Chapter 252

Jaselyn's POV

“Maybe we could…shower together?” I suggested hesitantly. “It might help me relax.”

Rion smiled softly, his eyes filled with understanding. “That sounds like a great idea. Come on, let’s get cleaned up.”

We both undressed completely, and I followed him into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, adjusting the water temperature until it was just right, then we stepped under the warm spray together.

The water cascaded over us, washing away the tension and the grime from the day. Rion wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me close as the water streamed down our bodies. I leaned back against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my back. His touch was gentle, his hands moving over my skin with care, never lingering too long in one place.

He washed my hair, his fingers massaging my scalp in slow, soothing circles. I closed my eyes, letting myself relax under his touch. The warmth of the water and the feeling of his hands on me helped to ease the tension in my muscles.

When he finished rinsing my hair, I turned to face him, my eyes meeting his. “Thank you, Rion,” I whispered, reaching up to touch his cheek. “For everything.”

He leaned down and kissed me softly, his lips gentle against mine. “I love you, Jas,” he murmured, his voice filled with emotion. “I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

We finished our shower, washing each other clean with tender care. It was a simple, intimate moment, but it meant so much to me. For the first time since my captivity, I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to each other.

After we dried off and dressed, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. It was time to face Nae, to hear what she had to say. Rion offered me a supportive smile as he escorted me to the room where she was being held.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked gently, his hand resting on my shoulder.

I nodded, my resolve firm. “I have to. If there’s even a chance she knows something about Isla and Celio, I need to hear it.”

He gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before stepping back. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”

I took a deep breath and entered the room, my heart heavy with a mix of emotions. Nae lay on a small bed, her body frail and weak, her skin pale and clammy. She looked like a shadow of the woman I once knew, her eyes sunken and hollow.

Her breathing was shallow, and she seemed to be struggling just to stay conscious. I could see the pain etched on her face, every breath a battle. The sight of her like this, so weak and pitiful, stirred something inside me, but I quickly pushed it away. I couldn’t afford to feel sorry for her. Not after everything she had done.

“Nae,” I said sharply, stepping closer to the bed. “Why did you want to see me? What do you want?”

She turned her head slowly, her eyes meeting mine with a flicker of recognition. “Jaselyn,” she rasped, her voice barely a whisper. “I…I needed to see you. To say…to say I’m sorry.”

I frowned, my anger flaring at her words. “Sorry? You think saying sorry is going to fix what you did? You poisoned me, Nae! You betrayed me! Because of you, I never got to hold my son, to raise him. Do you have any idea what that did to me?”

Nae closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I know,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I know what I did was unforgivable. I was selfish, and I made terrible choices. I…I’ve paid for them every day since. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret what I did to you. I wish…I wish I could take it all back.”

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my anger boiling over. “You deserve to die a horrible death for what you did,” I spat, my voice shaking with rage. “I should never have come here. You’re a waste of my time.”

Nae’s eyes fluttered open again, and she looked at me with a desperate, pleading expression. “Please, Jaselyn,” she begged, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m begging you…please, promise me you’ll take care of my daughter, Sawyer. She’s just a baby. She’s innocent in all of this. Don’t let her suffer because of my mistakes.”

I stared at her, appalled by her request. “You expect me to take care of your daughter after everything you’ve done to me? You must be out of your mind, Nae.”

“Please,” Nae whispered again, her voice filled with desperation. “She’s all I have left. I know I’ve done terrible things, but she’s innocent. She doesn’t deserve to suffer for my sins. Please, Jaselyn, if there’s any humanity left in you, don’t let her be punished for what I did.”

I wanted to scream at her, to tell her how unfair it was to ask this of me, after everything she had taken from me. But as I looked at her, so frail and broken, I couldn’t help but think of the child she was leaving behind. A child who, just like Celio, had no say in the circumstances of their birth. A child who was blameless.

I sighed heavily, my anger giving way to a weary sadness. “Alright, Nae,” I said quietly, my voice softening just a fraction. “I’ll take care of your daughter, but only if you tell me where Isla took my son. That’s the only way I can even consider granting your last wish.”

Nae’s face contorted in pain, and she shook her head weakly. “I don’t know where she went,” she gasped, her breath coming in ragged bursts. “I swear, Jaselyn, I don’t know. Isla never trusted me enough to tell me her plans. All I know is that she’s gone, and she took Celio with her. Please, believe me.”

I clenched my jaw, frustration bubbling up inside me. “You expect me to believe that? After everything you’ve done? I need the truth, Nae. Where is my son?”

“I’m telling you the truth,” Nae whispered, her voice growing fainter with each word. “I wish I could help you, I really do. But I don’t know… I don’t…”

She trailed off, her eyes rolling back as her body began to convulse. A sudden panic gripped me as I realized she was slipping away. “Nae!” I shouted, rushing to her side. “Nae, stay with me! Where is Isla?”

But it was too late. Her body went limp, her chest rising and falling for the last time before her breathing stopped completely. I stared down at her, a mix of anger and despair filling me. I had come here hoping for answers, and all I was left with was more questions and a broken promise.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stood there, staring at Nae’s lifeless body. Despite everything she had done, I felt a strange emptiness in my chest—a hollow feeling that wasn’t quite sorrow but wasn’t quite relief either. She had been my enemy, but now she was just another lost soul.