"I''m sorry, Jonah ..." Alyssa murmured, nestled in Jonah''s embrace.


    Jonah, overwhelmed by guilt, shook his head and pulled her into a deep hug. "Nonsense, my princess.


    You''ve done nothing wrong. No need for apologies. It''s my fault for not giving you enough attention. I


    should be sorry to you."


    She gave him a wry smile. Finally, she realized her naivete. She had thought she could shoulder the


    pain on her own to protect her love and her family from guilt and worry.


    Still, all her efforts went down the drain when the truth came out.


    Jonah held her close, stealing a nce at Jasper''s pale face before turning away. "I''ve stationed our


    bodyguards around the castle. No one from the Harper family can leave until this matter has been


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    resolved."


    Jasper''sst glimmer of hope was shattered under Jonah''s gaze. Feeling like a sinner, he thought he


    had poured all his love into Alyssa, only to discover he had deeply wounded her. He did not deserve to


    be with her. He did not even deserve to hold any hope.


    The onlookers, however, were interested in staying and watching the drama. Cornelius lost his calm at


    that moment. Pointing a finger at Jonah, he growled, "Jonah Taylor, you''re uwfully detaining us! I


    can sue you for that."


    "Go ahead and sue me. Zoe Harper vited Alyssa''s privacy, illicitly obtaining and publicizing her


    private information. We Taylors could sue you for the damages caused by your malicious actions!"


    Sean had now changed into a suit and dashed into the hall, looking energized as if he was never


    injured. Worried he might cause a stir, he had covered his left eye injury with a gauze. Despite his


    injury, he hurried over upon hearing about Alyssa''s plight.


    Although he knew Jonah would protect Alyssa, he still wished to do something for her, a decision fully


    supported by Tatiana.


    "Sean ." Alyssa''s eyes shimmered, and she choked back tears.


    "Tsk tsk. I can''t believe that Ms. Zoe is ignorant of thew," another voice rang in the hall.


    Julien strolled up to Sean and snickered at Zoe. "Actually, you''re not ignorant, just a reckless fool who


    thought she had everything under control. You went about it with the stupidest method—exposing


    other''s privacy. You''ve shown your fucking character for the world to see and drag yourself down with it.


    I''ve never seen something as idiotic as that."


    Jonah frowned gently, a faint smile ying on his lips. Julien hadn''t been in Sna City long. Yet, he


    appeared to have picked up the essence of cursing in the localnguage.


    "In my opinion, we can skip the court session. I bet the scene was captured on surveince footage


    and the phones of some of our guests here. Once the video gets online, Ms. Zoe''s reputation will be


    irreparable. She''d do better hiding in shame than facing the immense embarrassment."


    Winston was taken aback by Mandy''s nephew, Julien. Not only that, he was surprised that Julien sided


    with the Taylors. He couldn''t help but marvel at Julien''s sharp tongue.


    "D-Do you take us Harpers as a doormat? We''re not!" Cornelius, ame with rage, tapped his walking


    stick. Hemanded, "Summon the Harper bodyguards! We''ll fight our way out of this castle if we


    must!"


    "Gosh, Grandpa, are you senile or too angry to think straight?" Landon yawnedzily. "I''m in charge of


    the family bodyguards. They can''t make a move without my orders."