Chapter 1655

Jamie had to fight back her tears as she gazed at her long-lost sister.
It didn’t take long for her to notice that Winnie’s face wasn’t the same as before. Her eyes trembled as she gripped her sister’s hands tightly. “What happened to your face? Was it from the fire? Does it hurt?” Winnie touched her face and lowered her gaze. In truth, she didn’t care much about her appearance anymore. A different face was a small price to pay for her life. Surviving had been a blessing in itself. But for someone who had always thought this way, hearing Jamie’s concern broke through her defenses. Winnie’s eyes reddened for a brief moment. “It hurts, Jamie. It hurts so much.”
She had never felt pain like this before. The fire had been agonizing. The weeks spent motionless in bed had been unbearable. And being controlled, drugged, and beaten by that man had hurt the most.
As Winnie spoke, her voice grew smaller, filled with pain. “It hurt so much, Jamie. There were so many times I just wanted to die, but somehow…I made it back.”
Before she could finish, Jamie pulled her into an embrace, trembling as she held her. She gently patted Winnie’s back, her voice soft and comforting. “It’s over now. You’re home. I’m here, and I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Winnie buried her face in Jamie’s shoulder and stayed quiet for a while before murmuring, “Jamie, do you still blame me?”
Jamie let out a small laugh. “When did I ever blame you? You’ll always be my sister.”
The two sisters sat down and talked for a while. Jamie told Winnie that she had found their mother and encouraged her to visit.
Winnie hesitated. “I can’t just yet. There’s something I need to take care of first.”
“Do you need my help?” Jamie asked.
Winnie shook her head, and Jamie didn’t push further, though she couldn’t help but feel uneasy. She reminded Winnie to reach out if she ever needed anything.
Before Nina returned, Winnie slipped away. She didn’t want anyone to know she was there. While Jamie felt a pang of regret, she respected her sister’s decision.
*
That night, after the wedding festivities had ended, Jamie carried a sleeping Charlie into their home, with Ben following behind.
Still adjusting to the reality of their
new life together, Jamie awkwardly hesitated over the sleeping arrangements. “We have three bedrooms-one for Charlie, one for me, and the guest room. Do you
want to take the guest room or…?”
Though she knew they were now married and legally bound, sharing a room still felt foreign. After living alone for so long, she struggled to adjust, her reserved nature making the situation even harder.
She trailed off, finding it hard to finish her sentence.
If Charlie had been awake, Ben might have been more considerate. But with the child fast asleep, he saw no reason to hold back. “Do you really think I belong in the guest room now?” he asked with a teasing smirk, his tone deliberately suggestive.
Jamie’s ears instantly turned bright red. In the end, she let Ben stay in her room.
They lay side by side in bed, their bodies close enough to feel each other’s warmth, their mingling breaths stirring the quiet intimacy of the dark.
Jamie shifted uncomfortably, trying to put a bit of space between them.
But in the next moment, Ben’s arm wrapped around her, pulling her firmly against him. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder as he murmured, “I promise not to anything…unless you keep
swing.”
The warning was clear, and Jamie immediately froze, staying as still as possible.
Ben chuckled softly, holding her close. True to his word, he did nothing more, letting the night pass with her safely in his arms.
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