Chapter 99: The Hand I Refuse to Let Go

Words : 1931 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 99: The Hand I Refuse to Let Go Easter~ Natalie was there one second—and gone the next. I gasped, my grip tightening around Jacob’s hand as my eyes darted frantically around the room. The air still crackled with the energy of her sudden disappearance, the space where she had been standing now empty. My pulse pounded in my ears. I had seen Jacob do this countless times today—vanishing, reappearing, like gods walking among mortals—but something about the way she left... something about her urgency made my stomach twist. Why had she gone like that? What had made her leave so fast? Was something wrong? Was she ok? Jacob sighed beside me, and I turned to look at him. He wasn’t staring at the space Natalie had disappeared from. No, his warm brown eyes were fixed on me, steady and calm, as if he could see straight through my panic, through my fear, through every wound I had ever endured. "You don’t have to be afraid anymore," he said, his voice deep and soothing. "You’re free now, you can live however you see fit. You don’t have to come with us. You don’t owe us anything." His words should have reassured me. They didn’t. I shook my head immediately. I didn’t even have to think about it. My fingers clung to his like my life depended on it. Because it did. "No." Jacob tilted his head slightly, studying me with quiet curiosity. "No?" I couldn’t explain it, I didn’t understand it myself—the fear, the pull deep in my gut—like if I let him go, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. "I can’t," I whispered, my voice raw. "I—" My mind scrambled for a reason, an excuse, something to make him stay. "Ruben’s family... they visit sometimes. If they see him like this—" I swallowed, my throat dry. "They’ll blame me. They always do." It wasn’t a lie. Ruben’s family had never liked me. In their eyes, I was the whore, the useless woman who had ’tainted’ their son with her sins. If they found him beaten and broken, they wouldn’t ask what he had done to deserve it. They’d only see a wife who had defied him. Jacob’s expression didn’t change. He simply nodded, as if he had already known what I would say. "No one will find this house again." I blinked. "What?" "This place—" He gestured vaguely around us. "It’s hidden now. Only you can enter it. Only the people you invite in will ever be able to find it." I stared at him, my breath catching. "Wait—what?" "You heard me," he said, his lips twitching slightly like he was amused by my reaction. " This house is protected now." Protected? By what? By who? By him. "You’ll be safe," he added, his voice softer now. "You don’t have to worry anymore." I did worry. I wanted to argue more. To make him understand that I couldn’t do this on my own. That being alone wasn’t the same as being free. But Jacob just smiled, a frustratingly calm smile and gently tried to pull his hand free from mine. I refused to let go. "Easter," he sighed. "No, please," I said stubbornly, gripping him tighter. He wiggled his fingers, trying to pry himself loose, and I held on even harder, my knuckles turning white. But then— He yanked his hand out of my grasp. His sudden movement made my breath hitch, and before I could stop myself, I flinched. Hard. My arms shot up, covering my face, my body curling in on itself as instinct screamed at me that pain was coming. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the blow, for the sting of a fist or a slap— But nothing came. Everywhere was silent. When I finally forced myself to look up, Jacob was standing there, staring at me with an expression I couldn’t even begin to decipher. I felt my face burn with shame. My heart hammered in my chest. "I—I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice cracking. "It’s just—instinct." Jacob’s gaze didn’t waver. "Never apologize for that again." I blinked. "What?" His voice was quiet but firm. "It’s not your fault." My throat tightened. "You’ll heal," he continued. "It won’t be easy, but you will. And when you do, all of this—everything you’ve been through—will only make you stronger." Something about the way he said it... the certainty in his tone... made my eyes sting. He was going to leave again. I could see it in the way he shifted his weight, the way his muscles tensed like he was preparing to teleport. No. I opened my mouth to stop him—but before I could say a word, my stomach twisted violently. Oh no. The nausea hit me like a fast train. My hands shot to my mouth, and I barely managed to turn before I lurched forward. I needed to get to the bathroom—now. I took a shaky step— And immediately tripped over my own foot. "Shit!" I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact— But instead of hitting the floor, I felt strong arms catch me effortlessly. Jacob sighed. "You’re really not making this easy for me, are you?" And then, the world tilted. No, not tilted. Moved. I barely had time to register the sensation before I was suddenly— In the bathroom. Jacob set me down just as my stomach rebelled again. I lunged for the sink, emptying my guts as the room spun around me. The teleportation hadn’t helped. If anything, it had made the nausea worse. I groaned, gripping the edge of the sink, my forehead pressed against the cool porcelain. Then, we heard a sound. A wail. A baby’s cry. Rose. My heart clenched. She was in the living room. She had seen me disappear. She must be really terrified. "Rose," I croaked, trying to push myself up. "I—I need to—" I barely managed to take a step before my stomach heaved again. I gritted my teeth, gripping the sink even tighter. I had to go to her. I had to let her know I was still here. "Easter," Jacob’s voice was calm, but firm. "I’ll check on your baby. Take your time." I turned my head slightly, still breathless. "But—" Before I could protest, he disappeared. Gone. Just like before. I stared at the empty space where he had been, my body trembling. My stomach still twisted painfully, but my heart... My heart felt something else entirely. ****** I had spent the last few minutes in the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, gripping the sink like it was the only thing keeping me standing. My hands still trembled, and my heart pounded so hard it made my ribs ache. I wasn’t sure how long I had stayed in there, but I knew one thing—I was terrified to walk back out. What if Jacob had left? What if I stepped back into that cramped, suffocating living room only to find nothing but empty space where he had stood? The thought made my stomach churn, but I forced myself to move, if not for any reason but for my Rose. No matter what happened, she needed me. My feet felt heavy, like they weren’t mine to control, but I pushed forward, shoving the door open. My breath caught in my throat. Jacob was still there. Relief crashed over me so hard I almost stumbled. He hadn’t left. Not yet. And he wasn’t just standing around—he was laughing. Actually laughing. His deep, rich chuckle filled the room, lightening the air in a way I didn’t think was possible in this miserable house. And the reason for his amusement? Rose. My little daughter sat on his lap, clapping her tiny hands together as she babbled nonsense with a toothy grin. Jacob leaned in, making playful growling noises that sent Rose into a fit of giggles, her small hands reaching for his face. He let her grab his nose, his eyes twinkling with warmth. I had never seen her so happy. For a moment, I just stood there, my chest tightening with something I couldn’t quite name. On the other side of the room, Ruben was still curled up in the corner, arms wrapped around himself, shaking like a leaf. He hadn’t moved since Jacob sent him into a silent panic earlier. I didn’t spare him a glance. Jacob’s laughter died down when he noticed me standing there. He looked up, his eyes scanning my face before tilting his head slightly. "Feeling better now?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with amusement. I nodded quickly, not trusting my voice. But even as I did, I could feel it—the shift in the air. Jacob was about to leave. Panic clawed at my chest. What could I say? What could I do to make him take me with him? I had already pleaded, already begged. I didn’t want to do it again—not when the rejection might actually break me this time. I tightened my fists, forcing back the sting of tears. I’d embarrassed myself enough for one day. I was grateful—truly—that he and Natalie had taken the time to free me from Ruben. But begging to go with them? That was pushing it. I see it now. That was pathetic. Jacob sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Look, Easter," he started, his tone turning serious. "I’m a man with a lot of responsibilities. I don’t have time to babysit." I felt like I had just been punched in the gut. I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to nod. "I understand, and I’m sorry so for being unreasonable. Thanks for helping me out today, I will never forget your kindness until the day I die." I said, my voice sounding really small. But Jacob wasn’t done. "Let me finish," he said, his voice firm. I blinked, looking up at him, confused. Then, in the most casual tone, as if he weren’t about to change my entire world, he said, "I’ll take you with me." For a second, I forgot how to breathe. I must have misheard him. There was no way he actually just said that. "You... you will?" My voice was small, barely holding back the disbelief and overwhelming emotion bubbling up inside me. Jacob nodded, but his expression remained serious. "Temporarily." My heart sank. "I’m going to find a good living condition for you and Rose," he continued, his voice even. "Once I’m sure you can survive on your own without me or Natalie, we’ll part ways." I hated that part. I wanted to argue, to tell him I didn’t care about temporary—I just needed to be somewhere that wasn’t here. But I also knew that if I pushed too hard, he might change his mind. So instead, I nodded quickly, gripping onto the only good part of his words. "Half a loaf is better than none," I mumbled to myself. Jacob raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Nothing," I said, shaking my head. "Thank you." He studied me for a moment before sighing. "Don’t make me regret it," he muttered. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. Jacob stood, shifting Rose effortlessly into one arm while holding out his other hand toward me. "Come on," he said. I didn’t hesitate. The second my fingers touched his, the world around me blurred. A rush of energy, cold and electric, wrapped around me, making my skin tingle. The living room, the walls that had felt like a prison, Ruben’s trembling figure—everything vanished in an instant. And just like that... I was free.

Chapter 99: The Hand I Refuse to Let Go

Comments (0)