Alyssa, Jasper, and the others followed Newton back to Crescent Bay vi. Newton enthusiastically


    held Jasper and Alyssa’s hands with each of his, refusing to let go at all.


    Not only that, he cussed out Javier and Sophia with creative, colorfulnguage during the trip. Alyssa


    even worried that he would get exhausted from all the name-calling.


    After venting his anger, Newton started feeling bad for Jasper. He moaned and sighed about his poor


    grandson while discreetly trying to put Jasper’s hand on top of Alyssa’s.


    Jasper smiled at Alyssa from beside Newton as his heart exploded in joy. She noticed his passionate


    eyes but merely pressed her lips and ignored him.


    Her indifference worried him, and he tried to hold her hand. All of a sudden, the warmth in his hand


    disappeared as she had removed her hand.


    He gazed up and identally met her eyes. She was ring at him as though she would skin him


    alive.


    Jasper resigned to the current situation. It seemed that he had failed to hold her hand. Nevertheless,


    het


    was happy enough that she had shown up for him. He dared not ask for more.


    “Jasper, you should really thank Alice for tonight. If she hadn’t told me that your dad beat you, I


    wouldn’t


    have rushed over in time!” Newton said knowingly and blinked at Jasper.


    Newton added, “See, Alice cares about you, you little rascal. You should thank her for saving your life.”


    “Lyse, thank you,” Jasper tenderly spoke to Alyssa.


    She was jolted by the affectionate gaze and responded with a faint smile, “You should thank Lauren


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Instead of me.”


    This revtion surprised both Newton and Jasper. “Lauren?”


    Alyssa put on a cold expression as she exined, “Yes, it was Lauren who called me and informed me


    about the situation. I then alerted Grandpa. I was just lending a helping hand. Mr. Beckett, please don’t


    read too much into it.”


    “The fact that you told Grandpa about it shows that you still care for me,” Jasper shamelessly pointed


    out.


    Alyssa could deny her intention as much as she liked, but he’d somehow find a way to prove that she


    cared.


    She snickered at him. “Sure, if you’d like to think so.”


    Newton sighed. “Oh, so that was what happened. My dear Lauren is a kind and helpful soul. She might


    not have grown up by my side, but thankfully, she did not turn into a rotten apple living with that witch.


    “On the other hand, Betty has been spoiled rotten by my son, who couldn’t tell right from wrong. She


    hasn’t learned anything good from her mom and nearlynded herself in prison. My hair almost turned


    grey fretting about her scandals!”


    Alyssa chimed in, “Lauren’s a good kid. She was closest to me when I was living with the Becketts, and


    she was always kind to me.”


    The mention of Lauren brought back memories of her marriage, which once again brought her


    heartache.


    Nevertheless, she remainedposed and added, “I could even say that I wouldn’t have survived my


    time at Seaview Manor without Lauren’spanionship.”


    Newton picked up her undertone. Feeling sorry for Alyssa, he shot a disapproving look at Jasper.


    Jasper’s


    eyes dimmed as he put on a troubled expression, filled with remorse and pain.


    “Grandpa, I have something that I’m not sure if I should discuss with you. If it’s inappropriate, just forget


    about it,” Alyssa said hesitantly.


    Jasper hurriedly reassured her, “Don’t worry. You can talk about anything you want-nothing is off-limits.”