Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism



With her earnings over the past months, Mandy had made as much as some office workers make in a year. What more could she want?

"Thanks for all the support. I know there's been talk since you put me in charge of Room 303. So maybe it's time to hand it over. Whoever's next in line can take it. It's not that I don't want to manage it anymore, but I don't want to hog the opportunity. Also, I won't be coming next month."

"What?"

Mandy gave a small bow. "I appreciate the chance you gave me. I've saved enough to cover my needs. I want to focus on my studies now."

It was uncommon.

Most women who worked in the nightlife industry found it hard to go back to a simpler lifestyle after getting used to high earnings. But Mandy was different.

"Well, it's your choice. Just make sure you won't regret it."

"I won't."

Mandy worked for the rest of the month at Mystique and never returned after that.

Her absence didn't make much of a difference to Mystique.

No one asked where she went.

Not even Jasper.

Time flew by.

Jasper and his friends graduated from Toland University, and he decided to continue his studies abroad.

After their farewell drinks and a final meal together, Jasper headed to Wiltonshire. Hayden and the rest followed their paths.

The memories of his time with Violeta at Toland University felt like a forgotten film, sealed away in Jasper's mind.

In Wiltonshire, he met new people and returned to his usual routine.

He had tried to find her in the crowd, but he was met with disappointment. She was like a needle in a haystack, hard to find but unique. With the rise of the inte, Jasper didn't need to return home to keep up with Violeta's life.

She had made waves in the domestic entertainment industry.

In Wiltonshire, Jasper found himself trapped, just as he had once been in the tennis club's lounge.

He stayed in a bigger but equally confining place, avoiding the things he didn't want to face.

But eventually, life caught up with him.

His family sent people to find him several times. Under the weight of their pressure, Jasper finally agreed to return home.

Word of his return spread quickly to his friends.

That day, they started chatting in their group after a long time of silence.

Jasper re-recorded his voice message three times before he sent it.

"You must be kidding, Vio. You've got the influence now and don't need my help. You're the company's goldmine. I'm the one who should be sucking up to you! If you need anything, just say the word

The transition of power went smoothly.

AQUMS

But Jasper wasn't ready to take charge yet, so he suggested spending two years at Apex to get back into the swing of things and slowly take on more responsibility.

UMS

His family was content as long as he was willing to come back.

Apex Entertainment was already a well-established company, so his father allowed him to go there for a few years.

In the end, whether he was dragged there or went by his own will, he was still heading toward the same destination.

Once at Apex, Jasper didn't do anything major.

He had a special assistant named Jeffrey Sarratt handling most of his work.

After a relaxed six months, Evelina joined Apex.

To Jasper, her clumsy attempts to impress him were like watching a child's play. He didn't even bother to expose it.

However, he needed someone to help him maintain stability with his family, and the pressure to get married was looming over him.

Honestly, no man would turn away a beautiful woman.

So, Jasper decided to go along with Evelina's game.

It had been a while since he last visited Mystique after his time abroad.

That night, he walked back into Mystique. The place had been renovated two years ago, and the second floor was no longer how he remembered it. Time had passed.

Most of his old friends, who used to run in the same social circles, were starting families or focused on their careers.

Graduation had placed everyonenovelbin

back in their proper roles in society.

Those who once called him by his first name now mostly refer to him as Mr. Weekley, and very few lived as carefree as he did.