When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 104

So Jonah just had to put up with it.

It wasn’t until Rudy finally got bored that he stopped.

“Rudy is just the worst,” Nelly sighed, shaking her head.

Honestly, the guy was such a pain, he’d had it coming for a long time.

But then she paused. After all those times Jonah had endured it, this was the first time he actually fought back, and that was only after Felix told him what happened to her. She’s still part of the reason he’s getting this punishment.

Jonah was probably telling her all this just to make her feel less guilty.

With all the history between them, no wonder Felix said she could wash her hands of the whole thing.

“Alright, come on, get up,” Jonah said, suddenly standing and reaching a hand toward her.

Nelly hesitated for a second, then grabbed his hand and tried to stand. Her legs, though, were completely numb, and the second her feet hit the floor, she wobbled and almost fell.

Jonah caught her around the waist. “Careful.”

He leaned in close. The bridge of his nose brushed her cheek, and a shiver ran through her, electric and sharp.

Nelly blinked, realizing how intimate they suddenly were. She pulled away, letting go of his hand. “Sorry. My legs are kind of asleep.”

Just then, the maids rushed over. The punishment was finally over, and they’d already set food out in the dining room.

Nelly didn’t care about the food. She turned to one of the maids. “Can you grab the first aid kit?”

Jonah’s injuries weren’t bad, but they’d gone all day without being treated.

The kit was ready, but Jonah wouldn’t let anyone else help. He took it back to his room and tended his wounds himself.

Nelly hurried through a quick meal, then made her way to Jonah’s room, figuring he’d be done by now. The door was slightly open. She knocked a couple times, then stepped inside.

She froze at Jonah’s bare back.

Quickly, she turned away. “Are you not done yet?”

But even with just one glance, she knew something was off.

She flicked on the lights. Jonah’s back was covered in thin, crisscrossing scars. Those old marks were so many and so clear, it made her feel sick.

“Jonah… your back…”

He closed the first aid kit, then slowly slipped on a silk pajama shirt before turning to face her.

“Did I scare you?” he asked.

Nelly just stared at him, speechless. It wasn’t until he stepped closer that she snapped out of it and shook her head. “What happened to your back?”

She reached out without thinking, wanting to see more, to understand.

Jonah stepped away. “A whip.”

“A whip?” Her eyes widened. The meaning hit her all at once. “You mean… family punishment?”

“Felix did this?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify