Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 604

Even in Darkness, Shc Chose to Rise
Chapter 604 The Pursuit
The moment Vivian finished speaking, Troy stepped entirely out of the crowd and walked directly toward
their corner.
“Aunt Vivian.”
“Troy, when exactly did you return to the country?”
“Just a short while ago. I’m planning to carve out some time to pay a formal visit to you and Uncle Chuck very soon. He actually mentioned you just the other day.”
“I am incredibly honored.”
Troy navigated the interaction with flawless etiquette, and after exchanging a few smooth pleasantries, his gaze naturally shifted to the woman standing by her side. “And this is…”
“This is Tatiana, a very close friend of mine.”
Although Vivian was entirely aware of his underlying intentions, she played along seamlessly, feigning ignorance as she introduced them to one another.
Troy extended his hand with an open smile. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Tatiana.”
Tatiana slipped her hand into his, offering a polite grip. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Troy.”
“I have admired your reputation for a very long time.”
“Oh?”
“I heard about your massive charitable contribution, and I was deeply moved by your generosity. In fact, inspired by your actions, I made a personal donation of three million to the foundation tonight. Of course, compared to your incredible impact, my contribution is barely worth mentioning.”
You took
Tatiana offered a soft shake of her head, a gentle smile appearing on her face. “Philanthropy shoulkin’t be defined by a monetary figure; it is measured by the sincerity of a person’s heart. The fact that such decisive action is already incredibly commendable.”
Using this shared interest as a seamless opening, Troy successfully established a fluid conversation.
Sensing the perfect opportunity to play matchmaker, Vivian quickly found an excuse to slip away and leave them to themselves. Tatiana was fully aware of the tactical retreat, but because Troy was exceptionally articulate and carefully avoided any overstepping topics, the interaction remained thoroughly pleasant.
Yet neither of them realized that across the crowded room, a pair of eyes had locked onto them, darkening with an intense glare.
Liam gripped the stem of his champagne flute, his gaze cutting straight through the sea of guests to anchor heavily on the scene
Noticing the sudden rigidity in his posture, the associate standing beside him followed his line of sig
look of sudden understanding dawning on his face. “Have you set your sights on Tatiana?”
Liam remained silent, but the predatory edge in his eyes spoke volumes.
He was intensely fascinated by Tatiana. Whether it was their shared experience at the riding trails or the handful of chance encounters that followed, he had always felt a subtle connection between them. He had even sensed that she was somewhat intrigued by him as well.
But his corporate responsibilities had kept him completely buried in work lately, and before he could find an opening to make a decisive move, a massive wave of suitors had swarmed around her.
Looking at them now, a sharp twist of jealousy ripped through his chest. It felt exactly as though a magnificent treasure he had discovered was being aggressively targeted by thieves.
The polished, gentle facade he usually maintained fractured for a split second, exposing a glimpse of the calculating malice hidden beneath the surface.
“Liam, that Troy belongs to the Leroy family,” his associate lowered his voice to warn him. “Word is that Mr. Chuck holds that particular nephew in extremely high regard.”
Liam let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “Is that so? What of it? Even the mighty Jackson family fell to pieces in the end.”
His associate let out a quiet chuckle, offering zero counterargument. It was a fair point. If an empire as monolithic as the Jacksons could be dismantled overnight, what chance did the Leroy family stand?
In the current landscape of the capital, the Langstrom family reigned supreme at the absolute top of the food chain.
When the gala finally drew to a close, Tatiana politely declined Troy’s invitation to grab a nightcap. Though he expressed a clear hint of disappointment, he refrained from pushing her, and the two smoothly exchanged contact information before parting ways.
There was plenty of time ahead.
After bidding Vivian a warm farewell, Tatiana sank into the back seat of her sedan. Thqmoment the door closed, she let out a long, exhausted sigh, a heavy weariness settling over her features. None of these high- society gatherings were ever simple. Dealing with those veteran corporate foxes was a relentless mental strain; a single misstep could leave her falling into a bottomless trap from which there was no return.
She found herself deeply missing the absolute simplicity of her days at Mine No. 9.
If it weren’t for that specific person. Her eyes clouded over with a sudden shadow of pain.
Suddenly, the sedan lurched forward as the brakes slammed down hard, throwing her off balance.
“What’s going on?
The driver broke into a cold sweat, his voice trembling slightly as he answere off and blocked the road ahead.”
“Miss, a vehicle may cut us
The Pursui
Her brows furrowed instantly. Lifting her head to look through the windshield, she spotted a sleek black Cayenne parked horizontally across the asphalt, completely cutting off their path. It was low-profile yet utterly aggressive in its posture.
The door flew open, and a figure stepped out into the glow of the headlights.
It was a highly familiar face.
Liam.
He marched over with long strides, reaching out to rap his knuckles firmly against her passenger window.
Tatiana slid the glass down, her voice dripping with cool detachment. “Liam, what is the meaning of this?”
“It’s nothing serious,” he replied smoothly, a self-assured smile playing on his lips. “I simply wanted to invite you out for a drink. The night sky is far too beautiful to waste.”
She glanced past him toward the vehicle barricading the asphalt, then shifted her gaze back to his face, lifting an eyebrow in silent challenge. “And this is your standard definition of an invitation?”
上
“My apologies. I admit I acted somewhat on impulse, but I can’t bring myself to regret it. After all, when it comes to certain pursuits, a man has to take the initiative to get what he wants.”
It was glaringly obvious that the scene at the gala tonight had triggered a massive reaction in him. But Tatiana suspected a deeper, more arrogant motivation-now that the Jackson family had been thoroughly crushed, the members of the Langstrom family were growing entirely drunk on their own power, to the point where their true, domineering colors were beginning to slip through the cracks.
Studying the fierce authority hidden behind his usually humble expression, she offered a faint, unreadable smile. “I’m completely exhausted tonight. Let’s choose another time.”
Yet Liam refused to budge from the door. “Please, step out.”
“Is this a demand?”
“No, it is simply a declaration of intent. Forgive me, but I saw you with Troy tonight, and if I may speak frankly, he is nowhere near your level. He cannot match you.”
“Then who exactly is a match for me?”
“I believe you might want to consider me.”
No, you won’t do either.
The only person who fits that description is that specific bastard currently hiding from the world.
A profound sense of disgust washed over her, entirely weary of these arrogant men who misisted on trampling over her boundaries. She opened her mouth to issue a herce refusal, but a sudden strategy formed in her mind, altering the words before they could leave her lips. “Where are we
Atriumphant smile bruke across Liam’s fate. entirely empty of his unsal bandility. of a guaranteed y
he savored the taste.
8:39 am P
Chapter 604 The Pursuit
09
Follow me.”
Finished
Tatiana stepped out of her sedan, instructing her driver to take the car back to the estate alone before she glided over and climbed into the passenger seat of Liam’s Cayenne. The heavy door clicked shut, and the vehicle tore down the dark street, vanishing into the night.
Left behind on the pavement, the driver panicked completely. His hands shook as he pulled out his phone and frantically dialed a restricted number.
“Sir, Ms. Tatiana just left with the heir of the Langstrom family!”
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Even in Darkness, She Chose to Rise