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

studied Lacey 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

together last

we all need to unwind after

charming

moment pierced

fool me," she suddenly

Jason and Lacey turned to her

Jason. know the

and

Skyline International Corporation is your cousin,

and they weren't sure how to explain it to

felt it necessary to clarify things. Otherwise, Yara would

clean break

their feelings reciprocated. Getting hurt was an inevitable part of

Jason. But I need to tell you the truth-I'm not his cousin. My brother is indeed his cousin

her lip as tears welled up in her eyes,

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

"But I only love Mr. Foster. I'll

might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive into the

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

"Don't worry. After what happened that night, I'm confident she won't do

truth, Lacey could barely

words had struck

for someone, how could one simply fall for another?

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

down the street, watching white clouds

to be Jason's girlfriend in front of Yara. Though she knew it was just pretense,

she smiled bitterly at her own

Yara-loving him without reciprocation. 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 to hide her feelings. Unlike Yara, she would never act impulsively

stood by her office window, watching a plane cross the sky, its

asking her to come to his

her a document. "Lacey, I think

can handle this

abroad, Lacey's

me?" she

fingers interlaced, and

capable. Who could be better suited for

me like this. I

following day, she boarded a plane

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

seemed like fate, though

her.

mind the trip-it served both business and personal

challenges or retreat. When

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

hadn't forgotten him, and Jason