Chapter 4

Surprisingly, Jasper seemed sure I'd come and had people watching for me since early morning.

The moment I showed up, two bodyguards at the entrance forcibly took me to Jasper's room.

After opening the door, they pressed hard on my shoulders, forcing me to kneel. The cold from the floor seeped into my knees.

The humiliation washed over me again.

I clenched my fists and glared at the man in front of me:

"Jasper, are you out of your mind?"

The room was dimly lit. Jasper bit a cigarette from its pack, lit it, took a drag, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"I don't want this either."

"You didn't cooperate with me. You refuse to cancel the engagement, so don't blame me for being dirty."

My mind went blank instantly. Our wedding was already called off.

Does he still not know?

I instinctively struggled, trying to explain.

Jasper had already approached me with a glass of wine, gripping my chin, "Daphne, don't blame me."

"I just want to live the life I want. As long as you're tainted, they won't force me to marry you."

I stared at Jasper, eyes filled with endless sorrow.

My heart ached sharply.

Childhood friendship, five years of marriage, truly worthless as dirt.

"So you want to drug me and send me to someone's bed?"

For a moment, Jasper seemed stunned, his lips tightly pressed, his hand pausing for just two seconds.

But he still forced the wine into my mouth.

"The Adams Family has been busy with our engagement party these past two days. I can't wait any longer."

"I found a well-matched young man for you. He'll take responsibility and marry you."

"Jasper, you're crazy, really crazy..."

I struggled desperately against his control, but there were two bodyguards behind me. Their strength was too great; resistance was futile.

The wine rushed down my throat.

The intense sensation made me cough uncontrollably.

My face flushed red, and spilled wine dripped from my chin, soaking my shirt.

Clinging to my skin.

"Daphne, be good."

His voice was gentle, reaching out to wipe the wine from my lips.

By then, the bodyguards had let me go.

I gasped for breath, still a bit disheveled.

Hands weakly propping on the floor, my eyes brimmed with tears of physiological reaction.

My lips curled in self-mockery:

"Jasper, I'm not marrying you, nor will I ever."

He laughed disdainfully at that: "Really? Daphne, I know you too well."

"I know how much you like me, so I had no choice."

He was so confident, so sure.

Suddenly, Iris appeared at the room's entrance, clutching her dress hem, her gaze fixed on me.

Her voice trembled, "Sister, Jasper, you two..."

Jasper's body froze, the smile stiffening on his lips.

"Iris, why are you here...?"

"Who brought you here? It's dirty here; you shouldn't be here."

He approached Iris in a panic, his voice gentle, his movements tender and obedient.

At this moment, he was like a devout believer, his eyes full of genuine love.

A sight I'd never seen before.

Indeed, love and lovelessness are truly distinct.

I stared at Jasper for a long time, an unspeakable bitterness welling up.

People are strange.

In the past life, after marrying Jasper, Iris went abroad and never returned.

He's always regretting the past, but if he wanted to marry her back then, who could have stopped him?

If he truly loved her so much, a plane ticket to America.

Just over two thousand dollars.

But did Jasper ever visit Iris? No.

Sometimes I don't know whether to be grateful he was faithful to me in the past life, or grateful he was cowardly.

Jasper coaxed Iris to go home.

She pursed her lips without saying much, looking at me with unclear emotions.

In the end, I was left alone.

The effects of the drug came quickly.

The two bodyguards stood at the door as Jasper instructed, waiting for the well-matched young man he'd arranged.

He constantly regrets the past now, but if he had wanted to marry back then, who could have stopped him?