Chapter 85

"Jasper, what's that supposed to mean?" Aurora asked, her voice trembling, hurt flashing across her features.

"Exactly what you heard. Do I need to spell it out?" How could Jasper not question her intentions?

She'd assured him they were nothing more than friends, that she would respect that boundary. HHe had taken her at her word.

Yet she'd gone behind his back and stirred up trouble with Evelina, who was still emotionally fragile, causing her to believe Jasper was cruel and unfeeling. They'd only just patched things up earlier that day.

"Now I understand." Aurora's eyes shimmered as she looked between Jasper and Evelina, then addressed her bodyguard. "Mara, we're leaving."

"Miss Marsh, where do you plan to go? All accommodations nearby are full," Mara replied anxiously, holding Aurora's arm.

Then she turned to Jasper and quickly tried to explain. "Mr. Russell, this is a huge miscommunication. Miss Marsh had a scheduled meeting in lcewell, and we were en route to Newmoor for a finance event. But the vehicle broke down midway, and we couldn't secure a replacement. Nightfall came, and we had no alternative but to seek shelter here."

Icewell, a major hub, indeed hosted several Marsh family enterprises.

And yes,there was a financial event slated in Newmoor the following afternoon.

The path from Icewell to Newmoor led through Eastmere. Everything checked out.

Yet Jasper's demeanor remained distant. "Your vehicle broke down? How incredibly convenient."

Aurora's complexion turned pale as she turned to leave once more, only for Mara to halt her.

Drawing close, Mara said in a hushed, urgent tone, "Truthfully, our vehicle didn't just break down-it was sabotaged.I believe someone wanted us trapped here."

Her gaze darted subtly toward Evelina, the unspoken accusation hanging in the air.

Jasper's expression turned steely. "You believe? Where's your evidence?"

This bodyguard, emboldened by her connection to Ady, clearly had no qualms about confronting him.

Sensing tension rising, Aurora stepped forward to diffuse the situation. "She's only speculating. She wasn't pointing fingers at Evelina."

A convenient clarification-but the implication had already landed.

Evelina, unbothered, met their eyes with cool detachment. "Maybe the better question is-who had access to Aurora's travel plans? Worth investigating. Internal betrayal is far more dangerous than any external threat."

Mara went pale. "Are you calling me a traitor?"

Evelina gave a thin smile. "Just thinking out loud. But your reaction... interesting. Did I touch a nerve?"

Mara's fists tightened, ready to retaliate.

"Throwing around wild claims just makes you look ridiculous," Jasper warned, his eyes sharp.

Mara backed down, humiliated but still fuming inside.

Despite the chaos, Jasper agreed to let Aurora stay, assigning her a spot in the luxurious suite.

Mara insisted on remaining close, offering to sleep on the bedroom floor.

lan scoffed. "Who do you think you are, suggesting something so inappropriate? Should I assign bodyguards to Mr. Russell and Miss Evelina too?"

Mara had no reply.

With no available rooms, she was relegated to the staff quarters.

As soon as they stepped into the lavish suite, Aurora wasted no time and immediately laid claim to the grandest bedroom-without so much as a word to anyone.

It happened to be the room Jasper had specifically arranged for Evelina.

Just as Jasper's patience wore thin, Aurora put on a pitiful face and murmured, "I'm really sorry, but my skin is extremely sensitive. I can't stay in regular rooms... would it be alright if I took this one?"

Evelina offered a calm, almost amused smile. "You're awfully fragile. Perhaps it's best you stayed in the comfort of your home instead of putting yourself through all this hardship."

Without sparing Aurora another glance, she gently linked her arm through Jasper's. "Come on, Jasper.Since there are only two rooms in this suite, looks like we'll have to bunk together."

"What?" Aurora's face twisted further in disbelief. "You're telling me the two of you are sharing a room?"

She was stunned. The upscale suites she had visited always had multiple bedrooms. How had thigs escalated to Evelina and Jasper ending up in the same one?

That shameless woman! She'd stop at nothing to get Jasper's attention!