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Novel Catalog
Chapter_14
Jasper escorted Liana into his office, the heavy weight of the world pressing down on him with every step. The whispers and judgmental gazes from the employees seemed to follow them like an invisible cloud, but Jasper kept his face neutral, determined to maintain control in the face of the storm brewing outside. The moment the door shut behind them, however, Liana wasted no time. Her arms wrapped around him in a desperate embrace, her sobs muffled against his chest.
“Thank you for coming for me, Jasper. I was so scared…” Her voice quivered with emotion, but her actions were almost too calculated, too familiar. She clung to him as if she were the victim of some terrible wrong, but Jasper could feel the manipulation lurking just beneath the surface.
Jasper’s eyes were hard, colder than she had ever seen them. He gently but firmly pushed her away, his hands resting on her shoulders as if to keep her at a distance—physically and emotionally.
“Jasper…” Liana’s confusion mirrored the shock in her eyes as she looked up at him, searching for the man she thought she knew.
“Why did you do it?” His voice was icy, unyielding, as if every word were measured with precision, weighed down by a history of unspoken grievances. The normally gentle man she knew had disappeared, replaced by someone she couldn’t quite read.
“Do what?” Liana’s voice was thick with feigned innocence, her hand reaching out for him again, her movements almost pleading.
“Why did you go to Solana Daily about our marriage?” His tone sharpened, the question hanging in the air like a challenge.
Liana’s breath caught, and she let out a quiet sigh of relief, her eyes flickering with a trace of relief as she moved forward once more, eager to close the gap between them. “Because I want to marry you, Jasper. Don’t you want to marry me?” Her words dripped with vulnerability, but there was something about her intensity that felt… off.
Jasper’s gaze didn’t waver, and he didn’t soften. “I do, but what you did was inappropriate.” The words felt foreign coming from him—his sternness was uncharacteristic, a stark contrast to the playful, gentle side she had once relied on.
“What’s inappropriate?” Liana’s eyes searched his, frustration beginning to slip through her composed facade. She tilted her head, her tone almost mocking, as if he were overreacting. “You and Alice aren’t married anymore!”
“There are still procedures Alice and I have to follow through with. I promised Grandpa we’d make our divorce official only after his 80th birthday.” His voice was flat, every word carefully spoken. “She’s still my wife in name, Liana. You exposing the news of our marriage has made everyone involved unhappy. Grandpa is only going to be more dissatisfied with you.”
The tension in the room escalated, and Liana’s face flushed with indignation. “Who’s unhappy? Are you feeling bad for Alice because everyone on the internet is calling her a mistress?” Her voice rose in fury, the words sharp as they cut through the air. “Do you feel sorry for her?”
Jasper’s expression remained unchanged, but inside, a storm brewed. He pinched the bridge of his nose, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on his shoulders. “I don’t feel sorry for her,” he said quietly, though his thoughts drifted for a brief moment to the woman he had once married. “But Alice isn’t just some other woman. None of this should’ve happened.”
Liana’s eyes burned with frustration, her voice cracking with anger. “What do you mean? She is the other woman!” Her fists clenched at her sides, her voice rising in a high-pitched shriek. “We would’ve gotten together ages ago if it wasn’t for her! It’s all her fault! She took my place by your side for three whole years!”
Jasper’s face twisted with conflicting emotions. He took a step back, his frustration palpable. “It’s because Alice became my wife in name for three years that Grandpa is so understanding now. Without her, there’s no chance we could ever be together.”
The truth of his words hit Liana like a physical blow, but she wasn’t ready to give in. “I don’t care! You’re just siding with her! You’re the one who let her control everything.”
Jasper’s heart ached as he spoke again, the bitter reality setting in. “Without Alice, there would have been no chance for us. She played the role she had to, for everyone’s sake.”
Liana’s breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, silence hung between them like a barrier neither was willing to cross. She wanted to scream, to demand more of him, but Jasper’s words cut deeper than she cared to admit.
Before she could say anything else, Jasper’s phone rang, a sharp reminder of the responsibilities awaiting him. It was his grandfather.
“Grandpa,” Jasper muttered, barely hiding the frustration in his voice as he answered the call.
“Jasper Beckett!” Newton’s voice roared through the phone, an angry growl laced with disappointment. “I see you’ve broken your promise to me. Are you that eager to marry that hussy?”
Jasper’s stomach turned at the insult, but he swallowed his anger. “The news was put out by the media, Grandpa. It has nothing to do with me.”
“Liar! I know it was that Gardner girl’s doing!” Newton’s voice was laced with fury. “She got desperate because you aren’t in a hurry to get hitched. That’s why she made such a preemptive move!”
Jasper’s heart sank, the weight of the accusations from both his grandfather and Liana bearing down on him. He had to lie to protect Liana, but the lie felt bitter on his tongue. “It wasn’t Liana. You’ve misunderstood her.”
Newton’s rage escalated. “I forbid you from marrying Liana! You’d better make up with Alice!” He didn’t even attempt to hide the sharpness in his tone, the finality in his words as he hung up on Jasper.
Jasper closed his eyes, his hand pressing against his forehead in an attempt to alleviate the growing tension. The headache was unbearable now, and he collapsed into the nearest chair, exhaustion settling over him like a blanket.
Xavier, ever the concerned assistant, quickly entered the room. “Mr. Jasper, are you alright? You’ve been taking too many painkillers.”
“I’m fine,” Jasper muttered, unable to look up. His thoughts swirled around Alice, Liana, his grandfather’s expectations, and the mess he found himself trapped in. Everything felt suffocating.
“Mr. Jasper, about what we discussed earlier… I’ve sent someone to investigate the matter,” Xavier began cautiously, though he knew the news would hit hard.
“What did you find?” Jasper’s voice was sharp, an edge to it that reflected his mounting frustration.
“The person behind the two social media accounts that exposed Madam Alice’s scandal… It’s Ms. Gardner,” Xavier said quietly, his voice tinged with fear.
Jasper’s world seemed to freeze. “How is that possible? Are you sure?” His voice cracked with disbelief as the truth hit him.
“Yes, sir. I’ve confirmed it multiple times. The timing is too suspicious. The rumors surfaced right after the announcement of your marriage, and it’s clear this was a calculated move.”
Jasper slumped back into his chair, the weight of the revelation crashing down on him. “Liana…” He murmured her name like a prayer, his heart aching with disappointment.