(A Week Later)It had been a week since Jasper sent his men to Ashford.Too quiet of a week.He stood by the window of his office, phone in his hand, staring at the screen like it might suddenly explain itself. No missed calls. No new messages. Nothing from the team he sent to set up the branch.Jasper didn’t like silence when he was expecting movement.He turned away from the window and sat down, placing the phone on the desk. His expression didn’t change, but his mind was already running through possibilities. Delays were normal. Problems weren’t. And the problem was that he didn’t know which one this was.His phone buzzed.He picked it up immediately.It was Jasmine.He answered without hesitation. “Talk.”Her voice came through steady, but alert. “I wanted to update you.”“Go on.”“There’s been activity,” she said. “A lot of it.”Jasper leaned back slightly. “Which families?”She paused for a second. “Most of them. The Greens. The Wiltons. Even the Hawthorne family sent someone.”

Jasmine sat in the quiet of her temporary room, phone pressed to her ear. Jasper’s voice came through, calm and precise.“You need to listen carefully,” he said.“I’m listening,” she replied, her brow furrowed.“The Browns are getting desperate,” Jasper continued. “Their heir is critical. They’re thinking of acting, and you’re the easiest leverage.”Jasmine’s stomach tightened. “What do you want me to do?”“Follow my instructions exactly,” Jasper said. “Someone from the Palmer family will approach you with land in Ashford. Accept it.”“Why?” she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.“Because it’s part of the plan,” Jasper replied. “When you accept, release the news that you’re grateful to the Palmer family for helping the miracle doctor.”Jasmine stayed silent for a moment, processing his words. The logic was sharp, simple, and yet precise. She trusted Jasper, and that was enough.“Alright,” she said finally. “I’ll do it.”“Good,” Jasper said. “Move quickly. Be quiet. Don’t draw at