Chapter 801

Chapter 801

Mason lifted his head and rose from the floor, his movements cautious. Touching her shoulder with a lightness that bordered on reverence, he whispered, “I’m sorry, Jan. Does it hurt?”

The steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat thrummed against her ear. Even if she had wanted to push him away, she found she didn't have the strength. Instead, she simply turned her head slightly, her voice a quiet murmur. “It doesn’t hurt.”

At her reply, Mason leaned in, his thin lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “Jan, I deserve to die for this. Why didn’t I recognize you sooner? If I had, you would never have had to suffer this gunshot wound. I am willing to give you everything—my world, my assets, my life.”

Every word was laced with a sincerity so raw it made Janet’s heart tremble.

“I took that shot for you willingly,” Janet said, finally lifting her gaze to meet his. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer. Even if he had dispatched ten fighter jets to take me down, I still couldn't bear the thought of watching him die.

They left the Royal Garden in a daze of shared emotion. The moment they were settled in the back of the car, Mason pulled her into a desperate, lingering kiss. Jan; my lovely Jan. It didn't matter that Rose was Jan, or that Jan was Rose. She was simply the only love of his life.

Janet didn't pull away; she accepted his touch, her own heart finally finding its rhythm again.

“Promise me you won’t be mad when we get back. Don’t ignore me,” Mason pleaded, his voice hoarse and deep. “You have to treat me like you used to, okay? I’ll do anything you ask. I’ll tell you every secret of Black Rain. I’ll even let you play with the fighter jets. Or... you can shoot me. We can make it fair.”

The sheer absurdity of his devotion made Janet whisper a soft, "Okay."

Back at the Lowry Residence, Mason carried her into the master bedroom. When Janet opened her eyes, she was startled to see him holding a handgun.

He placed the weapon on the silk duvet with a self-deprecating smile. “Jan,” he said solemnly. “Shoot me in the shoulder. Right now.”

Janet stared at the gun, then back at him, momentarily speechless.

“It’s not like you were the one who shot me,” she said, her voice tinged with exasperation. Why was he so obsessed with this idea of penance? Did he really need to bleed before he felt satisfied?

“It’s not entirely your fault anyway,” she added, though the admission cost her some pride. “I’m partly responsible for the mess.”

Mason’s gaze remained solemn as they locked eyes. After a long silence, a flicker of his usual wit returned. “I nearly forgot... a certain cheeky brat has been deceiving me this entire time.”

“And are you going to punish her?” Janet blinked, her eyes dancing with a teasing light.

“I won’t hurt her,” Mason replied, his eyes flashing with a sudden, serious intensity. “But I’ll certainly find another method to punish her.”

Janet looked away, a playful sense of guilt washing over her. “The cheeky brat is injured. She’s far too delicate for punishment right now.”

The teasing words immediately made Mason anxious. He leaned over, planting a tender, apologetic kiss on her forehead. “I’m sorry. I shouldn't even joke about it.”

“By the way...” Janet narrowed her eyes, her fingertips tracing light patterns across his palm. “When exactly did you realize I was Rose?”

A slight, uncharacteristic blush crept across Mason’s handsome face. “The touch of your lips,” he admitted. He had been convinced the moment his body didn't reject her touch, but he had been in too much of a panic to process the truth logically.

Janet pursed her lips, fighting a smile. “Then, when did you become absolutely certain?”

“This morning,” Mason replied, a touch of irony in his voice. “When Mr. Goldstein called to tell me that your essay had 'plagiarized' Rose’s novels.”