Chapter 1: The Slap That Shattered Everything

“Do you even understand what you’ve done?”

Jasper’s deep, cold voice questioned as he glared at Sarah.

Everyone one of the guests in the penthouse could feel the anger emanating from him just because of how he sounded.

Sarah's face drained of color, her hand midair, desperately wishing she could stop time itself. The shards of the broken sculpture at her feet.

She knew that Jasper cherished the crystal sculpture because it was given to him by Matilda. His best friend and her own step-sister.

He cherished it so much that he cleaned it by himself. Not even servants were allowed to clean it on his behalf.

Another reason he cherished it so much was because Matilda had disappeared four years ago, and this was the last gift she had given him.

Now, she had mistakenly caused it to become shards.

As expected, Jasper’s face was cold and rigid.

“I...” Her throat tightened. She almost couldn't breathe properly with his cold gaze on her. “It was an accident.”

“An accident?” Jasper’s laugh was bitter, his face twisted. He stepped forward, his shoes clicking against the marble. “That was Matilda’s gift to me. The only thing of hers I had left. And you...” His gaze dropped to the broken sculpture, then back to her pale face. “ You destroyed it so easily as if it was nothing? "

The guest was watching them already, wondering what had caused the supposed lover birds to fight.

Sarah’s lips parted, her voice trembling but insistent. “ No! Jasper, it was not intentional. ”

But the sound of her plea was lost to the sharp crack of his palm against her cheek.

Everyone, one of the guests, was stunned. The shatters paused, and they paid more attention to the ongoing commotion.

What exactly had caused the birthday boy to hit his girlfriend?

Weren't they love birds?

Sarah had even been the one who organized this party.

What exactly happened?

Sarah staggered, her world tilted. Her hand on her cheeks, her eyes widened as she looked at Jasper. The shock and disbelief evident in her eyes.

How could he?

How could he hit her?

How could he hit her just because of a broken sculpture?

She blinked against the sting in her eyes, trying to steady her breath. The taste of blood lingered in her mouth. She forced herself to look at Jasper.

“You hit me,” she said, barely more than a whisper.

She was still in disbelief.

Was this a bad dream?

He did not flinch. “You deserved worse!”

His voice was calm and steady. He pointed to the shards of the broken sculpture at their feet. “ She’s your sister. But you never loved her. You envied her. And now you’ve intentionally destroyed the last piece of her I had.”

" You can't even spare an object? "

“It was an accident,” Sarah cried, louder now, her voice breaking with desperation.

She turned, searching the faces of the guests for some sign of understanding.

“ You all saw my sleeve brushed it. It wasn’t deliberate. I have nothing to gain from breaking it."

But the guests shifted uneasily, avoiding her eyes.

They could watch the show, but who would want to be pulled into the muddy water?

Jasper took another step closer, his shadow falling across her. His jaw was tight, his lips a thin line of fury. “You’re jealous of a woman who isn’t even here to defend herself. Matilda had to leave because of you. Because of your spite. And even now, you won’t rest until she is erased completely.”

The accusation struck harder than his hand. Sarah staggered back as though the words themselves had weight. “No...no! I never wanted her to go. I begged her to stay. Jasper, you know this!”

He sneered. His voice was deep as he commanded in a loud voice. “Enough. Pick them up.”

Her breath caught. For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard. “What?”

He pointed, his finger cold and unyielding as steel. “The pieces. Pick them up. Clean the mess you’ve made.”

Sara's widened her eyes in shock as she looked at him in disbelief.

Has Jasper gone crazy?

He was doing this intentionally. To humiliate her. But why?

What had she done to deserve this kind of cold treatment from him?

Even the guests were shocked by the outcome. Their whispers filled the air, but no one came out to defend her.

That's how it is in this society. They only care about who and what they can benefit from.

Sarah stared at him, her body trembling slightly. But she strengthened her resolve. She would not allow herself to be humiliated like a servant. " Would you have me kneel here, before all of them? Like a servant picking up broken shards? ”

“A servant behaves better than you. At least a servant is obedient.” he said, his tone icy. “Pick them up now!”

A shiver of horror spread through the room. A man cleared his throat awkwardly, another muttered under his breath, “This has gone too far.” Yet none moved or intervened.

Sarah’s hands curled into fists at her sides.

She feels so humiliated and downgraded.

She felt tight in her chest. The person she thought to be the love of her life only wants to disgrace her in front of so many people.

She almost wanted to beg him to stop. To stop stabbing her chest with his words. Her heart was bleeding.

How come she hadn't realized that Jasper could be like this in the past?

Was it because she had always given in to him?

She looked at him, her hands clutching her dress tightly as she strengthened her resolve. She looked at him and said the words she had never ever said to him.

“No.”

Jasper couldn't believe his ears. His nostrils flared up. His voice dropped, low and venomous. “Defy me again, Sarah, and we are finished. Do you understand me? Our relationship ends unless you obey me!”

The guests were stunned. All eyes immediately fell on Sarah.

They couldn't help but wonder. Would she lower herself and pick up the shards, or would she end her relationship with him?

They were hungry for gossip. This was a premium show for them.

Sarah’s lips trembled, but her voice was loud and clear. “Then let it end.”

The murmurs turned to shock gasps. A glass slipped and shattered in someone’s hand.

Everyone was in shock. Sarah's love for Jasper was not a secret, and everyone knew about it. But she agreed to a break up just like that?

Jasper’s face twisted, disbelief flashing to fury.

She dares to defy me? I must teach her a lesson!

He opened his mouth to curse her, but Sarah moved first.

Her hand rose, swift and merciless, and struck him across the face.

The sound cracked through the silence like thunder. Jasper’s head snapped to the side; a thin line of blood glistened at the corner of his lip.

Her move was definitely unexpected. No one, not Jasper, could believe that Sarah had just slapped him. The guests exclaimed, not expecting the situation to turn this way.

Didn't she love and cherish him the most?

Sarah’s chest heaved. Her palm stung, but the sting was glorious. She had found her voice, her strength in despair.

She stood tall, her cheek still red from his hand, but her chin lifted like a queen before her court.

“We are over, Jasper,” she said coldly, her words cutting and final. "And don't forget I'm the one putting an end to this, not you!"

And with that, she turned around in her heels, her gown flowing as she sashayed away.

But behind her, Jasper’s voice followed, “You’ll regret this, Sarah. You’ll regret it more than you can imagine.”

But she didn’t turn back. The doors slammed shut right in his face.