Chapter 460 Deep–seated Hatred
What on earth?
“Aunt Rachel, what do you mean? I don’t get it.” Janessa turned to Rachel, clearly confused.
Rachel let out a light laugh. “It’s normal you don’t understand. But you will, soon enough.”
Finished
With that, she walked straight over to the mannequin. Right there, in front of both Javier and Janessa, she peeled the face off the model–a face so flawless, it almost didn’t seem real.
Janessa and Javier both froze. The sight sent chills down their spines. Something about the whole thing filled Janessa with a strange mix of disgust and unease. She had no idea what Rachel was trying to do.
But when the mask came off, what was left behind was just a carved wooden base–still lifelike in shape, but not nearly as disturbing.
Janessa let out a slow breath and finally relaxed a little, glancing Rachel’s way.
Rachel, calm as ever, pulled out a moist towelette and began wiping the inside of the mask clean. Then made her way toward Janessa.
“Wait–Aunt Rachel, what are you doing?” Janessa took a step back as Rachel raised the mask, clearly intending to fit it onto her face. Terrified, Janessa backed away even more. Her heart was pounding.
That mask… it had just been on a mannequin! Who knows what kind of bacteria it has? If it touches my face, what if I break out or, worse, what do I even do then?
“Geez, why are you still so skittish?” Rachel looked disappointed, shaking her head at Janessa’s fear.
But inside, Janessa was panicking. This wasn’t about fear–it was instinct. “Aunt Rachel, you still haven’t told me what this thing is actually for. What if it ruins my skin? What am I gonna do then–hide inside forever?”
Every woman had her pride in her looks, and Janessa was no different. Beauty wasn’t for anyone else—it was for her. And she’d gone out of her way to maintain that. Weekly spa appointments, facials, expensive products–her skin was the result of relentless effort.
If she ruined her face now, what was the point?
Rachel scoffed. “Ruined? Honestly, a ruined face might be even better. You think you can still go outside looking like this? That’s a fantasy.”
She turned to Javier. “I’m done explaining. Javier, you tell her what’s going on.”
“Understood.” Javier gave a slight nod.
He looked at Janessa. “Ms. Sherritt, ever since your staged death, Mrs. Lowell here has held a public funeral for you. Everyone believes you’re gone. If you show up now, as yourself, it’ll be chaos.”
“She did all this for your sake,” he added. “Honestly, you owe her. She’s gone through a lot to make this possible.”
Dachel let out a nort “Von eat it now don’t you?”
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Chapter 460 Deep–seated Hatred
Finished
“Honestly, change isn’t a bad thing,” Rachel said, studying the mask. She glanced from the face in her hand to Janessa’s real one.
It was subtle, but the features on the mask were even more refined.
“Only by changing your appearance can you truly start over. No one will suspect a thing. But if you walk out there as you are, people will think they’re seeing a ghost.” Rachel spoke so calmly, so matter–of–fact, as if none of it were remotely strange.
“That’s right, Ms. Sherritt. You don’t really have a choice anymore,” Javier added. He’d always admired Janessa’s natural beauty, but even he had to admit–this new face had its own allure.
He was willing to follow her no matter what she looked like.
“All right.” Janessa looked down at the mask again, her mind racing.
In the end, all she could do was nod. Because the truth was, Janessa–as the world knew her–was already gone.
Aside from going along with whatever her aunt planned, she didn’t really have another option.
“That’s a good girl.” Rachel smiled, finally satisfied. “Don’t worry, the material for this prosthetic face is incredibly advanced. I had to find a team of skin and biotech specialists in Clusia to make it. It won’t harm your real skin at all. With this, you’ll be able to move around freely. No one will recognize you.”
“But…” Rachel looked down at the mask again. “There is one downside.”
She ran her fingers over the smooth surface as she spoke. “Once it’s applied, it can’t be taken off for six months. Over that time, it’ll slowly bond with your skin. It draws nutrients from your own tissue to sustain itself. After six months, once the inner structure of the mask has broken down, you’ll be able to remove it. Got it?”
“Six months?” Janessa hesitated. “I have to wear it that long?”
Rachel scoffed. “You think bringing someone back from the dead is a walk in the park? Think back. Who put you in prison? Who made you suffer? Who plotted everything and dragged you into hell?”
Everyone in the room knew exactly who she was talking about–Madelyn.
The anger in Rachel’s voice was sharp, her eyes burning with fury. “If you want revenge, then you’ll have to follow my lead. No hesitating. From here on out, the Janessa you were is gone. Dead. You’re someone else now. Only by living under a new name can you get the payback you deserve. Otherwise, you’re nothing but a dead woman–useless. And that’s how I’ll treat you.”
There was no mistaking the warning in her tone.
The moment Madelyn’s name came up, something inside Janessa snapped–like she’d stepped on an emotional landmine.
A fire lit in her chest. Of course she hadn’t forgotten. Madelyn was the one who ruined her. The one who made her suffer, who orchestrated her downfall.
It was a deep–seated grudge. How could she ever forget?
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Chapter 460 Deep–seated Hatred
And now that chance was here.
So what if it meant becoming someone else?
“Mrs. Thornton, put the mask on me.”
。
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Finished
