Chapter Eighty Six After a long, magical night, Henry and Jasmine slipped quietly out of The Garden of Eden through a hidden exit, avoiding the paparazzi who still lingered outside. Laughing softly, they made their way to the car, and as they pulled onto the open road, Henry reached over, turning up the radio. A lively song filled the car, and without thinking, he pressed a button to open the roof, letting the cool night air rush in.They sang along, voices blending with the music as they sped down empty streets. Jasmine’s laughter echoed into the night, her hair blowing wildly in the breeze as she leaned back, savoring the freedom. By the time they reached home, their spirits were so high, they didn’t realize the noise had echoed through the quiet neighborhood, waking Jasmine’s mother.The moment they parked, Jasmine’s mother, Mrs. Woods, was already marching out of the house, her expression thunderous, her voice loud enough to wake the entire household.“Where are you two coming f
Chapter Eighty Seven As Jasmine stood in shock, her mother’s harsh voice cut through the night air, ignoring Jasmine’s question entirely."That’s by the way,” Mrs. Woods said, her tone dismissive. “You two are young and active, so I’ll be taking this car from you. Jasper needs it more than you do.”Jasmine’s mouth dropped open. “What? You’re going to take our car and just give it to Jasper? That’s not fair, and you know it! I won’t let Jasper have my car!”Mrs. Woods glared, folding her arms as she set her chin defiantly. “You will give him the car,” she said, her voice ironclad. “Jasper will be using it to take your sick father to the hospital. He has partial stroke, for heaven's sake.”Jasmine scoffed, frustration boiling over. They all knew that wasn’t true. Jasper wouldn’t use the car for anything that responsible. “Mother, we both know that’s a lie. Jasper will do no such thing. He’ll just—”Before she could finish, Jasper ambled into the scene, looking smug. He had clearly over
Chapter Eighty EightHenry woke up early, quietly slipping out of bed, careful not to wake Jasmine. He had a task ahead of him that morning, and he wanted to get it done before anyone in the household, especially Mrs. Woods, could question his intentions.Pulling on a simple shirt and jeans, Henry headed outside to his bike. He kicked it to life, the soft hum breaking the early morning silence as he set off toward the car dealership. The morning air was cool against his face, and he felt a certain sense of freedom as he navigated the streets, his mind focused on the task at hand. Jasper’s demands were laughable, but he was determined to handle it calmly, even if it meant buying a car he knew Jasper would inevitably mistreat.As Henry approached the Mercedes Benz dealership, he noticed a group of staff from the nearby G-Wagon dealership peering at him from the entrance, their faces lighting up with recognition. They exchanged hurried whispers before five of them stepped forward, hurr
Chapter Eighty Nine Henry froze as Damon’s wife, her eyes wide with panic, subtly signaled him to stay quiet, pressing a finger to her lips. He immediately recognized the man beside her—a senator, known for his political influence and power. Henry, realizing the sensitivity of the situation, decided against causing a public scene, especially one involving a powerful figure and a matter that wasn’t his direct business.“Who’s this?” the senator asked, glancing at Henry with mild curiosity.“Oh, he’s just an old schoolmate,” Damon’s wife replied quickly, her voice smooth but tense, her smile tight.The senator gave Henry an amused look and extended his hand for a firm handshake. As he pulled his hand back, he dropped a small bundle of cash—ten wads of hundred-dollar bills, a generous sum—into Henry’s hand. “Take this,” the senator said, his tone filled with casual authority, “and take good care of yourself.”Henry looked down at the money, his face impassive. He knew this was meant a
Chapter Ninety Henry placed a hand on Damon’s shoulder, his voice calm and gentle. “Listen, Damon, I know this is painful. But before you make any decisions, take some time to think. Don’t let emotions push you into doing something you might regret.”Damon shook his head, still staring at the floor, his mind clearly racing with disbelief and hurt. “I can’t believe she would do this to me, Henry,” he muttered, his voice cracking. “Especially now, when she’s… four months pregnant. I thought we were building a family.”Henry sighed, feeling the weight of his friend’s heartbreak. “I know, Damon. And that’s why you need to be careful. Make sure to protect yourself legally. If she’s capable of betrayal, there’s a chance she might try to leave with more than just her pride.” He paused, giving Damon a meaningful look. “Secure your assets, your money—everything. That way, if things take a turn, you’re prepared.”Damon nodded slowly, absorbing the advice, though he still looked dazed. “It’s
Chapter Ninety One As the rip spread across the painting, Mr. Woods gasped, his face paling as he realized the damage he’d just caused. For a moment, he stared at the ruined canvas in stunned silence, his mouth hanging open in shock. But just as Henry thought his father-in-law might take responsibility for what had happened, Mr. Woods turned to him, his expression quickly shifting from shock to accusation.“This is your fault!” he spat, pointing his finger at Henry. “I told you to keep quiet and stand aside. If you hadn’t distracted me with your constant interference, this wouldn’t have happened!”Henry felt a flicker of anger. He had been doing exactly as he was told, standing silently, watching as his father-in-law waved that cane around with reckless abandon. But now, instead of admitting his own mistake, Mr. Woods was casting the blame on him. Henry opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say a word, the art gallery manager rushed over, his face a mixture of concern and
Chapter Ninety Two Henry barely had a chance to argue with the security guards who had gathered around him, their expressions tense and expectant, waiting for his confession. “Gentlemen, you have the wrong person!” Henry protested, trying to keep his voice calm but firm. “I didn’t destroy the painting. Mr. Woods was the one who—” One of the guards interrupted him, shaking his head. “Sir, we need you to cooperate. The gallery manager and several witnesses have stated that you were involved.” Henry’s frustration boiled over. But just as he was about to defend himself, his eyes drifted to the painting, now abandoned on the floor. His anger faded, replaced by an odd sense of wonder. There was something strangely captivating about the artwork, even with the fresh tear marring its beauty. Ignoring the murmurs of the guards, Henry crouched down, his hand reaching out as if on instinct. He gently lifted the edge of the canvas, examining the fine details up close. The brushstrokes were
Chapter Ninety Three Henry felt the weight of the manager’s gaze, a piercing suspicion that seemed to linger on his every move. He clenched his fist around the ring, aware that any sudden gesture could draw unwanted attention to it. The last thing he needed was trouble, especially with the strange power he sensed radiating from the ring. Keeping his tone low and steady, he turned to the manager. “I’ll pay for the damages,” he said, a quiet conviction in his voice. The manager raised an eyebrow, sneering. “You? Pay?” He scoffed, crossing his arms as he took a step closer, looking Henry up and down with disdain. “You expect me to believe nobody like you, a beggar who can’t even earn his father-in-law’s respect, can afford to pay $250,000? Is this some kind of joke?” Henry forced himself to remain calm, suppressing the anger that threatened to boil over. The manager’s words stung, but he kept his focus on the ring. As it seemed to pulse on his finger as though reminding him to