(Scarlett’s POV)


    More Rewards >


    Jasper steps closer, and I tense, ready to pull Lily away. But he doesn’t reach for her. Instead, he gently smooths down a strand of her hair.


    The gesture is so tender, so careful, it makes me pause.


    “This will never happen again,” he says, his voice quiet but firm. His eyes meet mine over Lily’s head. “I promise you, Scarlett. No one will take her without your permission again. Not


    them.”


    He pauses, and something raw flickers across his face.


    “Not even me. If we do, you’re free to get a restraining order.”


    This isn’t the Jasper I remember. The man I married would have demanded his rights, would have used his discovery to hurt me the way I hurt him.


    But this Jasper–this man standing in front of me with patience and humility–is promising to seek my permission. To respect my decisions, before getting close to my daughter.


    He has changed.


    “Mama, the nice man is sad again,” Lily whispers against my neck.


    I look at Jasper, really look at him, and she’s right. Behind the determination, behind the protective anger he just showed my parents, there’s a deep sadness that makes my heart


    ache.


    “He’ll be okay, baby,” I murmur.


    James clears his throat behind us, and I turn to see both him and ir looking smaller


    somehow. Ashamed.


    “Scarlett,” James says, his voice rough. “We’re sorry. We were wrong to take Lily without asking you first.”


    ir steps forward, tears streaming down her cheeks. “We just missed her so much after yesterday, and when she was so excited to see us… we thought…”


    “You thought wrong,” I say, but there’s less venom in it now. I’m too emotionally drained to maintain the fury.


    “We know,” ir whispers. “We know, and we’re sorry. We won’t do it again.”


    < Chapter 48


    More Rewards <b>> </b>


    I nod, not trusting my voice. Part of me aches for them, wants to forgive them to let Lily have the grandparents she clearly adores. But the bigger part–the part that’s been hurt too many times–isn’t ready to trust them again.


    Maybe I never will be.


    “We should go,” I say, looking at Dorian. But when I turn, I find Jasper watching me with an intensity that makes my skin burn.


    “Let me drive you home,” he says again.


    “I already said Dorian could-”


    “Please.” The wordes out broken, desperate. “Let me do this one thing for you.”


    I shouldn’t. Every rational thought in my head screams that getting in a car with Jasper is dangerous. That being alone with him and Lily is the worst possible idea.


    But there’s something in his eyes–a vulnerability I’ve never seen before–that makes me


    hesitate.


    “I can take care of my woman and my daughter.” Dorian suddenly says, saving me from having to answer.


    Jasper’s face goes stiff. But I don’t dwell on it. I stopped caring about his feelings the day I


    left him.


    (Virginia’s POV)


    Panic ws at my throat as I watch Jasper offer to drive Scarlett home. This is spiralingpletely out of control.


    James and ir are looking confused, whispering to each other about what I said earlier. About how Lily is supposedly Dorian’s daughter. It’s only a matter of time before they start asking questions I can’t answer.


    Questions that will expose everything.


    I need to get them away from Jasper. Now.


    “Mom, Dad,” I say, moving toward them with a bright smile that feels like it’s going to c***k my face. “Maybe we should give them some privacy to work things out?”


    James frowns. “But Virginia, about what you said earlier


    “Let’s talk in the kitchen,” I interrupt, practically grabbing his arm. “I’ll exin everything.”


    < Chapter 48


    More Rewards >


    ir follows us, her face still red from crying. The moment we’re out of earshot, she turns to me with confused eyes.


    “Virginia, I don’t understand. You said Lily is Dorian’s daughter, but that doesn’t make sense. The timing is all wrong, and she looks exactly like-”


    “Like Jasper,” James finishes grimly. “She looks exactly like Jasper.”


    My heart pounds against my ribs, but I force myself <i>to </i>stay calm. To think fast.


    “Listen to me,” I say, keeping my voice low and urgent. “Yes, Lily is probably Jasper’s daughter. But do you really think telling him that right now is a good idea?”


    They both stare at me like I’ve lost my mind.


    “He has a right to know-” ir starts, but I cut her off.


    “Does he? Look at what just happened here tonight. Scarlett is furious with you both. She called the police on you. She wants nothing to do with this family.”


    I see pain creep into their expressions, and press my advantage.


    “And look at her life now. She has Dorian, a sessful man who cares about her and Lily. She’s moved on, built something new. Do you really want to destroy that?”


    “But Jasper is Lily’s father,” James says stubbornly.


    “And what happens when he finds out? When he realizes Scarlett kept his daughter from him for four years?” I lean closer, letting desperation bleed into my voice. “There will be custody battles. Legal fights. Lily will be caught in the middle of a war between her parents.” <fnf7c2> Th?s chapter is updated by Find~Novel</fnf7c2>


    ir’s face goes pale. “Oh God.”


    “Exactly. And who do you think Scarlett will me for that mess? You two. The people who exposed the truth when she was trying to protect her daughter.”


    They start to waver, the doubt creeping in.


    “She already hates <i>you </i>for what you did tonight. If you make things worse byplicating her life with Jasper, she’ll never forgive you. You’ll lose Lily too.”


    The silence stretches between us, heavy with the weight of all that could go wrong.


    “But it’s not right,” ir whispers. “Keeping a father from his child…”


    <i>“</i>Sometimes protecting someone means making hard choices,” I say softly. “Scarlett is finally happy. Lily has a stable home, a father figure who loves her. Why destroy that for the sake of


    :


    < Chapter 48


    biology?”


    More Rewards <b>> </b>


    James runs a hand through his gray hair, looking older than his years. “I don’t like lying to Jasper.”


    “You’re not lying. You’re just… staying out of something that isn’t your business.” I reach out and squeeze his arm. “Please. For Scarlett’s sake. For Lily’s sake. Let them have their peace.”


    It’s maniptive and cruel andpletely self–serving. But it’s also <i>not </i>entirely wrong. A custody battle would be devastating for everyone involved.


    Even if my motives are purely selfish.


    “I don’t know,” ir says, wrapping her arms around herself. “This feels wrong.”


    “What feels wrong is traumatizing that little girl with a messy legal battle she doesn’t understand.” I lean back, crossing my arms. “But it’s your choice. If you want to destroy Scarlett’s life because you think Jasper has some abstract right to know, that’s on you.”


    The guilt trip works. I can see it in the way ir flinches, the way James’s shoulders sag.


    “Fine,” James says finally. “We’ll stay out of it. For now.”


    “Thank you.” Relief floods through me so intensely it makes me dizzy. “You’re doing the right thing.”


    But even as I say the words, I know this is only a temporary solution. Jasper isn’t stupid. He saw what I saw in that little girl’s face.


    And sooner orter, he’s going to start asking questions I can’t answer.


    Unless I find a way to get rid of Scarlett first.


    The thought makes something violent twist in my chest.


    From the living room, I hear the front door close. Dorian, Scarlett, and Lily leave together.


    Like a family.


    I force myself to smile.


    Next time I make a move against Scarlett Stone, I’m going to have to make sure it’s thest one I make.


    < Chapter 49