To be frank, they had more than a couple of hurdles ahead of them.


    Even though Jeffrey had confessed to everything he knew, a crucial individual remained elusive—Inigo.


    This meant that their scheme to implicate Jameson was not going to seed.


    After the guests left, Mrs. Rosie came back. She worked on tidying the kitchen and the house on


    Jasper and Alyssa''s behalf.


    "Jasper, could you find a time to speak with Landon? He seems to get mad every time he meets


    Cyrus." Alyssa ced the tes into the sink so that she could wash them.


    She mumbled, "Why is he seeing him as an enemy just because he''s single and handsome? All five of


    my brothers are still single. Yet, Cyrus is the only one he''s keeping an eye on?


    "He''s already acting like a possessive partner even before he gets married to Lauren. If so, wouldn''t


    Lauren lose all her freedom if they were to get married in the future?


    "Is he going to keep her captive if she sneaks a peek at other men? Would he end up abusing her?"


    "Landon is not that kind of person, Lyse. He loves Lauren very much. This is the first time in his entire


    life that he''s truly fallen in love. Lauren is more important than life to him. He''s just being extra wary."


    Jasper strode over to Alyssa. He lifted her by the waist and took her ce instead. He rolled up his


    white sleeves and started washing the dishes effortlessly.


    "Let me do it. The skin on your hands is soft and fair. The chemicals in the dishwashing liquid aren''t


    good for your skin."


    Landon was deeply in love with Lauren.


    Alyssa''s love for Jasper was deep, too. Although he had just said it in passing, she couldn''t help but


    analyze his words over and over.


    After some pondering, she bit her lower lip and asked, "How about you? Was I your first, too?"


    Alyssa regretted it the moment she uttered those words.


    She already knew what his answer would be. He would never even tell a white lie to make her feel


    better. She knew that he would never lie to her.


    Jasper paused for a moment. He felt a lump in his throat as he knitted his brows tightly. His mind raced.


    He washed his hands and wiped them dry. He put his hands on her shoulder and looked her in her


    eyes. "I''m sorry, Lyse." "I mean I know "


    A stabbing pain pierced through Alyssa''s heart. The painful sensation spread throughout all her limbs,


    making her eyes water.


    Still, she forced a smile on her face and sighed, "I already knew that this would be your answer. Why


    did


    I even ask? I''m just embarrassing myself by asking that question..."


    Jasper''s heart wrenched as he pressed his lips together. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, almost as


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    if he was about to engulf her.


    It bothered her. It really bothered her.


    Could she even be indifferent about it? He had once torn her love for him apart. He made her fall from


    grace into the depths of despair.


    "Lyse, if you asked me if I loved Liana, my honest answer is that what I felt wasn''t love. This isn''t an


    excuse."


    Jasper''s voice was raspy and filled with bitter regret. "She approached me and set me up per Sophia''s


    instructions. She was nice to me so that she could make me obey her. I didn''t know what love was


    before I fell in love with you.


    "All I knew was that I should repay anyone who treated me well. Furthermore, she saved my life. To


    me, I was indebted to her. So, I was only focused on repaying her."


    "But, you gave her jewelry that was one-of-a-kind." Alyssa buried her dampened face in Jasper''s arms.


    She was on the verge of breaking down in tears.


    "She was the one who asked me for it."


    Jasper was extremely regretful. But those were indeed the shittiest things that he had done. There was


    no way that he could deny them.


    "Back then, Liana told me that there was a famous jewelry designer in Furancia. She wanted a piece of


    jewelry that was designed by him personally. So, I looked for a way to purchase it.


    "In hindsight, I was just a soulless zombie. I would just give in to all her demands without thinking. I


    know that you''re not going to believe me no matter what I say. I don''t feel like exining or arguing


    either.


    "Lyse, if it makes you feel better, you cane at me with all the knives in this kitchen. It''s better for


    you to vent than to keep everything bottled up."


    "What if I''m unable to get over it? What if I''m bored of you and want you to stay out of my sight?"


    Alyssa''s voice sounded soft and mad at the same time. Jasper''s white shirt was all wet by now.


    "No way." He felt anxious and the pace of his breathing quickened. "I will cling to you. I will pester you


    all I can. Even if I died, I''d return as a ghost and follow you around."