Chapter 62 Jeffrey Was Framed
Rachel moved with a graceful swiftness, her instincts propelling her forward. She was the first to rush over, her heart pounding as she stepped into the open air. The scene that greeted her was one of chaos and distress.
Doris sat on the floor, her hair tangled and disheveled, her face streaked with tears. She looked utterly broken, her shoulders trembling as she clutched herself, a picture of misery.
“What happened?” Rachel asked, her voice tinged with urgency and concern. But before Doris could respond, her gaze shifted, and she caught sight of Jeffrey.
“Jeffrey!” Rachel’s voice softened, her concern growing as she rushed toward him. Her steps were quick but deliberate. “Jeffrey, what happened? Are you okay?”
Rachel scanned Jeffrey frantically, her eyes desperately searching for any signs of injury, but her anxiety only deepened as she took in his appearance. His clothes were wrinkled
and disordered, and his face held an expression of utter dread.
Jeffrey stood motionless, his eyes lowered, his lips pressed into a thin line as if words failed him. He looked more fragile than Rachel had ever seen him.
“Don’t worry, Jeffrey. I’m here, and I won’t let anything happen to you,” Rachel whispered, her voice soothing and steady. She gently held Jeffrey, her hands soft but firm, offering a warmth that only she could provide. “You’re safe now. I promise.”
Meanwhile, Doris remained crumpled on the floor, her hair tangled. She brushed aside strands of her long, disheveled hair, revealing a face streaked with tears. But what caught the eye immediately were the red scratches marring her skin. One of them was particularly deep, the broken skin oozing tiny beads of blood. The sight was devastating for someone like Doris, who took immense pride in her appearance.
“Doris! What happened to you?” Carol stepped forward, her eyes quickly scanning the scene, taking in the situation with a sharp, assessing gaze.
As soon as Doris saw Carol, her composure shattered completely. She collapsed into
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Chapter 62 Jeffrey Was Framed
uncontrollable sobs, her body wracked with pain and emotion, struggling to even speak through her tears. “I… I…” She couldn’t continue. The words stuck in her throat, replaced by sobs that left her gasping for air.
At first, Carol’s heart ached with sympathy, but when her gaze landed on the scratches across Doris’s face, her concern turned to alarm. Her chest tightened. “Doris, come on, get up!” she urged, her voice firm but gentle.
She wrapped an arm around Doris’s shoulders, helping her to her feet. “What on earth happened? Tell me everything!”
Clutching Carol’s hands tightly, Doris’s tear–streaked face was the picture of devastation. Her body trembled with every sob, and her words came out in broken
gasps.
“I’m so sorry,” she choked out between sobs, her voice trembling with guilt and despair. “Today is your birthday, and I’ve ruined everything. I didn’t mean to cause trouble, but… my face…” Her voice cracked again, and her sobs intensified as she tilted her face to show the worst of the scratches as if seeking validation for the pain that marked her.
Carol’s heart tightened at the sight of the bruises and cuts, but she remained composed, gently holding Doris’s trembling shoulders. “There, there. Just tell me what happened,” she said softly, her voice full of compassion and understanding.
Doris sniffled, her sobs quieting slightly as she tried to compose herself. She timidly lifted her head, her eyes flickering toward Rachel briefly before returning to Carol. “Carol, I… I don’t know how to explain this,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Carol could already guess much of the story, but she knew it wasn’t the time for assumptions or judgment, especially with so many eyes on them.
She said, her voice steady but gentle. “Whatever happened, it’s okay. I’m here. Tell me the truth, no matter how hard it is.”
Guilt etched across Doris’s face, her gaze lingering on Rachel. Her voice trembled as she spoke, “Rachel… I’m so sorry. I know this isn’t how things should be. You’re going to be my sister–in–law, and I… I never wanted to cause you trouble. But…”
The words faltered, and Doris tone shifted suddenly, giving way to fresh sobs, deeper and more sorrowful than before. “Your brother Jeffrey… he… he tried to take advantage of me. I was just walking down the hall when I bumped into him. He asked me where the restroom was, and I told him, thinking he was just asking for directions. But… I never expected he would try to take advantage of me.”
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“That’s impossible,” Rachel interjected quickly, her voice sharp and disbelieving. The accusation seemed so out of place that she couldn’t hold back.
Despite being in his twenties, Jeffrey was still innocent when it came to matters of the heart. There was no way he could have had any improper intentions toward Doris. Her
claims didn’t make sense.
Doris’s face crumpled, her hurt intensifying at Rachel’s interruption. Her eyes welled with fresh tears as she tried to explain herself, but the words caught in her throat, leaving her more vulnerable than ever.
The tension in the room grew thick, the air heavy with unspoken discomfort. Just as Rachel was about to say something more, a voice behind her caught her attention. “Brian’s back,” came the soft whisper.
Rachel felt a flicker of relief, the suffocating weight on her chest lifting ever so slightly. If Brian were here, he would surely stand up for her and Jeffrey. He would see through Doris’s lies and set things right.
Carol’s expression softened as she glanced at both Rachel and Doris. “Since Brian is here, I think it’s best we leave this matter to him,” she said, her tone resolute. “Rachel, Doris, would you both be alright with that?”
Both women nodded without hesitation. “Yes, we agree.”
The approval seemed to settle the matter, and Carol, still focused on her role as the birthday host, turned toward the exit.
As Carol began to leave, Aron, still lingering in the background, couldn’t help but voice his concern. “Mom, aren’t you worried that Brian might show favoritism when dealing with this situation?”
“Aron, let me be candid with you,” Carol began, her voice calm but full of an emotion that rarely surfaced. “I’ve always had a particular affection for Rachel. Doris may have been raised within our family, but she has a sharp edge, a stubbornness that can be
hard to soften.”
Carol paused, choosing her words carefully before continuing. “Rachel, though, is different. She has a quiet wisdom about her. She’s gentle when she needs to be but firm when the situation calls for it. In many ways, she reminds me of the younger version of myself.”
Aron was taken aback by his mother’s words.
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Chapter 62 Jeffrey Was Framed
Carol’s voice softened further as she sighed and looked away momentarily. “On a more personal note… Rachel reminds me so much of my youngest daughter, the one we lost.”
Aron’s heart tightened. His younger sister, Carol’s beloved daughter, had been the light of their lives. She had been cherished by everyone, a symbol of joy and promise. Carol had nearly lost her own life giving birth to her, pouring all her love into raising her. But fate had been cruel. When his sister was only a few years old, a tragic car accident took her life, leaving a wound in Carol’s heart that never fully healed.
From the moment Carol first met Rachel, an unexplainable connection had formed between them, which only deepened as Rachel grew. Watching her blossom into a poised, graceful young woman intensified Carol’s affection for her, almost as if Rachel were the daughter she had lost.
This bond, however, had not gone unnoticed, and it was a source of bitterness for Debby, whose resentment toward Rachel had only grown over time.
Lost in thought, Aron let out a quiet sigh, the weight of the past heavy on his mind. “Mom, I understand how much you care for Rachel, but Doris’s father gave his life to save me. She’s his only child. How could I stand by and let her suffer any injustice?”
Carol turned to Aron with a calm, knowing expression, resting her hand gently over his. “I understand how you feel, Aron,” she said softly. “But Rachel is going to be Brian’s wife and the future mother of my grandchildren. Is it wrong for me to show her a little extra care? I’m not neglecting Doris. I’ve entrusted this matter to Brian precisely because I didn’t want to be seen as playing favorites. Let’s trust him to handle it as he
sees fit.”
Aron looked at her, taking a moment to absorb her words. “You’re right. Brian can manage this. Let’s get to the banquet. Everyone’s waiting for us.”
“Alright.” Carol nodded, the weight on her shoulders slightly lighter. “Let’s go.”
The moment Brian arrived, Doris rushed toward him, her face streaked with tears. Without a word, she threw herself into his arms, clutching his arm as if it were her only lifeline. Her sobs were loud and unrestrained, each one trembling with a raw, desperate emotion that could have moved anyone who witnessed it. Her cries were pitiful, the kind that might have tugged at the heartstrings of even the most stoic
observer.
But to Brian, Doris emotional outburst only served to increase his frustration. He rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the headache forming from the chaos. His patience was wearing thin, and he shot her a cold look. “Enough with the tears, Doris,” he said, his
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voice firm and clipped. “Just tell me what happened!”
