Chapter 35
**** RYAN P. O. V ****
When we got to the mansion, I put everything in the car. We got off the roof and walked into the house. I turned around to look at Agnes, who was standing behind us.
I asked her, “Why are you walking behind us? Ladies go first, not last,” and she smiled.
She said, “I’m used to being late already,” so I waited for her to catch up.
“Well, you need to change that thinking, because you’re no longer a maid. You’re more or less a family now, just like the “master” said,” I told her, and she smiled.
As we walked into the living room, she said, “That’s so amazing for both of you. Now I know why Melina saw you differently.”
“She did?” I asked like I didn’t know.
She said, “Yes, she did,” and I smiled.
I told her, “Wow, I haven’t heard such a great compliment about me in a long time,” and she laughed.
She told him, “That’s not true. I know what your brother thinks of you.”
Jason reached for a glass of wine at the bar and said, “I can hear you.”
“What about you? What do you think of me?” I asked, grinning and flipping my hair back like a model to make her laugh.
“Since your brother finally changed, I haven’t really had a chance to talk to you. At first, I was scared of you, but then I saw that you were nothing like the old Jason.”
“So far, I’ve just admired your difference from afar,” she said. “But now that I’ve spent a few minutes with you, it’s clear that you’re funny and nice.” I raised my eyebrows and felt like I was flying.
I told her, “Wow, that’s the best thing I’ve heard in a very long time,” and she laughed.
She asked, “Another joke, Hun?” I shook my head.
I told her, “No, I’m dead serious.” She looked at me and smiled.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
“Then I’m glad it’s coming from me,” she said, and I smiled while keeping my eyes on hers.
Jason said, “It’s boring to drink by myself. Can someone join me and stop making all these introductions?” We all sighed.
I told her, “We should join him. It won’t be easy for him to lose Gracie to Harrison,” and she agreed.
“I know that too, and I feel bad for him, but will Gracie just go because he asked her?” she asked as we walked toward the bar.
I said, “I keep asking myself the same question. I don’t know if she would leave him or not. It depends on how much she loves him.”
“Enough of Gracie and me! Let’s drink to the success of today’s operation,” he said. I looked at Agnes, who shrugged her shoulders.
I told Jason, “Fine. Pass me the glass.” He gave me two glasses, and I filled one, then looked at Agnes.
I asked her, “Would you like an alcoholic drink? You don’t look like you do,” and she laughed.
“Does the way you look also tell you something about drinking?” she asked. “Look, Ryan, I drink. I get drunk to forget my problems, and even though it’s only for a little while, it helps a lot.” I smiled.
I poured the drink into the second cup and said, “That’s good. I guess we’re three on this one.” I chose one, and Agnes got it.
She said, “Thanks,” as she took it from me.
I asked Agnes, “Don’t you think we should cheer for something?” She nodded.
She said, “Cheers to the new Jason!” and I nodded in agreement. Jason sighed as if he was bored.
“Cheers,” we all said together as we took a drink.
He looked at his drink and said, “Actually, this new me is boring, weak, helpless, and so soft, and it’s so so annoying.”
“Trust me, this is the best thing that has ever happened to you. I felt the same way at first, but I got over it, and now I’m as happy as ever and getting nice compliments,” I told Agnes, who smiled back.
“Don’t you think it would be more fun if Gracie was here? I mean, I shouldn’t have let her go,” he asked, and I shook my head.
“No, it wouldn’t be as fun because we’d have to keep an eye out for where the next enemy would come from,” I told Jason. “That was the best decision you’ve ever made, and it has nothing to do with you or your family.”
“Now that’s the best brother you could ever want,” he said with a laugh, and I could tell he was almost drunk. He was actually off the edge and falling fast.
“Okay, let’s stop drinking and get something tasty to eat. I’ll cook,” I said with a smile.
She asked, “Do you cook?” and I looked at her.
I whispered, “More than you can imagine,” and jerked my head around to make her laugh. When she laughed, she looked very pretty.
I don’t think I will ever or soon stop making her laugh.
She said, “Wow, that’s really cool,” and I smiled.
“Fine,” he said. “You go, and I’ll keep drinking.” I quickly grabbed the drink before he could.
“No, you’ll also help in the kitchen. Stop being such a jerk,” I told him, and he let out a loud breath.
When the door opened, we all stood up and were about to leave. Jason looked back quickly, and then his mother came in.
“Mom?” I asked, and she smiled as she walked toward us.
“How are you doing, boys?” she asked with a smile.
“We’re fine,” I said, and when I looked at Jason, I saw that he was bowing his head.
She looked at Jason and said, “So the rumor is true. You did let them all go,” and he nodded.
“Yes, mom,” he said, “and I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.” She shook her head and smiled.
She gave him a hug and said, “What’s important is that you’ve changed.” I smiled. They broke apart, and she looked at Agnes.
“You didn’t…” She said.
He told her, “No, I didn’t. But she decided to come back because she has nowhere else to go.” She agreed.
She said, “I’m so sorry.”
Agnes said, “It’s fine, Ma’am.”
She said, “I was expecting one face, but not hers,” and we all knew what she meant.
Jason told her, “She’s gone, and I don’t think we’ll see her again,” and she looked at him with sadness.
She hugged him again and said, “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
**** MELINA P. O. V ****
I dragged my bag to the anchor, which is where we were going to get on the ship. Harrison helped with most of the bags, but I insisted on bringing mine by myself.
Since we left Nina’s house, we haven’t talked to each other at all. He looked upset, and so did I.
I didn’t want to leave town, but I kept telling myself that it was best for me.
We walked in because it was time to. He looked around for a good place to sit and then led me there. The water was a beautiful sight.
“You like it?” He asked as we settled down.
I said with a smile, “Yes, I do. Thanks for asking.”
“Gracie, I’m sorry I’ve been acting so strangely lately. It’s just that I can’t stand seeing you with that murderer,” he said, and I got mad.
“Stop calling him that, okay? Sure, he is a killer, but that part of him is dead. He saved my life today. You shouldn’t see him like that anymore,” I said.
“But I can’t stop seeing him that way! He took your pride, your virginity, and raped you, and he still deserves your forgiveness?!” he asked in anger.
“Yes, he does. Everyone deserves forgiveness, which is why that man up there forgives us too. Look, I don’t know why you were saying or doing this, but I would never see Jason the way you do,” I said, and he nodded and looked away.
He asked me, “Tell me the truth: Do you love him?” I looked at him.
I asked, “Why would you even ask that?”
“Just tell me the goddamn truth, do you love him?,” he yelled at me.
“Yes, I do! I love him, Jason. I know I shouldn’t, but I do! And I don’t want to go on this trip. I know you love me, but I only like you as a friend,” I told him, and he nodded.
“I’m sorry, Harrison, but I can’t go with you. I’ve been thinking about it, and now I know the answer: no matter what, I want to stay with Jason!”
I stood up and told him, “I’ll be there for him, stand by him, and we’ll get through this together.”
He said, “You can leave,” but he didn’t look at me.
I told him, “I’ll do it, and you should go back to Nina, too. She needs you and loves you.” He didn’t change a word more.
I said yes, turned around, and walked out of the ship. I didn’t bother carrying any of the bags because I knew it would slow me down.
When I got off the ship, I could see that it was already moving. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me and jumped to the ground.
During the process, I turned my ankle and winced in pain. But that didn’t stop me. I started jumping away to find a taxi.
I was lucky enough to get one.
Sitting in the car, I said, “Jason’s mansion,” and he nodded as we drove away from the border.
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