After the Second Sunrise

---- Chapter 5 In a fit of rage, Chester hurled his phone at Juliana's feet, the screen shattering on impact. The transaction records, however, were clear in Juliana's eyes: the payoffs she had sent to the gamblers. Juliana's face went ghostly white, rooted to the spot in terror. "Couldn't you see your sister's life was at stake?" Chester's fury was on the verge of eclipsing his sanity, his eyes piercing Juliana with a chilling ferocity. Juliana burst into tears, her sobs heavy as they splashed onto his hand.

"It's not like that..." Seth's brow furrowed as he wrapped Juliana in a protective hug. "Chester, back off! Why are you attacking Juliana? She's done nothing wrong!" Chester scoffed, his fist bloodied, "Nothing wrong? Juliana, with 1.5 billion dollars in your bank, why ---- didn't you settle the gambling debts? This whole mess is just a sick game you've been playing, right?" Juliana's eyes flickered with fear. "I... | don't know what you're talking about. That money... It's from investments, unrelated to any bets..." "Unrelated?" Chester closed in, his voice menacing.

" Then explain the transfers to those gamblers? You rigged the game, pretended to lose, and used Tania as a pawn. Now she's dead because of you! "Juliana, | never knew you could be so cruel." Seth's face was etched with disbelief. He glanced at his phone, the transfer records making it clear he had been an unwitting accomplice. Juliana, once so familiar, seemed like a stranger. "Is Chester telling the truth, Juliana?" Tears streamed down Juliana's face as she shook her head desperately, pleading, "Seth, we've known each other since we were kids.

I'd never manipulate you." In a sudden move, Chester's grip tightened on ---- Juliana's wrist, his fingers like a vice. "You killed Tania!" He never should have listened to Seth and Juliana. Once again, he chose Juliana, and | was the one left cornered. Juliana was shaking like a leaf, the threat in his eyes scaring her witless. "It's not what you think, Chester," she stammered. "I was just so mad about what she said, | wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine.

"If you don't believe me, I'll pay with my life, just please believe me." She moved as if to crash into the wall, but Chester's reflexes kicked in, and he caught her. "| could die right now, but you can't drag my name through the mud!" Juliana curled up in Chester's arms, looking utterly vulnerable. Seeing her so helpless, Chester was reminded of the sweet, well-behaved Juliana from their childhood, and his anger flickered out for a second. ---- His face was a mask of mixed emotions. Seth seemed touched too, almost talking himself into it. "Chester, maybe we got Juliana all wrong.

She's not like that..." Chester was quiet for a beat, then let go of Juliana's wrist, his tone easing up. "I was too hasty." Juliana held back a surge of glee, snuggling into Chester's chest, a sly smile playing on her lips. Chester lifted a hand, his touch gentle as he wiped her tears away, but his fingertips were icy, "Head back. I'll get to the bottom of this." With that, he strode out of the casino first. Juliana felt a jolt of fear, a creeping dread rising from deep within.