Ch. 1031..1040

Chapter 1031

Jasper couldn't help but smile as he carefully set his jacket down and walked over to lift Imogen into his arms.

Imogen let out a surprised gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Her heart raced, cheeks turning pink as a wave of warmth washed over her.

He carried her into the house and settled on the couch, seating her on his lap. Their proximity pressed them close. A lingering air of romantic uncertainty enveloped them. Imogen felt a blush spread across her cheeks.

Jasper's voice was husky and tender as he asked, "Have you had dinner?"

Although Imogen hadn't eaten yet, she nodded. "Yes, I have."

Jasper tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear. He looked deeply into her flushed and lovely face, his Adam's apple bobbing. "You still haven't told me where you've been."

"I interviewed successfully and started a new job. I was so thrilled that I went to visit my parents," Imogen replied.

Jasper smiled warmly, his hands cradling her face gently. His voice carried a blend of excitement, tenderness, and affection akin to reassuring a child. "You're amazing, honey. I always knew you had this in you. You're simply the best."

Imogen couldn't help but chuckle at his behavior.

Jasper's smile softened further, a look of gentle indulgence crossing his features. He studied her face intently, noticing every detail, every tiny pore. His gaze was so captivating that it caused her cheeks to flush with warmth, unexpectedly making her feel shy.

Imogen glanced downward, unable to meet his gaze directly. Feeling bashful under his gaze, her whole body tingled with warmth.

Suddenly, Jasper gently lifted her chin with his finger, guiding her gaze upward. The atmosphere in the living room became increasingly tense, thick with uncertainty.

Imogen pursed her lips, blinking as she watched Jasper's handsome face nearing hers. His actions were deliberate and unhurried. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and she instinctively shut her eyes.

As Jasper kissed her, she initially tensed. Drawing from their shared history of kisses, she quickly relaxed into the moment and reciprocated his affection. Her lips and tongue danced with his, freely expressing her desires.

Lost in the intoxicating whirl of their kisses, Imogen felt weightless as Jasper swept her up in his arms. He carried her up to the master bedroom. She surrendered herself completely to the intensity of his kiss. As she gradually returned to the present moment, she found herself lying on the bed.

Jasper tenderly pinned her down, his hand caressing her cheek, down her neck, and settling on her chest. His bold gestures revealed his desire. He couldn't wait until the weekend to be with her any longer.

Imogen felt a rush of nerves, her body quivering slightly. Her desires surged, making it difficult to restrain herself.

As she was on the brink of giving in, Jasper murmured in her ear, "Imogen, I'm going to take a shower. Will you wait for me?"

Squeezing her eyes shut, Imogen nodded amidst a whirlwind of emotions. Reluctantly, Jasper got up from her and hurried into the bathroom. As the lingering warmth of Jasper faded, her rationality slowly returned.

Blushing with embarrassment, Imogen opened her eyes and gazed at the ceiling, taking deep breaths to regain her composure. Her thoughts were in turmoil, racing in every direction. She pondered the strange events that had unfolded since marrying Jasper, none of which seemed to make any logical sense.

Abruptly, Imogen sat up, adjusted her clothes, and briskly left Jasper's room.

Chapter 1032

Imogen retreated to her room and locked the door. Without hesitation, she booted up her computer and started searching the inte for "Jasper Morrison".

The results flooded in with numerous headlines, though most were disappointingly uninformative. Yet, one title caught her attention. With a swift click, she plunged into the article and absorbed its content eagerly.

After reading the information, she was completely taken aback. It turned out that the CEO of Star Enterprise went by the name Jasper Morrison. Strangely, there was hardly any online coverage of the company's CEO, not even a single photograph.

Imogen's unease deepened with each passing moment. She swiftly grabbed her phone and dialed Eloise's number.

After a few rings, Eloise answered. She held the phone to her ear and greeted, "Hey, Imogen!"

"Aunt Eloise, I need to talk to you about Ash. He—"

Imogen's words faltered as Eloise interrupted apologetically. "Imogen, I'm so sorry. I'm so scatterbrained. I forgot to tell you earlier. Ash's father passed away, so he couldn't make it to your date. He asked me to let you know, but in all the rush to attend the funeral, it slipped my mind." Instantly, Imogen felt unsettled. Panic surged through her as she anxiously glanced at the door. Was the man here not the same person Eloise had introduced to her?

Eloise continued, "Imogen, please don't blame Ash for not showing up. His father's passing has really affected him, and he's having a hard time right now. Can we delay the blind date for a bit? Would that be alright with you?"

Imogen felt a knot in her stomach. She gulped, her hands trembling as she asked in a shaky voice, "Aunt Eloise, is the Ash you introduced me to still in our hometown?"

"Yes, he's still around. What's the matter?"

Imogen gulped again, feeling a prickling unease crawl over her scalp. Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door, causing Imogen to startle. She turned nervously to glance at it again.

"Imogen, are you asleep?" Jasper's gentle voice came from the other side.

In a hushed tone, Imogen spoke into her phone, "Aunt Eloise, I need to go now. I'll catch up with you later."

"Alright. Bye."

Imogen set her phone down, feeling

her hands grow clammy with

nervousness. Taking a deep breath she gathered her courage and walked toward the door. Yet, ske hesitated before the door, her hand

gripping the handle.

Jasper knocked again. "Imogen?"

Clearing her throat, Imogen responded, "I'm not feeling well tonight."

"What's going on?" Jasper asked, concern evident in his voice. "Where are you feeling discomfort? Let me check on you, alright?"

"I just want to sleep," Imogen replied.

het

Her heart was conflicted as Jasper appeared oddly familiar and strange at once. Confusion and fear tightened their grip on her as she struggled to grasp his true identity. The feeling of deception was difficult to bear.

After a prolonged silence, Jasper asked in a deep, somber voice, "Did I upset you somehow?"

Imogen remained silent.

"Please let me know if something's bothering you. Don't shut me out," Jasper added.

"I didn't," Imogen replied curtly.

"Could you at least open the door, please? respect your decision. If you don't want me to touch you, I understand. But I really hope we can talk and work things out

face-to-face," Jasper urged

Imogen lowered her head, a heaviness settling in her heart. "Please, I just need some peace."

Jasper heard the reluctance in her voice and asked, dismayed, "What did I do wrong?"

At the next moment, Imogen swung the door wide open. Her eyes were red, and she leveled a furious stare at Jasper, holding back her anger as she asked each word carefully, "Who are you, really?"

Chapter 1033

Jasper felt his heart sink as he stood there, rooted to the spot, his intense gaze meeting Imogen's eyes blazing with anger. Momentarily speechless, he slipped his hands into his sweatpants pockets, lowered his head, and sighed.

Imogen suppressed her frustration, studying him cautiously before calmly asking, "Are you still searching for the right words, or do you plan to continue deceiving me?"

Jasper lifted his head and held her gaze firmly. "I'm Jasper Morrison."

Imogen's demeanor turned colder. "I'm fully aware. It's written on the marriage certificate."

"I deceived you. My real name isn't Asher, and I'm not the guy Eloise arranged for you to meet," Jasper said.

"Why would you pretend to be the guy Aunt Eloise set me up with?" Imogen demanded, her voice laced with anger.

Jasper felt a surge of unease. He extended his hand, wanting to reach for Imogen's hand to explain himself.

Yet, Imogen cautiously stepped back, swiftly tucking her hands behind her, and eyeing his hand warily.

Jasper's hand hung in the air, pausing momentarily before slowly balling into a fist and then dropping to his side. He sighed softly. "To you, we're both strangers. What's the difference between marrying him and marrying me?"

"Quite a lot," Imogen asserted. "Asher is the man Aunt Eloise picked out for me. I trust her judgment. She wouldn't introduce him unless he were a good man. But you? Why did you pretend to be my blind date and rush into marriage with me?"

"After all we've been through, don't you think I'm a good man?" Jasper asked.

"That's beside the point." Imogen couldn't understand his intentions. She continued, "You're quite good-looking and tall. Finding a girlfriend would be easy with your looks. So, why rush into marrying someone like me, whom you barely know?"

"Because I have feelings for you," Jasper replied without hesitation.

Imogen was at a loss for words. She shook her head, furrowing her brow. "I don't buy into love at first sight and marrying someone the very next day, unless the man's completely unappealing and desperate to settle down. I find it hard to believe, especially considering it's you."

"We've known each other for a long time," Jasper replied.

Imogen was taken aback.

Jasper gestured toward the couch in the living room. "Take a seat outside. I have something to show you that will clarify everything."

With that, he walked into his bedroom. After a momentary pause, Imogen's curiosity got the best of her, and she moved to the living room, settling onto the couch.

A few moments later, Jasper returned from his bedroom, holding an envelope.

He sat next to Imogen, who instinctively edged a little farther away from him. He glanced at her, a touch of sadness flickering in his eyes. He sighed softly and handed her the envelope.

Curious, Imogen took it and unfolded it. Inside were several photographs. She pulled out the photos, set the envelope aside, and scrutinized each photo.

The photos dated back to her middle school years Back then, she looked youthful, radiant, and charmingly innocent, smiling brightly. The photos were all group shots, featuring classmates or large gatherings of people.

After examining the photos, Imogen said, "These are all from my middle school days. How did you get hold of them?"

"I received them from the teacher who took these photos back then," Jasper replied.

Imogen's eyes widened in disbelief. "You were at my middle school?"

Jasper gave a small smile and nodded.

Imogen felt incredulous as she looked through the photos again, searching for Jasper's face. "But how were you at my middle school? My dad was still stationed on the frontier, so my mom and I lived there back then. My middle school was out on the frontier."

 

Chapter 1034

"Before high school, I grew up and went to school out on the frontier," Jasper said.

"So, which one are you in the middle school photos?" Imogen asked, carefully studying the few snapshots of several people.

"Check out the group photos. Besides those, there aren't any solo shots of us together," Jasper responded with a hint of disappointment.

Imogen froze, staring at Jasper in disbelief. Anxiety churned in her chest and a sense of impending dread swept over her. She swallowed hard, her voice slightly quivering as she asked, "Was it that I didn't want to take photos with you? Or did we just never get the chance?"

"It was that you didn't want to," Jasper replied.

Imogen fell silent, her heart pounding erratically. She was gripped tightly by a wave of panic. She had always been known for her approachability and friendliness, so turning down a schoolmate's invitation for a photo felt oddly out of character.

Unless... it was him!

Her breath caught as she cautiously asked, "Is your last name Morrison?"

Jasper nodded silently.

Imogen's heart skipped a beat. She remembered the general at the military base who shared the same last name. Suddenly, memories of the only boy she had ever kept at arm's length in middle school came flooding back.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves before cautiously asking, "Did you ever write me any love letters back in middle school?" Jasper gave a bitter smile. "Yeah, you tore them all up. There was even one you threw right at me."

Imogen's face went pale with shock. She tossed the photos onto the coffee table and quickly retreated to her room, slamming the door with a loud bang.

Jasper's muscles tightened as he watched her reaction, a deep sense of disappointment washing over him, mingled with bitter anguish. Had she truly just run away from him like that?

He began to realize that her aversion was endearing. Previously, she had avoided him in much the same way, treating their encounters as if she had seen a ghost. Apart from school-related interactions, she never spoke to him or made eye contact.

Jasper hung his head, overwhelmed with sadness as he gathered the photographs. He felt waves of pain striking his chest.

Meanwhile, Imogen leaned against the door of her room, her hand pressed to her chest. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her chest rising and falling with each shaky inhale.

Finding out Jasper's true identity was more unsettling than any ghost story she'd heard. It shook her to the core, her nerves on the brink of breaking.

Jasper turned out to be the son of Nathan, the general of Norvania, and Mila, a renowned chemist. Besides, he was the CEO of Star Enterprise and nephew to Norvania's wealthiest tycoon. He seemed to shine like the brightest star in the galaxy

Did someone as ordinary as Imogen even have the right to look upon him? And yet, she was thrust into marriage with a man of his standing.

Imogen felt like she was losing it.

Confusion clouded her mind, leaving her disoriented and unsettled. Rushing to her bed, she pulled the

blanket over her head, battling the urge to scream aloud.

All she could do was quietly ponder if fate was playing a joke on her. Jasper Morrison was a distant fantasy for everyone. Was fate deliberately testing her sanity?

They both had a restless night.

The next morning, Jasper woke up early as usual and was about to fix breakfast for Imogen.

When she came out of her room, she spotted Jasper heading toward the kitchen. Anxious, she hurried over and took the ingredients from his hands, setting them aside.

"Please, quit making breakfast for me. It's just too much," Imogen said worriedly.

Jasper's heart sank. His voice tinged with desperation and sorrow as he said, "Imogen, I'm your husband. How can you say that?"

Imogen looked distressed. "No, this marriage was a mistake. We should go to the courthouse and file for divorce right away before your family even gets wind of me."

Chapter 1035

Jasper's gaze turned steely, his face grave. He stated firmly, "I'm not divorcing you."

Imogen's lips quivered, tears pooling in her eyes. She clasped her hands and pleaded, "Mr. Morrison, please. We're not meant to be together. We can't get married."

The use of "Mr. Morrison" felt distant and icy, cutting deep into his heart. His frustration boiled over. "We're not divorced yet. I'm still your husband. Stop calling me 'Mr. Morrison.""

Imogen nodded vigorously. "Okay, fine. I'll call you whatever you prefer, but we must divorce."

She was wary of jeopardizing her family's lives by challenging authority.

The mention of "divorce" weighed heavily on Jasper. He gripped Imogen's arms tightly and pulled her close. Looking down at her, his eyes shimmered with tears of anguish. "Why? What's wrong with me? Why do you hate me so?"

Imogen felt a pang of empathy as she watched Jasper teetering on the brink of losing control. She wrestled with finding the right words to explain herself.

Jasper's voice rose with anger. "Is it because I'm not attractive enough, or because I'm not gentle enough? Haven't I treated you right? Give me a reason!"

Imogen hung her head in sorrow, tears flowing freely. She whispered tearfully, "It's because of who you are, Jasper Morrison."

Jasper couldn't accept such an explanation. He suppressed his despair and roared, "Imogen, if you're mentioning divorce, it's not going to happen while I'm still alive!"

Imogen flinched in fear at his words. She could feel Jasper's tight grip on her arms, causing her discomfort.

After his outburst, Jasper released her. His eyes were still red from emotion as he stormed past Imogen into his room and slammed the door shut, sending a jolt of fear through her.

She buried her face in her hands, wiping away tears, and stood there, paralyzed, unsure what to do next.

Imogen recalled the initial flutter of love, her heart racing with excitement and bashfulness as she received Jasper's first love letter.

However, when Carol found out, she immediately reprimanded Imogen, "If you don't want trouble, stay away from Jasper!"

Jasper hailed from a prestigious

lineage. A man of his standing could only be suited to a woman from a highesociety background, someone born into privilege and refinement.

An average person like Imogen wouldn't stand a chance at all. Disaster would surely follow if she dared to entertain such a foolish dream.

Nathan wielded unmatched authority in Norvania as a general known for his decisive actions, unwavering strength, and ruthless tactics.

With Jasper coming from such a prestigious background, how could his family ever approve of someone as ordinary as Imogen marrying him?

She was simply a person of humble

origins. She feared that if Jasper were to love her, Nathan and Mita would tear them apart, bringing disaster upon her entire family. She felt it was inevitable.

It was rumored that Nathan's closest female friend back then, Fenna, had feelings for him. Yet, Fenna only wanted to quietly support Nathan as his assistant due

tober humble background

Unfortunately, Mila had Fenna involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital, leading to a tragic outcome for Fenna.

On the frontier, Nathan was a figure of fear. Both he and Mila wielded equally formidable methods.

Imogen had heard Carol recount countless chilling stories about Nathan, which filled her with deep apprehension. Eventually, Imogen decided to sever all connections with Jasper and steer clear of any entanglements altogether.

Chapter 1036

Another night of sleeplessness tormented Imogen. She spent the entire night unable to sleep, consumed by anxiety. She felt trapped in a difficult situation with no apparent escape.

She wondered what kind of disaster her family would face if Nathan and Mila discovered the truth. She was aware that life wasn't a fairy tale. Princes didn't marry Cinderellas in the real world.

The next morning, Imogen got up unusually early. She quietly slipped out before Jasper even stirred. When she arrived at the office, her supervisor assigned tasks for her. She promptly dove into work, momentarily putting her worries aside.

Imogen had a humble educational background, yet was personally recruited by Jasper. With her attractive appearance and great figure, her supervisor was naturally aware of her special connection with Jasper.

Consequently, the tasks given to her were straightforward-typing, retrieving documents, and organizing materials and files.

During lunchtime, most employees gathered in groups to dine out, while a handful of dedicated ones, remained in the office like Imogen, nibbling on sandwiches or takeout.

Imogen couldn't shake off the heavy feeling in her heart, making the sandwich she had packed that morning seem particularly bland.

The idea of her unexpected marriage left her truly bewildered and incredulous. She was suddenly married to the CEO of Star Enterprise, which effortlessly landed her a role in the aerospace R&D department with his support. She felt undeserving of this position.

"Ms. Kingsley," someone called out to Imogen.

She turned to see who was at the door. A stranger entered, impeccably dressed in a suit with an ID badge hanging from his neck. With confidence, he walked up to her, holding a lunch box, and politely extended it to her. "Mr. Morrison prepared this lunch for you."

Imogen was startled and nervously surveyed the room. True to form, several colleagues stared at her in disbelief, their surprise evident in their expressions.

It seemed they were silently suggesting, "Look, someone with such a modest education still manages to land a job here. She must be having an affair with Mr. Morrison."

Imogen hesitated, unsure whether to accept or decline. She raised the sandwich in her hand. "Thank you, but I'm good with my sandwich."

The assistant placed the lunch box on Imogen's desk and said politely, "Ms. Kingsley, I'll leave it here for you. Don't forget to eat."

Imogen grabbed the lunch box and

returned it to the assistant, whispering, "I appreciate Mr.

Morrison's kindness, but I've already eaten. Please don't trouble yourself bringing me food."

The assistant looked at Imogen with a troubled expression.

Imogen pulled her chair back, straightened up, took a large bite of her sandwich, and then busied herself typing away at her computer. Reluctantly, the assistant left with the lunch box.

Soon after whispers began to ripple through the office. Following lunch, gossip spread like wildfire

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throughout the workplace. By the end of the day, the news had made its way across the entire company.

"Mr. Morrison prepared lunch for Imogen, but she turned it down."

"Mr. Morrison has a crush on Imogen."

"Mr. Morrison is trying to win Imogen's heart."

Word of such news traveled swiftly across Star Enterprise.

Meanwhile, in the PR department, a group of colleagues gathered eagerly around Zoey, asking, "Imogen, we heard Mr. Morrison has a crush on you. Is that true?"

Zoey was taken aback. Excitedly, she asked, "Who told you that?"

"It's the buzz around the company," said a colleague with envy written all over her face.

Zoey was somewhat surprised. Yet,

recalling how Jasper had personally interviewed her and how smoothly she had secured her position at Star Enterprise, she realized she must be significant to him.

So, Jasper did have feelings for her! She wondered if she could capture Jasper's heart by taking the lead and letting her charm shine.

Chapter 1037

Surrounded by a steady stream of compliments and admiration, Zoey gradually lost touch with her true self.

In the evening, at the end of the workday, Jasper left the office early as usual. He sat in his car, quietly watching the entrance of Star Enterprise, waiting for Imogen to emerge.

Time ticked by slowly. Most employees departed, but Imogen had yet to appear.

Jasper's patience dwindled. He swung open the car door and strode into the office building. Suddenly, someone blocked his path. His face tightened as he examined the person blocking him.

"Good evening, Mr. Morrison," Zoey greeted with a delicate and charming posture, her face illuminated by a warm smile, her eyes reflecting deep affection.

Jasper's expression stayed impassive as hummed in acknowledgment.

"Mr. Morrison, I'm truly sorry about all the gossip today. I have no idea who started it," Zoey murmured shyly.

"What gossip?" Jasper looked confused.

"You haven't heard?" Zoey seemed surprised.

"No, what's happening?"

"Now, everyone in the office is talking about how you have feelings for me," she said, blushing and glancing down in embarrassment. Her voice grew quieter as she added, "They're even saying you're interested in pursuing me."

Jasper couldn't help but smile, intrigued by Zoey's apparent lack of self-awareness. He wondered what had emboldened her so.

Seeing his smile, Zoey became even more enthusiastic and suggested cheerfully, "Mr. Morrison, how about we grab dinner somewhere and have a good talk?"

Jasper suddenly found the idea appealing. "Sure, let's invite your parents."

Zoey was taken aback. "What? It's our first date, and you're already talking about meeting my parents?"

Jasper's expression clouded, finding her remark amusing. Disregarding her words, he gestured toward his car parked outside. "Let's go. My car is right outside."

Zoey was thrilled. She followed Jasper out of the office building, amidst the curious glances of onlookers. Employees at Star Enterprise began whispering about Jasper's budding romance.

Meanwhile, Imogen had been hiding

in a corner, hesitant to emerge. It wasn't until she saw Jasper and Zoey chatting and laughing together as they exited the office building, got into his luxury car, and drove away that she finally emerged cautiously.

She knew she couldn't sustain her marriage with Jasper any longer and understood he wasn't the lifelong partner meant for her. Despite this awareness, her heart wrestled with jealousy and sadness. She gloomily took the subway home.

Arriving home, Imogen stared up at the imposing villa before her and was struck by a sudden realization. Wasn't this villa owned by Jasper? How could she have been so oblivious? She sighed heavily, feeling as though she were glued to the spot.

Just then, her phone rang. Imogen looked down pulled out her phone, and checked the caller ID. It was an employee from the space agency е who had offered her an external job some time back. It had been a while since that job concluded. Why they calling now? Could something have gone wrong?

With these thoughts racing through her mind, Imogen answered the phone. "What's the matter?"

In a frantic tone, the caller exclaimed, "Imogen, it's bad. They've caught me!"

Imogen was dumbstruck, her heart racing as she struggled to decide what to do next.

"Quick, you have to hide!" the urgent voice instructed.

Imogen immediately ended the call. In a state of disarray, she dashed outside through the villa gates, scanning urgently for a taxi.

Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of

her, and two stern-faced men stepped out. They approached her, displaying badges, and spoke with seriousness, "Ms. Kingsley, we're security officers from the space agency. We suspect you've unlawfully accessed classified national projects. Please come with us."

Chapter 1038

Imogen froze, her face drained of color. In that instant, one thought consumed her entirely. She realized that consequences always circle back. She grappled with the fear of imprisonment, unsure about her next steps.

She hadn't managed to divorce yet. Would being Nathan's daughter-in-law disgrace the Morrisons if she ended up behind bars? Tears welled up, but she fought them back as she was led away, feeling utterly lost.

Meanwhile, Jasper hosted a dinner for Zoey and her parents, Marcel Layton and Rosalind Pearson. The Laytons were overjoyed in the restaurant.

Upon learning Jasper's identity, Marcel and Rosalind had dressed impeccably for the occasion. Their smiles widened with each passing moment, sensing that Zoey's worth was about to skyrocket.

Jasper regarded the couple before him-one a former government official, the other a retired judge. Their status was seen as a powerful symbol of authority, especially among families like the Kingsleys.

Despite enduring mistreatment, exploitation, and being taken advantage of by the Laytons, the Kingsleys had no choice but to silently bear their grievances.

Marcel knew Jasper's background but remained composed as he politely asked, "Mr. Morrison, where do you work?"

"At Star Enterprise," Jasper answered.

"For how long have you known our daughter?" Rosalind asked.

"Not too long," Jasper replied.

"And how serious are you two?" Rosalind pressed on.

"This is just our first dinner date," Jasper said.

Marcel and Rosalind exchanged a somewhat awkward glance. Then, Rosalind remarked, "It's only your first date. How did you end up involving us? I thought-"

Jasper interjected with a wry grin. "Did you think I was going to propose to her, hence inviting both of you along?"

Rosalind nodded in response.

Zoey chuckled awkwardly and quickly explained, "Mom, Dad, Mr. Morrison wanted to meet you both, and that explains everything."

Marcel's expression grew serious. "It's still too early. This feels rushed. Have you both thought this through?"

Zoey blushed, looking down and waiting for Jasper's response.

Jasper cleared his throat, composed as he calmly explained, "I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm married."

His words stunned them all, their gazes fixed on him in disbelief. Rosalind's voice rose slightly with her question. "What? You're married? Then why did you invite us?"

Jasper's expression hardened. He lifted his glass, took a sip, and stated, "My wife is Imogen Kingsley."

Marcel was surprised. "When did you marry our daughter?"

Rosalind looked even more shocked, exclaiming, "You rushed into marriage with our daughter?"

Among the trio, only Zoey's face

drained of color, and her hands grew

clammy, shaking as she held her

glass. Jasper couldn't help but find

their deceitful behavior rather entertaining.

Filled with excitement, Rosalind and Marcel questioned Zoey with a touch of disapproval in their voices, "When did you get married? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Exactly, marriage is a significant

matter! Decisions like these should

involve us. Even if his family is

wealthy-his father a general and his

mother a chemist-you shouldn't rush into such things!"

Zoey's voice quivered as she spoke quietly, "Mom, Dad, I didn't marry him."

"He" Rosalind started to say something but cut herself off as realization hit her, rendering her dumbfounded.

Marcel also grasped the situation,

his face turning pale in an instant. All three fell into a stunned silence, deeply unsettled as they stared at Jasper Fear flashed in their eyes as they grappled with the revelation that he was Imogen's husband.

Chapter 1038

Chapter 1039

Zoey, Marcel, and Rosalind looked visibly frightened.NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

Jasper gave a slight smile. "I'm Imogen's husband. Yes, the very Imogen Kingsley you all are familiar with."

The three seemed unsettled.

"It seems you called us here today for this?" Marcel asked.

Zoey's disbelief morphed into anger. "You interviewed and allowed me into the PR department intentionally?"

A smile spread across Jasper's face. "Exactly. That was the only way for me to gather evidence of your impersonation of my wife.

"You've been using Imogen's identity, taking her degree, and continuing to work under her name and credentials. Those offenses alone are grounds for imprisonment."

Fear gripped Zoey, her eyes nervously darting toward her parents.

"Mr. Morrison, let's handle this rationally. It's been years, and there's no reason for further conflict. Besides, we've helped the Kingsleys through their troubles by providing a substantial sum," Marcel said calmly.

Jasper smirked. He pulled out his phone and sent a message. Shortly after, he glanced up at the trio before him. "I've been waiting for this ever since I brought your daughter into my company. It's time to put an end to this once and for all.

Marcel's expression hardened with fury. Rosalind and Zoey were visibly flustered. They scrambled to plead with Jasper for mercy. Jasper remained unmoved by their pleas.

"Mr. Morrison, what will it take to spare my daughter?" Marcel asked.

Jasper sneered, his eyes icy and unyielding, "Spare her? Not a chance."

Before long, the police arrived. The trio looked visibly shaken as they were swiftly taken into custody. Zoey's frightened cries and pleas fell on deaf ears. Jasper remained impassive.

On the ride back, Jasper's face turned grim as he received a phone call. Growing anxious, he urged the driver, "Hurry, to the space agency."

Imogen was escorted from the car by two men and led straight into the research institute of the space agency, Upon entering, she was greeted by a spacious office, filled with rows of advanced computers showcasing detailed data on space rockets.

She stood at the doorway, nervously absorbing her surroundings. In the office atrium, a dozen people gathered in earnest discussion, their expressions grave and brows furrowed with concern.

"Terry, we've brought Imogen Kingsley," one of the men announced respectfully.

Instantly, all eyes turned toward Imogen. She felt the weight of their scrutiny, her fingers anxiously fidgeting with her clothing, her breaths coming in uneven intervals.

Terry Gibbons, a fellow of the space agency's research institute, called out to the woman modifying data at the center, "Professor Winkler, we've found the person who set up these data."

Mila swiveled her chair toward the door.

"Bring her in," Terry instructed.

Imogen felt a surge of tension as she stepped into the office. Mila scrutinized Imogen intently, an approving smile gracing her features. Terry appeared taken aback. "You're Imogen Kingsley?"

Imogen gulped, nodding meekly.

Terry's voice grew firm and cold. "I was expecting someone older. Do you understand that what you've done is illegal? It could lead to imprisonment." Imogen pursed her lips, her heart pounding. Her voice trembled as she began, "I..."

Mila stood up, her tone gentle and comforting. "Terry, let's not scare her."

Then, she reached out her hand and introduced herself. "Hi, I'm Mila Winkler, a chemist working with the Trailblazer rocket research and development team."

Imogen promptly shook Mila's hand and responded respectfully, "Hello, I'm Imogen Kingsley."

"Trailblazer has faced several issues, leading to delays in its launch schedule. Data collected at its lowest point is inherently prone to discrepancies right from the beginning.

"Previously, a colleague has successfully implemented multiple adjustments that significantly improved Trailblazer's performance."

Chapter 1040

Imogen kept her focus on Mila as she spoke, quietly impressed to see that not all chemists fit the stereotypical image of being bald. Some were mature, attractive, and charming women like Mila.

"Later, more discrepancies emerged in the subsequent data. We had hoped our colleague would publicly rectify and address the flaws, but he struggled to manage it.

"Upon further questioning, he eventually confessed that the earlier data had been patched up by a part-time worker named Imogen Kingsley," Mila clarified.

Imogen nervously addressed Mila, Terry, and the senior officials from the space agency. "I understand I made a mistake. Please, don't report me! I'l return the money. I'm ready to draft a statement or sign an agreement-whatever is necessary. I promise to keep all previous data confidential!" "You've misunderstood, Imogen. We're not looking to send you to prison. We simply need your help in identifying the issue with this data," Mila said calmly.

Imogen was stunned, glancing first at Mila and then around at the others.

Terry pulled out a chair. "Please, have a seat."

Bewildered, Imogen stared incredulously at the large screen in front of her. With everyone's attention on her, she nervously took a seat, grabbed the mouse, and began carefully scrutinizing the data.

While Imogen hadn't attended Aerospace Academy, her passion for the field never faltered. She had always studied diligently.

After half an hour of effort, she finally pinpointed the issue. Bursting with excitement, she momentarily lost her composure, pointing at the data on the computer screen and exclaiming joyfully, "There it is! The error is right here."

The group leaned in to inspect. It seemed to be a small glitch in a rather unassuming line of code. While they identified the issue, fixing the bug proved to be the real challenge.

Mila leaned in toward Imogen, her tone gentle as she asked, "Imogen, could you stay and help us with this?"This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

"Sure." Imogen nodded.

A warm smile spread across Mila's face. "Thank you."

Moved by Mila's kindness, Imogen promptly replied, "It's my pleasure."

Jasper arrived at the space agency just as Imogen emerged, ready to hail a taxi Quickly exiting his car, Jasper hurried over and took hold of her arm, his face etched with worry. He was out of breath, scanning her anxiously for any signs of trouble. "Imogen, are you alright?

Taken aback for a moment, Imogen relaxed upon recognizing Jasper. She reassured him. "I'm fine."

"Why were they looking for you?" Jasper asked.

Imogen gently brushed his hand away and took a small step back, her tone slightly distant. "They needed my help with some data revisions." Jasper's hand hovered briefly in the air before he resignedly lowered it. "They didn't give you a hard time, did they?"

Imogen shook her head. "No, the professors are all pretty approachable and easy to talk to."

Jasper gestured toward his car parked behind me. "Let me give you a ride home."

Imogen glanced at his luxury car, then shook her head. Her reluctance showed as she responded softly, "No, thank you. I'll take the subway." Jasper's expression dimmed with a touch of disappointment. He asked quietly, "You don't even want to ride with me anymore?"

Imogen hung her head, pondering for a moment. "I think it's better if we keep some distance. I'll arrange to move out of your place this weekend."

Jasper's expression hardened even more.

Imogen's tone became serious. "Also, when do we move forward with the divorce?"

Her words sparked anger in Jasper. He firmly took her arm and directed her into his car. Despite his urgency, his touch remained surprisingly gentle.

Imogen was caught off guard, finding herself quickly ushered into the vehicle.