Chapter 10
Once we got home, I sent Lily to her room with an excuse-ready to lay everything out to Jasper. He seemed to sense it, waiting by the door without leaving.
When I stepped out, he raised an eyebrow, stubbing out his cigarette and tossing it in the trash. Before I could speak, his words cut through the quiet.
“Marry me.”
I stared at him, taking a moment to process it. After a few seconds, I asked, “Because of Lily?”
Jasper lifted his gaze to mine.
“If I said no, would you believe me?”
I shook my head.
He let out a scoffing chuckle. “Then that’s all there is to it. Whatever the reason-now that my mother knows about Lily, she won’t let a Vanderbilt child stay outside the family.”
“What happened today will keep happening. She has more than enough ways to make sure you never see Lily
again.”
“You have two choices: marry me, or risk losing her forever.”
“If you’re thinking about fighting in court, I’d advise you to drop that idea once and for all. She has plenty of ways to take you down before you even start. Besides, with the Vanderbilts, Lily will have the best education -top schools, every opportunity. For her sake, you know what to choose.”
His words felt like heavy chains, locking me in place.
He was right. I hated it, but he was right. A family like the Vanderbilts would definitely give Lily the best life and upbringing. So why was I hesitating?
Whatever his reasons for proposing, the truth was I had no way out.
Time passed in silence. He stood there, watching me. I looked down at the ground, then met his eyes, asking seriously, “Jasper, will you be good to her?”
Confusion flickered in his eyes. Then he laughed, as if amused-or maybe a little annoyed-by my question. “Chloe, what kind of man do you think I am? She’s my daughter. Do you really think I’d ever hurt her?”
I nodded slowly.
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“Alright. I’ll marry you.”
Then I turned and closed the door, shutting out everything outside. Including the faint, unreadable smile that
touched Jasper’s lips as I walked away.
Chapter 10

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