Chapter 52

“DO you think you can make it `till the end?” Cynthia asked.
That question made Sybil halt painting and raise her head to look in Chase’s mother’s direction. She knew she was asking about the painting. But she could also sense that she meant one more thing.
“It depends on my mood and motivation,” she said as she refilled the palette with paint. “Based on my calculation, I will be able to finish this in a week, a maximum of two.”
She wondered if Chase’s mother would kick her out of the estate after that.
“Hmm… that’s quite fast. Others take a month to finish a portrait.”
“Every artist has his own pace. Not because someone is fast, it means his work is of poor quality.”
“I didn’t say anything. It came from you anyway,” Cynthia countered.
Sybil smiled wryly and shook her head. She decided not to talk back with Chase’s mother like she did with Francis Whitewood because she was somehow hopeful that there could be a chance to get their relationship on better terms.
And then, Cynthia’s phone rang. She excused herself and immediately left her seat.
Sybil remained in her seat and waited until she finished talking to whomever it was. Soon, her muse came back.
“Sybil, I’m so sorry, but I think we have to pause for now. There is this urgent matter that I need to attend to,” Cynthia told her. Her voice sounded anxious for some reason that she didn’t know, of course. “I hope it’s fine with you?”
“It’s okay. There is no need to worry about it.” She let out a sigh. “I will just continue painting the background while you are away.”
“Are you sure?” Cynthia held her shoulder and squeezed it. “You will be fine here, right?”
“Yes. Of course, I will.” She nodded consecutively.
“Okay.” Cynthia freed her shoulder and walked away.
However, Sybil didn’t get to resume painting. She was suddenly out of the mood and started packing up.
After bringing everything back to the drawing room, she headed straight to her room, then to the adjacent bathroom, and dipped herself in the tub. She didn’t usually bathe during those hours but suddenly wanted to. Ah, it seemed that she couldn’t help from changing. Sybil wondered if those changes had something to do with moving to that place. Did the Whitewoods really stress her out?
“Perhaps the answer is yes,” she muttered as she slowly dipped deeper under the tub water.
And the moment Sybil finally reached the bottom, she started to see flashes. Fragments of memories from the incident. She immediately rose and screamed upon feeling the sudden throbbing in her head. It was so intense; it hurt so much. She didn’t know what to do.
Sybil wanted to get out of the tub, but her body seemed too weak to move. The next thing she knew, she was drowning. Oh, how unfortunate if her life would end drowning in that tub. Francis and the rest of the Whitewoods would definitely laugh in front of her grave if that happened.

SHE woke up in a jolt and found herself inside the room. Chase was sitting on the edge of her bed, holding her hand without the IV line, watching her closely. Relief flooded his handsome face the moment he saw her eyes open.
“Are you alright?” Chase asked softly as his other hand reached for her cheek.
Sybil cupped his hand on her cheek and smiled.
“I’m fine now,” she mouthed.
“If I came a little bit more, you could have died in that tub…” he said somberly. “What happened, Sybil? Tell me… Did someone assault you while I’m away—”
“No… No one did me wrong, Chase. Oh, for goodness sake, please don’t jump to a conclusion. I’m with your servants and family—”
“They are all against us, Sybil. And yes, they are my family, so I know what they’re made of and what they could possibly do to you.” Chase’s jaw clenched.
It was enough to prove that the Whitewoods wouldn’t just sit still and watch their next move.
“Starting tomorrow, I want you to come with me,” he said after a while.
“Chase…” She heaved a deep sigh and sat up.
“Careful,” he reminded her as he helped her lean against the headboard.
“Listen to me.” She held his hand. “Believe me that no one harmed me here while you were away. What really happened…”
Sybil looked straight into his eyes. She was having second thoughts if she would tell him about the flashes of memories that she saw amid bathing. But then, she realized she must not trouble him with that. It was her ordeal, not Chase, not anyone else.
“I fell asleep.” She bit her lip.
“What?” His brows furrowed. “T-that’s absurd—”
“Why do you think it’s absurd?” She scoffed. “Come on. It could happen. Not with everyone, but—”
“Fine.” He framed her face with his hands. “I will believe in you. But… I insist that starting tomorrow… you should come with me.”
“Chase… think about what your family would say about it—”
“I don’t care. They can say whatever they want anyway.” His thumbs brushed her cheeks. “I just want you to always be beside me so I can protect you from anyone.”
“Don’t you think you’re taking my freedom away?” She frowned.
“Of course, it won’t be the case. You will work for me as my assistant. And oh, it’s a paid job.”
Her eyes widened upon hearing that she would be paid.
“How much?” Sybil asked, grinning.
“You and your love for money,” he jested.
“You are rich anyway,” she countered and kissed his cheek afterward. “Fine. It’s a deal. I will be your assistant starting tomorrow.”
Chase was about to kiss her lips, but she pushed him away.
“What?” His forehead creased.
“I overheard your father talking with someone on the phone about the announcement of your wedding with Prudence.” She let out a sigh. “And guess what?”
“What?” Chase pressed his forehead against hers.
“He caught me eavesdropping.”
“What did he say to you then?”
“He is mad at me, of course. Freaking mad that he even advised me to leave.”
He shook his head.
“You’re not leaving me, are you?”
“I won’t leave as long as you tell me not to.”
“Good.”
Chase wrapped his arms around her and pulled her for a kiss.