The True Heiress: Legend Mode novel Chapter 196

She was telling him to hide in the bathroom.

Reluctantly, Chuck slipped inside.

Juno turned around, opened the door, and acted as if nothing had happened. "Is there something you need, Uncle Jeremy?"

Jeremy absentmindedly peered past her into the room. Had he just seen a shadow?

Realizing Juno was staring at him, he shook his head. "Nothing major. Your grandmother asked me to bring you a glass of warm milk."

He handed her the glass.

Juno took it with both hands. "Thank you. Was there anything else?"

"Nope."

Juno spoke quickly. "Great. Goodnight then."

*Click.*

The door shut in his face again.

Jeremy stood in the hallway for a moment, amused by how suspicious she was acting.

Chuckling to himself, he headed back downstairs.

Meanwhile, inside the bedroom.

The second Juno set the milk down, she heard a heavy thud from the bathroom.

She was confused for a split second before a terrifying realization hit her—she hadn't closed the lid to the washing machine. She rushed into the bathroom, her face pale.

Inside, Chuck was kneeling on the tiles, his face ashen, clutching his head in sheer panic.

Juno quickly lunged forward, slammed the washing machine lid shut, and flipped on the overhead lights. Dropping to her knees, she rubbed his back, soothing him like a frightened child. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm right here..."

Beads of cold sweat rolled down the side of his face.

Juno grabbed some tissues and gently wiped his forehead, whispering soft reassurances.

His tall, powerful frame was trembling violently. His eyes were squeezed shut, looking utterly broken and vulnerable.

Tossing the tissues aside, she wrapped her arms tightly around him. His usually handsome face was paralyzed with terror.

They couldn't stay in here. Juno helped him up and guided him out of the bathroom, carefully laying him down on her bed and pulling the covers over him.

Juno grabbed it and looked at him for permission.

He didn't react, signaling she could do whatever she wanted.

She answered the call. It was Lorcan Yates, the man she had recently beaten half to death.

Lorcan sounded slightly surprised to hear her voice, but quickly recovered, calmly sipping his coffee. "Well, Ms. Mercer. Where is Chuck?"

Calling at this exact moment meant Chuck's current state was entirely his doing.

She glanced back at Chuck, then walked into the adjoining room to speak privately.

Her eyes were sharp and furious. "The lid on that machine was closed."

His coffee must have tasted excellent, because Lorcan sounded incredibly pleased. "You're smarter than I gave you credit for, Ms. Mercer. Yes, it was closed. I simply had one of my people pop it open."

If Chuck were at Northbridge, Miles and the security team would have kept him perfectly safe. But this was the Jagger estate. Security wasn't nearly as airtight, which gave Lorcan the perfect window.

"Let me tell you a little story about why he reacts like that. It's a secret that even the 'dead' version of Juno Mercer never figured out."

He spoke casually, as if recounting a funny anecdote.