Chapter 23 23
Jenna's POV:
I blinked hard, still holding the side of my head where the sting throbbed beneath the drying blood, and asked him quietly,
"Caesar… What did you mean by that? What did you see?”
His hands were still gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white, chest rising and falling too fast. He swallowed, eyes unfocused like he was staring into something only he could see.
“I saw…” He whispered, voice shaking. “I saw myself in a car with you while I was driving fast, trying to get away from a van that was shooting at us from behind.”
My stomach dropped so fast I felt dizzy because that… that didn’t make sense. I had never experienced anything like that with him.
Never in my life had I been shot at either. So why would he see me in something like that? Was it his supposed mate? The one Nathan said died in a car accident?
A car accident… right.
Except I had never fully bought that story, because the state Caesar had been in when I found him hiding in my dorm room was bloodied, terrified, and disoriented, never aligned with a simple car accident.
Why would someone have a car accident and then flee into the forest until he reached my lodge? If someone has a car crash, they look for help, not hide like prey. And now… now he remembered being chased by a van with guns.
It didn’t take more than a second for me to fit the pieces and realize that it wasn't a car accident, but an assassination attempt. Meaning Nathan either didn’t know… or worse, he did, and hid it so no one panicked.
I forced myself to breathe and leaned toward him slightly.
“Caesar… when you saw us in the car… Did you see my face clearly?”
He frowned hard, rubbing his temple. “No. It was too blurry, but I recognized you from the blonde hair. That’s the only thing I could make out.”
My heart squeezed. “Okay, that…”
He cut me off, panic rising again. “Were we ever shot at? Jenna, were we ever running from people? Did something like that happen to us? I don’t know what’s going on, my head is pounding and I feel like I’m remembering something wrong.”
“Caesar, Caesar.” I reached for his arm, grounding him. “Listen to me. Just listen.”
“What happened?” He demanded, voice trembling. “Tell me what happened.”
“I can’t.” I said softly but firmly.
His eyes snapped to mine, confusion and fear tangled together as I inhaled shakily.
"Dr. Andall said you have to recover your memory in pieces on your own. So, I can’t push you to remember, if I try you might force it and it could trigger something worse. So please… for your safety, stay calm, step out of the car and let me drive us back to the packhouse.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, like he needed answers, but I watched him swallow down the frustration. Then slowly, and reluctantly, he stepped out of the driver’s seat. I got out too, moving around the car. We exchanged places in silence, him sinking into the passenger’s seat like someone drained of everything, and me gripping the wheel, trying not to wince as the side of my head pulsed.
I drove slowly, carefully, trying to keep the car steady. But halfway down the long road back, the blurred vision in my right eye worsened. I felt the warm trickle earlier, so I pulled into a roadside clinic.
That’s when he finally saw the line of dried blood and the moment he did, his eyes widened.
"Jenna… what?” His breath hitched. “You’re hurt? I didn’t even see, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I was having this splitting headache, I didn’t… I put your life in danger, I…”
“Caesar.” I cut him off gently. “I’m fine. Really.”
Inside the clinic, a nurse cleaned the wound with cold wipes that stung against my skin, before placing a small, neat bandage there. She handed me painkillers and instructions, which I tucked into my pocket. Then we left quietly, returned to the car, and I continued driving.
When we arrived at the packhouse, we stepped out, then he turned to me. “Do you need me to hold you?”
“I’m fine.” I murmured.
Then again, another apology. “I didn’t know driving would trigger a memory. I panicked and thought that we were really being chased down by a van shooting at us. I reacted before I realized it was just flashes, that’s why I stopped the car like that.”
I placed a hand on his arm. “Caesar, you don’t need to apologize anymore. I understand.”
With that, we walked inside only to meet Jericho who was about to step out. His eyes immediately zeroed in on my bandage.
"Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I answered quickly.
Jericho gave me a look I couldn’t decipher, then walked away. Once we reached the room, I turned to Caesar. “Do you want to shower?”
He shook his head. “I just want to lie down and rest my head.”
“Okay, I’ll go shower then.” I said, turning away.
But his hand shot out, gently grabbing my wrist. “Can you… stay? Just pat me to sleep?”
His voice was so soft and boyish almost that I couldn’t refuse. So, I smiled. “Sure.”
We moved to the bed and I sat with my back against the headboard. He rested his head in my lap, and I began rubbing his hair, patting rhythmically. His breath eased with each stroke until he drifted into sleep. When he finally slept, my thoughts tightened in my chest.
If it really was an assassination attempt… would they try again? Does Nathan know? Maybe he does… and that’s why he didn’t want to tell anyone, so we wouldn’t panic while he investigates.
Hissing under my breath, I kept stroking his hair until my arm hurt. Then carefully, I lifted his head, placed a pillow underneath, and slipped away to gather pajamas, a towel, and go shower.
After my shower, towel around my shoulders, I stepped out drying my hair and froze as Caesar bolted up from the bed and rushed straight into me, pulling me into a tight, desperate hug.
“Caesar,” I murmured, patting his head. “What happened?”
“I…” His voice cracked. “I had a dream when you left.”
A chuckle escaped my lips. “I wasn’t leaving you, I just went to bathe.”
“Promise?” He whispered.
“I promise I’m not going anywhere.” I hugged him tighter. “Calm down, I’m here.”
Suddenly, there was a knock and I sighed. “Okay… let me go get the door…”
“No.” He refused instantly, arms tightening. “I’m not letting you go.”
“But I need to…”
“No.” He snapped, so I shouted. “Come in!”
The door opened slowly and a maid peeked in, freezing entirely when she saw us in that position, almost blushing. “Uh…” She stuttered. “Dinner is ready. I was told to call both of you.”
“Okay.” I said. “We’re on our way.”
She bowed quickly and fled. As soon as she left, I turned to Caesar again. “Let me go so we can go down for dinner.”
“No.”
“Caesar, we can’t keep them waiting.”
He glared silently like a stubborn child. “Alright.” I sighed. “How about this? I’ll hold your hand. We’ll walk together, okay?”
He hesitated… then slowly released me.
I grabbed his hand, grabbed my phone from the bed, and we headed downstairs. In the dining hall, Roman, Elsa, and Jericho were already seated. We greeted them and sat side by side.
Elsa immediately asked. “What happened to your head, dear?”
“I fell.” I answered.
Roman turned to Caesar. “Where were you when she fell? How could you let her fall?”
Caesar’s expression darkened instantly, guilt flooding him so I stepped in fast. “Caesar wasn’t there when I went to meet the professor because I told him to wait outside. Then I slipped and hit my head, so it was my fault.”
Elsa nodded, still concerned. “Did the doctor check it? Are you in pain? Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” I reassured him. “The doctor said everything is okay.”
Honestly, their concern warmed me as Caesar served mine and his food and we began eating. Halfway through, my phone rang and I glanced at the screen to see that it was Sean’s dorm mistress.
My heart tightened. ‘Why would she call at this hour?’
I excused myself. “It’s an important call.” I told them softly, then leaned toward Caesar. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
I didn’t go far, just to the side of the dining hall then I called her back because the call had ended. “Mrs. Smith?” I said quietly. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes, there is.” She said, urgently. “Sean got into a fight and punched another student who was taken to the clinic because he was bleeding heavily. His mother has been contacted and she insisted that she won’t let this go. So, she wants to meet his guardian. And…” Mrs. Smith hesitated. “She’s threatening to sue the school or have Sean expelled.”