Chapter 164

Chapter 164

Jasmine cried for a long time.

Her broken sobs sounded even more sorrowful in the cold corridor.

"Jas, why are you crying like this? What happened? Is Mrs. Lane's condition bad?"

Jasmine looked up.

She saw Mindy had appeared beside her at some point.

Jasmine raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, her eyes red and full of exhaustion and bitterness. She shook her head. "Mrs. Lane is still unconscious. No signs of waking."

Mindy was even more confused. "Then what are you crying about? Why did you suddenly break down like this?"

Unable to resist repeated questioning, Jasmine ultimately couldn't suppress the grievance in her heart and told her everything that had happened.

After hearing it all, Mindy immediately frowned and encouraged her. "Jas, you can't just passively give up like this! The online news may not be true, and even if it is, you need to go find Neville in person and ask him face-to-face for a clear explanation!"

Jasmine smiled bitterly, her eyes full of dejection and despair. "It's useless. I can't reach him. His phone won't connect, no word at all. He's completely disappeared for forty-eight hours. He's determined to get engaged to Grace."

Seeing her defeated appearance, Mindy instantly saw through to her heart. "Jas, wake up. The reason you're so unwilling to let go isn't because you can't move past this relationship—it's because you've already fallen deeply in love with Neville."

Jasmine's whole body froze, her pupils trembling slightly. She shook her head in confusion. "I... I don't know. I never thought about it that way."

"You're just too close to see clearly." Mindy's tone was certain, sharply pointing it out. "If it were just ordinary affection, if he announced his engagement, you'd at most feel disappointed. You wouldn't be like this. You feel wronged and you're breaking down because you've already quietly fallen in love with him. You just won't admit it to yourself."

Those words struck like thunder, instantly awakening the confused Jasmine.

"And think carefully—Neville is absolutely not that kind of person. He acts honorably. He always sees things through and exercises judgment appropriately. He would never disappear without telling you, and he definitely wouldn't secretly announce an engagement behind your back, leaving a mess for you to deal with alone."

"This is too unreasonable. There must be hidden circumstances in his sudden disappearance. Most likely he encountered some inescapable difficult situation and simply has no way to actively contact you or explain to the outside world."

A single word awakens the dreamer.

Jasmine's confused thoughts instantly cleared. All the resentment and disappointment in her heart completely dissipated, replaced by deep worry. She suddenly understood that Neville always kept his word. It was impossible for him to betray her so shamelessly.

His current silence and disappearance were most likely beyond his control.

"You're right." Jasmine's eyes gradually became firm. "He must be trapped by something. Maybe right now he needs help even more than I do."

Mindy saw her pull herself together and struck while the iron was hot, encouraging her. "Since you've figured it out, don't sit here consuming yourself. Go demand an answer for your own feelings. Go find him and get to the truth. Even if in the end he really has changed his heart and doesn't want to see you, once you have your answer, you can turn around and leave gracefully without regrets."

Jasmine nodded heavily. The confusion in her eyes dissipated.

Jasmine immediately contacted Drake and had him handle her discharge paperwork.

Drake quickly arrived at the hospital, preparing to accompany Jasmine through the discharge process.

On the return journey, Jasmine said, "Drake, I don't think Neville disappeared on purpose. Most likely he's being held somewhere and doesn't have the authority to communicate externally, which is why we can't reach him at all."

Drake nodded heavily after hearing this, his face full of agreement, his tone certain. "Ms. Hale, I've followed Mr. Cooper for years. I understand him better than anyone. He's most particular about boundaries and bottom lines, most serious about promises and responsibilities. He absolutely couldn't do something behind your back."

Jasmine immediately decided. "Go to the Cooper Estate. We'll go there personally, see him face-to-face, and get to the truth."

Drake didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately turned the car around and headed straight for the Cooper Estate.

The car stopped steadily outside the Cooper Estate gates. The two had just gotten out when they were immediately stopped by security guards on duty, heavily guarded, not giving an inch.

Drake stepped forward, his tone serious. "We need to see Mr. Neville Cooper. Please notify him."

The security guard's attitude was cold, his tone firm and dismissive. "I'm sorry. Mr. Cooper isn't receiving visitors. Without Mrs. Jean Cooper's permission, no one is allowed entry. Please leave immediately."

Jasmine stepped forward to confront them, her eyes firm. "I have urgent business with him. It's extremely important. I must see him in person. Please notify him immediately."

"There's no need to notify anyone." The guard's attitude was domineering, not budging an inch. "Mrs. Jean Cooper has already instructed us that starting today, you two are strictly forbidden from setting foot in the Cooper Estate. Leave now and don't cause trouble here."

The guards' obvious cover-up attitude further confirmed their suspicions.

Why wouldn't they let anyone see him?

Jasmine was now even more convinced that Neville hadn't willingly cut off contact—he was being completely confined by Jean, isolated from all external communication.

Jasmine's heart was both anxious and certain. She could only grit her teeth and confront them firmly. "I must see Neville today. You have no right to block me arbitrarily!"

Inside the house, Jean watched the argument and commotion at the gate through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Seeing Jasmine refusing to give up and insisting on forcing her way in, alarm and panic instantly rose in her heart. She was most afraid of Jasmine making a big scene and attracting onlookers. This wasn't something good—if someone with ulterior motives saw it and the matter blew up, everyone would be in big trouble!

Jean immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and issued harsh orders. "No matter what, absolutely do not let them in! If they force their way, throw them out immediately. Don't give them any opportunity!"

Having received their orders, the security guards instantly became emboldened, their attitudes increasingly arrogant and domineering. They stepped forward and directly shoved the two of them, threatening viciously, "I advise you to be smart and get lost now! If you dare take one more step forward, don't blame us for not being polite—we'll break your legs!"

Jasmine stopped retreating. To force out the trapped Neville, she directly turned around, grabbed the megaphone she'd prepared from the car, held it in her hand, and shouted loudly toward the Cooper Estate, deliberately making her voice carry throughout the entire block.

"Neville! Come out!"

"Now that you've gained power and hold a high position, you've thrown all your past promises to me behind you, trampling them like empty words?"

"If you really want to get engaged to Grace, why don't you dare see me or explain in person? You only hide in the background, letting others make decisions for you and speak for you!"

"You said you loved me, but then you turn around and get engaged to another woman. Are you even a man? If you're a man, come out and see me face-to-face and make things clear!"

Drake stood to the side, mouth agape, watching the usually gentle Jasmine, who now looked like a fierce lioness full of fighting spirit. He couldn't help but swallow hard.

Jasmine was not to be messed with!