Chapter 422 He Knows He Doesn't Deserve It
Jason sucked in a sharp breath. "Adeline, I ain't ever lied to you."
Jasper had been lying to her all along!
Adeline sneered, giving Jason the once-over. "Word is, Mr. Smith,the headthe Smith family, is all about honesty and never lies. But the Mr. Smith I'm looking at? Yeah, he ain't the same guy from the rumors. Makes sense, though. If Mr. Smith can be tight with someone like Jasper, who's full of crap, and keep that friendship going for years, then all that talk about Mr. Smith's integrity is just BS."
With that, Adeline spun around and started to walk away.
She barely took two steps when Jason's brow furrowed, and he called out, "Hold up."
Jason quickly caught up to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her back into the hallway. "Adeline, do you really gotta talk like that? Jasper had his reasons; maybe he hasn't been straight with you, Blake, and Lauren about a lot of stuff. But his feelings for you? They're real. And I'll say it again; I ain't ever lied to you!"
He whipped out his phone and shoved it in her face. "Check this out! Last night, when Jasper was wasted, he was still calling your name!"
Adeline shot him a cold look, not even glancing at the screen.
Jason got desperate and practically forced the phone into her hand. "Just look!"
Adeline was about to hand the phone back when she heard Jasper's slurred voice. "Adeline, I'm sorry. The person I owe the most in my life is you."
Hearing Jasper's raspy voice, Adeline froze.
She reluctantly looked down at the phone.
The video showed Jasper in a bar booth, chugging bottle after bottle of hard liquor.
As he drank, he kept calling her name, apologizing over and over, saying he had caused her to lose two kids.
Watching Jasper's flushed face and hearing his repeated apologies made Adeline feel like she couldn't breathe.
Seeing her soften, Jason jumped in. "You keep saying other women mean more to him than you! Then listen up! Did he call out for Molly, Stella, or Luna? No, he kept calling your name!"
Adeline's grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles turning white. She sniffled, staring at Jasper on the screen, feeling torn.
So he knew. He knew he had wronged her; he knew he had caused her to lose two kids, and he deserved to suffer.
"Look at him," Jason sighed, his voice heavy with pain. "He's having a relapse, but his old illness started when you disappeared years ago. He thought you were dead and drowned himself in booze every day, which led to this! Adeline, if you have any heart, you can't just stand by and wish him dead when he's drinking himself into this state because of you!"
Jason snatched the phone from her hand. "I've said my piece. If you still think Jasper doesn't care about you and the kids, then take them and go. I won't stop you!"
Adeline closed her eyes, feeling overwhelmed.
What Jason had said, along with the video, made her heart ache all over again.
If Jasper knew he had wronged her and understood her misunderstandings about him, then why didn't he explain and instead said those things to her last night?
Adeline asked, "Why did he immediately defend Luna when I brought her up?"
Jason was quiet for a moment.
After a while, he sighed. "Jasper's got his reasons. But some things ain't for me to say. If he wants to tell you, you'll find out eventually, so don't ask me."
With that, Jason turned and walked away.
Adeline let out a bitter laugh and plopped down on the stairs.
She hugged her knees and stared blankly at the spotless floor, lost in thought.
Her mind was a total blank.
She felt like she should be doing something, anything, right now.
But she had no clue what the right move was.
She didn't know how long she'd been sitting there when the stairwell door creaked open.
Blake and Lauren each held a door panel, exchanged a look, and then walked over to Adeline, sitting down on either side of her.
Blake reached out and grabbed Adeline's hand. "Mom, what's on your mind?"
Adeline snapped back to reality and forced a smile at Blake and Lauren. "Nothing."
Then she took a deep breath. "Should we head home now? What do you guys want for dinner?"
Lauren pursed her lips and silently held Adeline's other hand. "Let Vikram take us home. Mom, you should stay here and take care of Dad."
Adeline was stunned for a moment, then laughed bitterly. "Why should I stay here and take care of him? Does he deserve it?"
Lauren sighed. "Mom, I know you still care about Dad. If you didn't, you would've taken us home after everything Jason said. Since you're still here, it means you're hesitating. If you're hesitating, then stay."
Lauren rarely spoke so much at once.
Adeline pressed her lips together and smiled helplessly, holding Lauren's hand. "Usually, getting you to talk is like pulling teeth. Why are you saying so much now?"
She understood Lauren's attachment to Jasper.
After all, when she brought Bennett and Lauren back to Radiance Springs, Lauren was the first to return to Jasper's side and was the one Jasper doted on the most.
Adeline's words made Lauren's face pale.
Lauren bit her lip and looked up, her eyes red. "I'm scared Dad won't wake up."
After saying this, Lauren suddenly grabbed Adeline's arm. "Mom, how about this? You promise me to stay here and take care of Dad, help him wake up sooner. When he wakes up, I will cooperate with the doctors and get better as soon as possible, okay?"
After Lauren finished speaking, Blake also nodded. "Mom, I think you should stay too. Because..."
Blake sighed maturely. "I checked the account you and Jasper signed the agreement with. Jasper hasn't transferred my medical expenses yet. I just asked Ryan, and he said that because Mr. Foster signed the agreement with you in his personal capacity, if he doesn't wake up, we might not be able to gather enough money for my surgery."
Blake's words left Adeline's mind spinning.
Adeline thought, 'I almost forgot about Blake's medical expenses!'
As if she had finally found a reason to stay and take care of Jasper, Adeline stood up. "You're right. I should stay here and take care of him, help him wake up sooner."
Adeline thought, 'Even if it's just for the sake of the kids, Jasper needs to wake up.'
Vikram said, "That's settled then. I'll take them home."
As soon as Adeline finished speaking, Vikram, who had been eavesdropping by the door, chuckled and walked in, gently patting Adeline's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll make sure they get home safe."
Adeline nodded seriously.
At that moment, a nurse called for Jasper's family from outside his hospital room.
Without hesitation, Adeline rushed out. "That's me!"
Vikram and the two kids stood at the stairwell door, watching Adeline seriously discuss Jasper's condition with the nurse, and smiled helplessly. "Adeline really can't let go of Jasper."
Blake nodded. "So, Vikram, you don't stand a chance with my mom."
Vikram glared at Blake, then crouched down to pick up Lauren. "Let's go; I'll take you home."
He never intended to pursue Adeline. Not because he didn't like her, but because he knew he wasn't worthy.
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