Chapter 66
"If my feelings for you hadn't clouded my judgment,I wouldn't have been envious of Evelina. That envy led my assistant to make a reckless decision."
Tears marked her cheeks as she said, "The world is full of decent men, not just in Ireah. Why did I fixate on you? If my assistant suffers, what becomes of her young sister? She's just a child. How will she cope without her?"
After Jasper exited, Caleb remained vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on Aurora to ensure she didn't stir up further issues.
Yet, she just sat there, lost in her despair, making no further moves.
Caleb's heart softened slightly towards her. Aurora had always been a master of pretense, yet she lacked the cold ruthlessness of Ady. "Stop your tears," Caleb said as he extended a handful of tissues to her.
When she ignored the gesture, he pressed the tissues into her hands forcefully. "You're a Marsh.Shouldn't you at least try to maintain your dignity?"
"Is maintaining appearances going to bring her back?" Aurora replied, her voice cracking, followed by a coughing fit.
She took a moment to compose herself. "She made a mistake, but did she deserve such a harsh fate? Why did you have to press her so relentlessly?"
"Aurora, you shouldn't have been dragged into this mess. I regret that it reached this point," Jasper said.
He was taken aback by Aurora's disheveled appearance. It was a stark contrast from the meticulous image she always maintained, and it stirred a pang of pity in him.
"You've done nothing wrong, Jasper. Wat could I possibly hold against you? I know it was just your deep concern for Evelina that made you lose your calm," Aurora said, her voice tinged with a mix of resignation and a lingering hope that Jasper might contradict her words.
However, Jasper said nothing, his silence serving as an admission to his feelings for Evelina.
"Are you saying she's innocent?" Caleb's surprise was evident, his previous understanding flipped.
"The control over the assistant's sister doesn't lie with her." Jasper relayed the findings from the Russell family's thorough investigation. They were known for their accuracy and wouldn't be wrong on such a critical matter.
Realization dawned on Caleb at once.
If Aurora wasn't the one manipulating events, then the true manipulator had to be Ady.
The realization that the assistant would rather face death than expose Ady suggested the terrifying extent of Ady's influence.
"Aurora, we're doing everything possible to save your assistant, and I believe she will survive.However,her actions were grave, and they cannot be overlooked."
Jasper never left room for debate when it came to protecting the people he cared about.
Aurora understood he wasn't asking-he was telling her.
Still, she kept pleading, hoping he'd bend the rules for her just this once.
"Jasper, I will personally apologize to Evelina. From here on, I assure you, my regard for you will be strictly platonic. Please, would you consider sparing her? Her little sister depends solely on her; the little girl cannot afford to be without a guardian."
Jasper's denial came swiftly, answering, "No." He was resolute.
Despair washed over Aurora instantly, a feeling of finality that seemed to crush any remaining hope.
Jasper's tone then shifted slightly, more gentle and assured. "However, I assure you that once her sentence is served, she will be in a position to resume her responsibilities to her sister."
From the start, Jasper had only intended to issue a stern warning to the manipulator behind the scenes.
Hope flickered in Aurora's eyes as she suddenly brighten up. "Jasper, I believe in you. Thank you!"
Her words of gratitude were abruptly interrupted by a nurse who burst into the room, shouting, "Terrible news! Ms. Marsh, I'm sorry, but your assistant didn't make it."
"What?" Shock contorted Aurora's face as she demanded an explanation, asking, "How is that possible? She was perfectly healthy; how could she just die?"
"The assistant suffered from undiagnosed hypertension and other hidden ailments.Unfortunately, attempts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful."
The nurse, visibly saddened and still young, tried to offer some consolation to Aurora. "I'm truly sorry for your loss, Ms. Marsh."
Overwhelmed by the news, Aurora's body gave way,and she fainted, collapsing onto the floor.
Jasper and Caleb, caught off guard, glanced at each other, each hesitating, mistakenly thinking the other would react to catch her.
Caleb eventually lifted Aurora from the floor and gently laid her on the bed.
Immediately, the nurse called a doctor.
Under Jasper's watchful eye, the doctor delivered a straightforward diagnosis. "Ms. Marsh has collapsed from acute stress, but she should recover fully with some rest."
Caleb observed wryly. "She's faked fainting before,but this time it's genuine."
While he felt a pang of sympathy, he also thought Aurora was merely reaping what she had sown. As the situation grew more complex, Caleb turned to Jasper and voiced his concern, saying, "Now that Aurora has genuinely fainted and someone has died,what's our next step?"