Ch. 991..1000

Chapter 991

"Let me think about it. I'll tell you later." Imogen said.

She didn't expect much from this marriage as it lacked any emotional foundation. To her, as long as they could get by, it was enough. The marriage was merely to prove she had moved on from Ethan and also to reassure her parents.

Late at night, Imogen returned to the bedroom in her pajamas after taking her shower. As she entered the room, she saw Jasper changing clothes. His well-built physique, defined muscles, and healthy skin tone momentarily stunned her. Realizing what she was seeing, she quickly stepped back and shut the door behind her as if she had done something wrong.

Upon hearing a loud bang, Jasper looked toward the door. At that moment, his expression darkened.

Outside, Imogen's face flushed and her heart raced. She was so nervous that her breath became erratic. The image of his perfect body kept replaying in her mind, filling her thoughts with blush-inducing visions.

It wasn't like she had never seen a man with such a good body, but that was all in movies or short videos. In reality, she had also seen men bare- chested, but either much skinner or fatter.

This was her first time seeing such a handsome guy with a nice body in real life. It threw her previously calm heart into chaos. With her hands on her flushed cheeks, she took a deep breath.

Suddenly, the door opened, startling her. She looked up at Jasper, who had already changed into his pajamas.

Jasper frowned as he asked with displeasure, "Why are you hiding?"

"I..." Imogen was at a loss for words, realizing her reaction had been over the top. After all, it was just her husband changing his shirt. "My bad, I I... I'm not used to it yet."

Jasper pulled her into the room and closed the door. He said, "You don't have to apologize. Next time, if you encounter such a situation, don't run away."

"Okay."

At that moment, Imogen still wasn't able to calm down. After she entered the room, she felt the room was too small and the atmosphere was ambiguous for some reason. Everything seemed to have changed.

"Get some rest," Jasper said.

Imogen replied, "Okay."

She quickly got into bed, lying down. Jasper stood by and watched her.

Feeling his gaze on her, Imogen felt even more nervous. She gulped while pursing her lips. She felt her heart pounding as her body tensed.

She thought to herself, "Why was he standing there? Why was he looking at me like that? Did he want to have sex with me? If so, should I be reserved or take the initiative? But I have no experience, so how should I respond?

The more she thought about it, the hotter and more flustered she felt. After drawing the curtains, Jasper got into bed. He lifted the blanket and laid next to her.

The moment he got into her bed, Imogen was sure that he wanted to have sex with her. She was too nervous to speak.

Seeing Jasper turned over, Imogen was startled. She blurted out, "Can we do it with the lights off?"

Jasper was stunned. After a few seconds, he asked, "Do what?"

Imogen was confused as her face turned even redder. She turned to face him and said, "You got into my bed. Don't you want to..."

Jasper chuckled. He replied, "This blanket is mine."

Imogen looked down and realized it wasn't her blanket. Feeling embarrassed and awkward, she wished she could run away.

She quickly pushed away his blanket and apologized. "I'm sorry, I took the wrong blanket."

Sitting up, she carefully brought her own blanket from the foot of the bed. After that, she lightly laid down with her back turned to Jasper.

 

Chapter 992

Imogen bit her lower lip because she felt so embarrassed that she wanted to smack herself. The words she said just now were so ridiculous. Both of them fell silent as they were lost in their thoughts. The atmosphere in the room was very ambiguous.

Jasper then turned off the light. As the room fell into darkness, their breathing became even and steady. Jasper clearly knew what Imogen was talking about earlier, but he pretended not to understand.

This night was restless for both of them. The next morning, Imogen was =up before dawn to make breakfast. She ironed Jasper's suit and polished his shoes. After that, she prepared his lunchbox.

When Jasper woke up, he didn't see Imogen in the room. Instead, he found his neatly ironed clothes hanging in an obvious spot, which made him feel touched.

As he walked out of the room, he saw Imogen busying herself in the kitchen.

After freshening up, he headed toward the kitchen. When he walked past the dining table, he noticed the simple, yet nutritious, breakfast and a lunchbox on the table. His gaze softened as he was touched by her effort.

He knew Imogen wasn't doing all this out of deep love for him, but because she was inherently a good person.

"Imogen," Jasper called softly.

At that moment, Imogen was busy cleaning the kitchen. When she heard Jasper call her name, she turned and smiled warmly at him.

She said, "Ash, have breakfast first while the meal is still warm. I've also prepared your lunch. You can just heat it in the microwave." "What time did you get up?" Jasper asked with concern.

It must have been very early in the morning to get so many things done.

"I'm used to waking up early, so it's fine." Imogen said as she finished cleaning and took off her apron. She said slowly. "All my goods were confiscated by the city officials, but I don't want to pay the fine to get them back. I've closed my online store, so I might need to find a new job." Jasper offered, "If you don't want to work, you can just stay at home. I can support you."

Imogen said, "I have hands and feet, and I'm still young and strong, so I don't need anyone to support me.

"Besides, working isn't just about making money, it's also about realizing my self-worth and not becoming useless." Jasper asked, "Do you need help finding a job?"

Imogen shook her head and replied, "No. I can manage."

Jasper sighed softly as he looked at her with a deep gaze.

Imogen walked over and gently nudged him toward the dining table. She said, "Don't just stand there. Eat your breakfast and leave early to avoid traffic. Don't be late.

Jasper was pushed till he sat down. Imogen sat across him with her chin resting on her hands. She just stared at him while he had breakfast.

Jasper picked up his cutlery and looked at the oatmeal and handmade pancakes in front of him before looking at Imogen. He asked, "Have you eaten?"

"Yes. I had two pancakes."

"Two pancakes isn't enough. Have some more."

"My appetite is small, so I'm not hungry."

"What about your parents?" Jasper asked again.

Imogen glanced at their room. The door was already opened. "They probably went back."

Jasper asked in confusion, "Went back where?"

Imogen replied, "They went home! I heard them say that a relative at home held a banquet, so they went back to attend the banquet."

"The countryside?"

Imogen nodded and said, "Yes, the countryside. A small place in the recesses of the mountains."

Jasper nodded, not asking any further questions. Instead, he quietly ate his oatmeal.

Watching him eat with such elegance and grace, Imogen couldn't help but admire him. How could this man eat so elegantly?

Growing up in the countryside and struggling through life's challenges, a man like him should have been rough around the edges, but his innate mobility and refined demeanor made every movement captivating and poised.

Chapter 993

After breakfast, Jasper left for work. Imogen saw him off downstairs. Watching him get into the car, Imogen waved goodbye to him.

After his car drove away, only then did she head back upstairs. Despite living on the eighth floor, she didn't mind taking the stairs. She treated it as exercise.

Back at home, Imogen cleaned the house, did the laundry, and hung the clothes up to dry. After finishing all the household chores, she got ready, took her resume, and went out to look for a job.

Star Enterprise was founded by Jasper a year ago. The company primarily operated in the inte sector, including shopping platforms, online streaming, aerospace transportation, highly profitable game development, and esports teams.

Jasper, as a rising business magnate, was quite famous in the business world. He had created a billion-dollar empire in a very short time.

Some said he relied on his parents' advantages, others said he leveraged the power of his billionaire uncle, and some said he just got incredibly lucky. Everyone had different opinions, but not many people actually knew this new business tycoon.

In his large office, Jasper stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window which overlooked the bustling city below.

He wasn't concerned about multi-million dollar contracts. Instead, he was more worried about whether Imogen had found a job worth a few thousand dollars.

At that moment, his phone rang. He walked to his desk and glanced at the caller ID. It was Tyrell Sanford, a college friend of his. He answered and put the phone to his ear.

"Hello."

"Jasper, are you busy?" Tyrell asked.

Jasper asked, "I'm not busy. What's up?"

Tyrell said, "Jasper, we've been friends since college, and I have a favor to ask. Can you help me out?"

Jasper replied, "What is it?"

Tyrell said, "A friend of mine applied for a job at your company. She passed the initial interview but hasn't heard back about the second one."

Jasper chuckled. He replied, "That's the HR department's job. It's not my job."

Tyrell sighed. He pleaded, "I know you're the big boss of the whole group and don't deal with such minor things. But considering our friendship, could you do me this small favor?

"You know, I'm short, ugly, and started to go bald at a very young age. It's been tough for me to find a girlfriend. She's really important to me, Jasper! After four years of friendship in college, can't you do this little thing for me?"

Jasper smiled bitterly and replied, "Alright. What's her name? Tell me the position she's applying for." "Imogen Kingsley. She's applying for a position in aerospace transportation. I'll send you her details."

Jasper was stunned and froze in place. Imogen Kingsley? His wife? Maybe it was just a coincidence.

After the call ended, Tyrell sent

Jasper the details. Jasper sat down and opened the file. When he saw the information, he was totally stunned. The information matched his wife's exactly.

The name and the personal details were the same, except for the job application photo. Jasper checked Imogen's alma mater again. Norvania Aerospace University?

How could there be identical personal details but different people? What was going on?

Jasper immediately called HR. He asked, "Is there an applicant named Imogen Kingsley?"

"Yes, Mr. Morrison."

"Notify her to come in for a second interview tomorrow and bring her to my office. I want to see her personally."

"Understood."

Chapter 994

Imogen spent the whole day at the job market, submitting numerous resumes, but heard nothing back.

She graduated from a technical college with a degree in "Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and Management", a highly specialized field that no companies seemed interested in.

Her dream was to work in the aerospace industry, but her qualifications were not enough. She was stuck between aiming too high and settling too low.

Just as she was about to give up and go back to running her online store, an old classmate called.

"Imogen, let's meet up. A bunch of our high school friends are having a reunion."

Just as she was about to decline, the caller added, "A lot of our classmates have become big bosses. They're doing great."

Imogen thoughtworking was crucial for finding a job, so maybe her classmates could help her out. After some consideration, she agreed.

Several men and women were gathered in the luxurious hotel suite of Phoenicia Grand Hotel. As Imogen walked into the room, she was greeted by the class monitor from high school, Drake Coffey.

"Imogen, our beauty queen! It's been a long time," Drake greeted as he shook her hands.

Imogen smiled warmly and exchanged pleasantries with her old classmates. Everyone greeted her cheerfully. Her former best friend, Scarlett, was also there at the time.

After sitting down, a classmate asked curiously, "Imogen, Scarlett said you're married!"

Imogen took a sip of water and replied calmly, "Yes, I am."

"How come you didn't invite us to your wedding?"

Imogen replied, "We didn't have a ceremony."

Another classmate inquired, "Where's your husband from? Do we know him?"

Imogen said, "You don't know him."

A nosy classmate probed further, "What does your husband do? Can we meet him sometime?"

Imogen smiled but said nothing. She just nodded.

At that moment, Scarlett chimed in with a teasing tone, "Her husband is a real estate consultant. You know, the kind who calls people every day, asking if they want to see a property."

Everyone chuckled at this. Although Scarlett looked sympathetic, she actually was mocking Imogen.

She added, "Back then, Imogen was

the prettiest and best student in our class. It's a shame she couldn't

into college and ended up at a

no-name technical school,

Since

graduating, she hasn't even found a decent job."

All of her classmates fell silent in shock.

One classmate said, "Imogen, you haven't found a job all these years?"

Another added, "No way! How can you be struggling so much?"

A third exclaimed, "You were our teacher's favorite student. He had high hopes for you. It's really surprising how things turned out."

Everyone began commenting on Imogen. She was indeed the least successful among them.

Some had become big bosses,

some worked for state-owned enterprises, and others were doctors, lawyers, and professionals in various fields. Even Scarlett had become a well-known blogger,

earning over a hundred thousand a month.

Imogen kept drinking her water, enduring the remarks laced with sarcasm and false concern.

The reunion was nothing more than a farce. It was simply a smallworking circle. Apart from that, it was also a circle for those with a little bit of wealth to compare and socialize.

As the dishes arrived, people ate, drank, and chatted. There was a slightly tipsy man who ignored all decorum and said, "Imogen, if you had chosen me back then, you'd be living in a luxury apartment and riding in a fancy car now."

Everyone laughed. Imogen felt embarrassed and humiliated, but she still forced a smile.

The man continued, "Everyone thought you and Ethan were a couple. You turned down a lot of good men for him, right? In the end, he married Scarlett. Isn't that ironic?"

Scarlett said as she smiled, "Hey, my husband and I are living happily now. Don't joke about my husband!"

Chapter 995

Imogen's classmate said, "We know you're happy now, Scarlett. You're pregnant and you will be a mom soon. Not only that, your husband is a manager at a big company. You're living a good life!"

Imogen felt increasingly uncomfortable listening to them gloat at her expense, but she didn't say a word. She just sipped her drink, ate her food, and smiled when someone spoke to her.

She had hoped to leverage her connections to get a job, but now she realized it was just wishful thinking. She was merely a joke for these old classmates to amuse themselves with.

Imogen wanted to finish eating and leave as soon as possible, so she kept her head down to eat her meal.

At that moment, Scarlett made an infuriating suggestion. She said, "Imogen just got married and didn't invite us to attend the ceremony. How about we treat this dinner as her wedding banquet, and the meal is on you?"

The classmates quickly agreed, "Yeah, that's a great idea! We'll send you the money as a wedding gift later."

Imogen was stunned. At that moment, the food in her mouth turned tasteless. She slowly put down her cutlery and looked at the table laden with gourmet food and drinks, feeling completely bewildered.

This was a five-star hotel, so this meal would cost at least tens of thousands. Money as a wedding gift?

According to Phoenicia's customs, each person might give five hundred, totaling only about five thousand for ten people. She might have been poor, but she wasn't stupid.

Just now, she had endured all the mocking and ridicule, but she wouldn't let them take advantage of her financially. After all, her dignity really was all she had, especially since she was poor.

Imogen threw her cutlery down and took a big gulp of her drink. She smiled as she said to everyone, "Do I look like an easy mark to you?" Everyone smiled awkwardly.

Scarlett added, "Imogen, we're all old classmates. Why are you being so harsh?"

"Harsh?" Imogen wasn't afraid of being embarrassed. She said calmly, "Didn't you all just say that I haven't found a job in years and that my husband is just a salesman?

"How could I possibly afford to treat

you to a meal at a five-star

restaurant? Should I use the few

hundred dollars in my wallet, or are

you alt planning to give me tending

thousand dollars each as a wedding gift?"

The room filled with awkward laughter.

A classmate teased, "Imogen, why are you getting so upset?"

Imogen snorted. She replied, "I'm not upset. I'm just stating facts. If I'm treating you all to this meal as my wedding banquet, then each of you should give me at least ten thousand dollars."

The classmate who had professed

his liking for mogen immediately pulled out his phone. He said, "Imogen, show me your QR code. I'll transfer you ten thousand dollars right now. No, make it a hundred thousand... I have plenty of money."

Without hesitation, Imogen took out her phone, opened the QR code, and placed it right in front of him. Everyone was stunned, including the man. They had all assumed she wouldn't accept because people usually wouldn't want to be embarrassed.

But Imogen didn't want to show them respect or fake herself in front of them. If he dared to offer a hundred thousand, she would take it.

The man's eyes darted around the room. When he looked at Imogen's phone, he was hesitating. He asked another classmate, "How much are you planning to give?"

"I... I just bought a house outright last month, so I don't have any cash right now. I'll ask my accountant to transfer it to Imogen tomorrow." "My wife controls our money, so I need to discuss it with her first."

"I..." A female classmate was flustered. She shifted the topic to Scarlett. "Scarlett, you're Imogen's best friend, and your husband is her best friend too. How much are you two planning to give?"

Scarlet smiled awkwardly. She

replied as she patted her protruding belly, "This little one in my belly

hasn't even been born yet and has already drained our funds. Of course, we'll give a gift, but let's stick to the local custom of 500 dollars."

Chapter 996

"500. I'll give 500 too..."

Suddenly, everyone eagerly took out their phones, ready to transfer the money to Imogen.

Pulling her phone back, Imogen stood up and said, "You guys don't have to transfer anything. Your gift money can cover the cost of this meal.

"If it's not enough, whoever organized this gathering should make up the difference. I'm broke and can't pay a cent."

With that, Imogen grabbed her bag and left. A few classmates panicked.

Two female classmates who were somewhat closer to Imogen caught up with her in the hallway. They pulled her aside and said, "Imogen, the reunion isn't over yet. Leaving like this isn't appropriate."

The other was defending Imogen. She said, "Scarlett did this on purpose. She's been targeting you all night. If you leave because you're humiliated by her, you're playing right into her hands."

"Exactly. You shouldn't let them mock you like this."

Imogen resigned. She said with a faint smile, "I appreciate your concern. Maybe I'm just not suitable to be at these kinds of places and these kinds of occasions. I..."

But before Imogen could finish her sentence, a familiar male voice called out, "Imogen?"

She and her classmates turned toward the voice. At that moment, Imogen was stunned.

Jasper was dressed in a suit, looking dapper and elegant. He had just come out from another private room, accompanied by several equally well- dressed men, including some well-known business tycoons.

Imogen guessed that he was having social activities or treating clients to a meal, but having social activities at a five-star hotel seemed extravagant. Jasper turned around to face his companions and said, "You all may go back first. I have something to take care of." "Yer, Mr-"

Jasper immediately interrupted, "Don't talk anymore. Just go back." They nodded respectfully before leaving.

Jasper walked up to Imogen. Then, he asked with a smile, "What are you doing here?"

Imogen felt down as she replied softly, "I'm attending my high school reunion, but it's over now. I—"

"It's not over," her classmate interrupted. She was very excited as she kept staring at Jasper's handsome face.

She walked toward Imogen and held her arms. She shyly asked, "Imogen, who is this? Aren't you going to introduce him to us?"

Before Imogen could speak, another

female classmate stepped up to Jasper and extended her hand. She greeted Jasper with a smile. "I'm Noemi Britt, a high school classmate of tmogen."

The other female classmate also greeted him. Jasper shook hands with each of them. He smiled as he said, "I'm Asher, Imogen's husband." "Husband?" The two classmates were shocked.

Imogen hurried over to Jasper's side. Tugging at his sleeve, she said, "The reunion is over. Let's go home."

"It's not over yet," the classmates

insisted, not wanting to miss this precious opportunity. They pulled Jasper and Imogen back inside and said, "Since we ran into each other, let's get to know more about each other. Come on. Sit with us."

Jasper was curious to meet Imogen's classmates, so he allowed himself to be led inside.

Imogen nervously pulled his hand and said, "Don't go in. Let's leave."

Jasper was puzzled. Sensing her distress, he asked, "What's wrong?"

Imogen shook her head as she didn't know how to explain the situation to him. She was okay if she was being mistreated, but she didn't want Jasper to face their insults and mockery.

The two female classmates were no pushovers, so they were very enthusiastic as they pulled Jasper into the room.

They energetically announced, "Everyone, meet Asher. He is our beautiful Imogen's husband."

The room fell silent as all eyes were on Jasper in shock and admiration.

Chapter 997

Jasper's innate air of nobility and elegance was so striking that no one could associate him with being a mere salesman.

Imogen walked up to Jasper and tugged at his sleeve. She said quietly, "Let's go." She couldn't bear to see her newlywed husband mocked by her group of tactless ex-classmates.

Jasper seemed to understand Imogen's thoughts. He gracefully pulled out a chair for her and sat down beside her. All eyes remained glued to Jasper. One of their married classmates teased, "Imogen, I never expected your husband to be so handsome. You're really lucky!"

Imogen forced an awkward smile.

"Your husband is way better looking than Ethan," another classmate said.

Scarlett's face instantly darkened. She retorted unhappily, "No matter how handsome he is, he's still just a salesman showing people houses. How can he compare to Ethan?"

At that moment, a male classmate became more animated. He chimed in, "Yeah. Looks aren't everything for a man. He needs ability, strength, wealth, and... stamina."

They burst into laughter at the sexual innuendo. Everyone understood and laughed at the vulgar joke, except for Imogen and Jasper.

A male classmate, who had a crush on Imogen, quickly explained after the laughter, "Mr. Asher, don't be offended. We're not saying you lack stamina. After all, ability and wealth are visible, but stamina isn't something others can easily see."

Another male classmate said as he laughed, "Imogen probably knows best."

Imogen's face turned pale with embarrassment. She grabbed Jasper's hand, intending to leave.

As she made a move, Jasper held her hand then pressed it gently against his thigh, signaling for her to sit still. Imogen was taken aback.

As Imogen turned to look at him, she saw Jasper was wearing a subtle and meaningful smile.

He wanted to join them because he

wanted to meet Imogen's friends and get to know about her past to build a good rapport. But

now, it wasn't necessary anymore.

"Come on, Mr. Asher, have a drink," a male classmate said as he poured a glass of wine for Jasper. He continued, "Try this. This wine is worth 20 thousand. A singlesip is worth hundreds."

Jasper picked up the glass and said, "Thanks."

The male classmates continued, "You've probably never had such good wine before, right?"

Imogen struggled to keep her composure, almost wanting to flip the table. Jasper gently massaged her hand before taking the glass to his nose to take a whiff.

At that moment, everyone was watching him. They seemed to be expecting a look of surprise on his face. They thought that he was naive about the finer things in life.

They also expected him, as a salesman, to say something nice in his customary fawning flattery.

However, Jasper didn't drink the wine. Instead, he put the glass down and said, "I don't usually drink this kind of wine."

"Ha ha! Is it because you're so used to drinking fake wine that you can't even tell good wine apart?" the man mocked.

"Hey, Devin Hinton, watch your

mouth!" Imogen snapped because she was unable to suppress her anger any longer. The room

suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked at the furious Imogen.

"Imogen, don't get upset." Devin teased.

Jasper took out his phone and made a call. He instructed, "Bring my wine to room 6."

After putting down the phone, he leaned close to Imogen. He soothed her gently. "Don't get angry. It's not worth it."

Devin asked, "Oh, Mr. Asher has his own wine here?"

Chapter 998

"Yeah. I had this wine stored here from a client event because we didn't finish it," Jasper said. Then, he picked up the wine in front of him. He glanced at it and set it down again.

He continued, "I'm not used to this kind of wine."

Devin sneered as he mocked, "You're not used to a wine that's worth 20 thousand? You must have had too much cider, right?"

He thought Jasper was bluffing, so he was awaiting his downfall. Meanwhile, others were also snickering quietly. Just then, the hotel manager appeared, pushing a cart with a bottle of wine.

With everyone's attention fixed on him, the manager carefully presented the bottle to Jasper.

The manager asked, "Mr. Asher, shall I open it?" Jasper nodded.

The manager expertly opened the bottle, creating a sense of ceremony. Everyone in the room was taken aback, staring wide-eyed at the bottle in the manager's hands.

Imogen didn't drink alcohol and was unfamiliar with wine, so she didn't know its price. The only thing she knew was that the reaction of these people was too exaggerated.

Imogen looked at the wine, leaned close to Jasper, and asked quietly, "How much is this wine?"

Jasper replied, "It's not expensive at all, but you can't buy it even if you have money, which is why they're so shocked."

Oh... Imogen believed him without question. The manager poured a small amount of wine into a glass and handed it to Jasper. Jasper took it and passed it to Imogen.

Imogen quickly pushed it back. She said, "I don't drink."

Jasper pursed his lips as he smiled softly. He asked the others, "Anyone who wants a drink, just let the manager know, and he'll pour you a glass." Eyeing the 70 thousand bottle of wine, Devin lost his confidence. He gulped and pursed his lips. Then, he asked, "Is this your client's wine?" Jasper took a sip before asking with a smile, "Are you saying this hotel is embezzling their clients' property?"

Everyone fell silent. A bottle of wine that was worth 70 thousand was something even the hotel owner wouldn't dare to misuse.

After Jasper had his drink, the arrogance of the group dissipated. Their voices softened, and their previously superior demeanor disappeared.

The manager went around offering

the wine, but no one dared to accept

it. They feared they might have to

split the cost of such an expensive bottle.

Returning to Jasper's side, the manager asked, "Mr. Asher, should we store the wine or would you like to take it with you?"

Jasper asked Imogen, "Does your dad drink?"

Imogen replied, "Yes, he does."

"Then let's take it home for him."

"Sure," Imogen immediately agreed.

Since she thought the wine wasn't expensive and Jasper could afford it, she didn't want to spoil the mood.

As the manager packed the wine, Jasper turned to him and said, "Give them a 50% discount on their bill."

"Sure, Mr. Asher," the manager responded respectfully.

Everyone was stunned. Their perception of Imogen's husband as a salesman was completely altered.

He was handsome, drank 70

thousand dollar wine, and was able

to command the city's most luxurious hotel that was owned by the richest man, Zach, to give a discount so easily? Who exactly was this man?

The subtle yet powerful, show of status left Devin and the others who had mocked Imogen earlier feeling embarrassed. They had mocked her for marrying poorly, but nowat was clear they were the stupid ones.

Feeling the sting of the earlier comments, the atmosphere became awkward. At that moment, some very observant classmates approached Jasper.

They asked with respect, "Mr. Asher, could I add you as a friend?"

"I'm thinking of buying a house soon. Could we exchange contacts?"

Chapter 999

"Mr. Asher, which sales office do you work at?"

However, Jasper refused them all without hesitation. "I don't discuss business after hours. Sorry."

A salesman refusing to add contacts and not talking business after work? Everyone was stunned, and even Imogen found it strange. But then she thought, maybe he was just standing up for her, not wanting to do business with her tactless old classmates. How admirable! Jasper took Imogen's hand and stood up. He said, "We live far away, so I'll take Imogen home to rest now. Enjoy yourselves."

After that, he picked up her bag, slung it over his shoulder, and led her out. As he walked past the manager, he took the expensive wine with him. Some still couldn't believe what they had seen, so they followed them out. They confirmed that Jasper and Imogen indeed left with the 70 thousand dollar bottle of wine.

To verify the discount, Devin quickly went to pay the bill. Unexpectedly, the hotel really did give them a 50% discount just as Jasper instructed. Devin was astonished. He asked, "Who is he? How can he get a 50% discount at Phoenicia Grand Hotel? That's insane!"

Someone curiously asked Scarlett, "Scarlett, you're Imogen's best friend. Do you know anything about her husband? What's his background?" Scarlett forced an awkward smile and shook her head. She said, "I'm not familiar with her husband. I heard he's from the countryside. He has no car, no house, and no savings. He also has a father with late-stage cancer."

Everyone exchanged glances.

As they stepped out of the hotel, a luxury car pulled up and stopped in front of Jasper. Jasper opened the door for Imogen, but he was pulled aside. Imogen asked him cautiously, "Why did you order this kind of car?"

Jasper frowned. He asked, "What's wrong with this car?"

"This luxury car costs twice as much as a regular one."

Jasper resigned as he smiled. Leading her into the car, he found an excuse, "I selected the wrong type by mistake. Since it's already ordered, let's just ride it."

They sat side by side in the car. Jasper slowly looked down at Imogen's fair and delicate hand. As he looked at it, he gulped, wanting to hold it. Back at the hotel, when she took the initiative to hold his hand, his heart raced like crazy. Holding her hand made him nervous and his heart raced.

Taking a deep breath, Jasper mustered his courage to move his hand toward hers.

Imogen was still thinking about the reunion. As Jasper was about to hold her hand, Imogen suddenly withdrew her hand.

She asked curiously, "Ash, how did you get the hotel manager to give you a discount?"

Jasper explained, "The manager is a friend of mine."

"That's all?"

"It's just an employee discount. Of course, it worked."

Imogen smiled lightly. Lowering her head, she said, "I never want to attend such ridiculous class reunions again."

Jasper asked, "Was this your first time?"

Imogen replied with a tinge of sadness, "Yes. The first and the last."

As Jasper gazed at her delicate profile, he was touched by her subtle loneliness and sorrow. Mustering his courage, he gently placed his hand on hers, with his fingers closing softly around her delicate palm.

Imogen trembled slightly, freezing in place. The warmth of his hand fett like an electric current passing through her. She was so nervous that her heart was poundinglike crazy.

The air in the car became hot as it felt like the temperature was rising.

Chapter 1000

Imogen knew that she was Jasper's wife, so holding hands with him was perfectly normal. Yet, she didn't understand why her heart was racing, leaving her flustered. She also instinctively pulled her hand away.

To Jasper, her reaction was a blow to his pride. Jasper didn't say anything but slowly retracted his hand. He placed his hand on his thigh as he gazed out the window.

Imogen lowered her head without saying anything because she was trying to calm her restless emotions.

Back at home, Imogen walked in front of Jasper. After climbing to the eighth floor, they went inside the house to greet Imogen's parents.

Imogen placed the bottle of wine in a comer before heading to her room.

Jasper sat on the couch, loosened his tie, and watched Imogen move in and out of the room until she finally went into the bathroom to shower.

Gregory walked out of his room in his pajamas.

'Dad," Jasper greeted politely as he sat up straight.

Gregory sat down next to Jasper. He said, "You're back late tonight."

Jasper replied, "Yes. I had a social activity. Imogen also had a class reunion, so we got back late."

'I save some food for you two. Do you want to have some?" Gregory asked kindly.

Jasper quickly declined. "It's okay, Dad. We've already eaten."

Gregory patted his shoulder as he said, "Alright, get some rest after your shower. I'm heading to bed now."

Jasper suddenly remembered something. He said, "Dad, there's something I want to ask you.

Just as Gregory was about to stand up, he sat down again. He asked, "What is it?"

Jasper glanced toward the bathroom to ensure Imogen was still inside. Then, he asked quietly, "Why didn't Imogen get into college after her entrance exams and end up at a technical school instead?"

Gregory sighed deeply. He was silent for a moment before speaking, "Has Imogen told you about it?"

Jasper neither confirmed nor denied it. He just watched Gregory quietly.

Thinking that Jasper knew, Gregory said regretfully, "It was our foolishness that ruined Imogen's future."

"What happened?'

"Imogen got accepted into Norvania Aerospace University, but her spot was taken by someone else. She didn't receive any admission notices from any university, so she had to settle for a technical school to study her favorite subject.

*She had chances to go for a master's and Ph.D., but due to several major setbacks in our family, she had neither the money nor the time to continue her studies and had to stop studying."

Jasper clenched his fists to suppress his anger. He angrily asked, "If her spot was stolen. why didn't you report it? Why didn't you fight back?"

"We only found out a few years ago, and the other family is wealthy and powerful. I heard that her father is a government official. We couldn't fight them.'

Jasper couldn't believe such a thing could be covered up. He stated angrily, "If you are not wrong, why would you be afraid of fighting back?"

Gregory shook his head. He sighed and said. "We already took the money."

Jasper was stunned.

Gregory continued, "When Imogen discovered this, she was furious and wanted to see the woman who ruined her future. She wanted to sue her until she lost every last penny, but my wife and I were so dumb that we took a large sum of money from them and used it to buy this second-hand apartment."

Jasper was speechless.

Gregory said, "When Imogen found out, she was livid, but it was too late. We were so foolish and incompetent that she had to compromise with fate."

Jasper was furious listening to Gregory's explanation. There was a saying, "Knowledge changes fate, and education changes lives", Imogen didn't lose to herself but to her circumstances.

She was a girl with dreams and great ambitions who ended up yielding to a life of mediocrity and poverty.