The familiar voice cut through Jasper's heart like a blade.Alyssa suddenly came back to her senses and tore away from Jasper's grip, as if she'd been caught doing something inappropriate. She shoved Jasper away, making the man stumble backward."What are you doing here, Mr. Jameson?" Alyssa asked curtly, unable to mask the shock in her eyes. Jameson bristled with killing intent, shaking just the slightest against the dark background. He shot Jasper a menacing glare, pushing at his glasses. It disappeared just as swiftly as it came, though not before Jasper picked up on it. In response, Jasper stirred up the deadliest energy he could muster, nearly snarling at Jameson. He was never one to lose when it came to this, especially not now when he stood before the woman he loved.Alyssa noticed Jasper's gaze. It looked like he was ready to tear Jameson limb by limb.Alyssa was perplexed by the animosity displayed. Was it all because Jameson stopped him from taking advantage of her?
There was rarely anything that could satiate Jameson. But one thing that could do the trick was crushing and torturing Jasper Beckett.Alyssa regained her composure and questioned, "Jameson, why are you here?""I've moved into a villa behind yours," he revealed with an affectionate gaze. She was utterly astonished and gasped, "What?"Equally shocked, Jasper's chest tightened as he sensed an impending threat."I said we're neighbors now, Lyse," teased Jameson, tilting his head and flashing a gentlemanly and youthful smile at her.Then, he extended his hand to her, saying, "Hello, new neighbor. Let's get along well in the future."Although she was taken aback, Alyssa regathered her composure and politely shook his hand, effectively keeping her ex-husband, Jasper, out of the conversation."Lyse, would you like to visit my new place?" Jameson invited her. Just like her, he was an opportunist. He added, "I bought a lot of fresh seafood, including salmon and lobsters—your favorite
A sudden gust of wind brushed past Jasper's nose. Jameson's punch was brutal and swift. Jasper would have been punched in the face if he hadn't been trained enough to dodge the ambush. From that deceptive move, Jasper could tell that Jameson was a wolf in sheep's clothing. There was another reason he could never let Alyssa be with Jameson. Never!The attack unfolded in the blink of an eye, so swiftly that not even Alyssa noticed the altercation as she proceeded toward Jameson's villa.Once again, Jameson hurled punches at Jasper, but the latter skillfully evaded each one. Jameson launched another kick that narrowly missed Jasper's chest.Jameson staggered backward, fighting to regain his balance, the veins in his seemingly feeble arms throbbing beneath his elegant silver cufflinks.Meanwhile, Jasper stood at the same spot despite suffering the attacks. Jameson adjusted his glasses, his eyes smoldering with rage.For years, Jameson had obsessively honed his skills under the guida
"Everything he did, he did it for you.""So, is he willing to harm others on my behalf?" Alyssa couldn't take it any longer and snickered. "He's attempting to justify his uncivilized behavior. He'd better not use that excuse anymore—it'll only embarrass me!""Alyssa!" Jasper called out to her, his tone laden with bitterness. He felt like he was being crushed. "I'm not trying to justify my actions. I just have one question for you—what do I mean to you?"Her breath caught, and her heart ached. In the dim light, she could see the shattered look in Jasper's eyes and the pain that was etched across his face.Jameson's sharp gaze bore into Jasper's pale face."If you stay out of my life, we might have a chance to be business partners in the future. If you remain stubborn, we can only be enemies," Alyssa cautioned. Then, she walked away slowly, holding Jameson without even glancing at Jasper.Jasper stood motionless for a long time, feeling as though the world had forsaken him.After
Everything in Jameson's place was new. It was evident that he had recently settled in.He had embraced a simple and minimalist monochromatic style for home decor. Alyssa could tell from one look that the furniture and houseware he had chosen were from understated luxury brands.When she stepped into the house, she immediately shuddered from the coldness. It wasn't the heater's problem. The spacious halls, coupled with the boring color palette, sent a chill down her body."Lyse, are you feeling cold?" Jameson retrieved a pair of white home slippers from the shoe rack, knelt on one knee, and placed them at Alyssa's feet. "Put these on. I'll turn up the heat."She blinked and slid her feet into the warm, comfortable slippers.She was surprised to find that the slippers were brand new and the right fit for her. They appeared to have been prepared especially for her."Jameson, you're home," Claire greeted them with a warm smile. She was the housekeeper responsible for taking care of
Feeling touched, Alyssa kneeled in front of Lily on one knee and flashed a brilliant smile. "Don't worry! I'll be a good friend to Jimmy."…Jameson took off his jacket and strode to the kitchen in his white shirt and gray vest. Alyssa, though a guest, felt uneasy about having him cook for her. Hence, she followed him into the kitchen."I'll lend you a hand. You don't even have a chef. It would take ages to prepare the dishes," Alyssa softly suggested, her eyes fixed on the exquisite ingredients laid out on the table. She couldn't resist the urge to start cooking herself and began rolling up her sleeves."No worries. Everything's ready to go. The seafood dishes will be ready in no time," Jameson reassured her, a concerned look in his eyes. "Lyse, I remember you're allergic to smoke. It's quite oily and smoky in the kitchen. Why don't you join my mom in the living room for a chat instead?"A surprised expression crossed her face as she tensed up. She stammered, "H-How did you kno
The dinner was filled with merry laughter. Jameson wanted to serve a bottle of wine from his precious collection, but Alyssa found herself sipping on juice, thanks to Lily's insistence. Over the course of the evening, she downed various types of fruit juices.After dinner, Claire entertained Lily in order to give Jameson and Alyssa some personal time. Jameson then took Alyssa on a tour of his villa, graciously sharing his antique collection. They marveled at notable pieces such as Paulo Gagarin's "Impressionist Oil Landscape Painting", Van Gogh's "Landscape with Snow", a vase from the Victorian era, and many more treasures, each of which would be worth a significant amount at auction.Alyssa stood before the table, examining the paintings with a magnifying glass. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly infatuated with the items."Do you like them? I'll wrap them up for you to take home if you wish," Jameson offered with a warm smile as he rested his arm on the bed.While she w
Alyssa still held Jasper's name in high regard. Jameson's eyes had a gleam when he saw his love rival calling up his crush. He called out softly, "Lyse."Her eyes deepened. She decided to pick up. "Hello?"Jameson was filled with disappointment as well as resentment toward Jasper.Meanwhile, Jasper gazed at the illuminated windows from a distance, uncertain of where she was or if he would get to see her. His voice was hoarse."Lyse, it's snowing. The first snow in Solana City this year.""Right," she responded flatly. "So, what's the matter?"Jasper was taken aback by her reaction. After a brief pause, he mustered the courage to suggest, "May I invite you to enjoy the snow tonight?""Do you have the memory of a goldfish?" she asked with a frown."Um, no.""Do you understand the state of our relationship now? Do you think it's appropriate for us to do that?""Well, it's still better than spending time with Jameson Schmidt," Jasper commented enviously.Simultaneously angered a