Chapter 16

I struggled desperately to break free from Jasper’s hold, panicking. “What are you doing? Let go of me!” Jasper ignored me, still gripping my hand tightly and forcefully pulling me forward. “Mr. Jasper,” William spoke up, stepping in to block Jasper’s path. Jasper glared at William’s hand in front of him, snorting coldly. “Move out of my way. Don’t forget, you’re just her superior, while I’m her husband. Don’t overestimate yourself, CEO Caldwell.” William paused, glancing at me as I frantically slapped at Jasper’s arm in an attempt to break free. He bit his lip and finally lowered his hand, stepping aside. “William?!” I stared at him in shock as he stepped back, momentarily forgetting to struggle as Jasper forcefully dragged me away. As Jasper and I passed by, William couldn’t help but speak again. “Don’t bully her.” Jasper didn’t even glance back. “That’s none of your business. Just mind your own affairs.” William watched their figures fade away, lowering his head in silence. His eyes lingered on the crumpled tissue on the table—the one he had used to wipe Arabella’s lips earlier. It had already been crumpled. … “Jasper! Let go of me!” I yelled, attracting curious glances from people around us. Jasper, unable to endure my constant protests, finally tossed me over his shoulder and quickly walked out of the restaurant. In the parking lot, Jasper didn’t give me a chance to resist. He shoved me into the car, buckled my seatbelt, locked the doors, and started the engine, speeding off. He accelerated rapidly, as if trying to release all his anger. The blur of passing scenery and buildings outside the window made my heart race. I lowered my eyes, choosing to remain silent. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Jasper finally spoke. I stole a glance at him, seeing his face had calmed. Slowly, I spoke, “Could you... could you slow down a bit?” I didn’t ask where he was taking me. I simply trusted him. This man had protected me so many times before. “You like him, don’t you?” Jasper didn’t slow his speed at all but instead changed the subject. I thought for a moment and then mustered the courage to challenge him. “What I feel for him has nothing to do with you. You can go find your Aurora or any of your other women; that’s none of my concern, and I haven’t pried into it.” After I said that, I turned my attention to the blurry scenery outside, not wanting to face his anger. The swirling shapes outside made me dizzy. But after a long silence, he still hadn’t said anything. Curious, I subtly turned my head to observe Jasper. His expression was calm, even slightly amused. Amused? Was he happy because I mentioned Aurora? I felt a twinge of disappointment and turned my head back. Jasper realized how childish he was becoming. How could he feel pleased after hearing such a hurtful remark from the woman beside him? She was jealous. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. This was the long-awaited peaceful interaction between them. They weren’t bickering or provoking each other. Unlike two hedgehogs protecting themselves with sharp spikes, they weren’t hurting each other. … Astonia City. Charlotte had been restless lately. After sending someone to kidnap Arabella with the intention of selling her off, she had been stopped midway by Jasper, who bought Arabella at a high price. Charlotte had cursed Arabella in her heart for days because of this. Then, without hesitation, Jasper used ruthless methods and incredible speed to drive Alexander’s company into bankruptcy. The Sinclair family was overwhelmed, and Alexander was too busy to catch his breath. Watching him struggle only made Charlotte feel a mix of pain and anger. Every day, Charlotte cursed Arabella in her heart. Damn Arabella! She was such a white-eyed wolf—just as disgusting as her own mother! Clearly, she had close ties with Jasper, and yet Jasper had offended her father-in-law on her behalf. Not only had he refused to support The Sinclair Family’s business, but he had also destroyed her father-in-law’s company, driving it to bankruptcy. Wasn’t this enough to prove her point? Arabella, that money pit, was supposed to improve The Sinclair Family’s life by marrying into The Hawthorne Family. Instead, she managed to drag their entire fortune down the drain! Divorce? It was all a staged act between the two of them! Clearly, they wanted to ruin Alexander’s company and prevent them from making any profits. Charlotte could barely contain her hatred for the couple. She had even dipped into her own private funds to hire a global network of assassins to help her. She had already found out that Jasper rushed to Sundarica yesterday evening because Arabella was there. Why Arabella had suddenly gone there didn’t concern her much. It was probably just a business trip. Although she despised her stepdaughter, she knew Arabella well enough. She was a workaholic, so her trip to Sundarica was likely for work. But Jasper... He had actually followed her there. Arabella had only been away from her husband for a few days, and Jasper couldn’t bear the longing. He followed her abroad. Wasn’t this the kind of thing someone in love did, not a person planning to get divorced? She had already signed the contract with the assassin organization. How laughable it was—an assassin organization operating like a legitimate company. But she was certain that this time, these two would never make it out alive. A soft chuckle escaped her lips at the thought. “Are you in the mood to laugh? Are you really so leisurely that you’re admiring flowers?” Alexander had just come home, exhausted. Seeing Charlotte happily fiddling with the flowers in the vase, her face adorned with a radiant smile, he couldn’t help but snap at her. “Ale—Alexander, you're home!” Charlotte wasn’t bothered at all. With a sweet smile, she went up to greet him. “Don’t be angry. Everything will be fine.” "Let me cook for you. You sit down and rest." She hummed a little tune as she made her way to the kitchen. Alexander was puzzled but patient with his wife. He knew she had suffered alongside him for so long, and getting to this point hadn’t been easy. Bankruptcy didn’t mean much to him. As long as they were together as a family, that was enough. Of course, when he thought of family, Arabella wasn’t even part of the picture. He couldn’t help but sneer at the thought of his useless daughter. He loosened his tie and sank into the sofa, closing his eyes to rest. The night deepened. Jasper’s car sped down the road. The long drive was beginning to wear on him, but he kept pushing forward, unwilling to risk Arabella slipping away. He was almost at her house in Sundarica. Jasper’s home in Sundarica wasn’t in Vandria, but in a quiet, scenic suburban town, far from the spotlight. He had chosen this place because of her. It was the kind of place where the sunrise could be seen right outside the door. No need to climb a mountain or go out of the way—just step outside, and the sunrise was there. Sunlight spilled over every inch of land, scattering like sparkling gold dust. He had once imagined bringing her here—to vacation, to travel, to retire. They could plant many trees, and in the afternoons, they could sit under the shade. She could lie in his arms, reading a book. But now, everything had changed. Jasper blinked, pushing down the wave of loss that rose within him.