Chapter 24
**** JASON P. O. V ****
“Well, who is he?” I asked looking at Ryan.
“Perhaps her boyfriend.” He said it, and I got mad at him.
“Just joking.” I sighed when he said it.
“How did he even hear about these things?” I asked him where he sat with Agnes next to him as I looked at him.
“The news is like a wildfire. We don’t know how fast they are spreading.” He said and I nodded.
“What if she goes back with him when she wants to wake up?” I asked looking at Ryan again.
“It’s up to her, Jason. She’d decide, and you’d respect her choice. She has no reason to stay with you.” He said.
“So she’s just going to leave? Because I made a mistake?” I asked.
“Because of an error that almost killed her. Mistakes are inevitable, but this one is really scary.” I bowed my head when he said it.
“I was sure. I should not have let that person in. She told me she hates me and that she would never love me.” I said painfully.
“Let’s begin right here. You love her, right?” He asked, and I just looked at nothing.
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what it’s like to love someone who isn’t a member of my family. Can’t put it into words.” I said and he nodded.
“I fully understand you. You need more time to figure out what you really feel, whether it’s guilt, pity, or love.” He said and I nodded.
When the door to the ward opened, I jumped up and ran to the doctor.
“Mr. Jason, she’s safe now.” He said it, and I didn’t know when I started laughing.
“So she’s all right?” When I asked, he said yes.
“She hasn’t woken up yet. You can no longer see her.” He added that I could come in whenever I wanted.
“When is she going to wake up?” I was eager to know.
“In the coming hours. She is resting after having surgery.” He said walking away and I looked at Ryan smiling.
“She’s okay.” I said it with joy, and he agreed.
“She is, yes. And if you hadn’t pointed a gun at her, we wouldn’t be here, and she wouldn’t have a bullet hole in her stomach.” The former partner said.
“I said it wasn’t on purpose, right? I said angrily.
“She won’t go back to that house with you, whether you mean to or not.” He said boldly.
“Such guts. I thought she kicked you out of the party the other day, so why do you think she would go with you now?” I said folding my arms.
“Let’s just say she was trying to keep a killer like you away from me. She knew that if she followed me, you’d find us and kill us.” I replied to what he said.
“I wouldn’t have put her to death. I would have killed both of you.” I said.
“That’s right, and that’s why she gave up her own happiness to protect us. She wanted to come, but she wasn’t able to. She put us ahead of her freedom when she chose us. You don’t deserve to live in the same house as her. She is a godsend.” He said something, and I couldn’t answer.
“Jason let’s sit.” Ryan said, “You’re dragging me to the chair.”
“He’s correct. Ryan, she’s not worth me. I’m a terrible person, so she should go with him. She’d want to come along.” I said sadly.
“Don’t be broken yet. She would make her own choice, but you should respect it no matter what it is. It’s a good thing.” He said it, and I agreed with a sigh.
When I looked up, Agnes was looking at me. She seemed to be thinking too much.
“I’ve noticed that she’s been very quiet since we got there. What’s the matter with her?” I sighed when Ryan asked.
“I’m not sure. I know she is thinking a lot, but she can’t just blurt it out. I shot a bullet at Ryan, who was her best friend. She will never like me because she has never liked me.” I said.
Ryan said, “Hey,” which scared her.
“Why are you so quiet?? Make a comment. Anything.” She looked at me when he said that.
“It’s good. Say anything.” I said and we saw her lips shaking.
“Spit it.” As we both looked at her, I said.
“I… I would wait in the ward for Melina to wake up.” She said that she rushed to the door and ran in.
“Okay, I didn’t expect that.” I said I was leaning against the wall.
“No, we weren’t expecting that.” Ryan said, sighing and putting his hand on his back. I smiled as I looked at him.
“Thank you Ryan.” He looked at me when I said it.
He asked, “Why?”
I told him, “For everything,” and he smiled.
“This is why I’m your older brother. I only want you to be happy.” He said, “Tap, tap,” and I closed my eyes again.
**** MELINA P. O. V ****
I slowly opened my eyes and groaned as the pain in my stomach reached my brain.
“Gracie? You are awake.” I heard a voice that I knew very well. I looked down and saw Agnes with a big smile on her face.
“Agnes.” I called out happily and tried to sit up, but my stomach hurt again.
“Don’t. You have just finished a surgery.” She said making me lay back. When I looked down, I saw that my stomach was thinking about everything that had happened in the house.
I asked, “Where is Clara?”
“Jason could no longer kill her. He told one of the other men to bind her up. When the bullet hit you, it broke his heart.” I sighed when she said it.
“And he isn’t even here? How broken up is he?” I asked with my eyes rolling.
“He’s been here since yesterday, Melina. He didn’t go anywhere else. He’s still there, waiting for you to wake up.” She said smiling.
“What?? He didn’t go home?” I looked out the window and asked.
“He didn’t. He feels bad.” She spoke.
“That doesn’t change the fact that he shot me and I died.” I said looking at her.
“I know, but I don’t think he meant to. Jason was sad.” I rolled my eyes at what she said.
“He killed Sara. I took the bullet that was meant for Clara. He shot at me even though I thought he wouldn’t.” She shook her head when I said it.
“Melina, you’re wrong. You’re looking at it the wrong way. He didn’t see you coming because you were going too fast.” She spoke.
“Why are you taking care of him? You said he cried, but I did it. I did what you asked me to do. He is now in danger. So that I can get out of his life.” I said.
“So you took the shot to make him different?” I said yes when she asked.
“I knew he would be sorry he pulled the gun.” I said.
“Why would you take a chance? What if he didn’t seem to be sorry? You would have died for no good reason.” I shook my head when she said that.
“I knew Jason liked me because he told me he knew the food was poisoned before I did. He wanted to see what I would say.” She sighed after I said it.
“So, what are you going to do?” She did.
“I’m going to leave Jason’s house.” I said.
“What gives you the idea that he would let you go?” She did.
“I did him a favor. I saved his mother’s life and took a bullet for one of his maids, so of course he’d let me go.” I said “out loud” breathing.
“So you hate him, huh?” She did.
“With my whole life. I don’t like him, and I don’t want to have anything more to do with him.” I told her, and she nodded hard while swallowing.
“Here is your friend. Harrison.” When she said it, my eyes got big.
“He is here?” I asked with joy.
“I’ll let him know that you’re awake.” She told me to get up and leave as I looked at my bandaged belly.
When the door opened, everyone ran in.
“Melina.” Jason and Harrison both came running to me at the same time they called.
“Hey.” I said smiling at Harrison and ignoring Jason. He knew, so I saw him get up and leave.
“You found me and came back.” I said as my eyes filled with tears.
“I had no choice. What do you think?” As he kissed my hand, he asked.
“I am good. I’m sorry for what I did, Harrison. All the time.” I said, and he smiled and shook his head.
“Eventually, I also got you, Gracie. I’m sorry as well.” He said smiling.
“I am glad you are okay now.” I smiled when Ryan said it.
“Thanks Ryan.” He looked at Jason when I said it.
“Melina I apologize. I had no idea…” I replied to what he said.
“Of course you didn’t. You wanted to kill another person, just like you always have. I have it.” I said angrily and I saw him swallow hard.
Ryan came closer to me after he looked at Ryan.
“May I please talk to Melina alone?” He looked at everyone and asked.
“How do I know you won’t kill her to the point of no return this time?” Harrison asked me to take his hand, so I did.This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.
“It’s good. You’re wrong about who Ryan is.” I told him, and he looked at me one more time before leaving.
“Ryan what are you saying? That your brother has gotten back in touch with his humanity and is sorry? I have it. But the fact that he shot me won’t change.” I did a rap.
“I know, and I’m not going to ask you to forgive him right now. I’ve come to say thanks.” I looked at him as he spoke.
“What for?” I did not get upset.
“Jason had a feeling. He felt pain, regret, guilt. You did it.” He said and I sighed nodding.
“I did that for the housekeepers.” I said and he nodded.
“He’d set them free. I’d talk to him, and he’d do what was right.” He said.
“He should start being good by setting me free. I won’t return to that big house. I need to get away from him to start my life.” I said.
“I know you hate him. But really, do you want to leave him? Now you’ve done it: you’ve made him weak.” He said.
“I’m not interested in him. He ruined my life. I did what I did for Clara’s sake, and I’m leaving that house.” I said finally and he nodded.
“I will tell him. Just know that he wouldn’t do anything bad to you.” He said.
“I’ve always been hurt by him.” I told him, and he just nodded and walked out the door.
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