Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 268

**Even the Night Couldn’t Silence Her Light**
**Chapter 268: Castle of Refuge**

The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, drawing her attention.

Tatiana lifted her gaze, her eyes locking onto Jasper’s intense, dark stare. A flicker of surprise coursed through her as she realized she understood the weight of his silence and the gravity of the situation.

“Ann, you keep playing. I’m going to step out for a minute,” he instructed, his voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of urgency.

The little girl turned her head, glancing between her mother and Jasper, her face lighting up with a sweet, innocent smile. “Okay! Go ahead, Mommy!” she chirped, her enthusiasm momentarily dispelling the tension in the air.

Tatiana rose from her seat, her heart racing as she followed Jasper out of the room. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing off the warmth and comfort of their little sanctuary. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, “What is it? Can we go home now?”

Jasper’s lips formed a thin line, his expression serious. He shook his head slowly, the weight of his words pressing down on her. “Something’s come up. We’ll need to stay here for a few days.”

A knot tightened in her chest. “What happened?” she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t give her a direct answer. Instead, he said, “I’ll handle it. Don’t worry. But it’s not safe to stay at the hotel. I have a house here. It will be safer for you and Ann to stay there for now.”

Tatiana wrung her hands together, anxiety coursing through her veins. She longed to return home; the memories of this place haunted her. But if the situation was dire enough that even Jasper couldn’t resolve it immediately, it had to be serious. She felt helpless, trapped in a web of uncertainty, and all she could do was try to avoid adding to the chaos.

“Okay, I understand,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

“I’m sorry,” Jasper said, his eyes reflecting genuine remorse. The incident that had brought them to this point weighed heavily on him, and she could see the burden of guilt etched on his features. They were here because of him, caught in a terrifying storm of circumstances that neither of them had anticipated.

In that moment, she couldn’t shake the thought: he was not a good father.

Later that day, Tatiana packed their belongings, her heart heavy as she prepared to move with Ann into Jasper’s house.

As they drove through an affluent neighborhood, she expected a modest residence. But when the car rolled to a stop behind grand bronze gates, revealing a castle-like structure that loomed before her, she fell silent, her breath caught in her throat.

Ann’s eyes widened in wonder. “What a beautiful castle!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.

Jasper’s gaze softened as he watched Ann, a look of unmistakable adoration in his eyes. It was a sight that almost made Tatiana smile, but she quickly kicked him lightly, bringing him back to the present moment.

“Well,” he began, a hint of pride in his tone, “it was auctioned off some years ago, and I bought it. I’ve kept it maintained, and I have staff who clean it regularly. Your rooms are all ready for you. If anything isn’t to your liking, just let me know.”

Ann turned to him, her expression earnest. “Can Hubert come stay here with us?”

Jasper blinked in surprise. “You want to be with Hubert?” he asked, his tone serious.

The little girl nodded vigorously. “Yes!”

With a promise in his voice, Jasper replied, “Okay. I promise you, next time I’ll bring Hubert here.”

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