"You clueless thing!" Newton bellowed at Jasper.


    Alyssa''s chest tightened when she witnessed Newton''s outburst. She was about to speak up for Jasper


    when Newton added, "You should have run it through me before carrying it out. How could you act


    alone? Are you addicted to angering your dad?"


    "Grandpa, I—"


    "If your dad pulled the same thing on me, I would have been pissed as well. Anyway, I was about to


    teach him a lesson for not discussing the press conference with me." Sighing furiously, Newton


    remarked, "You should have given me a heads up so I could fight with him over hosting the press


    conference.


    "I could have stopped him so you didn''t have to get into an argument with him, killing two birds with one


    stone. See, you have angered him again. You know he''s petty, and he''ll keep score. Why would you do


    that?"


    "Grandpa, I know you wanted to protect me, but I''m no five-year-old. I''m an adult who could protect


    you, Lyse, and thepany." Touched by Newton''s sentiments, Jasper helped him to put on the left


    slipper. "Please do not worry about me. I can resolve all my problems by myself.


    "Now that you''re retired, you should enjoy your retirement. Stop losing sleep over my problems."


    "Sigh. That''s right. I''m a useless old thing now." Newton let out a long sigh and teared up.


    Getting emotional, Jasper advised, "Grandpa, don''t say that about yourself."


    Alyssa observed the sadness on Newton''s face as though he was saying, "I''d love to protect you, but I


    know my time is running out. I cannot protect you forever."


    She choked back her tears.


    Newton put on a grave expression and asked, "Sophia''s case will be brought to court tomorrow, right?"


    Alyssa and Jasper exchanged looks and nodded.


    "Ben, get me the gifts I bought for Alyssa and Jasper!" Newton raised his voice.


    From his tone, he seemed in the pink of health.


    "Coming, Mr. Newton!"


    Ben appeared with two exquisitely wrapped gift boxes—one for Alyssa and the other for Jasper.


    "Alice, Jasper, check your gifts out," Newton urged with a loving smile.


    Alyssa happily opened hers and was greeted by a velvety, sleeveless mermaid dress with a realistic


    embroidery of two butterflies on a flower. The pattern looked like a painting.


    "This is the work of Angelo Costa of Vittorino, isn''t it?" She ran her fingers through the meticulous


    embroidery with excitement.


    "He-he! You certainly know your stuff." Newton gave her a thumbs up and added, "I hope this dress


    brings you luck tomorrow."


    Jasper opened his box and found a matching ck vest resting in it. Speechless, he mused, "Grandpa,


    Lyse can wear her dress to court, but how am I supposed to wear this thing?"


    Newton retorted, "I never said you should wear it. You''ll only look like a theater actor in it."


    Jasper was utterly wordless.


    "Mr. Jasper, this is a good luck charm from Mr. Newton. It''s a pair with Ms. Alyssa''s dress," Ben


    exined with a warm smile.


    Of course, Alyssa and Jasper appreciated Newton''s sentiments.


    "I''m cheering for the both of you in court tomorrow. Break a leg," said Newton while sping their


    hands.


    "Thank you, Grandpa..." Alyssa, who was always slick, struggled to find the right words to convey her


    gratitude as tears welled up.


    Jasper held his tears back and forced a smile. "Grandpa, we''re at the court as the audience. We''re not


    taking the SATs. Why would you buy us these gifts? Anyway, thanks. We''ll win the case."From N?velDrama.Org.