Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 448

Chapter 448 A Kiss for a Slap

Finished

Norman’s family business operated in the gray market, so he was intimately familiar with the depths of human cruelty. He didn’t doubt for a second that the girl had already met a gruesome end. He was intentionally pushing Jasper’s buttons.

As expected, Jasper delivered a hard kick to the back of Norman’s seat. The car swerved sharply.

“Whoa, whoa! Easy! I’m just kidding! No need to get violent!”

“You actually feel sorry for her?” Jasper asked coldly.

“Hey, I was just saying. It’s a tragedy when a girl that young meets a fate like that.”

Jasper let out a harsh, mocking laugh. “You feel sorry for a ‘doctor‘ whose specialty was slicing open people’s bellies to stuff them with product?”

Norman winced. “She was that cold–blooded?”

“If your heart bleeds for her so much, feel free to turn around and go back.”

Norman shut his mouth. As Max’s daughter, Ginnie was far from innocent. Her delicate, clean features were a mask for something much darker. Her surgical skills were used more for killing and smuggling than saving lives, which was exactly why she was her father’s pride and joy.

Foster, who had been silent until then, finally spoke up. “We’re here. Your wife is waiting.”

Jasper was about to snap back–How many times do I have to tell you…-but the words died in his throat. This time, it really was his wife.

An off–road vehicle was parked at the intersection ahead. Tatiana stood leaning against the side. She had long since discarded the heavy robes of the Saint, now dressed in a sharp, utilitarian t–shirt and trousers. She looked striking and formidable.

Foster arched an eyebrow. “Is this the wife you were talking about?”

Jasper gave him a quick shove, stepped out of the car, and strode toward Tatiana. He instinctively opened his arms to pull her into an embrace, but he caught himself, realizing how inappropriate the gesture might be after everything. He pulled his hands back at the last second.

“Tatiana. You came.”

His voice sounded steady, but beneath the surface, his heart was a chaotic mess of emotion.

Tatiana gave a short nod. “Congratulations.”

“What?”

She offered a thin, mocking smile. “Happy wedding day.”

Jasper’s expression turned complicated–a mix of helplessness and frustration. But he couldn’t bring himself to be angry with her.

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20:49 Fri, Jan 9 MJ.

Chapter 448 A Kiss for a Slap

41

Florshe

“Tatiana, you know exactly what the situation was,” he said, using her name to bridge the gap between them. They both knew that the moment she had come for him, the wall they had built between them had begun to crumble.

“I don’t know anything. Mr. Groom.” She emphasized the last word, drawing it out with a playful, mocking lilt as she looked him up and down in his wedding suit.

Without a word, Jasper ripped off his suit jacket and yanked away his silk tie, tossing them into the dust. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, instantly transforming from a refined noblernan into a man with a raw, dangerous edge.

Before Tatiana could speak, he took a sudden step forward, closing the distance between them. He cupped the back of her head, pulled her toward him, and crashed his lips onto hers.

“Mph!”

Her eyes widened in shock, but she had no time to react before he completely took possession of her mouth. His kiss was aggressive and domineering, a raw display of possessiveness. He suppressed her struggle entirely, like a lion that hadn’t eaten in months refusing to let go of its prize.

She was nearly breathless by the time he finally pulled away. Behind them, Norman let out a loud whistle and started clapping. Foster adjusted his glasses. “We should probably move.”

Jasper finally released her.

Slap.

Tatiana’s hand connected with his cheek. The blow wasn’t heavy, but the sound was sharp. Jasper didn’t even blink; he just looked at her with a gaze full of unshielded adoration.

“Do that again, and I’ll kill you,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion.

“Fair enough.” He figured a kiss was well worth a slap.

Tatiana turned without another word and climbed back into her vehicle. “Let’s go.”

Her car sped off, kicking up a cloud of dust. Jasper got back into Norman’s car, and they followed close behind.

“Not bad,” Norman teased. “I’d say that slap was well–earned.”

Jasper ignored him. He leaned back against the seat, his mood visibly improved. The cold frost that had covered his face for weeks had finally melted into a faint, lingering smile. Norman floored the accelerator to keep up with the lead car.

They had left the area just in time. Shortly after their departure, the region erupted into armed conflict as various factions began a bloody scramble for Max’s abandoned resources. Escaping wouldn’t have been easy if they had stayed.

Fortunately, Foster’s extraction route was flawless. They reached a safe, designated area and pulled the vehicles into a small clearing. Jasper immediately walked over to Tatiana. This time, he was respectful.

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