Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 475

Chapter 475 An Extravagant Gift

“I’m not willing.”

She cut him off before he could even start. He’d only managed to get a foot in the door, and already he was trying to shamelessly push his luck.

Jasper looked slightly disappointed, but he didn’t press the issue. They had plenty of time.

As they ate, the conversation naturally drifted to Tammy and Norman. Tatiana shared the news of Norman’s recent sighting.

Jasper gave a helpless sigh. “The Cole family has sent people as well.”

“Oh?”

“Before Norman arrived here, he… handled some business.” Jasper paused, his tone momentarily guarded before he decided to be blunt. “He essentially wiped out the entire main branch.”

Tatiana, who was mid–sip, nearly choked on her water.

“The Coles crossed a line,” Jasper explained. “They provoked him.”

For Jasper to describe something as ‘crossing a line,‘ it had to have been extreme. Still, the news of a total massacre was staggering.

“In short, there’s no one left in the Cole family to inherit the estate. There are plenty of vultures circling their assets, so they need Norman. He’s the only Head of House they have left.”

With their leader missing, the family was desperate. They had scoured the globe, finally tracing him to Bellwood. Now, Tatiana wasn’t the only one hunting for them; the Cole family was on the trail too.

Jasper rubbed his temples. “One thing to keep in mind–Norman’s counter–surveillance skills are top–tier. If he doesn’t want to be found, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to track him down.”

Tatiana agreed. At the very least, they knew the pair was safe, even if they were suffering from amnesia. It was only a matter of time.

The conversation flowed easily from there, and they found themselves enjoying each other’s company. However, Tatiana felt a nagging sense of self–consciousness. She had come straight from the office; while she wasn’t dressed inappropriately, she wasn’t exactly formal. Compared to Jasper–who was impeccably suited, every hair in place–she felt underdressed.

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Chapter 475 An Extravagant Gift

She usually didn’t sweat the small stuff, yet today, she couldn’t help but notice.

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Finished

She didn’t realize how unnecessary her worry was. To anyone else, she looked radiant and sophisticated, possessing a natural elegance that required no makeup or finery. To Jasper, she was always the most beautiful woman in the room.

The meal ended on a high note, though she lost the battle for the check.

“I have money,” she pointed out, a bit miffed. She paused, then emphasized, “A lot of money.”

Jasper nodded. “As the CEO of a top–tier jewelry firm with several mines to her name, I’m sure President Su is quite wealthy. However, on a date, I don’t believe in letting the lady pay.”

She wanted to argue that this wasn’t a date. But looking at his perfectly groomed hair, his meticulously pressed suit, and his carefully selected tie and cufflinks, she found it hard to protest. Instead, she just felt a bit amused.

“I’ll drive you back,” he offered.

“Alright.”

She had a driver waiting, but she wasn’t in any rush to call them. Jasper didn’t use his driver either; he went around to the pilot’s seat himself.

His car today was surprisingly low–key–a plain–looking vehicle with no visible branding. Inside, however, it was a different story. The custom interior featured reinforced bulletproof glass and every high–end comfort imaginable.

“I had three of these custom–made,” Jasper explained as he started the engine. “The other two should be arriving soon. I’ll have one delivered to you once it’s here.”

Tatiana recognized the quality of the engineering immediately. Considering her security needs, she didn’t decline. “Fine. How much do I owe you?”

The atmosphere instantly stiffened. For a split second, Tatiana regretted asking.

Jasper’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he seemed to steady his emotions. After a long moment, he relaxed his hands and turned to look at her. His eyes were clear and bright, but they held a hint of wounded pride.

“Must everything be so transactional between us?”

Tatiana cleared her throat, feeling a bit awkward.

“I won’t force you into anything,” Jasper continued, “but I’d like you to accept this without feeling burdened. If it makes you uncomfortable… the car costs twenty–nine million. You can pay that portion, and I’ll arrange the third car for Ann and Hubert’s travel.”

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Chapter 475 An Extravagant Gift

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Finished

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