Chapter 295 Do You Dare?
"How could this be?" Pearl never thought she'd see this side of Jeffery.
'Why was he scared I wouldn't like him? He had confidence; he shouldn't fear anyone's disapproval.'
Right now, Pearl needed to treat his wounds. She gently said, "Let me take care of your wounds first."
Jeffery hesitated.
But Pearl couldn't worry about that; she just wanted to help him.
She unbuttoned his shirt, revealing pale skin marked with gruesome scars, making her uneasy.
There was medicine on the coffee table.
She grabbed it and gently applied it to him, then asked, "Did you come to see me yesterday?"
Jeffery looked down, staying silent.
While treating his wounds, Pearl tried to piece together the past two days. She said, "You came to see me yesterday but didn't dare to meet me. You weren't hurt then, but you got injured after I was kidnapped. That red-haired woman, I saw her leaving your room. You know her. She kidnapped me. I know she has her reasons. What about you? Did they do this to you?"
She guessed so and felt she was right.
Jeffery didn't want to say much and had thought about hiding it. He said flatly, "Her name is Barbara."
"Barbara," Pearl remembered the taxi. "Was she the driver that day too?"
"Yes," Jeffery said. "That's how I saved you from her."
Pearl looked at Jeffery with deep emotion. "The dark room, have we met there before?"
This question made Jeffery look at her, trying to gauge how much she knew.
But Pearl's eyes were full of confusion.
She didn't seem to know much.
Jeffery never wanted her to remember.
He just missed her.
Now that he had time, he just wanted to watch her from afar, not wanting her to relive bad memories.
He shifted his gaze and said flatly, "You are Pearl."
Pearl felt he was dodging the question. "I am Pearl, but I am also Carol, right? You called me that. I am Carol, right?"
Jeffery frowned, making an internal decision.
He didn't know if meeting her was right or wrong, but he knew he had to face it someday.
He wanted to protect her and keep her happy forever.
Even if she belonged to another man.
He loved and cherished her.
He wanted to protect her, but he knew she never belonged to him.
Jeffery was clear about this; they weren't from the same world anymore.
He gradually withdrew his hand, feeling he should distance himself. "You are Pearl. I know you are Oscar's wife. Carol is just a figment of my imagination."
Pearl, however, recalled her fragmented dreams, seemingly representing everything about her.
"I have no name," Pearl stared at him. "You don't even know my name. You only know my voice. You said my voice was nice and called me Carol. You aren't Jeffery, and she isn't Barbara. These are names given by others."
Jeffery's fists clenched tighter, realizing she knew more than he did.
His eyes trembled, and suddenly she became afraid.
He turned around and pinned Pearl down on the sofa.
Pearl was startled. "What are you doing?" she asked, pushing against his chest.
Jeffery's eyes were cold. "Aren't you afraid of danger, barging into a strange man's room like this?"
"We've known each other for a while," Pearl replied.
"Do you know my identity?"
Pearl looked at him fearlessly. "Do you dare?"
"Even if I don't know you well, do you dare to do anything to me?" Pearl moved closer, unafraid of his threats.
Jeffery's eyes grew complicated.
As Pearl moved closer, he stepped back.
Pearl had figured he was only threatening her with words. If he wanted to hurt her, he wouldn't have saved her.
Jeffery got up from the sofa, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "You're right. I can never hurt you."
Pearl also sat up. "Barbara didn't try to kill me that day."
"Don't worry about that," Jeffery said.
"I don't want to," Pearl continued. "I only have fragmented memories, but I know I've met you and Barbara before. I've come out; can't you do the same?"
Pearl felt that Jeffery and Barbara were like her. They weren't that bad.
Jeffery looked at her. "You are different from us."
"Why are we different?"
"Enough, leave," Jeffery said, becoming distant. He couldn't drag her down with him.
Pearl looked at his wounds and then at his hand. "Where's the cross bracelet you used to wear?"
"I put it away," Jeffery said. He didn't wear it every day. Now wasn't the time. His hands were stained with blood, but that cross bracelet had always been clean.
Pearl didn't insist. "I've been having a tough time lately and want to visit a church. When you are ready to be straight with me, let me know."
She stood up, but a dizzy spell hit her, causing her to sway.
Jeffery immediately supported her, holding her hand. He saw faint bruises on her arm, so light he wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't looked closely.
His eyes were filled with shock as he looked up at her.
Pearl's face was pale. She pulled her hand away. "Take care of yourself."
She nodded and left his room.
Jeffery remained silent, his lips tightly pressed together. His eyes were complicated, and his hand clenched tightly, soon blood seeped from his fingernails.
Pearl sent the documents to the editor. Before leaving, she glanced at Jeffery's door. Despite her worries, she couldn't bring herself to say anything in the face of his silence.
As she prepared to leave, Jeffery's door opened again.
Jeffery's face was even paler, his lips almost bloodless. He raised his hand and handed the cross bracelet to Pearl. "Take this."
"This is important to you, isn't it?" Pearl asked.
"It's yours now," Jeffery said seriously. "It's more useful to you."
He placed it in Pearl's hand. "Wear it, just wear it on your wrist."
Pearl was puzzled but noticed a faint fragrance from the cross bracelet.
After explaining everything, Jeffery went back into his room. The door closed tightly, and Pearl didn't say anything more.
But the cross bracelet had a fragrance and a faint smell of blood.
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