Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
Eloise, exhausted from days of silence with Jasper, throws herself into work and fires Blaze, who lingers and fixates on Taylor. Jasper arrives, backs Eloise, and calms the situation. In an emotional reckoning, Jasper reveals he trashed the divorce papers, denies loving Samantha, and fully commits to their marriage.
Summary
Eloise wakes to two days of tense distance from Jasper and escapes to The Eloise Inn, bracing for holiday-weekend chaos and determined to fire Blaze. She worries about Jasper leaving and the future of their marriage, then focuses on work.
Blaze arrives. Eloise formally terminates him, but he lingers in the lobby, fixates on seeing Taylor, and grows unsettlingly defiant. As Eloise presses him to go, Jasper enters, backs her, and forces Blaze to leave the building, though he sulks outside.
Overwhelmed, Eloise breaks down. Jasper holds her as she admits she fears it’s the end. Jasper reveals he received divorce papers from her lawyer and threw them away, repeating that it’s not the end and affirming, “You are my wife.” When Eloise questions his feelings for Samantha, he states he doesn’t love Samantha the way love should be.
With danger from Blaze still a concern, Jasper vows to stay by Eloise as her shadow. Mateo covers the desk while Jasper lets Eloise sleep on his lap. When she wakes, Blaze is gone, and their reconciliation steadies both their relationship and the weekend ahead.
Who Appears
- Eloise EdenExhausted and heartsick, fires Blaze, confronts his fixation on Taylor, breaks down, and reconciles with Jasper.
- Jasper ValeArrives to support Eloise, confronts Blaze, discards divorce papers, denies loving Samantha, recommits to their marriage.
- BlazeFired from housekeeping; lingers menacingly and fixates on Taylor before finally leaving.
- Mateo EdenCovers the front desk, checks that Blaze is outside, and gives Eloise time to rest.
- TaylorDesk clerk whom Blaze wants to confront; kept away for safety at Eloise’s instruction.