However, Landon obediently stumbled backward after Alyssa shot him a death re, like one of


    Cleopatra’s many male lovers.


    Xavier swiftly went up to her and said, “M-Madam-”


    “Madam? What?” Alyssa frowned.


    “Uh, Ms. Alyssa, Mr. Beckett switched hospitals because he didn’t want you to worry about his injuries.


    He


    wanted you to focus on your recovery,” Xavier muttered meekly.


    Xavier felt nervous every time he had to face Alyssa, who had grown assertive and abrasive. She had


    be theplete opposite of her past acquiescent self.


    “He’s overthinking, then. I am not going to worry about him,” replied Alyssa with a snicker and a lift of


    the


    brow.


    “But you wouldn’t have quickly located him if you weren’t worried about him, right?” Xavier bit the bullet


    and retorted.


    “You-” She red at him.


    Jasper secretly grinned as he rested against the headboard.


    Xavier might be a little slow and clumsy and didn’t always do his job right. However, he had redeemed


    himself and pleased Jasper with his words just now.


    Jasper secretly decided to increase Xavier’s bonus pay.


    “Leave, all of you,” Alyssa instructed coldly.


    Sean mumbled with a troubled expression, “But Ms. Alyssa-”


    She promptly cut him off, “You too, Sean.”


    Nobody dared defy Alyssa’s orders. Landon, Xavier, and Sean shuffled out of the room with their heads


    hung low.


    When the door closed, Alyssa marched up to Jasper. Her face was a mix of anger and concern.


    She began, “looked at your patient records. You’ve got a serious concussion. If you’d waited just one


    more minute for treatment, you could have risked a hemorrhage and your life.”


    “But I got help on time. And I’m still alive,” he replied calmly with a hint of nasal voice.


    Jasper then cast a tender and heavy look at her. “Don’t forget, I’ve served in wars. I endured all sorts of


    suffering and injuries. This is nothing.”


    His intense gaze burned into her, triggering memories of their time together on the Luminara


    battlefields.


    Despite herposed demeanor, those memories tugged at her heartstrings. Her palms grew sweaty,


    and her breaths became ragged.


    “I’m thankful to you for saving my life, but you don’t have to handle everything on your own. Just let me


    know if you’re hurt, and I’ll get you help. Why hide it from me?” She looked squarely at him and said


    shakily.


    “Xavier just exined the reason,” Jasper answered coolly. He seemed nonchnt about his injuries.


    “You’re hurt on your back, aren’t you? Take off your clothes and turn around,” she instructed, her tone


    cold


    and authoritative, ignoring the meaning behind his words just now. “Hurry up! What’s with the dilly-


    dallying? Scared I’d take advantage of you?”


    He smiled bitterly at her. “Of course not. You would have taken advantage of me three years ago if


    you’d


    wanted.”


    “Well, I had the intention, but you never gave me a chance. You avoided me like the gue…” She


    trailed


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    off when she realized her words hade out wrong. An embarrassed blush crept onto her face.


    Jasper was taken aback by the slip of her tongue. A heavy sense of guilt washed over him. The


    awkward


    tension in the room grew palpable once more.


    He silently unbuttoned his shirt and took it off, revealing his bare, muscr top with attention-catching


    scars all over.


    That wasn’t the first time Alyssa had seen him half-naked, but she still found herself admiring his toned


    physique. Swallowing hard, she ordered with an icy tone, “Lie face down.”