Chapter 57 A Woman

Henry raised his eyebrows-they were talking about a woman? Ethan was actually stirring up such a fuss about finding a woman that he was coming to Boston early?

The thought piqued Henry's interest. Exactly who was this woman that warranted such urgency from a man like Ethan?

"It's settled then. I'll take care of everything personally for Ethan tomorrow night," Henry said, glancing at his assistant to check his schedule. "Push back my appointments for the next few days. I've got to be available for Ethan's stay here in Boston."

His assistant caught on to the importance of Ethan, but by the way Mr. Patrick spoke, it seemed like Ethan was merely a pretext.

Because Henry's gaze never left Jasmine.

"Look into the Douglas and the Wilson families. Find out why she's in Boston," Henry commanded. He had been longing for a chance to go to San Francisco ever since Jasmine was released. He never anticipated that she'd show up on his doorstep. Leaning back in his chair with a deep look in his eyes, Henry mused that this time Jasmine had brought this upon herself...

And he certainly wasn't going to let her go easily now.

"She's... isn't she just a receptionist at the club?" His assistant was stunned, unable to make the connection between her and the prominent Douglas and Wilson families of San Francisco.

Henry paused, then looked up sharply. "Ben, how long have you been with me?"

Ben stuttered nervously, "Si-six years, sir."

"You didn't recognize her?" Henry felt an unexpected tightness in his chest.

Jasmine had changed so much.

Even Ben had failed to recognize her.

Shocked, Ben brought a hand to his lips. "I... I can't believe she's changed so much." Jasmine Wilson, the heiress.

In his first year on the job, Ben had learned of his CEO's interest in a serene, noble wealthy heiress—the one woman their CEO yearned for but couldn't have.

And now, just six years later, she had completely transformed.

"Mr. Patrick, does she know about what you..." Ben trailed off, hesitant to finish.

Henry gave him a stern look. "Watch your mouth."

Ben bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Patrick, my mistake."

After recognizing Jasmine, Ben couldn't help but steal several more glances at her, his gaze filled with tension.

It had been six years since he first saw Jasmine. He had just graduated and was interning under Mr. Patrick's wing, so he accompanied him to San Francisco. He remembered watching Jasmine perform a solo ballet on stage at the opera house.

She was breathtakingly beautiful on that stage.

Ben knew Jasmine was meant to be a radiant, noble swan, a pure white presence gracing the skyline.

It wasn't until later that she found herself in the mire, with no one to lend a helping hand. All the men who couldn't win her love wanted to trample her underfoot, to see her humiliated and eagerly await her to grovel before them.

Undoubtedly, Henry had won. The Jasmine of six years later had lost her edge and showed up beside him as a shadow of her former self.

Jasmine had transformed completely.

"Mr. Patrick, what do you think of this look?" The image consultant asked, presenting Jasmine for Henry's approval.

Henry took his time before responding. "I preferred the long hair."

Subconsciously, Jasmine's hand went to her head, her posture shrinking, and her gaze lowering.

She had once taken pride in her raven hair, naturally sleek and straight even without attention. But like her pride, it had been mercilessly cut off.

"Take care of the bill," Henry instructed his assistant.

Jasmine followed anxiously. She at least needed to know the price.

Noticing the panic in Jasmine's eyes, Ben spoke up softly. "The short hair suits you too."

Jasmine hesitated then gestured helplessly. "Can I... just have one? It's too, too expensive."

Ben still remembered their first conversation. Jasmine had asked him, with a bright and alluring smile, "Being an assistant must be tiring, huh? Having to chase girls for your boss."

Back then, she was radiant, almost ethereal, setting all hearts racing.

She handed Ben a bottle of water and accepted the white rose from him. "Your boss would hassle you if I didn't accept it, right?"

To Ben, Jasmine was that princess with beauty, kindness, and pedigree - someone who should always stay unattainable.

But seeing a moonlight goddess dragged through the muck was utterly disheartening.

"Are you sure you want to be with our boss?" Ben asked quietly when they were alone, probably feeling guilty.

He knew that Henry had feelings for Jasmine, but his version of affection...

Over the years, Henry had a string of women - all ballet dancers, all reminiscent of Jasmine's old self. No matter whom he dated, traces of Jasmine lingered.

After a moment, Jasmine managed a weary smile. "I don't have a choice..."

If there had been another option, she wouldn't have stooped so low.

But now, stripped of self-respect, did she even have a chance to choose?

Staying with Henry was surely better than being at the mercy of Daniel and those villains.

Ben cast his gaze downward, feeling a sense of regret. "Don't worry about clothes. Mr. Patrick has always been generous to women, and I'm sure he'll be even more so with you. Staying by Mr. Patrick's side, at least you'll be safe. As long as he's willing to keep you around, you won't have to worry about anything else."

In Ben's eyes, what he once thought of as pure moonlight was, in the end, tinged with the colors of the mundane world.

less of Jasmine now; he was just reflecting on the

remained silent,

"Where are you staying?"

the way

stared blankly out the car window, momentarily

days ago and hadn't had

his assistant to drive around the city, giving Jasmine a chance to take in

Jasmine gazed out at Boston's vibrant nightlife with wide-

to Boston in her teens when it was

as a big city and Boston was just

argued back then, believing that every city had its own unique cultural charm

developed, it seemed to lose some

all Mr. Patrick's properties," his

against the window,

from the recent fall, though the roads were

five years in prison, what Jasmine longed

outside, Henry's eyes stayed on her. "Let's go to the National

caught off guard, drove to the National

out of the car, Jasmine surveyed the snowy scene in the park, a rare smile gracing her

for its purity

you cold?" Henry furrowed his brows as he saw Jasmine's hand reach

feels warm..." Jasmine offered a rare smile in

had never known her to be so

he had spared no expense at an auction to buy her jewelry, eager to elicit a smile, to see

and was always trailing behind Daniel, hardly sparing a glance for anyone

it really enough to just bring her out to see the snow and have

one else seemed to know

snowball fight as a kid?" Henry draped his coat over Jasmine's

tossed it

snowball in her hand for a long time, and then

carried a tinge of

expression

He regretted...

years ago, he had gone to visit Jasmine

him.

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Chapter 58 Boston

Jasmine

for his assistant to turn up the heat and

and Douglas families don't seem ready to let her off the hook. I heard Daniel is coercing her

Ben's voice was hoarse.

couldn't fathom why all the cruelties of the world seemed

his gaze growing heavy as he looked out the car

have ever liked someone like Daniel, she must have been blind... Bad luck in meeting the wrong person," Ben remarked

years ago, he'd felt Daniel

only

extra help for a business gala, and Emily asked Miss Wilson to step in, initially as a hostess. Seems like Miss Wilson doesn't drink much, and Emily, being somewhat decent,

in an apartment provided by the club with Emily. It's not

home," Henry said, resolute in his decision not to let Jasmine

a

Mansion No. 9, or..." Ben hesitated,

had many women, most of

who had been with Henry the

back to his own

looked back at Henry in surprise, as if seeking

another word from Henry,

was Henry's own home, a place no woman

rubbed his temples as he watched Jasmine sleep.

to let

...

San Francisco.

Richard's auto repair shop.

courtyard, deftly solving a Rubik's cube. At only five years old, he was exceptionally

from behind the wheel of a van, peering through

glanced up. "Uncle's at work, no

bodyguard for the wealthy: one

was

got some candy. Open the gate

man skeptically. "Can't take candy from strangers, and I'm not

with you. Are you a

by the little troublemaker.

to be nice by

first, you are not my uncle, and I've already got

it?" Justin put down

man laughed, admiring the child's smarts. "Open the gate, I'm really not a bad

to take

the man grew stern and got back in his van, preparing

bring the child in, and he was just following

as he was about to drive into the

of another person made the man in the van drive

further thought, Liam, holding snacks, approached the gate. "Justin."

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