Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 702 Marlboro

"You were too focused," Nessie muttered.

Jasper turned around, placing the trophy on a shelf in the corner. "I wasn't looking at anything."

Nessie shot him a skeptical look. "Weren't you just watching them warm up? Violeta and Kaylee make a great pair. It's rare for our tennis club to have two members as good as them." Jasper ignored her and prepared to leave.

Nessie called after him, "Jasper, you can't just hide in here all day watching everyone else. You should get out there and practice with the group from time to time! Seriously, you're getting more and more hands-off these days." Jasper glanced at her. "Isn't that what Nolan and you are for?"

He let out a lazy yawn and added indifferently, "My presence is not important. See you."

Nessie could only shake her head helplessly as he left.

Before the new members joined, Jasper used to love playing with everyone.

But lately, something has changed. He barely even showed up for practice anymore.

All he did was hide out here and watch from afar, though no one knew what he was watching.

Nessie leaned against the spot where Jasper had been standing and murmured to herself, "I have to admit, the view from here is pretty good. You can see everything."

Meanwhile, Lucy was back in town.

Jasper heard the news from a friend of a friend.

It happened over drinks.

"Who's back?" someone asked.

"Lucy!"

isn't she Jasper's ex? Haha, I remember her. She was

in his hand, his eyes downcast. He didn't join in on

What kind of girl do you even like if she wasn't good enough?" "Didn't you start dating someone else right after Lucy? What was her name

"

it was

even confronted Lucy, didn't she?

right in front of

more, Lucy or Esther?" Someone

the speaker.

group erupted

one smooth motion, leaving nothing but a polished ice sphere in the glass, which he set down

back, but Jasper couldn't

with her, he had already

thing about Jasper. He never went back

first place. And since they did, it

of the room came in to

group would spend lavishly, staff here would need connections to get to serve

few more drinks, Jasper started to feel stuffy and wanted a cigarette. He reached into his pack only

to get some air

"Go grab me a pack of