Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism novel Chapter 697

When Zoren returned with his phone in hand, Jasper gave him a smirk.

"So, he turned you down, huh? Haha."

Zoren took a sip from the beer on the table. "Guess what? Hade agreed."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "What? He actually agreed? Not bad."

Of course, Zoren wasn't about to tell them what kind of deal they made. "Yep!"

Just then, Jasper's phone rang. He glanced at it but didn't answer right away. "Alright, that's it for today, I'm heading out."

Liam nodded. "Got it."

When Jasper first laid eyes on Violeta, she wasn't at all what he had expected.

"Hade, are we just going to wait here? I feel like we're too early. Zoren's cousin probably isn't even downstairs yet."

Jasper's voice trailed off as he spoke.

His eyes locked onto a figure ahead, a girl in a simple dress.

Violeta was standing right in front of them. Jasper's gaze unintentionally met hers—her eyes were calm, emotionless, neither happy nor sad.

In that instant, the vague image he had of her suddenly became much clearer.

Hayden spoke calmly, "She's standing right there."

Jasper had a brief moment of regret.

If he had known, he wouldn't have been so quick to refuse Zoren's request.

Zoren was about to make a witty comment when Hayden shot him a look.

Just one look.

After years of friendship, Jasper understood immediately—Hayden was interested in the girl.

They all knew what that meant.

When Hayden had his eyes set on something, the rest of them never competed. There was no need for that.

Jasper slung an arm around Liam's shoulders, and the two of them quietly retreated to the back, trailing behind the others as they headed toward the cafeteria.

Without drawing attention, Jasper's eyes flicked briefly toward the hem of Violeta's dress. He pulled out his phone and, without hesitation, canceled his lunch plans for the day.

Normally, Jasper never ate at the cafeteria. But that afternoon, he stayed and ate with the group.

Later that evening, someone teased him about it.

"Hey, Jasper, what's up with you this semester? You're acting differently. Cafeteria food? That's so not like you."

Jasper shot the guy a glance. "Got nothing better to say?"

"Just kidding, man, just kidding!"