Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 127

127 The Release

His expression remained composed, his voice steady and reassuring. Despite her efforts, Tatiana couldn’t fully suppress the rising tide of reliance she felt whenever Jasper was near. Ever since they were kids, Jasper had shown nothing but impatience and dislike toward her, yet paradoxically, his presence always meant that any trouble she stirred would eventually settle without disaster. His aura commanded a sort of unspoken authority that made people lean on him, and she found herself sinking deeper into that dependence with every passing moment.

Suddenly, a car zoomed past them, breaking the tense silence. The passenger leaned halfway out the window, squinting to get a better look before bursting into loud, mocking laughter. “Hey, brothers! Guess what? It’s a woman behind the wheel! And not just any woman—an ugly one! Hahaha, that ugly chick is driving like a complete disaster!”

One after another, cars sped by, each slowing just enough to catch a glimpse of Tatiana and then erupting into cruel jeers. The sheer nastiness of their behavior made her skin crawl. Even Jasper, usually so indifferent, couldn’t hide the darkening shadow that crept across his face.

He was about to intervene. “Stop the car—” he began, but before he could finish with, “Let me drive,” Tatiana interrupted him with a sudden question, “Chairman, if I damage your car, will I have to pay for it?”

Jasper blinked in surprise at her unexpected inquiry. After a brief pause, a faint smile curved his lips. “No need. I have plenty of cars.”

Taking a deep breath, Tatiana slammed her foot down on the accelerator. The car surged forward with a forceful burst, leaving the other vehicles trailing far behind.

“What? She actually dared to speed up? Think driving a luxury car makes her special? I hate rich people the most!” a voice sneered from one of the chasing cars.

Another chimed in, “She’s probably some kind of prostitute bought by a rich guy. How else could she afford this ride?”

“Hit her! Take her down!” came the call.

Several cars immediately gave chase, confident that catching her would be easy. After all, she’d been driving like a slow, clumsy novice just moments ago. But their confidence quickly turned to shock.

Tatiana was driving as if she had nothing to lose, as though death itself was chasing her. The speed climbed relentlessly, the pedal pressed to the floor, and the engine roared with a fierce, hoarse growl. Even Jasper, sitting beside her, looked taken aback by her sudden transformation.

Her hands no longer trembled. Her eyes, usually soft and reserved, now burned with a fierce intensity. Beneath the surface calm was a tempest of suppressed rage and desperation. She wasn’t the meek woman they all assumed her to be. Faster, faster—she pushed harder.

But despite her newfound boldness, her driving skills were still raw, nowhere near the level of the skilled racers who frequented this road. Relying solely on the car’s power gave her only a brief advantage. One vehicle soon caught up and overtook her again, and another even slid sideways, blocking the path ahead.

Tatiana slammed on the brakes, sweat trickling down her temple. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t reverse the situation. The sting of failure and frustration washed over her in a heavy wave.

The pursuing men erupted into loud cheers as the car came to a halt. One of them stepped out and made a crude gesture, taunting them.

Jasper’s eyes darkened with a dangerous glint. “Get out.”

“I’m sorry. Maybe we should let the driver—” one of the men started.

“No apologies,” Jasper cut him off sharply.

A flicker of amusement appeared in Jasper’s eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips. Her response was exactly what he had hoped for.

“Hold on tight.”

Her grip on the seatbelt tightened even more as they neared the final stretch: a continuous S-curve known for its difficulty. The car approached the bend with incredible velocity. The cars behind slowed one by one, preparing to navigate the turn cautiously. But the black sedan only accelerated.

“Damn! That pretty boy’s trying to kill himself!” one of the pursuers shouted.

Tatiana’s heart leapt into her throat. They were going to die.

At the last possible moment, the car drifted sideways, scraping dangerously close to the guardrail as it shot through the bend. The road ahead suddenly opened up, clear and wide, and they surged far ahead of the others.

She exhaled slowly, releasing the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The rush of adrenaline left a powerful impact, and the heavy gloom that had weighed on her heart began to lift. A laugh bubbled up from deep inside her, unbidden and freeing.

The car finally came to a stop. Jasper rolled down the window, stuck his hand out, and gave a thumbs-down to the cars still struggling far behind them.

In that moment, even the darkness surrounding her seemed unable to snuff out the light she chose to shine.