Chapter 3. Wounds Reopened

Jasmine whispered the name she had avoided for four long years. A name she had desperately tried to erase. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. If the living room hadn’t been full of people, she might have screamed or cursed at the man standing before her.

No—she chose silence instead. Her gaze locked on him, her eyes glimmering with raw pain, sharp as a knife plunging deep into her heart. It was as if her breath had stopped.

Xavier Coldwell looked at her with disbelief, yet in his eyes lingered meanings impossible to put into words. He looked at her as though he were lost in an endless, dark forest—daytime offered beauty, but night turned everything into a suffocating, lonely void.

For a long while, their eyes held, as if the air between them sparkled with charged tension. Jasmine’s gray irises screamed hatred, while Xavier’s gaze seemed mesmerized by their beauty. They stared too long, completely forgetting they weren’t alone in the room.

“Do you two know each other?” Jelena’s voice snapped Jasmine back, shattering the spell. With effort, she tore her gaze from Xavier’s.

“Oh, no. I don’t know him. His face just seemed strangely familiar at first. But, no, I don’t know him. I’m sorry.” Jasmine turned away abruptly, refusing to look at Xavier again.

Jelena nodded. “Xavier, come here.” She beckoned him over to sit beside her.

Xavier exhaled slowly, then walked toward his fiancée, though his eyes lingered on Jasmine. He finally lowered himself onto the sofa next to Jelena.

“Were you busy just now, Xavier?” Johan asked.

“My assistant was reporting to me about several partnership projects in New York, Uncle,” Xavier replied politely, though his tone remained flat.

Johan nodded approvingly.

“Jelena, introduce Xavier to your sister,” Mila said with a warm smile.

“Oh, goodness, I almost forgot.” Jelena tightened her hold on Xavier’s arm and looked at Jasmine. “Jasmine, this is Xavier—my boyfriend. We’re getting engaged this year.”

The words hit Jasmine like a lightning strike. Her world stopped. Her heart shattered into pieces, leaving her breathless. Her gray eyes clouded with sorrow, disappointment, pain—all melding into one unbearable ache. A lump rose in her throat. Tears threatened, but she forced herself to hold them back.

“Congratulations… I’m happy for you.” That was all she could manage. To steady herself, she lifted the teacup the maid had set down earlier and took a sip.

Xavier said nothing, only watching Jasmine with haunted eyes. He could see her pain as clearly as if it were carved across her face. His chest tightened with emotions he couldn’t begin to explain.

“Jasmine, look! Your sister is getting engaged this year. When will you follow?” Mila pressed eagerly.

Jasmine forced an elegant smile, though inside she was breaking. “Right now, I’m focusing on my career. Marriage isn’t on my mind.”

“Why not? You’re old enough to marry,” Xavier cut in unexpectedly, speaking as casually as if he were interrogating his future sister-in-law.

Jasmine froze, gathering every shred of courage so she wouldn’t falter. Her eyes betrayed the enormity of her heartbreak, but she held her smile.

“Marriage isn’t my priority. I need to secure my own future first. Too many women are abandoned by their husbands, too many are left broken and powerless. That’s why, for now, I’m focusing on my work. I’m not ready for marriage.” Her voice was calm but firm, laced with dignity.

Her words stunned Xavier. They pierced him, leaving him muted—not because he had no answer, but because the truth in her words skinned him raw.

“Jasmine, you cannot think like that.” Mila frowned, clearly displeased.

“Enough. Let it be,” Johan cut in before his wife could continue. “Jasmine has the right to choose. She’s still young. She just earned her promotion—it’s natural for her to focus on her career.”

Mila sighed, realizing she couldn’t wFin this argument, and fell silent.

“Xavier, did you know my sister just became Marketing Director at one of the largest cosmetics companies? She even led her company to achieve the highest profits this year,” Jelena proudly shared.

Xavier inclined his head. “Congratulations, Jasmine.”

“Thanks,” she replied coolly, refusing to meet his eyes. She turned her face aside, as though he were nothing but a stranger.

“Well then, Daddy and Mommy will leave you for a while. We need to finalize the guest list for the engagement party,” Mila said cheerfully.

“Yes, Mom,” Jelena smiled back.

The parents left, giving the younger ones the room.

“Jasmine, how is Bernard? Before you got home, Mom told me he’s in Dubai?” Jelena asked, once they were alone.

“He’s fine. He left for Dubai early this morning,” Jasmine answered curtly.

“Send him my regards, then. I thought he’d be here today,” Jelena said warmly.

Jasmine nodded faintly, not noticing how Xavier’s dark eyes never left her—even more intently when Bernard’s name was mentioned.

Suddenly Jelena’s phone rang. She looked between Xavier and Jasmine. “I have to take this call. I’ll be back.” And without waiting for a response, she left the room.

Now, the enormous living room was quiet, occupied only by Xavier and Jasmine. He stood watching her; she kept her eyes averted.

Jasmine exhaled hard. “I should go upstairs. Wait here—my sister will be back soon,” she said, rising. But as she tried to step past, Xavier moved in front of her, blocking the way. His tall, broad frame loomed over her.

“Move, Xavier!” Jasmine snapped.

“We need to talk, Jasmine,” he said, gripping her arm firmly.

“Talk? There’s nothing for us to talk about!” Her glare cut straight through him.

“Jasmine—”

“Stop! There’s nothing left to explain, Xavier. What happened in the past was my foolishness—for trusting you. Forget it ever happened.” She yanked her arm free from his loosening grip.

Xavier froze, the single word slipping solemnly from his lips. “I’m sorry.” His eyes held hers as though the apology erased nothing, as though he carried no guilt.

Jasmine stepped back. A broken smile flickered on her face, fragile as glass. His apology tore at her—an insult more than a comfort.

“You don’t need to apologize. I don’t remember anything anymore. From now on, you’re a stranger to me, Xavier Coldwell. Even if you’re about to marry my sister, pretend I don’t exist. Because in the future, I refuse to ever know you.”

Her voice trembled with anguish. Her eyes shone with unshed tears, almost spilling. Then, unable to stay any longer, she ran from the room, leaving Xavier rooted where he stood.

His dark brown eyes followed her, watching as Jasmine’s retreating figure vanished from sight.