Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 296 Fighting for Herself

The next morning, Jason returned from the mountain and was stepping out of the elevator when he spotted someone curled up by his door.

The dozing figure stirred at the sound, rubbing sleep-filled eyes.

"Mr. Foster! You're back!"

"What are you doing here?" Jason asked, surprised.

"I've been waiting for you all night," Yara replied.

Having been huddled there for hours, Yara struggled to stand, her limbs numb. She massaged her legs with a pitiful expression.

Jason sighed resignedly as he took out his keys and unlocked the door.

"Legs fallen asleep? Come in and sit for a while."

Yara brightened instantly-her fatigue vanishing along with the numbness in her feet -and followed him inside.

Jason poured her a glass of water. "Here, drink this."

"Thank you, Mr. Foster."

Yara accepted the perfectly tempered water, feeling warmth spread through her heart.

"Was there something you needed?" Jason asked.

After a moment's thought, Yara said earnestly, "Mr. Foster, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Jason smiled faintly and shook his head. "I wanted a long vacation anyway. It has nothing to do with you, so please don't feel burdened."

Yara fell silent briefly, then seemed to gather her courage. Looking up at Jason with determination, she said, "Mr. Foster, I have feelings for you."

This was her second formal confession.

Considering Yara's fragility, Jason chose silence rather than an immediate response this time.

His silence made Yara increasingly anxious and hurt.

"Mr. Foster. when,vou said I wasn't,vour type that day. it broke my heart." she said.

Suddenly, her eyes widened with excitement as a thought struck her. "Mr. Foster, were you just saying that because of our teacher-student relationship? Now that you're not my professor anymore, we're free to date!"

Jason replied as gently as possible, "Didn't I tell you I have a girlfriend?"

"I don't believe it. I..."

"Jason, could you help me? This is too heavy for me," a woman's voice called from outside, cutting Yara off mid-sentence.

Jason and Yara both went to the door to find Lacey struggling with a folded tent.

Lacey paused when she saw Yara. She asked, "Yara? What brings you here? How are you feeling? Better now?"

Faced with these rapid-fire questions, Yara couldn't respond. Lacey's appearance had crushed the small hope she'd been harboring.

Why are you here so early? No classes today?" Lacey handed the tent to Jason and welcomed Yara inside like she owned

Lacey moved with natural grace,

together last night?" Yara asked,

we all need to unwind

a charming smile, and they exchanged a knowing

seemingly casual moment pierced

fool me," she suddenly blurted

turned to her

looked from Lacey to Jason. know the truth-she's not your girlfriend. She's your

and Lacey

nodded earnestly. "Yes, I've done my research. The CEO of Skyline International Corporation is your cousin, and she's the CEO's sister. What else would

and they weren't sure

clarify things. Otherwise, Yara would continue

clean break seemed kindest

reciprocated. Getting hurt

needed to learn to face rejection, accept it, and grow from the experience. "Yara, I'm impressed you did your research. That shows how much you care for Jason. But I need to tell you the truth-I'm not

lip as tears welled

you'll meet someone

tears rolling down her cheeks as she wiped them away awkwardly. "But I only love Mr. Foster. I'll never be able to love anyone else. How

be missing

of her. To preserve her last shred of dignity, she wiped her tears and ran

noticed Jason's concern and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. After what happened that night, I'm confident she won't do anything

truth, Lacey could

had struck

how could one simply fall for another? How could one

"I should head to the office. Your flight's tomorrow, right? Have a safe trip. Go out,

down the street, watching white

in front of Yara. Though she knew it was just pretense, her heart had momentarily filled with happiness and

smiled bitterly at her own

The only difference was that she was older, more mature. She had confessed once before; they had nearly married. After everything they'd been through, she had learned

watching a

phone rang-Richard asking her to

arrived, Richard handed her a document. "Lacey, I think

can handle this international

the mention of going abroad, Lacey's heart skipped

she

leaned forward, fingers interlaced, and smiled. "You've

incredibly capable. Who could be better suited for this

smiled. "You rarely compliment me like this. I guess I can't

following day, she boarded a plane bound for

through thick clouds, she felt a

fate, though she knew Richard's intentions in

her.

served both

or retreat. When she had canceled their

it wasn't to escape but because she didn't want to force

year abroad, she hadn't