Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 362

Chapter 362 The Hunter and the Prey

Could anyone truly be that foolish?

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Sequestered behind the scenes, they couldn’t see the buyer’s face; they could only hear his voice. It was a deep, raspy baritone, magnetic and undeniably pleasant. Yet, there was something hauntingly familiar about it, as if she had heard it in a past life.

Tatiana fixated on that voice, racking her brain until the realization finally struck her.

“The gala!”

Alita jumped at the sudden outburst. “What gala?”

“How could it be him…”

Tatiana felt a massive headache coming on. Her feelings toward that man were a chaotic tangle of attraction and dread. She liked his type, certainly, but he radiated the kind of aura that screamed trouble. The thought of having to personally hand over the goods made her skin crawl with apprehension.

“Alita, you go. Handle the exchange for me. I’m staying back.”

“Why?”

“It’s just better this way. Go on.”

Alita didn’t argue and nodded. “Sure thing.”

When the auction concluded, Alita made her way to the private booth. She knocked and stepped inside, only to freeze when she saw the man waiting there. No wonder Tatiana didn’t want to come. It was the pretty–boy.

Similarly, when Jasper saw Alita enter instead of the person he expected, a flash of profound disappointment crossed his eyes.

“I’m here with your items. Congratulations on the win!” Alita chirped, keeping things professional as she offered the armored briefcase.

Jasper didn’t move. He didn’t even reach for it.

Alita blinked, confused. “Don’t you want it?”

The nearby auction staff grew frantic, terrified that a deal of this magnitude might fall through. One stepped forward cautiously. “Sir, this is the item you won. Please, have a look.”

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Chapter 362 The Hunter and the Prey

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Jasper’s voice was cold and flat. “I’ll take it. But someone else is going to deliver it.”

“Someone else? Who?”

He remained silent, but his implication was deafening.

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Alita caught on quickly and couldn’t help but snap, “Don’t tell me you’ve got your sights set on Tatiana?”

“Tatiana?”

“Forget about it! You’re handsome, sure, and she might have glanced your way a few times, but it’s not happening. You two aren’t a match. Give it up! She won’t come to see you!”

Jasper’s eyes darkened, his tone turning forceful. “Have her deliver it personally, or I will not authorize the remaining payment.”

For items of this caliber, it was standard to pay half the closing amount upfront and the remainder only after a personal inspection.

The staff turned to Alita, pleading. “Perhaps the other lady could come in for a moment?”

Alita fumed, nearly tempted to tell him to shove his money and cancel the sale. But she couldn’t risk sabotaging Tatiana’s broader plans. Seething, she stomped back to the holding room to break the news.

Tatiana felt her stomach drop. Her instincts had been right;

Stan was up to no good. She

wanted to stand her ground and refuse, but if her very first step into this new market failed, her future prospects would be bleak.

After a long moment of hesitation, she stood up. “Fine. I’ll go.”

She pushed open the door to the booth. The room was empty save for a single man sitting with his back to her. The auction staff had been cleared out.

“Sir, your items have arrived.”

The chair slowly revolved.

She met a pair of predatory, aggressive eyes, and for a heartbeat, her pulse thundered. She felt as though she had been locked in a crosshair. Steeling her nerves, she placed the briefcase on the table, clicked it open, and slid it toward him. “Please, feel free to inspect it.”

The jadeite inside emitted a mesmerizing, brilliant green glow. He didn’t even spare it a glance. His eyes were fixed solely on her, as if trying to burn through her mask to see the face beneath.

“What is your name?”

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Chapter 362 The Hunter and the Prey

She pulled a name out of thin air. “Nico.”

“Lie.”

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She bristled with annoyance. “Sir, do you want the items or not? If you’re not interested, I’ll take them to someone else.”

He arched an eyebrow and leaned back, his posture languid and casual. “By all means.”

Fuming, she slammed the case shut, ready to void the contract.

“But I guarantee you,” he added, his voice dropping an octave, “no one else will dare to buy from you. Not this stone. Not anything.”

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