Chapter 459 Rebirth
Septimus rolled his eyes. โMaโam, Iโve been watching a corpse. What exactly do you expect me to find? I was there from the funeral to the burial. What do you want me to focus on?โ His voice was thick with exasperation.
Madelyn, who had started out serious, laughed. โLooks like I was overthinking it, huh?โ
โExactly! Youโve got me tailing a dead woman. What did you think would happenโsheโd claw her way out of the grave?โ Septimus sounded completely fed up.
Still, Janessa really did seem gone for good. Madelyn felt no unease. โAppreciate your help, Mr. Septimus?โ
โHah. After everything Iโve done for you, all I get is a plain old โthank youโ?โ He chuckled dryly, unimpressed.
Madelynโs smile widened. โAll right then, what do you want?โ
โHmmโฆโ Septimus pondered, then shrugged. โNever mind. One of these days, Iโll find a way to make you owe me. You can pay me back then.โ
โDeal.โ Madelyn grinned, ending the call.
Meanwhile, at Ingram Manor, the room was eerily quiet. The curtains were drawn, shrouding everything in darkness. In the shadows, a figure lay on the bedโstill, eyes closed, as if asleep.
Then, sudden flashesโfragments of memoryโilluminated her mind: a pitch-black prison, brutal guards, a blurry world on the brink of death, and the resentment festering in her chest. Her limbs twitched, sensation returned, her fingers curled. Her body felt feather-light. Then, from the darkness, her eyes flew openโbright and alert.
Janessa was awake. She slowly sat up, slid off the bed, and walked to the window. Drawing back the curtains, sunlightโpale in her angled faceโgave her skin a ghostly hue.
Right then, the door swung open. A housekeeper entered, carrying a nutritional injectionโmeant to keep Janessa alive a little longer. But upon seeing her, she froze. Janessa was standing by the window, wide awake.
Startled, Janessa glanced at her. There was something strange, indecipherable, in her expression.
โMs. Sherrittโฆโ the servant whispered in disbelief, eyes wide. Dropping the injection, she bolted. โMrs. Lowell! Mrs. Lowell! Sheโs awake! Ms. Sherritt is awake!โ
What? Sheโs awake?
Rachel, mid-conversation with Javier, heard the news. Without hesitation, she rushed to Janessaโs room. There she wasโJanessa, standing upright, smiling faintly.
โJanessa! Youโre finally awake!โ Rachel rushed forward, wrapping her in a tight hug.
โAunt Rachelโฆ thank you. For getting me out of prison.โ
โYouโre family. Of course I had to help you.โ Rachel said it without a second thought.
Javier watched quietly, a smile tugging at his lips, though pain flickered in his eyes. For months, Janessa had survived on medication alone. Sheโd lost so much weight she looked fragile.
โYouโre awake now, and thatโs all that matters. Go freshen up, then come to my room. Iโve got something important to discuss with you.โ Rachel gently patted her back.
Janessa nodded silently, her expression flat. Her voice was cold. โOkay.โ
Rachel and Javier left Janessa to wash. She hadnโt had a proper bath in ages. The prison stench still clung to her skinโdamp, sour, and suffocating. She stepped into the tub and scrubbed repeatedly, using nearly half a bottle of body wash, as if to scrub away every memory.
Almost an hour passed before she was satisfied, her body now carrying a soft, clean scent. After changing into fresh clothes, she went to Rachelโs room.
Rachel and Javier were waiting.
โAunt Rachel, what is it you wanted to talk about?โ Janessa asked, entering.
Rachel smiled, pulling out a chair. โCome, sit down. Letโs talk.โ
Janessa, unsure, but not questioning, sat. Rachel then brought forward a woman.
At first glance, Janessa was stunned. The woman was strikingly beautiful, almost unnaturally so. Her features were perfect, her skin smooth and flawless. She looked like a work of art.
Javier, startled by a noise, saw what Rachel had brought into the room. The woman had no legs; a metal support rod was beneath her torso.
It was clearโthis wasnโt a person.
โItโs just a mannequin, Ms. Sherritt. Nothing to be scared of,โ Javier said quickly, trying to calm her.
โAโฆ mannequin?โ Janessa blinked, heart pounding. Seeing the truthโa lifelike display figureโshe sighed with relief and slumped back.
Rachel didnโt look amused. โYouโve been to hell and back, and youโre screaming over a mannequin? Really?โ
โIโฆโ Janessa didnโt know what to say.
Rachel crossed her arms. โEven if this girl didnโt have legsโeven if she were a ghostโshe wouldnโt be as terrifying as that woman. Madelyn.โ
At the mention of the name, Janessa flinched. Rachel continued, pointing at the mannequin. โTake a good look at her face, Janessa. Her name is Elowynne Lowe. From now on, youโre her. And sheโs you.โ
Janessa stared, baffled. Itโs just a mannequin, and Aunt Rachel gave it a name? And now she says it represents me?