Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18 The White Swan Returns.

No matter what happened, she accepted it.

She apologized, whispering sorry again and again.

She begged, even lowering herself to grovel before him.

“Don’t do this, don’t humiliate me, I’m begging you…”

Just as Linda was about to act, the sudden vibration of a phone shattered the tragic scene.

He snapped awake. “Stop.”

Linda immediately pulled back, waiting for his signal.

“Get out.”

The bathroom door opened, then closed again.

In the narrow space, only he and the disheveled Tatiana remained.

She looked pitiful, her clothes soaked through and clinging to her, her face pale as paper. Hugging herself tightly, she stared at him in horror.

Jasper’s clothes were damp as well, his breath heavy. He tossed aside the showerhead and answered the call.

The voice on the other end seemed to say something he didn’t like. His brows furrowed, his tone sharp. “I know. I’ll bring her over.”

When the call ended, he looked at Tatiana and threw his jacket toward her. “Get up, change, and come with me.”

Tatiana avoided his jacket as if it were poison, terrified of letting it touch her.

His

eyes

darkened at the gesture. “If you won’t wear it, then stay wet.”

She rose slowly, arms wrapped around herself, silent.

His lips pressed into a thin line before he turned and left.

Linda watched them, unsettled by Mr. Jackson’s attitude.

If he didn’t care, why come all this way?

But if he did care, why treat her like that?

Ambiguous.

Once they were gone, she quickly called Bianca to report.

.

Bianca’s heart tightened. “You’re saying he suddenly got a call and then just took her away?”

“Yes, yes, I don’t know where. But Mr. Jackson’s face looked bad.”

What could make Jasper act like that?

Who had called him?

She suddenly remembered Shawn mentioning yesterday that Gordon had returned from the overseas care facility. Could Jasper be taking Tatiana to see the old man?

Why?

She was supposed to be the future Mrs. Jackson. Tatiana was nothing but a discarded woman.

No. She had to think of something.

A crueler thought suddenly struck her.

In the car.

Tatiana curled into the corner, nearly pressed against the window.

The air conditioning was on, and she still wore her wet clothes. Even as she shivered uncontrollably, she refused to speak or beg.

Jasper’s face was stormy. “Stop the car.”

The car halted in front of the largest shopping center.

He personally escorted her into a luxury boutique and pointed at her. “Dress her properly. Something decent enough to be seen in public. Quickly.”

The attendant rushed to comply. “Of course, sir. Please wait a moment.”

Tatiana was dragged toward the fitting room. When the attendant tried to help undress her, she stumbled back in fear. “Don’t touch me! I… I’ll do it myself.”

The attendant placed the clothes down. “If you need help, just call me.”

Once the door shut, Tatiana slowly removed her wet clothes, refusing to look at the marks on her body, and quickly changed into the clean outfit.

Afterward, they sat her down to dry her hair and style it.

The stylist frowned at the jagged mess of her hair. “Miss, who cut your hair like this? It looks like a dog chewed it.”

She said nothing.

Back at the correctional facility, jealous of her long, glossy hair, someone had hacked at it with scissors. It had grown back uneven and wild.

“I’ll trim it. It won’t take long.”

The scissors moved deftly, shaping her uneven hair into a neat, elegant cut at her collarbones.

“Your hair is actually very healthy. If you let it grow, it’ll be beautiful.”

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