Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 26: Tsk, There’s a Good Show Coming...

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Tsk, There’s a Good Show Coming...

Stella shifted her gaze, her tone indifferent, "I stopped drinking coffee a long time ago."

Jasper Hawthorne’s hand froze in mid-air, his brows knitted tighter—why was it wrong again?

He had logically deduced every step, but why did the results always run counter?

He felt like he was solving an unsolvable problem, with all reason collapsing before her.

"Stella," he took a step forward and blocked her path, his voice tense, "let’s talk, just five minutes."

"Jasper, what exactly do you want?" Stella’s voice was soaked in fatigue.

In her impression, Jasper was aloof and distant, absolutely wouldn’t cling persistently.

"I..." His Adam’s apple moved, the words he had rehearsed countless times stuck in his chest, "I know I was wrong. Give me a chance to make amends..."

"Make amends?" Stella almost laughed, yet her eyes reddened, "What will you use to make amends? You don’t even know where you went wrong!"

He instinctively retorted, his voice hurried, "I know! I..."

The words cut off abruptly.

Seeing him rendered speechless, Stella’s heart sank completely.

What could she expect from someone whose heart was ill?

Perhaps from the very start, falling for him was a mistake.

Back then she had courageously approached him, everyone laughed at her, saying she was making a fool of herself.

But she didn’t believe it—that person who had stepped forward to save her in moments of peril must have a warm heart, despite being covered by ice.

She thought she could melt him.

Now she finally understood, she was too naive.

Memories flooded back like tide—those humble expectations, repeatedly placed last in line, all formed cold despair...

"Stella..." Jasper was panicked by the pain in her eyes.

But before he could speak—

"Jasper!"

A sudden urgent voice broke in.

Grace Quinn appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Jasper’s arm, "Jasper! I finally found you! Why aren’t you answering my calls..."

She had faced obstacles in Riveria these days, and only got hold of Jasper’s whereabouts after much effort.

She had been lurking in a corner, planning to surprise Jasper after the event...

However, when she saw Jasper’s gaze always following Stella, even directly to the restroom, she couldn’t sit still and jumped out.

"Why are you here?" Seeing that it was Grace Quinn, Jasper couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

"My mom’s condition suddenly worsened, and I couldn’t reach you..." Grace Quinn scraped her mind for a reason that would persuade Jasper to leave.

Jasper’s eyebrows knitted tightly, "What happened to Auntie Quinn?"

Grace’s eyes reddened with a sobbing voice, "The doctor said she might be having a rejection reaction, her blood pressure keeps dropping, she’s critically ill, and might need surgery... I couldn’t reach you, so I had to come looking for you, will you go back with me, I really don’t know what to do..."

Jasper’s face instantly turned extremely ugly.

Auntie Quinn was hit by a car and severely injured saving him years ago, and had been in the ICU ever since.

His emotional detachment made him insensitive to most emotions, but he had a nearly obsessive commitment to blood-related affection and established responsibilities.

It was one of the few worries and responsibilities he could clearly feel at the moment.

He glanced at Stella, his gaze struggling and chaotic.

On one hand was Auntie Quinn, possibly in critical danger, on the other was Stella who he finally found...

Rationality told him Auntie’s situation was urgent, he must go immediately.

But... with Stella, here...

If he abandoned her again this time, he might never have another chance!

Grace Quinn saw Jasper remain silent, growing increasingly uneasy. Typically, as soon as she mentioned her mother, no matter what he was doing, Jasper would certainly go...

But now he was hesitating!

Thinking of this, anxiety grew on Grace’s face as she forcefully pulled on him, "Jasper, let’s go! My mom can’t wait! Stella is an adult, what could possibly happen to her? She’s not a child, does she need you to watch over her every minute?"

Jasper’s breathing halted.

Indeed, Stella was an adult, capable of caring for herself.

While Auntie Quinn was critically ill and needed him.

Besides, Auntie became a vegetative state for saving him...

Compared, the weight of the situation was clear at a glance.

But—

"Grace, you go back first."

Jasper took a deep breath, his voice calm as water, "Return and contact Dr. Lawson immediately, he’s Auntie’s attending physician, knows everything, if you need any resources, go directly to Jude Kensington, he’ll fully assist."

As soon as this was said, Grace froze not only with surprise, but Stella also looked up in astonishment.

"Jasper, you..."

Grace’s face was full of disbelief and panic, "What are you saying? That’s my mom! She’s critically ill now!"

Her voice rose sharply, anxious beyond measure, "For whom did she become like this? She saved you! If she hadn’t pushed you away, would she be lying in ICU for all these years?"

Jasper’s heart tightened, this was an irrefutable part of his logic, the highest-priority debt he had to repay.

Seeing the struggle appearing on his face, Grace became more determined, "Jasper! You can’t be so ungrateful! My mom was so kind to you! If anything happened to her, could you live at ease for the rest of your life?!"

Every word was like a poisoned needle, piercing Jasper’s heart.

His face turned extremely ugly, fists clenched tightly, knuckles white.

"Stella..." His Adam’s apple moved, "Auntie Quinn’s situation is critical, I must go back, will you come with me?"

Stella at this moment only wanted to laugh.

Sure enough...

"Jasper! Please, let’s go!" Grace half-dragged and half-pulled him away.

Standing there, watching their disappearing backs, Stella’s face was expressionless.

See, this was Jasper Hawthorne.

In his value system, she was always the option that could be easily abandoned and ranked last.

What was she still hoping for?

How laughable...

She took a deep breath, turned, walked toward the venue, picked up a glass of champagne, and drained it.

The cold liquid slid down her throat, bringing a trace of coolness, dispelling the previous agitation and suffocation.

Frowning slightly, she picked up another glass...

Yet just then, a waiter passed by, accidentally bumped her, spilling the drink on her.

"Sorry! Sorry, miss!" The waiter quickly apologized, hastily handing her a napkin, and grabbed another champagne from the side, "I’m really sorry, let me offer you this as an apology."

Stella, feeling terrible, took the glass without much thought, nodded, "It’s alright."

She didn’t notice that not far away, Evan Hughes was leaning against a pillar, watching the scene.

His face wore a rakish smile, but his eyes had a hint of interest as he saw the waiter secretly gesturing ’OK’ to a woman in a corner...

Evan’s lips curled subtly seeing Stella unsuspectingly drink the champagne, slowly straightening up—

"Oh, there’s a good show coming..."

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