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Chapter 9
When I was seventeen, one of Dad’s business rivals had me kidnapped. There was another boy held captive with me.]
He was the one who kept me sate, hiding me inside an abandoned paint drum.]
Jasper was the one who found me later, which sparked this weird mix of gratitude that eventually morphed into a crush.]
Looking back, Jasper wasn’t actually my rescuer. He just happened to be the one who lifted the paint drum lid. There were cops, my dad, and others standing right there, but somehow, he was all I saw []
Hextor gave a playful pout. “Yeah, someone promised she’d never forget me. Then a month later, her entire family leaves DC without even giving me a phone number.
1 lowered my head apologetically, feeling genuinely embarrassed. Hextor pulled me closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Not your fault. Blame Callahan and his scheming.”
I laughed softly in agreement, completely unaware of Jasper hiding in the shadows nearby.[]
His face had gone ashen, his mind fixated on the image of Hextor and me embracing. The way we exchanged knowing smiles drove him nearly mad with jealousy!]
Despite his constant denials, Jasper had feelings for me.
He’d enjoyed my attention and devotion while simultaneously rejecting the label of “future husband.” He’d kept me at arm’s length, repeatedly trampling my self–esteem with his superiority.[]
Jasper watched us bitterly, never finding the courage to approach.]
Only when Hextor and I headed upstairs hand in hand did he finally spring into action.]
His phone rang–Griffin calling in a panic: “Where the hell are you? Doria’s gone missing again. She got a call from Charlotte and vanished. Charlotte must have forced her to leave us!“[]
Jasper frowned in confusion. “A call from Charlotte?“[]
He’d been watching me the whole time. I hadn’t touched my phone once.
Griffin continued ranting: “Who else would it be? Doria specifically said Charlotte called her. Get over here and help us search–if we wait any longer, she could be in danger.”
Jasper’s voice turned cold. “Just call the police.“[]
For the first time, he didn’t immediately rush to Doria’s rescue. His mind was replaying every past incident, piecing together a disturbing pattern.[]
A terrible suspicion formed in his mind. Silently, he called the police, then headed straight for the mansion’s security room.
He pulled up footage from every time Doria had accused me of mistreating her. The videos told a completely different story.]
With each clip, Jasper’s face grew paler. Finally, he slammed his fist into his own face in self–disgust.]
For years, whenever Doria claimed I’d bullied her, the three of them had never questioned it. Each time, they’d forced me to apologize.[]
But now, the truth was playing out before his eyes.[]
The pool incident–she’d jumped in herself. The ruined cake–she’d knocked it over. The torn clothes–she’d cut them herself. The staircase “accident“-she’d deliberately fallen.]
Countless lies shattered in that moment.[]
Wahout a word, Jasper turned and left the security room.]
He’d completely lost the courage to face me ever again.[]
