The birthday party was about to start. Alyssa smiled. She felt d to see Winston and Newton engaged


    in


    an animated conversation at the front.


    “Oh, is this real? That’s Newton Beckett!” a guest eximed.


    “Hey, you’re right! He looks great for his age.”


    “Newton is quite close to Mr. Taylor. It’s umon to see such good friendships these days. One


    might


    mistake Mr. Taylor for Mr. Beckett’s son!”


    “I heard that Javier Beckett’s wife is hosting her birthday celebration at Berenike Hotel tonight. It’s quite


    intriguing to see Mr. Beckett attending L Nelson’s birthday party instead of attending his own family


    event.”


    The guests shared hushed chuckles and snorts.


    “Mr. Beckett obviously doesn’t approve of his daughter-inw, Sophia Kirkman. She’s been embroiled


    in bribery and counterfeit scandals for the past six months. Besides, her niece cheated on Jasper


    Beckett.


    Of course Mr. Beckett dislikes Sophia.”


    “I think Jasper Beckett and Alyssa Taylor would make a great couple. I read about the auction, and it


    seemed like he stood up for her. Do you think they might date?”


    Alyssa furrowed her brows as she overheard this conversation, and the guests continued to gossip.


    “Well, I doubt it.”


    “Why is that?”


    “Things got pretty messy between Jasper Beckett and his ex, Liana Gardner. They were a


    laughingstock. I can’t see someone as dignified as Alyssa Taylor settling for less.”


    Alyssa quietly nodded at that remark, which she thought was sensible.


    “Well, it’s best to turn a blind eye to your partner’s romantic history. But there’s always that nagging fear


    that the past could resurface unexpectedly, like opening a can of worms. Even if you try not to care, it’s


    hard not to be affected by it.


    “Jasper Beckett is a decent man, but Alyssa Taylor has plenty of other options. She doesn’t need to get


    with a problematic guy.”


    Alyssa nodded in agreement. Yup, that was right.


    Suddenly, Jasper interrupted her thoughts with a mischievous remark. “Enjoying the eavesdropping?”


    Startled, she swiftly looked up to find him standing beside her, gazing down at her with a tender smile.


    “I-I wasn’t!” She hurriedly looked away and bit her lower lip angrily. She had been caught red-handed.


    He sat down beside her and remarked, “Well, they had it mostly right, except for one thing. Yes, I might


    be


    a man with aplicated past, but you’re part of that past too.”


    “Is that something to be proud of?” she retorted, crossing her arms and smirking.


    Noticing her frustration, he smiled wryly and said, “Lyse, I don’t have an ego when ites to you.”


    His confession caught her off guard.


    “All I have is regret,” he added, his voice bing hoarse.


    His expression darkened. “I regret how poorly I treated you, and I regret not introducing my wife to the


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    public.”


    Alyssa looked away and responded coolly, “You don’t have to carry that regret, Jasper. I’m relieved that


    no one knows I was your wife for three years. I feel fortunate that you didn’t publicize our disastrous


    marriage.”


    Their disastrous marriage.


    Jasper felt a pang of pain in his chest. Even after all they had been through, he remained a stain in


    Alyssa’s past.


    “That helped me move on from our failed marriage. I could simply pretend it never happened,” she


    continued with a chuckle, adding, “We were never truly together, anyway.”