“If you don’t take my money, then I’ll think of you as my man. However, I’ll only see you as a friend if


    you do take my money. Make your choice,” Willow said, confident that he would not take her money.


    “Willow,” Jasper gently called. Upon hearing his gentle voice, Willow choked up, thinking he was about


    to inform her of his departure. She covered her ears and said, “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to


    hear you say that you’re leaving me. If you n on saying that, then don’t say a word. After we arrive at


    the harbor, you can leave when I’m not looking.”


    While looking at her, Jasper suddenly felt his heart thumping. Leaving was something inevitable, and


    leaving Willow after staying with her and spending time together would only make his departure more


    painful for the both of them.


    He could not guarantee her a good future, so he could not promise her anything. Though he was not


    afraid of the consequences of his promises, he was afraid of hurting the woman he loved.


    When Willow turned around, she had tears running down her cheeks as she stared at the man before


    her. She put down her hands and stubbornly pursed her lips. “Are you really going to leave me?”


    “Do you need me to help you with anything else?” he asked. “Yes. I need you to stay with me. You are


    not allowed to leave.” Willow looked at him with teary eyes.


    “Miss Presgrave, I don’t need any reward, for I did all this willingly. Once we get off the boat, we won’t


    be seeing each other anymore.” After he said so, he got up and left.


    Suddenly, he heard Willow’s criesing from behind him, and he immediately stopped walking.


    Though he had turned his head to the side, he did not look back at her. In the end, he left.


    With pursed lips, Willow looked at the man she tried to keep but failed, feeling hopeless and powerless.


    That night, Willow did not appear at dinner. Meanwhile, Jasper was sitting beside the window as he


    also had no appetite. Johanna approached him with a te and said, ‘Mr. Wyatt, Miss Presgrave did


    note down for dinner. Do you mind bringing this to her?”


    Jasper shook his head and said, “You should go instead!” “From what I see, she might be hoping that


    you’ll do it.”


    “Her mood would only be worse after seeing me, Jasper remarked sensibly.


    Left with no choice, Johanna could only bring the food upstairs herself. As expected, Willow was


    standing before the floor-to-ceiling window with her arms crossed before her, thinking of something.


    “Miss Presgrave, please have something to eat!”


    “I don’t have an appetite.” Willow was telling the truth. She did not turn around because her eyes were


    red from crying, and she refused to let anyone see her in such a state.


    Having guessed Willow might have gotten into a fight or was at loggerheads with Jasper, Johanna


    could only bring the food downstairs. In the meantime, Jasper looked over and felt his heart tightening.


    Is she not nning on eating anything?


    It was the middle of the night again, and everyone else was asleep. It had been a tough expedition, so


    everyone was tired.


    Jasper was packing his bags when he heard someone knocking. Even though he knew who it was, he


    still hurried over to open the door, revealing Willow standing outside.


    “Since we’re about to go on our separate paths, why don’t we have a talk?’ Willow suggested,


    seemingly calmer now.


    After Jasper moved aside to let her in, she sat on the couch and looked at the bright moon in the sky


    through the window. “Where will you be going after this?”


    “Back to work, Jasper replied. He still had two months of leave, but once Willow returned to Averna,


    she would return to being the daughter of the Presgrave Family, and he had no reason to stay by her


    side.


    “In that case, I’ll ask you one more question. You must answer me truthfully.” Willow raised her teary


    eyes to look at him, making her seem even more pitiful. Jasper looked at her and felt slightly.


    distressed. He nodded. “Go ahead.”


    “Do you like me?” Willow asked. Having guessed that question, Jasper had previously thought about it


    too. He nodded. ‘I did.”


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    “What do you mean?” Willow pushed for an answer. “I’m an incredibly rational person who’ll never let


    anyone disturb my work. Do you understand?’ Jasper replied in a low voice.