?


    Julien paused and sighed. "That said, I feel like Jasper will choose the former-his career. A man who''s reached the top in life will never let himself fall back to the bottom. Especially someone as prideful and with such high self -esteem as him."


    "Beckett Group is the result of Jasper''s sweat and effort. I was his wife for three whole years. I know better than anyone how hard he worked to get where he is today." Alyssa shook her head in anguish. "He will never give up on Beckett Group, no matter how much it drains him."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    "There''s no cure for drug addiction. The only way to ovee it is through sheer willpower. All I can do is help him find some relief. I''m sorry, Lyse," Julien said, his voice strained with pain.


    "Don''t say that, Jul. You''ve done a lot for Jasper. You''ve done more than enough...


    Alyssa blinked, her eyes swollen. "Oh, right. Mandy and I visited Uncle Joseph the other day. He asked me to pass on a message to you. He wanted me to tell you.... that he''s sorry."


    A long silence befell on Julien''s end.


    "It''s all in the past now. Besides him being dead-set against my rtionship with Jonah in the beginning, there was never a time when I truly hated him.''


    Julien took a deep breath as though forcing himself to suppress his emotions and let out a small chuckle of relief. "Looking back, maybe I should have listened to Dad. If I hadn''t gotten involved with Jonah, I suppose I''d be much, much happier than I am now."


    After ending the call, Alyssa felt like her heart had been trampled by a herd of horses. The exhaustion and sorrow she felt were beyond words.


    She could tell that Julien still hadn''t moved on from Jonah. But how could they possibly heal the deep wounds that separated them?


    At that moment, Alyssa''s phone vibrated with a WhatsApp notification. Jonah had written, "Lyse, I found out where Julien is. I''ll be flying to Mosgravia tonight to see him."


    Despite the heaviness in her heart, Alyssa responded with encouragement. "Make sure to bring Jules back. You can do this, Jonah!"


    Jonah replied, "Don''t push yourself if you''re tired. Mandy and the others can help too."


    Just then, Sean approached with a cup of coffee. cing it on her desk, he said, "Ms. Alyssa, the weather''s bad today. It''s raining and snowing, so the roads are muddy and slippery. It might be better to inspect the project site tomorrow."


    "Alright, that sounds good," Alyssa replied, taking the cup. After a moment of thought, she added, "Come with me to visit Grandpa Newton this afternoon."


    After lunch, Sean drove Alyssa to the vi at Crescent Bay.


    "Grandpa Newton, guess who''s here to see you?"


    As Alyssa stepped through the door, she was surprised to find Newton dressed sharply, sitting in his wheelchair, which Ben was pushing toward the entrance.


    "Wee, Alyssa. Despite his kind smile, Newton''s eyes showed a slight look of panic as though her sudden visit had flustered him.


    "Grandpa Newton, were you about to go out?"


    "Yeah. I''m off to visit an old friend."


    "The weather''s pretty bad out there. Let me take you, Grandpa Newton."


    But Newton quickly refused. "No need, Alyssa. Ben can take me. It''s freezing outside. Why don''t you head home. for now ande by tomorrow? Or wait for me at home-we''ll have dinner together when I get back." Suspicion stirred within Alyssa as she watched Newton and Ben leave.


    Newton always shared everything with her, never keeping secrets. Of all his old friends, only a few were still alive, and Alyssa had met them all.


    There was no reason for him to hide anything.


    Hearing Newton''s car pull away, Alyssa rushed out of the vi. She jumped into her car and ordered, "Sean, follow them!"