Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 279

**TITLE: Even the Night Couldn’t Silence Her Light**
**Chapter 279: An Interrupted Celebration**

What a remarkable son he is, Tatiana thought, her heart swelling with a mixture of pride and amusement.

She found herself in a state of helplessness, unable to do anything but watch as Jasper, her son, busily gathered the plates from the dining table. He donned an apron with a seriousness that was both endearing and comical, scrubbing the dishes with a diligence that made her chuckle softly.

No matter how she looked at it, the scene was undeniably amusing.

Taking advantage of the brief respite, Tatiana slipped away to the study, her mind racing with thoughts of her latest composition. She was determined to refine it further and send it out into the world, hoping to share her art with those who would appreciate it.

Just as she settled into her work, her phone rang, jolting her from her concentration.

“Tati! Congratulations!” Anna’s voice burst through the receiver, bright and enthusiastic.

Winning the Best Composer Award had come as a delightful surprise. In the cutthroat world of Hindersville’s entertainment industry, these accolades often seemed to favor connections over genuine talent.

In the past, the winners had typically been familiar faces, entrenched within the industry, while newcomers rarely had a chance to shine. Yet, the overwhelming popularity of her song “Break Free” had ignited a fervor among fans. They had rallied online, vowing to voice their grievances to the organizers if the song did not win the Best New Song Award.

The sheer volume of votes was staggering, compelling the judging panel to act with an unprecedented sense of fairness.

Unsurprisingly, “Break Free” emerged victorious, sweeping up three prestigious awards: Best New Song of the Year, Best Singer, and Best Composer.

Tatiana’s heart raced as she absorbed the news. Thousand Corp had truly dominated the charts this year.

Anna, bursting with excitement, had reached out to Tatiana the moment the results were announced, practically demanding a celebration.

“Let’s celebrate! You deserve it!” she insisted, her enthusiasm infectious.

Tatiana nodded, promising to host a celebratory dinner on the day of the awards ceremony.

“Why not today? It’s such a rare moment of joy! Hurry and bring Ann out; I haven’t seen her in ages!”

Just as she was about to respond, Jasper appeared in the doorway, his voice clear and slightly teasing. “The dishes are done. Need an inspection?”

The sudden sound startled Anna, causing her to fall silent on the other end of the line. She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. “Tati, there’s a man at your place? I get it, I get it. I’ll call you back when you’re free! Don’t let me interrupt!”

Before Tatiana could clarify, Anna had hung up, leaving her with a sigh of exasperation.

“Did I interrupt something?” Jasper raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

She set her phone down, shaking her head slightly. “It’s fine.”

“Congratulations,” he said, his tone casual, yet a smile lingered on his lips as if they shared a deeper intimacy.

Tatiana paused, her heart fluttering with uncertainty. “Thank you,” she replied, her brow furrowing slightly.

“I saw the news pop up; you won an award,” he added, his explanation attempting to dispel any notion of eavesdropping.

She quickly opened her phone, confirming the announcement. “Thank you,” she repeated, her voice softer now.

“How would you like to celebrate?” he asked, the casualness of his tone grating on her nerves.

She felt a flicker of annoyance. “No need. It’s just a small matter,” she dismissed, brushing past him as she headed toward the living room.

Jasper stood still, his expression darkening with disappointment. This award wasn’t originally hers, he thought, a shadow of doubt creeping into his mind.

The result had been altered just minutes before the announcement.

Netizen votes alone could not shake the foundations of the industry; they had witnessed protests in the past, yet the organizers had remained unmoved. It seemed unfortunate that the powerful had met someone even more formidable. A single phone call had transformed the unfair into the fair.

Chandler’s gaze flickered between her and Jasper, his self-control straining against the questions bubbling to the surface.

“Tatiana, congratulations,” he managed, his voice tight with unspoken emotions.

Clearly, he had rushed over the moment he heard about her award, only to stumble upon this unexpected scene.

“Thank you,” she replied, her voice steady but her heart racing.

Chandler hesitated, his brow furrowing. “How is Mr. Jackson here…”

Before he could finish, two small faces peeked out from behind Tatiana.

“Daddy, are you leaving?”

It turned out the children had woken up midway, and, unable to find anyone, had ventured out in search of their parents.

Chandler’s gaze dropped to Hubert, and in that moment, realization washed over him.

The smile that had graced his face vanished entirely.

“Tatiana, are you two…”

“Please go back first. Now is not a convenient time,” she urged, her voice firm yet laced with urgency.

The atmosphere was thick with tension, and lingering in this moment felt pointless. Dispersing quickly seemed the wisest course of action.

Ann, ever the social butterfly, recognized Chandler and greeted him cheerfully. “Good evening!”

Hubert’s reaction was more complex; his small face was a mixture of curiosity and confusion, darting glances between his father and Chandler as he wrestled with the unspoken dynamics in the room.