On the first floor of the Jasper estate, the television in the Jasper estate’s living room was ying the news.
“Earlier this attemoon, a serious traffic ident urred in Cloud County, We’re now going live to our reporter at the scene.
<b>“</b>Good aftemoon, everyone. It’s 4:15 p.m., and I’m standing on the state highway here in Cloud County. At approximately 1:40 pm, local residents reported a major traffic ident. As you can see behind me<b>, </b>a sedan crashed into the guardrail on the right side of the road. The vehicle <b>is </b>heavily damaged, and the driver was found unconscious and seriously injured. He has been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
<b>“</b>Also, if you look further down the road, you’ll see that the left–side guardrail was also broken. Based on the tire marks, it appears another vehicle went off the edge and down the cliff. Rescue teams are currently carrying out emergency operations…”
Ma, Jasper Sr. sat with a deep frown, his eyes fixed on the TV screen, not blinking once.
Just then<b>, </b>Sean walked through the door, tossing his car keys casually onto the table.
“Grandpa<b>? </b>I didn’t expect you back.”
Mr. Jasper Sr.’s sharp paze snapped to him.
“This ident–there’s more to it, isn’t there? Was it Joseph Ford?”
rubbed his temples, visibly exhausted, and sank down onto the couch.
“<b>Yeah</b>”
Mr. Jasper Sr.’s expression darkened further. “<b>I </b>heard Desmond fell from a building?”
Sean gave a quiet, steady “Mm
Mr. Jasper St. stared at the television again, lost in thought. The room fell into a tense silence.
A housekeeper came in with a steaming cup of tea. Sean picked it up and took a small sip
Mr. Jasper Sr. said suddenly, “<b>you </b>need to break things oft with Charlotte.”
Sean set his cup down slowly. His dark <b>eyes </b>clouded over with a shadowy look. He didn’t respond.
Mr. Jasper St. sighed. His tone was firm but low.
“This fight between you and Joseph shouldn’t drag the Riley family into it. He can’t get to you directly, so Charlotte is the next best target.”
Sean replied with a vague, indifferent “Mm.”
Mr. Jasper St. continued, <b>voice </b>bavier now.
“There’s only a verbal engagement between you and Charlotte–nothing official yet. It not toote to cut ties offer the Rileys <b>a </b>generous settlement. Make a furial apology. I believe they’ll understand.”
“Gut ties? Like it’s that easy?” Sean thought.
Sean let out a quietugh, <b>but </b>there was no warmth in it. His voice was soft, almost broken.
*How am I supposed to let her go?”
Mr. Jasper Sr. blinked, caught off <b>guard</b>. He studied his <b>grandson </b>closely.
“You really have feelings for
Mr. Jasper Sr. hadn’t realized the depth of Sean’s attachment. He had assumed it was <b>just </b>a typical alliance between political and business tamilles.
Sean sat still,shes low, his chest tight with emotion. He didn’t say a word.
Mr. Jasper 5, saw right through <b>h </b>1let cut anatlite ap;hs
<b>“</b>You’re the sentimengal typer. You’re nothing like your father. In that way you remind me of myself when I was <b>young</b>.
Then his toner shifted again.
“But even if you can’t let go, you love to. You know what Joseph <b>is </b>capable of. <b>He’s </b>been building his power in Antis for years, backed by one of the most brutal syndicate bosses in Calinia. He’s armed, ruthless, andpletely unpredictable. If Charlotte stays by your side, <b>to </b>put it bluntly, she might not survive. And you don’t want that, do <b>you</b>?
Desmond got lucky this time. He survived. But if he hadn’t woken up, do you really think Charlotte <b>would’ve </b>forgiven you or the Jasper family?
“That car <b>crash </b>this attemoon was <b>Joseph’s </b>message to you. Sean, if you love her, then you need to protect her You can’t let your love be the reason she ends up
Sear’s eyes turned <b>red </b>at the corners, his chest tight with bittemess
He opened <b>his </b>mouth, wanting to argue
But the moment reyed in his mind–the terrifying seconds on that mad, the bullet grazing the top of Charlotte’s head.
She had nearly been shot right in front of him.
And just like that<b>, </b>the words caught in his throat. He couldn’t say a single thing