Chapter 69
Chapter 70 Under Watchful Eyes
Bringing supplements was the excuse; surveillance was the real reason.
To ensure his grandpa went into surgery without worry, Jasper had lied, claiming his marriage was harmonious.
Clearly, his grandpa still had doubts and had sent his most trusted confidant over to see for himself.
And James was the one person Jasper couldn’t bribe.
“You’re too kind. You must have been waiting. Please, come in p>
“Not at all. Were you two just out for a walk p>
A walk?
A walk into the sea for a little dip?
Jasper replied smoothly, “Yes p>
The old butler beamed. It seemed the old gentleman could finally rest easy.
The three entered the house. The butler had timed his arrival perfectly, clearly intending to stay the night.
Jasper couldn’t refuse and arranged a guest room.
The butler made a show of polite refusal, then naturally accepted the offer to stay, taking out the items his grandpa had prepared.
Tatiana turned and saw a mountain of baby supplies.
She picked one up at random. It was exquisite, clearly chosen with care. Her grandpa had put thought into this.
Her nose tingled.
Her grandpa loved children. If she were still healthy, she would have happily carried this baby
to term.
The butler smiled. “Your grandfather is very much looking forward to the birth of his grandchild. He wants you to relax. Boy or girl, the child will be treasured, which is why he prepared things for both p>
Jasper’s hand, hanging at his side, clenched. His expression soured.
“It’s late. You should rest p>
“Yes, you two should rest early as well p>
Finished
Tatiana was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open, swaying on her feet. Hearing this, her body instinctively started toward her room.
The butler watched Tatiana head toward the maid’s quarters and frowned in confusion.
The next second, Jasper wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
He leaned down, his voice gentle. “You must be exhausted. You went the wrong way p>
She jolted awake. Glancing back, she saw the butler standing right behind them, watching. A shiver ran down her spine. “Oh. Right p>
“Let’s go upstairs p>
He didn’t let go, keeping his arm around her slender waist as they walked up the stairs.
The butler watched them go up together, leaning on each other, and finally felt reassured.
Tatiana was led into the master bedroom.
This was her first time inside. It was decorated in cool grays, simple and understated, yet vast and empty, devoid of any warmth.
She stood there for a moment, hesitant.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Her heart fluttered.
Jasper brushed past her and went straight into the bathroom, seemingly ignoring her.
She pressed her lips together, feeling awkward and unsure of what to do.
The sound of running water filled the room.
Jasper tilted his head back, eyes closed, letting the water cascade over him. Bob’s filthy words
echoed in his mind. Updates are released by.net
Smack.
He slammed his fist against the wall, his eyes glacial.
Even the cold water couldn’t extinguish his rage.
Worse, shamefully, he remembered that night four years ago.
How could he not know how captivating she was?
He knew better than anyone.
The memory was seared into his mind.
The bathroom door opened.
He emerged, enveloped in steam, wearing only pants, his hair dripping. There was no warmth radiating from him; he had clearly taken a cold shower.
He looked around and realized the room was empty.
Tatiana was gone.
He had locked the door. Where could she have gone?
He searched the room and finally found her curled up in a ball in the corner by the wardrobe.
She had fallen asleep exhausted, her head resting against the wall, her breathing even. She was wrapped in a small blanket, her hands and feet tucked inside, looking tiny.
The master bedroom was huge, yet she occupied only this small corner.
Jasper stood over her, his shadow engulfing her.
Then, he bent down, lifted her, and placed her back on the bed.
The moment she touched the mattress, she startled awake, her eyes wide with alarm, like a frightened rabbit.
“No, I can sleep… on the floor. That’s fine.” She started to get off the bed.
He replied flatly, “Move again, and you can forget about that leg p>
The leg she had extended immediately retracted.
She huddled under the covers, her face pale, not daring to move.
Jasper found some clean clothes and tossed them to her. “Go wash up p>
After being in the seawater, even dry clothes felt uncomfortable.
She hesitated, then took the clothes and went into the bathroom.
When she came out, clean, she saw Jasper sitting at the desk, working, his brow furrowed. It looked urgent.
She didn’t dare make a sound, tiptoeing toward the bed.
The deep drowsiness she had felt earlier was gone after the shower. Her hair was still damp; she couldn’t lie down yet.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly.
Jasper, without looking up, said, “Organize the files next to you p>
She looked surprised.
“Don’t make me repeat myself p>
She hesitated, then stood and walked over. She saw the stack of files he meant. As she reached for them, her eyes caught the words on the first page.
Westport Rehab Closure Proposal.
Her hand trembled.
For a moment, she thought she had misread it.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.