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.

No classes today?" Lacey handed the tent to Jason and welcomed Yara inside like

more carefully than she had at the hospital. Lacey moved with natural grace, her slightly curled long hair framing a

were together last night?" Yara

smile. "Yes, we all need to unwind after working so hard. We went

at Jason with a charming smile, and they

moment

to fool me," she suddenly blurted

turned to

Jason. know the

Jason and

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

weren't

to clarify things. Otherwise, Yara would

naive young woman, a clean break seemed kindest

have their feelings reciprocated. Getting hurt was an

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 his cousin. My brother is indeed his cousin because my brother and I share the same mother but

bit her lip as tears welled up in her

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

them away awkwardly. "But I only love Mr. Foster. I'll

nel5s.com, you might be missing out

to cry in front of her. To preserve her last shred of dignity, she wiped her

reassuringly. "Don't worry. After what

truth, Lacey could barely maintain her

had struck a

for someone, how could one simply fall for another? How

to the office. Your flight's tomorrow, right? Have a safe trip. Go out, clear your head, and

down the

of Yara. Though she knew it was just pretense,

bitterly at her

mature. She had confessed once before; they had

stood by her office window, watching a plane cross

rang-Richard asking her

a document. "Lacey, I think you're

can handle this international

mention of going abroad, Lacey's heart skipped a

she asked

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

capable. Who could be better

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

she boarded a plane bound for

as the plane pierced through thick clouds, she felt a sense

though she knew

her.

didn't mind the trip-it served

to avoid challenges or retreat. When she had canceled

the country, it wasn't to escape but because she didn't want to

abroad, she hadn't forgotten him, and Jason