Nina took two steps forward until she was beside him. She spoke low, just for him:
“Who were those people who tried to kidnapLynn?”
She hadn’t had the chance to ask him. Last time had been chaos. And she didn’t even know why it mattered so much. She herself was in danger—why care about a girl she’d abandoned and left to fate? A bit cynical to worry now, wasn’t it?
Jasper tensed. Slowly turned his head toward her. She saw his face again. This time he didn’t look threatening or cold like the night he’d shown up out of nowhere.
He looked tired. Like he hadn’t slept at all.
“I already handled it. You don’t need to get involved with our family. Isn’t that what we agreed on?” His voice was hard. Sobering.
Our family—that meant himself and Lynn. Nina was not included. And he had every right to shut her out.
“Good luck with the divorce. And goodbye.”
He strode toward the exit, leaving her standing there.
Nina blinked rapidly. Something dark stirred inside her. She didn’t know what compelled her—but she suddenly followed him.
Stella tried to ask her something as she passed, but Nina waved her off, didn’t stop, pushed through the doors and stepped outside.
At that moment Jasper Garth was getting into his car.
Her heels struck sharply against the pavement. The car door closed—any second now the driver would pull away.
Nina must’ve gone insane, because instead of running in the opposite direction, she opened the back door and slipped inside. Right into the wolf’s den.
CHAPTER 29
The moment she slipped into the car, a heavy, suffocating silence filled the space.
Nina felt Jasper’s eyes on her. He looked at her as if trying to figure outwhy she was even there. She’d asked him to stay away—yet here she was, invading his space.
They stared at each other, and suddenly the clean, masculine scent of his cologne sharpened in her nose. She took him in: the tailored suit, the open collar, no tie.
The silence was a physical weight. Only the low hum of the engine and her quickened breath filled the car.
Then the driver, sensing the tension, finally broke the silence:
“Sir… should I drive?”
Her voice came out quickly—sharp, cold, but steady.
“Go ahead.”
Jasper gave a small nod, and the car eased forward. Nina knew this was madness. But as long as the driver was there, she’d be fine.
He kept his eyes on her. She saw how tight his shoulders were, how his fists flexed on his knees. His jaw ticked before he finally turned his head and broke their stare. He leaned back, exhaled, and seemed to relax—though barely.
“I thought we agreed not to see each other again,” he said a few minutes later. His voice was level, butsomething wary in his tone.
Nina ran her fingers along the edge of her white blazer, trying to anchor herself. Then she forced herself to turn toward him, meet his eyes. She held his gaze. Let him see she wasn't afraid.
Silence dropped on them again—heavier this time.
Jasper shot a quick, tense glance at the driver. His jaw tightened, his eyes darkened.
He turned back to her.
