anwhile, in Jasper Hawthorne’s apartnt.
Jasper Hawthorne lay on the sofa in the living room, his whole body reclining against the back, his face pale.
Jude Kensington was busy in the kitchen, making hangover soup.
At that mont, the abrupt ringing of a phone pierced the air.
Jasper Hawthorne flinched instinctively on the sofa, the days of alcohol-induced numbness made his reactions sluggish.
Fumbling, he picked up the phone, and upon seeing the caller ID, he jolted upright as if burned, the movent tugging at the injury on his chest, sending a wave of pain that made him groan, cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.
But he couldn’t care less, hurriedly swiping to answer, his voice hoarse and dry, "...Speak."
It was unclear what was said on the other end of the line.
Jasper Hawthorne’s breathing visibly quickened, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
"How could... didn’t I tell them..." his voice carried disbelief and panic, nearly incoherent, "Hold on! Find a way... I’m coming over imdiately..."
He abruptly ended the call, not even bothering to change out of his crumpled shirt, staggering toward the door.
"Old Hawthorne!"
Having paid attention to his movents all along, Jude Kensington rushed forward, stopping him firmly, "Where are you going?! What happened?"
Jasper Hawthorne tried to push him away, eyes frantic, chest heaving violently, "Let go! I must get out!"
"Tell what happened first!" Jude Kensington grabbed his arm, his brows knitted into a tight knot, "In your condition, where can you go?!"
Jasper Hawthorne’s lips trembled, for the first ti showing panic in his eyes, "Last ti... the person who stabbed , was found."
Jude Kensington relaxed a bit, yet found it odd, "That’s good news! Finding the person, you can pursue charges, claim compensation, save yourself from having been stabbed for nothing. Why the long face?"
Jasper Hawthorne didn’t speak, instead slowly raised his head, in his eyes was a despair and fear Jude Kensington had never seen, it was a... world-ending bleakness.
After a long silence, he finally opened his mouth, his throat felt like sandpaper had scraped it, his voice so low it was nearly inaudible, "Jude Kensington..."
"Hmm?"
"If a woman... learns she’s been deceived..." Jasper Hawthorne’s voice carried a tremor, "what would happen?"
Jude Kensington was dumbfounded by this nonsensical question, casually answered, "Depends on what she’s deceived about? Small matters can be smoothed over, if it’s a matter of principle..."
He paused, looking at Jasper Hawthorne’s ashen face, a shiver went through his heart, his tone becoming serious, "If the deception was excessive, hurt her deeply, then... she’d probably hate you to death, never want to see you again this lifeti."
"Hate to death... this lifeti... never want to see..." Jasper Hawthorne unconsciously repeated these words, each like an ice pick, piercing his heart, pain sending darkness across his vision.
The last trace of color drained completely from his face, leaving him ashen.
Jude Kensington finally realized sothing was wrong, just about to question further, the phone rang again.
Seeing the caller ID, Jasper Hawthorne’s eyes twitched fiercely—
Shane Donovan.
He inhaled deeply and answered, Shane Donovan’s cold voice sounded on the other end, "Attorney Hawthorne, so things are better resolved in person. Serene Law Firm, I’ll be waiting."
Without waiting for his reply, the call was disconnected.
Jasper Hawthorne’s grip on the phone caused his fingertips to whiten.
He knew.
Shane Donovan knew everything.
The truth he desperately tried to conceal...
Would soon be laid bare before Stella Sterling.
He was finished.
Completely finished.
Jude Kensington looked at Jasper Hawthorne’s utterly devastated appearance after taking the call, matching with their prior conversation and the caller ID, a ridiculous yet terrifying guess ford in his mind, making him gasp.
"Hawthorne... you... last ti that stab... can’t be..." Jude Kensington’s voice changed pitch, filled with incredulous horror.
Jasper Hawthorne closed his eyes, his dense yet trembling eyelashes cast a deep shadow beneath.
He neither confird nor denied.
But this silence, equivalent to admission.
"Shit!" Jude Kensington cursed sharply, only feeling a chill from his feet racing up to crown his head, "Are you insane?! Jasper Hawthorne, are you really insane?! Pulling such a stunt?! You..."
His body shook with anger, pointing at Jasper Hawthorne, unable to articulate his rage.
Yet Jasper Hawthorne seed deaf to his fury, slowly opened his eyes, the void of his gaze spoke of desolate abandonnt.
He pushed Jude Kensington aside, staggered towards the bedroom.
"Where are you going?!" Jude Kensington shouted from behind him.
"...To change." Jasper Hawthorne’s voice was raspy like an old bellows, "Go see her."
One last ti.
He knew this could very well be the last ti he would see Stella Sterling...
...
At the sa ti, at Serene Law Firm.
After listening to Shane Donovan, Stella Sterling froze, her face puzzled, "What interesting discovery did you make?"
Shane Donovan slightly curled his lips, a deep cold amusent flashing in his eyes, just about to speak when a commotion erupted outside the office.
Stella Sterling frowned lightly, instinctively rising to see what’s happening.
At that mont, the office door was lightly knocked, Finn Lockwood peered half his head in, wearing a look of apprehension and tension: "Boss... Attorney Hawthorne is here, says... there’s an urgent matter he must discuss with you."
Stella Sterling felt surprised, Jasper Hawthorne?
Why would he co at this ti?
Before she could respond, the door’s light dimd, a figure already bypassed Finn Lockwood, appearing directly at the entrance.
It was Jasper Hawthorne.
Seeing his appearance, Stella Sterling was taken aback.
Before her, Jasper Hawthorne was utterly different from the always impeccably dressed, composed figure she rembered.
He was wearing a slightly wrinkled dark suit, no tie, shirt collar casually open, revealing the edge of white bandages underneath.
Hair a bit disheveled, a rough stubble on his chin, the most shocking was his complexion, an almost transparent pallor, eyes filled with terrifying red veins, he seed drained of life, exuding an indescribable defeat and gloom as if aged ten years overnight.
Shane Donovan lounged leisurely against the edge of the desk, legs crossed, appearing unsurprised by Jasper Hawthorne’s arrival.
He even lifted his hand, casually adjusting his cuff, then looked up, his gaze steady but calm sweeping over the disheveled man at the door, tone carrying an imperceptible mockery:
"Stella, didn’t you want to know what interesting discovery I made?"
Stella Sterling finally regained her senses, instinctively looked at Shane Donovan.
And saw him slightly curl his lips, "Attorney Hawthorne should be more aware than I am, right?"
Jasper Hawthorne’s face turned pale, he moved his lips, speaking almost word by word, "Shane Donovan, what exactly do you intend to do?!"
Shane Donovan played with a steel pen on the desk, tone casual, "That’s the question I should be asking you. Did Attorney Hawthorne pay that person to stab you? Staging this yourself, what’s your aim?!"
"What?!"
Stella Sterling gasped sharply, pupils constricted imdiately, looking at Jasper Hawthorne in disbelief, her mind blank, almost thinking she misunderstood.
That person was hired by Jasper Hawthorne?
This...how could this be?!
Reviews
All reviews (0)