Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 112: Jasper Hawthorne Is Completely Out of the Game

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Jasper Hawthorne Is Completely Out of the Game

Jasper Hawthorne wavered almost imperceptibly the moment Shane Donovan finished speaking. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

"No... it’s not like that..." His voice was hoarse and parched as he attempted to explain, "Stella, listen to me, let me explain... I never meant to hurt you! I just... I just..."

He only wanted to use such an extreme method to win her back.

He just couldn’t bear for her to completely leave his world.

But he didn’t expect things to spiral out of control.

Nor did he expect that Shane would investigate so deeply and so quickly.

"Just what?" Shane scoffed coldly, "Just wanted to stage a damsel-in-distress act, so she’d be grateful and have a change of heart? Jasper Hawthorne, you’ve really opened my eyes. To achieve your ends, you’d even gamble with your own life, not to mention putting her in danger?"

Every word from Shane was like a heavy hammer, fiercely striking Jasper’s heart, and making Stella’s eardrums buzz.

She looked at Jasper—the man she had admired for five years—now appearing extremely unfamiliar and even... a little frightening to her.

So, that all-out rescue, the near-death injury, the gratitude that weighed on her heart...

From start to finish, had it all been a meticulously planned deception?

An icy chill spread from her feet throughout her body, making her limbs cold and her chest feel desperately blocked and painful.

"Ha..." Stella suddenly let out a low laugh.

She raised her eyes, looking at Jasper with a clear gaze, no longer containing anger or disappointment, only a sense of utter coldness and detachment, "Jasper Hawthorne, you are truly... ridiculously laughable."

Her voice was calm, yet it made Jasper feel more desperate than any loud rebuke.

"No... Stella..." Jasper staggered forward a step, "I know I was wrong... I regret it... I was just too afraid of losing you... I..."

"Lose?" Stella interrupted him indifferently, "You never truly had me, so how can you speak of losing?"

She paused, articulating clearly, "Jasper Hawthorne, between us, it ended completely before you orchestrated this ridiculous charade."

"And now," she glanced over his pale face and the bandages on his chest seeping faintly with blood, her gaze devoid of any sympathy, "you’ve destroyed the last shred of anything that might have made those five years not entirely laughable."

Jasper seemed struck by lightning, frozen in place, his outstretched hand falling limply. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Looking into Stella’s cold and resolute eyes, he realized with clarity that this time, he had truly lost her completely.

Even the tiniest glimmer of maintaining a feeble connection through ’gratitude’ had been severed by his own hands.

Massive regret and despair surged like a tidal wave, making his vision blacken, and a metallic taste rising in his throat; he coughed violently, his body wavering.

Shane had watched indifferently all along, observing Jasper’s pathetic state without a hint of sympathy.

He stood up, walked to Stella’s side, and wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulders, looking at Jasper with a detached gaze:

"Attorney Hawthorne, the show is over, please leave."

His tone was flat as he issued the eviction order.

"Moreover—" Shane’s voice paused, cold and clear, "Do I need to remind you? Even though it was an attempt and you were injured, you are well aware of the legal responsibilities involved in inciting harm. Would you prefer to explain yourself at the police station, or should I have someone ’escort’ you there? The choice is yours."

Jasper abruptly lifted his head, glaring at Shane with bloodshot eyes, filled with resentment and bitterness, yet even more so with a desolate hopelessness.

He understood that Shane was forcing him to make a choice, severing any possibility of further entanglement with Stella.

He took one last profound look at Stella, his gaze indescribably complex, yet ultimately turning into desolate despair.

Without saying another word, he turned sharply, staggered out of the office, his retreating figure hasty and pathetic.

The office returned to quiet, with only the faint sound of traffic outside the window.

Stella was still standing there, her body slightly stiff. Though she maintained a calm facade, the slight tremor of her fingertips revealed her inner turmoil.

Shane noticed her unease, tightened his hold around her shoulders slightly, drawing her closer, and asked softly, "Are you alright?"

His voice was deep and gentle, with a comforting strength.

Stella took a deep breath, shook her head, and forcibly suppressed the complex emotions in her heart, "I’m okay."

She only felt... very sad.

For Jasper, and for her own five years.

"Such a person isn’t worth wasting any emotion on," Shane gently brushed aside a stray lock of her hair with a soft touch, "Leave the rest to me."

Stella nodded and leaned into his embrace, absorbing the cool and steady aura emanating from him, which gradually warmed her chilling heart.

"How could he..." She still found it unbelievable.

"Some people, when at a dead-end, come up with foolish approaches," Shane remarked with slight scorn in his indifferent tone, "Luckily, the truth came to light."

He paused, looking down at her, gently lifting her chin with his fingertips, "Now, do you feel better in your heart? You don’t owe him anything anymore."

Stella gazed into his profound eyes, which clearly reflected her small shadow.

She suddenly understood why Shane had insisted on exposing everything in front of her.

He wanted to sever the last bond between her and Jasper, born out of a life-saving debt, allowing her to move forward with peace of mind, unburdened.

This man, with his frightfully deep thoughts, also touched her with his care.

She softly murmured an assent, for once taking the initiative to wrap her arms around his waist, pressing her face closer.

"Shane Donovan..."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Shane chuckled softly, his chest vibrating, his voice low and husky, "Is that all I get in thanks?"

"?" Stella looked up puzzled.

The next moment, the back of her head was gently held, and his lips descended upon hers.

"Mmm..."

Outside the office, Rhys Lennox, who had been eavesdropping the entire time, held an unlit cigarette in his mouth, leaned against the cubicle divider, and smacked his lips, muttering in a voice only he could hear:

"Tsk, that Hawthorne fellow... really ruthless, yet also a fool."

He shook his head, his golden hair glinting brightly under the light.

Tough on himself, even tougher on women, but alas, he used the wrong method and picked the wrong fight.

If it were him instead...

Rhys’s fingers paused slightly on the lighter—what was he thinking?

That was his big brother’s woman, none of his business.