#Chapter 27: A Pinch Of Truth

Third Person's POV

Nothing could describe the still silence of the room right then, neither Beth nor Jack. Once their eyes met, one was jumbling and turning over with her mind trying to craft an explanation as the other stared back in wild confusion.

The blueness in Jack's eyes was beginning to suffocate her and Beth snapped the silence with a cough. Seeing his body's small wriggling to move from the carpeted floor. She went over and helped him up, wondering how much time and effort it took for him to get there.

Beth offered her arm to him, to which he just blankly eyed. From drifting his gaze to her face and back again to her arm, dozens of questions were zipping to and fro in his head like hornets. He shrugged it off and heaved his own arm up to grab Beth's

The blond girl quickly pulled him from the ground and encircled an arm around his waist, balancing his footing as his own arm slung over her shoulder. Steadily, surely, they reached the man's bed. It wasn't too easy keeping her own balance and helping a fully developed male, and he's extra heavy with him still in his healing process.

His clothes weren't of much help either. They're awfully wet from top to bottom. Some of the sweat soaked in them were staining onto her own clothes, but Beth tried not to mind

Jack's condition is her top priority right now.

After she successfully, gently placed him onto his bed, she head towards his closet. She took our a light grey shirt, dark grey sweatpants, and went to search for Jack's underwear. She didn't hesitate taking them at all. It wasn't that she was a pervert, but Jack's condition matters too much for her to take the time to feel shameful. After grabbing a towel from the bottom section, she returned to Jack with the bit of his belongings. Her eyes caught the bowl of soup she made earlier still full on his table, now perfectly cold

Sighing softly, she placed his clothes onto his lip lap, receiving a blank gaze in return. "I'll explain later. Now you gotta eat and change your clothes. I'll just leave you alone for that. Gotta go to heat up your food. Call me down if you need anything."

Grabbing the tray of cold soup, she quickened her pace to the door without looking back

Placing the tray on a counter, she lit up the stove and poured the bowl's cool contents into it. While waiting for the soup to heat up, she placed the now empty bowl into the sink and leaned her back against the wall, wondering what happened earlier. What she did know was that it was nothing good. Skin almost as pale as fresh corpse. Eyes bloodshot red. Pink-nipped nose. His bangs have grown long enough to be all up over his eyes, which are now much a shade of faded, weak, greyish-blue

The soup finished heating and she placed it to a new bowl accompanied with a glass of water and spoon. She returned to Jack's room, finding him on his bed already dressed in the clothes she laid for him. Jack stayed still as she steadied the tray on his lap before placing a hand on his forehead, relieved to see that the high temperature had cooled down a little.

'Thank goodness'

"You cooled off a bit. Eat up and get some more hours of sleep to fully rest. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."

Jack was still holding his forehead with his own palm, savoring the warmth Beth left behind when the girl scurried from his room to give him his space once more. The silver-haired male was going to call back, to explain why she's here, but nothing came out. He sighed and just went on eating his soup as he sulked to a wall

With nothing to more to do at the moment, Beth returned to the kitchen to open the cupboards to find the ingredients she need for the perfect cinnamon rolls. After prepping the dough and placed it in the oven, she waited for it to finish baking. The fragrant smell of cinnamon spread dominated the kitchen when Beth took out the ready rolls of baked goods.

The pale softness of the rolls seemed like it was going to burst through the sleek, marble-like brown of the crust, and Beth couldn't wait to pick one into her mouth. She placed the rest of it on big round plate, slightly more nervous as it belonged to a fancy designer china collection. To add the final touch, she dusted a bit of sugar and a final white garnish

The blond went in a small TV room that she was told was meant for guests. She pulled out her novel and read as she enjoyed her recently made sweets, filling the room with the single sound of papers flipping over. The girl was so immersed into the breakneck speed of the plot of her novel accompanied with the fluffy goodness of the cinnamon rolls, she realized it was already late in the night after she went through most of her book.

Before returning to Jack's room, Beth decided to take a tour around the house. Other than the living room and kitchen, she found the garage, three other guestrooms, bathrooms, study rooms, and plenty of rooms where guests weren't allowed to se foot in. She wondered where where Anna's and Pippa's rooms were.

She head towards the last floor of the house, where the attic was. The floors were dark and dusty again, since no one tended to it for a while. The darkness lit only by a few dim ceiling lamps and the blue lighting of the night sky made the place slightly eerie, but it was fine. There was another door at another wall, and Beth opened it

Though how dusty it was, everything else were all placed at the right spots, just like how she and Jack first took the time to tidy everything up years ago. She looked around, still seeing all the ancient trinkets, picture frames, gifts from other companies, old photos of people who were once miners, a painting of a lady in a corset as she sat on a throne, old wooden toys, miniature art pieces of villages and kingdoms, and many more

Her eyes caught a red leather box just under the caress of moonlight, and remembered when Jack offered for her to look into it back them in the process of their cleaning, but she shook her head. Now she had it in her fingers and figured that there was no harm knowing what was inside after all. Slowly, she opened the box, and her eyes couldn't believe what they saw.

It was a tiara, or more likely a crown for a queen. The pretty, golden gleam of the head wear was almost blinding, glistening with royalty and kindness. Beside the crown, there was a small piece of paper near the box, which Beth unfolded and read. From there, she knew the crown belonged to the queen of Spain, and a few other pieces of writing on it.

The most poor will be in search of gold. The most rich only wishes to craft a world of kindness and fair judgement

Beth was placing back the crown box when she spotted something familiar.

With the red leather box in one hand,her other hand pulled out a pink box, the one she found when she was spring cleaning with Jack. She gently placed the box down the floor, the color that used to be so bright now dulled from age than she last saw it. It truly reminded her of something, but it was all a blur.

Pulling away the ribbon securing the box, she opened the top to reveal numbers of yellowed papers along a small brown envelope. The curiosity was too much to handle. Not before looking right and left to see if anyone's near, she opened the letter.

There were photos. In those photos were two adults, two children, and the last was a family photo. Beth's lips curved upwards knowing there was something like it in such a prestigious family. Usually, rich families had a lot of family conflicts that drive them away to even have a meal together.

The photo was actually quite cheerful. There was a little girl with pigtails in a pink dress that caught Beth's attention. The deep turquoise eyes was enough to explain that the child was Anna when she was a toddler

'Anna must've been such a cute girl when she was small,' Beth wondered with a wide smile. But it faded once her eyes slid onto the adults.

They didn't resemble the Overlands. One man had strawberry blonde hair and tan skin like Anna's. The woman had dark chocolate hair and turquoise eyes, and a little paler than the man beside her

But what truly took the cake, the thing that appaled Beth as she saw who was beside Anna, who had pale skin and a button nose that resembled the woman, and icy blue eyes and rosy lips from the man. Her platinum blonde hair spilled down her body like snow falling from her head into a braid

The blue eyed female shook uncontrollably. She quickly slipped everything back to where they belong and put the boxes away

She closed the attic doors shut and walked away as she rubbed her hands to her head to ease her nerves. She couldn't believe what she saw.

'Why does that little girl look a lot like me?!'

Her mind spun at that thought. Beth agreed to herself that now was a good time to check on Jack. As her thoughts were still wild, she looked for his bedroom door

She reached her destination and opened the door as soft as she could, only to find him sleeping peacefully on his bed. She crept to him and touched the back of her hand to his forehead.

'Alright, his temperature went down again.'

Curving a smile of satisfaction, she pulled the blanket to his chin and crouched to her knees, examining the blue-eyed male up close. His skin had far better color than this morning and his lips were a healthy rose pink than a faint bruised blue. Beth succeeded.

Now she just needed to figure out one last thing.

Where was she going to sleep?

Beth's POV

My eyes scanned the room and spotted a long couch across his bed. There was absolutely no way I was going to sleep in the same bed as he did. He's still not perfectly cured and would be disturbed of his rest if I was in the same bed as him. Guess I'd just take the couch

I went in the bathroom to change myself into my favorite grey sweatpants and a black shirt. I splashed a bit of water on my face before going towards the couch. About to lay down, I heard raps against the door. It was Jacob and in his hands was a pillow and blanket.

"Good evening miss. Thought you may need these. Sorry for the late delivery." I gratefully retrieved the blanket and pillow, feeling how dreamily airy and soft they were. Now I couldn't wait to get to bed. "Might you also be in need of a mattress bed? I can also get that for you."

"No, I'll just take the couch thanks," I said, curving my lips upwards.

Jacob didn't share my smile. "Are you sure miss?"

I nodded. "I'll be fine! It's not like I'm gonna die from it anyway. You can leave now."

Jacob lightly bowed before turning away. Once the door was closed. Beth retreated back into the darkness of the room. She plopped the pillow and pulled over the blanket, wiggling her body over how heavenly soft it all felt. She relaxed and eased to sleep.

Third Person's POV

Jack awoke to the dead quiet of the room. How dark the room was was alarming. He found his glasses on his nightstand and blinked a few times to adjust with the darkness. He felt for the table lamp's switch and flicked on the lighting. He was glad that his vision was clear then. Until something out of place caught his gaze.

He gently slid out of his blankets, trying to be as quiet as possible as to not wake up the sleeping beauty sweetly slumbering on his couch. Dressed in an oversized T-shirt and sweatpants, she was still as beautiful as ever. Her hands were folded neatly over her blanket but her legs were rather funny. One slung over the armrest and the other touched the floor. That could not be a comfortable position, plus the glasses on her eyes didn't help at all.

He slowly reach over to the frame of her glasses, pull it from her face slowly not to wake her up. He placed the glasses in the nightstand and looking at her soft features.

Jack jut realized then how refreshed he felt and his brain didn't feel as heavy or about to ooze out of his ears, because Beth took care of him. In return, she's going to get back aches and neck cramps due to bad sleeping positions.

The male felt uneasy. He didn't want that. It wasn't fair that he's the only one at the receiving end, and Beth should think that way too. Yet she's there snoozing on a small couch squeezing her body in and trying to be as comfortable as possible.

An idea flashed in his mind. It's crazy and he had a feeling that she's going to go all tiger on him, but it's the least he could do for her.

Jack stretched his hands and pulled the blanket from Beth's body. He felt guilty seeing her look more cold, but there was something about her curling herself further into a ball that had him soft from how cute the sight was.

He slipped a hand under Beth's back, his fingers slightly numb at feeling the smoothness of her back from her shirt, and his other hand under her knees. He held his breath, because it was as if the sound of a pin drop could awake her. Or maybe it was because of the hot, tingling feeling creeping from his wrists to his neck. In one swift move, the man lifted her up

Her body inevitably leaned towards his body in the process. Her breath against his collarbone, strands hair which messily hung over her face, the little noises that escaped from her mouth that sounded like music itself, all these things made his heart race. But it was when she snuggled closer to his chest in seek of warmth that had his face explode to a very mighty red.

He looked as flushed as a cooked prawn right then. Jack breathed internally and tried his best to calm himself down, and managed to gently put her down his bed, covering her with her blanket afterwards.

Retreating himself in his bathroom for a moment, he pressed his back to the door. It was then that he noticed the ringing in his ears from the loud heartbeat in his chest, like it was it's own voice yelling from within his entire body. He exhaled, frisked his hair, and splashed some water to his face to freshen up. That cooled him down, and he smiled at himself for being so ridiculous.

In all honesty, Jack had never believed he would feel this way towards a girl, but he did, and he fell for Beth hard.

It was more amazing that it was someone like her, a girl that spoke just when it's necessary, she keeps to herself, mysterious, but also nice and caring. Perhaps he may be blinded with love, but he truly believed that she was the full package, the only girl who was able to complete him and make his life whole. He would always treasure the memory of their first meet in the airport, but it was when that he became the tutor of her class did the story truly began

He was the one started the conversation, and she answered his every question simply, clearly, and real. He also remembered their chat in his car, how they had their own demons to battle, and all else.

Jack took a deep breath, and lightly cupped her cheeks in his hands.

Watching Beth being in deep slumber, the man believed then that was going to happen wouldn't be his fault, but the sweet girl before him that him losing a small bit of self-control. She would never know...that Jack leaned closer to her face, and gave her a feathery chaste kiss on the lips as if he was saying good night.

Kai's POV

Pacing around my workplace, I ran my fingers all over my hair multiple times. The worries that haunted my mind refused to disappear as I looked into my laptop screen one more time. I scrolled the mouse up and down, read the message over and over, obsessively making sure that I typed it right.

I also slipped in some other things inside a small box and placed it in my favorite place. I grabbed my coat and once again looked at the small white paper in my hand. My wife was taking her usual nap upstairs, so this is now the best time for me.

Swiping the car keys from the table, I crept out of the door and made sure no one sensed my departure.

"My dear, where you're going?"

I spoke too soon.

"I'm going to grab some milk for tomorrow. We're running out of stock."

"Oh, then buy some butter too while you're at it. We only have half left."

I nodded at her request. She smiled and kissed my forehead before heading back inside, her footsteps fading. I hurriedly walked away to my car

Closing the door of my vehicle, my eyes found a woman standing behind a tree. Her eyes wide as she realized I saw her there and she ran to the right, her pace fast like a criminal caught in the act. My eyes drifted to the other way and saw my neighbor, and elderly woman balancing her steps on the floor with her cane.

'Well, that was strange. I might have to put on extra CCTV's later.'

Driving through the street for half an hour, I took a turn that reached Brooklyn Bridge. My phone then buzzed and I pulled it out, checking the ID first before answering the call.

It was an unknown number.

But it could be someone I know. Better safe than sorry.

I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Good day Mr. Winters! Or should I say 'The Butler'?" a cheerful voice sounded. It tried to feel welcoming, but it failed and rather came off as cringy and annoying beyond compare

"Don't say that name. I'm retired."

"Retired? If I'm not mistaken you're the one who agreed to work with us."

"The agreement was canceled eight years ago. I am no longer a part of your business and any of your plans so stop treating me like I'm still your fellow co-worker."

"We are disappointed in you, Mr. Winters, very disappointed."

"I don't care, I'm just doing what was right."

The road of the bridge became closer and I relaxed my shoulders as I sped up.

"What was right? Oh no Mr. Winters. Rather, you've made the most terrible mistake you ever had."

I lifted a brow at her words.

Before I could even process what was going to happen, the car's speed suddenly jumped up. My back was slammed against my seat due to the change of pace and I was hitting the brakes with my foot, but my car was not slowing down. It's wasn't listening to me, it was moving on it's own.

I tried to open the door, but just as my fingers reached the handle the car locked itself. I then planned to forcefully shut down the car and remove the keys but it wouldn't come off.

There were other cars around me and although I tried my best to swerve between some, I couldn't avoid leaving skits and scratches. I had a look of horror as a few cars were flipped right to it's side as I crash into them, but my car still had not stopped. I did a silent prayer as I held on to my seat, my hand still holding my phone with the line still not hanged up.

"Why the hell are you doing this?!"

There was a brief silence

"This is what happens when people refuse to complete their end of the deal."

The car was twisting through the bridge pathway and cars stopped passing through, the people inside coming out to see the fanfare. I cursed as nobody seemed to call for any help and my own phone refused to cooperate. Sparks began to spew from under the tires as I tried my best to turn here and there to avoid another disaster

The world was an angry carousel. My brain was swivelling back and forth according to the motion of the car. Sounds of shriek-like screeches had blood come out of my ears. I felt queasy and badly want to throw up. I was gradually losing focus.

The car's unpredictable patterns reached the middle of the bridge, then collided against the fence at the side of the road, the vehicle along with myself thrown away from the surface.

"Goodbye, Mr. Winters."

The phone hung up at last, the car splashing into the water and drowned me with it.

heyyy hehehe...

look, I'm sorry if I haven't update anymore, my wifi is broken for months now. I think it's fine to give this book a hold on but I can't hold myself much longer so I had to bring it to my school and connect it to teacher's room wifi (which considered as Illegal actually XD) and BOOM here I am.

Happy new year and merry Christmas! I should've update this in early January, but as I said I earlier my wifi is broken and I have two weeks having vacation with my family. Soo no time for typing and stuffs.

Somehow, I liked been in here. I was a Wattpad user till now and I write and publish this story in there.

results of readers? not as good as in here.

I think many Wattpad readers is a silent reader while in here I felt more comfortable and get noticed by others users. Sometimes I felt like I was alone, but in here and received many of positive comments and responses (although there's negative, but it's okay.) I finally can feel a warm feeling in my chest, and it's comfortable. So I want to thank you all of you readers, to be the one who melted the coldness around me. Thank you very much ;3 'Inserting heart stickers'

For the next chapters lots of chaos will begin. prepare your seatbelts please ;)

Love,

Elaine