Chapter 68: Rebecca's Satisfaction

Rebecca's screams were desperate, but there was a hint of calculation behind them. Oliver, as expected, came running almost instantly, his eyes burning with fury as he found Jacob leaning over Rebecca, who was lying on the garden couch with her clothes partially torn.

"What are you doing, Jacob?" Oliver roared, grabbing the man by the collar and throwing him with all his strength to the ground.

Jacob felt himself no air for air from the impact.

"Isn't it really obvious to you, Oliver?" Rebecca said in a shaky but intentional voice, still lying on the couch. "He tried to grab me by force!"

Jacob expired, trying to catch his breath as he pointed at Rebecca.

"That's a lie!" he shouted, with the little strength he had left. "Rebecca seduced me! You really are a slut!"

The insult was the last straw for Oliver. His expression hardened, and he went for top Jacob with all his strength.

“You will not disrespect her like that!” Oliver shouted, as he threw punches at Jacob’s face, one after the other, with his fury overflowing. Jacob tried to resist, raising his arms to protect himself, but he was too weak. The impact of the punches was brutal, and Oliver’s strength seemed inexhaustible. Blood began to run from Jacob’s nose, mouth and even ears, as he struggled to remain conscious. Meanwhile, Rebecca, sitting on the couch with her legs crossed and a cynical smile, watched the scene as if it were a spectacle. Her eyes shone with satisfaction as Oliver poured all his anger on Jacob, blinded by the love he felt for her.

“Oliver…” Jacob tried to talk, but his voice came out muffled and weak. Before the fatal blow could be struck, a powerful voice cut through the air.

“Oliver, do you want to kill him?” The authoritative tone made Oliver stop in mid-motion. He turned to find DK, the Kicher leader, standing there, his eyes half-closed and his expression hard to read.

“DK…” Oliver muttered, panting, still on top of Jacob’s nearly unconscious body.

DK approached slowly, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor of the garden. He looked at Jacob’s pitiful state, then at Oliver, and finally at Rebecca, who quickly changed her expression to one of vulnerability.

“What’s going on here?” DK asked, his voice low but thick with tension.

Oliver stood up, wiping his bloody hands on his shirt as he looked at Rebecca.

“He attacked Rebecca. I caught him in the act.”

Rebecca looked down, a tear falling as she whispered,

“He… he tried to grab me, DK. I just… I didn’t know what to do…”.

DK stared at Rebecca, then Oliver, and finally Jacob, who was barely breathing on the ground. The truth was there, hidden somewhere between the chaos and manipulation, but DK knew he would need time to uncover it.

“Take Jacob inside,” DK ordered, pointing to one of the men who had come with him.

“He needs medical attention before he dies. Call Dr. Chase.”

“If I may say so, Mr. Kicher, it’s best we take him straight to the hospital. I don’t think just calling the doctor in this case will do much good.” The subordinate gives the idea

Oliver still looked like he wanted to question, but he obeyed with a nod. Two henchmen quickly picked up Jacob, who was groaning softly, and took him inside.

DK turned his gaze to Rebecca, now with an indecipherable expression.

“And you, Rebecca...” he began, his voice as cold as ice. “We’re going to talk.”

Rebecca maintained her fragile expression, but inside, for the first time that day, she felt a chill run down her spine. DK was not easy to fool, and the weight of that look seemed to promise that things would not end well for anyone. But when you have a man in love by your side, you have everything. Oliver intervenes at the risk of being punished by his leader:

“DK, please. Let Rebecca rest for today. She has already suffered an attack, she doesn’t need an interrogation right now.”

The leader of the Kicher family, standing in the center of the room, turned his gaze to Oliver. The seriousness in his expression was as cutting as his words.

“Be careful with that blind love you feel for Rebecca, Oliver.” His voice was cold, but it had a touch of exasperation. “Just think about what I’m going to tell you: since when does Rebecca, with her personality, let anyone touch her?” Oliver opened his mouth to respond, but DK held up his hand, silencing him before he could argue.

“Anyway, you can believe whatever you want.” He looked at Rebecca, who remained silent, her expression a calculated mix of fragility and defiance. Their eyes met briefly, and DK narrowed his own, as if trying to see beyond the facade. Then, without saying anything else, he turned to continue on his way and entered the house. As he walked, he picked up his cell phone and called the doctor to let him know about Jacob’s condition and that he would be there soon. 

“Do you want me to go to the hospital with you, boss?” DK stopped in front of the glass door and turned slightly, just enough to look at Oliver over his shoulder. 

“So you can finish killing him? No, thank you. Stay there and comfort your loved one.” The words were like a blow to Oliver, who sighed, feeling helpless. He saw DK disappear into the darkness of the hallway, leaving him alone with Rebecca, but she, who until then had remained silent, clenched her fists as she also watched DK walk away. Those words had affected her. DK had always been cunning, and, as much as she had manipulated Oliver with ease, she knew she could not underestimate the leader of the Kicher family. 

The tension in the atmosphere was still palpable when DK returned home that night. He went straight to the bar, without even bothering to take off his coat. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey, poured himself a generous drink and threw himself on the sofa in the living room. The silence was only broken by the sound of ice hitting the glass of his glass as he swirled it absentmindedly. A little while later, Oliver appeared, carrying a mixture of guilt and tiredness on his face. He approached carefully, as if treading on dangerous territory.

“How is he?” Oliver asked hesitantly. DK took a long sip of his whiskey before answering, without even looking at the counselor.

“Jacob’s condition is critical. He’s on life support. His face was crushed by the blow, and his brain was damaged. If he survives, he could be in a coma for a long time.”

The words hung in the air like a verdict, crushing and final. Oliver looked away, clearly regretting what he had done, but also confused. In his mind, all he had done was protect Rebecca, but now he couldn’t deny that perhaps he had gone too far.

Across the house, hidden in a dark corner of the hallway, Rebecca heard every word. When DK mentioned Jacob’s critical condition, his lips curved into a smile of satisfaction. His mind worked at full speed, rejoicing in the success of his plan. Jacob, the only real threat that could expose his betrayal, was now out of the picture, perhaps forever.