Chapter 296 A Narrow Escape from Death
His voice was deep and he was wearing a hat, so Jean could not see his face clearly. But his voice alone induced a menacing chill. Just as Jean nodded and answered yes, she was hit from behind. She passed out.
After sometime later, she finally regained consciousness and opened her eyes. She could feel herself being tied up to firewood with a rope.
The place she was at was dark. But she could still see faintly that it was a store room. There were voices of people talking outside the room. “Are you sure it is her? Don’t get the wrong person and hurt someone innocent.”
“I won’t be wrong. Little Tiggy called her madam at the back of the school. She must be Edgar Royden’s fiancée, and that person’s daughter. I’ve waited so many years to get my revenge. I must burn her to death, and avenge Pascal!”
“So many years have passed since. Why don’t we forget about it? After all, Mr. Royden has helped us a lot over all these years.” The more Jean listened to their conversation, the more confused she was.
She moved her legs slightly. The branches under her rustled, catching the attention of the men outside the door. “Is she awake?”
He entered the room, and took off his hat. Jean could see half of his face under the dim moonlight. It was covered with scars. It looked scary. Jean was so frightened that she could not speak.
The man had a beard too. He looked like a messenger from hell when he smiled. He lowered his head and poked at the burning firewood. He spoke slowly, “Don’t worry, you will lose your senses soon after the fire starts burning.”
Jean immediately shouted, “Let go of me! You murderer!” “Murderer?”
The man’s eyes widened. “You are paying your father’s debt. You should place the blame on your father. He has committed too many evil deeds, and as his daughter you need to take this retribution today.”
Jean shook her head hard when she saw him approaching her with a torch.
“No… Don’t come over!”
He was about to light his torch when Jean suddenly thought of their conversation just now. She shouted immediately. “I’m not Gigi! You have got the wrong person! Is the person you are looking for Sam Reece?”
The man was startled. “What?”
“I’m not Gigi Reece. I’m not Edgar Royden’s fiancée. You’ve gotten the wrong person. Let go of me.”
The man stared at her for quite some time. Suddenly, he took out the photo that she lost from his pocket and held it up. “This is yours, isn’t it?”
Jean did not know how she should answer him.
“Hah! Do you think you can still fool me? Go to hell!”
He waved his hand and lit the torch in his hand.
The room was full with dried branches, so the fire spread quickly.
Jean struggled desperately. Her eyes were seared by the smoke. “Help!”
Suddenly, she heard Mr. Jevin’s shouts. “Rambo, you have got the wrong person. Her last name is not Reece.”
Then, Mr. Jevin rushed into the fire and carried Jean out.
The storeroom collapsed as soon as the two of them escaped. Flames engulfed the site, and heavy plumes of smoke billowed from the fire.
Jean was still in shock. Her body shook uncontrollably. The last time when she was caught in the fire at Edgar’s house, she could at least find some water and escape from the side door.
But this time, her legs and feet were bound, so she could not escape. The fear from being tied up for so long engulfed her. She felt extremely uncomfortable.
“Little girl, are you alright?” Mr. Jevin bent down to help her.
But Jean dared not trust them anymore.
What secret are the villagers hiding? Why would an ordinary farmer know Sam Reece? Why did he hate Sam to the extent that he was willing to face a lifetime sentence just to kill his daughter?
An eye for an eye. What horrible acts did Sam commit to earn wrath from the villagers?
Jean was still in shock. Mr. Jevin took a deep sigh and dragged the bearded man over towards Jean. “Hurry. Apologize to the kid.”
“I’m sorry. I mistook you for someone else.” That man sighed dejectedly.
Jean did not know what else to say.
She hesitated for a long time before asking, “Where is my photo?”
The man pointed at the completely burnt down storeroom. “It’s gone.”
Jean did not know how to respond. The heavens must be playing with her!
She watched as the last flames died in the night. She suddenly thought of something. She quickly grabbed the man’s arm. “Do you know those in the photo?”
Mr. Jevin immediately grabbed her arm and stared at her with widened eyes. “You stupid girl! You almost lost your life! Why are you still bothered about this?”
Mr. Jevin pulled Jean away before she could explain herself.
Although he was limping, he was strong. Jean had no chance to speak at all. He kept muttering non-stop.
“You don’t even know this place. How many times have you encountered danger? Yet you still continue asking!”
“This matter is in the long past. Moreover, it does not concern you.”
He pulled Jean back to the hotel. “Go in. Leave first thing in the morning tomorrow and never come back.”
Mr. Jevin turned around to leave as soon as he finished speaking.
“You know my father, don’t you?”
“I’m just a poor old man. I don’t know anyone.” Mr. Jevin snorted, then left quickly.
“His name is Gary Eyer.”
If Mr. Jevin knew Edgar, it would be because of his father.
Her father was standing beside Edgar’s father in that photo. So something must have happened between the two.
“I’ve compared before. I’ve identified that you and the bearded man from before are the same two people in the photo. But there’s one more man in the photo whom I don’t know who he is.” Jean took a few more steps closer to Mr. Jevin and asked solemnly, “I only want to know what happened back then.”
Perhaps she still wanted a clue.
A clue that can solve the puzzle which her father had left behind. And also to find out why Edgar hated the Eyer family.
Mr. Jevin bent over and gave a huge sigh.
“Why are you forcing me to tell you about it? Can’t you just let it go and forget about it?”
Jean’s eyes reddened. “Mr. Jevin, what if this matter was what made me lose my family? Will you still ask me to let go of it?”
“You……”
Mr. Jevin sighed.
“Wait for me here.” He walked into his house slowly.
Jean felt a glimpse of hope when she saw the lights lit up.
Perhaps she might finally get to know what happened in the past.
But before Mr. Jevin came out, the walls of the hotel shook violently. The stairs began to crumble…
The old hotel collapsed within just a few seconds.
“Earthquake!”
There were screams and shouts everywhere. People were running around for their lives. Cries of babies were heard clearly.
Jean’s arm was crushed. It hurt so much that her arm went totally numb.
Someone pulled her from underneath a wooden plank.
She raised her head and look straight into his deep dark eyes.
Her hands were icy cold. When her fingertips touched his palm, she could feel the warmth of living.
The streets were in chaos. There was debris everywhere, and some aftershocks from time to time.
The whole place was in a mess.
Screams were heard everywhere. “Help! Someone! Hurry! There are still people here.”
Miles helped the innkeeper out. Both of them were covered in dust. The innkeeper coughed profusely. Suddenly, he pointed at Mr. Jevin, who was being carried out.
Jean immediately pushed Edgar away and ran over toward Mr. Jevin.
“Mr. Jevin!”
