"My body... feels weak," he said, trying to take the bowl from her again.Seeing his condition, Serenity said, "Never mind. I'll feed you. You might spill the porridge."She sat on a chair beside the bed, then scooped some porridge, blew on it, and slowly offered it to him.He obediently ate it, like a puppy.However, his intense gaze made her uneasy."The woman you mentioned last time, did she really kill someone in the Chamber of Blood?" She broke the silence, attempting to initiate a conversation."That's right," Jackson answered."She killed a member of the Valor family, but the Valor family let her off just like that?" Serenity was perplexed. After all, the Valor family was already a powerful family seventy years ago."The man she killed wanted to spare her. Before he died, he left a suicide note stating that it's his own fault if he died and no one was to pursue the matter," explained Jackson.Serenity wondered if he had anticipated that the woman would kill him. It wa
Jackson seemed to know what she was thinking. He said, "Don't worry, I won't let the old man do anything to you."She put down the empty bowl, stood up, and said, "Get some rest. I'm going back to my room."He grabbed her sleeve before she could turn away. He raised his head slightly to look at her, his eyes bright."Jackson, what are you doing?" she asked."You still have feelings for me, don't you? If you didn't care, you wouldn't have watched over me, you wouldn't have made sure I took my medicine, and you wouldn't have cooked porridge for me..." His voice was hoarse. His expression was that of both begging and yearning. "Serenity, please tell me you love me. I never knew that I could love a woman so deeply!"To the public, he was the high-and-mighty Mr. Valor, but when he was with her, he was willing to humble himself and plead for her love!Serenity's mind went blank.Lucas tried everything in his power to find Serenity, but to no avail. Jackson was also a powerful man, so
Lucas answered the phone. A moment later, his expression changed. "What? Uncle Smith has gone missing?""Yes. As you know, your Uncle Smith has always asked his patients to come to the clinic to see him, but today, he called me and said that he needed to go somewhere to examine a patient. He said it might take a while and told me not to worry. But when I tried calling him afterwards, I couldn't get through," Mrs. Smith anxiously told Lucas what happened. Because Mr. Smith and Lucas had a great relationship and Lucas often visited Mr. Smith's clinic, the Smith family had Lucas' contact number."Examine a patient?" Lucas' eyes narrowed."Do you think your Uncle Smith might have been kidnapped because he offended someone?" Mrs. Smith feared for the worst.But Lucas had a different idea.If Jackson hadn't taken Serenity away, today would have been the day for her second treatment session!Could Jackson Valor be the person who took Mr. Smith away?After ending his call with Mrs. Sm
"I'm sorry, Mr. Smith... I didn't think he would bring you here," Serenity said awkwardly.The elderly man didn't ask any questions; he had lived long enough to know when not to ask unnecessary questions.He laid out the tools he brought with him before instructing Serenity to extend her right hand.The different needles and knives made Serenity recall the pain from her last treatment session, which made her tremble.As Mr. Smith was about to insert a needle into Serenity's hand, Jackson grabbed his wrist and asked, "What's this for?" To which Mr. Smith replied crossly, "For treatment. What else?" He did not like being interrupted during treatment."If you're going to use needles and knives, why didn't you give her anesthesia first?" Jackson asked with a scowl."Because administering anesthesia would hinder the reactions of her fingers. I need to see her fingers' natural responses to treat her," Mr. Smith said.Jackson was still unconvinced. "But this needle...""It's okay, I
After all, that was what happened to Lucas."Let... let go..." she told Jackson while Mr. Smith was switching to another needle, "When I'm in pain, I can't control myself.""I don't care," Jackson wiped the sweat away from her forehead with his other hand, "If Lucas can get hurt for you, so can I."Serenity was surprised. But before she could say anything else, Mr. Smith inserted another needle into her hand.The pain was excruciating.All she could do was clench her teeth and endure.Her forehead was drenched in sweat again, despite having wiped it dry moments before. Large drops of sweat slid down her cheeks.Jackson stared fixedly at Serenity. Although her fingers dug into his hand as she grimaced in pain, leaving trails of blood, he seemed unfazed, his attention focused solely on her.Her face was contorted in agony. She clenched her teeth, trying hard to suppress and endure the discomfort. He could see bulging veins on her forehead and on the back of her hand.When Mr. Sm
Jackson knew Serenity had gone through hell in prison but did not understand the abuse she had suffered. Seeing her in pain gave him a better sense of what she had gone through. He was so breathless with the realization, and that made his heart ache. Filled with regret and anger, Jackson could not believe how he had stood by with cold eyes, watching her sentenced to prison, and how he had acquiesced in her torture. It was the first time he felt such pain and regret, stronger than anything he had ever felt.Yes. Jackson regretted it immensely. Kneeling on his feet, he held her hand and kissed her fingertips. "How I wish I could've fallen in love with you before you went to prison," Jackson rasped, his voice like a low rumble of a murmur carrying on the breeze. How he wished he could start all over again. If Jackson could turn back time, he would protect Serenity at all costs, not let her suffer from any pain. He would do everything to prove her innocence, not let her get accused
Mr. Smith returned home. Lucas hurried to the Smith Residence almost as soon as he got the news."Smith, where were you taken today?" Lucas had a look of anxiety on his face.Mr. Smith looked at Lucas and could not help but sigh. In all the years he had known the boy, it was the first time he had ever seen him so anxious. His anxiety was probably also because of that girl. "You're here for Serenity, right?"Lucas' eyes narrowed. "So, did you really go to treat Serenity's hand today?""That's right! It's the first time I got blindfolded like this!" Mr. Smith said, "There is a man. He has been staying with that girl. I think he is from the Valor family. Is he Jackson Valor?""Yes. It's Jackson," Lucas said, pursing his lips."It seems you've met your competition," Mr. Smith said. No matter who Serenity would love, Lucas would have a tough time pursuing Serenity. Lucas inquired, "Do you know where they took you?""I was blindfolded the whole time. The ride took about 20 minutes.
"Ah!" Serenity screamed, her eyes snapping open. She finally woke up and sat up from the bed, panting in fear. Another nightmare? Was it just a nightmare?!"What did you dream of?" A deep voice asked.Serenity looked up and met Jackson's eyes. "I-It's nothing!" Serenity blurted out. "It's late. Why are you in my room?""I couldn't sleep," Jackson said as he grabbed a tissue and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. "You're full of sweat. You're sweating more than the treatment earlier. Did you dream about something in prison?"'He knew?' Serenity stiffened, looking at him with wide eyes, surprised."You were talking in your sleep. I guessed it from your intermittent speech," Jackson explained. Seeing the pain and helplessness in her sleep was precisely what made him more remorseful of the past.Serenity smiled at his words with a touch of bitterness. It was Jackson the last time. Serenity had heard him talking in his fevered dreams, calling out for his parents. This time, it