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    "Amber, thank you for sharing such crucial information with me. If Justin is this so-called Sir, I have even more reason not to distance myself from him.


    "On the contrary, I should go with the flow and get closer to him. It''s the only way to expose his true colors and uncover his schemes."


    "No, don''t!" Amber''s unease was palpable. "Sir is extremely dangerous. After years of following him, even Jameson has only seen 10% of his capabilities. There could be someone even more powerful backing him from the shadows.


    "And with Mr. Jasper in his current state, he won''t be able to protect you like he used to. If Justin sets his sights on you, wouldn''t it make it harder for you and Mr. Jasper to repair your rtionship?"


    Upon hearing that, Alyssa held her breath. Agony surged like waves in her heart.


    "Lyse, I know you''re a righteous person. You''re a heroine among us women, better than many men. But you''re not invincible. There are challenges you can''t face alone, and you need protection too!


    "I''m just a simple person-I don''t fight for justice or grand ideals. I just want the people I love, and my friends, to be happy and well. That''s all. Lyse, sometimes people need to be a little selfish."


    "I used to protect only myself. Now, I''ve simply returned to that. All I did was let go of someone who wasn''t mine. There''s nothing to fear. I''ll get used to it."


    As Alyssa spoke words she didn''t believe, she tilted her head back slightly to keep the tears from falling. She continued, "And if Justin is Sir, it''s actually a good thing Jasper is keeping his distance. I don''t want him to fall into danger because of me again."


    Amber''s heart ached as she let out a sigh of helplessness.


    All of a sudden, Alyssa realized something, and her chest tightened. "Ambs, from now on, stay put in Belbanks. Don''t show yourself in Sna City unless necessary. I''ll have Axel ensure your safety.


    "If Justin is Sir, it means you identified him. If that''s the case, he might recognize you too. He could be waiting for the right moment to strike."


    "Sir only saw me before I had my old face restored, and it was a brief encounter. He probably wouldn''t recognize me."


    Alyssa''s eyes zed with urgency. "Still, be cautious. Better safe than sorry!"


    Jasper rushed to the parking lot as fast as he could. Once in the car, a cold sweat broke out over his body, and a splitting headache tore through him.


    Trembling, he leaned forward and mmed his forehead against the steering wheel repeatedly, but the pain wouldn''t subside.


    He had fled from Alyssa earlier because he could barely hold himself together. He feared that if he stayed any longer, he''d lose control and turn into a monster before her eyes.


    Just then, his phone vibrated in his mmy hand. It was Xavier calling.


    Jasper gasped for breath, his vision blurred, unable to see clearly.


    Was it because of Alyssa? Or was it because of that kiss?


    The pain inside him was excruciating.


    Finally, he couldn''t bear it any longer. With trembling hands, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a bag of blue pills.


    These were the pills Sheryl had given him during her visit to his office. He''d thrown them into the trash before Xavier but had secretly kept a bag of them without him noticing.


    The overwhelming pain had shattered his willpower. He closed his eyes tightly and swallowed all the pills.


    Momentster, his mind cleared, his headache eased, and the chills faded. Mentally, he felt even sharper than before.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    With that, he had just made his first deal with the devil.