When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 553

**Chapter 553: Two Mothers**

“I think I’ll pass,” Jensen replied curtly, a cold snort escaping his lips as he turned his gaze away, dismissing her entirely.

Rachel noticed his deliberate attempt to ignore her, and rather than pressing the issue, she chose to retreat into her own thoughts. The weight of her ambitions hung heavily in the air. *Once I leave Ocean City behind, the possibilities will be endless. I can reclaim my son whenever I choose.*

As they both sank deeper into their respective musings, an unusual silence enveloped the car, thick and palpable. Jensen felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest, but he was determined not to let it surface.

The vehicle glided smoothly towards the airport, the scenery blurring past them as they approached their destination.

Perhaps it was the gnawing guilt that had settled in his gut, but to Jensen, the airport felt eerily desolate this particular day. The atmosphere seemed stifling, as if the very air was charged with unspoken tension.

Rachel’s eyes scanned the surroundings, her brow knitting together in confusion. “Why is it so quiet here today? Shouldn’t there be more people? I heard there are discount flights tonight.”

Jensen was caught off guard by her keen observation, but he masked his surprise with a cool detachment. “How would I know about airport affairs? I merely park my private jet here; I don’t own the entire airport,” he replied, his tone clipped as he stepped forward, eager to escape the conversation.

“Wait!” Rachel exclaimed, reaching out in a futile attempt to grab his arm.

At that moment, Hansel appeared out of nowhere, flanked by several stern-looking men. “Mr. Jensen!” he called out, rushing forward and grasping Jensen’s hand with a firm grip.

Rachel’s heart raced as she recognized the men accompanying Hansel as members of the Luke family’s security detail. The lack of any other presence around them made her chastise herself internally for her overactive imagination.

“Jensen,” she said, her voice steady but laced with urgency, “don’t think you can just shake me off because your family is here. The poison coursing through your veins won’t be cured without my antidote. If you want to survive, you need to let me leave Ocean City.”

Her words struck Jensen like a bolt of lightning, and his eyes narrowed in disbelief. The seriousness etched on her face was unmistakable. *So, Rachel truly did poison me!*

A bitter laugh bubbled up inside him. *A woman who is likely my biological mother abandoned me for over two decades. Now, she’s leveraging my own connections to escape while simultaneously poisoning me! What do I need a mother like this for?*

A flicker of coldness swept through Jensen’s gaze. The reality of the poison was undeniable. He had felt weak, drained of energy since Rachel had taken control of the situation. Initially, he had attributed his fatigue to a mere sedative, assuming perhaps he hadn’t hydrated enough. But now, the truth hit him like a sledgehammer—Rachel had indeed poisoned him.

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