Chapter 293: If You Lose, Kneel and Apologize to Jay

Jasper Sterling used his body to block the man’s crazed gaze.

’He wanted nothing more than to gouge the man’s eyes out himself, but the priority was to calm Jane Lancaster.’

She was afraid.

He’d never seen this side of Jane Lancaster. She had faced so many terrible things over the years, yet she always handled them with calm composure.

Even when treated with such malice, she never gave in and always fought to save herself.

But now, that man’s frenzied, leering gaze had made her afraid.

’Was it because of what happened in that courtyard during her childhood? That greedy, lustful stare—so cloying and vile—was the very thing Jane Lancaster feared most in her nightmares.’

"Jay, look at me. Okay? Look into my eyes."

Jane Lancaster hesitated for a moment before lifting her head. She looked into his beautiful eyes—they were as clear and gentle as a pool of spring water, holding a power that could soothe the soul.

Jane Lancaster felt as if she were under a spell. She couldn’t stop herself from reaching out to gently touch the corner of his eye. "They’re beautiful."

"Thank you for the compliment." Jasper Sterling couldn’t help but smile. He caught her retreating fingertips and pressed them to his own eye, encouraging her to continue her touch.

’So forget those ugly, twisted eyes. Just look at me.’

The bodyguards who had arrived with him sprang into action, each with a designated role.

Two of them intercepted Leo Grant, two gagged the frenzied man and dragged him away, while the remaining two collected the items scattered on the floor.

Soon, the living room was back in order.

"Jasper Sterling, isn’t that enough?" Caleb Lowell snapped, his patience worn thin.

’He couldn’t help but suspect Jasper Sterling was playing innocent, blatantly trying to steal his woman right in front of him as a show of dominance.’

"There, it’s all right now." Jasper Sterling ignored Caleb Lowell, his voice impossibly gentle. "Let’s deal with the immediate problem first."

Jane Lancaster, having regained her composure, nodded.

Jasper Sterling found this version of her exceptionally sweet and endearing, and his heart filled with tenderness.

But when he turned to look at Vincent Holt, his eyes seemed to be forged from ice. "You. Outside."

Vincent Holt’s heart dropped, and a sense of foreboding washed over him. "What are you trying to do?"

Jasper Sterling methodically rolled up his sleeves. "Fight me. If you win, you can name any condition. If you lose, you kneel and apologize to Jay."

He glanced back, slipped the ribbon from Jane Lancaster’s hair, and began wrapping it around his right hand, circle by circle. "I’ll even give you a one-hand handicap."

Vincent Holt’s eyes flickered. If that was the case, then he had nothing to fear.

He was already furious from getting beaten up for no good reason and had nowhere to vent his anger. Now, he had a target.

While Jasper Sterling was still tying the ribbon with one hand, Vincent charged, launching a sneak attack!

’Who cares about honor in a fight? Jasper Sterling was too naive. As long as he won, he didn’t care how ugly it looked.’

’A minute later, he regretted it. Damn it, Jasper Sterling looked so refined and civilized. How the hell was he such a good fighter?’

’He had to hand it to him. How could someone be so vicious with only one hand? Was the guy a psycho?’

Leo Grant watched their fight with a dark expression. Seeing that Vincent Holt was about to lose, he suddenly made his move.

But his target wasn’t Jasper Sterling—it was Jane Lancaster.

The instant he sensed Leo’s intent, Jasper Sterling abandoned Vincent Holt and rushed to intercept him.

Jane Lancaster’s eyes met his. In a flash, Jasper Sterling raised a hand to support hers.

Jane Lancaster pressed down on his shoulder, using the leverage to swing around and send the charging Leo Grant flying with a single kick.

The hem of her coat fanned out in a beautiful arc, like a blossoming flower, before settling back down.

Jane Lancaster landed steadily in Jasper Sterling’s arms.

But just then, Vincent Holt launched his own sneak attack, grabbing a metal decoration from nearby and swinging it at them.

Jane Lancaster instinctively raised her arm to block it, but Jasper Sterling caught her hand and swiftly turned.

The metal decoration struck Jasper Sterling squarely in the back.

’Success!’ Vincent was ecstatic. He rushed forward, hoping to finish him off while he was vulnerable.

A cold glint appeared in Jane Lancaster’s eyes. The moment her feet touched the ground, she started to lunge forward, but Jasper Sterling held her back.

He caught Vincent Holt’s striking hand and effortlessly kicked him away.

"You lost," Jasper Sterling said, his voice ice-cold. "Kneel and apologize."

Chloe Dave helped Vincent Holt to his feet. His expression was livid. Kneel and apologize to Jane Lancaster? ’Impossible!’

Jasper Sterling strode forward, grabbed his collar, spun him around, and kicked the back of his knee.

Vincent Holt’s legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. Unwilling to submit, he cried out to Caleb Lowell for help. "Zion, help me!"

"Vincent, a bet’s a bet. Apologize!" Caleb Lowell’s eyes were fixed on Jane Lancaster, a heavy, sinking feeling in his chest.

’Just moments ago, when he’d seen Leo Grant make his move, he had instinctively opened his arms for Jane Lancaster, assuming she would seek refuge with him.’

’But she had turned and rushed to Jasper Sterling instead.’

’What’s more, Jasper Sterling clearly had a chance to dodge that decoration. He could have, if only he hadn’t been shielding Jane Lancaster.’

’But he had chosen to take the blow himself.’

’If this was all just about poaching his woman to piss him off, why go to such lengths?’

’Caleb Lowell’s mind was a mess. He couldn’t stop his thoughts from racing. What exactly was their relationship?’

Chloe Dave finally burst out, "Jasper Sterling, don’t you think you’re despicable? Using a woman to get at Zion... I despise you!"

Jasper Sterling released Vincent Holt and took a few steps toward Chloe Dave. "Despicable? I’m listening."

’He had a good idea what she was about to accuse him of. After all, he’d deliberately placed the evidence right in her hands.’

Chloe Dave took a deep breath and turned to Caleb Lowell. "Zion, do you remember that botched kidnapping incident with Luna Morgan? Do you know who was pulling the strings? It was Jasper Sterling!"

"He and Jane Lancaster were in it together! They staged the whole thing. He deliberately hired people to stalk and harass Luna, had his friend approach Luna about restoring an old painting, and even blocked the cell signal—all to set you up and sabotage your partnership with Veridian!"

Chloe Dave excitedly showed Caleb Lowell the evidence she had filmed. "See? They know each other!"

Caleb Lowell wasn’t surprised. In fact, he’d suspected as much for a while.

Jasper Sterling chuckled. "The evidence proves I set the trap, but does it prove Jay had anything to do with it?"

Chloe Dave: "Of course she did! If she didn’t put you up to it, why else would you do it?"

Jasper Sterling: "Let me get your logic straight. You’re saying that because Jay was so deeply in love with Caleb Lowell, she grew jealous of Luna Morgan and bribed The Lucas Family to frame her. But then, just a few months ago, she supposedly worked with me to sabotage her own engagement party and hand Caleb Lowell over to someone else on a silver platter?"

Chloe Dave: "..."

"She definitely didn’t expect Zion to be so determined to choose Luna! She only called off the engagement out of humiliation and anger, and now she’s just waiting for Zion to come crawling back to her!" she argued, her face flushing.

Jasper Sterling looked at Caleb Lowell. "So, President Lowell’s affections had already shifted that long ago?"

A muscle in Caleb Lowell’s brow twitched. He looked up at Jasper Sterling. "I didn’t."