Chapter 192 192
Jacqueline woke before dawn, the clock barely touching four.
Quietly, she nudged Mathieu awake. The two of them washed up in silence before preparing to leave the mansion. Before departing, Jacqueline had written a short note for Damien a simple message of gratitude.
She knew the household would wake in roughly four hours. That was precisely why she had chosen this hour to leave.
If she waited until morning, she would have to face them.
And she knew she wouldn’t be able to go.
In such a short time, every person in that house had become precious to her. But the one she couldn’t bear to face most of all was Damien.
She couldn’t say goodbye to him.
Not when she knew she was leaving her heart behind.
The siblings slipped out of the mansion quietly. The world outside was still cloaked in darkness, though faint streaks of early dawn were beginning to stretch across the sky.
“You didn’t even let me say goodbye,” Mathieu muttered softly.
Jacqueline didn’t know what to say to that. Instead, she tightened her grip around his small hand.
She hadn’t taken anything with her.
Not a bag.
Not even money.
She had no idea how they would return to the city.
They had walked several miles when the sound of a slowing vehicle reached them. A car rolled to a stop along the roadside beside the pavement.
“Jacqueline!”
The masculine voice made them both turn.
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
“Rafael,” she said, offering a small, strained smile.
“Where are you headed?” he asked, glancing down at Mathieu.
“We’re just going back to the city,” she replied calmly.
Rafael’s brows knit together.
“On foot?” he asked, clearly puzzled.
Heat crept across Jacqueline’s face as she looked away.
“No, I… uh… we were…” she stammered awkwardly.
“Get in the car.”
She blinked at him.
“N-no, it’s okay,” she said hesitantly.
“You won’t find transport out here,” Rafael replied. “I’m heading to the city anyway to meet a friend. Come on, hop in. I’ll drop you off.”
She didn’t think about it long.
Guiding Mathieu forward, she helped him into the car before taking the passenger seat herself. Rafael pulled back onto the highway.
Jacqueline stared ahead silently.
She didn’t want to cry, but the ache in her chest was impossible to ignore. Leaving Damien hurt more than she had expected.
Still… this was better.
The journey wasn’t uncomfortable.
Despite his rugged appearance, Rafael turned out to be a surprisingly amusing companion. He filled the drive with jokes and casual conversation, keeping the mood light.
By afternoon, both siblings were starving.
When Mathieu’s stomach growled loudly, Rafael noticed immediately. He pulled into a gas station and bought snacks for them.
They thanked him gratefully.
Night had already fallen by the time they reached the city.
Jacqueline didn’t give him Julien’s exact address. Instead, she asked Rafael to drop them off a street away from the house.
After thanking him again, they watched the car disappear before continuing on foot.
When the mansion came into view, Jacqueline stopped.
Once, the place had been magnificent.
Now it looked like the remains of something long dead.
The gates stood open. The grounds were empty.
Not a single soul remained.
The estate had become nothing more than an abandoned ruin.
Her thoughts drifted to Hélène.
According to the news, the staff had survived because the fire hadn’t reached the wing where their quarters were located. Besides, Hélène hadn’t been living there anymore.
The siblings walked toward the servants’ quarters.
They too were deserted.
Jacqueline had expected at least a watchman to be present but even that hope proved wrong.
She found a room with two small beds and cleaned it as best she could. The quarters were still intact enough to serve as a temporary shelter.
For now, it would be their home.
She checked the kitchen next.
There was almost nothing left inside.
After searching through the cupboards, she found a single packet of biscuits.
She handed them to Mathieu. He ate quietly before drifting into sleep.
Jacqueline wandered toward the burned-out mansion itself.
Darkness filled the structure.
The sight triggered a sharp wave of unease inside her chest.
She stepped back immediately and returned outside.
Her mother had once poured so much love into decorating that house.
Later, it had become Jacqueline’s personal hell.
And now…
It was gone.
Completely.
She decided she would speak to Julien’s lawyer the next day. She needed money desperately if she wanted to secure proper treatment for her brother.
Walking out into the garden, she lowered herself onto the grass.
Her gaze lifted toward the night sky.
Tears slowly filled her eyes.
For the first time in a long while, she felt completely alone. Fragile.
She wondered if Damien had read the note she left behind.
What would he think?
Now that everything was over… would he return to the university?
Would she ever see him again?
Damien possessed a soul more beautiful than most people deserved.
From the depths of her heart, she wished he would find his happiness again.
He deserved every joy the world could offer.
All she wanted was to see him happy.
Even if that happiness belonged to someone else.
Even if that someone was Gabrielle.
Gabrielle was incredibly fortunate to be loved by a man like Damien.
Lost in those thoughts, Jacqueline didn’t notice how many tears had fallen until a familiar voice cut through the night.
“Jacqueline?”
Her head snapped toward the sound, her heart twisting painfully.
“Fck Jacqueline? Is that really you?”
Gilles.
Before he could say another word, a sob burst from her throat.
She rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck, clinging tightly as he wrapped her in a powerful bear hug.
“You’re real,” his voice cracked.
Her tears flowed freely now.
She had missed him.
She had missed her friends more than she had realized.
“Shut up,” she muttered weakly.
Gilles laughed softly, ruffling her hair. When she pulled back, wiping her face, he studied her expression carefully.
Concern crept into his features.
He had never seen Jacqueline like this.
She was always the cheerful one the girl who laughed the loudest.
“I was just passing by,” he explained. “Thought I’d check the place. Maybe some staff would still be around… maybe they could tell me something about you.”
Jacqueline sniffed quietly.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” he said gently.
She reminded herself that her friends knew nothing about the horrors she had endured.
So she simply nodded faintly.
“Where the hell were you?” Gilles demanded suddenly, emotion tightening his voice. “We were worried sick. Your phone was off, and your father wouldn’t tell us anything. We were losing our damn minds, Jacqueline. Don’t ever disappear like that again.”
Tears threatened to return.
“Dad sent Mathieu and me to visit our aunt in London,” she said softly. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t contact anyone… and then everything happened.”
Gilles exhaled heavily.
“Where’s Mathieu?”
“He’s in the servants’ quarters,” she replied. “The whole house is burned down, and that was the only place”
“Jesus, Jacqueline.” Gilles shook his head in disbelief.
“What’s wrong with you?”
His tone turned firm.
“Come on. Let’s get Mathieu. You’re coming with me.”