After the plagiarism scandal died down, my design career reached new heights.Numerous media outlets competed to report the incident, and in the process, they unearthed my entire design background. Orders with my studio were booked out six months in advance.To celebrate, Jasper hosted a small party specially for us, inviting only our closest friends and family.At the party, Mason was a little tipsy, clinging to me as he rambled on and on. “Vee, you have no idea how miserable Dylan is right now…”“Mason.”I hadn’t even noticed when Jasper appeared behind us, resting his hand naturally on my shoulder. “Let’s not talk about that tonight.”Mason pursed his lips and changed the subject, but his words had already stirred my curiosity.After the party ended, I could not help asking Jasper, “How is Lane Group doing lately?”In the study, Jasper was leafing through some documents. When he heard me, he looked up.“You want to know?”I nodded.“After Whitney’s scandal broke, Lane Gro
After handling everything related to Whitney, Dylan returned to the home he and I used to share. Now, that place was completely covered with traces of Whitney.The curtains, the couch, the carpet—all things I had once chosen so carefully—had all been replaced with items that matched Whitney’s gaudy, ostentatious style.The photos hanging on the walls were no longer of our travels together but of him and Whitney smiling intimately at each other.Everything that had belonged to me had been wiped clean, as if I had never existed at all.A wave of emptiness and regret engulfed Dylan.There was still time. Dylan thought he could still win me back.He spent a fortune hiring someone to repair the little model house Whitney had smashed. He ran to all of the city’s top tailor shops, trying every possible way to restore the wedding gown he had cut into pieces.Holding those two things, he appeared in front of me, his voice hoarse as he pleaded for my forgiveness. He begged me to give him
Dylan, provoked by Jasper and me, started drowning himself in booze and partying with his so-called 'friends'.One night, he got completely drunk and let slip the truth to Mason.As Dylan drunkenly rambled, Mason’s expression grew darker with every word, his fists clenching tighter with every sentence. Only then did he truly understand the amount of pain and humiliation I had endured when I was dating Dylan.Enraged beyond reason, Mason did not hesitate to punch Dylan on the spot so badly that Dylan was sent straight to the hospital.Dylan lay there, bruised and swollen. Whitney only visited him once.She stayed just long enough to scroll through her phone, then muttered something about having urgent work before rushing off. There was not even a flicker of genuine concern in her eyes.Shortly after she left, Dylan discharged himself against the doctor’s advice.As he walked past a nearby hospital ward, he suddenly heard Whitney’s voice coming from inside.“Dylan is such an idio
Everyone was in an uproar the moment Whitney said that.Dylan immediately stepped to her side, his tone full of scorn. “Maeve Sandler, I never thought you’d stoop so low just to win.”The crowd buzzed with chatter, and all eyes were on me. Even the judges’ expressions grew solemn.Just then, a familiar voice came from the entrance. “I believe in my wife. Her talent speaks for itself. She doesn’t need to plagiarize anyone.”Jasper walked to my side, gently took my hand, and gave me a reassuring glance. Then, he turned to face the panel of judges. “Judges, regarding Ms. Whitney Jackson’s accusation, we have ample evidence proving this is malicious slander.”I stepped forward and presented the official copyright registration I filed months ago with the International Copyright Center.Along with it were detailed creation notes, with each stage of revision timestamped. There was also a string of email records between me and my mentor, the renowned international jewelry designer, Antho
We had been in the Maldorian Islands for a week now. Jasper kept coming up with new surprises for me every single day—private diving lessons, candlelit seafood dinners under the stars, and even renting out an entire mini island to celebrate my birthday.“What are you thinking about?” Jasper wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.“I’m thinking that all of this feels too good to be true,” I said, relaxing into his embrace. “You’re nothing like the rumors.”He chuckled softly. “What do the rumors say I’m like?”“A ruthless workaholic willing to do anything for profit. Dylan said—” I stopped abruptly at the mention of his name.Jasper’s arms tensed slightly, but his tone stayed light. “You can only take 50% of Dylan’s opinion of me.”He turned me around to face him. “But the workaholic part is true. Only now, you're more important than work.”His kiss landed on my lips, tender and unwavering. Unlike Dylan’s possessive, consuming kisses, Jasper
Dylan’s mind went blank.Jasper was his sworn enemy. In the business world, they were locked in a cutthroat rivalry; in private, they still had their daggers drawn.Even Dylan's father had to tread carefully around Jasper.Dylan suddenly remembered how, in the days leading up to the wedding, Whitney had clung to him nonstop, suggesting they chase the Northern Lights and take beach getaways. She filled up his schedule with trip after trip.Even the night before the wedding, she had put on sexy lace lingerie, leaving him no time or energy for anything else—let alone reach out to me or keep up with the news.Trying to stay calm, he said into the phone, “How could Jasper even fall for her? This is just another one of her shows to make me turn back. She’ll do anything for attention. That’s all she has ever been capable of.”However, even as he said it, the unease in his chest grew stronger.He ended the call in a rush, forced down the waves of emotion churning inside, and turned back