Jasper's gaze took on an unexpected, intense warmth shadowed by darkness.There was something oddly familiar about how Alyssa was tending to him right now. She took out some antiseptic cream and the medicine Omar Callaghan had given him and began cleaning out his injuries."Lyse," Jasper murmured.Alyssa said nothing, though the sudden increase in pressure in her application seemed to serve as a warning.Jasper winced at the pain but remained adamant. "You remind me of someone, Lyse. Someone I met a long time ago."Alyssa was focused on tending to his wounds and merely responded with, "Who?""I don't know either.""What do you mean you don't know?""I mean, I really don't know who they were," Jasper said as he recalled those memories from years ago—that person's lithe but strong figure appearing in mind. "I was still in the Peacekeeping Forces when I met her on the battlefield."Alyssa's hold on the cotton she was using faltered. Her heart fell into her stomach, pounding heavi
Alyssa's heart thudded in her chest, nearly coming to a stop as she was left stunned.She'd thought she was the only one who kept that memory from the battlefield so sacred. Who knew Jasper treated it with just as much importance, even trying his best to track her down all these years. If it had been any other woman, he would have easily found her.Unfortunately for Jasper, he didn't know White Dove had been right beside him all this time, even married to him once upon a time under the name of "Alice White".After parting ways with him in Luminara, Alyssa erased all traces of her in that war. She'd used a false identity to help as a medic in that war to avoid her father's fury. So how could Jasper have uncovered her true identity when she'd been so careful to leave no clue behind?"Are you okay? Was I too harsh, Lyse?" Jasper asked worriedly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get upset at you. I just wanted to make my stand clear. White Dove saved my life. The only thing I feel for he
Jasper then gently held her hand and kissed the back of her palm.Alyssa blushed furiously, flinching just the slightest in response. Yet she forgot to pull her hand away."I'm sorry, Alyssa. I'm sorry for making you listen to all that. Could you please forgive me this once?" Jasper asked earnestly, gazing into her eyes.Was this still Solana City's revered bachelor, Jasper Beckett? The man whom corporations feared to cross? Or had someone taken over his body?Alyssa cleared her throat lightly, saying nothing else as she watched Jasper kneel before her.A sense of glee welled up in her chest."What is wrong with you tonight?" she asked. "How could you just stand there and let your father beat you up?She wrinkled her nose, poking at his forehead as she snapped, "You're a 30-year-old man. Couldn't you have retaliated even a little bit? Do you two have a father-son relationship or a slave-master one?""Did you worry about me?" Jasper asked, tilting his head."You saved my life a
Ten minutes later, Landon brought Lauren to the ENT department. The doctor quickly did a series of checkups on Lauren while Landon and Angeline waited anxiously to the side."Will she be okay, doctor?" Landon finally asked."Some external trauma appears to have caused her eardrum to rupture," the doctor replied truthfully. "Most of the cases I encounter result from severe slaps or punches. Some serious cases end up with long-term tinnitus."Landon and Angelica's expressions fell as they feared for Lauren's health."Is full recovery possible, doctor?" Angelica asked worriedly, as if she was Lauren's sister."Yes. The perforation isn't too big, and you sent her here without a moment's delay, so it seems full recovery should … ""Should?" Landon gritted out."It will! Full recovery will occur! All that's needed is surgery and proper care afterward." The doctor quickly corrected himself, frightened by Landon's threatening glare."That had better be the case." Landon held Lauren in
Alyssa had just finished tending to Jasper's wound when Ben walked in. "How are you doing, Mr. Jasper?""Very well, thanks to Alyssa." Jasper shot her a fond look as he spoke.Alyssa instinctively looked away. Jasper used to be so stoic. What was with all this passion and emotion now? "You have our sincere thanks, Ms. Alyssa." Ben bowed, but Alyssa quickly helped him up."You don't need to do this, Ben. It was my duty, after all."Ben wasn't one to be nosy, but he still wanted to see Jasper be together with Alyssa again. "You're still as kind to Mr. Jasper as always.""Please don't misunderstand. I'm only doing this because Jasper is important to Grandpa." Alyssa smiled lightly. "I do what I do only for Grandpa's sake."Ben met her smile. Jasper, on the other hand, grinned warmly at her. He was used to her indignance by now. He just had to read her body language or pay attention to what she said. One of them was bound to tell him the truth."Mr. Jasper, if you're able to wal
Newton poured a glass of warm water for Jasper, handing it to his grandson, who sat across from him."Thank you, Grandpa." Jasper gratefully took the glass, sitting up straight. He cupped the glass with a hand around the body and another at the base."How's your injuries, Jasper?" Newton asked gently."They're mostly surface wounds but have healed a lot," Jasper replied, masking most of his weakness and pain. "Don't worry about me, Grandpa. I'm stronger than you think. I was in the army once, after all.""Then why didn't you fight back when your father hit you?" Newton scowled. "That vixen, Sophia, clearly influenced him to hurt you for no good reason. Why didn't you just snatch the whip away and hit her back?!"He'd called Jasper over just to question him about this.Jasper looked down at his glass of water. To Newton's surprise, he stayed silent.After a moment, Newton asked in a softer tone, "You're my grandson, Jasper, and blood of blood. You don't still feel like you owe it
Jasper slowly met Newton's gaze. "I've held back as much as I can. But there will not be a next time. Next time, I'm not holding back."Sorrow filled Newton's heart, reflecting on his face."I'm sorry, Grandpa. I shouldn't have brought this up." Jasper held his grandfather's hands. "I know you would have wanted Justin to lead this family if that hadn't happened to him. I know you've had the highest hopes for him since he was young.""Jasper … ""I owe everything to you, Grandpa, and to Justin, too." Jasper smiled lightly, forcing his tears back. "I never dared hope to have a grandfather who truly loved me, so now that I'm blessed with one, I daren't pray for more.""No, listen to me, Jasper!" Newton cried, placing both hands on Jasper's shoulders. "You and Justin are both my grandsons. I love you two just as equally! Even if your brother fully heals one day, or even if what happened to him never did, I would still choose you to take over the family business!"Jasper was stunned.
Their bodies pressed close to one another, heartbeats loud and clear in the still air. Alyssa's face was flushed, knowing she'd been caught red-handed. She struggled to get out of Jasper's grip, the man responding by curling his fingers around her waist."The cat got your tongue?""I-I was just here to say goodbye to Grandpa. I'm not interested in whatever family secrets you two were discussing! Now let me go!" Alyssa cried, wriggling out of his grip.Something delicate fluttered against Jasper's heart. Alyssa was quite the adorable sight, blushing and trying to hide herself."No secrets." Jasper grinned."Huh?" "I won't keep any secrets from you," Jasper murmured, leaning in until their lips were inches apart. He resisted the urge to kiss her. "Ask me whatever you want, and I'll tell you what you want to know, in full honesty.""Alright. What happened between you and your brother, Justin?" Alyssa asked curiously.Jasper's lips thinned for a moment as he shied away."Tsk. L