Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 284

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

**Chapter 284: Healed by the Children**

With a gentle yet resolute motion, she released his hand, her heart pounding in her chest.

Despite the overwhelming dread that gripped her.

What if Ann decided to run to Jasper and never returned to her?

Yet, even in the face of that anxiety, she offered Ann the freedom to choose.

+5 Pearls

In a sudden burst of energy, Ann darted two steps forward, only to halt in her tracks. She turned back, her lips pressed together in concentration, then made a decision that filled her with a mix of excitement and determination. She sprinted back and enveloped her mother in a tight embrace, tugging her along.

“Mom?” Tatiana stumbled slightly, caught off guard by Ann’s sudden enthusiasm.

“Mommy, let’s go together!”

With an earnest pull, Ann guided her mother straight towards Jasper. “Mr. Jackson!”

*

As Jasper noticed the two, he instinctively reached out, lifting Ann into his arms with ease. “Ann, Hubert didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”

With a quick shake of her head, Ann replied, “Hubert is no trouble at all.”

Though she was enveloped in the warmth of Jasper’s hold, a flutter of nerves danced within her. She had never been held this high before, especially by someone who was, in her mind, a complete stranger—her father. The tension in her small body grew as she contemplated this new reality.

In her imaginative moments, she had often wondered what her father might look like, yet every attempt to visualize him resulted in a hazy blur. Sometimes he felt present, and other times, he faded into nothingness. But Ann had always found solace in the fact that she had her mother, whom she adored deeply. The absence of a father had never truly bothered her—until now.

Now that he was here, curiosity bubbled within her like a fizzy drink.

Looking up, her big, bright eyes locked onto his, filled with wonder and innocence.

She gazed and gazed, her mind racing with thoughts…

“Mr. Jackson,” she finally ventured, her voice a gentle whisper.

“Hmmm?” Jasper responded, his attention fully on her.

A wide smile broke across Ann’s face. “You look so handsome today!”

Caught off guard by the compliment, Jasper paused, a hint of blush creeping into his cheeks. It was a rare moment for him, one that left him momentarily flustered.

Ann’s eyes sparkled with delight as she pointed at Hubert. “You look just like Hubert.”

Hubert, puffing out his chest in pride, couldn’t help but grin. “That’s right! I’m just as handsome!”

“Hubert, you’re just a little short,” Ann stated matter-of-factly, her tone playful.

“Then I’ll be taller than you!” Hubert declared with conviction, his youthful determination shining through.

“I’ll grow very, very tall later, taller than Daddy!” Ann chirped, her voice filled with the kind of certainty only a child could possess.

“Girls aren’t that tall!” Hubert shot back, his competitive spirit ignited.

“Yes, they are! I will definitely be taller than you!” Ann insisted, her resolve unwavering.

“Then I’ll be even taller!”

Their playful banter erupted into a delightful, childlike debate, their laughter ringing like chimes in the air, creating a beautiful symphony of innocence.

Jasper, holding both children, felt his eardrums nearly burst from the joyful noise. With a soft sigh, he remarked, “You will both be very tall, I’m sure of it.”

Tatiana observed the scene unfold before her, her heart swelling with emotion.

She had only shared the truth about their identities with Ann, deliberately sidestepping the complicated history she had with Jasper.

The grievances of the past, she believed, should never cast a shadow over the children’s happiness.

If Ann found joy in Jasper’s presence, then that affection should remain pure, untouched by the complexities of adult emotions.

Perhaps, after three years apart, he had changed as well.

With this thought in mind, she finally voiced the decision she had mulled over the previous night. “From now on, I won’t prevent Ann from having contact with you. I’ll find a suitable moment to discuss it with Hubert. I respect their choices and won’t impose my feelings on them.”

“Jasper, your role as their father is unchangeable. I only have one condition,” she added, her expression serious.

“Tell me,” he urged, curiosity piqued.

“If you decide to remarry and have other children…”

Before she could finish, he cut her off, his voice unwavering. “There won’t be any. No one else besides them, ever again.”

“You shouldn’t be so absolute. The future is unpredictable…” she cautioned, her brow furrowing.

“I no longer have the capacity for further reproduction,” he stated matter-of-factly.

Tatiana’s mind raced, her thoughts spinning as she struggled to comprehend his words.

No capacity for further reproduction?

“What do you mean…” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jasper’s tone was calm, devoid of emotion. “I had an accident a few years ago. It caused significant damage. Further procreation is difficult for me. I won’t have another child, nor will I pursue another relationship.”

Tatiana felt a whirlwind of emotions surge within her—confusion, sorrow, and a strange sense of relief. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words eluded her.

Her gaze instinctively dropped, trailing down to his waistband, grappling with the implications of what he had just shared.

Jasper, seemingly amused by her reaction, chuckled softly. “It doesn’t affect the other function.”

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she quickly averted her gaze. “I wasn’t asking about that!”

Suppressing a grin, Jasper replied, “Mm, I know.”

An awkward silence enveloped them, thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.