Chapter 5
I snatched the ultrasound report from his hand, tore it up, and tossed the pieces into the air. Jasper’s eyes widened in disbelief as the pieces of paper fluttered down. He suppressed his anger and said, “No wonder you were so confident. You’ve got something to hold over me.”
How laughable. He’d never experienced the brutal reality of the cutthroat business world. In our previous lives, when his business flourished, he thought it was all thanks to him. Now that I was leaving, it was time for him to learn just how cruel reality could be.
a
He scoffed, “Forget about forcing me to marry you just because you’re pregnant, Wynne. If you behave, I might consider letting you keep the baby-”
Before he could finish, I slapped him hard. “Jasper, you really think you’re special, don’t you? Rest assured that thanks to you, the baby was gone the day I ran into you at the hospital!”
The anger in his eyes was snuffed out in an instant. His voice was hoarse as he inquired, “Gone? What do you mean, gone?”
While he was still reeling from the shock, Coco appeared out of nowhere. Tears were shimmering in her eyes. “Wynne, please don’t be mad at Mr. Swanson. It’s all my fault!” she cried out, sinking to her knees.
Jasper’s anger reignited. “Why are you getting on your knees, Coco? Who knows what this scheming woman is up to this time!”
Unlike Jasper, who had no idea what real struggles were like, Coco had clawed her way up from nothing. She knew better than anyone who the real source of the Swanson family’s power was.
Just a few days ago, she’d tried to barge into my place for a photoshoot. That same day, I put the house up for sale with an agent. Houses rarely came up for sale in our neighborhood, so it was sold in no time and for a good price.
1/4
Chapter 5
+25 Bonus
A few days after the sale, the agent contacted me, saying someone had bought the unit next door. He didn’t dare pry, but he said, “I heard the buyer’s surname is Swanson…”
I knew that unit well. It was a haunted house. The incident happened just after I sold it. The price was only a third of what I got for my place. Even so, Jasper had to sell several smaller
properties to afford it.
As soon as Coco got the house, she started showing it off on her livestream and parading the panoramic river view. “Look at this stunning waterfront property my boyfriend bought!
Everyone’s welcome to come visit!”
The comment section exploded.
“Isn’t that the same place where that murder happened recently?”
a
“Yeah, the one where the husband stabbed his wife to death. It was so scary!”
The color drained from her face, and she hurriedly ended the livestream.
Coco used to act all arrogant in front of me because of my soft spot for Jasper. But now that I’d truly let him go, she was the one who lost her cool first.
Jasper, who was too dense to catch on, looked at her with deep sympathy. “Don’t worry, Coco. Whether the baby’s really gone or not, you’re the only one in my heart! If I hadn’t been tied to her by an arranged marriage, I would’ve left her ages ago!”
Coco was about to say something, but Jasper dragged her away before she could. Before he walked off, he hurled one last warning over his shoulder. “Wynne, even if you beg me, I won’t ever forgive you!”
I ignored him and focused on getting my paperwork ready to go abroad. According to my parents‘ plans, I should’ve gone overseas to expand our family’s business ages ago, but everything was thrown off course when I met Jasper in my previous life.
While I was packing, my mother video–called me. Even though I couldn’t see her face, I
2/4
Chapter 5
could tell she was on the verge of bursting into laughter. “Guess who I just ran into, Wynne?”
+25 Bonus
The screen shifted, showing Jasper and Coco standing awkwardly on the deck of a yacht. While others gathered in groups, the two of them were huddled together, isolated.
Ever since my family took back all the projects from the Swansons, Swanson Group’s cash flow dried up overnight. Jasper’s childhood friends, who used to swarm around him like flies, disappeared without a trace. Everyone knew that anyone on the sinking Swanson ship
would only drown with it.
I was guffawing when I saw Jasper awkwardly approach my parents. “It’s been a while, Mr. and Mrs. Jennings!”
Coco, ever the opportunist, deliberately raised her voice and plastered a bright smile on her
face. “Mr. Jennings, you look much younger in person. Do you remember me? I’m the
spokesperson for that mobile game you invested in!”
My father responded flatly, “Oh, you’re that small–time influencer, right? No wonder the project lost so much money. By the way, I don’t know you. Please don’t act all chummy with me.”
My father’s ability to roast people was top–tier, and I was shaking with laughter on my end
of the call.
Coco almost lost her composure, but she recovered quickly. “Please don’t be so cold, Mr. Jennings,” she said, pushing Jasper forward. “Mr. Swanson will be your son–in–law, so in a way, we’re family!”
My father sneered, “Oh, you mean the family that caused my daughter to miscarry?”
Jasper’s face flushed red before paling. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed my mother holding up her phone. He stormed over and snatched it away.
“I knew it was you, Wynne Jennings! Are you trying to make a fool out of me? You seriously disgust me!” he spat at the camera. His gaze was full of spite. “Do you think I’d be crushed
3/4
Chapter 5
+25 Bonus
without your family? No matter how much your family pressures me, I will still choose
Coco!”
Not interesting at all
