Upon hearing Landon’s words, Jasper choked on his water in surprise.


    He let out a muffled cough and retorted, “Landon Harper, are you thinking straight? Lyse can give you


    al checkup, you know. You shouldn’t be wasting Lauren’s time.”


    Alyssa crossed her legs on the couch and stared disdainfully at the cheesy Landon. She quipped, “So,


    you’re a chef now after retiring from your yboy days? Well, it’s pretty impressive for you to turn over


    al


    new leaf.”


    “Ahem. This will be my first time cooking tonight. I’m kind of nervous,” Landon confessed. In his 28


    years, he had never set foot in the Harper Residence’s kitchen, let alone tried his hand at cooking.


    “Landon, don’t push yourself too hard,” Lauren chimed in with concern while gently tugging at his


    sleeve.


    Alyssa cast Landon a look of disdain and agreed, “Right. You shouldn’t drag Lauren into the mess


    you’re


    about to make.”


    Jasper pressed his lips and added, “Remember, if the stove catches fire, the first thing to do is cover it


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    with a pan, not douse it with water


    “I-I got it,” Lauren replied as she raised her hand. She blinked obediently at Jasper.


    Landon was annoyed. “I’m a college graduate, for fuck’s sake! Can you two lovebirds stop treating me


    like


    an idiot?”


    Alyssa bristled at Landon’s “lovebirds” remark, but before she could respond, Landon hurriedly left the


    room with Lauren in his arms.


    After the new couple left, silence returned to the room. This time, it was a mix of awkwardness,


    flirtation,


    and bitterness.


    Jasper, having been advised against contact with water due to his injury, hadn’t had a proper bath


    since


    the incident and reeked a little.


    Thanks to his good looks, he remained an eye candy despite his disheveled appearance.


    To break the silence, Alyssa cleared her throat and tly said, “Let’s have a serious talk since no one’s


    around.”


    “How about getting into some serious action?” he suggested in a hoarse voice and looked at her


    suggestively. He had vited her with the desire in his eyes without making any physical advances.


    “Hah. Jasper Beckett, remember that your life is in my hands now. You’d better behave. I was the one


    who stitched your head, and I can undo it too,” she seethed. Her cheeks were burning in shame.


    1. You


    He squinted and stopped teasing him. Then, he began, “Lyse, I know what you’ll discuss with m want


    to look into the identity of that man who attacked Madam L, and you want to learn his motives. Am I


    right?”


    Her eyes brightened. She nodded. “Yeah.”


    “Lyse, I’ll take care of this for you. When I’m discharged…”


    “I can’t wait. Don’t you know how badly L has been affected by the incident?” she cut him off coldly


    and cracked her fingers. “I had to put my investigation on hold because of your surgery. Otherwise, I


    would have tracked down that man and taught him a lesson.”


    Jasper looked at her with a tender smile, his expression unchanged.