Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 280

**Even the Night Couldn’t Silence Her Light**

He recognized that man.

In the quiet confines of Eddy’s study, a file lay open on the desk, and there it was—a photograph of a man, marked with a bold, red cross.

Daddy had a deep-seated aversion to this individual.

Chandler crouched down, his hand gently brushing through Ann’s hair. “Ann, it’s been ages! How have you been?”

“I’m fantastic! Do you want some cake? Mommy baked one today, and it’s absolutely delicious!”

Ann was blissfully unaware of the rift that had formed between her mother and Chandler. In her innocent mind, they were still the best of friends, and she felt an overwhelming urge to share her joy.

“Really? You baked a cake today?”

“Uh-huh! Hubert and Mr. Jackson helped too! Oh, and guess what? This is Hubert, my new brother!”

Her cheeks were flushed with pride, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Ann had taken a shine to Hubert, practically forcing him into the role of her little brother. They had even attempted a blood oath, just like the characters in their favorite TV dramas. However, when faced with the thought of pain, they had cleverly opted for tomato juice instead.

“Hubert, this is Mr. Chandler. Hurry up and say hello!”

Hubert hesitated for a moment, his shyness momentarily overcoming him, but he eventually managed to say, “Hello.”

Chandler, however, found it difficult to meet Hubert’s gaze.

Deep down, he recognized this child as the one he had entrusted to Bianca all those years ago.

In the blink of an eye, Hubert had grown, looking remarkably similar to Jasper, as if they had been sculpted from the same clay.

Had things gone differently, this boy would have been raised alongside Tatiana, and like Ann, he would have affectionately called him Mr. Jackson.

But everything had shifted dramatically on that fateful day three years prior.

Suddenly, Chandler felt a wave of understanding wash over him regarding Tatiana’s bitterness.

No mother could bear the anguish of being torn away from her own child.

He abruptly stood up, locking eyes with Tatiana, and in a hushed voice, he said, “I’m sorry, but I have urgent matters to attend to today. Let’s talk another time.”

Tatiana didn’t attempt to stop him; she simply nodded. “Alright.”

As he exited, she observed him leave with a mix of emotions swirling within her.

Ann, still puzzled, turned to her mother. “Mommy, why is Mr. Chandler leaving so soon?”

“Because it’s getting late, and he needs to go home to rest.”

“But he hasn’t even had any cake yet!”

“We’ll save some for next time.”

“Is Mr. Jackson leaving too?”

“Yes, he has to return to work.”

Jasper, who had been reluctantly forced into working overtime, nodded in agreement. “Yes, I still have some things to finish up. Hubert, I’ll rely on Ann to look after you.”

Ann puffed out her chest, her confidence shining through. “No trouble at all! I can do it!”

He was making progress; he couldn’t afford to risk everything he had worked for.

Yet another thought lingered in the recesses of his mind: settling scores could wait.

“Jasper! Just let go of Tatiana. She has suffered enough because of you in the first half of her life. What more do you want?”

Chandler’s accusatory tone only deepened Jasper’s amusement, as he replied, “Chandler, what I owe her is not for you to lecture me about. Do you think you’re so noble that you can act insolently in front of me?”

His last words fell like a hammer, heavy and dominating, causing Chandler to instinctively take a half-step back, momentarily rendered speechless.

The issue of the child was Chandler’s Achilles’ heel; his sins were no less than Jasper’s.

The only distinction between them was who had been the greater fool.

“Chandler, stay away from her. I won’t let go, especially with Ann and Hubert in the picture.”

Whether Tatiana chose to acknowledge it or not, as long as Ann and Hubert existed, she could never fully sever ties with Jasper in this lifetime.

And he had been relentlessly trying to navigate that boundary.

“Impossible! Tatiana would never love you!”

“She loved me for fifteen years.”

They had grown up together. As far back as he could remember, Tatiana had been by his side, her presence a constant. If he turned around, she was always there, a steadfast companion.

He had lost her once, and now that he had found her again, he refused to let her slip away. He would not make that foolish mistake again.

Chandler was determined not to back down. “So what? You hurt her with your own hands! Jasper! Stop joking! Stop deceiving yourself! If Tatiana didn’t hate you and resent you, why would she pay such a steep price to stay away from you? Do you even know how many surgeries she had to undergo to achieve her current appearance?”