Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 249

**Even the Night Couldn’t Silence Her Light**
**Chapter 249: Drowning in Grief**

“I’m fine. Why are you here?” she replied, her voice barely masking the turmoil within her.

Finished.

He nodded toward the restaurant across the street, his gaze lingering there. “I had a meeting here tonight. When I saw you walk by, something didn’t seem right, so I thought I should come out.”

But deep down, he was aware he was deceiving himself. He knew Chandler was returning today and that they were set to meet later in the evening. The thought of what might unfold between them gnawed at him, a relentless ache that pushed him to leave the confines of the restaurant. Through the large glass windows, he had watched their heated exchange, the way Tatiana had stormed out, her face a mask of distress. Unable to ignore the pull of concern, he had followed her, keeping a respectful distance.

“Sorry to trouble you,” she murmured, her voice a fragile whisper.

Jasper instinctively released her, stepping back as if to give her space, yet his concern was palpable. “You don’t look well at all. What’s happened? You seem really upset.”

She wanted to deflect his concern, to shift the topic to something less painful, but the dam she had built around her emotions finally crumbled. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and they cascaded down her cheeks, each drop a testament to her hidden sorrow. She hurriedly tried to wipe them away, but it was no use.

A handkerchief was thrust toward her, and she took it, her heart aching at the kindness. “Here. You don’t have to hold it in,” he offered gently.

As she glanced at the handkerchief, her tears fell even faster, each one a reminder of her grief. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice breaking. Her thoughts spiraled into darkness, haunted by the image of the child who had left this world too soon. What would he have looked like? Would he have been as charming as Ann? The agony of her thoughts was unbearable, a relentless torment.

The handkerchief quickly became drenched, a symbol of her despair as she stood there, feeling utterly defeated.

Jasper’s expression darkened, concern etched on his face. He pointed toward a nearby pub. “If you’re comfortable, maybe talking about it would help?”

She hesitated, wanting to refuse, but the weight of her grief felt insurmountable. It was as if a heavy stone sat on her chest, and she desperately needed a release. On impulse, she nodded, the decision made.

Inside the pub, Jasper secured a booth for them and ordered a couple of low-alcohol drinks, his demeanor quiet and observant. He said nothing, allowing her to drown herself in the glass after glass, each sip a temporary escape from her pain.

She appeared to be on the verge of breaking apart. Tears flowed freely, mingling with her drink, as her shoulders trembled with the weight of her sorrow. Her brow was furrowed, and the grief in her eyes was a haunting sight, one that struck Jasper deeply.

Is she truly this heartbroken? Did Chandler hurt her? Does she love him? A torrent of questions flooded his mind, gnawing at his heart like a swarm of ants, pushing his jealousy to the brink of explosion.

Finally, she broke the silence, her voice thick with emotion. “Do you have children?”

Jasper was momentarily caught off guard, hesitating as he processed her question.

But she didn’t wait for his answer, pressing on. “I do,” she said, holding up two fingers, her expression a mix of pride and pain. “I have two.”

He froze, the weight of her words settling heavily in the air between them.

Then, with a trembling hand, she folded one finger down. “But now… there’s only one left.”

The revelation struck him like a thunderbolt. That child… I had no idea he existed.

“I’m not a good mother. I couldn’t bring him into the world safe and healthy,” she lamented, her voice thick with despair.

“My phone… it’s gone…” she murmured, trying to recall where she had last seen it, but her thoughts were a chaotic blur. Already heartbroken, she felt even more lost, adrift in a sea of despair.

She sank to the ground, curling into a tight ball, her voice barely a whisper as she repeated, “I’m useless… it’s all my fault… I’m not a good mother… I’m bad…”

A large hand wrapped around her arm, pulling her gently but firmly to her feet.

A choked sob escaped her lips, the weight of her self-loathing crashing down on her. “I’m bad… I’m bad…”

“Tatiana. Look at me,” Jasper urged, his voice steady and calming. Instinctively, she obeyed, her gaze locking onto his deep, dark eyes. In that moment, she felt a flicker of clarity amidst the chaos.

“No one is born perfect. You don’t have to bear all the blame alone,” he reassured her, his words a lifeline thrown into her turbulent ocean of emotions.

“You are good. Better than you think,” he continued, his sincerity shining through. “Don’t doubt yourself.”

Finally, her tears subsided, leaving her with red-rimmed eyes that still spoke of heartbreak but now held a glimmer of hope.

Jasper sighed softly, the weight of the moment settling between them. “I’ll take you home.”

Finished.

She shook her head, a hint of defiance in her gaze. “I don’t want to go back.” The thought of Ann seeing her like this filled her with dread. Right now, she felt sluggish, as if she were a doll, allowing him to guide her wherever he wished.