Chapter 45

Aurora's fist tightened unseen within the folds of her sleeve, her nails inadvertently piercing her palm.

She was acutely aware of Jasper's implications. Previously, she had declared herself his fiancee without his protest.

Now,why this sudden concern for misunderstandings?

Was it Evelina he was protecting?

At that moment, Aurora's disdain for Evelina intensified.

Yet,she quietly wiped away her tears and agreed with a nod. "I'll respect your decision."

Jasper merely grunted, his indifference clear; this was the correct course of action.

The villa's butler, sensing tension, attempted to mitigate the situation. "Mr. Russell has arranged for Ms.Aurora Marsh to stay at a nearby hotel."

His attempt to lighten the mood backfired, drawing a sharp glance from Jasper. "Enough," Jasper scolded softly.

The butler withdrew to the kitchen, his presence no longer required in the conversation.

Aurora, troubled by the arrangement, wondered why a nearby hotel would feel so distant compared to the villa.

Jasper's favoritism towards Evelina baffled her!

When it was time for dinner, Evelina remained in her bath in the guest room, absent from the dinner table.

Aurora thought that Evelina had realized her place and chosen not to join them at the table.

She prepared some of her best recipes herself. Florrie couldn't help but compliment, saying, "Aurora, your cooking is amazing. The person who ends up with you is lucky indeed."

Pleased by the compliment, Aurora cheerfully dished out more food for Florrie and Jasper. "If you enjoy it,I'm happy to cook like this every day."

Cooking daily? That's a role typically reserved for someone in the family.

Regretting her earlier enthusiasm, Florrie quickly declined. "You shouldn't have to cook every day, Aurora.Someone with your gifts should be doing much more significant things."

This made Aurora even more delighted. "Making money doesn't mean I can't enjoy cooking for you."

To dodge further complications, Florrie concentrated on her meal.

Finishing quickly, Jasper said, "I'm done. Enjoy the rest of your meal." He had been quiet throughout dinner and seemed eager to leave.

"Aren't you eating much, Jasper? Is something wrong?" Aurora asked, looking concerned.

"I need to join a video conference," Jasper replied curtly, headed straight to the study, eager to escape Aurora's presence.

But when Evelina was around, it was completely different.

Jasper found it hard not to smile when he watched Evelina eat, her cheeks stuffed, reminding him of a chipmunk, which always improved his own appetite.

"Florrie, was it wrong of me to come? Jasper seems so distant when he sees me," Aurora said aloud, her voice tinged with sadness.

"How could that be? Aurora, don't think like that. Uncle Jasper is probably just preoccupied with my upcoming surgery."

Aurora had once given a kidney to help her adoptive grandmother, compromising her own health, and Florrie hated seeing her distressed. She searched for the right words to ease Aurora's worries. "I'll prepare some of Jasper's favorite treats tomorrow, maybe that will brighten his mood," Aurora responded,regaining her composure as she continued to dine with Florrie.

Yet, even as the butler eventually escorted Aurora to her hotel, Jasper did not return.

"Jasper, do you really have such a low opinion of me now? You weren't always like this," she murmured to herself, puzzled by his change of attitude.

Aurora glared at the study's glowing window, her thoughts souring as she considered Evelina the root of all her troubles.

She was convinced Evelina was bewitching Jasper.

Later, in the solitude of her hotel room, she urgently made a call, saying, "Dig up everything you can on Evelina!"

In her mind, no one else was worthy of being at Jasper's side.

Meanwhile, Evelina, fueled by a burst of creativity during her bath, hardly touched her dinner, too excited to begin sketching her new jewelry design, the Angel's Eye.

Having completed a preliminary sketch, her hunger finally caught up with her, prompting her to head to the kitchen. Upon entering, she was greeted by the delicious smell wafting through the air.

"The kitchen prepared a special snack for Mr. Russell since he worked late," the butler said as Evelina entered.

It turned out Jasper had a specially prepared late-night snack waiting for him. Evelina realized there wasn't much to spare and felt a bit dejected, reaching for'a pack of crackers instead.

Before she could open it, Jasper intervened, taking the crackers from her hand, "Those aren't very filling.Join me for some proper food instead."

Despite his usual avoidance of late-night meals to keep fit, Jasper had ensured that there were dishes prepared for Evelina, especially since she hadn't eaten much of her dinner.

"Won't we run short, Jasper?" Evelina asked, just as a servant appeared, laden with dishes that soon covered half the table.

"Will this suffice?" Jasper asked, smiling at her.

The table was now overflowing with food, far more than they could possibly eat.

Evelina's enjoyment of the meal seemed to inspire Jasper's appetite, and he found himself eating more than he planned.