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.

here so early? No classes

more carefully than she had at the hospital. Lacey moved with natural grace, her slightly curled long hair framing a face that exuded both rationality and

were together last

to unwind after working so hard. We

up at Jason with a charming smile, and they exchanged a knowing

casual moment

to fool me," she suddenly blurted

Jason and Lacey turned to her

the truth-she's not your girlfriend. She's

and Lacey

is your cousin, and she's the CEO's sister. What

weren't sure how to explain it to

necessary to clarify things. Otherwise, Yara would continue holding onto

young woman, a clean break seemed kindest to spare her

have their feelings reciprocated. Getting hurt

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 his cousin. My brother is indeed

welled up in her eyes, her heartbreak

her shoulder comfortingly. "I'm sure you'll meet someone

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

nel5s.com, you might be missing

of her. To preserve her

smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. After what happened that night,

truth, Lacey could

had

could one simply fall for another?

the office. Your flight's tomorrow, right? Have

leaving Jason's apartment, Lacey walked slowly down the street, watching white clouds drift across the

front of Yara. Though she knew it was

bitterly at her

that she was older, more mature. She had confessed once before; they had nearly married. After everything they'd been through, she had learned to hide her feelings. Unlike Yara,

Lacey stood by her office window, watching

her to

Richard handed her a document. "Lacey, I think

handle this

of going abroad, Lacey's heart

she

interlaced, and

you're incredibly capable. Who could be

compliment me like this.

following day, she boarded a plane bound

through the window as the plane pierced through thick

though she knew Richard's intentions in

her.

the trip-it served both business and

wasn't one to avoid challenges or retreat. When she had canceled their

but because she didn't want to force him into marriage or constrain

a year abroad, she hadn't forgotten