Yet those words had toe from his kin-his beloved kid sister. A deep part of him still didn’t want to


    see her suffer from too harsh a punishment. The conflicting emotions pained Landon to no end.


    “Are you having PMS or what?” Jasper flicked away the ash on his cigarette. “Seriously. What the hell


    is up


    with you?”


    Landon took a deep breath. “Zoe was the one who had someone make the counterfeit jewelry for


    Betty.”


    Jasper’s eyes darkened, but he remained silent.


    “Did you know this from the start?”


    Jasper nodded. “I did.”


    Guilt gued Landon’s heart. “Jasper, my sister is-”


    “There’s something else you should know now that it hase to this point.” Jasper huffed out a puff of


    smoke. “Your sister was also the one who set up the reporters to catch Alyssa unaware.”


    Landon’s expression fell, as if he was stuck in quicksand that he could not pull himself out of.


    A momentter, he murmured weakly, “I’m sorry, Jasper.”


    Jasper merely said, “The person who should be saying that is your sister, not you. And the person who


    should be hearing that is my ex-wife, not me.”


    Even calling Alyssa his ex-wife made his heart ache.


    “There’s no point using Zoe’s age as an excuse. She’s 22 now.” Landon swallowed nervously. “But


    you’ve


    seen what she was like back then.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    “She can be very adamant and temperamental, always wanting to get her way. She never considers


    the


    consequences of her actions.


    “But she’s not bad at heart. Betty’s just led her astray. I’m at fault for not disciplining her properly, too.”


    Jasper pursed his lips briefly before asking, “So, how do you n to deal with your sister’s mess and


    make it up to Alyssa?”


    Landon reflected that Jasper had always been like that. He was always focused on what should and


    shouldn’t be done.


    Jasper was never lenient in moments like this, not even for Zoe, who was Landon’s sister. It only took


    the


    “I’m bringing Zoe to Belbanks to apologize to Alyssa in person.”


    “That’s it?”


    “Jasper, Zoe’s my sister. Can you let her go easy this time around, for my sake? This is a first for her,


    after


    all…” Landon begged.


    Jasper murmured, “I’ming with you tomorrow.”


    ‘You… What? You don’t think I’m going to defend my sister’s actions, are you? I swear, if I do, I will-”


    “No, I’m just concerned you might get into trouble.” Jasper slowly got up from his seat.


    Landon winced slightly. Jasper must be recalling how Alyssa had threatened him with her dest


    time.


    “Just in time, too. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her.” Jasper’s eyes softened just the slightest as he


    walked toward the door.


    “Hey! Answer my question first!” Landon yelled, “Can you let Zoe off this time, for our friendship’s sake,


    please? I’ll make sure Zoe apologizes to Alyssa and pays her all the costs and damages that arose


    from


    this mess!”


    Jasper stopped in his step, asking slowly, “Tell me, Landon: if it was your sister who got schemed and


    attacked like this today, would you let the perpetrator go that easy?”


    Landon was left speechless by that question.


    “I can let Zoe keep her pride in all of this, for your sake.” Jasper cracked his knuckles lightly, his tone


    turning dangerous. “But only this once.”