Chapter 41
The atmosphere in the living room grew quiet.
As Rebekah silently packed her luggage, she noticed Jensen take out a sheet of drawing paper and spread it on the table.
When he looked at her, the harshness in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a hint of softness as he looked down.
He raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the paper. “Giving up this easily isn’t your style. Want to try p>
Rebekah’s gaze met his.
He stood in the center of the living room, the overhead light casting shadows across his sharp features. An inexplicable feeling stirred within her as she looked up at him.
Was he… encouraging her?
After a moment’s hesitation, she sat down at the table and picked up a pencil.
The instant she touched it to the paper, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through her wrist, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
The pain dragged her back to the darkness of her prison cell.
Her hand began to tremble as she remembered that night. The other inmates, jealous that she could read and write, had been led by the cell block leader to hold her down and beat her mercilessly. They muffled her screams with a blanket to keep the guards from hearing.
Then, they used a shard of a broken mirror to sever the tendons in her hand and ankle.
It was a torment she would never forget, a pain inflicted upon her by her own husband and son. The very father and son who had once scorned her artwork had destroyed her life to pave the way for Candice.
Rebekah’s hand trembled more violently.
Just as she was about to drop the pencil, a large, warm hand suddenly covered hers. Guided by his steady, firm grip, the lines on the paper grew smooth and fluid. His warm breath tickled her ear, carrying with it a faint, clean scent that was uniquely his.
“Don’t be afraid.” He spoke with a clear, forceful tone that pulled her out of the suffocating memory. His voice was gentle, yet the words carried an undeniable strength that left no room for argument.
Rebekah turned to look at him, her eyes meeting his as he gazed down. In their dark, ink-black depths, she saw a raw obsession she had never witnessed before —an emotion he hadn’t managed to conceal in time.
She suddenly realized that he wasn’t always the mild-mannered man he appeared to be. At times, he was incredibly assertive, possessing an aura of command that was impossible to ignore.
“What’s wrong?” Jensen asked, his eyes still fixed on her.
They were so close she could smell the sweet fragrance of her hair. His gaze darkened, a dangerous glint hiding in their depths.
A faint blush colored Rebekah’s cheeks. She quickly turned away and stood up, putting some distance between them. As the warmth of her presence faded, a chill crept into Jensen’s heart.
“I promise,” she said, placing the pencil in a nearby suitcase. “I’ll try p>
Jensen raised an eyebrow, his expressive eyes tracking her every move. In a place she couldn’t see, the possessive look in his gaze was completely undisguised.
“Good,” he said softly. “Then I’ll be waiting, Rebekah p>
The next day, Rebekah was ready to
leave for the Forrester Family Estate with her suitcase. Jensen offered
drive her, but she refused, sayin I would see
she was afraid Benjamin would see him and cause trouble. She didn’t want to drag him into her mess.
Seeing her insistence, Jensen didn’t push.
But as soon as she was gone, he made a call.
“It’s time to set the plan in motion p>
It was a rainy day, and the damp weather made the old injury in her leg ache.
After getting out of the taxi, she limped toward the villa’s entrance, biting back the pain. She had run from the cab without an umbrella, but the fine mist had still managed to soak through her clothes. The pain in her ankle intensified, and a cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
The villa door was closed. She rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Then she started knocking.
“Hello? Is anyone there? The butler? Please open the door p>
She knocked for a long time without a response, even though she could clearly
hear music from inside. Someone had to be home.
Just as confusion set in, she heard Shawn’s voice from within.
“Aunt Candice, you’re such a beautiful dancer! Way better than my mom. Dad
always says you move like a prima ballerina. When you become my new mom, all my friends at school will be so jealous p>
Shawn was doing it on purpose. He
had heard Rebekah’s knocking. But
he was still angry about how she
ет
had been ignoring him these past few days. She was just a useless cripple, yet she acted so entitled, always causing trouble for him and his dad. She’d gotten Great-grandpa sick and even made Aunt Candice apologize to Dad for her.
She was a wicked woman. She didn’t deserve to be his mother.
He wasn’t going to open the door for her.
Candice glanced toward the front door, a smirk playing on her lips. She raised her voice intentionally. “Benjamin, who do you think is the better dancer? Me or my sister p>
Benjamin’s eyes were locked on Candice, his heart fluttering. “You, of course,” he answered without hesitation.
Shawn chimed in loudly, “Aunt Candice, you’re the best dancer ever! My mom can barely even walk properly now. How could she possibly compare to you p>
He wanted to make sure Rebekah heard every word. He needed her to know she was no longer worthy of being his mother.
Candice smiled sweetly and stroked Shawn’s cheek. “You have such good taste, Shawn p>
Outside, Rebekah listened as their words, like the cold rain, hammered against her heart, chilling her to the bone.
She pressed her lips together and knocked again. “Shawn, open the door p>
Silence from within. Or rather, a deliberate refusal to answer.
The wind picked up, driving the rain sideways under the eaves and drenching her completely. A deep, penetrating cold seized her, starting from her skin and seeping into her soul.
She stopped knocking. Inside, the sounds of their happy little family continued unabated. Shawn’s words grew crueler, each one a fresh jab at his own mother while heaping praise on Candice and begging her to take Rebekah’s place. The pain in her leg became unbearable. Soaked and shivering, she didn’t know how long she stood there before dizziness washed over her. Finally, her body gave out, and she collapsed, losing consciousness.