The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 443

Tears streamed down Nicole's face as Jasper watched her through a red veil of grief. "Nicole, wait for me," he gasped. "Please, wait for me."

Despite their desperation, they were simply outnumbered. Their locked fingers were forced apart, inch by inch. Their palms slid away from one another, and the lingering warmth of their touch slowly faded into the cold air.

"Nicole!"

"Jasper!"

Bruce pulled her into the car. Through the glass, they watched each other, both unable to stop the tears. Only after the Shaw convoy had pulled away did the guards finally release Jasper. He collapsed to his knees, staring blankly at the road where the cars had disappeared.

He knew now that there was only one way. He had to become stronger—strong enough to protect her, and strong enough to take her back.

Nicole looked through the rear window, her vision blurred by tears, watching him until his silhouette finally vanished from sight.

"Don't blame us for this, Nicole," Bruce said softly. "If you keep seeing Jasper, there's no limit to the poison that will come out of Felix's mouth. Beyond that, we're genuinely worried he might try to hurt you."

Today, Felix had proven that he no longer cared about the long-standing ties between their families.

"Bruce..." Nicole leaned against his shoulder, her sobs so heavy and gut-wrenching that Bruce felt his own heart tighten with pain. "Why is this happening? Why did it have to turn out like this?"

It had all happened so fast. They had been given no time to prepare for a forced separation.

"I know how much this hurts, and I know it's impossible to process right now," Bruce said, trying to comfort her. "But time heals everything. Once you're abroad, you'll meet new people and make new friends."

"I only want Jasper," Nicole cried. "No one else can replace him."

"Nicole, you're still so young."

"You were only eighteen when you decided Sylvie was the one," she countered.

Bruce found himself silenced. He couldn't argue with that. He gently wiped away her tears and brushed a stray, damp lock of hair from her forehead. "Nicole, the Moores and the Shaws are past the point of reconciliation. Do you still truly intend to be with Jasper after all this?"

"I..." She trailed off. She couldn't bring herself to abandon her family for Jasper, but the thought of giving him up was just as unbearable. She was trapped.

"I know the Moores," Bruce continued. "Even if Jasper were willing to cut ties with his family for you, do you really think Felix would let it go? He's always been obsessive, raising Jasper solely to be his heir. If the two of you force this relationship, your future will be miserable. I can protect you, but I can't be everywhere at once."

His eyes were filled with pity as he added, "Letting him go is the only real way out."

"It hurts, Bruce. It hurts so much."

"I know. I know it does."

As much as it pained him to see her like this, Bruce was certain that breaking them up was the right move. If the Moores treated Nicole with such blatant disrespect now, her life would be nothing but suffering if she married into that family.

"Just let it out," Bruce whispered. "Cry as much as you need to. I'm right here."

Nicole's tears fell uncontrollably. She understood everything he was saying, but it didn't make the pain any less sharp. Jasper hadn't done anything wrong; he was a good man. To be forced to let go of the person she had loved for so long felt like her heart was being torn out.

Would Jasper give in? Would he give up on her?

Don't hate me, Nicole. Just trust in time. You'll move past this.

"You're pathetic," Jasper said. "You're actually jealous of your own son."

Felix snapped, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Jasper glanced at Mark. Mark loved his wife, but he had kept that love hidden to ensure he could marry her. Jasper wouldn't do that. He could let Nicole go if he had to, but he would never subject her to that kind of mistreatment.

Jasper closed his eyes, a sharp ache tightening in his chest.

He wondered if Nicole's bandages had been changed yet. She was so sensitive to pain; he hoped the doctors were being gentle with her.

"I'm not going to any blind date," Jasper said. "If you try to force me, I'll destroy myself. I mean it."

Wasn't I supposed to be your proudest achievement? Your perfect heir?

Jasper thought, a cold smirk touching his lips.

He knew he couldn't rush this. Brute force wouldn't solve anything. The only way to win his freedom was to become more powerful than his father.

He began to walk upstairs, his movements mechanical, like a ghost in his own home. The sight cut Vivian to the quick.

Her warm, radiant Jasper was gone, and she feared he wasn't coming back.

Between the likelihood that her daughter was truly dead, Mark's stifled existence, and now Jasper's breakdown, Vivian felt the weight of her mistakes for the first time.