The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

The mountain.

~ Jasper ~

The helicopter barely touched the ground before I was unbuckling.

"Stay running," I told Scarlett, already moving toward the door.

Cold air hit me instantly as I stepped out, sharp and biting against my skin.

Mountains.

Isolated.

Too quiet.

I helped Lilly down carefully, my grip firm on her arm.

"Are you up for this?" I asked, keeping my voice level despite everything clawing at my chest. "Vest. Now."

I handed her one, already pulling mine on.

"They're armed," I added. "We assume worst case."

Lilly didn't hesitate.

"Jasper," she said, securing the vest with steady hands, "I was your father's best sniper before you even knew what that meant."

She held her hand out.

"Gun."

I paused for half a second.

Not because I doubted her.

But because it was a reminder.

Of what she'd been.

Of what this world really was.

Then I handed it to her.

"Stay behind me," I said quietly.

She scoffed.

"Try and stop me."

We moved.

Fast.

Up the incline with Paul's men surrounding us, weapons ready, eyes scanning every direction.

The higher we climbed, the tighter my chest became.

My breathing shifted slightly.

Too shallow.

Too fast.

I knew what it was.

I could feel it building.

That familiar pressure.

That tightening.

That loss of control.

No.

I forced a breath in through my nose.

Slow.

Controlled.

"Lexi," I muttered under my breath.

And just like that—

Everything snapped back into place.

This wasn't about me.

This was about her.

I kept walking.

"Lilly," I said after a moment, my voice quieter now, "Charlotte's coming to stay."

She stopped dead.

"And you're telling me now?" she snapped. "Jasper—are you serious?"

I didn't stop walking.

"She's pregnant."

That silenced her.

For a second.

"You expect me to just accept that?" she said, catching up quickly. "After everything with Lauren? With Tom?"