Chapter 863
Oberon's tone was anything but friendly. To him, Jackson was a man with hidden agendas.
He didn't buy that Jackson genuinely wanted to save Lillian; he figured Jackson just wanted to win her back.
"Alright, I get it. Don't worry, I'm not here for that."
Jackson, surprisingly patient, listened to Oberon's long-winded warnings, which were dripping with disdain and resentment.
If anyone else had talked to him like that, Jackson would've sent them packing by now.
But Oberon was Lillian's closest family, her elder who truly cared for and protected her.
So Jackson kept his cool with Oberon, who reminded him of his grandfather.
Despite Jackson's humility, Oberon remained unimpressed.
"Remember what you said! After all the harm you've caused Lillian, don't expect my approval ever! Don't think that just because you've managed to win Lillian over, everything will be fine. My granddaughter will always choose us over you!"
Oberon's anger flared up again. How long had Lillian been in Miracalia before this Frane family scoundrel found a way to latch onto her again?
It was infuriating!
Oberon's rage made him dizzy, and he swayed on his feet.
"Grandpa!" Lillian cried out, her face full of worry.
"Careful, Grandpa." Ambrose quickly supported Oberon, urging him to rest.
Flora, startled, seemed to understand that Jackson was the cause of Oberon's anger.
She glared at Jackson through the screen. "You! No way! Lillian, we're not dealing with him, okay?"
Lillian nodded and pushed Jackson out of the camera's view. "Okay, we won't deal with him. Grandma, don't be mad. Take care of yourself while Grandpa's not home, and remember not to tell anyone about our daily calls with Grandpa."
Flora, obedient as ever, nodded immediately. "I know, it's our secret, right?"
Lillian smiled. "Yes, Grandma, don't let anyone know, or the bad guys will find out our secret."
"Okay, okay, I won't tell anyone!"
Flora promised solemnly, even covering her mouth afterward.
Her cute gesture made Lillian smile. She coaxed Oberon and Flora to hang up and rest.
As soon as she put down her phone, still smiling, she saw Jackson standing nearby, arms crossed, looking dejected after being pushed aside.
Lillian felt a bit guilty. She quickly walked over, stood on tiptoe, and wrapped her arms around Jackson's neck.
"Are you mad?"
Jackson just looked down at her, not saying a word.
Lillian had always been afraid of his silence. Since childhood, his silent anger had made her anxious, always prompting her to apologize or say something nice to appease him.
"Are you mad?"
Lillian blinked, thinking about her recent actions. Were they really that bad?
She didn't think so. Jackson was a grown man; he shouldn't be that fragile. He knew he wasn't well-liked and should have been prepared for that.
Jackson looked down at Lillian's indifferent expression and finally spoke, his voice low.
"You're rejecting me."
Lillian was about to deny it when he continued, sounding even more dejected.
"Your whole family rejects me."
Lillian was speechless.
Well, that was true, but it wasn't Oberon's fault.
When Grandpa was in Miracalia, Jackson hadn't done much to impress him.
But seeing Jackson so down, Lillian decided not to mention it. Instead, she pulled Jackson's neck down.
Her delicate fingers traced his chiseled features as she softly said, "You're so handsome, so gentle, you care for me and saved me when I needed it most. Where else can I find such a great guy? Grandpa and Grandma will see that eventually and come to like you."
Jackson wasn't really angry. He knew Lillian's family had issues with him.
He hadn't been great in the past, and it was normal for elders to say something.
He was just hurt by how easily Lillian pushed him away, making him feel like he never truly won her over.
He feared her family's insistence might force them apart, and she would comply without hesitation.
The thought of her family arranging someone else for her made him anxious, desperately needing her to show she cared.
Seeing Lillian in front of him, nervously trying to comfort him, Jackson's worries began to fade.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, lowered his head, and kissed her. After a few pecks, he whispered against her lips.
"I need reassurance. Give me some confidence."
"How?"
Lillian panted lightly, her eyes hazy from Jackson's heated breath.
Jackson kissed her lips again. "Say you love me."
Lillian instinctively smiled and obediently said, "I love you."
Her soft voice was swallowed by his kiss. Jackson sat on the couch, pulling her onto his lap, deepening the kiss. Lillian's thoughts became muddled.
'Wait, Jackson's lack of confidence in gaining Oberon's approval has nothing to do with my saying I loved him.'
Meanwhile, in the basement of an abandoned factory on the outskirts, it was dark and damp.
A dirty water tank stood against a stained wall, filled with water. A woman was tied to a rack in the middle of the tank.
The water reached her waist, her hands bound high on either side. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale.
Soaked and mumbling, she pleaded, "I'm sorry, please, let me go. I won't do it again."
"Won't do what again?"
A rough voice asked. A tall man standing by the tank took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling smoke as he sneered.
The woman, half-conscious, continued to mumble, "Please, let me go. I can't take it anymore."
She swayed, then stood straight.
The man chuckled, flicking some water at her.
The droplets hit her face, and she screamed, eyes wide with terror, looking around frantically.
"No! No, help!"
The woman was Anouk, who had gone missing at Mirror Lake.
The man was Jackson's bodyguard, Harry.
Anouk had barely escaped the sinking car, struggling to swim to the surface.
But a man had grabbed her legs, pulling her down.
She fought, but couldn't break free, dragged deeper into the cold lake, her lungs burning.
Anouk felt unprecedented fear and despair, passing out.
She thought she was dead, but she was revived.
Before she could feel any relief, she experienced a fate worse than death.
Harry was the start of her nightmare.
He didn't physically assault her, but he tortured her mentally, driving her to the brink of collapse.
He dunked her in the tank, making her feel the terror of near-drowning repeatedly.
He kept her in the water, never letting her escape her fear.
Even half-conscious, Anouk felt like she was in hell, consumed by terror and despair.
She wished she had died in the lake rather than endure this endless torment.
"What are you afraid of?" Harry asked again, watching Anouk's frantic state.
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