David’s face fell when Jameson made a jab at him. He curled his fists.


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    The Taylor family chose to ignore the siblings’ rivalry, except for Victor, who shot Jameson a furious


    nce.


    “She still needs something to warm her up. Lyse, I’ll get you some white wine. It’s perfectly fine to enjoy


    a little drink.” Jameson smiled gently, ignoring the pale David. 1


    She coughed and replied, “I’m fine with anything.”


    Feeling uneasy about being caught in the middle of the two siblings, she declined their offers in an


    attempt to defuse the situation. “I’d actually prefer a beer-”


    Surprisingly, they turned to her at the same time, warning, “No! You might get gout!”


    When the dinner drew to a close, Jameson excused himself from the table and headed to the


    washroom.


    There, he dispensed loads of handwash into his hands.


    His pale hands looked like they were specimens in Formalin. He scrubbed his hands until they turned a


    shade of red.


    After five times of handwashing, he brought his hands to his nose and detected a lingering fishy odor.


    So, he pumped some handwash solution onto his hands and carefully cleaned every finger.


    At that moment, the washroom door swung open. In stormed David with a sullen look. He snickered at


    the sight of Jameson’s problematic handwashing behavior.


    “Peeling shrimp at dinner must have been quite the challenge for a clean freak like you. You might


    even have nightmares tonight.”


    Jameson ignored his brother’s taunt, and gracefully wiped his hands dry.


    “It’s been a while. I was hoping you’d return from Kontina with some actual skills, but the only thing


    you’ve picked up was to suck up to people,” David further mocked him in disdain.


    “Why? Are you envious of me?” Jameson grinned maliciously. “You must be. You didn’t even have the


    chance to curry favor with Lyse.”


    “You–”


    “I’d rather suck up to Lyse than panicking over not having a chance to do so, like you.”


    David’s eyes reddened, and heughed in anger. “No wonder Dad’s never taken you seriously. There’s


    something off in your thinking. You’re willing to go to great lengths to suck up to people!”


    “That’s the rule of the game. What’s important is to achieve your ends by any means.”


    Jameson casually discarded the napkin and chuckled. “Why the sudden interest in conversation when


    you were reluctant to talk to me since we were kids?


    “Why? Are you feeling anxious over my rtionship with Lyse? Does it feel like shit seeing your ns


    derailed?”


    “Jameson, you’re getting ahead of yourself. Tell you what, Dad will never approve of you dating Alyssa.


    You aren’t at the same level to fight with me!” David was jumping in anger.


    “That’s not for you to decide.” Jameson turned around and squinted at his raging sibling. He adjusted


    his


    gold-rimmed sses and dered, “I will put my im on Lyse.”


    As expected, the conversation fell apart, and David mmed the door as he left. Jameson wiped off


    the


    smile on his face and clenched his fists.


    His phone vibrated in his pocket. He answered with a curt, “What?”


    “Mr. Schmidt, I have news, but please stay calm after you hear it.” After a pause, Carl whispered,


    “Jasper


    Beckett shows up from nowhere, and he’s right outside the gates of the Taylor family’s vi. And he’s


    here


    alone.”


    Jameson’s expression darkened. “Understood.”


    Jasper stood beneath a streemp across from Heightsnew Vi, dressed in a thin suit.


    Belbanks had a moderate coastal climate, but the night breezes were pretty chilly inte fall. The chill


    seeped through his clothes.


    This was his third time waiting for Alyssa at the same spot. What had once been a mere yearning now


    transformed into an inexplicable passion, smoldering in the depths of his chest.


    “I waited till the shadows grew


    Like giants, grim and grey;


    I waited till night’sing chased


    The shadows far away.”


    He had considered the possibility of not getting to meet Alyssa that night, but his ego prevented him


    from making the first move and reaching out. He couldn’t possibly humiliate himself over and over.


    Therefore, he decided to keep waiting. She would eventually appear, and he would have the


    opportunity


    to meet her.