“Jasper,” Jemma cut in, her tone sharp with warning.
Saif intervened gently.“I’m offering to sponsor Jasper because I believe in his potential,” he said, his tone measured and respectful.“This has nothing to do with our personal situation.There are no strings attached.None.”
Jemma looked from Saif to Jasper, uncertain.She wanted to believe him.
“I mean it,” Saif said, serious now, handing Jayla a new toy.“Whether you marry me or not—whether we live together or not—I’ll still fund Jasper’s tuition.He deserves that chance.”
He turned to the teenager.“But itwillbe a challenge.You’ll need to keep up.Monument doesn’t spoon-feed its students.They prep for Harvard, Yale, Oxford.If you think you’re at that level—”
“Yes!” Jasper whispered, his voice breaking.He stood rigid, his long limbs tense, trembling from emotion.“Yes.I’ll even get a part-time job so I can help pay you back.For everything.For the damage to your office—”
“You’ll repay me by getting good grades,” Saif interrupted, his voice firm.“No job.You won’t have time for one.”
Jasper nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing hard.
Then both men looked at Jemma.
She froze beneath the weight of their hope.
Her gaze locked on Saif, searching his face for any trace of manipulation.He was calm.Steady.But she couldn’t silence the fear gnawing at her chest.
What if she said yes?What if she let him pay for Jasper’s tuition?Let him move them into his home?
Would she owe him something in return?
Would she owe him…sex?
The thought flashed unbidden through her mind—and didn’t make her stomach twist the way it should have.
“Nothing, Jemma,” Saif said again, his voice low but resolute.“What happens between you and me is completely separate from what happens with Jasper.He’s a smart kid—one of the smartest I’ve met.HeneedsMonument.He needs to be challenged… or he’s going to find other ways to occupy himself.”
He paused, chuckling as he looked up at Jasper who was still waiting, still hopeful.“Probably more trouble.”
Part of her wanted to say no—out of habit, out of fear, out of stubborn pride.But that wouldn’t be fair to Jasper.Saif was right.Jasperwastoo smart for the local school system, and her options had always been limited.
She hadn’t known he was cutting classes.That conversation would come later, behind closed doors.But for now, two sets of eyes—one full of hope, the other calm and watchful—were waiting for her response.
So she said the only thing she could.
“Fine.That’s very...”
She didn’t finish because Jasper launched himself at her with the force of a linebacker, nearly knocking her to the floor.He laughed, hugging her tight, kissing her cheek, and ruffling her hair like a puppy off leash.
“Stop!” Jemma cried, laughing as she tried to push him off.“You’re being obnoxious!”
Jasper pulled back at last, breathless, grinning from ear to ear.He straightened, then turned to Saif, his face open and earnest.“Thank you,” he said, voice thick with sincerity.“I won’t let you down.”
Jemma added quickly, “You’re going to have to deal with boarding school bullies, Jasper.You’ll be an outsider to them.”
“I can help with that,” Saif said smoothly.“A few visits from me, and he’ll be an insider in no time.”
Jasper chuckled, but his grin wavered for a second—his eyes shining with unshed emotion.He swallowed hard, nodded once, and disappeared back into his bedroom without another word.
A beat passed.
Then Jayla, perhaps sensing that she was no longer the center of attention, filled the silence with what could only be labeled anintentionalpoop.
The smell hit the room like a wave.
