"Hey… good morning," Jasper said as he sat next to Lisa, waiting for her to wake up.
"I know you told me you've missed me, and that's why you came, but I'm curious…" Jasper continued softly.
"I haven't seen you talking to your dad ever since you came here, because I know how overly protective he is about you," he added.
Lisa sat there quietly, clueless about what to say.
"I've… I've left the house for good," she finally said.
"My dad gave me two options; either choose you or my inheritance. But I chose you," she added.
"I love you, Jasper… I really do."
Jasper sat there, boiling in anger on the inside but unable to show it.
"What?!" Jasper stood up, refusing to believe what he was hearing.
"Yes… I did," Lisa replied as she smiled at him with confidence.
"Thank you, my love… that means a lot to me," Jasper responded calmly, but deep inside he felt uneasy and far from happy about the situation.
He walked out to a nearby spot to have a drink, trying to think of what to do next.
Unknown to Lisa, Jasper was just an opportunist who wanted to heal his childhood trauma by getting rich at all costs.
Fortunately for him, Lisa came from a wealthy background. She loved him dearly, and he saw that love as an advantage, something he could use to get what he wanted, or even still, marry her someday.
But her choosing him over her inheritance made Jasper scared of not succeeding.
"I can't let her do this… no," Jasper whispered to himself.
He quickly went back home to Lisa.
"Lisa… I'm sorry, but you have to leave," Jasper said as he started packing Lisa's stuff.
"Why?" Lisa asked as she came closer, holding his hands while her eyes grew teary.
"Don't do this to me…" she added softly.
"It's not like I don't want you here, but I'm scared of what may become of you. I have no money to take care of you the way you're used to," Jasper said.
"I'm not rich," he added quietly.
"I don't care, Jasper… I don't," she said.
"What… what if your father comes for me? He's rich. He can do anything just to get you back," he concluded.
"Nobody is going to harm you… I'm here for you. Always."
As they held hands, Lisa looked straight into Jasper's eyes. They kissed each other and hugged tightly, holding on like they never wanted to let go.
Lisa's phone rang while she was still in Jasper's arms.
"Who could that be… uhh?" she whispered as she grabbed her phone, only to see her father calling.
"Lisa, where are you?" Richard asked sharply.
"I thought you were joking about choosing that son of a nobody over a billion-dollar company," he said, his anger rising.
"Send me your address. I'm coming for you now," Richard ordered.
"No, Dad… no!!! I'm not coming there ever again," Lisa shouted, her voice shaking.
"Since you've decided to see me as just anyone you can order around… I won't," she added, heartbroken but firm.
Lisa threw her phone on the couch. "I'm going nowhere," she whispered.
"Lisa!!!" Jasper said, alarmed.
"Shhhhh…" Lisa placed her finger on his lips to hush him.
"You don't have to worry about anything. He won't harm you."
As days passed by, Richard grew more restless. Seeing his daughter away from him broke him.
"Eric, we need to talk," Richard said to Eric on the phone as he called.
They met at their usual spot where they often hung out to have fun.
"You sounded restless on the phone. What's bothering you?" Eric asked, concerned.
"Lisa left me for a boy she claims to love. I need your help," Richard said, frustration and worry mixing in his tone.