The Bride He Took For Granted novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48

At the same time, Jason and Elise were having dinner at a small noodle shop at the end of the block.

They each ordered a bowl of braised beef noodle soup, and Elise added some skewers, a couple of side dishes, and drinks.

While they waited for the food, Elise felt a little awkward. She had no idea what to talk about with Jason.

Jason seemed just as uncomfortable, his gaze shifting everywhere but toward her.

It was the first time he’d ever had dinner alone with a woman.

And that woman was Elise.

He had never even imagined something like this happening.

Elise finally broke the silence with the safest topic she could think of.

“Echoes of Will goes into trial launch tomorrow. How are the pre-registrations looking?”

The moment she brought up work, Jason visibly relaxed.

Better than we expected.”

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Chapter 48

“That’s good.”

The silence threatened to settle over them again, so Jason continued.

“Honestly, I never wanted to partner with a platform like Firefly Glow. Novatech has had a successful game before, so we already have some name recognition. We’d make more money promoting the game ourselves than splitting the profits with Firefly.”

He sighed. “But Landon disagreed. He was worried we’d lose everything again, like we did with our first game.”

Back then, Landon hadn’t fallen for Elise yet, and she wasn’t working at Novatech Global.

But Elise knew that first game well.

She had downloaded it and played it all the way through just to support Landon.

Their food arrived soon after.

Elise handed Jason a fork and spoon.

“Crossing Fate was such a shame. The world was beautiful, and

the whole game had this really immersive feel.”

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Jason took off his glasses, which had fogged up from the steam rising off the noodles.

“There wasn’t much we could do. The numbers were terrible. Landon doesn’t even like talking about it anymore.”

Elise twirled a few noodles around her fork but didn’t take a

bite.

Something shifted in her expression.

Then she suddenly asked, “Does Landon own all the rights to Crossing Fate?”

Jason chewed, then nodded.

Elise absently rested her fork against her lips, lost in thought, before lowering her head and quietly starting to eat.

Jason ate slowly.

Every so often, he glanced at Elise, and even now, sitting across from her like this felt strangely unreal.

He was three years older than Elise and Landon.

When Elise had first been brought back to Los Angeles, Landon had asked Jason to go with him to the White Manor.

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On the way there, Landon had guessed she’d probably be skinny and malnourished, too shy to look anyone in the eye, and dressed in faded hand-me-downs.

Jason had thought the same.

But when they saw Elise, both of them froze.

Ten-year-old Elise was wearing a homemade princess dress. Her skin was fair, her cheeks soft and round, and her braided pigtails were twisted into two little buns. Wispy bangs curled across her

forehead.

She smiled at them and introduced herself without the slightest

hesitation.

“My name is Daisy Brooks. I’m ten years old. I grew up in a small village outside Seattle. My mom is Jane Brooks…”

She had been nothing like either of them expected.

Jason never forgot that first meeting.

The second time he saw her was at the White family’s welcome-home banquet held for her.

That night, Elise wore a diamond tiara and a blue princess

dress.

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The bright smile from their first meeting was gone.

She stood perfectly straight and introduced herself to the guests.

“My name is Elise White. I’m ten years old. I’m Sharon White’s daughter…”

Later, Jason found her downstairs crying.

He handed her a tissue.

Elise ripped the tiara from her head and threw it onto the floor.

Her eyes were red when she looked up at him.

“Can you help me? I want to go home. I want my mom.”

“Mr. Clark? Mr. Clark?”

Elise had to call him twice before Jason snapped out of his thoughts.

“Your noodles are getting soggy.”

Realizing he’d been staring off into space, Jason gave an awkward laugh and quickly finished his meal.

Jason had parked in a visitor spot at Maplewood Estates, so they

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walked back together.

At the entrance to her building, Elise said, “Bye. Drive safe.”

Jason nodded and waited until she went inside before turning to

leave.

Watching her walk away brought him back to that banquet years.

ago.

He had picked up the tiara from the floor and held it out to her.

“I can’t help you. You’ll have a better life if you stay here.”

The light in Elise’s eyes had slowly faded.

She hadn’t taken the tiara or the tissue.

Just like now, she had walked away without looking back.

From the balcony of apartment 601, Harold stood smoking as he

watched Elise return with a man.

Even after Elise disappeared into the building, the man remained where he was, staring after her.

A long moment passed before Harold stubbed out his cigarette and shut the balcony door.

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