Chapter 25
Maya reacted on instinct. The second she heard Valerie’s voice and caught a flash of steel at her left, she rocked back and twisted away. The knife sliced through empty air.
Valerie didn’t hesitate. She raised the knife again and came slashing for a second strike.
That was when Carter barreled in.
As the knife came down, he yanked Maya into his arms and turned his back to shield her. The edge tore across his shoulder blades, and blood sprayed.
Cole lunged for Valerie, but the moment she registered his face, she swung at him too. “Cole, you deserve
to die!”
She hated Maya the most for exposing her and putting her behind bars.
She hated Cole next for dropping her the minute things went public and refusing to be with her.
She had counted on a year out on bail, but the Hales shattered that hope and left her in prison.
Once there, when the inmates learned who she was, the bullying never stopped. She had lived like a
target for a whole year, and the rage blinded her.
She hacked at Cole’s chest again and again.
She raised the knife again, but a hand clamped down on her wrist, wrenched the knife free, and slammed her to the pavement with her arms pinned behind her.
Jasper wrestled her down and subdued her.
The crowd scattered in chaos as hospital staff came out with gurneys and quickly brought Cole and
Carter inside.
Both of them stayed conscious. As they were wheeled away, they kept their eyes on Maya, looking for any
trace of concern in her face.
However, Maya showed no sign of worry. She turned toward Jasper instead and walked to him without a
backward glance.
The sensation was like a rip straight through their chests. The pain stole their breath.
In that instant, they finally understood that no apology or gesture would ever make her forgive them.
A year had come and gone, and so had their last chances.
Jasper handed Valerie off to the police, then scanned Maya from head to toe. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.” She shook her head.
In the next second, his warm palm closed around her cool fingers, and he drew her into his arms. His
heartbeat was quick under her cheek as he smoothed a hand over her hair. “You scared me, Maya.”
She froze, tears pricking hot at her eyes. Then, she raised her arms and wrapped them around him.
Jasper stayed with her through the police report. When he heard what Valerie had done over the years, his eyes reddened with fury, but he kept himself carefully leashed.
By the time they left the station, it was already past 8:00 pm. Jasper steered her to a restaurant he had
reserved.
The dining room was empty apart from flowers, balloons, and a pianist in a formal gown playing softly by the window.
Maya took it in, and her heart raced.
After dinner, Jasper set a velvet box on the table and opened it to reveal a delicate diamond bracelet.
“Maya, I liked you back in Aygate. The time we’ve spent since then has only convinced me more that
you’re the person I’ve been looking for,” he said, his ears tinting pink despite the steady voice.
“I really like you. Would you be my girlfriend, and can we date with marriage in mind?”
Maya smiled. “I would.”
He fastened the bracelet around her wrist, and when the clasp clicked shut, it was as if her heart had finally found its home.
