Chapter 21
Everyone turned to see Joseph standing at the doorway with fake remorse.
He said, “I was deceived by her, too. All those rumors against Ms. Lane were planned by her alone.”
Lynette looked as if she had been struck by lightning. She suddenly burst into laughter, her cries so shrill they sent chills down everyone’s spines. “You men are all the same! You’re all liars!”
Then, she turned to Jasmine, her eyes filled with venom. “You think you’ve won? I’m telling you, this isn’t
over yet!”
“Take her away,” the officer barked as he waved impatiently.
His men immediately dragged the hysterical Lynette out.
The scene fell silent except for the sound of camera shutters as reporters scrambled to record every detail of this high-society scandal.
Meanwhile, Matthew stood in place, his tall frame swaying slightly. He loosened his tie, his knuckles
white from the grip.
Jasmine’s gaze flicked to the faint scar on his wrist. It had been from sophomore year, when he burned himself making chicken soup to keep her warm. She’d been down with a bad cold, and he had skipped an important audition to spend three hours in the kitchen, despite never having cooked before.
His voice was hoarse as he said, “Jas, give me five minutes.”
Jasmine turned away. However, she caught the faint scent of bitter orange in the air. It was the cologne she’d specially chosen for Matthew on his 20th birthday. Seven years had passed, and he was still using
the same one.
“There’s nothing left to explain,” she replied, walking away.
Matthew suddenly pulled a worn leather wallet from his suit’s inner pocket and carefully took out a yellowed photograph. In the photo, Jasmine stood under a maple tree, her smile brighter than the spring’s
sun.
”
“Do you remember this? It was our first date,” he explained, his fingertips gently tracing the photo’s edge. You wore a white dress that day, and I said you looked like an angel. You laughed and called me cheesy.”
Memories came rushing back like a tide.
It had rained heavily that day, and Jasmine wore her pretty and expensive leather shoes. Matthew was worried they’d get wet, so he insisted on carrying her piggyback. His back had been warm and solid, and she couldn’t help but secretly press her face against it, her heart fluttering.
“Seven years, and I’ve carried it with me this whole time. Even during that cliff scene in ‘Sunset’, I kept it close to my chest,” Matthew said quietly.
Jasmine’s fingertips trembled slightly. She remembered that movie clearly because it was the turning point of his acting career. He’d spent an entire day suspended on wires filming at the cliff’s edge, returning covered in injuries while she stayed up all night caring for him, her heart aching.
Jasmine swallowed the lump in her throat and mocked, “Look at our big movie star, pulling the emotion card? Too bad the feelings are gone.”
Matthew gave a bitter smile and tucked the photo back into his wallet. He mumbled, “Yeah… I’ve played so many roles, but I let the most important one slip away.”
