Chapter 101 I CAN FEEL AGAIN
The cold water streamed down Drexton's body as he dragged his hand along his face. His hair was glued to his face, and his eyes were red.
He placed his hand on the wall and felt the cold, smooth texture.
He could feel everything: the water, the wall, even the towel.
It was morning. The feeling was supposed to stop. He's supposed to go back to being numb. All these feelings aren't supposed to happen.
Then why? Why could he feel them?
He shut the tap and put on his bathrobe.
He left the bathroom and went to the kitchen.
His eyes caught the knife in the fruit basket.
Without thinking twice, he picked up the knife.
Stab.
He drove the knife into his palm.
He groaned as the knife fell from his hand.
He stared at the hand, his blood trailing down.
But that wasn't the case.
He could feel the pains: it was sharp, stinging, and sudden.
"Fuck, have you gone mad?" Maddox rushed in and grabbed his hand.
"Why would you stab yourself?" Jaxon asked.
Drexton took his gaze away from the hand.
"I can feel the pain," he said, looking at them.
Maddox and Jaxon look at him, their eyes almost wide.
"What?"
Drexton withdrew his hands.
"I've regained my senses."
"Holy fuck!" Jaxon exclaimed. "Does that mean you felt us when we held your hand?"
Drexton nodded.
Jaxon went to get the first aid box.
"How did it happen?" Maddox asked.
Drexton's mind flashed back to last night. How he felt every pleasure they shared.
"Ixora," he replied.
"Pet's the reason?" Jaxon asked, coming in.
"You got too close to her, and she helped you with your senses."
Drexton didn't allow Jaxon to take his hand.
"Don't," he muttered.
"You'll get infected," Jaxon said and took his hand.
He first applied the antiseptic.
Drexton's muscles tightened as he felt the burning sensation.
"Isn't this ironic? He could feel again because of the person he hates the most," Jaxon teased.
Maddox exhaled. "And the plan?"
"Will not change," Drexton replied. "Everything ends in five days."
None said a thing again, just deep silence and thinking.
Drexton's nose suddenly caught her scent. It's the same, intoxicating.
He waved it off, thinking it was his illusion.
What would she be doing at their hideout?
He doesn't plan on seeing her until after tomorrow.
He will only contact her when he's killed her parents, and maybe to see her one last time before he breaks her completely.
Then why has her scent gotten so strong? Her presence was around him as well.
He walked out of the kitchen without sparing Maddox and Jaxon a glance.
Maddox and Jaxon followed.
He got to the living room and saw her tiny frame.
She wasn't aware of his presence as she was looking at the drawing on the wall.
The one where a young boy was soaked in blood.
He trailed his gaze to her legs and saw she was walking with great difficulty.
He could see the gap between her legs.
"What—"
"This is you, right?" She cut him off.
He had to pause.
Why was she asking him that question?
Then she turned to him, and he caught something on her face.
Tears?
Why was she crying?
She walked to him, almost limping.
"So my parents were the reason why you hated me?" she asked, crying.
Their gaze mirrored each other.
"They wronged you," she sobbed.
He took his thumb to wipe her tears, but she slapped his hand away.
"Don't think about it," she mumbled. "Don't possess my tears when I deserve it. I should cry even if it's not going to help. How could my parents be so cruel? They made you the monster you are today. They ruined your life, and..."
"Who told you?" Drexton asked.
"Joanna gave me a diary which contained the whole truth," she sniffled. "My parents are demons. Heartless. They treated you and your parents unfailingly worse than how slaves should be treated. They made you see hell and then...you passed down the hatred to me."
"I can't even begin to think about the things they did to you. They are the reason for your neurological condition. They made you live most of your life like a robot. They assaulted you sexually, and I can't imagine the pain your parents must have gone through."
Drexton, for the very first time, felt speechless before her.
He's used to switching topics easily when he's with her. Claiming her tears and talking dirty just to prevent her from crying, but now he couldn't say a thing.
He could only stare at her. He had never planned on telling her the reason why he hated her. At times, he felt his hatred for her was unbiased. She wasn't even born when all the things happened to him. He always used his past as a reminder of why he should keep hating her.
"I don't deserve your love; I deserve your hatred. I came into your world and rubbed salt onto your wound. I... I should have known the hate was from my parents. I feel so ashamed calling them my parents."
From the stairs, Jaxon and Maddox stared.
Beneath them, somehow, was guilt. They aren't completely innocent.
Smith isn't her father, but theirs and when they think about it, they also contributed to Drexton's suffering.
Ixora wiped her tears. "You should have told me why you—"
The rest of the words went down her throat as she met his hard chest.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and forced her face to be on his chest.
"Remember what I told you about your tears," he whispered, running his fingers in her hair.
"I-I can't help it... I"
"Shush, quiet," he said, his tone a thin line between caring and commanding.
Ixora nodded, gripping his robe as she wet it with her tears.
Who would have told her that her parents were the worst parents anyone could ever ask for?
They pretend to be who they are not.
Knowing Drexton's story has confirmed the doubts she had about her mother.
Her mother deserves everything that's happening to her.
She ruined innocent people's lives and even caused their deaths.
She sniffled, wrapping herself around his scent.
Surprisingly, his hug and scent were soothing, able to calm her down. But they weren't able to get rid of the things she knew.
Her eyes went to Maddox and Jaxon. She stared at them for a while before looking away.
She'll never be able to understand them.
She slowly pulled out of the hug.
"I'm okay," she mumbled, dressing her hair.
Drexton wiped the remaining traces of her tears. "Don't ever cry, even when something bad happens to them tomorrow."
Ixora looked at him. "What will happen to them?"
"I will kill them," he replied so bluntly.
Ixora's mouth hung open as she stared at him.
She wanted to talk, but Jaxon came and whispered something in his ear.
Drexton turned to leave, but she held his hand.
"What happened to your hand?" She asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," he said.
She didn't know if his voice was dismissive or sincere. He seemed like he needed to be somewhere, so she let go of his hand.
He left with Jaxon.
Ixora couldn't process what Drexton told her.
He wants to kill her parents.
Her gaze found Maddox, who was standing on the stairs.
She gulped hard, staring at him with her eyes that held an unspoken question.
"They are human traffickers," Maddox said and walked to her.
Ixora blinked and glanced over her shoulder, wondering if he was talking to her.
Aside from Drexton, she's never had any conversation with them.
"M... My parents?" she asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Smith is our father, not yours. He's real name is Cesario Creed. Georgia owns the Castellan surname," he added, his hands tucked in his pocket.
All colors drained from Ixora's face as she stared at Maddox.
He wasn't smiling. His face was cold. He should be lying but he isn't.
How is that possible? Smith is not her father. Her parents are involved in human trafficking.
"It's a lie," she didn't know when they left her lips.
"Which one is a lie?" he asked, not softening his expression.
Ixora opened her mouth to talk, but no words came out.
How is it possible? The man she's known her whole life is not her father.
Her parents run the worst business. They should be protecting the lives of citizens rather than destroying them. They are kidnapping people's kids.
She didn't know when her eyes got teary. How could she be so unfortunate with parents?
She balled her fist, refusing to let the tears fall. Drexton has always told her not to cry.
"I want to join you people tomorrow," she said, eyes turning cold.
Mainly thinking about it disgusts her, and she's not going to let Drexton fight them alone.
She also needs to question them for lying to her.
"The choice is yours," he replied.
He looked away from her for a few moments, only to return it to her.
"Nelly?" he asked.
"You know her?"
Maddox gave out an almost silent hum.
"But she never mentioned you to me," she muttered to herself.
"I'm not sure. She suddenly left for Sicily without a proper reason. She rarely answers her calls, and when she does, the conversation is always brief."
"Sicily?" Maddox asked.
"Yes."