As Jasmine was engaged in conversation with Mr. Harper, the door suddenly swung open, revealing Mr. Hawthorne standing in the doorway, leaning casually with a stance that seemed almost challenging.“I’ll continue packing my things,” Mr. Harper said, his tone calm but nearly disingenuous.Jasmine quickly stepped toward Mr. Hawthorne and whispered, “I told you I’d be the one to talk to Mr. Harper. Why did you come anyway?”Mr. Hawthorne crossed his arms over his chest. Without lowering his voice, he replied, “I was just curious why my girlfriend was taking so long.”Mr. Harper, busy packing, paused momentarily. He forced himself to believe that what he had just heard was merely an illusion.“There’s nothing to worry about. Jasmine and I were just discussing her studies.”Mr. Hawthorne smirked. “I’m sure you were. But I think your conversation is over.”Jasmine tried to diffuse the growing tension. “Mr. Harper, thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”Mr. Harper smiled gently, thoug
Mr. Hawthorne calmly scrolled through Jasmine’s phone, briefly playing one video before swiping to the next. Each passing second made Jasmine increasingly anxious.Their eyes met as Mr. Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, his gaze making Jasmine feel the heat rise to her face. The intense embarrassment made her feel small in front of him.“So, you’ve been into adult video all this time?”Jasmine looked at Mr. Hawthorne with clear frustration. “I already told you, it was from Dr. Lawson as part of a therapeutic method. Dr. Lawson said that if I got accustomed to it, my trauma would fade, replaced by desire.”Mr. Hawthorne placed the phone on the nightstand and turned to Jasmine. “Am I not enough to make you desire me?”“Not at all. You’re physically perfect; no woman would be disinterested in being intimate with you. Your touch is always satisfying and thrilling. I just needed to get used to it so that my traumatic memories would completely disappear. But don’t worry, I haven’t watched it any
Jasmine pondered for a moment at the scattering of shards on the floor, the result of her careless hand not nudging the glass. She raised her gaze slowly, finding one of the men already standing directly in front of her. The man's presence asserted authority, while the other burly figure remained in place as if to show who their leader was."What do you want?" cried Jasmine with her hands clenched into fists, trying not to be afraid to face the men alone."Tell me your name," said the man Jasmine believed to be the leader. His eyes looked sharp and his tone was threatening.Jasmine didn't want to talk about herself to the stranger who had barged into her house, so she didn't answer.Jasmine's uncompromising attitude only made the man smirk, then he took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. While time passed, he smoked quietly in front of the woman who looked at him with a disapproving expression."It's that simple, can't say it?"The bespectacled man suddenly stepped i
In the darkness of the room, Jasmine's body collapsed on the bed as if thrown into a terrifying dream world. She quickly sat up and scooted backwards while staring vigilantly in one direction—Mr. Hawthorne, the man who was posing a threat to her."P—please... don't...!" cried Jasmine, with tears rolling down her cheeks relentlessly.Mr. Hawthorne untied the tie that was hanging loosely, and stepped up onto the bed. "Thomas must realize the repercussions of his actions. He will lose the happiness of the daughter he fought so hard for.""My father will surely come! He will definitely come and bring you your money, we just need to wait for him for a while—"Jasmine's words trailed off as Mr. Hawthorne grabbed her by both shoulders, leaving her unable to feel the bed she had just sat on. The man's body overpowered her vision, the sadistic gaze came closer and managed to shake her life."Stop saying things that can't happen, your father won't escape my hands after returning!""I'll do anyt
Jasmine looked around and was surprised to see Mr. Hawthorne lying beside her. Her desire to not let sleepiness take over had now turned into regret. Annoyingly, her carelessness had led them both to the same bed.Just as Jasmine was about to get out of bed, her hand was suddenly grabbed by Mr. Hawthorne who was awakened by her movement. Although Jasmine tried to break free, her rebellion meant nothing to Mr. Hawthorne who held her hand tightly.Mr. Hawthorne cast a brief glance at the digital clock on his nightstand, then said, "It's seven in the morning, and it's far too early for you to resume your power games.""What are you talking about? Let go of my hand!" growled Jasmine.Mr. Hawthorne grinned, mocking, "Where do you think you can run to? Do you want to jump off this building again? Your death will have no effect on my life."With fiery eyes, Jasmine challenged, "I know that you have power and can do anything, but there is one thing that you will never have, and that is me. I'
Previously...Jasmine felt disoriented when she woke up. Her limp body unable to suppress the urge to get up, she picked herself up slowly, and with heavy steps exited the room. She slowed down when she heard voices from downstairs. Still caught between reality and dream, she tried to convince herself that what she was hearing was a dialog between two men."She wouldn't dare to do that."Jasmine's wrist was propped against the glass railing, allowing her to peer into the conversation downstairs between Mr. Hawthorne and a man she did not recognize.Jasmine pondered for a moment, isn't this my chance to escape Mr. Hawthorne's grasp?Jasmine worked up the courage to step downstairs. She trembled at the cold touch of marble, fumbling with each step, until she reached the end."Like I said, someone in a hopeless position can do anything to get out of it. You should pay attention to that, Kins."Those words made Jasmine wonder if the hopeless person they were talking about was her.Jasmine
Mr. Hawthorne deftly opened the door as soon as he heard the bell ring. A food courier arrived, delivering the order his secretary had arranged, then politely withdrew. He neatly arranged the dishes on plates and took them upstairs.He intentionally left Jasmine alone to rest while he busied himself downstairs. When he returned to the room, he unexpectedly found Jasmine sleeping restlessly, her face drenched in sweat to a worrying extent.He quickly placed the food on the table and sat at the edge of the bed to check on Jasmine. His face showed surprise as he felt her burning forehead. “Miss Everhart, can you hear me?”Jasmine didn’t respond.“Miss Everhart,” he called again, concerned. “You need to wake up and take your medicine.”Mr. Hawthorne propped Jasmine up against the headboard, using a pillow for support. Although she briefly opened her eyes, Jasmine soon closed them again.“You just need to open your mouth and chew the food I’ll feed you. Okay?”Mr. Hawthorne spooned some ch
Reflexively, Mr. Hawthorne turned and walked away. Silence enveloped the scene for a moment, accompanied by memories of what had just happened. The curse hurled at him was not unfamiliar, the crucial question was why he chose to leave his territory.Mr. Hawthorne felt displeased, his steps retracing the partition. Without Jasmine in sight, he was sure she was now in the walk-in closet because he had seen her leaving the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body.He quickly headed to the walk-in closet, finding Jasmine before she could fully reach the place. What he saw was the woman standing before him, breathing heavily as if she had just raced against time.“I have given you a warning, mind your behavior if you still want your father to be safe.”“W—what have I done?”“You insulted me,” Mr. Hawthorne growled, his tone piercing.“Ah, that... I was just surprised because someone suddenly appeared while I was fresh out of the shower,” Jasmine replied, trying to explain in confusion
Mr. Hawthorne calmly scrolled through Jasmine’s phone, briefly playing one video before swiping to the next. Each passing second made Jasmine increasingly anxious.Their eyes met as Mr. Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, his gaze making Jasmine feel the heat rise to her face. The intense embarrassment made her feel small in front of him.“So, you’ve been into adult video all this time?”Jasmine looked at Mr. Hawthorne with clear frustration. “I already told you, it was from Dr. Lawson as part of a therapeutic method. Dr. Lawson said that if I got accustomed to it, my trauma would fade, replaced by desire.”Mr. Hawthorne placed the phone on the nightstand and turned to Jasmine. “Am I not enough to make you desire me?”“Not at all. You’re physically perfect; no woman would be disinterested in being intimate with you. Your touch is always satisfying and thrilling. I just needed to get used to it so that my traumatic memories would completely disappear. But don’t worry, I haven’t watched it any
As Jasmine was engaged in conversation with Mr. Harper, the door suddenly swung open, revealing Mr. Hawthorne standing in the doorway, leaning casually with a stance that seemed almost challenging.“I’ll continue packing my things,” Mr. Harper said, his tone calm but nearly disingenuous.Jasmine quickly stepped toward Mr. Hawthorne and whispered, “I told you I’d be the one to talk to Mr. Harper. Why did you come anyway?”Mr. Hawthorne crossed his arms over his chest. Without lowering his voice, he replied, “I was just curious why my girlfriend was taking so long.”Mr. Harper, busy packing, paused momentarily. He forced himself to believe that what he had just heard was merely an illusion.“There’s nothing to worry about. Jasmine and I were just discussing her studies.”Mr. Hawthorne smirked. “I’m sure you were. But I think your conversation is over.”Jasmine tried to diffuse the growing tension. “Mr. Harper, thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”Mr. Harper smiled gently, thoug
Jasmine ended the call and sighed as she stared at her phone screen. “I can’t let him come here,” she muttered to herself. “Everyone’s talking about working at Kins Enterprises after graduation. If they see the owner here, it’ll cause a commotion. That would be troublesome.”She put her phone away and started down the corridor again. Just as she was nearing Mr. Harper’s office, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. When she saw who it was, she was startled—it was Sabrina.Sabrina was wearing a hoodie and a face mask, her eyebrows furrowed as if she were angry. When Jasmine tried to pull away, Sabrina tightened her grip.Sabrina glared at her, her voice full of menace. “We need to talk, Jasmine. Now.”“About what? I’m in a hurry.”“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I know you’re involved with Kinsley Hawthorne. Do you think you can use him to get ahead here?”“Let go of me!”Sabrina ignored her plea and dragged Jasmine to a secluded corner behind the campus building. There, Sabrina pulled do
Jasmine sat nervously in Dr. Lawson’s office, recounting her concerns. Dr. Lawson listened attentively, then opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a small object.“This...?” Jasmine eyed the object with hesitation.Dr. Lawson nodded confidently. “From what you’ve described, I believe you’re pregnant.”“P—pregnant? Me?”Dr. Lawson smiled. “Yes, but you should confirm it with this pregnancy test, though I’m already one hundred percent sure that my assumption is correct.”Jasmine took the test from him, looking at it with a mix of emotions. She had never expected Dr. Lawson’s conclusion to be pregnancy; she thought she was just sick.Am I really pregnant? She wondered.Amid her anxiety, a thought crossed her mind. She shifted her gaze from the small object in her hand to Dr. Lawson, then asked curiously, “Do all the doctors in this hospital keep pregnancy tests in their desk drawers?”Dr. Lawson was momentarily stunned, then grinned. “Do you really want to know the answer?”“That’s
Behind Mr. Hawthorne’s calm demeanor, there was a fire of desire struggling to be tamed. That fire consumed every bit of rationality he had. Every glance, every touch, was fuel that intensified the flames within him, forcing him to constantly battle against the burning desire.“Earlier, you walked toward me like a newly blossomed flower, tempting me to touch you,” Mr. Hawthorne said in a hoarse voice, his hand trailing down Jasmine’s back, slowly following the path of her dress’s zipper. “I’ve restrained myself throughout my recovery, and now I feel like I’ve reached the limits of my patience.”“But you just got out of the hospital not long ago. Can’t you hold off a bit longer for the sake of your recovery? W—we can do this after you’ve fully healed.”Jasmine’s eyes darted to the side, feeling the zipper of her dress slowly being pulled down. “Dr. Lawson also said you shouldn’t exert yourself too much.”Jasmine held onto Mr. Hawthorne’s arm, hoping to quell his rising desire. But her
Soft music flowed from the corner of the room, setting the mood for the indoor wedding reception. Jasmine walked gracefully, her peach-colored silk gown fluttering with every step. Guests whispered among themselves, their eyes glued to her elegant figure.Jasmine’s gaze soon met Mr. Hawthorne’s, who stood outside the room, clearly visible through the large windows. She hesitated for a moment, realizing that his gaze was just as intense as those of the other guests. Her heart pounded faster, though she tried hard to remain composed.Steeling herself, Jasmine stepped outside and approached Mr. Hawthorne.“Natalie’s still getting ready. Lilly’s very keen on staying with her, so I didn’t bring her here.”Mr. Hawthorne had already pulled out a cigarette when Jasmine started speaking. He lit it with a nonchalant air, as if Natalie’s and Milton’s wedding was not something worth his attention.“Kinsley,” Jasmine called out.After a brief moment of contemplation, Mr. Hawthorne shifted his gaze
Mr. Hawthorne lay in bed, surrounded by medical equipment monitoring his every heartbeat and breath. The gunshot wound in his chest still ached, even though he had been unconscious for weeks.A knock on the door interrupted the quiet of the late morning. Theodore entered, followed by two police officers in dark blue uniforms, their faces serious. They approached Mr. Hawthorne, looking at him with investigative eyes.“Good morning, Mr. Hawthorne,” one of the officers said. “We’re here to ask you a few brief questions about the incident at Dominic Merrick’s company.”Mr. Hawthorne took a deep breath. “Of course. What would you like to know?”“Can you describe the sequence of events at Dominic Merrick’s company, from the beginning until you were injured?”Assisted by Theodore, Mr. Hawthorne began recounting the events. The police officer listened intently, occasionally jotting something down in his small notebook.After about fifteen minutes, the officers realized that Mr. Hawthorne need
Jasmine stood in the cold, brightly lit hospital corridor, her emotions in turmoil. From a distance, she could only watch as Dr. Lawson argued with a nurse stationed at the emergency room door.“I need to be in there! I can’t just stand here.”“I’m sorry, Dr. Lawson, but you’re not in the right emotional state to be part of this operation.”The nurse arguing with Dr. Lawson suddenly reached into her uniform pocket and pulled something out. From her vantage point, Jasmine couldn’t see clearly what the nurse handed over.Dr. Lawson immediately turned around, his steps full of emotion as he approached Theodore, who was standing not far away. Dr. Lawson shoved the item roughly into Theodore’s chest. Jasmine only realized what was given when the object slipped from Dr. Lawson’s grasp—a pistol encased in clear plastic.“What’s the meaning of this, Theodore?! Kinsley brought his weapon, but why is he so badly injured? He’s never been hurt this badly before. What if he can’t be saved? You sho
The tension and worry suffocated every corner of the room. Jasmine’s heartbeat quickened as Mr. Merrick pointed a gun directly at her.“Mr. Merrick, you can’t do this to my daughter!” Thomas shouted, a mix of fear and anger boiling in his chest.Mr. Merrick sneered, his aim unwavering. “Why can’t I? This is my chance. Kinsley Hawthorne will feel my pain if your daughter disappears.” He tightened his grip on the gun and continued, “You just need to choose who I should take out first—your father or the man you love.”Jasmine shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please, don’t hurt them,” she pleaded, her voice trembling almost to the point of inaudibility.“Then walk over here. Now!” Mr. Merrick barked.Jasmine was about to follow Mr. Merrick’s order, but Mr. Hawthorne’s hand, still holding hers, seemed to refuse to let her go.“I’ll count to three. If you’re still there, I’ll shoot,” Mr. Merrick threatened.“Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you,” Mr. Hawthorne said, his v