Chapter 571 – Suspicions
There were maids in the hallway, and the way Corvine had shoved Jasmine out of his room sent her stumbling so badly that she ended up falling hard against the polished floor.
The embarrassment was unbearable, hot and immediate, flooding her face while the cool air of the hallway bit at her bare skin. Jasmine barely knew how she managed to get herself back on her feet, let alone how she found the strength to open the door to her room.
Everything around her had become a blur of soft lighting and quiet footsteps, but there was one thing she knew she would never forget. The looks in the maids’ eyes.
They had always respected her. Now their expressions had been filled with confusion, shock, and something else she couldn’t bear to put into words. Pity, maybe, or quiet judgment.
Jasmine could still feel those complicated stares following her as she stumbled away, clutching her clothes tight against her chest and trying to hide what had already been seen.
She had brought this on herself, and she knew, deep down, that her relationship with Corvine would never be the same again.
The moment she got inside her room, the door closed behind her with a soft click, and whatever strength she had left disappeared.
Jasmine slid down onto the floor, her back against the door as tears finally spilled down her cheeks, hot and unstoppable.
Corvine was always so nice, so how could she have expected him to react like that? With Voren, things had always been different. He had been distant and impossible to reach, and even when Olivia encouraged her to try, Jasmine had only dared to wear revealing clothes in an attempt to get his attention.
It had never worked, not once, but Corvine had been different. He had been kind to her, comfortable around her, easy to talk to.
So Jasmine had swallowed every bit of shame she possessed and put herself out there, believing that maybe, just maybe, he would finally see her the way she wanted him to. Instead, he had humiliated her, and the maids had seen her too.
The shame pressed down on her until it felt difficult to breathe. Jasmine curled into herself on the floor, wrapping her arms around her knees as sobs shook through her body, the maple wood cool and unyielding beneath her.
Then came a knock on the door. Jasmine lifted her head, heart stuttering. For one foolish, hopeful second, she thought it was Corvine. Maybe he had regretted what he did. Maybe he had come to apologize.
Maybe he felt something for her after all. Her heart jumped as she quickly wiped at her cheeks, ready to respond. But before she could, the door opened.
Seraphine stood there, and worry filled her face as her eyes landed on Jasmine, who was still sitting on the maple wood floor, looking like a she just suffered a brutal attack.
"Jasmine... what happened?"
Embarrassment washed over Jasmine all over again, fresh and sharp. She had never expected Seraphine and Voren to return that night. Forcing a smile onto her trembling lips, Jasmine pushed herself off the floor, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet Seraphine’s eyes.
"It’s nothing."
"Your eyes are red and puffy," Seraphine pointed out. Her gaze moved over Jasmine’s face with growing concern, taking in the blotchy cheeks and the way her hands still clutched the crumpled clothes. "Your face is as red as your hair, so what’s going on?"
Jasmine swallowed hard. There was no way she could tell her. Especially not when she knew how close Seraphine had become to Liah.
"I’m sorry, it’s nothing," Jasmine insisted again, voice thin.
But the lie barely left her lips before another tear rolled down her cheek, warm against her skin. Seraphine’s concern deepened, her expression softening even as the worry stayed sharp.
"Look, you can tell me anything, okay?"
The softness in her voice nearly broke Jasmine’s resolve. For a second, she wanted to tell her everything. She wanted to let it all out and get rid of the shame choking her from the inside. But this was too humiliating. She didn’t have the courage.
"I mean it, Sera. I’m fine."
Seraphine studied her for another moment, clearly unconvinced, but eventually let it go with a quiet exhale.
"Okay, can you try to get in touch with Coco? We only have a few days before we return to the pack."
Jasmine was grateful for the distraction. Anything was better than standing there while Seraphine looked at her as if she knew something was wrong. Seraphine continued, her voice steady but urgent.
"Tell her I’m back and that you’ll find a way to plant the camera tomorrow."
Jasmine immediately reached for her phone on the nightstand and dialed Coco’s number, the screen glowing soft in the dim room.
The call didn’t go through. She tried again, and again. Each time, the result was the same automated message. Finally, she lowered the phone and looked at Seraphine, shoulders tight.
"It’s switched off."
Seraphine drew in a deep breath, unwilling to let their plans fall apart after everything that had happened.
"Alright. Try again later and let me know the response. And where is Corvine?"
At the mention of his name, Jasmine went pale, the color draining so fast it left her lightheaded. Seraphine caught it immediately, and suspicion flickered across her face, but Jasmine quickly forced a smile that felt paper-thin.
"It’s alright. I’ll go check on him."
Before Seraphine could turn around, Jasmine spoke quickly, the words tumbling out. "He’s sleeping."
Seraphine stopped, and Jasmine’s heart hammered against her chest, loud enough she was sure the other woman could hear it.
Seraphine and Corvine were close, and Jasmine was terrified that if she went looking for him, he would tell her everything. Then what? How could Jasmine ever survive that kind of humiliation? The shame would become unbearable. Maybe she could apologize to him in the morning. Maybe she could beg him not to tell Seraphine what had happened.
"Thanks for telling me," Seraphine replied, and there was a trace of disappointment in her voice. She had hoped to get some updates from Corvine before morning. "See you tomorrow."
Jasmine watched her leave, the soft click of the door feeling like a temporary shield. The second it closed, a shaky sigh of relief escaped her, but it barely lasted.
"V, where are you...?"
Jasmine froze. That was Seraphine’s voice. She was still nearby. Jasmine stood perfectly still, every nerve in her body tightening as she listened, the hallway quiet except for the distant hum of the mansion’s systems. Then Seraphine’s voice came again. This time, there was pure surprise in it.
"Corvine. Jasmine said you were sleeping."
Jasmine’s eyes widened. No. More tears spilled down her cheeks as her entire world seemed to crumble around her, the walls of the room suddenly too close. How was she supposed to face Seraphine and Corvine in the morning?