Chapter 30: WHERE'S MY ACTUAL RING, MR. MARGAUX?
"Jake?" My voice trembled as panic took over. I flicked on my flashlight and rushed.
"It’s dark… I… I’m afraid of it," I whispered the moment my eyes landed on the pitch-black hallway.
I took a deep breath.
"I can’t stay here," I muttered to myself and walked through the darkness. I didn’t care anymore about the possibility of someone else being in the house. None of it mattered. The only thing I could think about was Jake.
The moment I reached the kitchen entrance, the sight of shattered plates scattered across the floor made my stomach twist. Something had happened. Then my gaze locked onto a man—he had already noticed Jake’s slight movement towards my direction. His eyes darted to me, and he began moving forward.
One step. Then another.
"Run!" Jake shouted. His voice was desperate, but he couldn’t get up fast enough because of his bruises.
I froze, unable to make my body respond.
"Get away from her!"
Jake took the chance to lunge forward from behind, wrapping his arm around the man’s neck. That was when I caught sight of his hair color and part of his face.
G-Gavin? No… it couldn’t be.
The man twisted around and plunged a knife into Jake. My breath caught, my heart thundering in my ears. I couldn’t move. Fear locked me in place as the man bolted out of the kitchen.
"Jake!" I screamed. I didn’t think about who the man was or why this was happening. I only rushed toward Jake.
"H-hold on. I’ll call for help," I said, my hands shaking as I tried to take out my phone.
"H-hold on…" I whispered again, gently touching his face. I didn’t notice my tears were already falling.
"Hey, don’t cry," Jake whispered as he reached for my face to wipe my tears. His voice was so weak.
"Stubborn," I said softly, my voice breaking.
Minutes later, the rescue team arrived. My panic didn’t stop, but I didn’t care. I went with him.
At the hospital, they told me to wait outside in the garden with Mom, saying it would be better if I weren’t in the emergency room.
“Both of you were lucky that Katie was in the house and called us,” she said, making my brows furrow.
“Katie? She was in the house at that time?” I asked, surprised.
“She’s the one who called for help,” Mom said.
Wait. What? No. I was the one who called for help.
“Mom, I called for help, not her,” I explained.
Her face suddenly changed.
“Reina, Katie called. She told us that,” she said firmly. Then her tone softened. “Reina, at least once… please accept your cousin.”
“Mom, how am I supposed to—” I raised my voice without meaning to, but stopped when her hand slapped across my cheek.
“Is that what you learned from that rascal? To raise your voice at me?” she snapped.
“I-I’m sorry,” I stuttered, forcing myself not to cry.
“I’m sorry too,” she said after a moment, her voice breaking. “I just… I just want you to get along with her. I want you to accept her. Will you at least say thank you when you see her? For saving you?” She held my hands tightly, almost begging.
Seeing her this way for my cousin but not for me, broke something inside me even more.
I forced a small smile and nodded.
Then Mom’s phone rang.
"Yes, we’ll be there," she said before hanging up.
"Let’s go," she told me, grabbing my arm.
When we reached the room, I saw Jake lying on the hospital bed, still unconscious from the blood loss. Thankfully, we had arrived in time.
"We’ll step out for a while to get food, alright?" Dad said, kissing my forehead.
I watched them leave, and when the door closed, my eyes returned to Jake.
Why did we have to reach this point? If only he hadn’t treated me that way before.
"Stubborn grown man," I whispered while brushing some strands of hair away from his face. "You really want to die," I added with a faint smile.
But my smile faded when Gavin’s face flashed in my mind.
I had thought Gavin would show up, even just to check on what had happened. But he didn’t. Not even a shadow of him appeared. And that made the suspicion in my chest heavier. I didn’t want to believe it, but the things I had seen, what had just happened, and now his complete absence—they were all pushing me toward a truth I didn’t want to accept.
How could he hurt his own brother?
How could he try to kill me?
I couldn’t ask my parents either. They would only get angry.
"Reina…" Jake’s voice was weak, strained from the pain.
"Where are they?" he asked, looking around the room.
"They just went out to grab lunch. Don’t worry," I reassured him.
"How about you? Did you get hurt?" His eyes scanned my face and arms, searching for any injuries.
I laughed without meaning to.
"What’s so funny, kid?" he asked with a frown.
"Sorry, sorry," I said, trying to stop my grin. "You’re just overreacting."
"Just wait until I’m out of here. I’ll give you what you deserve," Jake teased with a crooked smile.
I pinched his nose and gently pushed him back into the bed, pressing my fingers lightly to his forehead.
"Sleep, stubborn," I said with a small chuckle.
"Only if you do too," he murmured, taking my hand. He massaged it softly before kissing it.
"You’re my fiancée now, so I don’t have to hold back anymore," he said with a faint smile.
"Mr. Jake Davin Margaux, I still have no ring," I teased, holding up my bare hand.
He chuckled and nodded. "Just wait." Then he pinched my nose, copying what I had done to him earlier.
I leaned in and kissed his lips briefly before straightening up.
"Where are you going?" he asked, still holding my hand like he didn’t want to let go.
"Out. Maybe a little fresh air. I’ll be back, I promise." I kissed his forehead before heading for the door.
Just as I was about to close it, an uneasy feeling crept up my spine. Someone was watching me.
I opened the door again, poking my head back inside to tell Jake, "Lock the door after I leave. Don’t open it unless I call you first."
As I walked down the hallway, I realized I could hear footsteps. They weren’t mine. Someone else was following me.
The faint scent of a familiar perfume drifted in the air, teasing the edge of my memory, but I couldn’t place it.
I quickened my pace.
Then a hand shot out from the side and grabbed my arm.