Chapter 8: Case Closed, and a Secret Admirer

Three years ago, Jasper’s mother brought relatives from the mountains to visit the city.

Jane happened to be busy at school that day and couldn't host. His mother bought groceries and cooked at the house. Jane had a stray dog she had rescued seven years ago. The dog was usually well-behaved, but that day, it barked at one of the guests.

The guest got angry and kicked the dog. When the dog passed out, the guest suggested they kill the dog and cook it into a hotpot.

When Jane returned and couldn't find the dog, his mother lied and said it ran away. Jane didn't believe her. She checked the living room security camera.

When she saw the truth—that they had eaten her dog—she exploded.

She screamed, demanded an apology from his mother and relatives, and eventually kicked them all out of the house.

The incident was a massive blow to Jasper's ego. Back in the village, he became the subject of gossip.

"She claimed to love me," Jasper said, his voice rising, "but over a stupid dog, she gave me no face! My mother got sick from the stress, and Jane wouldn't even go back to the village to check on her! She and her parents looked down on me from the very beginning! I wasn't a live-in son-in-law, but I was treated worse than one!"

"Was a dog really that important? She couldn't have children, and I never blamed her! Besides, if her dog hadn't tried to bite my relative, would my mother have cooked it?"

Leo’s brow furrowed, his jaw set in a hard line. "Jane raised that dog for seven years. That proves she was a person with a huge heart. Maybe every day after work, her highlight was that dog bringing her slippers to the door. Maybe she looked forward to walking it after dinner. Your mother and relatives ate her dog while laughing and talking. Did you ever think about how much that hurt her?"

"I knew she was upset! I told her I'd buy her a new one, but she refused!"

Leo’s eyes were cold. "Even animals understand loyalty and humanity. You don't. You're worse than an animal."

Jasper didn't see his fault. To him, some people like pets, some don't. He hated them. Every time Jane told him the dog was like their baby since they couldn't have children, he felt a surge of revulsion.

"If I'm an animal, why didn't God take me instead of Jane’s parents? Maybe even God was tired of them! They said I was like a son, but they looked down on my rural roots!"

After her parents died and she lost her ability to paint, Jane became emotionally unstable. Every little thing triggered a fight. He was exhausted. That year, he went back to his village for New Year's alone. His relatives hounded him about his lack of an heir. His mother gave him an ultimatum: she wouldn't die in peace without a grandson.

Lynn had also returned to the mountains during the break. She started visiting him to keep him company. She was sweet and knew how to comfort him.

Jasper rubbed his temples. "That night, I drank too much. I crossed the line with Lynn."

Afterward, Lynn told him not to feel guilty; she wouldn't break up his home. She had admired him for a long time. She was happy just to be with him, even as a mistress.

Who wouldn't like a young, beautiful, gentle woman who worshiped them? Especially when Lynn made him feel so good. One time became many. They hid it carefully. Lynn never made demands; she just waited for him. He never thought of divorce; he had a "Model Husband" image to maintain. If he left Jane after her tragedy, he’d be branded a traitor. He wanted to keep his wife at home and his mistress on the side.

For two years, it worked. Lynn never overstepped—until she did.

While Jane was away on a business trip, Lynn went to their house. She wore Jane’s nightgown, sprayed Jane’s perfume, and seduced him in Jane’s bed. She said the thrill of almost being caught was the best part.

It was an addiction. Whenever Jane was away, he brought Lynn over. He used his computer skills to bypass the security cameras.

But secrets always leak. Jane collected niche perfumes. Lynn stole one. Jane searched for it for a long time. Later, when Lynn visited Jasper at his office, Jane smelled the perfume on her.

Jane didn't confront them then. She pretended to go on another business trip. Thinking she was gone, Jasper brought Lynn home that night.

While they were in bed together, Jane walked in. She caught them red-handed. She slapped them both. Jasper knelt and begged for another chance. Jane made him write a confession.

Even then, he didn't want to kill her. But then Lynn found out she was pregnant. His mother threatened to kill herself if he didn't keep the baby. He used his influence to get Lynn the exchange slot so she could have the baby abroad.

This led to the final, violent argument with Jane. She threatened to ruin him. She stayed at their old apartment, refusing to see him. Fearful she would expose him, he went to beg her one last time.

When he opened the door, he saw her sitting in front of the TV. The screen was playing a recording of him and Lynn together in that house.

Jane’s face was twisted with hatred. "Jasper, if I play this on the big screen during the university's anniversary gala, what do you think will happen? Your 'Good Husband' and 'Good Professor' mask will shatter into a million pieces."

"You're crazy!" Jasper lunged for the phone. "Delete it, Jane!"

"You're afraid now?" she sneered. "When Lynn was in my nightgown, using my perfume, and sleeping with you, were you afraid then? You have no conscience, Jasper. You'd be nothing without my family's help. How could you betray me like this?"

Her words pierced his fragile ego. His eyes turned bloodshot, his face contorted. He grabbed her by the throat. "You're trying to destroy me, Jane! After all these years, you're going to throw me away? Then don't blame me!"

She struggled, but his hands were like iron.

Jasper pulled at his hair, a hot tear falling. "If she hadn't backed me into a corner, I wouldn't have strangled her..."

Leo looked at him coldly. "Keep talking."

"After... I wasn't satisfied. I hit her with the ashtray a few times. When I calmed down, I was terrified. I put her in the suitcase and dumped her in the lake."

With his confession finished, Jasper broke down into loud, messy sobs. His cries were a mix of regret for killing the woman who walked him out of the darkness, fear of prison, and bitterness that his hard-earned reputation was finally gone.

Clara watched the entire interrogation.

Her heart was heavy. Women should never try to "rescue" a man with their status. "Marrying down" often resulted in resentment and betrayal rather than gratitude. Especially with men like Jasper—"Phoenix Men" who rose from nothing but couldn't handle the power dynamic. Once they succeed, they forget where they came from.

Jasper was insecure. Jane was more successful, wealthier, and better-connected. Every time someone whispered that he owed his success to her, it stabbed at his fragile ego. And Jasper’s mother—a traditional woman with a delusional sense of pride—didn't see Jane’s help. She thought her son was a god, and Jane was lucky to have him. Especially since Jane couldn't provide a grandson. That was why she felt entitled to eat Jane’s dog.

Typically, with a confession and a location, the case would be closed. But Leo felt a lingering weight in his chest—a sense that something wasn't quite right.

He walked out of the room and addressed his team. "You’ve all worked hard. No overtime today. Go home and get some rest."

Clara was about to clock out when she saw a tall, slender figure walking toward Leo.

"Captain."

The girl was in uniform, her eyes bright and filled with a visible sparkle as she looked at Leo.

Clara could tell instantly: this girl had a massive crush on him.