The harsh winter rain lashed down mercilessly, soaking Jane Eyre instantly through to the bone. The cold and pain were piercing, and she struggled to rise, her body failing her. "Edward Rochester, you cant treat me like this! You promised to take care of me for life, you said you only considered Blanche Ingram as a sister, you said so..."
Lightning flashed across the sky, contorting like monstrous roars as they charged towards her. She had thought that by donating a kidney to Blanche, she would return Edward to her. But she had not anticipated such base deceit.
Tears mixed with the rain, tracing paths down her face. Her hands, supporting her body on the rough concrete, inched their way towards the gate. Blood from her wounds was quickly washed away by the rain, and her ten fingers, dripping with blood, seemed to feel no pain as she continued to crawl forward.
The gate remained firmly shut, unresponsive to her pounding.
"Edward Rochester, please believe me, I have done nothing wrong! Give me a chance to explain, will you?" Clinging to her last breath, she weakly knocked on the door.
Edward stood on the balcony of the second floor, with Blanche Ingram pressed against his back, her delicate hands encircling his waist: "Edward, are you going soft?"
His body stiffened, and he slowly pried her hands away. As Edward turned, Blanches eyes brimmed with sorrowful tears: "Edward, I know you are a man of deep emotions and loyalty. But she is unworthy. You have given so much for her, yet she conspired with John Reed..."
At the mention of John Reed, a chill settled over Edwards demeanor, as if encased in layers of frost.
"The weather out here is cold, and you are still weak. Lets go inside," Edward guided, shielding her from the splashing icy rain.
On the ground, Jane Eyre strained to lift her head. The rain, like a merciless whip, lashed down, causing her to nearly lose consciousness from the pain.
The tightly closed door was like Edwards sealed heart, never to be opened for her again.
She had fought, but was defeated by conspiracy and mistrust.
Edward, if hating me brings you joy, then so be it.
...
In her fading consciousness, she seemed to hear a mans anxious and uneasy growl: "Jane Eyre, you cant be defeated like this. Hold on for me, dont let me look down on you."
Jane awoke to the sight of John Reeds anxious face: "Jane, how do you feel?"
"Where is this?" Her voice was hoarse as if tearing through fabric, startling even herself.
"The hospital," Johns eyes flickered with deep pain. Had he not arrived in time, she would have truly lost her life. Edward Rochester was less than human, treating her so inhumanely!
During her five-day coma, he had been consumed by self-reproach and regret.
He should not have helped her. If not for his manipulations forcing Edward to marry her, she would not have suffered such inhumane torment.
Heaven knows, when he picked up her barely living body, his hands had trembled.
Blinking her sore eyes, John was too upset to speak.
"Thank you, John," Jane consoled, looking at his self-blaming face: "I brought this upon myself, and youve helped me more than enough."
John hid his heartache and anger, returning to being the caring brother she knew: "The doctor said your wound has torn and become inflamed; you must rest properly. Dont think about anything, focus on getting better first."
Suddenly, with a loud "bang," Edward burst in from outside the door.
His expression was grim as he approached and started to pull Jane, still on an IV, towards the door.
John Reed, beside himself with rage, threw a punch at Edward: "Edward Rochester, are you even human?! What more do you want to do to her after tormenting her like this?"