Jasper’s entourage stared at each other in shock, especially Xavier, who looked like he was struck by


    lightning.


    Noticing Jasper’s grim expression, Liana tried to be thoughtful and quicklyforted him. Jasper, don’t


    worry. It’s just a rose garden. You can still reach out to the many rose gardens across the country.”


    Jasper removed his arm from her grip while she was talking. The impact of his movement caused her


    to stumble backward in an embarrassing moment.


    “Let’s go, Mr. Schmidt.”Alyssa didn’tbother to take another look at Jasper and Liana. She beamed


    gently at Jameson instead.


    “Sure. I’ve made a reservation at therestaurant. We can leave at any time now.”


    Jasper felt suffocated when Alyssa and Jameson exchanged smiles. His brows knitted in anger as he


    stepped forward to stand in Jameson’s way.


    “Mr. Schmidt, let’s talk in private.” Jasperdid not falter even after he had lost the deal.


    “If this is about the rose garden project, Ihave nothing more to discuss with you.”Jameson was unwilling


    to waste more time on Jasper.


    “What if this is for something else?”Jasper cast an enigmatic gaze on Alyssa.


    …


    Jameson brought Jasper to a pavilio n in the rose garden. They sat across each other. They might be


    surrounded by roses, but the air was tense and frigid.


    “Please keep it short. I have a date withMs. Taylor.”Jameson checked his wristwatch impatiently.


    “A date? I thought you were talkingbusiness with her.”Jasper refused to back down in front of another


    man when it was about Alyssa.”You might be the only one who saw it as a date. I knew my wife of


    three years better than you.”


    “Is that so?”Jameson shrugged andmocked, “Three years of sham marriage. Why are you confident


    that you know her better than I do?”


    Jasper clenched his fists as his eyes clouded with hostility.”Did you look into me?”


    Jameson shook his head with a smile.”Everything I do is out of my interest in Lyse. It has nothing to do


    with you.


    “She did not snatch your rose gardenpartnership from you. In fact, I was waiting for her all along. I


    won’t give up my rose garden to anyone except for Lyse.


    “I know your secretary contacted my menin private. I didn’t have a chance to tell


    you in person that I have never wanted to work with the Beckett Group.”


    Jameson kept dropping Alyssa’s nickname to show off their intimate rtionship.


    Jasper drew a breath with fury in his eyes. “Jameson Schmidt, I know a few thingsabout you even if


    you haven’t been back for long. Those who don’t know you, like Alyssa, might be deceived by your


    fa?ade, but I won’t. I am aware of the stuff you did in Kontina.”


    Jameson Schmidt was a notoriously cruel character in Kontina. He was the epitome of wealth and


    desire to everyone. His romantic and gentlemanly act in front of Alyss a showed how calctive he


    could be.


    Jasper shouldn’t have concerned himself with Alyssa’s matters after the divorce, but he was enraged


    and fearful at her growing rtionship with Jameson.


    The smile froze on Jameson’s face. Hezily nudged his sses but did not refute


    Jasper’s usation.


    “You always have women swarmingaround you. But you shouldn’t to y around with Alyssa. She’s not


    your ything when you feel like messing around. You’d be foolish to think you’ll win her over with a


    few bouquets of roses.” Jasper’s good-looking features frosted up.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    A few secondster, Jameson chortled.”That’s odd. You seem to care about her and reluctant to let her


    go. So, why did you divorce her and marry someone else?”


    It was a point I need question that shook Jasper at his core. A jolt of electricity coursed through his body.


    “I know I am a character. I might be evil,but at least I have true feelings for Lyse and loyal to her. It’s


    better than marrying Lyse and hurting her by longing for another woman like you did.


    “Anyone could use me of my behavior,just not you.”Jameson grew increasingly


    harsh in his reply.”I don’t care if you feel remorseful or not. You are divorced.


    Whoever she dates and falls in love with is none of your business.”


    Jameson made his way out of the pavilion but came to a halt. He turned to face Jasper, who was now


    as stiff as a statue.”I have been nning this for years. Your three years of marriage is nothing


    compared to my wait.”


    Sitting alone in the pavilion, Jasper paled and trembled when he reyed Jameson’s words.