The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 358: Life Without Him

Jasmine stood in front of her mirror, carefully adjusting the final touches of her makeup. The dim light cast a warm glow over her reflection, highlighting the faint remnants of the baby fat that clung to her cheeks, softening her features. She sighed, a mixture of pride and frustration bubbling up within her.

At twenty-three, she had finally learned how to accentuate her beauty, the years of trial and error with makeup finally paying off. She felt more like a woman now than she ever had before, yet there was something unsettling about it.

"Am I truly beautiful?" she whispered to herself, her thoughts drifting to an old memory that had never quite let go of her heart. Those piercing green eyes, full of a warmth and mischief that seemed to see through her, flashed in her mind. He had told her she was beautiful back then, even when she hadn’t believed it. What would he think of her now?

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head, embarrassed by the thought. It had been years since that day, just one fleeting conversation, a few stolen moments, and yet... she couldn’t forget him.

How pathetic, she thought, her reflection in the mirror offering her no solace. She had tried searching for him in the months after he disappeared, digging through every possible lead, even resorting to pulling favors from people she barely knew. She had checked military databases, asked around town, but there was nothing. He was like a ghost, vanishing as quickly as he had come into her life.

Time passed, and though she told herself she’d forget him, the ache of his absence only grew stronger. Every time she closed her eyes, there he was, standing at a distance in her dreams. His smile was tender, his gaze full of unspoken words, like he had lost her once and found her again. Every morning, waking up felt like losing him all over again.

A soft chime from her laptop interrupted her reverie. Jasmine sighed and opened the device, her heart not quite in the present. An email notification popped up—one of the luxury designers reaching out to collaborate again. She closed it without a second thought. The opportunities were endless now, but she was already busy enough.

After Jerrick left, her enthusiasm for school had dwindled. Her grades were far from impressive, and when it came time to apply for college, she didn’t have the credentials to get into any top universities.

Her brother William, on the other hand, had secured a sports scholarship and was now living the high life, playing for an NFL team and earning more than she could imagine. Her parents were kind, supportive as ever, and had urged her to take a year off to figure things out. It was during that time that she took upon embroidery seriously—an old hobby she hadn’t realized could hold the key to her future.

She smiled to herself, remembering how Jerrick had guessed her hobby with that knowing grin. It had been a small, seemingly insignificant detail, yet it stayed with her like everything else about him.

That year off, she poured herself into her craft, honing her skills and finding solace in the intricate patterns and delicate stitching. It was only by chance that her aunt, who worked in the fashion industry, had seen her work and declared her a natural talent.

From that moment on, a fire had ignited within her. For the first time since Jerrick left, she had a purpose. If she could make a living doing something she loved, maybe she could find happiness again. With her aunt’s connections, doors opened, and soon her designs were being appreciated by major fashion houses. She worked hard, gaining experience and networking with the industry’s best, but her ultimate dream remained clear—to start her own fashion brand, alongside her sisters, Cordelia and Isadora, who had their own flair for design and sewing.

Cordelia was the fashionista of their house and had a talent for drawing. She had an entire portfolio of designs. Isadora learned the art of sewing and excelled at it. They could be a team, Jessamyn thought, hopefully soon.

The city apartment they shared was a testament to their bond, their collective dreams slowly taking shape within its walls. Tonight, though, Jasmine would have to put those dreams aside for a few hours. It was her birthday, and family dinners were non-negotiable. Her sisters were planning to meet her directly at the restaurant, and William had promised to introduce his girlfriend, Elena, to their parents—a monumental moment for him.

As Jasmine rushed to catch the subway, she found herself lost in her thoughts again. Her parents were starting to worry about her. She hadn’t dated anyone, hadn’t even entertained the thought of love since Jerrick. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to—it was that no one seemed to measure up to those green eyes and that gentle smile. No one else made her heart race the way he had, even after all these years.

She checked the time and groaned. She was running late. Not wanting to face the inevitable lecture about her love life, she decided to take a shortcut through the alleyway. The shadows stretched long across the narrow path as the sun began to set, casting a sense of urgency over her hurried steps. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

That’s when she saw them—two men lurking at the other end of the alley, their eyes locking onto her like predators sizing up prey. Her heart pounded as she slowed her pace. She pulled her coat closer to cover herself further. One of them stepped forward, a knife glinting in his hand under the streetlight.

"Wallet and phone," he demanded, his voice cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

Jasmine’s pulse quickened, her hands instinctively rising in surrender. She knew better than to argue in situations like this. Her mind raced, hoping they would just take what they wanted and leave her be. But the second man’s sneer told her otherwise.

"She’s a pretty one," he leered. "Hold her down."

Time seemed to stop as a wave of terror crashed over Jasmine, her body frozen in place. No... her mind screamed. She needed to get away, to run, but her legs refused to move. Her breath quickened, the world narrowing down to the sound of her heart pounding in her ears.