<b>Chapter </b><b>246 </b>
+25 Bonus
On <b>the </b>couch in <b>the </b>Jasper <b>estate’s </b>living room<b>, </b>Mrs. Jasper Sr. sat flipping through <b>a </b>stack of glossy photos, murmuring to herself as she <b>went</b>.
“The Ziegler girl has such <b>grace</b><b>. </b>The Wrights‘ second daughter has a sweet face too. And the Wilson girl–just finished her master’s at Stanton University<b>. </b>I like that academic <b>air </b>about her<b>.</b><b>” </b>
She <b>looked </b><b>up </b><b>at </b>her grandson <b>with </b><b>a </b>warm smile.
<b>“</b>Sean<b>, </b>take <b>a </b><b>look </b><b>at </b><b>these</b>. <b>See </b>if anyone catches your eye.”
But Sean’s <b>gaze </b>had drifted elsewhere<b>, </b>dark and distant.
He was still <b>caught </b>on that brief moment in <b>the </b>garden–Charlotte’s pale face, the way she looked like she hadn’t recovered from being sick. Her lips werepletely drained of <b>color</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Is </b>she still unwell?” he wondered.
“Sean!” his <b>grandmother </b>raised her voice<b>, </b>her smile vanishing. “I’m talking <b>to </b>you. What are you staring off at?”
He blinked<b>, </b>snapping back to the present.
<b>“</b>Sorry–what?”
Mrs. <b>Jasper </b>Sr. <b>let </b><b>out </b>a breath and <b>set </b><b>the </b>photos aside<b>, </b>clearly displeased. She <b>adjusted </b>her silk shawl and spoke in <b>a </b>calm but pointed tone.
<b>“</b><b>I </b><b>just </b>saw that <b>Wilson </b>girl <b>the </b>other day. She’s sweet<b>, </b>well–mannered, very pretty. You and your mother should stop by their <b>ce </b>in two days. Make an <b>appearance</b><b>, </b><b>get </b>to know her a little.”
Sean leaned back into the sofa<b>, </b>his expression unreadable.
<b>“</b>I’m not <b>interested</b>.”
Mrs. <b>Jasper </b>Sr.’s brows pinched in irritation.
<b>“</b>You’re <b>not </b><b>free </b>during the holidays<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>I’ve </b>worked <b>nonstop </b>all year<b>. </b><b>I’d </b>like a few days <b>to </b>myself.<b>” </b>
Vivian<b>, </b><b>seated </b><b>nearby</b><b>, </b><b>couldn’t help </b><b>the </b><b>sour </b>feeling rising in her chest<b>. </b>She had just managed <b>to </b>get Charlotte <b>out </b><b>of </b><b>the </b>picture<b>, </b>and now <b>Mrs. </b>Jasper Sr. <b>was </b>already lining up someone new. It had only been a few days <b>since </b>the engagement was called <b>off</b>.
She <b>looped </b>her arm <b>through </b>Mrs. <b>Jasper </b>Sr.’s and said <b>sweetly</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>Grandina, wouldn’t it look a little rushed? People might talk<b>, </b>considering the breakup <b>was </b><b>so </b>
<b>recent</b>.”
Lucinda chimed in as <b>well</b><b>, </b>her <b>voice </b>light.
<b>“</b>Exactly! <b>Sean’s </b>one <b>of </b><b>the </b>most <b>eligible men </b>in the city. There are plenty <b>of </b><b>wornen </b><b>dying </b><b>to </b>marry him. <b>You </b>really <b>don’t </b><b>have </b><b>to </b><b>worry</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>But </b><b>Mrs. </b><b>Jasper </b>Sr. gave Sean <b>a </b><b>sideways </b><b>nce </b><b>full </b><b>of </b><b>suspicion</b>.
<b>“</b>I’m not worried <b>about </b>if <b>soineone </b><b>wants </b>him<b>. </b>I’m worried <b>about </b>who he <b>still </b>wants<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Lucinda’s lips twitched<b>. </b>Her <b>eyes </b>flicked between <b>Mrs. </b><b>Jasper </b><b>Sr. </b>and <b>Sean</b>.
“So Grandma <b>Jasper </b>doesn’t <b>approve </b>of <b>Charlotte </b>after <b>all</b>? <b>That’s </b>surprising<b>. </b>Charlottees from an <b>excellent </b><b>family</b><b>, </b><b>looks </b>the part, and has <b>a </b><b>spotless </b><b>reputation</b>. What’s there <b>not </b>to like?<b>” </b>Lucinda wondered.
Sean’s mouth tightened.
<b>“</b>I’m going <b>to </b>the study <b>to </b>check on Grandpa<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>He </b>stood <b>up </b>to leave<b>, </b><b>but </b>his grandmother wasn’t done.
<b>“</b><b>Don’t </b><b>ignore </b>what I said. <b>You’ve </b>broken things off <b>with </b>that <b>girl</b>–<b>stop </b>hanging onto the past<b>. </b>Any of <b>these </b>women I’ve picked <b>out </b><b>would </b><b>be </b><b>better </b>for you than her.”
Sean paused, then slowly turned his head<b>, </b><b>a </b>crooked smile tugging at his lips.
<b>If </b><b>you </b>like them <b>so </b><b>much</b>, <b>why </b><b>don’t </b>you marry them yourself<b>? </b><b>I’m </b>not interested<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Lucinda </b><b>nearly </b><b>gave </b>him a standing ovation, shing <b>a </b>proud thumbs<b>–</b><b>up </b>behind her <b>grandmother’s </b>back<b>. </b>
Mrs. Jasper <b>Sr.’s </b>face froze<b>, </b>her expression <b>growing </b>sharp.
<b>Listen </b><b>to </b><b>yourself</b>! You never spoke <b>to </b>your elders like this before. What’s <b>gotten </b>into <b>you</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
Sean’s tone was light, but there was steel beneath <b>it</b>.
“Grandina<b>, </b>maybe <b>spend </b>less time worrying about my love life and more on your own <b>health</b><b>. </b><b>You’ve </b><b>got </b>a weak heart<b>, </b><b>remember</b><b>?</b><b>” </b><ul><li><b>25 </b>Bonus</li></ul>
<b>Mrs. </b><b>Jasper </b>Sr.’s chest rose and <b>fell </b><b>in </b><b>anger</b>. <b>Her </b><b>voice </b>trembled.
“<b>Sean</b><b>, </b>you never used to talk back to me like this<b>. </b>Has that Charlotte girl <b>been </b>putting things in your head again?” Mrs. Jasper Sr. snapped. “Every time her name <bes </b><b>up</b><b>, </b>you turn into <b>someone </b><b>I </b><b>barely </b>recognize.<b>” </b>