Chapter 292 Where Were You When She Committed Suicide
"Her shoulder's in bad shape," the doctor said, shaking his head as he finished stitching up Adeline's wound. He turned to Jasper, sounding a bit reproachful.
"I get that Miss Wilson is a talented jewelry designer, but this is the second time today the wound's reopened. If it happens again, she might not be able to hold a brush, let alone design."
Jasper sighed, looking at Adeline's pale face. She was asleep, her brow still furrowed with pain. He stared at the bandage on her shoulder, feeling a wave of guilt. "Ryan," he said, turning away from the bed, "put out a job posting. Now. I need a team of skilled design assistants, maybe some illustrators too."
"But sir," Ryan started, frowning, "didn't Adeline already ask her friend Sebastian to help? Why are we..."
Jasper shot him a look that could curdle milk, shutting him up.
Adeline woke to the morning sun streaming through the window. As she blinked away sleep, she saw Jasper slumped in a chair beside her bed, arms crossed, breathing deeply in sleep.
She studied his face, his sharp features softened by the light, feeling a mix of emotions. She remembered how he'd carried her into the hospital, his voice husky with remorse as he kept apologizing.
He'd said he hadn't meant to hurt her, that he was terrified she would jump.
Was it real, or was he putting on a show? She couldn't be sure. But in that moment, she'd let herself believe him, finding comfort in his touch.
But that moment passed, replaced by the bitter sting of reality. Jasper was many things, but sincere wasn't one of them. He was arrogant, ruthless, incapable of genuine remorse.
As if sensing her gaze, his eyes fluttered open. "You're awake," he said, his voice raspy with sleep. He glanced at her shoulder, looking serious. "The doctor said your shoulder needs rest. I've had Ryan assemble a team of assistants. They'll be at the office later today. You can interview them, choose whoever you want." He paused, his gaze lingering on her bandage. "For now, let them handle the sketching and drafting."
Adeline met his gaze, a humorless smile on her lips. "Sebastian would be perfect, wouldn't he?" she said, her voice bitter. "If you hadn't barged into my office yesterday, we'd be well on our way to finishing those designs."
Jasper's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You saw how it was yesterday," he said, his voice flat. "Sebastian's family is in the gemstone business. I may be working with his father now, but if he learns how things work at Foster Group, it wouldn't be good for business. Especially if he marries you."
Adeline laughed, a harsh, brittle sound. "So, you're scared of a little competition? Afraid the son of a gemstone supplier might outshine the great Jasper Foster?"
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady. "Something like that."
"That's rich, even for you," she scoffed. "And what about last night? Was that a business decision too? Did you humiliate me in front of Sebastian's family because you were afraid they might accept me, that the Carter name might eclipse the Foster legacy?"
"Of course," Jasper said, sounding as casual as if he were talking about the weather.
Adeline threw her head back and laughed, a humorless sound that echoed through the sterile room. "The great Jasper Foster, scared of a little competition? Scared of the son of a gemstone supplier? How did you ever build an empire with that mindset?"
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Then enlighten me, Adeline. What other reason could there be? Do you think I'm just being a jerk for getting in the way of your happiness? Or..." he paused, locking eyes with her, a strange intensity burning in them, "Or do you think I've actually fallen for you?"
Adeline's breath caught.
She wanted to scream, to tell him he was just a control freak, a manipulator who enjoyed toying with people's lives. She'd been nothing but a pawn, someone he could summon and dismiss at will. And maybe, just maybe, the thought of her choosing someone else had bruised his ego.
But she held her tongue. She hadn't secured her future, hadn't secured her children's future. Now wasn't the time to pick a fight she couldn't win.
"Let's just say I believe you're being cautious," she said, keeping her voice neutral. She glanced at the clock on the wall. "I should get to the office."
Jasper nodded and stood up. He extended his hand towards her, a silent offer of help.
She stared at his hand for a moment, surprised by the gesture. After everything that had happened, she'd expected animosity, icy indifference. But here he was, extending an olive branch. Or at least, a convincing replica of one.
She placed her hand in his, letting him help her out of bed.
They had breakfast in a comfortable silence, the tension of the past few days replaced by a strange, unspoken truce.
"Adeline!"
As they arrived at the office, Sebastian rushed towards her, his face etched with worry. "Where were you last night? I went to your apartment, but you weren't there. I was so worried, I ended up waiting here all night."
He trailed off, his gaze shifting to Jasper, who was getting out of the driver's seat. His face hardened, his jaw clenching. "What is he doing here?"
Adeline placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him. "Sebastian, please. It's not what it looks like."
"Oh, really?" he spat, glaring at Jasper. "I knew it! He said those things last night to drive a wedge between us, to keep you all to himself!"
He took a step towards Jasper, fists clenched.
"Sebastian, stop!" Adeline cried, tightening her grip on his arm. "Don't do something you'll regret."
"Am I wrong?" he shot back, eyes filled with pain. "Adeline, how could you let him humiliate you like that? How could you possibly..."
"What about us?"
Jasper's voice, cold and sharp, cut through the air. He stood there, arms crossed, glaring at Sebastian with utter disdain. "Mr. Carter, why don't you enlighten us all?"
Sebastian glared back, fists clenching and unclenching. "You know damn well what you did!"
"Do I?" Jasper drawled, dripping with sarcasm. "Sebastian, you claim to love Adeline, to be willing to do anything for her. So tell me, where were you last night when she was on that bridge, ready to end her own life?"
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