Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 439

Chapter 439 The Self–Inflicted Sentence

She turned and walked away.

Behind her, Foster threw out one final question: “Do you want him to live?”

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Tatiana didn’t answer. She kept moving until her figure vanished from sight. Only then did Rose find her voice.

“Her husband… who exactly is he?”

As soon as she asked, Rose felt she had been too forward. She quickly tried to backtrack. “I’m just curious. If you can’t say, it’s fine-”

“Jasper.”

“What?”

“Her husband is Jasper Jackson.”

At least legally, they still were.

Rose’s breath hitched. “Which Jasper?”

Foster turned his head slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Which Jasper do you think I’d be on such good terms with?”

Rose felt foolish for even asking. Given Foster’s status, anyone he was willing to personally assist had to be a titan. In all of Hindersville, there was only one Jasper Jackson of the Dalliston Jacksons who fit that description.

She had no idea Tatiana’s husband was such a formidable figure.

“You mentioned a will. Is he… dead?”

“Not dead,” Foster replied after a pause. “But his situation isn’t good.”

He didn’t elaborate, and Rose didn’t dare press him further, but she caught the underlying implication. “You’re going overseas?”

“Yes. I leave tonight.”

Rose fought to suppress the upward curve of her lips. Masking her relief, she put on a show of reluctant longing and stepped forward to embrace him.

“How long will you be gone?”

Foster held her loosely. “Likely a long time. My return date is uncertain. Stay here with Morten and don’t

wander off.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Morten. Be careful on the road; I’ll be waiting for you.”

She had always been a sweet–talker, capable of being whatever a man needed her to be. At this moment, she

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Chapter 439 The Self–Inflicted Sentence

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wanted nothing more than for him to leave immediately, yet she performed the role of the devoted wife to perfection.

Foster felt a surge of desire. He swept her up in his arms, his gaze dark. “I’ll be gone for quite a while. Taking a little interest before I go isn’t asking too much, is it?”

Rose’s smile stiffened for a fraction of a second. She endured it. “Of course not.”

By the end of it, she felt like she was dying of exhaustion. But the thought of the upcoming “vacation” from him brought her an immense sense of relief.

She couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t grown tired of her yet. There were only a few months left on their contract, and he hadn’t mentioned renewing it. That was for the best. She was tired too. She wasn’t young anymore and could no longer keep up with his relentless demands. She had no intention of remarrying; she just wanted to take her money and find a quiet place to live out her later years.

Her only regret was Morten.

She had carried him for ten months and nearly died during a difficult labor. He was a good, intelligent boy. He was the one thing she couldn’t stand to leave, yet she knew she couldn’t take him with her. Foster would never allow it. Besides, Morten was better off with his father, where he would have access to every possible resource. After a bout of self–persuasion, she began preparing for her own eventual departure.

After Tatiana returned home, she acted as though everything were normal. She even went into the kitchen to prepare a lavish dinner for the family.

Ann and Hubert sensed their mommy was off. They watched her with worried eyes but said nothing.

She offered them a thin smile. “Why are you looking at me? Eat up, before the food gets cold.”

“Mommy…”

“Shh. Just eat.”

Lindsey watched from the side, her heart aching for her granddaughter, yet she forced herself to stay firm. She couldn’t let her guard down. She couldn’t lose them. This was the safest, best decision.

She kept the details of Dr. Xander’s diagnosis to herself, burying the truth deep within her heart.

The family shared a rare, quiet meal together. Afterward, Ann and Hubert helped clear the table. She didn’t stop them; she always preferred letting the children handle what they could rather than leaving everything to the servants.

“Tatiana, walk with me in the garden.”

“Of course, Grandmother.”

The sun was brilliant, and the roses were in full bloom. She supported her grandmother as they strolled through the blossoms.

“Tatiana, I want to go away for a while to clear my head. I want to take the children. We should all go together.”

Lindsey had it all planned out. Instead of staying here and drowning in sorrow, it was better to travel–to

Chapter 439 The Self–Inflicted Sentence

meet new people and see the beauty of the world. Perhaps it would help.

Tatiana obediently agreed.

Finished

They departed that very night. While Foster and Norman flew overseas, Tatiana and her family flew to Neath.

In Neath, the glaciers of the south reflected the starlight over Lake Tekapo, and the green hills of Hobbiton hid the fairy tales of the Shire. They drove through the golden meadows of Mount Cook and swam with dolphins in the azure waters of Kaikoura Bay. The steam of the geothermal springs in Rotorua carried the ancient flow of Maori culture.

Everything there was beautiful–so beautiful that even the two somber little ones began to smile.

But Tatiana was wasting away.

The soft features of her face had vanished, leaving her with a sharp chin and hollow, vacant eyes. Her headaches were worsening, a constant, unrelenting presence.

The punishment she was inflicting on herself was growing more severe. The more she suppressed her feelings, the more violent the reaction became. In the dead of night, she would often fall into a brief, dazed state. When she came to, she would find blood dripping onto the floor.

She would look down at the fresh cuts on her wrist and, with practiced ease, reach for the medical kit to dress them herself.

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