Jasper was taken aback, his arms still in midair. He had wanted to comfort Alyssa with a hug."I only wanted to … ""I said, stay out of this!" Alyssa had no patience to deal with him further. She stormed away from him, still on her phone, and slammed the door as she walked out.The warmth and tenderness Jasper had so achingly wished for disappeared just like that. Their shared moment from earlier burst, just like a short-lived bubble floating up into the sky.Alyssa didn't take the antique Jasper had given her. To her, family was the most important thing right now.Sadness filled Jasper's chest, making his heart twinge in pain.But now wasn't the time to be depressed. He quickly recovered and left the room."Mr. Beckett, I just saw Madam leave looking absolutely pissed. Did you upset her?" Xavier asked worriedly, a sliver of blame in his eyes. After all, his boss had always been known to get on Alyssa's wrong side."Something's happened to Madam Lyla," Jasper said, his gaze da
"Where are you going, Mr. Beckett?" Xavier asked hurriedly.Jasper paused in his footsteps to answer. "To Lyse's side while she helps her family."It didn't matter if she didn't love or cherish him. All that mattered to Jasper was being able to hold her in his heart and fill his life with her.…After the incident from decades ago was released, with help from whoever leaked it online, terrible rumors and gossip about Lyla bubbled and overflowed uncontrollably yet again.The journalists swarmed KS World hotel like a plague of locusts. Even the forums and netizens had a change of topic."Do we really not need to pay to see this shit? Who had known an A-list actress could ever have such a demeaning side to her?""People bid farewell onstage with tears. Why is she doing it with piss?""All of you youngsters weren't born yet when this happened, but I was there. Lyla Nelson pissed herself as a side effect of getting addicted to drugs! She quit the acting industry because of it!""Re
"You're bleeding, Lyse!" Silas cried, seeing how bloody Alyssa's hand was. "Call an ambulance, Cyrus! Hurry!""Tsk. Is this all it takes for you to panic?" Alyssa scowled, grabbing Silas' tie and unraveling it before wrapping it around her injured hand."Cool!" Cyrus gasped at Alyssa's swift action."Calm down, Lyse," Jonah said, heart aching at the sight of his sister's injuries. He gently held her wounded hand, grumbling, "You can't hurt yourself, no matter how upset you get, silly. "Your family is right here with you. As long as we stick together, there's nothing we can't handle, right?""You guys stay here to deal with the reporters and find out who is behind this. I'll make sure Taty and Lyla reach home safe and sound!" With that, Alyssa turned and left."Lyse, your hand—" Cyrus cried, but Alyssa was already gone."Tsk … too hot headed. Even more so than me." Silas shook his head."There's no use stopping her, guys. She has the skills, brains, and has been a doctor be
More snickering erupted from the journalists. Their cruel, merciless teasing and mockery consumed Lyla like a pitch black wave of pain."Don't worry, Mom. I'll protect you!" Tatiana kept her mother away from the sly gazes of the reporters, glaring at every one of them. Who would ever guess such a shy and demure girl would be so fearless and strong right now? "No one will hurt you … no one!""I'm … I'm okay, Taty … I'm … " Lyla murmured weakly, her gaze distant and lost.Seeing this, tears fell down Tatiana's eyes and onto her mother's hair."What did you just say?" Colene fumed angrily, pointing a finger at the reporter who hadjust spoken. She was this close to hitting him!"Why so angry, Madam Colene? It's not like this has anything to do with you," another reporter said sarcastically.Mandy's gaze darkened. Her guess was right. These reporters had clearly been sent here to aggravate them."Why can't I be angry? Lyla is my family, so when you insult her, you're insulting me
"That's only a start. I'm suing you for your despicable behavior, you jackass." There wasn’t an ounce of fear on Alyssa's face as she said coldly, "My grounds are that you humiliated and defamed my family with a story you made up without knowing the truth of the matter, and thus insulted her character and reputation. "Don't think you can spew out whatever trash you want just because you're a reporter. You really think you can live without seeing the consequences of your actions just because the poor people whom you humiliated didn't want to take you to court?"Heh. I'm here to do them justice and show you and everyone else who means ill toward us just what happens to those who distort the truth and slander the innocent!"The reporters were stunned by Alyssa's fierce bearing. She was the one who had initiated the first physical attack, yet her speech and demeanor was so bold …It felt like there was no way they could hate her for her actions."Me? Distort the truth?" The reporte
Jasper had used his own body to protect her. His breathing was slow and irregular. "Are you … okay, Lyse?""What is wrong with you? I should be asking you that question!" Alyssa cried. A stinging pain pricked the back of her nose and forced tears into her eyes.Pain flared from the back of Jasper's head. His vision began to blur, though he still sported a fond smile. "You care about me, that's all that … "Everything suddenly went black.Alyssa's heart stopped instantaneously. She clung onto Jasper's body as it collapsed, crying out, "Jasper!"…The man who tried attacking Lyla was swiftly subdued and taken under Cyrus' hold. As he was being shoved into the police car, Alyssa suddenly lunged at him, ready to strike.Cyrus held her back just in time, consoling her, "Leave him to me, Lyse! I'll deal with him for you. Don't dirty your hands with a goon like him!""I'm going to kill him! I'm going to kill him, even if it's the last thing I do!" Alyssa yelled hysterically, str
Jonah grew serious and patted Silas' shoulder. "But remember to not call him 'Jas' in front of Alyssa anymore. Be respectful."Silas nodded, feeling overwhelmed.…Meanwhile, Jameson was standing on the second floor overlooking KS World Hotel's ballroom. He watched as Winston and Newton hurried down the stairs. A cold glint flashed in his eyes."Mr. Schmidt." His secretary quickly went to his side."Ms. Alyssa went to Madam Lyla's defense when an aggressor attacked them, but Jasper Beckett protected her just in time, taking the blow to the head himself."Jameson's brows furrowed. "A blow on the head … My goodness. Why did he do that to himself?" The secretary murmured, astonished."Keep your tongue in line or I'll do it for you!" Jameson snapped, shooting the man a glare.Frightened, the secretary instantly shut up."What happened after? Did Jasper die on the spot?" Jameson asked darkly."No … He lost consciousness. The injury was quite serious. He ended up bleeding from
"Lyse … What are you saying?" Newton stared dully at her, stunned by her words. "Things went out of hand. Someone tried attacking us. I was trying to protect Lyla and couldn’t defend myself. Not even our bodyguards were quick enough … " Alyssa recalled how Jasper had leapt to her aid, protecting her and taking the hard hit himself. Tears clouded her eyes. Even her breathing grew harsh. "Just when I thought I was done for, Jasper ran out to protect me. If it hadn’t been for him, I would be the one in the ER right now."This is all my fault, Grandpa … I shouldn't have been so slow. You can punish me or scold me … I owe it to Jasper this time.""What are you talking about, you silly girl?" Newton's eyes burned with tears as he pulled Alyssa up to her feet. "I'd be upset regardless of whether it was you or Jasper in there right now! If it really had been you … I would only be more devastated!"Feeling touched, Alyssa barely managed to croak out, "Grandpa … ""Don't feel guilt