Chapter 331 When Did he Come Out?
Adeline stifled a humorless laugh. Jasper's nerve was unbelievable. He'd almost gotten her and their kids killed, yet he thought she kept the babies because she still had feelings for him. If it weren't for the children's heartbeats, she wouldn't have given birth to them.
With clear disdain, she shot back, "Tell me, Mr. Foster, if your kids hadn't developed heartbeats by the accident, do you think she would still give birth to them?"
The memory was still fresh, and her hatred for him was intense. She had wanted him to suffer, to feel a fraction of her pain. Yet, she had given birth to his children.
The truth was, there was another reason beyond the heartbeats. She was carrying triplets. Ending their lives would have snuffed out three flames before they even had a chance.
"Even without heartbeats," she said firmly, "the outcome would have been the same."
Jasper sipped his coffee, clearly not wanting to dig up the past. "So, you're okay with Linda taking such a risk?"
"I won't force her to go against her wishes," Adeline replied, resolute.
He scoffed, eyes cold. "Is Linda your friend or enemy? I've never seen someone so eager to push their friend into the fire."
"Keeping this child," Adeline shot back, "is what's really pushing her into the fire."
Jasper set down his cup, his gaze piercing. "Is she really so unable to accept the choice between giving birth to a child she hates or aborting a fetus with a heartbeat?"
Adeline met his gaze without flinching. "Yes," she said simply. "Mr. Foster, you're not a woman. You'll never understand the complex emotions a mother feels for her child."
"No mother is without love for her child, and Linda is no different. But this child, if allowed to exist, will be a constant source of pain, a living reminder of her trauma. The love she might feel will be overshadowed by the hatred she harbors for his father. It will destroy her."
Silence hung heavy between them. Finally, Jasper leaned back, his gaze distant. "Ultimately, Linda is your friend, not mine. If you're set on helping her, I can make it happen." He paused, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "But I wonder, Miss Wilson, how do you plan to repay this favor? You already owe me quite a debt."
Adeline's mind raced, a wave of recklessness washing over her. "How about," she blurted out before she could stop herself, "I give you a child?"
The air thickened, the silence broken only by the clatter of a spoon at a nearby table. The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to take them back.
After an excruciating silence, she cleared her throat, looking away. "I was joking, Mr. Foster. Don't take it seriously."
Jasper's eyes held a glint of something unreadable as he studied her flushed face. "It's not a bad idea," he mused, his voice low and amused. "Tell me, Miss Wilson, when did you decide you wanted to have my child?"
Adeline cringed, mortified. It felt like the walls were closing in, the air too thin to breathe. Thinking these things was one thing, but saying them out loud felt reckless.
Finally, she managed to speak, her voice strained. "I was being ridiculous. Can't you take a joke?"
Jasper's slow smile softened his gaze. "I had a different form of repayment in mind," he said smoothly. "I was hoping you'd oversee my jewelry line for the next quarter." His eyes twinkled with amusement. "I wouldn't want you to think I expect anything else."
He stood up, his gaze lingering on her. "It's settled then. I'll handle David, and you can focus on dazzling me with your designs."
Adeline watched him go, her body tense. She raised a hand to her burning cheeks, mortified. How could she have said such a thing? Her mind must be more scattered than she realized. She couldn't be near him, couldn't share a bed with him, yet she was dreaming about having his child. It was as if her subconscious was rebelling, determined to betray her true desires.
After Jasper left, Adeline finished her coffee, her mind still reeling. As she stepped out of the café, she spotted a familiar figure across the street. Thomas.
Dressed in worn jeans and a black jacket, his long hair disheveled, his face partially hidden by the high collar, he stared directly at her, a cruel smile twisting his lips. As their eyes met, he made a slashing gesture across his throat before disappearing down a side street.
Adeline froze, her blood turning to ice. Thomas was supposed to be locked away, thanks to Jasper.
'When was he released? And how did he find me in Neon City?' she wondered.
His message was clear. He was here for her, and he wouldn't rest until she was dead.
Her first instinct was to call Jasper, to seek his protection. But the memory of their earlier conversation, the raw vulnerability she had exposed, held her back.
Returning to the hospital, she found David sitting by Linda's bedside, patiently spooning porridge into her mouth. Linda's face was still pale, her eyes shadowed with sadness, but the suicidal despair seemed to have receded.
"If I had known all it took was a conversation with Adeline," David remarked with relief, "I would have brought her here sooner."
Linda offered a wan smile. "She has her own life, her own concerns."
She glanced up as Adeline entered, her expression brightening slightly. "You're back."
David frowned, turning to face her. "That was quick. Did you two even have a chance to talk?"
Adeline nodded, her mind elsewhere. After a moment, she turned to David, her expression serious. "You're in charge of Neon City now, right?"
He looked at her, puzzled. "Essentially, yes. Why?"
Linda, sensing her friend's unease, spoke up. "Adeline, what's wrong?"
Taking a deep breath, Adeline met David's gaze. "I need you to arrange protection for me while I'm in Neon City."
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