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.

make a witty comment

Just one look.

years of friendship, Jasper understood immediately-Hayden

knew

eyes set on something, the rest of

arm around Liam's shoulders, and the two of them quietly retreated to the back, trailing behind

attention, 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.

evening, someone teased him about

this semester? You're acting differently. Cafeteria food? That's

a glance.

kidding, man, just

group burst into laughter, thinking

Jasper's expression darkened. He threw his

when people joked

But this time...

guy, now drenched in beer, quickly set his

Jasper's close friends

things over. "Come on,

l.ne

wasn't that serious. No need

belongs to en.kikiston

up. You're ruining the vibe," Jasper said and

after grabbing his

moment, it felt like something

doesn't like a

was the only son of the

consulted a psychic in the mountains about his

picture and said

rocky road in