Chapter 14
Jasper’s voice, clear and smooth, echoed in the quiet room.
But to Linda, it felt like a blow, a dull pain spreading in her chest.
Her mind slipped to her past life–seeing Jasper on a news broadcast for the first time, instantly hooked, falling hard at first sight.
It was like a curse, her heart tied to him, impossible to shake.
She’d been desperate to get closer, even just a bit.
She’d even dreamed of marrying him, being his wife.
She’d gone to extremes to get his private number, texting him endlessly every day.
No replies ever came, but she kept going, like she was under a spell.
When she returned to the Prestons, she found the courage to tell Eleanor she liked Jasper and wanted to marry him.
She was overjoyed to learn he was the fiancé they’d arranged for her.
But Eleanor, feeling sorry for her one–sided crush, advised her to stop chasing him.
“Men prefer reserved women,” her mother had said.
From then on, Linda forced herself to stop, never sending another text.
Thinking back, Linda’s face stayed blank, but shame and self–mockery twisted inside.
“Am I making this up, or did someone play games and now wants out?” Jasper said coldly, his face turning dangerously dark.
Cancel the engagement? Ridiculous.
‘I brought her back to the Prestons to restore her place, not to let her cut ties with me,’ he thought.”
Linda’s gaze was steady, her words sharp. “So what if I sent those texts?” she said.
الله الله الا الله الله
She locked eyes with him, each word measured. “Why don’t you check when I sent you the last one?”
Jasper’s expression stiffened, his lips pressing into a thin line. Almost without thinking, he said, “A month ago.”
True, she hadn’t contacted him in a full month.
He thought she was just caught up with family matters.
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Linda gave a faint, icy laugh. “A month ago, I was a nobody actress, alone, with low standards and shallow dreams.”
Jasper froze, stunned she’d describe her old self like that.
‘I am the ow standards and shallow dreams?‘ he thought to himself.
الله الله الله الله الله
She continued, her voice flat, “Now I’m Miss Preston, worth billions. Suitors are lining up. You? You’re not good enough anymore.”
She’d planned to say her piece and leave, but Jasper kept pushing.
Fine. She wouldn’t hold back.
“So now it’s my fault?” Jasper asked, his face a storm, his tone near–freezing.
Linda had no idea what “fault” means, and she couldn’t care less.
She raised an eyebrow, not answering, just saying calmly, “I’ve said what I needed to. Our families are old friends, so out of respect, I’ll have my parents visit the yours to formally end the engagement.”
With that, she turned, reaching for the door handle to leave.
don’t agree,” Jasper’s voice snapped, cold as a landslide.
He moved quickly, blocking the door with his hand. He moved
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Chapter 14
His knuckles brushed her fingers by accident.
Linda pulled back like she’d been burned, wiping her hand on her jeans.
It was as if she had touched the filthiest thing in the world.
She glared at him, each word cutting. “Jasper, I’m ending this engagement. I don’t need your permission. They didn’t ask me when it was made, so I don’t need any approval to break it.”
Her face turned pitch–black.
Jasper’s sudden touch truly disgusted her.
Jasper’s already dark expression turned sullen.
Linda’s reaction hurt his feelings.
Linda’s tone held no doubt, her disgust so clear it stung like a slap–she truly despised him.
She used to be crazy for him, all eyes on him a month ago, but she was now a cold stranger.
He couldn’t figure out what went wrong.
Linda, seeing his silence, assumed he’d accepted her decision.
She reached for the handle again, this time opening the door smoothly.
Linda,” Jasper’s voice came from behind, firm as steel. “As long as I refuse, you can’t end it. Believe me.”
Linda spun around, her eyes flashing with irritation and anger.
She wanted to end him here and now.
‘If not for the law, I’d deck him,’ she thought.
Jasper eyed her stony profile, then shifted, his tone slow and deliberate. “Ending the engagement isn’t impossible.”
Linda’s gaze sharpened, turning to him. “What’s your play?”
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