Chapter 2

The next day, I was tied up and taken back to New York. On the way, I sat in the back seat with Jasper, my hands and feet bound.

The car sped along as I stared out the window, lost in thought.

Jasper turned to look at me, a cold smile on his lips, "I never imagined that after searching high and low for you, you'd be right under my nose."

The city where I had been staying, Boston, was only a 30-minute drive from New York. To hide from him these past few years, I had moved through many cities. In the end, I decided to settle in Boston, thinking the most dangerous place might also be the safest.

Jasper continued to watch me, still smiling, but his eyes were like a cold pond. "Winter, you're very clever." He raised an eyebrow, his face taking on that cat-and-mouse expression again.

I hated that look of his. He thought he would always be the winner, but I knew the outcome was far from decided.

I couldn't provoke him, at least not now.

I smiled self-mockingly, "But I still ended up in your hands."

Jasper seemed pleased with this response. He smiled faintly, "Winter, trying to like me isn't such a bad idea."

Like? How dare he even mention that word?

Those two words touched a nerve. My anger surged, and I spat at him.

"Make me like a rapist? You're dreaming. Besides, you killed my parents!"

"Winter, I've told you it's not what you think. I was just loving you," Jasper said in a low voice, anger hidden beneath his words.

Jasper didn't like me calling him a rapist. After it happened, he told me he was just caught up in the moment, that it wasn't intentional.

Not intentional? But I clearly expressed my refusal, and he still continued to assault me, ignoring my cries and pleas for help.

I laughed coldly. How many men have told girls, "I just loved you too much," knowing full well they were breaking the law, still trying to deceive and test?

It was disgusting, truly disgusting.

I felt my stomach churning, and I glared fiercely at Jasper.

Jasper curled his lip, gave me a cold look, and in the next second, he pinned me against the seat with one hand on my throat.

"Winter, out of bed, you're nothing. How dare you speak to me like that? You think too highly of yourself."

As he spoke, he increased the pressure on my throat.

I found it increasingly difficult to breathe, my face turning red from lack of oxygen. At that moment, I thought I might die right there.

But it didn't matter. Aren't men all the same? They call you baby in bed, then show their true colors once you're out of it. Especially given the relationship between me and the man before me - it was either him or me.

But at the last moment, Jasper released his grip. I gasped for air beside him. The struggle to breathe had forced tears from my eyes.

Laughing through my tears, I said, "Jasper, you'll regret keeping me by your side."

Jasper laughed too. He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at me, "I look forward to it."

His appearance reminded me of a term young girls often use these days - the "cold and aloof type," or perhaps "gentleman villain." It was indeed quite alluring. If he wasn't Jasper Gray, I might have been fascinated at that moment.

But he was Jasper Gray. He was too good at pretending. Back then, it was this image that made me think he was a good person.

It wasn't until later that I realized even handsome, clean-cut men could be villains. Especially someone like Jasper - he was rotten to the core.

I lay back in my seat, thinking to myself, Jasper, I'm looking forward to it too. After all, I've been preparing for so long. This time, I will definitely kill you.