Chapter 459 Rebirth

Septimus rolled his eyes. “Ma’am, I’ve 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?” His voice was thick with exasperation.

Madelyn, who had started out serious, laughed. “Looks like I was overthinking it, huh?”

“Exactly! You’ve got me tailing a dead woman. What did you think would happen—she’d claw her way out of the grave?” Septimus sounded completely fed up.

Still, Janessa really did seem gone for good. Madelyn felt no unease. “Appreciate your help, Mr. Septimus?”

“Hah. After everything I’ve done for you, all I get is a plain old ‘thank you’?” He chuckled dryly, unimpressed.

Madelyn’s smile widened. “All right then, what do you want?”

“Hmm…” Septimus pondered, then shrugged. “Never mind. One of these days, I’ll find a way to make you owe me. You can pay me back then.”

“Deal.” 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 bed—still, eyes closed, as if asleep.

Then, sudden flashes—fragments of memory—illuminated 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 open—bright and alert.

Janessa was awake. She slowly sat up, slid off the bed, and walked to the window. Drawing back the curtains, sunlight—pale in her angled face—gave her skin a ghostly hue.

Right then, the door swung open. A housekeeper entered, carrying a nutritional injection—meant 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.

“Ms. Sherritt…” the servant whispered in disbelief, eyes wide. Dropping the injection, she bolted. “Mrs. Lowell! Mrs. Lowell! She’s awake! Ms. Sherritt is awake!”

What? She’s awake?

Rachel, mid-conversation with Javier, heard the news. Without hesitation, she rushed to Janessa’s room. There she was—Janessa, standing upright, smiling faintly.

“Janessa! You’re finally awake!” Rachel rushed forward, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Aunt Rachel… thank you. For getting me out of prison.”

“You’re family. Of course I had to help you.” 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. She’d lost so much weight she looked fragile.

“You’re awake now, and that’s all that matters. Go freshen up, then come to my room. I’ve got something important to discuss with you.” Rachel gently patted her back.

Janessa nodded silently, her expression flat. Her voice was cold. “Okay.”

Rachel and Javier left Janessa to wash. She hadn’t had a proper bath in ages. The prison stench still clung to her skin—damp, 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 Rachel’s room.

Rachel and Javier were waiting.

“Aunt Rachel, what is it you wanted to talk about?” Janessa asked, entering.

Rachel smiled, pulling out a chair. “Come, sit down. Let’s talk.”

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 clear—this wasn’t a person.

“It’s just a mannequin, Ms. Sherritt. Nothing to be scared of,” Javier said quickly, trying to calm her.

“A… mannequin?” Janessa blinked, heart pounding. Seeing the truth—a lifelike display figure—she sighed with relief and slumped back.

Rachel didn’t look amused. “You’ve been to hell and back, and you’re screaming over a mannequin? Really?”

“I…” Janessa didn’t know what to say.

Rachel crossed her arms. “Even if this girl didn’t have legs—even if she were a ghost—she wouldn’t be as terrifying as that woman. Madelyn.”

At the mention of the name, Janessa flinched. Rachel continued, pointing at the mannequin. “Take a good look at her face, Janessa. Her name is Elowynne Lowe. From now on, you’re her. And she’s you.”

Janessa stared, baffled. It’s just a mannequin, and Aunt Rachel gave it a name? And now she says it represents me?