Chapter 3
Amelia was engrossed in conversation with the Langleys, leaving Jasmine no opportunity to join in. Needing some fresh air, Jasmine slipped away into the garden.
The Langleys were one of Jesceria’s most influential families, and their garden stretched endlessly. Alter wandering for some time, her feet grew weary, and she noticed a swing set ahead. She sinkonto it.
Then her gaze caught time letters carved into the wooden fence beside the swing – “Galvin and Olivia will never be apart.
The handwriting was childish, undoubtedly etched by a young hand.
jasmine remembered that Calvin and Olivia had been childhood sweethearts Naturally, they would’ve hung out often at the Langley residence, leaving little traces of themselves
Jasmine was about to leave when Calvin’s and Olivia’s voices suddenly difted toward her from up ahead.
“My place is getting renovated, Cal, and I don’t want to deal with my parents‘ nagging. Can’t stay with you for a while?”
Calvin’s voice softened as he said, “or course. I’ve always kept your mom ready for you
Jasmine’s fingers clenched around the swing’s ropes.
The Ford residence had a guest room–the largest and brightest where the maids cleaned daily and changed the bedding every few days.
Jasmine had often wondered why they maintained it so meticulously when no one ever stayed there. Now she knew. That room had always been Olivia’s.
The funeral had ended, and Jasmine trailed a few steps behind Calvin. He walked in silence, eyes locked on his phone, making no attempt to speak to her
Jasmine had no interest in chasing after his indifference. The only reason she remained by his side now was out of obligation the agreement demanded it.
Then Clivia caught up to them, looping her arm through Calvin’s with effortless tamillacity. “Cal, let’s stop by my place first to grab my things, okay?n
Calvin nodded, as it suddenly remembering that he owed Jasmine an explanation. “Jasmine, Olivia’s staying with us for a while, since you’re not busy, be sure that she’s taken care of.”
It wasn’t a request. It was an order.
in
Jasmine lanew exactly what she was to him–a wife in name only, barely more than a maid. Since they were already on the brink of divorce, she figured that arguing over taimess was pointins
Her lace betrayed nothing as she replied, “Alright,
Calvin eyed Jasmine. He sensed something off about Jasmine’s quick agreement.
He had never bothered to hide his meetings with Olivia. In the past, he could sense Jasmine’s despondency every time he returned from Elandra.
But now her expression remained unreadable. A flicker of irritation passed through him
After reaching the parking lot, Calvin opened the passenger door for Olivia, ushering her inside.
jasmine moved toward the back seat, her fingers brushing the door handle, when Cabin spoke again. “I’m heading to Liv’s home first. It’s out of the way, so you‘ have to get acabback”
The Langley residence was up in the hills, where cabs were scarce. But Calvin drove off with Olivia anyway as if that fact had never crossed his mind.
Jasmine stood on the hall, battered by the icy winds for over an hour, Finally, a driver agreed to take her after she paid an extra 200 dollars.
She was starving and drained by the time she got home. Ye, dining room buzzed with laughter, Calvin, Olivia, and Sonia were crowded around the table, dieting into a stack of pizzas
Sonia’s face twisted tuto a scowl the moment jasmine walked in. “Where have you been, Jasmine? You took forever. We had to settle for frozen pizza because there was nothing else for dinner”
Calvin placed a slice of beet pepperoni pizza on Olivia’s plate before glancing barkat Jasmine, “Cora’s dressing twined the salad. FixTM
Cora Foster, the maid, shut Jasmine amapologetic look. She had once been the cook, but after Calvin kept rejecting ber meals, she’d been demoted to clean
With Jamune unexpectedly absent and Connor bowing Calvin’s preferences, he’d insisted on frozen pizzas instead.
Coralied always treated Jasmine kindly. Not wanting to make things worse for her, Jasmine headed to the kitchen to prepare a tresh salud.
bestnine had just set the salad down when boa stated bussing laga “Make us some meatballs, Jasmine. The store–bought ones taste temible. They’re nothing but processed junk.”
Existed and starving, Jasmine didn’t have the energy to cook. Instead, she slumped into her chair and beaped her plate with potato wedges, beet meatballs, and
When Jasmine ipsurd hier demand and helped herself, Sonia mapped, “Jasmine, what’s your problemi? Are you even listening?”
Jasmine chewed slowly, swallowing a meatball before replying, “These are processed junk, so I’m doing you a favor by eating them. And as for making hesh ones tonight? That’s not happening. We’re out of ingredients. Maybe you should go buy sore.”
Sonia choked on her anger, she spuntoward Calvin, ready to tattle, but he cut her off before she could speak “dertakeout if you don’t like it
Calvi had always taken Sonia’s side whenever she and Jaimine dashed. But that day, he didn’t rush to defend her because he thought that pesanine was being considerate by agreeing to let olivia move in
Tunying, Sondatore into her beet pepperoni pizza with a vengraskr
WI
minnew better than to believe that Calvin would suddenly speak up for her. As he had expected, he added, “Olivia loves butternut squash soup. It’s a hassle muke, so wake up early tomarow and get it ready”
Her Dingers tightened around her tork, her gaze tuming to ice.
To Calvin Olivia mattered more than even Sonia. Jasmine could refuse to cater to Sonia, but Olivia? That was out of the question
Thus, Jesmine ottered a thin smile. “Sure”
She’d agree, but whether the soup would be palatable? That, she couldn’t promise.
Olivia smiled sweetly at Jasinine and said. “Thanks, Jasmine.”
Jasmine remained silent, her attention tixed solely on the meatballs on her plate.
Meanwhile, Sonia seethed. Jasmine had taken every last meatball, leaving none for her. The moment Jasmine stood, Sonia seized her chance. With a swift flick of her fork, she tipped the steaming mushroom soup forward.
went pale.
The scalding liquid splashed toward Jasmine. She jerked back but was too slow to escape. Pain lanced through her arm, white–hot and biting. Her face w and a sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead,
Yet Calvin didn’t even look her way. His focus was entirely on Olivia, whose hand had caught a few stray drops, her skin already turning pink *I’m taking you to the hospital!”
In one swift motion, he swept Olivia into his arms and strode out, Sonia threw Jasmine a triumphant glance before following behind them.
Cora stepped forward to help Jasmine up. She rolled up Jasmine’s sleeve, revealing rows of blisters, their angry red marks stinging her eyes with pity. “Mrs. Ford”
Jasmine hissed in pain, sucking in a sharp breath. “I’m tine, Com. Don’t worry about me.
In the end, Cora hailed a cab and took Jasmine to Fortaire Hospital, a private hospital backed by Ford Group. A doctor treated her wounds before a nurse hooked her up to an IV drip
knowing Cora still had to retum home to care for her grandson that night, Jasmine insisted that she leave. Alone, she dozed in the chair, only stirring when the nurse retumed to remove the IV.
Jasmine grabbed her bag and tumed to go when she overheard two nurses murmuring nearby.
“Theard Mr. Ford reserved the entire VII floor just so Ms. Zeller could rest undisturbed tonight.”
“For a few minor burns? They’d have healed on their own if she’d arrived any later, Was that really worth an entire floor?”
Jasmine paused mid–step, glancing at her injured arm as the absurdity of it all struck her.
After taking a cab back to the Ford residence, she washed up and collapsed straight into bed.
The best moming Calvin’s voice jolted Jasmine from her sleep.
She blinked groggily, turning toward him in confusion “What’s wrong?
His face was stone–cold, the air around him thick with displeasure as he said, “I told you to get up early and prepare the butternut squash soup, Where is it?”
