Chapter Sixty TwoJasper woke up the next day, his head pounding, his body aching, and his mind buzzing with the sting of humiliation. His jaw clenched as flashes of the previous night surfaced—his drunken, disheveled self, sprawled outside the penthouse, Anastasia’s cold slap, and Henry’s smug, silent judgment. He squeezed his eyes shut, his fists balling under the covers as anger rose inside him.“Mocking me… that bastard’s probably laughing at me right now,” he muttered, his voice low, bitter. His mother’s disappointment was inevitable; he knew she would be waiting, ready to unleash her sharp words and disappointed looks, rubbing salt into his wounds.Unable to face her, he decided to slip out quietly. He tossed on some clothes, threw on a cap to shield his face, and left the house through a side entrance. It was early, the morning chill biting at him as he hurried down the street, but he didn’t care. All he wanted was to escape—to find a place where he didn’t have to face anyone’
Chapter Sixty-ThreeAnastasia’s voice came through with a rush of excitement as Jasmine answered her call.“Guess what? I got the job!” Anastasia’s voice practically sparkled over the phone, her excitement filling every word.Jasmine let out a loud, happy squeal. “You did?! Anna, that’s amazing! I knew you’d crush it!”Anastasia chuckled, clearly thrilled. “Thank you, Jas. I was so nervous, but I pulled through! I’m thinking… we have to celebrate. Just us. I found this gorgeous place online called the Garden of Eden—supposed to be breathtaking. What do you think?”Jasmine practically bounced on her feet. “I love that place! It’s perfect. Yes, yes, let’s do it! I’ll be there.”Later, Jasmine could hardly contain her excitement as she rushed over to Henry, who was deep in work mode. His brow furrowed as he considered his upcoming meeting, a high-stakes international deal he’d been preparing for. But then Jasmine appeared, her smile lighting up the room.“Henry!” she said, almost dancing
Chapter Sixty FourThe crowd outside the Garden of Eden buzzed with restless energy. Anastasia turned, her eyes narrowed with curiosity and a touch of frustration. She glanced back at Henry and Jasmine.“What’s going on here?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Why are we being blocked?”One of the guards, stone-faced, stepped forward. “The entire place is reserved,” he stated, his voice curt, yet strangely respectful.“Reserved?” Anastasia repeated, raising an eyebrow. “For who?”The guard maintained his impassive expression. “A high-priority guest. Supreme importance. The entire venue will be closed down for the week.”A ripple of discontent spread through the crowd, with some well-dressed patrons murmuring in disbelief. A tall, sharply dressed man scoffed nearby, his eyes flashing with indignation.“This is ridiculous,” he growled, adjusting his gold cufflinks with an air of entitlement. “I’ll throw any amount of money to get in. Name your price.”Others in the crowd nodded, a wave of
Chapter Sixty FiveThe entire country seemed to be buzzing with activity.Every radio station, TV channel, and gossip magazine was aflame with speculation about an upcoming grand wedding. The prestigious Garden of Eden had been locked down for seven days, its iron gates guarded with the same intensity as a national treasure.News anchors filled the airwaves with breathless anticipation.“This is no ordinary wedding,” one exclaimed, eyes wide with intrigue. “The wine is coming straight from Italy, and the food? It’s all being flown in from the finest chefs in France! Rumor has it that no expense is being spared.”“But here’s the catch,” another anchor chimed in, glancing at her co-host with raised eyebrows. “No one knows who’s getting married. Not a single soul has seen an invitation, and the guest list remains a complete mystery.”A smirk played on her co-host’s lips. “You know what this could mean. It has to be royalty—a prince or maybe even a president. Who else could command that l
Chapter Sixty SixHenry stopped, gripping the handlebars of his old bicycle tightly as he stared down the massive, snarling dog in front of him. Its low growl rumbled like thunder, teeth bared as it edged closer with each second. He tried to stand his ground, inhaling deeply to steady his nerves.“Hey! Go away!” Henry commanded, his voice wavering slightly. The dog ignored him, its focus unbroken as it crept closer, muscles tensed, eyes dark and threatening.To Henry’s frustration, the two security guards near the dealership entrance stood motionless, smirking slightly as if entertained by the scene.“Why aren’t you calling off this beast of a dog?!” he barked at them, a flash of irritation crossing his face.One of the guards, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a smirk plastered on his face, shrugged. “It’s just doing its job, sir,” he replied coolly, voice dripping with sarcasm. “We get plenty of people here trying to pose in front of the G-Wagons just for pictures. They pretend they
Chapter Sixty SevenFrustrated but determined, Henry pushed off on his bicycle, pedaling down the street, feeling the sting of humiliation settle into his bones. The wind was cool, but his mind was ablaze with the memory of that woman’s sneer, her dismissive tone echoing in his head.After a short ride, he approached the next dealership, a sleek Mercedes-Benz showroom. He hesitated for a second, catching his reflection in the glass: just him and his old bike. Shaking off the doubts, he stepped inside.Almost immediately, a young salesman approached, his expression warm and welcoming. Noticing Henry’s slightly worn look, the young man offered a sympathetic smile.“Welcome, sir. Would you like to take a seat?” he said, his voice kind and respectful. “Can I get you some cold water? You look like you’ve been through a lot.”Surprised by the warmth, Henry nodded, taking the offered seat gratefully as the young man handed him a cold bottle of water.“Thank you,” Henry murmured, taking a lo
Chapter Sixty-EightHenry sat down in the sales office, signing each document with steady precision. The young salesman handed him the final paper, his hands slightly trembling as he watched Henry pull out a sleek black card. Henry swiped it smoothly, the room holding its breath as the machine processed.A second later, the screen flashed: *Transaction Approved.*The young salesman blinked, momentarily speechless. He had hoped Henry was serious, but to see that amount go through was a shock. And then, it hit him—his commission.“Sir, thank you! Thank you so much!” the salesman exclaimed, practically bouncing with joy. His face lit up, unable to contain his excitement as he realized he’d just earned a life-changing amount.“My family… sir, you don’t know what this means. I can finally help with bills back home, and… my brother! I can send him to college!” The salesman’s voice cracked slightly, his gratitude overflowing. He grabbed Henry’s hand, shaking it fervently. “You’re a blessing,
Chapter Sixty-NineHenry chuckled softly, shaking his head. “No, love. I’m not hiding anything from you. Have you noticed how hard I’ve been working these past few days?I’ve been staying up late, making deals, and trying to get everything in order. I’ll tell you everything soon, I promise.” He paused, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Besides, you need this car for work, and I don’t. It’s my way of saying thank you for all your support.”Jasmine looked at him, her heart swelling. “Thank you for providing for us when I had nobody. You stood by me even when my family was against us. I’ll always be grateful.”As he spoke, she felt tears welling up in her eyes. “I know you’ve been working hard, Henry,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I believe you’ll be blessed with a good job and a better position in society.”“But I have a question, though,” she added, her brows furrowing slightly. “What will I do with the Mustang that Prince gave me? The one from Dubai?”Henry sighed,