Chapter 225 I Really Envy Him
Jasper had a motive for locking Elm in the basement. He simply wanted to give Elm a minor punishment.
When Eileen disappeared last time, Jasper had arranged for someone to investigate the matter. Everyone in the neighboring building had seen Elm leaving the room Eileen had rented, and some even heard them arguing.
However, the situation was more complicated than Jasper had anticipated. Although Eileen was not living in the unit near the school, someone had noticed that a student from Petalburg High School, dressed in uniform, was frequently seen entering and leaving that
unit.
There was no one else but Elm.
Jasper didn’t care about what had happened between Eileen and Elm in the past. But now, he couldn’t tolerate any interaction between them.
Outside the hospital room, Mary felt uneasy. She looked back and saw several b*dyguards in suits standing at the door. Sensing that something was wrong, she quickly picked up her phone to make a call.
After spending a night together, Mary found Ruth to be quite agreeable. After all, gifts can blind even the Swire. Ruth had just given her a token of appreciation. Although it wasn’t much, it was roughly equivalent to a day’s wage.
Elsie was personally taking care of Eileen in the hospital room. She poured a cup of hot water and placed it on Eileen’s bedside table. “You always manage to make people worry about you. Thankfully, you’re okay. Don’t be upset about the exam. There’s still a chance to do well in the midterms.”
“Yeah,” Eileen responded, her tone devoid of any emotion because the person she didn’t want to see was still there.
“Remember to rest well. If you need anything, just call for me. I’ll be outside and can hear you.”
Sorry for the trouble, Aunt Elsie.”
“We’re all family here: no need for formalities.”
Indeed, they were a family now, as Will and Elsie had just obtained their marriage certificate
last week.
Will was a rather stubborn and traditional man. He believed that a second marriage should
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not be celebrated extravagantly. Instead of throwing a feast, he simply informed
about it.
Eileen felt her phone vibrating under her pillow.
everyone
Once Elsie stepped out of the hospital room, Eileen picked up her phone, only to find that the call had already been disconnected.
According to the call details, it was from Mary.
However, Mary then sent her a voice message: “Ms. Eileen, the lady you asked me to take care of has woken up, but Mr. Jasper, oh my, he gave us quite a scare! He just barged in, and there was another man who was injured… I think I’ve seen him before; he seems to be your cla*smate… Oh dear, I have to stop now. Someone’s coming! Ms. Eileen, if I stay any longer, I’ll give the game away. I’ll head back first.”
Eileen’s heart tightened when she heard that Jasper had gone to find Ruth.
He despised Ruth so much, so nothing good could come out of it.
Eileen never expected that Elm had been in Jasper’s custody all along.
What has Jasper done to Elm this time?
Eileen clutched her hair, feeling utterly drained. She knew she shouldn’t have meddled in other people’s affairs, but when she thought of the debt of gratitude she owed Elm, how could she possibly stay out of it?
And there were times when Elm’s actions toward her made Eileen feel as if he was a friend.
Meanwhile, at General Hospital.
“Mrs. Smith, that’s not how you ask for a favor!”
Elm seemed to be at his breaking point. His arms were held by b*dyguards, rendering him unable to move. He shouted at Ruth, “I forbid you from begging him!”
Ruth remained indifferent, two teardrops falling from her gentle face. She was still wearing her blue and Blake striped hospital gown. She slowly knelt down beside the bed. “Jasper, I beg you, please spare me. He’s still young and naive, so don’t hold it against him.”
Elm’s eyes were already red as he let out a deep wail, “I told you not to kneel before him! Can’t you hear me?”
Jasper found the actions of the two laughable and particularly insincere.
When Ruth played the role of a homewrecker and broke up his family years ago, she should
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have foreseen today’s scene. Since she chose to let go and leave, why didn’t she run farther away? Why did she allow John to find her?
If anyone was to blame, it was her for stubbornly giving birth to this illegitimate child.
As long as Jasper existed, he would never allow the bastard to be acknowledged by the Smith family.
Just then, Jasper’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and without hesitation, he answered the call.
Jasper suddenly shifted from his violent mood, and the icy aura around him unexpectedly softened. “What’s wrong?”
The caller was Eileen.
Eileen asked him, “Where are you?”
Jasper lifted his gaze to Elm, a wicked smirk playing on his l*ps. He slowly said, “I’m at General Hospital.”
There was silence for a while, and then Eileen’s weak voice came through the phone again, Her voice was warm and pleasant. “I feel like eating the ravioli from the shop next to the school. Could you get some for me? No onions, please.”
“Yeah, I remember. I’ll be back soon.”
“All right, I’ll wait for you.”
Jasper waited for her to hang up the phone. Like a victor, he stood up, his gaze cold and superior as he looked down at Elm. “I’ll give you two choices,” he said. “One, you can stay in Hulbury and watch your mother slowly succumb to her illness. I recall your mother doesn’t have much time left! Two, you can leave Hulbury and go abroad. You’re not allowed to return. without my permission, but I will provide a monthly payment for your mother’s treatment. I will also cover your expenses until you graduate from university.”
A dark look flashed in Elm’s eyes, which were slightly reddened. His gaze was filled with defiance, much like a wild dog that refused to be tamed.
“The demands I’ve made are all for the sake of Eileen. She owes you her life, and I’m here to repay this debt on her behalf. I’ll give you three days to consider. Of course… I know what choice will be. If you leave now, I’ll give you an extra million for her treatment. Whether she can be cured or not, it all depends on whether this woman has the will to
your
survive.”
In less than thirty minutes, Jasper arrived at Petalburg High School. He purchased a plate of ravioli, along with her favorite candy.
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Rolling up the sleeves of his gray shirt, Jasper carefully fed her. The tattoo on his arm was striking and enigmatic. “Is it too hot?” he inquired.
Eileen shook her head. “Just right.” Her eyes were cast downward, but Jasper knew all about her plans. However, he never let his negative emotions, his darker side, show in her presence.
“Did you visit Mrs. Smith at General Hospital? Is she… doing well?”
Jasper’s l*ps formed an inscrutable smile. He extended his thumb, wiping away the oil stain at the corner of Eileen’s mouth. “I’ve asked Fabian to arrange for her to receive treatment abroad. There is currently no way to treat her here.”
Despite his subtle words, Eileen was not naive.
“Alright. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope overseas.”
When Eileen spoke these words, she caught a fleeting glimpse of hatred in Jasper’s eyes. She knew this hatred was not directed at her, but at Ruth.
Nevertheless, it also allowed her to see the vulnerability in Jasper that he never showed to others.
“Actually, I truly envy him…”
