Chapter 21
Nora made her way to Jasmine’s place. She immediately rushed over when she received her phone call. After a month of not seeing each other, she couldn’t wait to throw herself into Jasmine’s arms.
“Jasmine!”
Jasmine’s expression softened as she held Nora in her embrace. “You’re here, Nora.”
They sat side by side and chatted a little. When it was time to say goodbye, Nora couldn’t help but feel guilty. “I’m sorry, Jasmine. I shouldn’t have been soft on Martin and let him meet with you. I must’ve stirred up a lot of trouble for you.“.
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Jasmine pinched her cheek. “It’s alright. He would’ve found a way to track me down, even if you said nothing. It’s just a matter of ending things sooner rather than later. It’s kind of nice that we can make things clear now.”
Be that as it may, Nora still felt sorry that she had troubled Jasmine. It had never occurred to her that Martin would be this reckless, staying out in the rain for the whole night as if he didn’t care if he lived or died.
She turned and looked at Martin, who was stealing longing, restrained glances at Jasmine. She couldn’t contain her curiosity anymore. She had to ask.
“Jasmine, I have a hypothetical question for you. If Alessa never showed up, to begin with, would you have started a proper relationship with Martin?”
He was eager to hear the answer as well. Would Jasmine want to be with him if Alessa weren’t in the picture?
Jasmine smiled faintly. She pondered on the same question as well, but she got her answer after what she went through in the past month.
It didn’t matter if Alessa had shown up. Someone else would’ve taken her place, and things would’ve turned out the same way. Martin’s love for her was merely a byproduct of his regret after losing her.
Jasmine gently brushed her bangs behind her ears, smiling in relief. “I won’t.”
No one asked her why, or maybe because they knew the answer to that.
Nora brought a dejected Martin back to Corvalis. Quinlan Group had been bleeding money recently, but he was in no shape to run the company. So, the burden fell on her.
It was unfortunate that she had to clean up his mess when she had just returned to the country not long ago. That said, she studied business management when he was abroad. So, she wasn’t
Chapter 21
at a total loss.
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Before Nora took over Quinlan Group, she was kind enough to send Martin some pictures.
“I managed to dig something up while you were overseas. See for yourself.”
Martin tapped on his phone screen and found himself looking at Alessa’s information.
Nora found out that Alessa hadn’t been studying during her years abroad. Instead, she spent her time flirting with men, sleeping around with several foreigners.
What was worse, she even had several abortions. Suffice it to say, she was no longer the same woman he used to know.
That said, what was Alessa like before?
Martin was stunned. He discovered that he couldn’t remember what kind of person Alessa was anymore. They had been apart for ten years before reuniting again. The youthful, innocent feelings from their first love had been worn thin long ago.
When he closed his eyes, all he could see in his mind was Jasmine. In both her smiles and sorrows, she could still effortlessly make his heart flutter.
In the next ten years, would he be able to move on from Jasmine the way he did with Alessa?
Hesitation and somberness settled in his heart, and yet he was the reason for how things turned out. He knew about Alessa’s despicable actions a long time ago, yet because of his vague feelings and so–called love for her, he pushed Jasmine away.
When he looked at the pictures again, he felt nothing. It was as if his heart was incapable of handling emotions anymore.
“I appreciate it, Nora. I won’t keep you worried for too long.” Martin thanked her hoarsely.
Something suddenly popped into his mind, and he flashed her a smile.
“I almost forgot. I owe you something, and I have to repay it.” As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard. His cheek immediately swelled up, startling Nora.
“Martin, what do you think you’re doing?”
Martin swallowed the blood in his mouth. “I slapped you because of Alessa, and I’m sorry about it. Nora, this is me making it up to you.”
Nora frowned again, not knowing what to say. She wanted to touch him, but her hand lifted and fell several times hesitantly. At one point, she simply let out a weary sigh.
“Forget it. Just make sure you don’t act stupidly again. Who knows? Another person like Jasmine might walk into your life again. You can’t afford to miss out on her then.” Nora grinned, waving her hand.
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Martin fell silent and saw her out the door without another word. He didn’t want to throw a wet blanket over her optimism. After all, it was obvious that he would never run into someone like Jasmine again.
A wave of bitterness rose in his chest, but he quietly forced it back down. Picking up the stack of pictures, he headed for the basement.
