Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 351

Chapter 351 Desperate Straits

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She slowly raised her head to meet his gaze, her voice breaking with a sob. “Jasper, do you still

love me?”

“Why ask a question you already know the answer to?”

“I just… I want to hear you say it one more time.”

“I do,” he replied, his voice low and steady.

She stared straight at him, her eyes filled with a desperate intensity. “Prove it to me.”

Jasper seemed to understand her meaning, yet he remained motionless, draped in a heavy silence.

“Tatiana” pushed him back slightly and began to unbutton her clothes, one by one. In the dim light, her pale skin and the faint lines of her figure were revealed.

Suddenly, he reached out and fastened her clothes back together, his grip firm and his voice disciplined. “I will prove it, but not now. You’re still recovering. You need rest.”

“Then when? Or is all of this just another lie you’ve woven?”

He leaned in close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her skin as he whispered, “Tomorrow night.”

She froze for a moment before a tearful smile broke across her face, her expression softening with a hint of bashful hope.

Jasper stepped out of the room. The moment the door clicked shut, the hallway shadows swallowed him whole. The warmth vanished from his face, replaced by an inscrutable, chilling depth.

Back in his study, the silence was punctuated by the ringing of his phone. “Boss,” a subordinate reported respectfully on the other end, “the person you’re looking for… we’ve found a lead.”

Twenty days at sea.

The pirate ship had sustained heavy damage after striking a reef and was forced to drop anchor near a deserted island for repairs.

The crew split into two groups: one stayed behind to grumble over the broken hull, while the other herded the weary prisoners onto the island to set up a temporary camp.

To prevent anyone from escaping into the brush, the prisoners were shackled together in a

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long line, their heavy iron chains clinking across the sand like a giant, rhythmic centipede.

By now, Tatiana’s status had changed completely. As the captain’s nominal “foster sister,” she was not only free of chains but was held in high regard by the crew. After all, she had saved a dozen of their men during the last skirmish with her medical skills.

These pirates were cold–blooded criminals, but they lived by two rules: money and survival. Following Captain Hanson made them rich, but staying on Dr. Tatiana’s good side kept them alive.

Throughout the journey, she received unprecedented care. Someone would often “find” an apple or a banana to hand to her, and her daily rations were nearly on par with the captain’s

Own.

As for Alita and the others, though they were still technically prisoners, they benefited from Tatiana’s influence. They were spared the shackles and allowed to remain as quiet observers in the background.

After landing, Tatiana selected a few people to head into the forest to gather herbs. The ship’s medical supplies had been exhausted during the fight, and several men still required treatment. More importantly, she needed to forage for the ingredients to mix Captain Hanson’s periodic “antidote.”

Hanson wasn’t happy about it, but he had no choice. He assigned his most skilled men to accompany her, barking a warning: “If anything happens to her, don’t bother coming back.”

The men nodded frantically. “Don’t worry, Captain! we’ll protect the lady with our lives!”

From a distance, Hanson felt a surge of irritation in his chest. If it weren’t for the toxins coursing through his system, he would have ended that woman himself. But he would never let a soul know he was being held hostage by his own health.

Tatiana led the pirates and Alita deep into the dense foliage.

The companions left back at the beach watched them go, whispering in awe. “Dr. Tatiana is incredible. No matter where she ends up, she finds a way to take control. In just a few days, she’s become an equal to the pirate king–and we’re getting fed because of it.”

“Anyone else would have been shark bait by now!”

Their respect for her had grown into something bordering on worship.

The island was more bountiful than Tatiana had imagined. Untouched by civilization, the vegetation was lush and vibrant. She found not only common medicinal plants but several rare, life–saving herbs.

Her eyes

lit

up

with professional excitement as she carefully excavated a plant, ensuring the

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Chapter 351 Desperate Straits

roots remained intact before placing it in her basket.

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Alita watched from the side, deeply impressed. To her, the ground was just a mess of weeds, but Tatiana could see the hidden value in every leaf. Wanting to help, Alita plucked a peculiar- looking plant and held it out. “Is this one a medicine too?”

Tatiana glanced at it and nodded. “It is.”

Alita beamed, holding the weed as if it were a precious gem. “Really? I guess I have a knack for this! I knew it looked special.”

“You think it’s pretty?” Tatiana asked.

“Yeah, look at those green leaves!”

“It is pretty,” Tatiana said flatly. “It’s also toxic enough to kill you within two hours of contact.”

Alita’s smile vanished. She shrieked and flung the plant away, frantically scrubbing her hands on her clothes as if she’d touched filth. The surrounding pirates burst into laughter at the sight.

Tatiana couldn’t help but smile. “The forest is full of grass, and you managed to find the one lethal stalk in the bunch. You truly have a gift.”

Alita slumped her shoulders, pouting. “You’re making fun of me!”

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