Frowning deeply, Newton began, "Justin..."


    A troubled expression clouded Justin''s face, and he offered a bitter smile. "Sorry, Grandpa. I''m pretty useless. I can''t be of help to you and Dad. Not only do I fail to take charge of thepany, I''m perpetually sick.


    "I''ve been pondering something repeatedly. Life might have been better if I hadn''t experienced that kidnapping. If I were more selfish and escaped on my own, would things be different now?" Newton grappled withplex emotions but spoke warmly to Justin, "Justin, please don''t entertain such thoughts. I know you''ve endured a lot. It was an unfortunate incident. I genuinely feel bad for you because you''re my grandson. I love you and Jasper deeply.”


    "Who do you love more, me or him?" Justin threw a tricky question at Newton.


    Seeing Newton momentarily stunned, Justin smiled. "You don''t have to answer. I understand. It''s fine. I won''t be upset. As Jasper''s elder brother and the eldest of the Beckett Group, I''m willing to sacrifice everything, even my life, to fulfill my duty.


    "Despite missing you and Dad and ming myself in the past, I''ve never regretted risking my life to save Jasper from the kidnappers.”N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Newton pursed his lips, burdened by worries.


    "If I hadn''t helped him escape, the both of us might end up dying from torture. One of us had to live to take over the Beckett Group and take care of you and Dad. Don''t you think?" Justin mused. "Justin, I... I will always owe you one because of that incident. I hope you don''t hold grudges against Jasper. Don''t me him for it. He was just a clueless young child back then," pleaded Newton, who for once put aside his ego as the patriarch of the family.


    An inexplicable smile shed across Justin''s pale face. It was a serpentine smile that eerily yed with Newton''s psychology.


    "Grandpa, who are you talking to?" Jasper approached Newton with a hand on Alyssa''s waist. Newton''s hand froze midair while holding the phone, and he looked flustered.


    "Jasper, are you here?" Justin said with a smile.


    Alyssa picked up on Justin''s deep, mellow, and distinctive voice.


    "Justin?" Jasper eximed in astonishment.


    Justin gently asked Newton, "Grandpa, may I speak to Jasper? I haven''t seen him in a long time, and I miss him."


    "Jasper, Justin wants to speak to you," Newton said, deliberately asking for Jasper only. He wanted to keep Alyssa from meeting Justin.


    Jasper went up to Newton. His handsome face appeared in the video call as he said, "Justin, I''m here."


    "You still look as energetic and as handsome as ever, unlike me..." Justin''s speech was punctuated by intermittent coughs, which he tried hard to suppress.


    Then, he shed a contented smile at Jasper. "Sorry for that. I made a joke out of myself in front of you and Ms. Alyssa."


    Jasper looked taken aback. Alyssa, too, overheard Justin''sment.


    "Grandpa, Crescent Bay must be very lively tonight, right? Jasper, Ms. Alyssa, and Ben had dinner with you and yed fireworks. I can imagine how lovely it is.”


    Newton''s face stiffened. Justin had always been sensitive and shrewd from a young age. He was also equally smart as Jasper.


    However, Justin was very different from the honest and upright Jasper. Although he always wore a smile, one could not tell if he was being genuine or faking it.


    His words yed with one’s mind, causing one to wonder about his undertones.


    Jasper stared at Justin gently. “Justin, I''ll find time to visit you in Mosgravia with Grandpa. Let''s have a reunion.”


    "Will you bring Ms. Alyssa to see me?"


    Silence hung in the air. Justin, who had always been reserved, posed a direct question that caused Jasper to frown bitterly.


    Jasper grappled with hisplicated emotions, uncertain if Justin wanted to see him or Alyssa. "Gosh, no need for the trouble! Alice is right here. Let''s get it over with. You can meet her through the video call.” Newton then waved at Alyssa. "Alice,e and meet my eldest grandson and Jasper''s brother, Justin.”


    Alyssa hesitantly joined Jasper. Justin immediately saw a matching couple in front of him.


    Justin''s smile deepened as he examined Alyssa''s outstanding beauty. "Jasper, you''re lucky to have such a beauty by your side. Oh, I should call her my sister-inw now."


    Justin''s tone sounded earnest, not flirtatious. He seemed to be genuinelyplimenting Alyssa. Jasper merely pressed his lips without a word.


    "Justin, nice to meet you,” said Alyssa with a smile.


    She had deliberately sounded more distant in the way she addressed Justin to establish the appropriate boundaries.


    "I''ve met you before. This is not our first encounter,” replied Justin with a raised brow.


    Emotions flickered across Justin''s gentle face.


    Jasper felt his heart leap to his throat as he clenched his fist.


    Alyssa countered calmly, "Justin, if I''m not wrong, this is our first encounter. Isn''t it?"


    "Yes, this is the first time you met me, but it''s not my first time meeting you," Justin exined with a faint smile. "I met you a few years back. No, it was way before that. Alyssa, you''re more popr than you know.


    "I might be living in Mosgravia, but I visited your jewelry exhibition many times. I had the honor to win the bid for a few items for my collection. Just like what the young ones would say—I''m a fan of yours."