Chapter 32 Strategist
Jasmine stood rooted to the spot. Her hands were clasped tight due to the turmoil within her. She couldn't bring herself to step into the car, not when she felt so filthy.
"Thank... thank you, but no, I wouldn't want to bother you," she said stiffly, waving her hand dismissively.
Ethan didn't press further. He had considered just driving away, yet the sight of Jasmine limping in the rearview mirror stirred an inexplicable irritation within him.
...
Jasmine didn't go home.
The thought of Richard seeing her in such a disheveled state with cuts on her face and hands would only cause him needless worry.
After all, what good would it do to worry her family if she couldn't change the dire situation she was in?
Once, Jasmine had been the apple of the Wilson family's eye, never having to face injustice or hardship throughout her privileged upbringing.
Sheltered and basking in the light of affluence, she had been oblivious to the darkness at society's fringes.
Stripped of everything, she came to a grim realization-how laughable it was for someone without backing to even think of resistance.
Finding a bench in a nearby park, Jasmine gently touched her forehead and lay down slowly.
Her head was spinning.
At this rate, maybe she'd meet a quicker end.
Staring at the burn scar on the back of her hand, Jasmine's gaze solidified.
It
by Daniel, whom she once believed had misunderstood her,
could lead to such vile
high school and if Daniel hadn't
nature was
a pretender, acting so pure, always luring boys.
on earth are you trying to do? I'll
heard about your multiple boyfriends outside school, so much
high school, rumors and
others resented the
again and see what happens," Daniel had once stood up for
said later while perched on her desk
tentative hand was suddenly
cried out, trapped in a nightmare
Haunted by the past.
Francisco wasn't particularly harsh, but the nighttime breeze cut
around her as a ward
"Get up."
thought she saw a figure bathed in the soft glow of the park lights, standing against
you here to take me away?" Jasmine's voice was
man's voice was deep and
her eyes, Jasmine murmured, "I'm probably
"Why's that?"
time ago..." Her voice
her birth mother and the successful heart surgery she had received as part of the Wilson family, she should have died early on.
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