Chapter 344 Long Time No See
Adeline froze, her face going pale. She stared at Jasper, speechless.
"Surprised I know about the pregnancy?" Jasper chuckled, smirking as he poured coffee. "You're usually sharper, Adeline."
His smile faded. "You were desperate to get rid of me at the hospital. If you were me, wouldn't you want to know what illness you were facing?"
Adeline knew her actions were out of character. After so much humiliation, she finally had hope. She couldn't let Jasper find out about the baby. In her panic, she saw no other way to keep him in the dark.
From the moment she bumped into him at the hotel, it seemed inevitable this secret wouldn't stay hidden.
She looked down and sank into a chair, feeling dejected. "I didn't realize you cared so much, Mr. Foster."
"About the baby..."
"Were you just on the phone with Sebastian?" Jasper interrupted, his voice neutral.
Adeline's breath caught. She nodded, guilt on her face. "Yes."
She had just shared the news of her pregnancy with Sebastian, planning for him to take Bennett and Lauren away.
She looked at Jasper, pale. "Did you... hear anything?"
"No."
He had been too far to realize it was her on the phone and hadn't paid attention to the conversation.
"Then how did you know?"
"A lucky guess." Jasper sipped his coffee, a bitter smile on his lips. "You're pregnant, so naturally, the first person you'd tell is the father."
He finished his cup, feeling uncomfortable at the thought of her carrying Sebastian's child.
After a moment of silence, Adeline realized with excitement that Jasper believed the baby was Sebastian's!
This was better than she hoped!
If he thought the child was Sebastian's, he wouldn't force her into an abortion or demand custody. He wouldn't even look for her if she disappeared!
Relief washed over her. "Yes," she said, her voice trembling with excitement. "The baby... is Sebastian's."
Her excitement grated on Jasper's nerves. He recalled Ryan's words from their earlier phone call.
"I told her you went back to see your wife, just like you asked."
"She seemed pleased. Said you two are perfect for each other and should be together."
His gaze turned cold. "Yesterday you joked about having my child. Now you're carrying Sebastian's and you're practically shouting it from the rooftops." He placed his cup down, the clink of ceramic sharp in the silence. "Are you hoping I'll help you get rid of it so you can get pregnant with mine?"
Adeline paled. This was the second time Jasper mentioned terminating the pregnancy. Even if he was joking, it scared her.
She forced a laugh. "Mr. Foster, that's not funny."
"I was just making an observation." Jasper leaned back, his gaze sweeping over her. "If you keep reminding me about Sebastian's child with such enthusiasm..." He paused, his voice low and warning. "I might not be joking anymore."
"Adeline," he continued, his voice quiet and angry. "A few days ago, you stopped me on the street, asking if I was avoiding you. Yesterday, you joked about having my child. Today, you're ecstatic about being pregnant with Sebastian's." He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "What am I supposed to make of that?"
Adeline stared at him, her mouth opening and closing without a sound. She wanted to explain, but the words wouldn't come. Before she knew about the baby, she saw this trip as a chance to get closer to him. Now, her pregnancy and his misunderstanding were making things more complicated.
Jasper leaned back, looking relaxed but with sharp eyes. "Adeline, you should know what happens to those who cross me." His voice was soft, almost casual, but the threat was clear. "Have I been too lenient, too kind, that you think you can play games with me?"
The coldness in his eyes and the icy aura around him took her breath away. Adeline's fingers tightened around the hem of her dress under the table.
"Of course, I'm well aware of your... tactics, Mr. Foster," she whispered.
Jasper had schemed against his own family. What chance did this child, mistakenly believed to be Sebastian's, have?
"Good." Jasper toyed with his coffee cup, staring into the distance. "Ryan did some digging. The company that swapped the raw materials? It's controlled by Andrew."
Adeline's eyes widened. She knew Andrew had overseas mining interests but didn't know he was involved in Neon City's mineral trade.
"He acquired it a couple of months ago. Probably thought I wouldn't trace the ownership that far." Jasper's gaze drifted to the sea, his voice emotionless. "He's not doing it for the money. He just wants to spite me. Wants to see how long it takes me to figure it out, how long he can make a fool of me." He glanced at Adeline. "Andrew has a long memory."
Adeline managed a weak laugh. "So it seems."
"So, what do you think I should do about it?"
Jasper's lips curled into a humorless smile. "The most effective solution would be to make an example out of this situation. Get rid of the child as a warning."
Adeline's blood ran cold. Twice now, he had casually suggested aborting her baby. Even if he didn't mean it, the fear was starting to take root.
"Mr. Foster," she said, her voice tight, "that's not funny."
"Just a thought." Jasper stood up, his gaze lingering on her pale face. He couldn't explain the surge of irritation he felt. The thought of her carrying Sebastian's child simply rubbed him the wrong way, leading him to make these callous remarks.
"Consider this a friendly warning, Adeline. Tell the Carters to back down. If I don't get a sincere apology and compensation from Andrew by this time tomorrow..." He paused, locking eyes with her. "Let's just say I won't be so understanding then."
With that, he turned and walked away.
At that moment, the restaurant owner arrived with two bowls of steaming chicken soup.
Adeline frowned. "Mr. Foster, you're leaving now?"
Jasper waved dismissively. "I'm fine. I've already had dinner."
The truth was, he couldn't stomach the thought of sharing a meal with Adeline, not while she was carrying Sebastian's child.
As she watched him leave, Adeline sighed, feeling exhausted.
"Mind if I join you?"
The voice startled her, pulling her back to the present. She turned to find Thomas sitting across from her, smiling.
He removed his hat and settled into his chair. "Miss Wilson, what a pleasant surprise."
Adeline was so shocked she almost fell out of her chair.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
