Chapter Eighty Six

Chapter 86

The atmosphere in the room was charged with a mix of dread and anticipation, the silence only broken by the faint ticking of the grandfather clock. Jon Ross and Alan's presence felt like an intrusion—an unwelcome reminder of the tangled web of betrayals, secrets, and shared guilt that bound the family together. Dr. Elara gestured for everyone to take their seats, her calm authority preventing immediate chaos from erupting.

"If we're going to have this conversation," Elara began, her tone firm, "we'll need clarity and control. Jon, Alan, you've just stepped into an already volatile situation. If you have something to share about Jemima, now is the time to do so."

Jon removed his hat, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room, lingering on each person for a moment too long. "I know this is not an easy moment for any of you," he said, his voice carrying a gravelly edge. "But what I have to say isn't just about Jemima. It's about all of us... and the history you've been running from."

Marcus clenched his jaw, his hands gripping the back of his chair. "Get to the point, Jon. We don't have time for theatrics. You already knew about Jemma’s existence so what new truck do you have up your sleeve this time.”

Jon's lips curled into a humorless smile. "Very well. Jemima's current state isn't just the result of your family's dysfunction. It's the culmination of years of manipulation and control—much of which was orchestrated by me and your father, Damien Valerian."

The room erupted in a chorus of protests and shocked gasps. Ava stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "You expect us to believe that? That you and Damien... what? Worked together to destroy us?"

Jon raised a hand, commanding silence. "I don't expect you to believe it. But it's the truth. Your father and I had a... partnership, let's call it. One built on power and control. We believed that by shaping our children's lives—by molding you into what we needed—we could secure our legacy. Jemima, being the youngest, was the most malleable. And the most vulnerable."

Alan, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "Jemima wasn't just a victim of your family's dynamics. She was a pawn in a much larger game. And that game left scars that none of you have even begun to understand."

Jay slammed his fist onto the table, his composure unraveling. "Enough with the riddles! What exactly are you saying? What did you do to her? And why are you just bringing up now when she specifically came to you first answers earlier."

Jon sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his confession. "It's not what we did, Jay. It's what we allowed to happen. Jemima... was subjected to psychological conditioning. Experiments, if you will. All under the guise of 'strengthening' her. But in reality, it broke her."

Vanessa's face twisted in disbelief. "You're lying. Why would Damien do that to his own daughter?"

"Because Damien saw her as a means to an end," Jon replied coldly. "He didn't see any of you as his children. You were assets. Tools. And tools can be reshaped, reforged, even broken if it serves a purpose."

Marcus's voice was low and dangerous. "And you went along with this?"

"At first, yes," Jon admitted. "But I didn't anticipate the consequences. When I realized what Damien was doing—the depths he was willing to go to—I tried to stop him. But by then, the damage was done. And Jemima... she was already slipping away."

Dr. Elara's pen paused mid-scribble, her gaze piercing. "This 'conditioning' you speak of... did it involve external influences? Trauma induced deliberately to create fractures in her psyche?"

Jon's silence was answer enough.

Ava's voice trembled with barely suppressed rage. "You... monsters. You're telling us that everything Jemima has gone through—her dissociative identity disorder, her breakdowns—it's because of you?"

Alan stepped forward, his face unreadable. "It's more complicated than that. Yes, what happened to Jemima was horrific. But it's also what makes her... unique. Resilient. The fact that she's still here, still fighting, is a testament to her strength. Don't diminish that by turning her into a victim of circumstance."

Jay rounded on him, his fists clenched. "And what do you know about strength? You've been complicit in this from the start!"

Before Alan could respond, Dr. Elara intervened. "Enough. This isn't helping Jemima. If we're going to move forward, we need to focus on solutions, not assign blame."

Jon nodded grimly. "That's why I'm here. To offer a solution."

Marcus narrowed his eyes. "And what exactly are you proposing?"

"There's someone who can help," Jon said. "Someone who understands the methods Damien used. A former associate of ours. They've spent years studying the effects of psychological trauma and how to undo it."

Vanessa crossed her arms, skeptical. "And why should we trust this person? How do we know they're not just another one of your cronies?"

Jon's gaze was steady. "Because they're the only chance you have."

The room descended into uneasy silence as the weight of his words settled over them. Finally, Dr. Elara spoke. "If what Jon is saying is true, then we need to explore every option. But we do it on our terms. And with full transparency."

Marcus looked around the room, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "Fine," he said at last. "But if this goes south, Jon, you'll answer to me."

Jon inclined his head. "Understood."

Later that evening, the tension in the house was still thick enough to cut with a knife. Marcus and Jay sat in the study, each nursing a glass of whiskey. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

“Strange isn’t it?” Jay finally said breaking the silence.

“What’s strange?” Marcus asked, not turning to look at Jay.

“Jon and Alan coming into this,” Jay admitted, swirling the whiskey in his glass.

“I don’t know what to say Jay.”

“I went to him that day Marcus, Jem and I. We wanted answers and he wasn’t straightforward. So why open up now? Why come clean? Let’s not forget what Seth told us regarding him playing a bigger game with a syndicate of some sort,” Jay warned, adjusting uncomfortably in his chair.

Marcus said nothing, instead he furrowed his brows and rested his chin on his palm, processing everything Jay had said.

“We are going to be carefully,” Marcus finally said but Jay was not satisfied. He allowed some minutes to pass, each of them savoring the momentary silence.

"Do you believe him?" Jay asked, breaking the silence once more. He glanced at Marcus pointedly as he patiently waited for a response.

Marcus stared into his glass, swirling the amber liquid. "I don't know. But if there's even a chance he's telling the truth, we have to take it."

Jay's jaw tightened. "And what if this associate of his is just another manipulator? Someone who'll use Jemima for their own gain?"

"Then we'll deal with them," Marcus said firmly. "I won't let anyone hurt her again."

Jay's expression softened, the raw emotion in his eyes undeniable. "Neither will I."

Upstairs, Dr. Elara sat at Jemima's bedside, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. She looked so peaceful in sleep, a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within her. Elara's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Ava stepped inside, her face pale and drawn.

"How is she?" Ava whispered.

"Stable," Elara replied. "For now. But we're running out of time. Whatever's locked inside her mind, it's tearing her apart. If we don't act soon, we could lose her."

Ava sank into a chair, burying her face in her hands. "This is all my fault. I should have protected her. I should have seen what was happening."

Elara placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can't change the past, Ava. But you can help shape her future. She needs you now more than ever."

Ava nodded, tears streaming down her face. "I won't let her down again."

In the days that followed, preparations were made to contact Jon's mysterious associate. Tensions remained high, but for the first time in a long while, there was a glimmer of hope. As the family braced themselves for what lay ahead, they knew one thing for certain: the road to healing would be long and arduous. But for Jemima's sake, they were willing to face whatever came their way.