Chapter 48 A Door Slammed Shut Work hard ? At what ? Finished So in his eyes , she was still something to weigh and bargain for ? Was she supposed to fight for him , to become the hidden treasure he didn't even dare to show off ? Claudia didn't have that kind of confidence . She couldn't imagine anyone making a man like Sterling throw everything away . Still , she went along with his words . " So , what should I work for ? " They were standing too close . When she spoke , her breath nearly touched his lips . Fresh out of the shower , her skin carried the faint scent of body wash , the same as his . Her face looked flawless , her pores invisible , her dark brows and red lips the only touches of color . She thought she was teasing him . What she didn't realize was that leaning in like this - no matter how sharp her words sounded - looked like pure temptation to a man . And worse , she was asking how to please him . Sterling's eyes grew darker . Too close . Claudia tried to step back , but she could already hear his breathing growing heavier . Just as their lips were about to meet , the doorbell rang loudly . " Claudia ! Open up ! " It was Jasper . After putting Lydia to sleep , the thought of Claudia - left alone in the rain at the cemetery - kept haunting him . She had blocked his number , so he had to drive through the storm , hoping for a chance . Luckily , the weather was awful , and no neighbors were outside watching . By some miracle , he slipped into the building . Now he pounded on her door , restless . " Claudia , I know you're in there ! I just need to see if you're okay . Please , come out ." 1/3 He had checked - her curtains weren't drawn , so someone had to be inside . Before coming , he'd even called Whitney , though she yelled at him and hung up . At least now he knew Claudia wasn't staying with her . After a day of failed attempts , his need to see her burned stronger than ever . The heavy rain couldn't hide the noise of his fists slamming the door . It was unbearable . Then , with a sharp click , the door opened . Claudia stood there . She wore a pale green nightdress , but Sterling had forcibly thrown a jacket over her shoulders . Jasper's face lit up . " Claudia ! " It hit him then - he hadn't seen her in so long . The urge to hug her came almost by instinct . But- " Get out . " Her eyes , once bright with joy whenever they saw him , now brimmed with nothing but irritation . Her familiar face carried only coldness . " Keep this up and I'll call the cops ." The words hit like ice water . Jasper froze , stunned . " Claudia , I'm your boyfriend ." At last , she looked him in the eye . " Jasper , do you not understand my words ? Or have you just never taken my words seriously ? We broke up . The moment you made your choice , it was over . " Her voice was flat , merciless . " The way you keep clinging to me has become harassment . No matter what , we did spend years together , and I'll remember that . But it ends here . I don't want this turning into an ugly scene ." If not for that , she would have blown up the night she found out about him and Lydia . No matter how painful their ending was , Claudia wasn't about to erase the past . Jasper had given her warmth and support once . His love back then wasn't fake . But they couldn't go on . 2/3 Chapter 48 A Door Slammed Shut Finished " Claudia , " he said , pained , " we've known each other for 20 years . How can this be the end ? You don't like Lydia ? Fine - I'll try my best to stay away from her , I swear . " Claudia's lips curved coldly . " What if I wanted her gone ? " Jasper went silent , stunned . " She doesn't deserve that , Claudia . M - maybe there's just been a misunderstanding between you two . " Send Gifts 口 10 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!