Chapter 281

Chapter 281 Sarah Swire

“Are you leaving?” Eileen’s voice rang out.

Jasper looked at her impassively. When his gaze fell on her bandaged hand, his eyes darkened

slightly. “The engagement will proceed as planned. After all, it’s something I sought. Abruptly canceling

it would affect the Smith family’s reputation, but I can’t guarantee when I might call it off in the

meantime. From now on, you are only allowed to go to school and stay at home, nowhere else.”

Eileen didn’t respond to his words. Instead, she walked over and placed the file she was holding on the

table. In a calm tone, she said, “The car is broken and needs to be repaired. The housekeeper took this

out of your car. Drink less. I’m going back to my room first.”

“Hold on,” Jasper called out to her the moment she turned to leave.

Eileen turned around. “Is there anything else?”

“Aren’t you curious about what’s inside?”

Eileen narrowed her eyes. “It belongs to you. I have no right to open it without your permission.”

Jasper walked up to her, towering over her, his aura icy as he looked at her. “I’m giving you this right

now. Open it.”

Eileen remained motionless for a long time.

Jasper narrowed his eyes dangerously. “What’s the matter? You don’t dare to open it? Or are you

scared?”

Eileen silently opened the file.

“Take out what’s inside,” he commanded.

Eileen did as told and pulled out a photo.

Jasper looked at her reaction intently.

To his surprise, she was calm.

“What do you have to say?”

Eileen calmly met his gaze. “Is this why you haven’t been back these days? It fell out just now, and I

saw it. Do you know what I was thinking at that moment? I was wondering, what else don’t I know

about your investigation into me? Such a thing happened, and you wouldn’t even say a word to me. I

would have explained it to you if only you had questioned me. But you didn’t. Jasper, no matter what I

do, is it not worth explaining to you? And yet, you can believe in Nancy. If we don’t even have the most

basic trust between us, we won’t get far. If… postponing the engagement is your decision, I will respect

your choice. Giving me the silent treatment won’t solve anything. Father has already informed me that

you went to look for Nancy. There’s no need for you to hide it from me, Jasper… There are things I

don’t want to lie to you about, but I also don’t want to be deceived.”

For some unknown reason, Jasper suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of panic.

He felt as if something was slipping away, something he wanted to hold on to but couldn’t.

“Whether it’s my fault, or for whatever other reason, if the engagement needs to be called off, then let it

be so. Three days ago, Professor Combs, as a special guest lecturer, was invited to teach at Pillere Art

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He… asked me if I wanted to accompany him!”

This was a rare opportunity for further study, with only one spot available. Not everyone could secure

this spot.

In fact, Eileen was also contemplating whether or not to go.

If she went, it would be a long time before they saw each other again.

“If you haven’t made up your mind yet, I will say yes to him. We’re setting off the day after tomorrow,

and I’ll be back in three months. By then, if you still want to be with me, we’ll be together. Three months

is enough time for us to figure things out… to see if we’re still right for each other and if we should

continue being together. I’ve never asked you to forget her. It’s okay to have her in your heart. After all,

I’m the one who came into your life later…”

Eileen’s lips curved into a gentle smile, her eyes as tender as ever. “It’s getting late. I have classes

tomorrow, so I’ll head back to rest. We can talk more when you’re sober.”

Upon returning to her room, Eileen took a bath, turned off the lights, and quickly fell asleep.

Orange was nowhere to be found today, leaving the room feeling empty. Without it around, Eileen felt

as if something was missing.

In the middle of the night, Eileen lay in a state between sleep and wakefulness, listening to the chirping

of cicadas outside the window.

She had no idea how much time had passed when suddenly, she heard a faint noise. She felt the bed

beside her sink. A hand appeared around her waist, and an unpleasant smell of alcohol hit her nostrils.

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have investigated you, and I didn’t speak up about it right away. I was just

scared!” With a voice filled with sorrow, he added, “I fear that once you know everything, you will leave

without hesitation, and all I can do is watch you go. I’ve never had the heart to hurt you. I can’t even

bring myself to say anything harsh to you. Eileen… I love you! The more I love you, the harder it

becomes for me to accept the truth I’ve uncovered. I’ve never thought of letting you go. Even those

remarks about ending the engagement were merely uttered to upset you. I… I only have you left!

Please, don’t leave, okay? Whether this matter is true or not, I don’t care anymore. I just want you to

stay by my side. I don’t want to lose you.”

He had already lost so many people. He didn’t want to lose the only person he truly cared about as

well.

“Tell me that none of this is real even if it’s a lie that deceives me.”

Jasper held her tightly.

In the pitch-black room, Eileen opened her eyes calmly.

“The person in the photo was never me.”

“All right!”

“Can you promise not to keep things to yourself from now on?”

Indeed, the person in the photo was not her. The last time she was forced to wear those clothes was

against her will. She simply couldn’t resist.

“All right!”

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“You should take a bath before going to sleep. You’re not smelling very pleasant.”

“Let me hug you a little longer.”

She really should go to sleep.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to get up tomorrow.

She closed her eyes, feeling as if a knot in her heart had been untied. Soon, she fell asleep.

Two hours later, she was gently rolled over in her drowsy state. The subtle scent of post-bath

freshness. drifted into her nostrils, immediately lulling her back to sleep.

Three days flew by, and the time for the university entrance exam arrived quickly.

The scorching weather of June created a lively atmosphere outside the school. The entrance of

Cloudburg Public School was crowded with numerous parents, their anticipation and nervousness

reaching its peak. on this day.

“Good luck on your exam. I’ll pick you up when it’s over.”

“Okay.”

H

“Don’t be too nervous.”

“Mm-hmm.”

In reality, she wasn’t really nervous, but rather quite calm.

Eileen stepped out of the car. Since that night, their relationship had returned to its previous state.

However, Jasper’s desire to control her was growing increasingly intense.

He longed to be by her side every moment of every day.

Just then, a bus honked as it approached, and Eileen turned to look.

The bus came to a stop and the doors opened. Just as she was about to turn around, she caught sight

of someone and her face turned pale.

It was Sarah.