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

Just one look.

years of friendship, Jasper understood immediately-Hayden was interested

all knew what that

on something, the rest of them never

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

of Violeta's dress. He pulled out his phone and, without hesitation, canceled his

that evening, someone teased him about

semester? You're acting differently. Cafeteria

glance. "Got

kidding, man, just

group burst into laughter, thinking nothing

darkened. He threw his drink at

froze. Jasper never got mad. Even when people joked about his

But this time...

in beer, quickly set his

close

things over. "Come on,

l.ne

serious. No need

belongs to en.kikiston

ruining the vibe," Jasper said and

after

moment, it felt

like a generous

the only son of

mother, Cynthia, consulted a psychic in the mountains about

at Jasper's picture and

road in