Chapter 7 Her Plan

Tears streamed down Jasmine's numb face as she said, "My period didn't come this month, and I've been feeling nauseous all the time. I went to the hospital three days ago, just picked up the results... I suddenly feel lost. I don't know what to do..."

Her story sounded flawless. She really had gone out three days ago, so even if Bruce later pulled the university's surveillance footage, he wouldn't find anything suspicious.

After a long silence, his cold, emotionless voice finally came through, "Is it mine?"

Jasmine bit her lip, staring at him, still unable to see his expression. But she knew-behind the brim of that hat, his face must've been ice-cold, almost cruel.

A flicker of humiliation crossed her eyes.

"Who else could it be?!" she snapped. "Wasn't I a virgin? You know that better than anyone! Bruce! We were at least friends for three years-doesn't that mean anything to you?!"

Her voice cracked with emotion, rising as she burst into tears.

"That night, I begged you to stop. I was crying, pleading with you not to touch me. I called Darlene for help. I tried everything. But you-you not only violated me, you hit me. And now you're asking whose child it is? Bruce, do you even have a conscience? Do you really not know the kind of person I am?!"

The word "violate" seemed to hit him like a whip. His jaw clenched instantly, his whole body radiating a freezing rage he was clearly trying hard to suppress.

He spoke through gritted teeth, word by word, "What do you want to do about it?"

Jasmine stared at him in disappointment-this reaction wasn't what she expected at all. In her memory, Bruce had always been noble, elegant, the kind of man you'd only meet once in a hundred years. He was responsible, composed, wise and clean-cut, always gentle and self-disciplined.

But of course, that version of him was reserved solely for Darlene.

With others, he was always cold, untouchable, imperial-just like now, simmering with unspoken anger.

And her-Jasmine-had only ever gotten a sliver of that warmth thanks to Darlene's protection. She had been nothing more than the go-between in their story.

She clenched her fists and forced herself to sound firm, though her voice trembled. "I want to keep the baby. It's still a life. And..."

She didn't finish before Bruce let out a quiet, scornful laugh. "Jasmine, do you even know what you're saying?"

"I do," she said quietly. "I want to have this child."

He didn't respond right away. His silence was heavy, filled with tension. The only indication of his inner turmoil was the tight line of his jaw, like he was barely holding it together. Maybe his face had already turned pale with rage. His eyes stayed locked on her, his gaze sharp and unmoving.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke in a carefully controlled voice, "You're still in school. This isn't the right time for a pregnancy. You're not even married..."

"Can't you marry me?" she asked, lifting her tear-streaked face to him, eyes shining with desperate hope. "You're the father. If you're willing to marry me, then none of this is a problem, right? Bruce... everything Darlene can do, I can do too. And what she can't do-I can. She loves you, but I love you just as much. Maybe this child wasn't planned, but to me... it's a blessing."

Bruce visibly flinched-like her words were coming from a stranger.

Jasmine sobbed uncontrollably as she cried out, "Do you really think I let go of the violate charges because I was weak? Do you know why I kept silent afterward? Why did I quietly step out of your and Darlene's lives these past few weeks?"

She continued, "You don't know anything. You don't know I love you. You don't know what these past years have been like for me. Even when you took my virginity while murmuring her name-Darlene's name-I didn't even blame you. I slapped you, I cursed you, called you a jerk... but that was just to remind myself to wake up from this insane, one-sided love. Bruce, I love you. From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, I fell hopelessly in love with you. Please... let me keep this child. I'm begging you..."

Bruce instinctively lowered the brim of his cap to hide his expression. His pale, thin lips looked cold and bloodless.

A dead silence stretched between them until, finally, he spoke-each word slow and freezing, "Darlene sees you as her best friend, Jasmine. Wouldn't you say this entire speech of yours... is a betrayal of her trust? And if that's the case..." He gave a short, humorless laugh. "Should I take it to mean you've been scheming against me, too?"

Jasmine froze. Her heart sank like a stone. She hadn't expected Bruce to see through her so quickly.

Of course-he was the heir to a powerful family, a titan in the business world.

Her expression crumbled into shame, and without a word, she suddenly turned and ran straight toward the busy traffic, like she was ready to end it all.

Bruce grabbed her wrist and yanked her back with force, his voice low and thunderous as he glared at her, "You're not allowed to die."

Caught off guard, Jasmine slammed into his solid chest.

Tearfully, she looked up at his cold, handsome face and asked in a daze, "Do I not even have the right to choose death? Are you afraid I'll leave a stain on your relationship with Darlene? Hah... Bruce, what do you want from me? Fine! Yes! I schemed against you. I forced you to hit me, forced you to humiliate me, forced you to take my first time-I manipulated you! Is that what you wanted to hear?! Are you satisfied now?! If you don't want to take responsibility, then just forget I ever said anything. Let go of me! Let me go!"

She was hysterical, every word sharp like needles, stabbing at his nerves. The veins on Bruce's temple bulged with suppressed fury. Without another word, he seized her wrist and dragged her forward in long, furious strides.

Jasmine stumbled after him, panicking. "Bruce! Where are you taking me?! Let me go!"

He didn't answer. He threw her into the car and drove straight to the hospital.

When they stopped in front of the hospital, his voice came out ice-cold, "Get out."

Jasmine's eyes widened in horror-she instantly understood what he intended.

Either a reexamination... or an abortion.

She refused to get out, sobbing as she clung to the backseat. "No! I'm not going! This is my child-it's a part of me. I can't bear to lose it. Bruce, you can't do this to me. You can't violate me and then take away my right to be a mother! You can't be this cruel. You can't build your perfect world on top of my pain!"

He got out of the car and opened her door. His face was stone-cold as he grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the hospital.

Jasmine wept uncontrollably, nearly collapsing to her knees. She stumbled behind him, sobbing until she finally gave in.

Her voice broke as she choked out, "I'll do it! Bruce, I'll get the abortion, isn't that enough? Please... don't treat me like this..."

Bruce suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her.

"My body is already tainted, and my reputation is ruined. Why is it that even though it's clearly your fault, I have to bear such a heavy consequence?" Jasmine sank to the ground, exhausted, kneeling with her baseball cap pulled low over her tear-streaked face.

Hot tears dripped onto the floor as she looked utterly broken.

She said, "How can you treat me like this? How can you bully a girl from the countryside like me? Not only did you violate me, but you accuse me of scheming against you. You won't even let me die, and now you want to forcefully take my child away. Bruce, there are gods watching over us-ask your conscience if you're not afraid of divine punishment for treating me this way."

Bruce looked at her coldly, his face pale.

Jasmine's emotions intensified layer by layer, like a woman whose love had turned to hate.

She forcefully broke free from Bruce's strong hand and stumbled to her feet.

She took off her cap, revealing her pure and clean face, eyes clear and tearful, staring straight into Bruce's exquisitely handsome face.

Bitterness and hatred slowly grew in her eyes, making them shine brightly.

She said bitterly, "Bruce, you're rich and powerful-I can't fight you. You took me without reason, and I accept that. But I, Jasmine, will remember what you did to me for the rest of my life! You want me to abort? Fine! You want me to give up the thought of ending my own life? Fine! But don't think I'll ever fall in line with your wishes without a hefty price-at least ten million dollars! You hurt me, you trample on me-how could I possibly let you live easy after that?"

It was truly hatred born from love, and naturally, she brought the conversation to money. Though it wasn't abrupt, it did sound materialistic.