The guests made their way to the next venue in the hotel for the charity auction.


    Alyssa was quick to dodge the spotlight, making sure no reporters or paparazzi were on her tail. She


    went


    to take a breather out in an empty hallway.


    “Ms. Alyssa!” Sean cried,ing up to her. “Are you alright?”


    “Of course I am. Those small fries were easy to cate,” Alyssa reassured him, then said, “But you


    really


    shouldn’t be here right now. You should be watching after the event flow at the venue.”


    “But… But I’m worried about you.” Sean’s voice was raspy when he continued, “Those reporters were


    purposely sent to ruin your reputation!”


    “That’s to be expected. The media aren’t going to praise and worship me just because I’m hosting an


    event for charity.” Alyssa was not the least bit perturbed.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She went on to say, “Plus, it makes sense that they would grill me. Technically, this mistake was


    caused


    by my slip-up, albeit some other more frivolous-looking peacocks took advantage.


    “I still have no one else to me by myself.”


    At the mention of “frivolous peacocks”, Sean instantly thought of Betty and her mother, Sophia.


    “But I disagree with one part of what you said. Those reporters weren’t sent here to ruin me. They are


    here


    to help,” said Alyssa.


    Alyssa leaned against the wall, fingers slowly tapping against her knuckles. “We’ll let Betty bask in her


    glory a little longer.


    “I love it when they set themselves high up in the air. It makes for an incredibly devastating crash to the


    ground.”


    Sean shivered, feeling like Alyssa resembled Winston a tad too much right now. She was like a deadly.


    rose, beautiful but riddled with poisonous thorns.


    He soon excused himself to head back to help out at the auction venue.


    Alyssa, meanwhile, was feeling particrly weak. Shey on a sofa in a nearby lounge, having only


    eaten


    breakfast the entire day and not a single drop of water.


    She curled up, her stomach growling.


    “Ugh… Hungry… Alyssa moaned, closing her eyes.


    All of a sudden, there came the rich smell of chocte.


    Was she hallucinating? Alyssa curiously sniffed the air.


    “Are you going to eat it?” came the cold yet maic voice.


    Alyssa flinched and opened her eyes, meeting Jasper’s dark eyes. They always managed to look so


    intimidating.


    Jasper was kneeling in front of her, holding a chocte cupcake.


    Alyssa wrapped her arms around her middle. Three years and Jasper had never once done something


    for


    her-all those years of giving him her all, crying, weeping, and hiding in the shadows.


    Tears filled her eyes.


    After a while, when Jasper noticed that Alyssa showed no sign of moving, he asked, “Aren’t you


    hungry?


    Here, eat. It’s chocte, your favorite. Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it.”


    “No.” Alyssa’s throat ached with an unexpressed sense of grievance.


    “Mrs. Rosie told me about your stomach condition. You can’t go too long without eating.”


    “I said no!”


    Alyssa smacked the cake out of Jasper’s hands, making it fall t on the floor.


    Jasper’s gaze darkened as anger ignited in his chest. Disappointment washed over him like a bucket of


    ice, seeping into his every vein.


    His hearty on the floor, now in pieces.


    “What is wrong with you, Alyssa Taylor?”


    Alyssa slowly sat up, no longer hungry. Rage and hatred fueled her being. “I hate you. It bothers me


    when


    you undertake actions you think will aid me without a discernible cause.


    “News sh-they don’t. Do you realize how insulted and hurtful your actions are making me feel, Jasper


    Beckett?”