Written Off as Trash, I Activated My Hidden Queen Mode novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176 A Lifetime of Regret

“What tasty treat did you make for me this time, Dad?” she asked, grinning as she took the dessert he handed over.

“Try it. I just came up with this one,” Jasper said.

Stella’s eyes lit up, and she smiled with contentment. “It’s amazing.”

“Then have some more,” he urged.

“Aren’t you swamped lately?” she asked.

He’s been spending all his time experimenting with all kinds of food lately.

‘I’m fine,” Jasper replied, looking at her with all the fondness in the world.

‘Stella, about Seraphina-”

‘I’ll handle her, don’t worry,” Stella cut in.

Jasper nodded slightly, but he’d still do everything he could to clear the way for her behind the scenes.

After two bites of the dessert, Stella patted her stomach, satisfied.

‘Dad, your underground auction house has been blowing up lately, huh?”

‘All thanks to you,” he said, his face soft with a kind smile as he gently ruffled her hair.

‘Stella, your grandpa and I talked it over. We want to throw your twenty–second birthday party on a yacht. What do you

think?”

‘Whatever you want,” Stella said. She’d barely celebrated her birthday at all in the

past.

She ate two more pieces of the dessert, a small smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes drifted upward, and she froze when she spotted something not far away.

‘What’s this?” she asked.

“If you’re free today, let’s go visit the grave together,” Jasper said. Sorrow seemed to wrap around him the

second the words left his mouth.

He’d never been able to face Nicole’s death, but his body wouldn’t let him grieve nonstop. He still had Stella to take care of. He’d miss his beloved Nicole for the rest of his life.

Stella nodded. She really couldn’t leave him to go there alone.

Orchid Isle Cemetery.

Jasper’s heart twisted when he saw the photo on the tombstone. Nicole looked nothing like the bright,

Chapter 176 A Lifetime of Regret

Finist

lively woman he remembered–she was so gaunt he barely recognized her. She must have suffered so

much.

His eyes welled up with tears. He closed them slowly, and all the beautiful memories of them came flooding back. Tears slipped down his cheeks.

His legs gave out suddenly, dropping him to the ground, and Stella stared in shock for a second.

“Nicole, I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

He pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the dust off the tombstone. He laid out the fresh flowers, the dessert he’d made himself, and the other offerings one by one.

“I’m sorry. I ruined your life, and I let Stella suffer so much too,” he said. He’d done nothing wrong, yet she’d endured unspeakable pain because of him–even lost her life.

“Dad,” Stella called softly.

Jasper took her hand in his. “Stella, thank you for forgiving me.” He’d never forgive himself, not in this lifetime. He’d failed Nicole.

He’d thought about dying to atone for his sins, but he knew Nicole wouldn’t want that. She’d want someone to protect Stella.

“I know Mom never blamed you,” Stella said.

A tear fell from Jasper’s cheek, splashing onto a white rose in front of the tombstone. “That’s just how kin

she was.”

He stroked her photo gently, his voice thick with sobs. “Stella, your mom was such a sucker for good look: She’d never be able to stand seeing herself like this. These marks are all painful memories for her. Let’s change the photo, okay?”

“Okay,” Stella said, patting his hand lightly. “Dad, I think I left the lighter in the car. I’ll go get it.”

“Alright, be careful,” he said.

The second she was gone, Jasper’s resolve crumbled. He clung to the cold stone of the tombstone and sobbed, his cries raw and heartbreaking.

“Nicole, it’s all my fault. I never found you,” he wailed. “I’m sorry, so sorry. If I hadn’t missed our meeting, you’d never have had to go through all that pain. It’s my fault. I lost you. I ruined you.”

“I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Just wait for me, just a little longer,” he begged. “Thank you for giving me Stella. I promise you, she’ll be happy for the rest of her life.” His tears soaked the

tombstone.

“Nicole, do you remember our wedding photos? I brought them for you. Look–aren’t they beautiful?” Jasper laid the photos out one by one for her to see.

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