"Jamie? Is that you?" Elizabeths voice trembled as she asked.
"Apparently, you still remember my brother," the man said with disgust, observing her before flicking on the light switch, illuminating the room.
Elizabeth then realized that the man before her bore a striking resemblance to Jamie Fraser, yet the aura surrounding him was entirely different.
"Who are you?" Elizabeths tone turned cold, and a sense of deep caution rose within her.
"I am Jamies brother, Noah Calhoun," the man introduced himself.
"Then why have you brought me here?" Elizabeth probed cautiously.
Noahs voice turned sinister, "Jamies organs will gradually atrophy with time, and when they do, well replace them with yours."
Elizabeth was taken aback, but she responded swiftly, "Very well."
She was willing to do anything for Jamies sake.
Seeing her agree so readily, Noah was somewhat surprised and continued, "Ive already brought Jamie back. From today onwards, you will take care of him."
Elizabeth, of course, agreed to this as well, but she hesitated, "You should be aware of Mr. Darcy..."
Her sentence was cut short by Noah, "Dont worry, there wont be any issues with Mr. Darcy."
Seeing his nonchalance, Elizabeth didnt continue to press the matter, but a sense of unease lingered in her heart.
A week passed, and the people Mr. Darcy had sent out to search still hadnt found Elizabeth.
"Useless! You cant even find a person; what use are you to me!" Mr. Darcy said furiously.
From the moment he met Elizabeth, that woman had never been away from him for such a long time, which made him even more irritable.
"Dont worry, my dear, take it slow," Jane Eyre tried to console him. Although Mr. Darcys concern for Elizabeth almost drove her mad, she still had to play her part well.
"Who said you could come in? Get out!" Mr. Darcy spoke mercilessly.
Jane bit her lip, retreated awkwardly, and left.
She didnt see that the moment she stepped out, Mr. Darcys gaze turned sharply cold!
...
In the deep of the night.
Elizabeth jolted awake from her dream, relieved to find herself still in the Shen residence.
She had dreamt of being captured by Mr. Darcy and subjected to bloody torture and endless pain. She patted her chest to reassure herself, "Thank goodness, it was just a dream."
Outside the window, all was pitch black; she checked the time, two-thirty in the morning.
She had been here for a week now, living in a peace that made the days of her imprisonment and torment seem like they had never happened.
Throwing a coat over her shoulders, she got out of bed, planning to check on Jamie Fraser.
As she passed by Noah Calhouns study, she noticed the light coming from within and hesitated before knocking on the door, "Mr. Calhoun, would you like me to make you some late-night snacks?"
Noah was Jamies brother and her benefactor; she was grateful to him, and it was only proper to show her appreciation.
The door creaked open, and before Elizabeth could react, Noah yanked her inside, pressing her against the wall.
The mans alcohol-laden breath filled her nostrils, and Elizabeth hastily pushed him away, "Mr. Calhoun, youve had too much to drink!"
"Im curious, what is it about you that has my brother and Mr. Darcy so captivated?" Noah pulled her towards him once more.
"Mr. Calhoun, please behave!" Elizabeths face flushed as she shouted.
Noah buried his head in the crook of her neck, and with a slight movement, her nightgown slipped down a bit, revealing her rounded shoulders.
"Noah Calhoun!"
Elizabeth tried to push him away, but he pressed her tighter, and she felt a wet sensation on her shoulder, filling her with indignation and rage. She bit Noahs ear fiercely.
The man yelped in pain and pinned her against the wall, his fingers gripping her neck, "If it werent for using you against Mr. Darcy, I really would kill you!"
Elizabeths eyes widened in shock. Use her against Mr. Darcy?
Was the story about staying to care for Jamie a lie?
What on earth did Noah Calhoun want to do?