Lahat ng Kabanata ng Second chance at happiness: Kabanata 361 - Kabanata 370

Jerome went still. Completely still.Beside him, Lazarus froze.How had he failed to notice that his Lord was not with them? Was he worthy of his Lord’s trust?But unlike Lazarus, Jerome didn’t stay that way for long. He snapped out of his inner chaos, analysing every eventuality as he slowly lifted his head and looked at the bewildered faces before him. His gaze settled on Thomas.The young man had a tight, guilty expression, one that was anything but innocent.“Speak.” Jerome narrowed his eyes. That expression seemed to scream… ‘I am an equal partner in crime’. He knew it well… not on Thomas, but on his brother’s accomplice. Jerome shook his head as the thought came unbidden.Like father, like son.Thomas exhaled, defeat already written across his face, silently apologizing to Jack.“They wanted to ride to Stranton’s place to seek the healer, so we wouldn’t waste time fetching her once we reach Southamberston.” He shrugged lightly. “What we don’t have right now is the luxury of time…

Back at Southamberston, the relaxed atmosphere was slowly dissipating.They had gained a lot in just a few days… finding the nephew, cousin, and grandnephew they had thought long gone. And in times like these, the chances of losing them again were just as real.What started as noise and chaos slowly gave way to serious discussion… filling in the exact details of what had happened… especially with Jerome.With each passing minute, the tension began to rise.The first to crack was, of course, the one with the shortest fuse.“Are you sure Jerome is back to himself?” Humphrey asked for what felt like the hundredth time. He pushed to his feet abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. “I think I’ll head out and see if I can find anything.”“Don’t be silly,” Linus scolded. “Do you even know where they wandered off to?”Humphrey’s gaze slid meaningfully toward Jerome’s usual partners-in-crime.“Don’t look at us…” Harry shrugged. “Ever since he got his nephew, we’ve lost favour.”“They’ll

Everyone froze at the explosive news Jerome had dropped.It took them a moment to recover, long enough to register that Linus had fainted… before they rushed to his aid.Jerome was already there, catching him before he could hit the ground. His face was stricken with guilt and regret. His lack of tact had caused this. He should have considered his uncle’s age instead of blurting things out like he used to in their younger days.“Uncle…” His voice caught.“Don’t worry… the old man will be fine,” Maryanne said gently. She took the cup Harrison offered and sprinkled water over Linus’s face.Linus’s eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. His gaze fixed on the blurry figure before him.“Alex… is that you?” he asked weakly.“Uncle…”The image cleared.Not Alex… just mischief wearing guilt.Linus let out a soft sigh and pushed himself upright. “Don’t worry… Uncle is fine…” He gripped Jerome’s hand tightly. “But… what were you saying? You said…”Jerome lowered his head.“Is it true?” Linus pre

The old man’s expression didn’t change… but the air between them did. He studied Jack for a long moment, his intent unreadable.“Then…” he murmured, voice low, “you’ve just taken something the Lion once bled for… bled to keep from his own soil.”Jack’s expression tightened, for the briefest fraction of a second. But the old man’s sharp eyes caught it.“You know my father?”“How could I not?” The old man’s gaze turned distant, a trace of melancholy surfacing as he muttered, more to himself than to them, “One does not walk this world and fail to feel the sun.”Then his eyes sharpened again, settling on the young couple.“Tell me… do you understand what you carry away?”A pause settled between them.“It is no trivial thing… to be set aside when it no longer pleases its keeper.”Mira stepped forward slightly. “We don’t… but we’re retrieving it for someone who does.”“I hope so…” The old man waved a hand, as if dismissing them.A faint exhale. “This is all I can do, old friend.I ha

“What’s in that?” Martin, who had been silent all this while, ran over to the cart behind the carriage the moment he saw Jack, like a monkey suddenly jolted awake, the moment he saw Jack.Anne-marie was no different, clinging to Mira who herself was clinging to Ursula; the two siblings looked like they had found new life.“That’s a basin for father and mother’s treatment.” Jack answered seriously.“Wow… then you really got the healer to come?” Martin’s excitement knew no bounds. “Uncle and aunt can be saved… thank the heavens.”“Where should I take this?”“When is the healer coming?” Jerome stepped forward.“Venerable one…” Mira called out. This was the norm in the land for esteemed healers, and they had agreed to this address earlier.The footman ran over, signalled by Harrison but even before he could get close to the carriage, Eldora lifted the curtain by herself and stepped out.The moment her feet touched the ground, the world seemed to exhale.The wind died.Trees that had been s