By the time he arrived downstairs, Captain Vaughn’s team had already left with Terence and Zayden with them.
Darrel and his parents were still waiting grimly for Jasper.
Jasper walked over and turned to Honey and her husband. “Uncle, Aunty, would you prefer we go back to my place and talk there?”
Jasper’s uncle waved him off despondently. “It’s alright. We just have a few things to say and then we’ll go home.”
Jasper replied seriously, “Please do, then. I’m listening.”
Jasper’s uncle looked at him and said, “In all honesty, we can’t nor do we intend to blame you for what happened today.
“However, it wasn’t a nice feeling to send our own son off to prison either.
“Darrel is all we have left now.”
At that, Jasper’s uncle looked sorrowful as he continued, “No matter what, Darrel is still your cousin. He and Terence are different. Darrel’s an honest boy and he’s not the kind who would hurt you.
“All this child wants is to do business, but it’s not something us parents can help him with. As his cousin and the most outstanding child in the Laine family, I ask that you help him wherever you can.”
Jasper quickly replied, “I’ll do that even if you hadn’t asked me, Uncle. The business plan he’s come up with will begin very soon, and your family will get to relax and enjoy life by then.”
Jasper’s uncle smiled warmly and nodded. “That’s nice, then. Very nice. We’ll get going now, don’t let us delay you from your work.”
“Don’t worry, Uncle. About Terence, I’ve already decided that I’ll find the best lawyer I can for him. I’ll do everything I can to reduce his jail time. It’ll also be good if you urge him to cooperate when you visit him later on.
“Mainly so that he would be frank, considering how it’s best if he doesn’t hold any information he knows back from the authorities to help with the investigation. Another reason being that good behavior tends to decrease jail time.
“That way, he’ll most likely be able to get out in three to five years and it still won’t be too late for him.”
A genuine smile finally graced his uncle’s features and he spoke, “That’s for the best. You’re a capable boy, Jasper, and you know a lot of people. Farmers like us don’t even know where to look for a lawyer. I’ll have to trouble you with this, then.”
Jasper looked up at Darrel. “Send your parents back first. Contact me if you need anything afterward.”
Darrel nodded and helped his parents back. The two looked like they had suddenly aged a few years.
“Darrel wouldn’t have a problem with you because of this, right, Jasper?” Julian approached Jasper and asked.
“He won’t.” Jasper smiled. “He knows better than anyone that I’m the last person he should have a problem with.
“Alright, enough about this. Let’s go back first. We’ve spent the whole day out, I’m exhausted.”
Jasper massaged his tense shoulders and got into the car lazily.
Julian rushed to the driver’s seat. He spoke as he started the car and drove off, “I have updates about the matter you asked me last time, Jasper. So that martial artist friend of mine, I told her the situation and she’s interested. She says she wants to meet you to talk about this.”
Jasper was immediately awake at the sound of it. “Great. You decide on the meeting date, then. But do have it as soon as possible since I’m going to be very busy for the next few days. The sooner we settle this, the more I can rest assured to leave Wendy at home.”
“Nice. I’ll have her come over tomorrow, then,” Julian spoke.
Just then, Jasper’s phone rang. It was a call from Wendy.
“Jul and I were just talking about getting you a bodyguard when you called,” Jasper stated joyfully.
However, Wendy did not talk to Jasper as she normally would. Instead, she asked, “When are you coming back, Jasp?”
Realizing that there was something off about Wendy’s tone, the smile hanging off the corner of Jasper’s lips vanished. “I’m on the way back, around 20 minutes before I arrive. What’s wrong?”
