Chapter 173 Jasmine and Daniel's Past
In the office, Daniel opened the folder with Jasmine's name on it, gazing at her ID photo for a long time.
It was the only picture of Jasmine since her release from prison, taken when she joined the company.
He saved her picture in his encrypted folder, looking at the old photos and videos of him and Jasmine, for a very long time.
Daniel knew he couldn't forget Jasmine; he didn't have it in him. He simply harbored resentment toward her for betraying him—hated that five years ago, she stubbornly pled guilty and went to prison.
Hated her for choosing to hurt him as her way of revenge.
Before her scandal as a faux-socialite broke out, Jasmine had a gentle demeanor, innocent like a budding pure white rose.
In his encrypted photo album, there was a special folder where Daniel had secretly stashed away old pictures of him and Jasmine.
Serena thought Daniel had long since deleted them, but he'd actually kept them hidden. In the photos, a fourteen-year-old Jasmine, clad in her school uniform skirt, smiled with a pure innocence as she led the cheerleading team on the sports field. She was always so radiant, almost glowing.
Despite the crowd on the field, Daniel could always spot her at first glance. Back then, the boys in class were desperate to get a better look at Jasmine; they'd sign up for every track event just to be close enough to watch her lead the cheers.
"Go Daniel, go Daniel!" he'd hear in the video file that he'd watched over and over in the past five years. Jasmine with pom-poms in hand, would chant for Daniel from the sidelines.
That day, he was running the 4x400 meter relay. The second and third runners were lagging, but Daniel, as anchor, turned the tide just because he heard Jasmine leading the cheers for him.
At that time, he and Jasmine were not yet an item.
Youthful emotions were once so pure, filled with simplicity, free from schemes, focusing solely on the white rose they cherished.
"Jasmine, the goddess of class three!" The following video displayed Jasmine performing a solo dance during the closing ceremony of the track meet. At fourteen, she was like a flower bud on the brink of blossoming, breathtakingly beautiful in a manner that captivated observers' attention.
Jasmine had always been a dazzling star wherever she went.
On the stage, Jasmine danced solo in a white ballet costume. The audience was silent until the end when they erupted in cheers.
"Daniel, do you like Jasmine? Why are you filming her?"
"Yeah, ha ha ha! Daniel's got a crush on Jasmine!"
The video was taken by Daniel from the audience as his classmates teased him.
"I like Jasmine, and you guys better stay away from her," Daniel admitted openly, without a hint of hesitation.
"Tom from class eight also has a crush on Jasmine!"
"Whatever," Daniel responded with disdain, followed by the laughter and heckling of his classmates. "Daniel, your crush just finished dancing, go give her some water, hurry up!"
Amidst the laughter, the video ended, and Daniel leaned back in his chair, lost in thought for a long time.
Though it was a love from his naive youth, it was enough to leave an enduring imprint on Daniel's heart.
The photos in the file were all of Jasmine. There were shots of her in the classroom, and some in the dance studio.
Back then, it seemed like Daniel's camera was always following Jasmine around.
"Jasmine, let's be together. From here on out, I've got your back," Daniel had said.
In the next video, the classmates were egging them on.
Jasmine sat on the desk, her delicate and youthful face pale and bloodless. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were soaked through—a clear sign she had been harassed.
She looked up at Daniel timidly, speaking in a small voice. "No... We can't date early."
"We're in high school, it's not 'early dating' anymore," Daniel said with a laugh, sitting at the desk in front of her. "Stick with me, and I'll protect you always."
Jasmine nervously twisted her fingers as the class's noise swelled around them. Finally, bowing her head, she remained silent for a long time.
Irritated, Daniel shouted, "Would you all shut the hell up?"
The room fell silent, and Daniel gazed at Jasmine.
After what seemed like forever, she tentatively nodded, her face turning bright red.
The ruckus in the classroom erupted anew.
"But... we need to focus on our studies. We've got to make it to Stanford University, you can’t... you can't fall behind," Jasmine said, looking up at Daniel earnestly. "I'll help tutor you."
Daniel leaned on Jasmine's desk. "If you tutor me, then I'll study."
At that time, Jasmine's smile radiated pure beauty, filled with an inner light that was truly captivating. "All right, but you have to rank second in our class."
"Why not first?" Daniel asked.
"Because I'll be first," Jasmine said naturally, not to show off, but as a statement of fact.
She was confident and radiant. She didn't believe Daniel could ever surpass her academic performance.
And nobody else could, either.
"Jasmine, I will always protect you." Daniel's voice echoed in the video.
...
In Ethan's office.
As Daniel opened those photos and videos, Jasmine wished she could disappear. She couldn't help but wonder why Daniel still had them in his possession.
And Ethan, standing there, sported an expression so dark it was frightening.
Liam had already sensed the danger and bolted.
Mitchell was still clueless.
"He's full of crap!" Ethan cursed darkly.
Clearly, he was referring to the Daniel in the video, who had promised to always protect Jasmine.
Jasmine's head hung low, her eyes slightly reddened. There were memories she desperately wished to forget.
Hearing Ethan, who was always composed and well-mannered, never one to curse, actually swearing at Daniel...
"Man, your sis-in-law is a knockout, always was a looker since she was a kid, huh?" Mitchell muttered fearlessly.
"Get out!" Ethan grabbed Mitchell and tossed him out of the room.
Standing outside the office, Mitchell looked utterly confused. "Is that how he asks for help?"
Liam slapped Mitchell on the back. "You'll get used to it, just give it time."
"Did Mr. Ethan take the wrong meds or something?" Mitchell joked.
"Mr. Ethan's been off lately, with Daniel and his kid, plus Howard pushing him too far," Liam sighed. It was all those messy Douglas Family dramas.
Mitchell curled his lip in a smirk. Only Liam, the oblivious one, couldn't see the glaring truth—that Ethan was like a moth drawn to a flame.
"Makes you wonder why Ethan's rut is kicking in so late," Mitchell commented blithely.
"Watch your mouth," Liam warned, covering Mitchell's mouth to avoid any reckless talk.
Mitchell lounged on the couch outside. "Gotta say, the little sis-in-law is pretty stunning."
Liam looked stunned and then realized that Mitchell was referring to Jasmine. "Did Mr. Ethan tell you about his agreement to marry Jasmine?"
"Agreement?" Mitchell squinted his eyes.
Ethan sure knew how to play the field.
Instantly, Liam covered his mouth with his hand. He couldn't believe that he had just spilled the beans.
...
In the office.
Jasmine cowered in a corner, nearly trying to vanish into the walls. Fearing that Ethan would loathe her for her past with Daniel, Jasmine choked up, saying, "Ethan... Daniel and I, we have never slept together."
Daniel had never touched her.
In fact, Daniel used to treasure her. He said he would wait until they were married to touch her again, otherwise, it would be indecent.
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