“Everything he did, he did it for you.”


    “So, is he willing to harm others on my behalf?” Alyssa couldn’t take it any longer and snickered. “He’s


    attempting to justify his uncivilized behavior. He’d better not use that excuse anymore-it’ll only


    embarrass me!”


    “Alyssa!” Jasper called out to her, his toneden with bitterness. He felt like he was being crushed. “I’m


    not trying to justify my actions. I just have one question for you-what do I mean to you?”


    Her breath caught, and her heart ached. In the dim light, she could see the shattered look in Jasper’s


    eyes


    and the pain that was etched across his face.


    Jameson’s sharp gaze bore into Jasper’s pale face.


    “If you stay out of my life, we might have a chance to be business partners in the future. If you remain


    stubborn, we can only be enemies,” Alyssa cautioned. Then, she walked away slowly, holding Jameson


    without even ncing at Jasper.


    Jasper stood motionless for a long time, feeling as though the world had forsaken him.


    After what seemed like an eternity, he felt numb from head to toe. His tears had dried in the wind, only


    to


    well up again.


    Someday, a woman might take Alyssa’s ce in his life, but he would never love anyone as deeply as


    he


    had loved Alyssa


    Jameson had secured the secondrgest vi in the affluent neighborhood, while Alyssa resided in the


    grandest one


    The entire estate belonged to the Schmidts, granting Jameson the freedom to switch between buildings


    as he wished.


    As they stepped into the courtyard, Alyssa couldn’t help but sympathize with Jameson when she


    noticed


    the severe injury on his face. She cautiously asked, “Does it hurt?”


    He warmly beamed at her but identally brushed against his injury, making his smile appear


    somewhat


    strained. He reassured her, “It’s alright. It doesn’t hurt much.”


    “That bastard! He’s gone out of hand! Alyssa seethed, as though she were ready to confront Jasper.


    “Mr. Beckett is a military school graduate and a veteran, so it’s no surprise that he can be rather heavy


    handed, Jameson exined.


    Alyssa’s face fell a little. She questioned, “How did you know about his military past? Did you


    investigate


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    him?”


    Jameson calmly replied with a smile, “In both business and rtionships, I’m destined to be his rival. To


    win the game, I need to know my rival inside out.”


    Alyssa understood the underlying message in his words and pressed her lips together.


    Unfortunately, she didn’t share the same sentiments as Jameson. What’s more, she had to feign


    ignorance about his feelings.


    He turned to her, worrycing his tone as he said, “If my mom asks about the injury, you’ll need to


    cover


    for me.


    “How? Should I tell her you fell on your face while walking at night?” she pondered, frowning at the


    impossible idea.


    He smiled wryly with an affectionate gaze.


    “Hey, I have an idea!” Alyssa had a sudden realization and retrieved a foundation case from her bag.


    handing it to him. She suggested, “Use some foundation to conceal it.”


    “Is this…”


    “Do you even know how to use it?”


    Jameson looked at her with hopeful eyes and shook his head.


    “I’ll help you,” she offered. Dabbing the foundation powder onto the cushion, she gently patted it onto


    the


    swollen area on his cheek.


    “Ouch…” He couldn’t help but grimace.


    She hurriedly asked, “Does it hurt?)


    He squinted and intentionally drew nearer to her. Her skin was as soft as a baby’s, right down to the


    fine


    baby hairs on it.


    Oh, how he loved her.


    Their breaths intermingled as their noses nearly touched. She detected the minty freshness of his


    breath, which,bined with the violet scent from his shirt, made her feel slightly lightheaded.


    “It hurt a bit. But now, it’s all better,” he replied, gazing Into her eyes with a smile.


    quickly stepped back, nearly dropping the foundation case. She might have identally called him by


    his childhood nickname, but that didn’t mean they were close.


    “Let’s go, Lyse, or it’ll be toote to make dinner,” he said, stopping teasing her. He knew he needed to


    win her over gradually.


    They disappeared into the doors of his vi.


    On the other side of the vintage gates, Jasper stood across the street, ring angrily at the lights inside


    the vi.