Chapter 381: Don’t Pretend to Be Affectionate, You Don’t Deserve It
Jasper’s face, already devoid of much kindness, now revealed a hint of malice. He stared at Tina and asked in a deep voice, “When did you find out?” He had guessed that Tina would eventually discover his identity but hadn’t expected it to be so soon. Perhaps it wasn’t today; maybe she had known for a long time. In front of her, he was like a clown performing for her amusement, while she watched with a smile, likely mocking him in her heart.
“Let me think,” Tina propped her chin with one hand, pretending to recall carefully for a moment. “Probably since Callum Maguire and Snow Judd disguised themselves as my foster parents.”
Jasper’s eyes narrowed; he hadn’t expected it to be that early. He had underestimated Tina. Natalie was ruthless, and her daughter even more so. A serpent never gives birth to a mouse.
“So, you returned to the Reed family not to find your biological father but to avenge your mother?” Jasper asked in a low voice.
Tina curled her lips but said nothing.
After a moment of silence, Jasper said, “Since you know everything, you should also know that I didn’t kill your mother.” He had loved Natalie at first sight but knew they could never be together. When he discovered that Natalie was Lark, he realized their relationship would eventually dissolve into nothingness. He was Elliot Winnington, a senior agent of GTO and the stand-in for the second-in-command Mr. Kim. Apart from the boss, he was the only one who knew Mr. Kim’s true identity. GTO was the organization he served, and Lark was its greatest enemy.
He had spent three years with Natalie, each day being the best memory of his life. They had visited every flower field in Ashbury and seen the most beautiful sceneries together. He thought they would spend their lives together. Unfortunately, Natalie’s intentions were not pure, just as his own were not innocent.
Later, he decided to use Liliosa at their engagement party to kill Natalie. Making that decision caused him immense pain because she was the woman he loved most. But he hadn’t expected Natalie to escape and use his identity to eliminate over a hundred GTO undercover agents before disappearing without a trace. At that moment, Jasper couldn’t tell if he felt relieved or resentful, but he knew he would never forget her.
When Tina appeared, Jasper was certain she was Natalie’s daughter. He also knew Amber Reed wasn’t his daughter but played along anyway because Tina wasn’t his child. He had never had any relationship with Natalie! Although they had slept in the same bed that night and there were traces of intimacy the next morning, he knew nothing substantial had happened between them because Natalie loved someone deeply and was too smart to use such means to complete her mission.
He conducted paternity tests to give himself some hope. Every time the results showed he and Tina were related, it gave him some comfort and made him believe Natalie loved him. Even this time when Ice Flame confirmed Tina was his child, he almost believed it. But now he knew all his self-deception would be shattered by Tina.
Tina looked at Jasper’s changing expressions and knew exactly what he was thinking. She sat down gracefully like a poppy flower from hell and said, “I know my mother wasn’t killed by you; does it matter? Mr. Reed, didn’t you ever think of killing her?”
Jasper remained silent.
Tina sneered with disdain and mockery in her eyes. “So don’t pretend to be affectionate in front of me; you’re terrible at it!” Her gaze pierced Jasper like a knife.
After a moment of silence, Jasper said, “You didn’t come here today just to talk about my identity and your mother, did you? What’s your purpose?”
Tina smiled. “Mr. Reed, why don’t you introduce me to Mr. Kim?”
“Impossible!” Jasper refused immediately.
Mr. Kim was the second-in-command who had promoted him; Jasper had chosen not to betray the organization even at the cost of losing Natalie. How could he sell out Mr. Kim now?
Tina expected this reaction from Jasper. She raised her hand and lightly tapped her fingers in the air. A colorless and odorless gas acted like a sharp needle piercing Jasper’s throat, making him gasp for air.
Tina clapped her hands indifferently as she stood up. “This is my latest poison called ‘Flower Sever,’ but there’s no antidote yet. Since you found Wraith for Lily’s treatment, I’m sure you can cure yourself too.”
She paused and added, “By the way, tell Wraith that Fatty is going crazy over that bounty and will catch him soon enough.”
Then she turned and left.Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.
Jasper gasped for air, clutching his throat in disbelief as he watched Tina’s departing figure.
She left just like that without worrying that he might inform Mr. Kim and cause him to flee? Wouldn’t killing him be the best way to keep this secret?
But Tina only poisoned him and even knew about Wraith… What was her real purpose?
It wasn’t until Tina disappeared that Jasper caught his breath again.
Suddenly alarmed, he quickly informed Mr. Kim and contacted Wraith.
Outside Whispering Pines, Tina got into a black Lincoln car where strong arms pulled her into an embrace as soon as she entered.
Smelling the familiar scent calmed Tina’s heart.
“All settled?” Jared asked.
Tina nodded and leaned against Jared’s shoulder with closed eyes. “Yes, now we wait for Jasper’s response.”
She had always said that death wasn’t the best solution.