Chapter 241
Jaselyn's POV
I jolted awake with a scream, my lungs burning as if I’d been underwater too long. My heart was racing, thundering in my chest as my eyes darted around the room, still trapped in the horrors of the nightmare. I was back in that house. Zane was there, his face twisted into a cruel smile, his eyes gleaming with malice.
In the nightmare, I was bound to a chair, my arms strapped tightly to the wooden frame. Zane loomed over me, a knife glinting in his hand. I struggled, my wrists burning as I fought against the restraints, but it was no use. He came closer, the knife’s blade catching the light as he dragged it across my skin, leaving a thin line of blood in its wake. I could feel every inch of it—the cold steel biting into me, the warm blood trickling down my arms.
“You think you can escape me, Jaselyn?” Zane sneered, pressing the knife to my throat. “You’re mine. You’ll always be mine.” His voice was low and taunting, a whisper of dread that sent chills down my spine.
“No!” I cried, thrashing in the chair, the fear and pain too real to bear. I could feel the blade cutting deeper, the blood pouring out, the room spinning around me as darkness began to close in.
I screamed again, a desperate, gut-wrenching sound that tore through the nightmare, pulling me back into the waking world.
“Jas!” Rion’s voice broke through the haze, filled with urgency and concern. His arms were around me in an instant, pulling me close, anchoring me back to reality. “It’s okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
I clung to him, my body trembling violently as I struggled to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. My chest heaved with ragged breaths, my eyes wide with terror as I tried to remind myself that it wasn’t real, that I wasn’t there anymore. But the fear was still so vivid, the pain and helplessness too fresh in my mind.
“It’s over now, Jas,” Rion murmured, his voice soothing as he held me tight. “Zane can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe with me.”
I buried my face in his chest, letting his warmth envelop me, letting his steady heartbeat calm my own. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, spilling over as I finally allowed myself to break. I sobbed against him, my shoulders shaking with the force of it all, the nightmare still haunting me, even as his arms kept me safe.
Rion stroked my back, his touch gentle, his voice soft as he whispered reassurances in my ear. “It’s okay to cry, Jas. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Slowly, the fear began to ebb away, replaced by a deep, hollow ache in my chest. I knew the nightmare was over. I knew Zane was dead and gone, that he could never come back, could never hurt me again. But the memories of what he’d done were still there, seared into my mind like a brand.
Rion pulled back slightly, his thumb gently wiping away my tears. “Are you feeling better?” he asked softly, his eyes searching mine.
I nodded, trying to steady my breathing, trying to focus on the present, on the fact that I was here, with him, and not trapped in that house anymore. It was then that I realized where we were—our bedroom. The familiar surroundings brought a small measure of comfort, the soft light filtering through the curtains a stark contrast to the darkness of my nightmare.
Rion noticed me looking around and offered a gentle smile. “The doctor just left,” he said. “She said the twins are healthy, but your body is very weak. Your blood pressure is high, and you’ve lost some weight. You’ve got a lot of bruises, and you need bed rest for at least a week. You need to eat well and get plenty of rest.”
I nodded again, trying to process everything he was saying, though my mind felt slow and foggy. I was still so tired, every part of me aching with exhaustion. But Rion’s presence was a balm to my soul, his touch a reminder that I was no longer alone.
He hesitated, his gaze gentle yet probing. “Jas, what happened? Can you tell me?”
I looked away, a knot of fear tightening in my stomach. How could I possibly tell him everything? How could I explain the horrors of what Zane had done to me, the ways he had violated me? The thought of revealing the truth made me feel sick, my chest constricting with anxiety. What if Rion sees me differently? What if he thinks I'm tainted, damaged beyond repair? Would he still love me?
As if sensing my turmoil, Rion took my hand in his, squeezing it gently. “You don’t have to say anything right now if you’re not ready,” he said softly. “Just know that I’m here for you, no matter what. I’ll never judge you, Jas. I just want you to be okay.”
His words were kind, filled with love and understanding, but they couldn’t chase away the dark thoughts swirling in my mind. Could he really love me after everything that had happened? Could he still see me the same way, knowing what Zane had done?