Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 85

Back then, Hester's physical and emotional state was visibly devastated. Even though she maintained her composure, holding a clear and rational conversation, there had been absolutely no color in her face, and her eyes had looked utterly dead inside.

Looking at her then, Jasper could only imagine the sheer agony she was enduring behind closed doors. He had thought to himself that she must be a woman deeply accustomed to hiding her scars from the world.

Over their subsequent meetings, Jasper had noticed the subtle, steady improvements in her demeanor. He figured the new life growing inside her was giving her the courage to rebuild herself.

Sabrina had told him everything Hester had been through, which was why he wholeheartedly supported her decision to keep the baby.

Tonight, with just a touch of light makeup, she looked vibrant and full of life, radiating a unique, mesmerizing beauty.

His heart began to beat a little faster, stirred by a sudden, unfamiliar flutter in his chest.

Jasper frowned slightly, caught in a hypothetical thought: If it weren't for this disastrous marriage, if she hadn't lost those two children, what kind of life would she be living right now?

Sabrina had said Hester was brilliant and exceptional from a young age, the absolute elite among Northwood City's high society heiresses. If she hadn't chosen Julian, with her undeniable talent and beauty, the city's most powerful families would have been lining up at the Carringtons' door to win her over.

How could anyone not feel heartbroken seeing such a brilliant woman suffer through a broken marriage and the loss of her children just because she fell in love with the wrong man?

"Mr. Kane?"

Hester's voice snapped him out of his reverie. He blinked, meeting her confused gaze. "What did you say? I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

Hester let out an amused sigh. "I was just asking how Gigi is doing lately, but you totally spaced out. Are you okay?"

Jasper felt a flush of embarrassment. He brought a loose fist to his mouth and cleared his throat softly. "My apologies, I was lost in thought. Gigi is doing fine, though she constantly asks for you. I know you've been swamped with your own affairs, so I explained it to her, and she understands."

"I've actually been meaning to find the time to visit her. I promised to bring her a gift, but my schedule has just been non-stop."

"I know, it's completely fine. Gigi is a very sweet girl; she gets it."

However, they had barely taken two steps when a piercing alarm violently shattered the atmosphere.

Hester and Jasper froze.

Suddenly, someone screamed at the top of their lungs: "Fire! There's a fire!"

In an instant, pure pandemonium erupted. The elegantly dressed guests waiting for their photo-op broke into a terrified frenzy, stampeding toward the main doors like a kicked-over anthill!

Amidst the chaotic, surging crowd, Hester locked eyes with Julian. Julian was looking right at her.

In that split second, her mind flashed back to the first year of their marriage. Weston Corp had been going through a brutal internal restructuring, and a disgruntled former executive had lunged at Hester with a knife. In a heartbeat, Julian had thrown himself in front of her.

Now, her body reacted far faster than her logic. Instinctively shielding her stomach with one hand, she used the other to shove her way through the panicked, screaming bodies, fighting desperately to get closer to Julian.