Chapter 293
Rock closed his eyes, a pang of guilt and sadness hitting him. “Vernice,” he said softly, his voice steady but filled with unspoken emotion. He pulled back slightly, just enough to tilt her chin up so she’d look at him. Her tear-streaked face and red eyes were almost too much to bear.
“I’m not planning on dying anytime soon, you hear me?” he said firmly, his hands resting gently on her shoulders. “I’m too stubborn for that. And besides, who else is going to argue with you and keep you on your toes p>
Vernice let out a shaky laugh through her tears, her lips curling into a small, bittersweet smile. “You… you’re just saying that to pacify me!” she sniffed, trying to hold back her emotions.
Then, without warning, she looked up at him, her eyes brimming with vulnerability. “Will you marry me, Rock?” Her voice trembled, but there was a quiet, desperate sincerity in it. “I want to stay with you… for as long as you’ll have me p>
Rock’s eyes widened in shock, the suddenness of her words catching him off guard. He froze, unable to respond immediately, his mind racing to process what she had just asked.
The weight of her feelings hung between them, and he could feel the rawness in her plea. It wasn’t something he had ever expected to hear from her, not like this.
“Vernice he murmured, his voice gentle yet full of uncertainty. He reached out, brushing a tear from her cheek, but his expression remained conflicted. “I… I don’t know how to answer you.” His heart ached to see her so vulnerable, but he knew he couldn’t lie to her.
Her smile faltered, but she managed a soft, shaky chuckle. “I didn’t expect you to say yes,” she whispered, her words carrying more weight than the silence that followed. “I just… needed you to know. I want to be with you, Rock. Even if it’s not the way I hoped p>
Rock sighed deeply, his heart heavy with the complexity of the situation. He had always cared for Vernice deeply, but not in the way she wanted. He pulled her into his arms, his grip tight but gentle. “You’ve always been here for me,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Vernice p>
She nestled into his embrace, feeling the warmth and comfort of his presence, despite the unspoken words between them. “Maybe it’s enough,” she whispered, her tears quietly falling again, but this time, there was a sense of peace in her heart, knowing that at least her feelings were out in the open.
At Clayton Residence
Tim took a deep breath as he opened the door to Dina’s room. Sylvia was there again, her face buried in her hands as she wept. She didn’t know the truth that Dina was alive. She had been mourning her loss for weeks, her grief a constant presence in the house.
“We need to talk,” Tim said gently as he approached her, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Sylvia’s tear-filled eyes shot up to him, her voice breaking as she clutched the pillow tightly to her chest. “My daughter is gone, and you did nothing!” she cried, her body trembling with emotion.
Tim’s heart ached seeing her like this, but he couldn’t let her continue in the dark. “Dina is not dead,” he said, his voice firm but soft. “She’s alive p>
Sylvia froze, her gaze hardening in disbelief. “What… What are you saying?” she demanded, her hands trembling as she grabbed his shoulders, her eyes wide with shock.
Tim took a moment, gathering his thoughts before speaking again. “Dina’s alive, Sylvia. She’s been under Michael’s care this whole time. Michael’s men managed to save her in time, but… there was damage to her face. She’s been undergoing procedures to fix it. That’s why we haven’t told you p>
Sylvia recoiled as if struck, her face going pale as she stared at him, speechless for a moment. The silence between them was thick with disbelief.
“How could you keep this from me?” she finally shouted, her voice rising in hysteria. Her hands clenched at her sides, and her eyes burned with fury and confusion. “How could you keep her from me p>
Tim’s expression dimmed, the weight of the situation pressing on him. “It’s Dina’s wishes, Sylvia. She didn’t want you to know yet. But Michael insisted that I tell you about her condition and what you can expect when she returns p>
Sylvia’s breath hitched, her mind spinning with the overwhelming news. “She’s coming back?” she whispered, barely able to comprehend it. “She’s really alive p>
“Yes, she’s coming back soon, Sylvia,” Tim said softly, his eyes full of concern. “But there’s something you need to understand. She can’t return as Dina Clayton. Her criminal record… it would mean she’d end up in jail, and we both know that. This is the only way she can be with us. Michael came up with this plan p>
Sylvia’s expression shifted as she processed his words. For a moment, it seemed like the weight of the situation hit her, but then her face lit up with a radiant smile. “I don’t care about any of that, Tim,” she replied, her voice filled with an overwhelming relief. “As long as our daughter is alive and she’s coming back to us… that’s all that matters p>
Her hands trembled with excitement and longing as she leaned forward, her eyes searching his. “Where is she now? Tim, I need to see her! I just want to be with her p>
Tim nodded and led Sylvia to the location where Dina was being kept. The moment Sylvia stepped inside, she gasped. “Oh, my daughter!” she cried, her voice full of both relief and emotion.
Dina, sitting on the bed, looked up with a soft smile. “Mom,” she greeted, but there was something about her voice… something subtly different. Sylvia’s eyes narrowed in confusion. Dina’s tone reminded her oddly of Rain.
“What’s going on?” Sylvia asked, her voice edged with concern. She studied Dina’s face, trying to make sense of the change. Her eyes, still amber and familiar, met her mother’s, but everything else felt… off.
“Oh, I had my voice altered a bit,” she said, forcing a playful smile. “I’m practicing to sound more like Rain p>
Sylvia blinked, still unsure of what was happening. “Rain?” she murmured
“There’s more,” Dina continued, excitement creeping into her voice. “The doctor will be here soon to remove the bandages on my face. You’ll see, I have a new face now!” she said with a note of anticipation.
Before Sylvia could respond, the door opened, and Michael walked in. Sylvia’s eyes widened at the sight of him… he was walking. She hadn’t expected that. “What is going on here?!” Sylvia whispered, her confusion only deepening.
“Oh, Tim,” Michael chuckled lightly, his gaze flicking toward the other man. “Why didn’t you explain everything properly to your wife?” Sylvia looked from Michael to Tim, her mind racing with questions. But Michael simply waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, that can wait,” he said with a sly grin. “Let’s see our masterpiece, shall we p>
He gestured to the doctor, who was standing quietly by the door. The doctor moved forward and began to carefully remove the bandages from Dina’s face, each layer slowly revealing more of her transformed appearance.
Sylvia’s breath caught in her throat as the final bandage came off. She stared at the face before her, struggling to reconcile the woman in front of her with the daughter she once knew.
“Rain?” she whispered, her voice trembling.