Chapter 316 Can You Help Me Invite Jasper?
"Did she really say that?" Jasper's blue eyes narrowed as he listened to Ryan.
Her temper was worse than his? All he said was he wouldn't get involved with her and Evelyn.
And she had the nerve to send Ryan back saying she wanted no interaction outside of work!
He snorted. "Fine. I won't interfere."
Ava had a press conference tomorrow. He doubted Adeline could handle it alone.
As Adeline left the Foster Group building that evening, reporters swarmed her.
"Miss Wilson, are you aware of Ava's suicide attempt?"
"Do you feel any remorse for driving a young woman to jump off a building?"
"Will you be attending Ava's press conference tomorrow?"
"Can you address the accusations Ava has made against you?"
Adeline stayed calm. "I'll be at the press conference tomorrow."
"Ava claims she wants to expose the true face of glamorous designers."
"I'm curious to see what she thinks that is."
Just then, a black BMW pulled up.
Adeline waved goodbye to the reporters and got in the car.
"I told you I could pick you up at the back entrance," Sebastian said as she settled in.
"Why let them corner you at the front?"
Adeline smiled, fastening her seatbelt. "It was deliberate."
"If I don't engage, how can I fuel their arrogance?"
Sebastian chuckled. "I'll never figure you out."
He drove towards Willowcrest Terrace.
As they got out, Sebastian handed her a box. "My parents left Radiance Springs this morning."
"My mom asked me to give this to you. She said it might help."
Adeline frowned, thanked him, and headed inside.
Once home, she set the box aside, took off her coat, and spoke to her necklace pendant. "Mommy has a tough battle tomorrow."
"I've sent everything you need to your email."
Blake's calm voice came through the pendant. "I have faith in you."
"We believe in you, Mommy," Bennett added cheerfully.
"But Mommy," Bennett's tone turned serious, "don't act rashly."
"Don't expose Stella's identity. She still has leverage over us."
"Blake's illness isn't cured yet. If Jasper finds out who you really are, all our efforts will be wasted."
"It's alright," Blake interjected, sounding mature beyond his years. "I don't mind if I don't keep living."
"If my survival makes things hard for you, then I'd rather..."
"Blake!" Adeline cut him off.
"Everything Mommy is doing is so you can live."
"Don't you ever say that again. We've sacrificed so much for you."
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and crossed out the plan to expose Stella's identity from her notes.
As much as she hated Stella and wanted to expose her, she had to hold back, for Blake's sake.
At least until she was pregnant with Jasper's child.
She chatted with her three kids through the pendant a bit longer before exhaustion took over.
That night, a vivid nightmare jolted her awake.
She dreamt Stella was falling from the same bridge she had fallen from years ago.
Before hitting the water, Stella glared at Adeline with chilling hatred.
"If I can't have happiness, neither can you or your children!"
With her last breath, she pressed a button on a remote control.
On the shore below, Adeline watched in horror as her three children, running towards her, were engulfed in a fiery explosion.
"No!"
Adeline shot up in bed, drenched in a cold sweat.
Still shaken, she took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. She got out of bed, went to the kitchen for a glass of water, and stepped onto the balcony for some air.
The cool night breeze did little to ease her anxiety. As she looked out over the quiet street, she noticed a familiar black Maserati parked below her villa.
It was Jasper.
She instinctively checked the time. It was past two in the morning.
'What is he doing here at this hour?'
Curiosity mixed with apprehension. Adeline almost reached for her phone to call him.
But as her fingers hovered over his contact, she hesitated.
The day's unpleasant encounter replayed in her mind. She had even asked Ryan to relay the message that she wanted no interaction with Jasper outside of work.
After a moment's hesitation, she found Ryan's number instead and dialed.
Ryan answered on the second ring.
"Did I wake you?" Adeline asked.
"I woke up from a nightmare and saw Jasper downstairs."
"Someone was trying to kill you," Ryan said, his voice low and urgent. "We just caught him."
Adeline froze, struggling to comprehend. "Did you say someone was trying to kill me?"
"Yes." Ryan's voice was raspy. "And it was someone you know."
"Who?"
"Thomas."
Adeline gasped.
She knew Thomas was ruthless, but she hadn't expected him to try to kill her after yesterday's confrontation.
He was even more dangerous than she'd realized.
"Last night, after you had Mr. Foster send Mia to the psychiatric hospital, he had someone investigate both of them," Ryan explained.
"Turns out Thomas has been manipulating Mia, and your actions yesterday threatened his plans."
"He's a dangerous man, Adeline. Mr. Foster was worried about your safety, so he had people discreetly guarding your home."
"We didn't expect him to act so quickly."
Adeline's lips tightened, her shock deepening.
She hadn't anticipated this at all. Not only Thomas's swift and ruthless retaliation, but also Jasper's quiet protection after their earlier disagreement.
Taking a deep breath, she offered sincerely. "Would you and Jasper like to come inside for a bit?"
"I can make you both some late-night snacks."
Ryan chuckled. "No need for thanks. I'm just following orders."
"If you want to thank someone, thank Mr. Foster."
"He's been stationed downstairs since he got off work."
"If it weren't for his foresight, we wouldn't have caught Thomas so quickly."
Adeline paused. "In that case, could you please invite Jasper in for me? I'd like to..."
Before she could finish, Jasper's voice, laced with sardonic amusement, interrupted from the phone. "Do you even need help expressing gratitude?"
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