That evening, Jonah had his Rolls Royce parked outside the hotel. It caught the attention of every onlooker within the vicinity. Meanwhile, a black Maybach waited on a corner of the street.Jasper watched the Rolls Royce from the backseat of the Maybach. Soon, Alice emerged from the hotel with Sean.She was stunning tonight. Her dark hair cascaded down her back, framing her quaint features. She wore a beautiful satin dress in aquamarine. It hugged her waist perfectly. She looked like some ephemeral creature.While Jasper looked at her, bitterness filled his chest.Why had she never dressed up for him in their three years of marriage? She was always in those cotton tees and plain white shoes.He could've given her everything, just like Jonah Taylor was doing now.Why did she hold back all those years? Why did she portray herself as the victim in their relationship? And why did she sow doubt among everyone else regarding his ability to treat his woman kindly? Jasper watch
The Rolls Royce entered the grand mansion through its tall gates. As it did, numerous outside housekeepers and servants within exclaimed with joy. They shared the joyous news to whoever they could. "Ms. Alyssa is finally home!" came the excited cries.As Jonah and Alyssa got out of the car, they were greeted by two lines of house staff led by the house butler. The staff members respectfully bowed and greeted, "Welcome home, Ms. Alyssa!""We've missed you, Ms. Alyssa!"Alyssa put her hand on her forehead, slightly overwhelmed by the sonorous welcome."Alyssa, you're finally home!" someone exclaimed.Alyssa turned to see who it was and spotted Mandy in the doorway. Beside her was a short-haired woman with a kerchief tied around her neck.Alyssa recognized her as Winston's newest and youngest wife, Colene Waters.She smiled and went up to the two women, hugging them both. "Mandy, Colene," she greeted kindly.Jonah beamed upon seeing this. Being the most powerful family in Belban
Xavier immediately smacked himself in the cheeks, feeling like he had misspoken.Jasper stared ahead, the manor's lights reflecting in his eyes. He could faintly hear laughter coming from the building. At that, his heart sank into an icy pit of hopelessness.It seemed Alice was truly leaving an impression on Jonah Taylor's family.Jasper had considered the Taylor family to be incredibly intricate. Winston Taylor had one wife before. But he had three wives now. None of them got registered at City Hall. They would surely make it tough for Alice to marry into the family. He'd thought she might give up then and there.However, it seemed like he had thought wrong. It sounded like Alice was truly getting along with the rest of the Taylor family. He could hear their laughter even from this distance!How close had they become …Jasper was getting more distraught by the second. He had never felt so tense, so desperate. Even his breaths were becoming uneven. "Do you have any cigarettes o
What was Winston thinking, saying something so terrible about his own son?"I don't think that's necessary." Axel rolled his eyes. "I'll need to stay alive until the day you need a family member to sign you off in the hospital. I know Jonah and Silas wouldn't be able to do it. You'd need me.""How dare you!" Winston shouted. "Why I oughta—"Winston yelled for their butler, Clark Anderson, to fetch him a cane. Meanwhile, he removed his leather boots and flung one in Axel's face.Jonah and Silas hurriedly went up to Winston to stop him. Mandy and Colene followed suit. Still, Winston's temper remained.All of a sudden, a gentle, delicate voice rang out in the hallway."Um … dinner's ready."Everyone turned to see who had spoken. It was Lyla, still in her apron and a frying pan in hand. Her pale skin glistened with oil and sweat. She looked dazedly at the crowd, having no idea as to what had transpired.Winston's stomach growled amidst the silence."Fine, dinner first! I'll teach
Alyssa's heart clenched for a moment. "I miss her, Axel. But Mom isn't here anymore. At some point, we … we need to face reality and move on from our hurt. "We're Taylors, Axel. The family needs us to protect it. We are its future. That's why we must keep ourselves in the present and learn to look forward.""You can accomplish that. I can't. I'm just some boy stuck in his fever dream, refusing to wake up. This isn't home to me anymore, Alyssa."The siblings sunk into silence for a long while."Alright, that's enough depression for one night. I respect whatever decision you make," Axel lazily waved his hand.Then he noticed that Alyssa had teared up some. He hurriedly tried to tend to her, saying, "Hey, don't think about that anymore. I'm going to tell you something really interesting. Jasper Beckett is here tonight.""What?" Alyssa yelped, shocking everyone present.Winston scowled at her. "What are you yelling for? Is there a rat in the house or something?""Not a rat, no. I
"What do I need to do for you to let me go free, Jasper Beckett?" Alyssa growled over the phone. "Do you know how irritating it is? "You keep getting involved in my private affairs again and again. I've said I'd make it up to you for being attacked. Sean has gone to you already. So, what is this now?""Didn't you want a divorce? This is your chance." Jasper's voice quivered slightly. "Come outside to see me, and I'll let that night go. I won't go after your brother.""You—" Alyssa inhaled sharply.Was this really Jasper Beckett? What the hell had happened to him? He was usually so composed and collected!"Fine, I'll come outside. But you better keep your word tonight. The divorce is final after this!" Alyssa retorted, then angrily hung up the call.As Alyssa was about to head outside, Clark hurried over to Mandy and said urgently, "Madam, there's a Maybach parked outside the premises for nearly an hour now. Its license plate is A7777. Two men in suits are with it. They've been s
"The cold wind burns my face and blows its frosty pepper up my nose," Xavier murmured. "Black are my steps on silver sod; thick blows my frosty breath abroad."Jasper had been waiting in the cold for nearly an hour now. Yet, this was nothing compared to his days in the military, where standing an entire day was routine. The only difference was that his heart was in his throat right now.He was worried Alice would change her mind and not come outside. What could he do then? Barge into the manor? Impossible—he could not do that. This was the Taylor family's residence.What right did he have to knock on their door asking for Alice?None that he could think of.Heaving a sigh, Jasper took out the last cigarette in the box. He was about to light it when the sound of heels clicking rang out."Jasper Beckett."The man's heart pounded erratically as he gazed up at his ex-wife. The cigarette between his lips nearly fell out with how much he was trembling.Alice glanced down, instantly
The atmosphere dropped to a freezing point.Xavier wished he could intervene. He wanted to silence his boss to prevent him from ruining things for himself.Alyssa laughed out loud, finding Jasper absurd. "I'll admit, I underestimated your persistence when I decided to try and be with you. I gave you everything that I was and could be just so you would love me. Look where that got me, huh?"But you were wrong about one thing, Jasper Beckett. I never hated you, even when you wished me to disappear from your sight. "I did want to end things amicably between us, but you keep meddling in my life now that our relationship is over. You've completely shattered any chance of us having a civil connection. "That's why I'm doing everything I can to erase you from my life. You married me because you had to, just as that's my standpoint now. I want nothing to do with you anymore. That is the only way for us to make peace with the past."Jasper felt as if a sledgehammer had struck his heart.