14
When Adrian awoke again, he was in the hospital. He had suffered a severe concussion and had been unconscious for a week. He saw Eleanor Thorne, his mother, her face etched with worry, her expression darkening upon seeing him awake.
“Adrian,” Eleanor said, her voice laced with disappointment, “I always thought you were a good man, unlike your awful father. But… you’ve let me down terribly.”
Eleanor reprimanded him, “I know everything about you and Jasmine. You wronged her. Don’t go looking for her. She’ll never forgive you.”
Adrian’s hand trembled beneath the covers, a wave of pain washing over him. He shook his head vehemently.“No, I have to find her. I’ll make her forgive me, make her come back to me.”
Their years of love, he couldn’t let go. He was wrong, and he would atone for it.
No matter the cost, he would find Jasmine.
“Mom, I’ll handle this,” he said, closing his eyes, unwilling to engage with his mother further.
Eleanor stayed for a while, but seeing she couldn’t dissuade him, she left.
Adrian’s father had had an affair, dying in a plane crash while fleeing with his mistress. Eleanor despised him and had raised Adrian to cherish relationships.
She had believed Adrian’s love for Jasmine was unique, that it would last a lifetime.
She didn’t want to interfere anymore, hoping Jasmine wouldn’t be hurt again.
After Eleanor left, Adrian checked out of the hospital.
He took Rosalie’s investigative file to her. She’d been locked up for a week, looking gaunt.
Seeing Adrian, she rushed towards him.“Adrian, you finally came to see me. Let me go. I’m so hungry, and so is the baby.”
She pressed his hand to her abdomen, hoping he would spare her for the sake of the child.
“Please forgive me. I never hurt Jasmine before. Lately, I’ve been blinded by my desires, trying to compete with Jasmine. I know I’m wrong. I’ll be good from now on.”
“Let’s find Jasmine together. I’ll apologize to her. I’ll be a good girl,”
Rosalie cried. Usually, this would soften Adrian, making him appease her.
But now, his face was cold, his eyes icy, as if looking at a corpse.
“Rosalie, stop pretending. If it weren’t for the fact that you once saved Jasmine, you’d be dead right now,” Adrian said, cupping her chin and pushing her away.
“What are you doing? Adrian, I really know I was wrong. Don’t hurt me. I’m carrying your child,” she said, eyes wide with terror, feeling like she was suffocating.
“Don’t worry, you won’t have the baby for much longer,” Adrian released her. She fell weakly to the ground, clutching her throat and gasping for
air.
Before she could react, she saw bodyguards carrying baseball bats enter the room. She shrank back in terror,
Rosalie was seized and bound. Adrian personally took a bat and swung it hard at her stomach.
Rosalie cried out in pain, blood flowing from her lower body, her face contorted.
“Adrian, you’re crazy! This is your child! You’re a devil!”
Adrian remained unmoved, striking again, her voice trembling with pain.“Please, stop. Spare me.”
With the third blow, Rosalie convulsed in agony, unable to plead further.
Seeing her bleeding and suffering, Adrian’s eyes reddened. Jasmine must have been in this much pain when she was beaten. “Keep going. Ninety–nine strikes, then send her to prison. Don’t let her die!” Adrian threw down the bat and turned to leave.
0718
2 Support genuine res
Menu
< 14
Clutching his chest, a searing pain shot through him. He doubled over, blood spilling from his mouth, collapsing to the ground in agony.
“Jasmine, where are you? I miss you so much. I can’t live without you.”
