous of Greg? We've known each other for over fifteen years and you drop that kind of bomb on me? You had plenty of time over the years to tell me how you felt." I gripped the counter, I wasn't hungry anymore.

"I was scared of messing up our friendship and yes I was jealous because he stole the only girl I ever truly loved. It was eating me up inside so I had to tell you how I felt. I guess in my mind, I thought you would have changed yours but you didn't. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I'm not sorry for still loving you."

"Yes you are sorry." I wiped my tear away. "Oh you hurt me alright. I hired a PI to find you and after two months the trail ran cold. Many of nights I've worried about you." I wiped another tear away.

"I was wrong Jules. I just couldn't see you with someone else." His expression changed and his eyes focused on me.

"So why have you mysteriously appeared now?"

"To tell you Greg is not who he says he is and that...," he grabbed my hand, "he can't love you like I can."

I pulled my hand back. "Stop it! Do you hear yourself? You are so wrong for doing this." I walked away and stood by the sink.

"I'm sorry Jules but I found out that Greg is in trouble and I think you could be in danger."

I shook my head. Was this the night of crazies?

"Yeah right. Let me guess you came here to try and break Greg and I up with your accusations. He will protect me from your so called danger."

"Jules just listen to me."

"Greg is innocent until proven guilty. He loves me, he wouldn't hurt me. Who told you this cockamamie bs anyway?"

"A friend of mine with the FBI. There is some real estate deal going on in Baton Rouge and I heard your husband and his partner sold swamp land to unsuspecting investors. They covered the wetlands with dirt and concrete just enough to build a subdivision and now people houses are sinking and he owes the government and homeowners almost five million dollars."

I looked at Cole in shock. "I think you got the wrong person. I can't see Greg involved in something like that. He's a good guy."

Cole pulled out his phone and showed me pictures of people houses almost collapsing. I watched in horror as people's life savings on their dream homes were worth nothing.

"Come with me Jules. Let my friend handle this. I don't know what I would do if something ever happened to you."

"Nothing is going to happen. You are freaking paranoid just like the homeless lady. Look, if I think something suspicious is going on, I will ask him."

"Don't confront him and you shouldn't be here alone. Just come with me and I will protect you."

"I'm not going with you Cole."

"Alright at least go to your parent's house and stay."

"I'm staying here. This is my home."

"Jules..."

"I'm staying Cole. It's time for you to leave."

"Fine! Any sign of trouble call me," he said standing up. He walked to the door and turned back.

"I love you Jules and I always will." He kissed me on the forehead and left. I stood there in silence for a moment as my mind tried to process everything. I set the alarm, cleaned the kitchen and headed upstairs to bed. I tossed and turned thinking about our conversation but finally nodded off.

Around two am I felt a presence in my room. I looked up and saw a figure above me. The moonlight showed something silver in the air so I screamed as a hand covered my mouth. I fought scratching and clawing until I fell out the bed.

"Please don't hurt me. I have money in the nightstand and jewelry too, just don't hurt me." I was begging for my life.

The figure came closer and I jumped up trying to open the door but it was locked. The person grabbed me by my waist and flung me to the other side of the room. I was in pain but I had to fight. I lounged knocking him down. He yelped as I looked down at his face.

"Greg?!"

I ran to the bathroom but he knocked me down to the marble floor where something cracked inside my jaw. He drugged me back to the bedroom where I grabbed on to the leg of the bed holding on. Pain shot through my arm as the knife went through it again and again until I let go and screamed.

"Greg don't do this!"

He got on top of me holding me down with his weight and began punching me. With the little strength I had left I was able to push him over.

I was crying, how could he do this? I felt pain everywhere. I managed to make it to the door but another grind of metal scissored near my spine. As I turned, the shiny blade came down again and again. My internal screams vibrated through my body as I heard his breathing and mine slowly ceased.

"No...pleaseee," I whispered as the blade sliced through my neck from one side to the other and my life ceased to exist.