“Do you know why you lost to me despite all your efforts?” Jasper snickered.


    “Even if ! were being slick, I did it to impress Alyssa. But you wanted more than that. You were destined


    to


    lose to me when you insisted on bringing your sick mother to the party.”


    With that, Jasper walked away. Feeling suffocated, Jameson cast a threatening nce at him.


    The party went on merrily. Since Jasper had secured a victory, he happily searched for a corner for a


    well- deserved smoke.


    Not long after he had ventured out of the hall, he heard a beautiful voice calling to him, “Jasper


    Beckett!”


    He gulped and spun around to see Alyssa rushing to him in her sexy heels.


    Her eyes sparkled like the starry night, her soft hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her lips were as


    red


    as a rose.


    He had a sudden urge to embrace her tightly and kiss her.


    Before long, she stood right before him. They gazed at each other, the air thick with tension, and heard


    each other’s ragged breaths.


    There was palpable chemistry between them, even without sweet words or physical affection.


    “Um, I didn’t expect you to prepare such a surprising gift for L,” she began.


    “I can tell she likes your tiara the most among all the gifts. She likes it better than mine.”


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Jasper’s expression fell as he exined, “Sorry. I got it for her only because I thought she would like it.


    I


    didn’t think about it too much.


    “Lyse, I didn’t mean to overshadow you. You’re her family, and I bet she likes your gift the most.”


    “Can you please stop apologizing at every opportunity? How many times do I have to remind you that I


    hate hearing ‘sorry’? You make me sound like a bully,” she grumbled with a frown.


    “I just wanted to say thank you for the gift.”


    His eyes wavered. He could deal with her tantrums, but he was at a loss for words when she thanked


    him.


    “I haven’t seen L this happy in a long time,” Alyssa said with a contented smile.


    “So I need to thank you for that.”


    “It’s nice that you ce your family above everything else,” he replied while gazing tenderly into her


    eyes.


    The look sent a surge of emotions through her chest. She had once considered Jasper one of the most


    important people in her life, but that was all in the past.


    “Come with me, Lyse,” he said, taking her hand.


    “I have a gift for you.”