Chapter 89 : I Remember Everything
Was he really about to assault someone in public? But the moment Ronan spoke, Jareth’s bodyguards reacted quickly. They moved swiftly like the wind, ushering the crowd away, sealing off every exit, and locking the place down.
One of them picked up a steel pipe and promptly swung it at the lobby’s security cameras, shattering them.
The atmosphere in the lobby grew heavy. People began to recall what the industry said about Jareth.
For someone to cause this much chaos and still remain untouched, it was clear he had ways to clean up every mess.
Two bodyguards moved forward and pressed Nigel down, twisting his arm out and forcing it flat against the floor.
Then a bald man suddenly appeared, casually flipping a folding knife between his fingers.
Allison recognized him immediately. He was the same man who had handled things back at the casino.
The color drained from Nigel’s face as the bald man slowly walked toward him.
He was terrified. Allison could see it. But he clenched his teeth and refused to beg.
Sherrie wrapped her arms around Nigel as she trembled like a leaf.
Nova turned to Allison with a worried look.
Jareth wasn't bluffing. He really looked ready to cut Nigel's hand.
But no matter what Nigel had done, he was still Allison’s biological brother. Are they really going to take his hand?
He was a doctor. If he lost that hand, his entire future would be destroyed.
“No!” Sherrie suddenly rushed forward and threw herself over Nigel’s hand. “Don’t cut off Nigel’s hand!”
The sound of her tearful cry pierced the heart. In that moment, the two of them looked unbearably pitiful, as if they were the true victims. Nigel stared at Sherrie, who was shielding him with her entire body, and his eyes reddened.
Such a good sister. So sincere. So devoted.
How could he not be moved? Of course, he was.
He lifted his head again and glared at Allison, hatred burning in his eyes. He looked at Sherrie, then back at Allison’s blank face.
She always accused him of favoritism, but at moments like this, it was hard to deny it.
Nigel was swallowed by hatred, so strong it drowned out his fear. He glared at Allison and snarled through clenched teeth, “So all those twenty years of looking after you meant nothing. If I’d known you’d turn out this heartless, I wouldn’t have bothered when no one else wanted you.”
Allison lowered her eyes, her thoughts slipping back into the past. Her father had once told her that just days after she was born, her mother vanished.
He became obsessed with searching for her, barely coming home and drifting through his days in a haze.
The nanny at home didn't care either. Allison cried until her voice was hoarse from hunger in her crib. It was Nigel who picked her up, comforted her, and fed her bottle after bottle until their father finally came home.
No one's made of stone. Of course, I was moved.
But memories were just memories. After three years locked in a psychiatric hospital, and with her current status as someone without a legal identity, there was no way she could ever forgive Nigel.
Sherrie sobbed as she pleaded with Allison. “Allison, say something. Nigel was so good to you. Don’t you remember?”
Allison replied coldly, “Yes, I remember. I remember how good he was to me. And I also remember how he took it all back gradually.”
Nigel looked up at her, rage boiling in his eyes. His eyes seemed to say, So what, you think kindness can just be taken back?
Allison continued, “When we were kids, you fed me bottles and gave me a second chance at life. But then you sent me to a psychiatric hospital for three years. And that kick you gave me? Consider it payback. As for the rose tree, no matter how well you cared for it, you still cut it down for Sherrie.”
“And the jewelry cabinet…” She let out a dry laugh. “Didn’t you already give that to Sherrie? All the pieces you gave me over the years, your trophies, you handed them to her like they meant nothing. All I ever had in the Rogers house was a tiny room with bare walls. So tell me, what exactly do I still owe you?”
Is that true?
Nigel was stunned. Had he really taken back the things he had given Allison and passed them to Sherrie?
Memories he thought he had long forgotten began flashing through his mind like a flood.
“Nigel, Allison’s jewelry cabinet is so pretty. The design is really unique. I wish I had a brother who treated me that well.”
“Then I’ll have one made for you too.”
“How could I accept a new one? Just give me Allison’s old cabinet. I’d already be more than happy with that.”
“Alright, Allison. Move your cabinet into Sherrie’s room.”
“But Nigel… I really like that cabinet too. Can’t you give her something else?” Allison stammered.
“Allison, why are you being so stingy? I already said I’d make you a new one.”
“Fine…”
The memory faded, but the dejection on Allison’s face at that time remained vivid in his mind. He tried to recall it. Had he ever actually made her a new cabinet?
Of course not. He clearly remembered how excited he had been, buying all the materials to make one for her again.
But time passed. The patience and focus he had as a child were already gone. He quit after cutting just one board, tossed the tools into the storage room, and never touched them again.
And yet she remembered every bit of it. She even held a grudge over something so small.
The bald man had clearly lost patience with the crying and delays. He tilted his head and signaled for the bodyguards to pull Sherrie aside.
Sherrie screamed through her tears, “If you want those things, then take them. I won’t stop you. But you can’t let Mr. Taylor cut off Nigel’s hand. If you do, I swear I’ll never forgive you.”
Jareth glanced at her with a completely unmoved expression. “Cutting off your hand would be perfectly fine, too.”
“What?” Sherrie was startled, her entire body turning rigid.
The bald man seized her hand and brought the knife down rapidly.
“Ahhh!”
“Sherrie!” Ronan didn't even have time to react. By the time he rushed forward, it was already too late.
Sherrie tried with all her strength to throw herself behind Nigel, but she never felt the blade.
Startled, she looked back and saw Nigel catch the knife with his bare hand, stopping the blade just inches from her skin. Bright red blood flowed from his palm, warm against her skin as it dripped onto the back of her hand.