CHAPTER 217: CHAPTER 217

Her words hung in the air like smoke. She glanced again at Rebecca, blinking quickly, as if trying to steady her spinning mind.

"It feels like we’ve... seen each other before," she added, her brows furrowing. "Like... how is that even possible?"

Rebecca said nothing.

Valentina turned quickly toward Cecilia, her voice cracking slightly. "Mother... have we met before? I mean—really met? Have I seen you somewhere? You... Rebecca... even me... I don’t understand."

Cecilia’s expression remained calm, but her eyes narrowed slightly, as if measuring every word, every breath Valentina took.

Valentina looked between the two women now, more frantic. "Why does it feel like this isn’t the first time? Why do I feel like I’ve walked this hall? Like I’ve heard these voices? Like I’ve known these faces?"

Her breathing grew unsteady, her voice rising just a little. "This doesn’t feel like the first time. It doesn’t."

She took another step back, almost stumbling, her fingers brushing the edge of a tall candleholder beside her. Her gaze darted between Cecilia, Rebecca, and the silent man still standing in the corner.

"Have we all met before?" she asked again, eyes wide now. "Have I been here before? Why does it feel like I’ve lived this before?"

Cecilia glanced subtly at Rebecca, clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in Valentina’s behavior. She hadn’t expected the girl to react this way—at least not this soon. Not now.

Why the sudden change? she wondered.

Rebecca, on the other hand, simply smiled.

She looked entirely at ease, amused even. Her head tilted slightly to the side, her long lashes lowering over those knowing eyes.

"No," Rebecca said softly. "Not just me, huh?"

Valentina looked confused.

Rebecca’s smile grew a little wider, a little colder. "You’re talking about all of us now, aren’t you? Me... Cecilia... even yourself."

Valentina nodded weakly. "Yes. I don’t know why but... yes."

Rebecca chuckled gently, her tone like silk over stone. Then, without missing a beat, she shook her head with a playful sigh.

"Well," she said, folding her arms, "it seems the drugs kicked in too quickly."

Hearing what Rebecca had just said, Cecilia couldn’t help but smile—but it was the kind of smile that came with restraint, like a mother gently scolding a mischievous child in public. She tilted her head slightly and gave Rebecca a warning look, though her tone remained soft and composed.

"Rebecca," she said gently but firmly, "stop scaring her."

Rebecca only raised her eyebrows innocently, her lips still curled in that sly smile, but Cecilia didn’t give her the chance to speak.

"She’s not used to all this," Cecilia continued, now turning her full attention to Valentina, her voice shifting to a more motherly tone. "This is her first time here, her first time meeting you, and you’re already playing your mind games."

Cecilia stepped closer to Valentina and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, her touch warm and grounding. "Valentina, don’t mind her," she said kindly. "You shouldn’t take what Rebecca says too seriously. She likes to tease—especially when she sees someone curious."

Valentina tried to smile, but her mind was still clouded by confusion and that lingering feeling of déjà vu she couldn’t shake.

Cecilia gave her a knowing look, her voice now dipped with a hint of meaning. "She’s only saying that because she already knew about the medication I gave you that day in the hospital. The one to calm your nerves... you remember?"

Valentina nodded slowly.

Cecilia smiled a little wider and rubbed her shoulder gently. "That’s why she’s saying what she said. There’s no hidden meaning. Nothing strange. Just Rebecca being... well, Rebecca."

She gave a small chuckle, trying to ease the tension in the room.

"That’s all, dear. You don’t need to be scared."

When Cecilia tried to explain herself, Valentina’s eyes flicked back to Rebecca—who was still smiling.

Still smiling.

That was what upset Valentina even more. Not just the smile, but the timing of it. The way Rebecca seemed so amused, even while Cecilia was speaking seriously—calming the situation, trying to make things clear. Yet there Rebecca stood, calm and comfortable, as if none of this was serious at all.

It didn’t sit well with Valentina.

Under no circumstances should Rebecca be laughing when Cecilia was talking. It wasn’t just inappropriate—it was disrespectful. Cecilia was Raymond’s mother. She was supposed to be a figure of authority, someone to be revered. And yet, Rebecca’s smirk didn’t waver for a second. It was as though she saw herself above everything and everyone.

And the part that truly made Valentina’s stomach turn—the part that pushed her deeper into unease—was how comfortable Rebecca felt doing it. Not just smiling, but doing it so openly, with no fear, no hesitation. Almost like... she owned the moment.

And even more disturbing, Cecilia didn’t say anything about it.

She didn’t scold her. She didn’t correct her. She just smiled and let it go, brushing over the moment as if it were nothing.

That was the real red flag.

That was when Valentina knew—there’s something going on here that I don’t understand.

Something far deeper than birthday greetings and family introductions. Something layered. Hidden.

And whatever it was, she didn’t want to be part of it.

Not now. Not ever.

She took a soft step back, lowering her gaze, collecting herself. "Mother," she said quietly, "I... I think I need to go home now."

Cecilia blinked, a little surprised. "Why, dear?"

Valentina placed her hand over her chest, her voice steady but laced with unease. "I don’t know. My body just... it changed all of a sudden. I feel strange. I think I just need to go home and rest. I’m not strong yet. I don’t feel well."

She looked down, not meeting Rebecca’s eyes.

Because truthfully? It wasn’t just about her health.

It was about her instinct—and right now, everything in her gut was screaming that she needed to get away.

But before Cecilia could reply, Rebecca’s voice rang out smoothly from behind.

"There’s no need for that," Rebecca said, still smiling. "Valentina can actually rest here. We have plenty of free luxury rooms."

At that moment, Cecilia’s tone shifted completely—stepping fully into the role of the warm, caring mother-in-law. Her expression softened, and her eyes filled with concern as she gently placed her hand on Valentina’s arm, as though trying to steady her.

"Oh, my dear," she said tenderly, "you still haven’t fully recovered, have you?"

Valentina opened her mouth to respond, but Cecilia didn’t give her the chance.

"No need to force yourself," she continued, her voice full of motherly affection. "Come, come... you’ve been through a lot these past few days. You don’t look like someone who’s strong enough to be walking around yet."

She offered a comforting smile, like the kind a mother gives to a sick child, and gently guided Valentina by the elbow. "Just go sit down. Rest. If you feel weak, there’s a beautiful guest room just upstairs. We don’t want you fainting, do we?"

Valentina glanced nervously at Rebecca, who had now taken a seat on the antique armchair near the window, still watching with that ever-present, knowing smile. The silent man remained still in the corner, expression unreadable.

Cecilia noticed the hesitation and gave Valentina’s arm a firmer squeeze.

"This is your family house too," she said softly. "You’re Raymond’s wife. You have nothing to worry about here. We’ll take care of you. And if you want, once you’ve rested a bit, we can head back together."

She paused for a second, then added with a calm certainty, "Or better still, sleep over. It’s quiet here. Peaceful. Maybe exactly what you need."

Valentina didn’t reply. She wasn’t sure if she even could. Her body felt heavy—not just physically, but emotionally. Conflicted. Something deep inside her was still screaming to leave, but Cecilia’s soothing words and the overwhelming sense of being outnumbered dulled that voice, even if just for a moment.

Then Cecilia lifted her hand and began pointing toward the hallway at the far end of the mansion.

"There," she said. "That way, second door on the left. Go on, dear. Get some proper rest."

She smiled once more, and started pointing at the room direction for Valentina to follow her.

At that moment, Valentina wasn’t expecting any of this.

She hadn’t come here because of Cecilia, and she certainly hadn’t come to stay. In her heart, all she wanted was to leave—to go home, to be back in her space, far from the strange energy that wrapped around this mansion like fog.

She didn’t understand what was happening, but she knew something wasn’t right. And as much as Cecilia’s voice was gentle and her smile warm, there was something about the way she insisted that made Valentina feel more trapped than comforted.

Her body tensed slightly. Her mouth opened, finally ready to speak.

"Mother... please, I think I’d really prefer to—"

But before she could even finish the sentence, Rebecca’s voice sliced through the moment like a cold wind.

"Oh, would you stop already?" Rebecca snapped, standing up from the chair with a sharp grace, her smile now gone, replaced by something sharper. "Cecilia, enough of the acting—it’s irritating me now."