Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 128

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128 The Request

The black sedan eased away from the scene, its sleek form cutting through the evening air. Behind it, the cars that had pursued them sat idling, their drivers frustrated and seething with anger. They had underestimated their opponent’s skill and now found themselves outmatched, unable to keep up or challenge further.

Inside the car, the tension hung thick. At last, the vehicle came to a stop. Tatiana unfastened her seatbelt with a quiet sigh and leaned toward Jasper, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you. I’m going back now. Please drive carefully.”

She reached for the door handle, but it refused to budge. Her brows knitted in confusion as she glanced at Jasper. “Is that all?” she asked softly.

A low chuckle rumbled from Jasper’s throat. Slowly, he turned his head to meet her gaze, a faint glimmer of something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

Tatiana’s heart fluttered unexpectedly. From his pocket, he pulled out a photograph and handed it to her. She stared at it, pupils narrowing sharply. How could he possibly have this picture?

“Tatiana,” he said quietly, “how much longer are you going to keep pretending you don’t remember?”

Her breath caught. She steadied herself, then met his question with one of her own. “Do you really want me to remember?”

“You should,” he replied firmly.

She shook her head, her voice low and resolute. “I don’t remember. And I don’t want to.” Rolling up her sleeve, she revealed a scar—an ugly burn mark etched into her skin. “Look. My past isn’t something to cherish. Isn’t it better to forget? Why must I dredge it all up?”

Suddenly, Tatiana leaned in closer, so near that Jasper’s pupils constricted in surprise, his heart skipping a beat. Though her face bore scars, her eyes shone with an otherworldly beauty—like starlight scattered across a midnight sky, layered and deep.

In that fleeting moment, caught off guard by her closeness, Jasper lost his footing. Tatiana pressed the car door button and slipped out swiftly, leaving him behind in silence.

He watched her retreating figure, heavy thoughts weighing on him. Why cling to painful memories? For her, the last twenty years held nothing worth recalling—not even him.

Lowering his gaze, Jasper muttered a rare curse under his breath. “Damn.”

—

The following day, Tatiana did not come to work. She had taken the day off, a request Jasper had noticed with unease. When he inquired, his subordinate replied, “She said there’s something going on at home but didn’t give any details.”

Uneasiness settled in Jasper’s chest. Tatiana was on leave.

Then, a call came from the old estate—the butler’s voice urgent. The patriarch had suddenly fallen gravely ill, and the doctor had declared his condition critical. Jasper canceled all his appointments and rushed back immediately.