Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 265

**TITLE: Even the Night Couldn’t Silence Her Light 265**
**Chapter 265: The Other Child**

He understood that he should let her go. He should ease his grip, allow her some space to gather herself.

But the thought of releasing her felt impossible.

“Tatiana, please, look at me. Just breathe. Calm down.”

His heart raced with a tempest of emotions, yet his exterior remained unyielding, as always—stoic and composed. The only telltale sign of his inner turmoil was the way the veins on the back of his hand throbbed, standing out like a map of his anxiety. Despite this, his fingers cradled her face gently, not with force but with a tenderness that spoke volumes.

“Listen to me, okay?” he urged softly, his eyes locked onto hers, trying to bridge the chasm of fear and confusion between them. “I’m not asking you to do this. Ann is in the hospital. She’s safe, but they’ve given her a sedative, and it hasn’t worn off yet. If you go now, you’ll just be left waiting. I wanted you to come back, not for this chaos, but so you could truly rest. Really rest. The third level of the underground city is saturated with a catalyst mist that seeps through the ventilation. Prolonged exposure can lead to mental agitation and even brain damage. You need to calm down. Don’t let the drug take control of you. You’ve shown such resilience. You survived in there, all on your own. You’re strong—much stronger than you realize. You made it to the end. Don’t doubt yourself. Tatiana, deep breaths. Your heart is racing; you’ll push it past its limits. Don’t let your emotions take the reins.”

One by one, his words began to penetrate the haze of her panic. Her turbulent emotions were gradually subdued, wrapped in the warmth of his voice, pressed down until they transformed into a flicker of calm.

As she started to steady her breathing, he still didn’t release her, maintaining the intimate distance between them. His voice dropped to a whisper. “I didn’t know Ann was my daughter until Avery found out and kidnapped her. He’s the one who revealed it to me. I will not take Ann from you. She belongs to you. You brought her into this world and raised her. I have no right to claim her as my own. You have full custody.”

Her breath steadied further, the tension in her shoulders easing.

“I’m truly sorry for pretending to be Yasper. I didn’t want to upset you, and I felt I had no choice but to find another way. If it made you despise me, then I’ll apologize again and again, but I’ll do anything to make it right.”

Just as she was about to respond, he interrupted her, “Anything, except ‘get lost.’”

Her mouth fell open in shock, the unexpectedness of his words leaving her momentarily speechless.

After a brief pause, she pushed him away, creating a distance that felt necessary. “Talk from over there.”

Her voice had lost the frenzied edge that had once characterized it. In that moment, she recognized the strangeness of her earlier outburst, the uncharacteristic loss of control. No wonder those on the third level succumbed to madness.

“You guarantee Ann is okay?” she pressed, her eyes searching his for sincerity.

“I guarantee it. I’ll take you to see her tomorrow.”

“You won’t take Ann away.”

“I won’t. Ann is yours.”

“You won’t force me into anything.”

He knew he couldn’t promise that. If he agreed, she would likely turn on him the very next second, demanding he leave.

Tatiana’s lips curled into a scornful sneer. “Jasper, you really are despicable.”

He didn’t bother to deny it; the truth hung heavy in the air between them.

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