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!"

I

eyes downcast. He didn't join in on the

you dumped her? Man, you were cold. 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

"

remember, it

and Esther even confronted Lucy, didn't

laughed as they dug up old gossip right in front of Jasper, who seemed either completely

did you like more, Lucy

finally looked up, glaring at the speaker. "I like

group erupted

legs and leaned back into the couch. He finished bis drink in one smooth motion, leaving nothing but a polished ice

was back, but Jasper

just someone from his past. In fact, from the moment he broke up with her, he had already stopped feeling anything

Jasper. He never

liked her, they wouldn't have broken up in the first place. And since they did, it meant she had become

the waiter in charge of the room came in to

the group would spend lavishly, staff here would need

feel stuffy and wanted a cigarette. He reached into his pack only to

to get some air and ran

grab me a pack of