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.

early? No classes today?" Lacey handed the tent to Jason and welcomed

with natural grace, her slightly curled long hair framing

were together last night?" Yara asked,

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

charming smile,

moment pierced

pretending to fool me," she suddenly

turned

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

and

is your cousin, and she's the

and they weren't sure how to

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

naive young woman, a clean break seemed kindest to spare her future

their feelings reciprocated. Getting hurt was an inevitable part of

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

tears welled

shoulder comfortingly. "I'm sure you'll

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 can

you're not reading this book on nel5s.com, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive into the

was clearly Jason's girlfriend-her competition-Yara didn't want to cry in front of her. To

worry. After what happened that night, I'm confident she

Lacey could barely

final words had

had fallen for someone, how could one simply

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

the street, watching

front of Yara. Though she knew it was just pretense, her heart

this, she smiled bitterly at her own pathetic

from 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,

office window, watching a plane cross the sky, its roar

asking her to

she arrived, Richard handed her a document. "Lacey, I think you're the only

can handle

of going abroad, Lacey's heart

she

fingers interlaced, and smiled.

could

like this. I guess I

day, she boarded a

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

fate, though

her.

served both

to avoid challenges or retreat. When she had

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

a year abroad, she hadn't forgotten