Chapter 88
Rain slicked her hair to her face, the silence broken only by the soft thrum of raindrops. Crimson bloomed anew from her lips, a stark contrast to her pale skin. Kneeling in the downpour, her clothes were soaked through, a gruesome stain blossoming on her coat from earlier vomit. Her body had reached its breaking point, hands and feet numb, failing to respond as she tried to push herself up.
Jason’s heart lurched at the sight of the blood–it seemed to sear his vision, a relentless torment. He took a hesitant step forward, only to be stopped cold by Camila’s outstretched hand.
“Cruelly calculated, that’s Sophia Taylor,” Camila spat. “Poisoning Alison for her own gain. Now, with proof in hand, there’s no excuse. We gathered the elders as witnesses, so the Taylors can’t cry foul when she gets what’s coming”
The elders exchanged nervous glances. Camila had already strong–armed them before they even arrived, securing their “loyalty.” Though technically family leaders, their power was a joke. They nodded along as the head elder cleared his throat. “We heard about Alison’s accident. And now this poisoning… well, if there’s evidence, prison’s the answer. Let the Taylors scream all they want later, we’ll have a just
cause.”
A smug smile played on Camila’s lips as she turned to Jason. “The choice is yours, son,” she said, her voice cold. “Prison first, then we’ll figure out the marriage. Slow and steady wins the race. They’d drawn blood, and she knew more would follow.
Jason hadn’t taken his eyes off Sophia. There was an unsettling stillness about her, a chilling hint of death. Panic clawed at him. He broke the silence by walking towards her, his expensive suit a stark contrast to the rain–soaked scene.
Inside, away from the rain, Sophia’s limbs prickled with returning feeling. The bone–deep cold receded. She pushed herself up on her arms. meeting Jason’s gaze. The man she once knew was gone, replaced by a stranger in a tailored suit. His handsome features were etched with coldness. She realized with a pang that the Jason who had captured her heart wasn’t this polished businessman, but the carefree boy who had swept her off her feet years ago. How she wished she could freeze time, seal him away in a perfect memory, a life without this crushing
pain.
Jason stopped in front of her, crouching slowly. He reached out, fingers hovering over her bloodied mouth. He couldn’t help but wonder, “How much force did my mother use in that slap? It’s been almost an hour, why is she still bleeding? Did she hurt her tongue again?‘ He opened his mouth to speak, but Sophia flinched away, rejecting even his touch. It seemed even love was dead. Fine, then they’d play a different game. He could have her hate, as long as she was forever bound to him. He retracted his hand, his voice icy. “Did you visit the pharmacist a few days ago? Did you sneak a look at Alison’s prescription?”
Sophia met his gaze, her voice slow and steady. “Yes, I did visit the pharmacist, but i didn’t look at the prescription. I just went to remind him to keep it safe.”
“Don’t insult us!” Camila snapped. “You pushed Alison in the water! Playing nice doesn’t erase that. Do you think we’re idiots, Sophia Taylor?”
Silence. They’d already condemned her. No action, no explanation would change their minds, Ada, that manipulative witch, had spun a web too tight, using Sophia’s visit to the pharmacist as the bait.
“Anything else?” Jason’s voice pierced her thoughts.
“My conscience is clear.” The injustice stung, but what point was there in arguing? His heart held no room for her, so why plead her case?
Jason saw the defiance in her eyes, his face hardening. He flung the report at her, his voice dripping with scorn. “Then explain this, if your conscience is so damn clean.”