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Chapter 33: You're Alive?
Last Updated:
2025-03-04 23:54:56
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Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 34: Twins?
"Get a hold of yourself," I said finally, watching Ava wipe away the last trace of her fake tears. “He bought the act. That’s what we needed.”She let out an exaggerated sigh, stretching like she had just wrapped up a performance. “Still, you could have wrecked us all. Gladly you didn't and we're solid now.”I let out a dry chuckle, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Don’t get your hopes up. Whatever we had today? I did it for my own gain. Don’t mistake it for something it’s not.”Ava narrowed her eyes, arms crossing over her chest.This had never been about her, or Jordan, or whatever revenge scheme they had planned for Chad. The only reason I’d agreed to play along was because I needed something to keep Chad from asking too many questions about my disappearance."Since my Ava here has a habit of taking matters into her own hands," Jordan spoke up, he seemed a little uneasy as if he was trying to mask something, then added. “We all might as well play along.”My gaze flicked lazily be
Last Updated : 2025-03-07Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 35: Secret Santa
The bells of Christmas morning filled the hotel and Jasmine stirred in her sleep, her head throbbed with a light headache and unable to bear it anymore, her eyes flew open. A groggy sigh left her lips as she turned on her stomach, burying her head into the pillow.She'd had too much to drink that her memory was now a fog. What happened last night?Her eyes traveled down to her body, she was no longer wearing the emerald dress she wore the night before but instead it was a satin nightgown that smelled like it'd just be brought fresh from the laundry.Her body went still, something wasn't right. Who had changed her? A jolt of panic ran through her mind as she tried to recall what happened the previous night. At first it was all a blur until it all started coming back piece by piece. She remembered how tipsy, angry and overall.. jealousy, she had been. Her emotions were heightened and she kept on spilling uncontrollably to Chad. And overall, her fingers traced her lips. They had kisse
Last Updated : 2025-03-08Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Prologue: The First Meeting
The First Meeting Chad Blackstone sat in his office, gripping the edge of his desk as Peter, his trusted assistant, stood nearby. The news had hit him like a punch to the gut.“Ava Reeds is back in town,” Peter said cautiously, watching his boss for a reaction.Chad’s jaw tightened. “Why now?” he muttered, his voice low and tense. “After three years... Why the hell would she come back?”Peter shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure, but word is she’s attending some high-profile events. The media’s already buzzing about her return.”Ava. His Ava. The woman he’d once thought he’d spend his life with. The woman who’d left him broken and humiliated.Why? His chest tightened, anger and something far more bitter swirling within him. Three years. It had been three years since she’d vanished from his life without an explanation, taking his trust and his heart with her.His mind drifted to the past, no matter how much he fought against it. Ava. His childhood sweetheart. The girl he’d once though
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 1: A Deal With The Devil
“Listen up, everyone!”The sharp voice of Mr. Whitman, the manager of The Silver Holly, echoed through the restaurant as the staff gathered in the backroom. “Today’s not just any day, today's going to be hectic, and I want all of you on your toes. No mistakes, no delays. We’ve got some of the most influential high-profile clients in New York City dining with us, and if any of you screw this up, you’ll be out before the day ends. No excuses”Jasmine Withers adjusted her apron, suppressing a groan. It was the same speech every time high-profile guests were expected, but today Mr. Whitman seemed even more on edge.“The Silver Holly is known for its excellence,” he continued, pacing in front of the staff. “I don’t care if you’re serving water or a five-course meal—everything must be perfect. Got it?”“Yes, sir,” the team chorused.Jasmine Withers, standing at the back of the room, exchanged a glance with her co-worker, Lucy. “No pressure,” she whispered sarcastically.“Jasmine!” Mr. Whitm
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 2: A Deal With The Devil II
Jasmine sat on the edge of her tiny apartment’s worn couch, her laptop perched on the coffee table. The email from Chad’s assistant had arrived an hour ago, the attachment glowing ominously on the screen like a trap. It still felt like a dream to her.She scrolled through the document, her heart sinking with every clause. The terms were laid out in painstaking detail: the conditions of her role, the timeline, and the stipulations on her conduct.Her mother’s treatment was prominently listed under “benefits,” as though it were a corporate perk. Immediate care, all expenses covered, and access to the country’s top specialists. She hesitated, Mr. Chad Blackstone isn't someone you can easily mess with, and she wasn't willing to subject her life to misery. Yes, she's sure that acting as Mr Blackstone's fiancee was going to be misery.Her phone buzzed, breaking her focus. She grabbed it quickly, her chest tightening when she saw the hospital’s number.“Hello?”“Ms. Wither,” a nurse’s voice
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 3: The Gala
Jasmine sat stiffly in the plush chair of an expansive dressing suite, feeling completely out of place amidst the whirlwind of luxury. Three stylists fluttered around her, debating colours and fabrics, while a makeup artist meticulously worked on her face."Chin up," the woman instructed, tilting Jasmine's face to the light.Jasmine complied, though her mind raced. How had her life gone from scraping together tips at the diner to this? The unusual transformation was almost laughable."Perfect," one of the stylists declared, stepping back to admire her work. "That gown will turn heads for sure.”Jasmine glanced down at the emerald silk dress they’d chosen, its sleek design hugging her figure with just the right amount of elegance. The plunging neckline and slit up the leg were bold, but not garish. For a moment, she felt like someone else entirely—a stranger in her own skin.Before she could dwell on it, the door opened, and Chad strode in.The room seemed to chill instantly as his pre
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas The Invitation
Chad sat at his office, head buried in his palm as his mind raced. The previous night at the gala had been… a lot. Jasmine had played her part well—maybe even too well—up until the moment she nearly drowned herself in champagne. She had enjoyed Ava’s reaction, that much was obvious. But Chad wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Ava hadn’t spared him a second glance after their first exchange. Had she already moved on or was it just her way of ticking him off. Regardless, he didn't care or at least that was what he told himself. A knock on the office door jolted him out of his thoughts. Ahead was Peter. He gestured for him to come in and the young man strolled in with confidence. “This just arrived for you,” Peter said, placing the envelope on his desk. Chad's eyes roamed over the sleek black envelope. “What is it?” He asked. “An invitation,” Peter replied. Picking it up, he expression shifted, the seal was embossed in a golden intricate crest—the Reeds family emblem. Ava’s fam
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By the time the phone hung up, Mr Whitman's voice came from the other end of the room. Jasmine internally rolled her eyes. What was it she didn't do right this time? Mr Whitman came into view, his face etched with worry. “There's still a lot to be done before Christmas and you're here slacking off on a phone call?” The restaurant wasn't even crowded and most people would rather spend their Christmas holiday at some resort and ski trip, rather than a restaurant, but unfortunately, that was spoken inward, he would never understand. Jasmine braced herself for her announcement. “Mr. Whitman I'm going on a family vacation first thing tomorrow, I wanted to tell you but it…” she trailed looking for the best excuse. “.. slipped my mind.” Nice one, Jasmine Withers. Super believable. His brows shot up, his mouth opening in disbelief before he scoffed. “A family vacation? Tomorrow?” His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms. “And you conveniently forgot to mention this to me earlier?”
Last Updated : 2024-12-17
Latest chapter
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 35: Secret Santa
The bells of Christmas morning filled the hotel and Jasmine stirred in her sleep, her head throbbed with a light headache and unable to bear it anymore, her eyes flew open. A groggy sigh left her lips as she turned on her stomach, burying her head into the pillow.She'd had too much to drink that her memory was now a fog. What happened last night?Her eyes traveled down to her body, she was no longer wearing the emerald dress she wore the night before but instead it was a satin nightgown that smelled like it'd just be brought fresh from the laundry.Her body went still, something wasn't right. Who had changed her? A jolt of panic ran through her mind as she tried to recall what happened the previous night. At first it was all a blur until it all started coming back piece by piece. She remembered how tipsy, angry and overall.. jealousy, she had been. Her emotions were heightened and she kept on spilling uncontrollably to Chad. And overall, her fingers traced her lips. They had kisse
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 34: Twins?
"Get a hold of yourself," I said finally, watching Ava wipe away the last trace of her fake tears. “He bought the act. That’s what we needed.”She let out an exaggerated sigh, stretching like she had just wrapped up a performance. “Still, you could have wrecked us all. Gladly you didn't and we're solid now.”I let out a dry chuckle, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Don’t get your hopes up. Whatever we had today? I did it for my own gain. Don’t mistake it for something it’s not.”Ava narrowed her eyes, arms crossing over her chest.This had never been about her, or Jordan, or whatever revenge scheme they had planned for Chad. The only reason I’d agreed to play along was because I needed something to keep Chad from asking too many questions about my disappearance."Since my Ava here has a habit of taking matters into her own hands," Jordan spoke up, he seemed a little uneasy as if he was trying to mask something, then added. “We all might as well play along.”My gaze flicked lazily be
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 33: You're Alive?
His mouth parted in disbelief. “Kol?” With a small smile he nodded. “In the flesh and blood.” Chad's eyes widened further as he looked at his brother who was supposed to be dead.“You're alive?” Whether he was seeing things or not he didn't know. He took a step back, shaking his head. “No, this—this isn’t real. You’re dead.”“Yeah, about that… I didn't actually die that day. I got lucky.” Kol grinned, his hands slipping into his pockets so casually as if he didn't just throw a bomb on everything Chad had believed up until now. “Lucky?” Chad snapped. “Is this some kind of joke?”Kol tilted his head, that same easy smirk playing on his lips—the same one Chad hadn't seen in decades or more. “I know it’s a lot to process. But trust me, I’m real. Flesh and blood.” He lifted a hand and tapped his chest. “See? Not a ghost.”Chad’s fists clenched at his sides. “That doesn’t answer a damn thing. You died! I saw the ashes left by the fire along with our parents too.”Kol twisted his head an
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 32: Surprise
Chad dragged a hand down his face as he stepped into the hallway. He had walked out on Jasmine, but it wasn't the end. He just needed a moment to understand what the hell was going on. Jasmine's words still rang in his head, repeating constantly.He couldn't help but think about the way she had said it, as if she hated admitting it, as though she was fighting whatever she felt. He couldn't blame her. He himself couldn't even say the words. Did he feel it, or did he not?And the worst part was, he felt something too. A flutter in his chest, one he had only ever felt for Ava.His steps quickened, his palm forming a fist. He didn’t know what pissed him off more. Was it the look on Jasmine’s face, how broken she had looked over something that wasn’t even real? Or was it the fact he actually felt something too?But it wasn’t him. He didn’t kiss Ava. So what the hell was going on?His jaw tensed as he pulled his phone from his pocket, the unread text staring back at him.Ava: Come to the
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 31: Christmas Eve II
Jasmine's fingers tightened as she watched Ava walk away. Now, what was she supposed to do? She couldn't run, she should.Instead, she did the only thing she could do. She turned to the nearest server and grabbed another glass of wine. Then another.Jasmine and alcohol were the biggest enemies but she didn't care that it burned or the way people glanced at her. If anyone had a problem, they could take it up with someone else. She was pissed and confused all at the same time. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. What was the worst Ava could do? She had already humiliated her, exposed her, and made it clear that she wasn’t welcome here.Jasmine downed another sip of wine, her thoughts spinning. How else was she supposed to deal with emotions she didn't even understand?She took another glass ready to drown it down when a hand rested in her shoulder making her tense. “Slow down. You don't want to cause a scene. Rich or Classy men are still men.” Jasmine turned to see Jordan watching her w
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 30: Christmas Eve I
Evening came sooner than later. As expected, everyone was excited for the Christmas Eve party. It happened once every year except for the last three years when Ava was out of the country.Unlike most years, this one was different, even the air felt different.The grand hall had been transformed into something out of a winter fairytale. Jasmine stood at the far end of the hall observing. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed. With the way Georgia and the others spoke of the party, she had expected something extravagant, not the bore it was turning out to be.Jasmine never thought she would be here. Not after everything that had happened the night before. Yet, here she was, standing in a room full of people on Christmas Eve.With so many people in the room, it was much warmer, and for that, she was grateful, especially since she had chosen to wear the emerald dress that had miraculously been placed on her bed.She knew the dress was from Chad, even though she hadn’t seen him to confi
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 29: Was She Jealous?
Jasmine looked back at Chad waiting for him to speak. “Are you done?” Chad sighed. She didn't understand what kind of question he was asking her and why it pissed her off. She shot him a glare. “Are you seriously asking me that?”Chad gave her a blank look she didn't even understand and crossed his arm, his cold blue eyes narrowing at her. “What?” She asked, still unable to understand the look he was giving her.Chad fingers found their way to the bridge of his nose, before his head fell forward. “So are you going to tell me why you felt the need to interrupt?”Jasmine let out a dry laugh. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I was tired of watching your ex-girlfriend grope my fiance in public?”His brow arched and though a part of him was glad that Jasmine had showed up before he let something stupid happen,he still wasn't going to show it. “I know what I’m doing, Jasmine.”She rolled her eyes at him. “Yeah right. You had everything completely under control. I'm guessing that was y
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 28: I'm Not Taking Him From You
Jasmine woke up the next morning on edge, she looked at the side of the mattress, the sheets were perfectly tucked making her wonder if it was all in her head or if someone had truly been with her the previous night.Shaking her head she sat up, there was no way in hell Chad would have stayed with her on the same bed, the man rather moped the sea than do that.She looked around the room, there were no signs of Chad at all. A shame. She'd wanted to use him as a little distraction to get over her lingering unease. She never remembered her dreams but she'd also had a bad feeling about them when she woke up and last night was one of those dreadful days. Jasmine showered in less than ten minutes, flipped on her red and white fur coat before stepping out of her room. It wasn't exactly the most interesting place to be.Once she walked out of her suite, the decorations in the hall overwhelmed her. Unlike the other days where it was just a simple Christmas tree and light, this time it was a
Festive Deception: A Jasmine For Christmas Chapter 27: Who Was Her Father?
Chad walked out of Ava suite taking a deep breath as the elevator door closed.He closed his eyes, his back pressing against the cold wall. It was his first one on one conversation with Ava since their breakup and he'd always avoided her cause he never knew how he'd cope with talking to her after all these years.His heart squeezed, the wall he'd built over it almost cracking.She was gone. The woman he'd love from all those years was gone and all he'd seen was just a selfish woman who just wanted something from him and was using tricks to get it. He could see right through her. The elevator door opened and so did his eyes. He was hurt but the feeling was slowly fading, being replaced with something ice-cold and frozen. He stepped out of the elevator and walked back to the guest wing. He'd been hoping to get something out of her but it was pointless, she wasn't going to tell him anything.It was already midnight when Chad arrived at his suite, he slowly opened his suite door walkin
