The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 444

A woman had to maintain her own power if she wanted to protect herself and her children.

Stop running, Vivian. So what if the Corbins find me? Could things possibly get any worse?

Jasper, I'm going to help you.

The senior year term began at Azure Peak University, and Nicole and Jasper finally crossed paths, though both were surrounded by tight circles of bodyguards. Despite their lifelong habit of sitting together, they kept a significant distance this time. They watched each other from across the room, careful not to cause a scene or disrupt the class for the other students.

Jasper's gaze was tender, a faint smile playing on his lips. He raised his hand, his thumb tracing the band of their engagement ring. Nicole's eyes shimmered with a thin veil of tears. As she reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek, she caught the light with her own ring, the diamond refracting the afternoon sun into a brilliant kaleidoscope. They shared a silent, knowing smile.

Nicole sat beside Amelia, who leaned in close. "Nicole, are you okay?"

Nicole gave a small nod. She fought the urge to look back over her shoulder, forcing herself to stay still. Amelia wrapped a supportive arm around her friend's shoulders, knowing Nicole was strictly barred from contacting Jasper.

"Honey," Amelia whispered, switching seamlessly into Russian. "If there's anything you want to say to him, write it down. I'll be your personal courier."

The bodyguards exchanged confused looks, but with class about to start, they remained silent.

Meanwhile, Jaron sat next to Jasper, aching for his friend. Jaron knew his own chances at love were likely gone, and he couldn't stand to see his best friend suffer the same fate—especially seeing how much weight Nicole had lost. He started to speak to Jasper, but noticed the bodyguards practically leaning in to eavesdrop.

Rolling his eyes, Jaron switched to German. "Hey, man. If you've got a message for her, write it on my scratch paper. I'll get it to her."

The men assigned to watch Jasper looked just as baffled as the others. "Mr. Wellington," one of them warned.

Jaron shot him a sharp look. "The professor is here. Stop disrupting the class."

"Then please speak English with Mr. Moore."

"I'm a student; my job is to learn. Is it a crime to practice a foreign language?" Jaron replied with a shameless grin. "What happens when I'm abroad on business, and my translator turns out to be a spy? When I lose millions because I got played, are you going to pay me back?"

The bodyguard stared at him, speechless. Jasper shot the man a warning glare, and the guard finally backed off. As the professor reached the podium, the room fell into a heavy silence.

While taking notes during class, Jasper and Nicole were busy writing letters to each other. As soon as the lecture ended, Jasper tossed his books and Jaron's scratchpad to his bodyguards. Since neither of them ever signed their rough notes, and the guards had spent the lecture fighting off sleep, the switch went completely unnoticed.

Jasper kept up his cold, unapproachable front, but as he walked past Nicole, he couldn't help but look her way. She was already watching him, a soft smile on her lips and a lingering shimmer in her eyes.

"Nicole, come on," Jaron called out. "A new seafood place just opened up. Let's go."

As Jaron approached, the bodyguards immediately stepped in to block him.

"Mr. Wellington, Mr. Shaw's orders are clear," one said. "Ms. Shaw is to return home immediately after class."

Jaron rolled his eyes. "She's Ms. Shaw to you, not a prisoner. Besides, I'm just buying her lunch. Do I look like a criminal? Look at this face—anyone this handsome has to be one of the good guys."

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