When the Night Falls

JASMINE

Talia and Christopher stopped at the hallway that led to the entrance.

Before I could walk toward them to ask what was happening, I saw Theo walking out with a furious expression on his face. Behind him were a few men wearing black suits.

“Are you sure about the news? I didn’t invite anyone, Theo,” I heard Talia say.

Theo didn’t say anything as he looked at me. Talia and Christopher turned around when they saw the direction of Theo’s gaze.

I watched as Talia and Christopher tried to hide their anxiousness and smile at me. “Jasmine, darling, what are you doing here?” Talia asked.

“We just came out to talk with Theodore, we will be back. There must be someone to take care of the guests. Please, why don’t you go back?” Talia said.

I blinked, not knowing what to say. I shifted my gaze to Theo, who hadn’t looked away.

I opened and closed my mouth before turning around to leave. I saw Iris walking down the hallway.

I felt Talia’s and Christopher’s footsteps behind me. Iris stopped before us, giving me a look before looking at Talia and Christopher.

“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson. I hope you’re doing well,” Iris said, giving a slight bow.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you know that you’re not allowed here? Who allowed you inside the mansion?” Talia immediately fired the questions at Iris.

I detected irritation, tension, and anger in her voice.

I had never heard anger in Talia’s voice.

Iris didn’t say anything for a minute.

“I apologize, Mrs. Jefferson, if I angered you with my presence. I’m following the orders of my madame. I don’t have any power other than to listen to what my madame orders me.”

Madame? I ask myself, but don’t say a word. Before Talia or Christopher could say anything, my gaze saw the person walking toward us.

14:58 Thu, 29 Feb GO M

guz saw in person walking wwaru us.

@50%

I watched as the woman, wearing a classy white dress that hugged her b*dy like a second skin, smiled at us wickedly. She was beautiful.

She was looking at us like she was prepared for something and she could not wait to have some fun. And those thoughts started scaring me for some reason.

I didn’t know her, but Theo, Talia, and Christopher did. I turned my head to see Theo standing before me like a shield.

I could see his clenched jaw. He was furious. The mysterious woman smiled again, showing off her deep dimples.

Now that she was close, I felt like I had seen her somewhere but I couldn’t remember where.

“Long time no see, Theodore. How are you doing?” the lady asked as she smiled at Theo.

She laughed when Theo didn’t reply to her. Her gaze shifted to me and the wicked smile returned

to her face.

“Aw, you must be Jasmine. I’ve heard so much about you,” she said, taking a step forward.

I stared at her blankly, making her shake her head. “Poor thing, you must be wondering who I am. Allow me to introduce myself.”

“I’m Lana… Lana Satre. Thea’s mother,” she said. I looked at her in shock before composing myself, a new fear taking over my b*dy.

She smiled, looking at Talia.

“Mother-in-law, I’m allowed to come if it is my daughter’s birthday party. I’m allowed to attend all the events in her life. If I’m going to be there, then my assistants are going to be there.”

I stood there, not knowing what was happening and how suddenly everything had changed. “Thea doesn’t know you. You better stay away from her life and let her have peace,” Talia said.

I watched as the lady’s expressions changed. “That is because your beloved son didn’t allow me into her life. Now that he is having some fun in his life, it’s my duty to check up on my daughter.

“I have sent Iris to look after my daughter, but what has your son done? He removed Iris from her position because of his love interest.

“Did I come and say anything? I didn’t say anything when he knew he shouldn’t be dating anyone. Now. Allow me to see her before I do something,” she said.

Talia opened her mouth to say something, but Christopher placed his hand on her shoulder, making her stop.

“Good. That’s why I always liked my father-in-law. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I will my sweet daughter,” Lana said with a smile.

go

and meet

14:58

Thu, 29 Feb

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Her gaze went from Talia and Christopher to me. She stared at me for a couple of seconds before heading toward the garden area with Iris following close behind.

“Theo, why are you silent? What is happening? Why in the world is she here? And why are you allowing her to meet Thea?” Talia questioned, anger evident in her voice.

“It’s time we go and watch Thea. She’s our priority,” Christopher said, snapping Theo from his trance. He started following Lana and Iris.

“Jesus, help us through this. I don’t want her near our Thea,” Talia muttered under her breath before she left.

A heavy breath left my lungs as I stood there in the hallway, all alone with my thoughts running crazily in my mind. All the words that Lana said started running wildly through my mind.

I could repeat each word she’d said. “When he knew he shouldn’t be dating anyone.”

What does that mean? What does she mean by dating someone? I placed my hand on my forehead as I started having a headache.

“Why is she calling Talia and Christopher her mother-in-law and father-in-law?”

“Was Theo married to her?”

“If they got divorced, why would she be calling them in-laws?”

“What is Theo hiding from me? I cannot be f**king a married man.”

I deserved to know the truth of what was happening, but I knew this wasn’t where I would find the answers to all the questions that had been raised in my mind.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, trying to gather my thoughts and calm myself.

I stood there for a few minutes before it crossed my mind that Thea was playing with her friends and everyone was present.

“Sh it, I hope they didn’t make a scene,” I said, rushing toward the party area. Why hadn’t I rushed there in the first place?

I smiled at the people who saw me walk in. They smiled back before returning to their conversations.

I searched for Theo as he was the tallest person and easy to find in crowds.

I relaxed a bit when I saw Theo’s back. I quickly headed over where he stood. Talia and Christopher were standing beside him. My gaze went to Lana, who was talking with Thea.

I stopped behind Theo, blinking my eyes when I saw Anders standing beside Thea. His eyes fixed on Lana with a blank look on his face.

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“I hope you love my presents, darling. You would have looked lovely in Cinderella’s dress. But I love you in any dress,” Lana said, and my brows frowned.

“Thank you for the presents, miss. I love Elsa and I only love her. I would not wear a Cinderella dress,” Thea replied politely.

Lana raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. She nodded her head and crossed her arms. “Thea, honey, go and play with your friends. They must be waiting for you to come back,” Talia

said.

Thea looked at Talia, then nodded her head and started to leave, but Lana held her wrist.

“Would you leave before giving me a hug?” Lana said to Thea, looking at Talia. Thea simply smiled, not knowing anything. Lana leaned down to Thea’s level to hug her.

1

My gaze went to Theo, who was blankly staring at Lana and Thea. Lana hugged Thea and Thea hugged her back.

Thea ran to her friends. Anders left at a slower pace.

Lana looked at Theo. “Wait for my message. Do not ignore me this time. You better know what it means this time.”

The expression on Lana’s face said that she was serious about whatever she just said. Lana looked at me before giving me a creepy smile.

“Hope you stick around, love interest. I would love to see you around,” she said, patting my shoulder.

I was too stunned to open my mouth and reply to her. She left with Iris following behind. I didn’t miss the way people turned their heads to look at Lana as she passed them by.

“What are we going to do now? I don’t understand, but we need to talk,” Talia said. I turned my head to see her looking at Theo.

I looked at Theo, who was blankly staring at me. I didn’t say anything, knowing it wasn’t the time to ask him about Lana.

I knew he had to leave. He had to go talk with his parents about Lana’s visit.

“I’ll take care of Thea and the party. You don’t worry about it,” I said, knowing he wasn’t going to say anything.

He

gave me a slight nod before leaving. I stood there watching him leave, then turned around to see where Thea was. She was happily running around with her friends.

head to see her looking at Theo.

I looked at Theo, who was blankly staring at me. I didn’t say anything, knowing it wasn’t the time to ask him about Lana.

I knew he had to leave. He had to go talk with his parents about Lana’s visit.

“I’ll take care of Thea and the party. You don’t worry about it,” I said, knowing he wasn’t going to say anything.

He gave me a slight nod before leaving. I stood there watching him leave, then turned around to see where Thea was. She was happily running around with her friends.