Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 537

Chapter 537 A New Answer

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Tatiana didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She gave Ann’s nose a playful pinch. “And who’s looking after whom exactly?”

“We’re looking after Mommy!” they chirped in unison.

It was completely backward, but seeing them so full of life again brought her immense relief. She finally relented and agreed to attend the auction. It had been her goal since the start of the trip, and even if she wasn’t in the mood to buy anymore, she felt she owed it to herself to at least see it through.

Once she agreed, Jasper moved quickly to handle the logistics. To prevent any repeat of the last few days, Ann and Hubert remained at the hotel under a heavy guard of elite security detail. Their safety was absolute.

Dressed in their finest evening wear, Jasper and Tatiana made their entrance at the gala. As they moved through the crowd, they were met with a wave of intense scrutiny. Most of the looks contained a trace of pity; clearly, news of their ordeal in the brush hadn’t stayed quiet for long.

A few acquaintances approached to offer their regards.

“Jasper, it’s been a while. I heard about the trouble you ran into. Terrible luck. You all right?”

“As you can see, I’m doing just fine.”

“Haha, of course. I knew those thugs wouldn’t be enough to trip you up. You’re a tough one. And who is this?”

Tatiana’s beauty was too striking to ignore, but she was a fresh face to the circle, leading most to assume she was simply Jasper’s latest companion. Raphael, a man who had some history with Jasper, knew for a fact that Jasper never brought dates to these events.

Jasper paused, searching for the right way to introduce her without overstepping or making her uncomfortable.

Before he could find the words, Tatiana spoke up with a polite smile. “I’m Susie. Jasper is my boyfriend.”

Jasper froze, his expression one of pure shock. He hadn’t expected her to claim that title in a million years. The joy that lit up his face was so sudden and intense it was impossible to miss.

Raphael took the hint immediately; this woman was clearly someone special. “Miss Susie, it’s an honor to meet you.”

After a few more polite exchanges, Raphael excused himself. The moment he was gone, Jasper

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11:17 Wed, Apr 15

Chapter 53 A New Answer

turned to her, his voice urgent. “Tatiana, what you just said…”

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“It’s just a label,” she said, her voice turning cool. “Saves them the trouble of guessing and keeps those annoying looks away.”

It was like a bucket of ice water over his head. The bright smile on Jasper’s face faltered and turned strained.

“Right… yeah. I get it. I understand.”

In that second, he looked exactly like a dejected puppy.

Tatiana couldn’t help but sigh at his dramatics. “You really believe everything that easily?”

Jasper looked at her, his eyes blank and filled with a mix of confusion and trepidation. He looked like a man waiting for a final sentence.

Deciding she’d teased him enough, Tatiana looked him in the eye. “I’m accepting your proposal to be together.”

It was what they had agreed upon before. He would pursue her again, and she would give the relationship a real chance. This was her answer. Perhaps it was an answer to herself as well. She couldn’t keep running. She still loved him, and her heart still skipped a beat at everything he did for her. Life was too unpredictable to spend it clinging to old regrets.

“So… you’re saying yes.”

“Mhm.”

The world suddenly tilted. He scooped her up right there in the ballroom, spinning her around in a dizzying circle. Her gown flared out like a blooming flower.

She gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. “Jasper! Stop it!”

The surrounding guests turned to watch, some even breaking into cheers and applause. If they weren’t in the middle of a high–society event, Jasper might have kept spinning her forever. When he finally set her down, he leaned in and pressed a deep, firm kiss to her lips. It was brief, but the intent was unmistakable.

Tatiana laughed breathlessly. “Is it really that big of a deal?”

“Yes,” he whispered, his joy radiating from every pore. “It really is.”

She found herself smiling along with him. For Jasper, this harrowing journey hadn’t been for nothing.

“Alright, pull yourself together. I don’t want to be the talk of the town for the wrong reasons.”

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Chapter 537 A New Answer

“As you wish, girlfriend.”

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He emphasized the word with a smug, powerful tone. She decided to ignore him, figuring he was just riding a high, but she hadn’t counted on how far his happiness would go once the auction actually started.

“Next up is Item 73,” the auctioneer announced, his white–gloved hands carefully opening a yellowed volume. “An original 1937 watercolor manuscript and illustration set, signed by Saint- Exupéry. It includes thirty–two unpublished sketches. We’ll open the bidding at two hundred thousand dollars.”

Tatiana’s finger tapped lightly on the auction catalog. It was a tiny, idle gesture, but Jasper immediately raised the gold–leafed paddle for Number 88.

“The gentleman at twenty–eight bids two hundred and fifty thousand! And the gentleman at eighty–eight jumps straight to five hundred thousand!”

A low murmur rippled through the hall. Several collectors turned their heads in shock, recognizing the billionaire who had just survived the jungle.

Under the table, Tatiana tugged at Jasper’s sleeve, but he simply reached down and caught her hand. His thumb traced the small scar on her palm, the mark left by a poisonous vine when she had protected Hubert in the bush.

“Five hundred thousand once… five hundred and fifty! Back to number twenty–eight! And… number eighty–eight bids one million!”

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