Chapter 57 Reunited

For a split bsecond/b, Jean’s heart pounded like a drum

She locked eyes with Ludwig. And just for that one beat, she bwas /bsure–absolutely sure—he’d figured it out.

He knew she wasn’t the real Jeanb. /b

But then Ludwig’s expression shifted

He smiled faintly, his sharp, cool eyes softening under the glow of the streetlights.

“Of course,” he said, like it was no big bdeal/b. “I only doubted it for a momentb./bb” /b

He added. “But then I brealized/b… you haven’t really changed.”

Jean blinked. Hadn’t changed!

That did not make her feel better. If anything, it threw her into a deeper fog.

“Why would you say that?” she asked cautiously, trying to read his face. “How do I still seem like.. me?”

#Finished

She and the host bcouldn’t /bbhave /bbeen more different. The bway /bshe spoke, the way she acted, even the way she thought-pletely opposite. Yet Ludwig still thought she hadn’t changed?

Ludwig scratched the back of his head. He looked rxed, even a little amused.

“I don’t know little things, maybe,” he saidb, /bbncing /btoward her thoughtfully, “Like how you clench your fingers when you’re nervous. Stuff like that.”

Jean froze.

Clenching her fingersb! /b

Was that something she actually bdid/b? She had no memory of it.

It was probably one of those unconscious habits, something buried in the body’s muscle memory. Things you don’t even realize you’re doing unless someone points it out.

Ludwig had noticed.

He was watching her that closelyb. /b

Jean lowered her eyes. Her lips bpressed /binto a thin line

Wait a second.

Something didn’t add up.

If Ludwig was picking up on tiny habits from the host, and she was doing them without realizing it…

ja kat did that meant

Shitething left over in this body?

Or—F

A sharp pulse of pain exploded behind her eyes

Jean clutched her head.

Chapter 57 Reunited

It was like her mind bwas /bwarning her–stop digging. Do not remember

“Jean!” Ludwig’s voice broke through the haze. “What’s wrong?

She shook her head.

Didn’t bsay /bba /bword.

She’d already asked enough questions tonight. Probably too many

Finished

Ludwig had answered all of them, some with surprising honesty. She still didn’t have all the pieces, but she had more bthan /b

before

One step at a time

She just wished the damn headache would go away.

Ludwig climbed onto his bike, sliding on his helmet like he’d done it ba /bthousand times before.

Jean sat behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist without hesitation.

She wasn’t the type to get flustered over this stuff. He’d carried her before, and now he told her to hold on. She wasn’t about to by /bcoy

She was a grown adult. If getting home safe meant clinging to a teenager bon /bba /bmotorcycle, so be it.

Ludwig drove her back toward home.

Not all the way to the front door, of course. Just close enough.

He parked on a quiet side street nearby band /bhelped her off the bike, steadying her as she stepped down and took a seat on the curb.

“I’ll tip off your family,” he said. They’lle here soon.”

He crouched beside her, his tone calm and measured.

“You can tell them whatever byou /bwant about what happened. Just.. make sorkething up when they ask how you escaped.”

Jean gave him a nod. She already bknew /bwhat he meant.

Of course she wasn’t going to tell the Ginger family anything about Abyssal Choir. Or Ludwig. If they found out, they’d probably treat her like a monster.

“Thanks bfor /beverything” Jean saidd

Ludwig didn’t move right baway/b.

Then, without warning, he dropped to one knee in front of her. His dark beyes /bmet hers, steady and focused.

“Next time,” he said softly, “if something like this ever happens again–call me.”

The wind tugged gently at Jean’s hair.

Ludwig reached up, brushed the loose strands behind her ear.

For a moment, he looked almost unreal

Tall, dressed in ck, his eyes cutting through the night–he looked like some kind of shadow knight

Chapter 57 Reunited

Finished

He was loyal to the organization. His orders came from bthem/b, not from her. If one bday /bshe shed with Abyssal Choir–if he ever discovered the truth about who she really was…

Il hat then?

Jean didn’t dare imagine it.

This boy could destroy her without breaking a bsweat /b

Probably best to keep him happy.

Ludwig got back on the bike and vanished down the road, off to alert the Ginger family.

Jean sat alone under the streemp.

A soft yellow glow pooled baround /bher as she waited quietly, hugging her knees.

Then–footsteps.

Fastb, /bunevenb, /bing closer.

bJean /blooked up.

And there–framed in the shadows–was a face she knew.

Sienna

Her

were pressed tight. Her eyes looked hollow band /bfrantic, her face pale and drawn.

Emotion flickered violently behind her eyes–relief, pain, disbelief.

Behind her stood two tall silhouettes.

Dominic Winston.

“Jean!”

Sienna practically dropped to her kneesb, /bpulling bJean /binto her arms:

She clung to her daughter like she might disappear again if she let go.

The e bpast /bfew days had been a nightmare.

Sienna had barelynded from her flight when she got the call–Jean had bvanished/b. Kidnapped.

She threw everything she had at the search. All her resources. All her power. She even led a team to raid the bestate /bwhere Jean had been held–but by the time she got there, Jean was already gone.

She’d screamed at the supposed owner, some old bman with /bba /bspotless record.

Almost tore the ce down herself.

She was ready to believe all hope was lost–until she found a handwritten note by the window. A message from someone she

Telling her to check near home.

“Jean. “Sienna’s voice shook “Are you hurt! Are you bokay/b?”

Domani stood behind them, unmoving, his jaw tight.