Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 376

Chapter 376 The Scent of Gardenias

She shouldn’t be this obedient.

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That thought, once planted, began to spread like wildfire in her mind. Why was she so willing to simply take his word for everything?

“Tatiana.”

“Hm?”

She snapped back to reality.

“What are you thinking about? You’ve been staring into space for a while now.”

She grabbed a random excuse, her eyes darting away. “Nothing, really. I was just thinking about that restaurant we’re supposed to go to tomorrow. The one with the amazing food.”

Jasper denied her request, a rare occurrence. “I have some things to handle tomorrow. Stay home and wait for me to get back, alright?”

The bright smile on her face faded instantly. “Where are you going? Let me come with you! I promise I won’t be a distraction.”

“It’s a business matter. It would be boring for you. You can stay here and do whatever interests you.”

“But it’s not boring if I’m with you! I could be your secretary for the day!” Her tone turned playful, and she gave his arm a gentle, pleading tug.

But he shook his head again. “Stay home. Be a good girl.”

She slowly lowered her head and let go of his arm. “Fine. I understand.”

Jasper’s voice softened. “I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”

Tomorrow was a critical day. He had prepared everything to lure the snake out of its hole and wipe out the puppet masters in one fell swoop. At this juncture, he couldn’t let her anywhere near the danger zone.

Tatiana didn’t say another word, her eyes fixed on her plate as she finished her meal in silence.

Later that night, he had to head out for a meeting. By the time he returned, it was very late. He assumed Tatiana was already asleep, but remembering her subdued mood during dinner, he detoured to her room. He pushed the door open to find her bed empty.

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Chapter 376 The Scent of Gardenias

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His heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to call for his security detail, he noticed a sliver of light coming from his own bedroom door.

Realizing what had happened, he turned and headed back to his room.

Sure enough, there was a lump under the covers. She was curled up on his pillow, sleeping soundly.

Jasper stood by the bed, the tenderness in his eyes nearly overflowing. He leaned down to tuck the blanket around her, but as he started to pull away, a small hand reached out and caught his wrist.

He looked down into her bright, clear eyes. She didn’t look like someone who had just woken

1. up.

She had been faking.

“Why are you just now getting back?” Her voice was muffled against the pillow.

“I’m sorry. Did I wake you? It was just some business.”

“You’ve been so busy these last few days.”

“I know. Once this is finished, I’ll take you back home.”

“Back home? Really? We can go back?!” She was ecstatic. Murica felt cold and alien to her; if it weren’t for Jasper, she would have run back long ago.

“Yes. Very soon.”

Tatiana practically bounced off the bed and threw her arms around him. “Thank you!”

But as she pressed her face against his chest, she caught a whiff of something—a faint, unmistakable scent of gardenias.

Her body stiffened.

That wasn’t his scent. It wasn’t the smell of the house.

Acting on pure instinct, she shoved him away. The movement was so sudden and forceful that Jasper staggered back, looking at her in shock.

“Tatiana?”

She suppressed a wave of nausea and fixed him with a hard stare. “Where were you just now?”

“Working.”

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Chapter 376 The Scent of Gardenias

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“Working where?”

“At the branch office.”

She bit her lip, her voice trembling. “Is that the truth?”

“Why are you asking me this?”

She opened her mouth, the words coming out in a jagged, stubborn burst. “You smell like someone else.”

He froze. He looked down and sniffed his lapel, detecting a trace of a fragrance so faint it was almost invisible. His eyes turned dangerously dark.

Tatiana looked like she was on the verge of tears, yet she kept her chin up defiantly. “Tell me. Where did you go?”

He looked down and let out a soft, amused huff. “Are you jealous?”

“I am not!”

“I’m sorry. Someone from the other company must have accidentally bumped into me. If you don’t believe me, I can have her come over and explain.”

“Fine! Have her come over!”

She knew sh

was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t let it go. Not after what Alita had said.

Jasper sighed. “Wait here.”

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