Chapter 49

“Uh…" Cole understood what Jasper meant despite his unfinished sentence. When he thought about asking Bradley to wake Esther up, his temples throbbed, and he uttered, "It's too difficult." "That's why…" Jasper said sadly, "To a man who doesn't love her, anything she does is wrong. Her life was unworthy of mention to him." "I'll try." Cole sighed warmly. "I'll try to persuade Mr. Warner." After a pause, Jasper gazed deeply at Cole and said, "Esther said she has no friends, but if you ask me, you're her friend too." Cole smiled awkwardly. He wasn't. Had he treated Esther as a friend, he wouldn't have hidden the fact that her daughters were still alive—for five years. How many five years did one have in life? Esther's most beautiful youthful years had been spent in prison. If he had defied Bradley's orders and disclosed to Esther that her daughters were still alive, she might have been released sooner. She might have even been able to see Thomas one last time. The small decision Co