Chapter 258 He Still Has to Go to Jail
Adeline left the police station, feeling dazed.
Daniel's words echoed in her mind:
"We truly feel guilty."
"We always saw Adeline as mature, responsible, and independent. We thought she didn't need our care."
"We genuinely want to make it up to her."
"Even when I stole your designs, it was to make her happy. You asked why I took such risks despite knowing the consequences. It was all for her."
"Now, even if Stella asks for the stars, we'll try our best to give them to her."
"Because we've been too harsh on her in the past."
Adeline looked up at the darkening sky, feeling a sudden urge to cry.
Why, when she was Adeline Collins, did neither Daniel nor Jasper show her any warmth or care?
Why, when she became Adeline Wilson, and Stella became Adeline Collins, did they suddenly start being attentive and willing to sacrifice everything for her?
Was it just bad luck?
Or was she destined never to receive such warmth?
"Adeline."
A male voice interrupted her thoughts.
Adeline snapped back to reality and instinctively followed the sound.
Ryan was standing next to his familiar black Maserati, smiling and waving at her.
Beside him, Jasper sat in the back seat, head bowed, engrossed in something.
Adeline hesitated before walking over. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Ryan smiled and leaned in close to her ear, "I couldn't say much when I called you earlier today because Stella was around. Did you visit Helen at the hospital?"
Adeline shook her head, "I came straight here."
Ryan nodded. "That's understandable."
"Helen is just emotionally distressed. The source of everything is here."
He leaned in again to say something to Adeline, but the car door opened.
Jasper elegantly closed the files on his lap and, with a cold gaze, instructed, "Get in the car."
Ryan winked at Adeline and then turned to the driver's seat.
Sighing, Adeline opened the passenger door.
"Am I a monster?" Before Adeline could even settle into the passenger seat, Jasper spoke coldly from the back seat.
Adeline hesitated for a moment.
After a pause, she sighed and closed the passenger door, obediently moving to the back seat.
The door closed, creating a sealed space within the car.
Even though a distance separated them, Adeline could still feel the cold aura emanating from Jasper in the nearby seat.
A deathly silence filled the car.
Finally, unable to contain herself, Adeline took a deep breath, "Are you really planning to press charges against Daniel?"
Jasper coldly glanced at her, "Are you trying to say I lack compassion again?"
Adeline pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Jasper looked ahead indifferently, his voice low and distant, "I am the CEO of the Foster Group."
"If I can't keep personal emotions out of work, how can I expect my employees not to indulge in favoritism and corruption?"
Adeline bit her lip.
She could understand Jasper's stance.
However, she turned to him, "Mr. Foster. If I were to say I don't want Daniel to be imprisoned for too long, would you find me unreasonable?"
Jasper raised his gaze, his eyes piercing as they fixed on her face, "Daniel has two daughters."
"One is Molly, who nearly got you and the kids killed a few times."
"The other is Stella, who's always been at odds with you."
He turned his head, his gaze coldly assessing Adeline. "But you’re remarkably forgiving towards Daniel and Helen despite their insults."
"No matter how they mistreat you, you never fight back."
"Now, with what Daniel has done, if you hadn't installed the camera beforehand, your future in the jewelry design industry would have been ruined."
Jasper narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze seeming to penetrate all of Adeline's facades, reaching deep into her innermost secrets.
Adeline turned away, unable to meet his gaze.
Jasper remained as dangerous and sharp as ever.
All her movements were laid bare before him.
The air inside the car grew eerily quiet.
Jasper elegantly leaned back in the luxurious leather seat, observing Adeline's profile. "Give me a reason why you want to spare Daniel."
Adeline's breath caught slightly.
Was being Daniel's biological daughter a reason?
Was Daniel and Helen's genuine remorse for their actions a reason?
She had countless reasons in her heart for wanting to spare Daniel.
But facing Jasper, she couldn't bring herself to voice a single one.
After a moment, Adeline sniffed and looked out the window at the darkening scenery. "I believe that parents, out of love for their children, can be forgiven even if they make mistakes."
Turning back to Jasper, she smiled faintly. "Maybe being Lauren and Bennett's foster mother for six years has helped me understand the feelings of being a parent."
"If Lauren were to grow up and face a similar situation, maybe I would make mistakes too."
"Is that reason enough?"
Jasper squinted, his deep, unreadable eyes fixed on her.
After a while, he smiled. "It's not enough to convince me, but it's a reason."
Jasper closed his eyes, looking slightly weary as he leaned back in the leather seat, rubbing his temple. "Regarding the plagiarism and leaking of designs, only the design department employees present at today's meeting know about it."
"Since this incident didn't cause any real financial loss, if I manage to silence everyone present at today's meeting, I can turn a blind eye to my father-in-law and pretend this never happened."
"But," Jasper's voice lowered slightly. "Someone recorded today's design meeting and leaked the video online. Within an afternoon, it had spread."
Adeline felt her body stiffen instantly.
She had spent the entire afternoon waiting at the police station to meet with Daniel.
She hadn't expected that.
As she snapped back to reality, she quickly reached for her phone to search for the video.
Before she could find the video, Jasper calmly continued, "The video didn't reveal the entire meeting. Only the part where you disclosed the designs was leaked."
"Now, there's a storm of accusations online about your plagiarism."
Jasper opened his eyes, his gaze penetrating as he looked at Adeline. "If this video isn't handled properly, you might truly be labeled a plagiarist and never be able to pursue your passion for jewelry design again."
"But to clarify the plagiarism issue, everything Daniel did must be exposed."
"He will still have to go to prison."
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