Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 697 Their First Meeting

When Zoren returned with his phone in hand, Jasper gave him a smirk.

"So, he turned you down, huh? Haha."

Zoren took a sip from the beer on the table. "Guess what? Hade agreed."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "What? He actually agreed? Not bad."

Of course, Zoren wasn't about to tell them what kind of deal they made. "Yep!"

Just then, Jasper's phone rang. He glanced at it but didn't answer right away. "Alright, that's it for today, I'm heading out." Liam nodded. "Got it."

When Jasper first laid eyes on Violeta, she wasn't at all what he had expected.

"Hade, are we just going to wait here? I feel like we're too early. Zoren's cousin probably isn't even downstairs yet."

Jasper's voice trailed off as he spoke.

His eyes locked onto a figure ahead, a girl in a simple dress.

Violeta was standing right in front of them. Jasper's gaze unintentionally met hers-her eyes were calm, emotionless, neither happy nor sad.

In that instant, the vague image he had of her suddenly became much clearer.

Hayden spoke calmly, "She's standing right there."

Jasper had a brief moment of regret.

If he had known, he wouldn't have been so quick to refuse Zoren's request.

about to make a witty comment when Hayden shot him

Just one look.

of friendship, Jasper understood

all knew

rest of them never competed.

quietly retreated to the back, trailing behind the others as they

Jasper's eyes flicked briefly toward the hem of Violeta's dress. He pulled out his phone and, without hesitation, canceled his lunch plans for the day. Normally, Jasper never ate at the cafeteria. But that afternoon, he stayed and ate with the

that evening, someone

You're acting differently. Cafeteria food?

the guy a glance.

man,

burst into laughter,

darkened. He threw his

Even when people

But this time...

now drenched in beer, quickly set his cup down

close friends tried

things over. "Come on,

l.ne

that serious. No

belongs to en.kikiston

shut up. You're ruining the vibe,"

after grabbing his

it felt

like a

only son of the

Cynthia, consulted a psychic in the

looked at Jasper's picture and said only four

road in