LM
CHAPTERS 933 - 938
933
"Andrew, what I am, has nothing to do with you!" Janell Joy Carter glared at him, opened the door and got out of the car.
Ignoring the snow that was still falling from the sky, she walked to the big rock nearby and sat down, looking at the falling snow in the distance.
"We are both from the same family. We share the same parents! How could you say that your matters have nothing to do with me?"
Andrew Carter also got out of the car. He walked to Janell Joy and sat down beside her. Then he stretched out his hand and patted her on the shoulder. "Janell, have you ever heard of this story?"
"I don't want to listen to your story." Since they were little, the stories Andrew told her were all very gory stories. She was frightened twice when she was a child, and from there, she never wanted to hear him tell a story again.
Janell Joy didn't want to listen, but Andrew didn't shut up, instead he continued, "People often say that when a girl chooses her partner,she will rather choose a man who loves her more, instead of a man whom she loves more. Otherwise, she will definitely suffer in the future."
"Andrew, don't talk nonsense in front of me. Let me tell you, Brother Lucas loves me very much. He isn‘t like what you think." Andrew didn't refer to anyone, but Janell Joy instinctively placed Brother Lucas in that circumstance. All because she had too much uncertainties about their relationship.
She believed that Nathaniel Cooper loved her and cared for her very much, but she felt that he had too many people and matters in his heart. Therefore, he could not love her with all his heart. Yet what she wanted was his whole heart.
"Did I say that he doesn't care for you?" Andrew chuckled and said, "Janell, you were rushing to explain on his behalf, which proves that you are not confident about it too."
Janell Joy said, 'I..."
It certainly didn't feel good having her weakness pointed out. She had the urge to kick him down the cliff, so that no one could see through her thoughts.
Andrew followed Janell Joy and looked into the distance. He let out a long sigh and said, "Janell, can you be sure of the feelings both you and Nathaniel have for each other?"
Janell Joy was stunned. She withdrew her gaze and looked at him. "Andrew, just say what you wanted to say. Otherwise, I don't know what you are talking about."
Andrew smiled and said, "You're so smart. How can you not understand what I'm trying to say? Don't avoid it anymore. Just face it."
Yes, she knew what Andrew wanted to say, that‘s why she tried to avoid the subject and pretended not to understand.
Because Andrew's question hit the bull's eye on the matter she was most afraid and worried about. She was afraid that Brother Lucas doted on her because he still regarded her as the three year-old child that she used to be. She was worried that he loved her like a sister more than lover.
What about her?
Sometimes she would wonder whether she was just dependent on Brother Lucas, or did she really fall in love with him?
She would wonder whether she really wanted to be Brother Lucas's life partner or she just needed the big boy who could protect her when she was a child.
Knowing that Janell Joy's heart was in a mess, Andrew continued to say, "Janell, think about your feelings for him carefully."
"I want to marry him and be his wife," Janell Joy gritted her teeth and said with conviction.
She had thought of marrying Brother Lucas and staying with him forever since she was a child. It was also her purpose of coming all the way here to find him.
Now she had found Brother Lucas and planned to surrender herself to him, yet she became hesitant and uncertain.
Andrew added, "You don't have to emphasize it to me. Feel your heart and ask yourself. It's more important to convince yourself than to convince others."
"Andrew, if you are really so idle, help Dad with his work. For a man, working hard is more attractive than gossiping about others every day." Janell Joy didn't want to expose her true feelings in front of Andrew, so she changed the subject.
Andrew smiled and said nothing more. He sat with Janell Joy quietly at the edge of the cliff and watched the white snowflakes flying everywhere in the sky.
When they arrived, it was already getting dark. After sitting here for a while, the sky had completely turned dark. Without the light from the car, they would not be able to see anything around them.
However, in such an environment, Janell Joy did not say that she wanted to go back, and Andrew did not urge her either. He just sat beside her and accompanied her. He was willing to do so even if it would be for a lifetime.
The sudden ringing of the mobile phone broke the silence in the mountains.
Although she felt wronged and depressed, Janell Joy still took out her mobile phone and answered, "Hello..."
The person on the other end of the phone did not speak.
Because the person on the other end did not speak, Janell Joy took away her mobile phone and looked at the phone number. After making sure that it was Brother Lucas's number, she asked again, "Brother Lucas, is that you?"
There was still no answer from the other end of the phone.
Not long ago, he asked her to stay away from him and to not let him hear her voice again. At this moment, he called her but did not speak. What on earth did he want?
The grievance in her heart continued to brew, and in the end, it expanded until Janell Joy could no longer suppress it. The pent up grievances turned into anger.
She shouted at the phone, "Nathaniel, why are you not talking?"
The person on the other side of the phone still didn't say a word.
Janell Joy was waiting for him to speak. However, after waiting for a long time, she still did not get what she wanted. She bit her lip hard and said, "Nathaniel, I don't want to live such an obscure life with you anymore. Let's break up."
"Break up?" The person on the other end of the phone finally spoke. His voice was cold, like a demon‘s voice from the depths of hell.
"Yes! Break up! I don't want to like you anymore! Never again!" After that, Janell Joy hung up the phone abruptly.
It didn‘t matter whether she was childish or not. Anyway, she just didn't want to feel wronged and hold back her feelings anymore.
Hanging up, the call out off the contact
between the two of them. As she watched her screen dim out, Janell Joy felt a surge of emotions. She was on the verge of crying.
Janell Joy raised her hand and threw her phone down the cliff. She tilted her head and forced back the tears. "Janell Joy! Why are you crying? He's just a man. Is he worth crying for?" She spoke to herself.
Andrew said, "Why are you crying so hard if he's not worth it?"
Janell Joy shouted at him, "It's none of your business."
Andrew took a piece of tissue and helped her wipe her tears. "If I don't care about you, are you going to sit here in the cold for the whole night?"
Janell Joy was speechless.
Andrew forcibly pulled Janell Joy up and patted away the snow on her head and back. "Come, let's go back. No matter what, we can't take our own health for granted."
Yes, Andrew was right. Her life was given to her by her parents. How could she mistreat herself because of a man?
However, just when she turned back, she saw a tall figure standing behind them.
934
He just stood there. The white snow flakes fell on his body, but he didn't move at all. His eyes fell on her, and he realized that he was glued to her, they were unable to shake each other off.
If they were to be separated forcibly, they had to first destroy the glue between them, and this would mean great harm to both of them.
Nathaniel Cooper and Janell Joy Carter looked at each other. Their gazes intertwined in the mid air, but no one spoke.
Janell Joy secretly hid her hands behind her back and pinched herself hard. Only then could she control the urge to throw herself into his arms and hold him tightly.
He had asked her to stay away from him and told her not to let him hear her voice again. So, she had to oblige. She was definitely not going to wait for him to push her away from him.
She obviously wanted to give him a cold look and tell him with practical actions that she would no longer like him. But her eyes had deceived her. She could not move her eyes away from his.
Andrew Carter also spotted the man who shouldn't have come, but he ignored him. He pulled Janell Joy forcibly to his side and said, "Janell, there's sleet on the ground, it's slippery, walk slowly."
"0h..." Janell Joy lowered her head and tried to escape to hide her emotions. She pretended not to see Nathaniel and was leaving with Andrew.
However, before she could move away, Nathaniel took two steps forward, grabbed her wrist, and tried to pull her back into his arms.
Nathaniel was fast, but Andrew was not slow either. He also held Janell Joy's hand and did not let her go. He said coldly, "Nathaniel, let go of your dirty hand, don't touch her!"
"You should be the one to let go!" Nathaniel held Janell Joy's wrist with one hand and launched his fist towards Andrew with the other hand.
Andrew didn't expect Nathaniel to attack him. When he reacted, he could already feel Nathaniel's fist heading towards him. He turned his face sideways to avoid the punch, merely missing Nathaniel's fist.
In the scuffle, Andrew held Janell Joy's wrist tightly as if he was protecting a precious treasure. He couldn't allow others to take her away from him. "Nathaniel, you broke her heart. How dare you take her away?"
Nathaniel was stunned. Did he break her heart?
When he came out of the bathroom after a cold shower, he found that Janell Joy was missing. After asking the guards outside, he knew that she had left alone. He then asked the person he had sent to protect her, and found out that she had left with Andrew.
He was angry because he knew that she had left with Andrew. When he arrived here and saw them together, he was even more furious.
No man could remain calm when he saw his beloved girl alone with another man, especially when that man had inordinate feelings for her. Therefore, he neglected the very reason why she left the North Palace.
At this time, after Andrew brought it up, Nathaniel had a rough idea, but he still didn't give much thought about it. This was because his attention was still on Janell Joy's mention of breaking up with him.
Two tall and strong men, one on the left and the other on the right, both holding Janell Joy's left and right wrists tightly. No one was willing to let go of her hand nor let her throw herself into the arms of the other man.
The two men looked at each other and the atmosphere grew more intense. They threw their punches at the same time, both dying to smash each other into pieces.
This time, the two of them punched simultaneously. When their fists met, neither of them had the upper hand.
Before Andrew could react, Nathaniel attacked again. This time, he moved faster and his punch landed on Andrew's face.
Andrew suffered the punch. His face darkened and his eyes flashed with a cold murderous intent. He lifted his leg and kicked at Nathaniel. But Nathaniel turned sideways and successfully dodged the attack.
After Nathaniel successfully dodged the attack, he immediately punched back. When he was about to hit Andrew, Andrew didn’t dodge this time. Instead, a smirk crept over the corner of his mouth.
Because when Andrew was about to dodge, there was a person who was faster than him.
Janell Joy stood in front of Andrew in a fiash.
If Nathaniel landed his fist, the person who would be injured this time would not be Andrew, but Janell Joy.
Seeing that the fist was about to land on Janell Joy's face, at the most critical moment, Nathaniel retrieved his fist in time.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Janell Joy's delicate and flawless face with complicated emotions.
The lovely, nifty and sensible girl... her various expressions flashed before Nathaniel‘s eyes, but he had never seen this face that she had at the moment, a cold face looking at him.
While Nathaniel was staring at Janell Joy, Andrew swung his fist and hit Nathaniel's on the chest heavily.
Nathaniel could have dodged it, but he didn't. He continued to look at Janell Joy and smiled. "Janell, are you contented now?"
Nathaniel didn't expect Janell Joy to block his fist for Andrew. The bitterness in his heart was more painful than being punched a hundred times.
If she wanted to protect Andrew, then Nathaniel would not touch the person she wanted to protect anymore. She wanted him to get injured, then he would gladly oblige.
If this could satisfy her and calm her down, it didn't matter how many punches he would take.
As long as she was happy!
Seeing that Nathaniel was injured, Janell Joy felt a squeeze in her heart. However, she bit her lip and did not speak.
What did he mean by that? How could she be contented with this? Did he really understand her? If he didn't understand her, why would he assume what she was feeling?
Andrew hated Nathaniel so much that he wanted him to disappear from this world.
Today, he finally had a chance to teach him a lesson and he didn't want to miss it. Andrew threw another punch at Nathaniel, this time aiming at Nathaniel's face, the same place where Nathaniel had punched him just now.
Andrew was speedy and Nathaniel didn't want to dodge it. At the same time, Janell Joy was still being misunderstood by Nathaniel and didn’t stop Andrew in time. Therefore, Nathaniel once again took the hit on his face from Andrew's punch.
Nathaniel was still smiling after being punched. He did not look at the person who punched him, but stared at Janell Joy and said, "What I did to him, he had returned the favour. Are you satisfied now? If you are not satisfied, let him hit me again until you are happy."
"Nathaniel, you bastard!" Janell Joy was angry and distressed. She was angry that he had never understood her true feelings, yet she was distressed that he was injured.
Nathaniel reached out and wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes. "Janell, don't cry. If you are not satisfied, let him continue to hit me. Let him beat me up until you stop crying, until you are satisfied."
"Nathaniel, why do you want to do this? Why do you want to make me sad?" He clearly knew that she didn't want him to get hurt, why would he hurt her in this way?
935
"Janell, how can I bear to make you sad?" Nathaniel Cooper was most afraid of Janell Joy Carter's tears.All he really wanted was to hold her in his arms and spoil her, to see her being happy and carefree always.
"You're obviously making me sad. I've told you not to let yourself get hurt again. You should take good care of yourself, but you just don't want to listen to me. In short, you just don't care about me because you never take my words to heart." Janell Joy wiped away her tears. She bit her lips, turned around and was about to leave. "Nathaniel, from now on, your matters have nothing to do with me anymore."
"Janell..." Nathaniel grabbed her again and quickly hugged Janell Joy in his arms. "I'm your Brother Lucas, and you're my Janell. How can I have nothing to do with you?"
Janell Joy struggled, "That's what it's going to be like from now on. I have nothing to do with you and you have nothing to do with me. There will be nothing between us. I will go back to New York and never see you again."
Janell Joy said these words because she was angry with him. She waited for him to come. She thought that he should realize the grievances in her heart, but he didn't understand. He even hurt himself and said things that made her sad.
Nathaniel's face fell, and his dark eyes smoldered in anger. "Janell, so whatever you say is right? What do you take me for?"
He was still yelling at her! He didn't even know what his mistake was, yet he was yelling at her!
Janell Joy bit her lip hard and said, "You're the President of Country A. I'm just a commoner and I can't be with you. We'll just go our separate ways from now on."
"Go our separate ways?" Nathaniel grabbed her hand and said in a low voice that was almost hoarse, "Janell, let me tell you this, you can never escape from me for the rest of your life!"
If he didn't show his power, did she take him for a weakling? She was teasing him, wanting him to let her know that there were many more facades to the Brother Lucas she knew.
Nathaniel's deep and hoarse voice made Janell Joy's heart shrink unwillingly. Her heart ached so much that she panicked and could not find a word to refute momentarily.
Seeing that Janell Joy was convinced by Nathaniel's words just like that, Andrew Carter immediately interrupted, "Nathaniel, what's the point of saying so much nonsense? If you really like her and really want to be with her, you shouldn't let her be with you so obscureiy. You said that your engagement with Serene Silas was just a contract. There is no love between you two, but does your people know about this?"
Nathaniel couldn't find his words. Because his people didn't know the truth, so he had to break off the relationship with Serene and then announce his relationship with Janell Joy. In other people's eyes, Janell Joy would be regarded as a homewrecker, a mistress.
Therefore, he could not rush to cancel the engagement with Serene and announce Janell Joy's identity. He needed to come up with the perfect plan. Otherwise, any mistake would make Janell Joy become the criticism of the people.
Nathaniel would absolutely not allow that to happen. So he was waiting for the right time and the right opportunity to do it.
When the time is ripe, he would make Janell Joy his rightful bride and receive the blessings from everyone.
Nathaniel did not speak. Andrew naturally thought that he felt guilty and said, "Nathaniel, your people doesn't know your true relationship with Serene. But once you publicly announced the cancellation of the engagement with Serene, what will those people think of the woman standing by your side? I believe that you should know very well without me telling you."
He continued, "Nathaniel, if you really love Janell, please think more to protect her interests. Don't let her feel wronged, let her continue to be a happy girl, instead of leading an anxious life by your side."
After listening to Andrew's words, Nathaniel curved his lips and a faint smile crept over his face. "I will take care of the matter between us. You don't need to worry about it."
Andrew sneered and said, "Janell is a part of the Carter family. My parents have asked me to take care of her. Of course, I will worry about her."
"If you really regard yourself as her brother, I will welcome you to worry about her, but for now, I am enough for her." Nathaniel left with these words, ignored Janell Joy's struggle and carried her on his shoulder, then he turned around and left.
After taking two steps, he felt a gust of wind behind him. Nathaniel did not need to see to know that Andrew would not let him leave that easily. He dodged and turned his head to look at Andrew. "Andrew, you are no match for me."
Before that, he willingly took the punches from Andrew twice because he wanted Janell Joy to worry about him. That way, she would return to his arms obediently.
But when he actually saw her worrying about him, his heart ached. Therefore, he would not let anyone hurt him again, nor would he let Andrew touch him.
Andrew was also assessing Nathaniel's real strengths, so he launched another attack.
After several attempts, Andrew knew that he was indeed no match for Nathaniel because he couldn't even touch Nathaniel even though he was carrying Janell Joy.
The outcome was obvious so Andrew stopped trying to attack him physically, but resorted to using his words, "Janell, are you really going to go with this man?"
Janell Joy struggled and said, "Nathanie|, put me down."
When Janell Joy said this, she did not expect Nathaniel would really release her. Andrew also did not put much hope that Nathaniel would let go of Janell Joy at all. However, Nathaniel went beyond everyone's expectation. He put Janell Joy on the ground.
Janell Joy had just found her footing when Nathaniel grabbed the back of her head and pulled her towards him. He lowered his head and kissed her madly.
"Mm..." Janell Joy stared at him with her eyes wide open. She could see his enlarged handsome face, his long eyelashes, and how he was kissing her so earnestly and domineeringly.
She had never thought of really ignoring him. She didn't know how to attract his attention, so she thought of this childish way with her close-to-zero experience in relationship
Nathaniel kissed her as if there was no one else around, and she responded to his kiss the same way. After a long time, he let go of her and said in a hoarse voice, "Janell, if you break up with me again when you are angry next time, I will teach you a good lesson."
Janell Joy couldn't refute.
Nathaniel caressed her lips and said softly, "Do you know your mistake?"
Janell Joy shook her head.
Nathaniel raised his eyebrows. "You really don‘t know what your mistake was?"
Janell Joy still shook her head and said, "I did nothing wrong. I just want to know what kind of affection you have for me when you say you like me. Do you like me as my three year old self, or do you like the me now?"
Ultimately, this was the key to Janell
Joy's struggles.
She was both the child back then and her current self. No matter which one Nathaniel liked, she was herself. However,she needed to understand what kind of affection Nathaniel had towards her.
936
Before she figured this problem out, Janell Joy Carter couldn't feel at ease.
Hearing her question, Nathaniel Cooper laughed in a deep, low voice. Janell Joy pursed her lips. "What are you laughing at?"
What was so funny about her question? Could he be more serious?
Nathaniel kissed her again in his arms and said with a smile, "I am already kissing you like this. Who do you think I like? What kind of affection do you think I have for you?"
Janell Joy said sullenly, "How would I know if you don't tell me?"
Nathaniel held her hand in one hand and stroked her hair in front of her forehead with the other hand. Then he said, "My silly girl, I don't like you."
He didn't like her!
Janell Joy's heart sank as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. However. she then heard him say, "l don't like you, but I love you."
He loved her?
Janell Joy looked at him blankly. He said again, "l love you! I love the person who is standing in front of me. This is romantic love, between a man and a woman."
He loved her as a woman, not the love between a big brother and a little girl, which was what she had thought of.
Joy slowly crept across Janell Joy's face, and she smiled.
She wanted to scream at the valley and tell everyone that Brother Lucas had finally reciprocated her love.
She looked beautiful when she smiled. Her eyebrows were curved, and her eyes twinkled like millions of stars.
In Nathaniel's eyes, no one in the world could be as beautiful as his Janell when she smiled. When she smiled, everything else seemed to lose its colour.
Nathaniel rubbed her head, and then kissed her dainty head. "My silly girl, do you understand now?"
Janell Joy lowered her head with a red face and whispered like a child who had done something wrong, "Brother Lucas, I understand now. I won't make the same mistake again."
Nathaniel held her in his arms and patted her back gently. "Okay, good girl!"
Janell Joy snuggled in his arms and rubbed her dainty head against his chest.
Brother Lucas's embrace was still as warm. She nestled in his embrace. No matter how big the snow storm was, it felt like nothing to them.
The wind was still blowing, and the snow was getting heavier. However, Janell Joy didn't see all that. In her world now, she only saw bright sunshine and Brother Lucas who loved her.
Once again, Andrew Carter watched helplessly as Janell Joy was taken away by Nathaniel. Andrew clenched his fists so hard that the blue veins on his fists could be seen clearly.
It wouldn't take long.
……….
It was snowing heavily outside but inside the house, the heater was turned on. The temperature was rather high, so it warm even if one was just wearing thin clothing.
Serene Silas, who was wearing a set of pale blue lounge wear, knocked gently on the door of Jackie Leves‘ office with a cup of hot tea in her hand. After a few knocks, she finally heard him say, "Come in."
She opened the door and walked into the room with the cup of tea after getting his consent. Then she walked to Jackie's desk cautiously.
She walked so cautiously that she didn't even make a sound, for fear that she would disturb Jackie while he was working.
Jackie put down the work in his hand and looked up at her. When he noticed her cautious demeanor, he couldn't help frowning and said, "Are you still afraid of me?"
Hearing his words, Serene's hand which was holding the cup paused slightly, the cup in her hand almost slipped. But she pretended to be calm and denied, "How could that be?"
She didn't dare look at him straight in the eyes. When he looked at her, she would always avoid any eye contact. Only when he wasn't paying attention, then she would observe him quietly. Jackie knew all about this, but he didn't expose her.
The way he had hurt her, it was normal for her to be afraid of him. However, he still couldn't help but want to get close to her, hold her in his arms, and claim her in the most intimate way.
When Serene handed him the cup of tea, Jackie wanted to hold her hand, but she withdrew her hands immediately the moment he touched her fingertip. She stuttered, "Jackie, l, I... I'm not."
"Serene, I'm sorry!" He knew that she was still afraid of him and very resistant towards him. He shouldn't be so eager to touch her.
In her heart, she didn't resist his touch, but it was her body that responded. Every time he hugged her, she would tremble with fear.
When she heard him say sorry, she didn't know how to respond. She lowered her head and said nothing.
"Go about your business. You don't have to serve me all these drinks." She was afraid of his touch, so he didn't force her. He had to bear the consequences of his actions.
"I cooked the meal myself. Do you want to taste it together?" She looked at him and asked very carefully. She was afraid that he would refuse her because he was angry with her.
"OK," Jackie nodded. "You go ahead first. I'll come after I'm done with my work."
She stood motionless.
Jackie put down the work in his hand immediately and got up. "Let's go. I'll go with you.
He walked towards her, and she stepped back instantly to keep a distance from him.
Serene wanted to get close to him, but she couldn't control herself from rejecting him. She couldn't change this contradictory psychology in a short time.
They used to be the closest lovers. They were madly in love with each other, but now...
While she was deep in thoughts, Jackie suddenly held her hand. Serene instinctively wanted to pull out her hand, but at the same time, she yearned for the warmth of his palm. She was reluctant to retract her hand and wanted them to remain like this forever.
"Serene..." Jackie called her name in a deep voice.
"Hmm?" Hearing him calling her name, she tilted her head slightly to look at him. "What’s wrong?"
Jackie stood still and raised his hand to hold her head. Just as he was about to touch her, he stopped and didn't proceed further.
He smiled bitterly and said, "Let's go and eat." Serene nodded. "Okay."
He held her hand tightly as if he was holding his most important treasure.
She used to be his most important treasure. She was the apple of his eyes.
Thinking of this, Serene's body relaxed, and her heart slowly moved closer to him.
Because of a misunderstanding, he had hurt her. However, the torment was really not that important compared to losing him.
She added, "I made your favorite steak."
He said, "You still remember?"
Serene nodded and said, "Of course. It's just that I haven't mastered my cooking skills. I hope you won't complain about my cooking."
Jackie smiled and said, "How could that be? Even if you gave me poison, I'll eat it without hesitation."
Hearing his words, Serene's face changed slightly. She pulled out her hand and took two steps back anxiously to distance herself from him.
"What's wrong?" Jackie did not realize that he had said something wrong.
"I won't! How could I hurt you!" Serene shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I will never do that!"
937
"I know! I've misunderstood you." Jackie Leves stretched out his hand, in an attempt to grab Serene Silas, but she stepped back again to prevent him from touching her.
Serene's face was pale. She tried to extend her hand to Jackie, but she could not bring herself to take the first step.
Indeed, it wasn't that she did not want to get close to Jackie. But the trauma that Jackie had caused her was so severe that it was impossible for her to face him again in such a short time like how she had used to.
She opened her mouth and wanted to explain, but she didn't know how to. So she lowered her head and bit her lip tightly.
"Serene..." Jackie called her.
"Hmm?" She still didn't want to raise her head and look at him. She was trying to avoid him.
"Let's go. Let's go and eat." Jackie gave up the idea of wanting to hold her hand, put down his hand and walked ahead of Serene towards the dining room. However, he would pay close attention to Serene, who was two steps behind him, to see if she was following him or not.
Although he did not have eyes at the back of his head and he could not see her, he could feel that when he wasn't looking at her, her eyes were on him.
These days, she would always look at him like this. Only when he didn't look at her, she would look at him boldly, as if she was assessing a stranger whom she had never met before.
Perhaps, she was still not very sure whether he was her Jackie or not.
Perhaps it was because he had hurt her so greatly in the past that she would no longer be able to love him like how she used to.
Thinking that she might not accept him anymore, Jackie's heart sank and his steps became heavier. At this moment, he wanted to turn around and pull her into his arms. But he couldn't do it because he would scare her.
In this life, he mustn't hurt her anymore, and he couldn't let her be afraid anymore.
He was the one who told her that he would protect her and would never let anyone hurt her. However, he was also the person who had really hurt her.
The two of them were eating sullenly at the dining table. No one opened their mouths to break the silence until the both of them simultaneously picked up the same piece of meat.
Serene quickly retracted her fork and said, "Um, I'm full... You can continue eating."
She only ate two mouthfuls of pasta, and left the food on the plate mostly untouched. She also didn't eat much of the meat. How could she be full?
Jackie put some meat onto her plate and said, “Eat some more with me."
"Oh, okay." Serene nodded and picked up the fork and took another two mouthfuls of pasta, but she didn't eat the meat that he gave her.
"Have some vegetables." Jackie put some vegetables onto her plate.
"Oh, okay." Serene nodded obediently again, and then picked up the vegetables that he gave her and put it into her mouth. She was so obedient that she looked like a puppet at the mercy of others.
Seeing her like this, Jackie was both angry and annoyed. He put down his cutlery and said, "Is it really so hard to eat with me?"
Serene shook her head.
Jackie sighed and said, "Then eat properly, have a proper meal with me."
"Okay." Serene nodded her head, straightened her body, picked up some vegetables and put them into her mouth. Then she ate another two mouthfuls of pasta.
After ensuring that she was eating properly, Jackie then picked up the cutlery again.
He took a piece of the meat that she cooked and put it in his mouth.
Serene knew that Jackie liked to eat meat, especially steak. In the past, the cook in the Leves family was particularly good at making this dish.
She had also learned how to grill the steak from the cook, but she was unsure if she was untalented or just stupid, because the steak that she made was never delicious.
In order to prepare this dish today, she had been secretly practicing her cooking skills for a few days. After wasting a few pieces of steaks, she thought that this one in front of her was not too bad.
When Serene saw how Jackie devoured on the piece of steak in one bite, she couldn't help but to reach out to cut him some more. "If it's nice, you should eat more."
"It's very tasty." Jackie looked at her and saw that her pale face was finally stained with a blush. He was suddenly in a good mood and ate two more pieces. "It's fatty but not greasy. You could pass as a professional chef soon."
"If you like it, I will cook it for you more often in the future." Serene had said the exact words before, but at that time, she was not as cautious as she was now. Back then, she had always said it in a flirtatious tone.
"Okay." Jackie could vaguely see the former Serene before him.
The background of the Silas family was very complicated and Serene's parents had passed away when she was very young. So, she only grew up with her grandfather and was an outcast in the Silas family.
At a very young age, she had learned how to hide her true emotions. Only when she was in front of him, she would show her true side. Only when she was with him, he would see a happy and carefree Serene.
But now, even when she was facing him, he could hardly see her real happy expression anymore.
After this conversation, the two of them did not speak again. The dining room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Ring... A phone call broke the silence.
It was Serene's phone ringing.
She smiled apologetically at Jackie and went to grab her phone. When she picked up the phone, she noticed that it was an unknown number. She didn't feel like answering it, but she was afraid that she would miss anything important, so she answered the phone politely, "Hello!"
"Serene, is that you?" A male voice came from the phone, it was a voice that Serene was very familiar with.
"Who are you?" This voice shocked and scared Serene. It sent her into a panic mode. She couldn't help but look up at the man who was sitting in front of her.
Jackie was sitting in front of her. "It's me," said the man again.
"Who exactly are you?" Serene was afraid. But she tried her best to control herself and suppress her fear. However, the hand that was holding the phone began to tremble uncontrollably. The trembling intensified rapidly.
"Serene, what's wrong?" Jackie saw her face had turned pale and reached out to grab her phone. However, Serene was startled and moved away from Jackie.
Her beautiful eyes looked at him with vigilance. "Tell me, who exactly are you?"
She was asking, but she didn't know if she was asking the person on the phone or the Jackie who was in front of her.
Jackie sensed something and tried to approach her to grab her phone. He wanted to know who the person on the other end of the phone was.
Why was she so scared all of a sudden?
However, as soon as he stepped forward, Serene immediately retreated.
"Serene, don't be afraid! Give me your phone. No matter what happens, let me deal with it, okay?" Seeing Serene's horrified and wary look, Jackie did not approach her again in an attempt to let her put down her guard against him first.
Serene shook her head and stepped back, screaming, "No matter who you are, don't come close to me, stay away from me."
Jackie was flustered. "Serene, what's going on?"
At the same time, the familiar male voice came from the phone. "Serene, it's me. Don't you recognize my voice anymore?"
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Serene, it's me. Don't you recognize my voice anymore?
The impact of this sentence on Serene Silas was a hundred or even a few thousand times more powerful than an atomic bomb.
Before she had time to calm her mind down, a familiar male voice came from the phone again, "Serene, I'm back!"
"Serene, I'm back!"
Another blow blasted at Serene, making her confused on where she was, and what day it was. It took Serene a long time to recover from the shock. She took a deep breath and said, "Who are you exactly?"
Perhaps the person on the other end of the phone had the same voice as Jackie, or maybe someone had deliberately impersonated Jackie's voice, or maybe there were a lot of maybes...
In short, the man on the other end of the phone had nothing to do with her Jackie. The man in front of her was her Jackie.
Serene told herself this, but at the next moment, the familiar voice at the end of the phone gave Serene a very certain answer.
He said with a voice that Serene was very familiar with, "You once told me that you will definitely be Mrs. Leves in this life. I kept that in my heart. You better not forget that."
Yes, she had personally told Jackie that she would be Mrs. Leves for the rest of her life and marry him. She remembered it clearly.
She had always remembered it, even if the sky was falling and the earth was shattering, she would not forget what she had told him personally.
But how did the person on the other end of the phone know about it?
Only she and Jackie knew about this. Only they knew. How did the man with the same voice as Jackie knew about it?
Just as Serene's thoughts were in a mess, the person at the other end of the phone said, "Serene, l have come back alive. Are you happy?"
Serene: "....."
Of course, she was happy that her Jackie had come back alive, but at this very moment she also had 3 'Jackie' with her.
.Just as Serene was completely confused about the situation, Jackie's voice came from the phone again. "Serene, come out quickly. I will wait for you at the usual place. I'll not leave until you come."
After finishing his words, the man on the other end of the phone hung up the phone, not giving her any chance to speak or to refuse.
In the past, this was what Jackie would always do to her too.
Jackie would call her to ask her to come out and meet and never gave her a chance to refuse. As long as he called her to meet up, he would wait until she went to see him.
Moreover, Jackie would turn off his phone after he had hung up the phone, which was his way of avoiding her rejection.
Thinking of this, Serene immediately called back. As expected, the machine voice came from the phone- The phone you've dialed is unavailable, please call again later!
The voice, the past, and the way he called her, and the man on the phone were all in line with the Jackie that she remembered.
What was going on? Was she hallucinating? Wasn't Jackie standing right in front of her?
Why did a man with the same voice as Jackie appear on the other end of the phone? How did that Jackie know about things that only she and Jackie knew about?
Which one was the real Jackie?
Serene couldn't understand and was eager to see that person. She wanted to confirm whether that person was her Jackie or not.
She held her mobile phone and wanted to leave, but as soon as she took a step, she was pulled into Jackie's arms and was held tightly by him. "Serene, calm down. I will deal with what happened today."
"Let me go! You devil! I'm going to find my Jackie!" Serene pushed him and shouted, like a crazy person who had lost her mind.
This man was the devil who had hurt her. This man's face was completely different from Jackie's, and his voice was completely different from that of Jackie. He did not look like her Jackie at all so how could he be her Jackie?
He was the devil who did not care about her and raped her so viciously!
She might be thinking of Jackie until she had gone mad, so she had mistaken a man who had imprisoned her for Jackie.
"Serene, calm down!" Jackie roared in a deep voice.
Although this woman was thin and usually had no strength, but this time, she struggled so hard that she almost managed to break free from Jackie's arms.
"Let go of me! I‘m going to find my Jackie!" Serene picked up his hand and bit it hard.
Usually, she didn't have much strength, but the person she wanted to see might be the real Jackie, so her body suddenly had strength that was beyond her imagination.
Jackie let her bite his hand, but he still held her tightly with another hand. "Serene, listen to me. No matter who called you, no matter what that person had said to you, you have to calm down. I am back now, I will help you deal with it."
For the past year, he was not with her. She had lived a life full of anxiety every single day which had made her lose her sense of security. Now that he was back, he would never let her face those terrible situations alone.
Listening to Jackie's voice, Serene gradually came back to her senses. She looked up at Jackie and scrutinized him from head to toe.
After a long time, she murmured a few words from her mouth, "Who are you exactly?"
Before Jackie could answer, she smiled again. "You would surely say you are also my Jackie."
"Serene..." Jackie said as he wrapped his arms around her. Seeing her losing her wits, his heart ached as if someone was whipping it fiercely with a whip. "I am Jackie Leves!"
"Ha ha... You obviously don‘t look like my Jackie at all. How can I believe that you are my Jackie? I must be crazy." Serene was mocking herself.
"Do all of you really think that I'm living a good life? Why do all of you always come and try to mess with me?"
Jackie hugged her and patted her back gently. "No one will be able to mess with you again anymore, I won't let you disappear from my sight."
"Are you Jackie?" Serene asked again, and then gave herself an answer. "You are not Jackie. You don't look like Jackie at all. How can you be Jackie?"
Jackie said in a deep voice, "I'm Jackie! I'm your Jackie!"
"You're Jackie?" She looked at him and couldn't see any traces of Jackie on his face. She couldn't find any traces of him, so she pushed him hard and said, "You're not Jackie. Let me go and let me find my Jackie. He's waiting for me. He won't leave if I don’t go and see him."
In the past,there was one time that Jackie had asked her out but she did not meet him on time because she was grounded by her grandfather. That day, Jackie waited for her for a day and a night, and finally, he climbed over the wall of the Silas house to look for her.
Everything of the past was still playing vividly in her mind, but now everything had changed. Even she herself could not tell who was the real one and who was the fake one!
Jackie grabbed Serene's hand and let her touch his face. "Serene, my face has changed, but my heart is still the same!"
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