Chapter 182 The Arrival

Atst, Chloe and her daughter were going to be reunited.

However-

Thirty minutes passed, and Grayson still hadn’t received the van he requested.

His expression was so dark it was beyond description. He was a breath away from tearing the butler bapart /bbon /bthe spot.

Samson stood there drenched in cold sweat and could only apologize. “There’s been an unexpected issue bin /bthe garage. All the locks malfunctioned. I’ve already sent someone to handle it. Please wait ba /blittle blonger/b.”

Grayson snorted coldly and called apany vehicle instead.

“Samson, if I didn’t have urgent business, I’d fire you on the spot. If this mess isn’t resolved by the time bI /breturn tomorrow, pack your things and get out.”

Meanwhile-

Scarlett had gotten into the car.

Bottled water, snacks, even sunflower seeds had been neatly prepared inside.

She picked up a biscuit, eyeing Jasper in mild surprise. “Mr. Jasper, you like sweets?”

Jasper didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Someone set you up?”

Scarlett shrugged, settled into her seat, and sighed. “The method was clean. Precise. It’s not worth exposing them yet. The punishment wouldn’t fit the offense.”

Jasper nced at the rearview mirror.

It seemed Grayson and Chloe were still standing at the front gate waiting for a car.

That kind of dy was unthinkable in a family of this status.

His lips curved slightly.

Interesting.

“You took something small and made it someone else’s problem. Once enough of these pile up, bes leverage.”

Scarlett sincerely gave him a thumbs–up. “Mr. Jasper, you really do see the big picture.”

“You nned this precisely. That’s even more impressive.”

Scarlett blinked.

iDid /iiJasper /iijust/ii… /ipliment ime/i?

She hesitated. “Wait. Mr. Jasper, were you praising me just now?”

their anger

13:46 bTue/bb, /bb12 /bbAug /b

Chapter 182 The Arrival

Jasper: “…Was I not supposed to?”

At that, Jack–still driving–burst intoughter.

Scarlett looked between them, baffled. “I honestly can’t tell if that was sarcasm or not

Jackughed so hard he pped his thigh. b“/bJasper, you’ve got people scared now. Even Pizel doesn’t bknow /bwhen you’re being serious! Hahaha!”

At the gates of Jalindale University, the campus was already buzzing. Today’spetition had drawn bthe /btop students from across the country.

Even those not participating came to watch. Some hoped to learn things no textbook could teach. bOthers /bsimply wanted to witness genius in action.

As a “local” from Jalindale, Aurora had barely stepped onto the scene when the attention swarmed her.

“Feeling confident?”

“Jalindale always takes the championship. How big of a lead are you aiming for this yeari?/ii” /i

“We heard your cousin’speting too. You’re not going easy on her, right?”

Aurora wore a wless social smile. “Don’t worry, everyone. I’ll give it my all and let fate decide. As for anything else I can’t answer that right now.”

iHmph/ii. /iShe scoffed inwardly. iGo /iieasy /iion /iimy /iicousin/ii? /iiShe’s /iiprobably /iistill /iiscrambling /iito /iifigure /ibout /bhow ito /iiget /ito bicampus/i/bbi. /i/b

Then-

“Whoa, look! A sports car!”

“Big deal–wait, holy-!”

“There’s only ONE of those in the whole country!”

Before Aurora could bask in the spotlight, the crowd around her began to disperse.

Her moment was ruined.

Furious, she stomped her heel into the ground. iWho /iithe /iihell /iiis /iiruining /iimy /imo

She turned just in time to see Scarlett stepping out of the sports car.

Her face froze.

iImpossible/i.

She’d ensured someone in charge of the garage would stall as long as possible. By the time Scarlett realized what was happening, it’d be toote.

How-?

And then she saw the driver, through the half–lowered window.

Aug

Chapter 182 The Arrival

biJasper/i/bbi. /i/b

iScarlett /iigot /ia ride… ifrom /iJasperi?! /i

Her expression turned ice–cold. Regret gripped her chest.

iThe /iiLane /iifamily /igets ivisitors /iiall /iithe /iitime. /iiOf /iicourse /iisomeone /ilike Jasper could ishow /iup unannounced. bShe /bbhad /bunderestimated that possibility.

Still-

So what if Scarlett had made it?

When it came to scores, Aurora would crush her.

Let the Lane family see for themselves what their newly returned heiress was really worth.

At the security checkpoint, the Jalindale team happened to be approaching.

Christian wore a custom–tailored whiteb coat, his family crest embroidered iat /ithe cuff. His golden- rimmed sses reflected a faint chill in his eyes.

People gasped.

Many were still talking about the new medical review published in The Leaf justst week.

Aurora’s smile returned.

She and Christian had worked together for years. Their coboration was seamless. And they were a bperfect /bmatch–on paper, in skill, and in status.

She was just waiting for him to finally break the unspoken barrier between them.

Surely, he would walk over to her and invite her to igo /ithrough the checkpoint together–just like always.

506

uy

From Ashes to Queen: Now I Call the Shots