Chapter 16
Several months had passed since Holly disappeared.
Jasper had been certain that he would find her in the beginning. But now, he wasn’t so sure anymore. Could he really find Holly?
At first, he posted updates on the Internet every day. Now, he couldn’t even bring himself to express the longing in his heart, His confidence in finding her had been worn away by time, leaving only endless regret and pain,
He didn’t dare return to the home they once shared, nor did he dare check the news online. Now, just hearing the name “Holly” triggered him. It sent him into angry outbursts as he kept repeating the same self–deceiving words.
He would say, “She’ll come back. She’ll be back one day.”
Randall had frozen all his cards. He could no longer spend recklessly to mask his inner turmoil., All he could do was drink. He drank all day so that the alcohol could numb his mind.
But Holly still appeared in his dreams–she sat beside him as always. Yet after waking up, all he felt was a deeper emptiness.
He acted like a madman. One moment, he would be shouting that Holly was back. But in the next, he was kneeling on the floor in tears. He would even slap himself and beg for forgiveness.
Nevertheless, it was useless. Every time he woke up, a new day came, and reality only got
worse.
He saw with his own eyes how Price Group fell from grace. They were once a top–tier name in Danvir. But now, they’d hit rock bottom. They were fair game for everyone and anyone.
His parents were so distraught that their hair turned white overnight. Randall exhausted. himself dealing with the fallout and even fell ill several times. All this was because of the foolish things Jasper had done.
Day after day of torment wore him down. He no longer carried the same self–assured confidence he once had.
As he looked at the medical report he had just received, the fact that he didn’t have long to live registered painfully.
Jasper returned to the villa. Ever since Holly left, Price Group had gone through a series of unfortunate events. No one had cleaned this place for a long time. As he pushed open the door, the inusty scent of dust hit him.
He had asked himself countless times–how did it all end up like this? He had promised her at lifetime when they got married. Why had it all ended so quickly?
He picked up his phone and sent a message to the number that had remained unresponsive for a very long time.
“Holly, I miss you. I miss you so much…”
A second later, he noticed that the message was sent. But when he scrolled up, it was full of messages Jasper had sent over the past six months. None of them had received a response.
Yet, this was the only outlet he had left for his emotions. He still fantasized that Holly might see them. He held onto the hope that one day, her profile picture would light up again.
Now, that was the only comfort he had.
Just as he was wallowing in self–mockery, Tom called.
Jasper frowned and was ready to scold him. But what he heard on the phone was what he didn’t want to hear the most.
“Mr. Price, Me
Fulton is pregnant. It’s probably yours,” Tom informed.
Jasper sobered up almost instantly. How could Nadine be pregnant? They had only done it once. How could she have gotten pregnant so easily?
He was about to yell at Tom over the phone, but he followed up with another piece of shocking news. “We recently found a shop owner in Mireva who looks a lot like Ms. Segal.
Jasper froze in disbelief. Then, he became ecstatic Finally, there was news of Holly!
He couldn’t wait to fly to Mireva to find Holly. But… the child in Nadine’s belly had to be dealt with first. If Holly found out, she would think he hadn’t changed his ways. What would happen. then?
Jasper’s expression turned dark as he went to find Nadine. Ever since their fallout, the two families had not contacted each other. Upon seeing her again now, he realized she had become much thinner than he remembered.
“Jasper, it’s been a while,” Nadine said with a faint smile.
Jasper didn’t respond.
The light in Nadine’s eyes instantly dimmed. She forced a bitter smile and asked, “You came because of the child, right?”
“That’s right. Get rid of it,” Jasper said bluntly.
just
1 to ask you one thing.” Tears welled in Nadine’s eyes as she looked at him, hopeful
yet fesolute. “Jasper, did you ever love me?”
Jasper stayed silent, but the warmth in his eyes was long gone.
Nadine smiled again, having understood what that meant. “Alright. I’ll abort the child.”
