The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 442

It was a tragedy that the relationship between their families had soured; she would have been the ultimate asset to the Moore group. He blamed Vincent; if the man hadn't been so petty, Felix wouldn't have felt forced to tear up the engagement.

"Dad, don't you touch her!"

For the first time in his life, Jasper felt a crushing sense of despair. He realized then that he was still too green—he didn't have the power to protect the woman he loved.

Inside the car, Nicole swung her bag at the guard reaching for her, desperate to start the ignition. Suddenly, a new engine roar drowned out the chaos. A fresh fleet of luxury cars screeched to a halt, drawing every eye.

Vincent and Bruce climbed out, flanked by their own men. Before the guard could drag Nicole out of the car, Bruce leveled him with a single, brutal kick.

"Bruce!" Nicole cried out.

When Bruce pulled the car door open and saw the flecks of blood on her hands, a flicker of murderous intent crossed his eyes. "Where else are you hurt?"

She shook her head urgently. "Go help Jasper, quickly!"

"Nicole."

Jasper was already there. When he saw the cuts from the shattered glass, his eyes went bloodshot with pain and regret. He knew how much she hated pain. It cut him to the soul that the person responsible was the father he had once respected most.

"I'm taking you to get patched up," Jasper said.

Vincent watched them go but didn't move to stop them. He knew Jasper would never hurt his daughter.

It was a shame, really—a boy like that would have made a fine son-in-law.

Felix, meanwhile, was livid. Jasper had completely stripped him of his dignity. "Vincent," he snapped, "control your daughter."

"I was about to say the same to you," Vincent countered. "Control your son."

Neither man backed down, and the argument quickly devolved back into a bitter dispute over the project.

Inside, Nicole sat on the sofa with her brow furrowed in pain while Jasper knelt before her.

"Try to hang in there," he murmured.

"I'm okay," she whispered.

"I'm so sorry, Nicole. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

Looking at the bruising on his face, Nicole felt her heart break for him.

After everything that had happened today, she wondered if there was even a path left for them to stay together.

"I don't blame you, Jasper."

"Good girl. Just close your eyes."

Jasper sanitized his own hands before gently cupping her face. With steady fingers, he used a pair of tweezers to extract the tiny shards of glass. He moved with practiced care; though he wasn't a doctor, his mother's influence had left him with a solid grasp of basic medical aid. Once the wounds were cleaned and dressed, he leaned in and kissed her forehead, his eyes full of sorrow.

"You're hurt too," Nicole said, reaching for the medicine. "Let me help."

"It's nothing."

She couldn't understand why being together had to be this hard.

It hurt—it hurt so much.

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