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    Chapter 2356


    Jasper steadied his breath the moment he pushed the door open to Alyssa''s hospital ward. For some reason, he was feeling really nervous.


    There was almost nothing that could ever unnerve him. Other than Newton, Alyssa was the only other person who could make him feel disquieted.


    A strange serenity filled the room, broken only by the faint hum of the medical equipment.


    Alyssa was still awake. She was sitting upright against the headboard. Her gaze was fixed on the darkness outside the window; her face turned to the side as if lost in thought.


    The new moon cast no light; there were no stars. She seemed to be staring at nothing, into the endless pitch ck.Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Jasper froze in the doorway, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the sight of her. His breath hitched in his chest. This woman, once so full of optimism and light, now appeared fragile, defeated. Her spirit seemed so broken that it felt as if a single touch could shatter herpletely.


    It wasn''t until a few momentster that Alyssa seemed to notice his presence. Slowly, she turned her head. Her eyes met his-deep, unreadable.


    "W-What are you doing here?" Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, her body stiffening beneath the loose hospital gown. Her eyes were red, and her muscles were tense, betraying her unease and distaste for his


    presence.


    Jasper stepped forward, holding a thermal sk in his hand. His gaze was somber as he asked, "Are you feeling better?''


    Alyssa scoffed. Her hand, in which a cann was inserted, tensed up. "I haven''t died of hypothermia, thanks to your kind gesture."


    The image of Alyssa curling up pitifully into a ball in the freezing snow appeared in Jasper''s mind. An inexplicable ball of fury rose within Jasper. He couldn''t hold back. "Alyssa, why? Why would you keep trying to end your life, hurting yourself over and over just because of me?"


    Alyssa''s chest tightened at the question. Her already pale face grew even whiter as if the blood had drained from it entirely.


    "I told you, I will keep the promise I made. It''s just that I couldn''t make it that day." Jasper spoke to her in a rather stern tone, perhaps out of that feeling of annoyance that was bugging him.


    Alyssa became a little pig-headed, possibly because she was still feeling unwell. "Why couldn''t you make it that day?"


    "I was in a rush to find someone."


    In a croaky voice, Alyssa asked, "Who?"


    The look in Jasper''s eyes deepened. He hesitated, mulling over what he should say. In the end, all he gave was a cold reply, "Someone who''s very important to me."


    Alyssa''s lips curled into a bitter smile, her heart sinking. Regret flooded her as she realized she shouldn''t have asked. Hadn''t she been embarrassed enough?


    She used to be Jasper''s most important person. But now, it seemed, anyone else could easily pull his attention away, making it all too easy for him to break his promises and leave her behind.


    "Don''t do that again next time." Jasper ced the thermal sk at the side of Alyssa''s bed. He lowered his eyes and continued, "It''s not worth it for you to hurt yourself because of me."


    "Indeed, it''s not worth it. So, I won''t do anything foolish for you again." Her gaze dropped to herp.


    That night, she had feltpletely destroyed, wishing for nothing but an escape from the pain. But in his eyes, it was all just something "not worth it".


    Jasper opened the thermos sk and removed its innerpartment. In a deep voice, he said, "That''s good to know."


    Alyssa clenched her jaw, fighting back the tears as she struggled to sh Jasper a bright yet strained smile. "I told you there won''t be a next time. I hope you haven''t forgotten, Mr. Beckett."


    "Here, have some soup. It''ll help you feel better." Jasper deftly avoided the topic, shifting the conversation. He poured the aromatic soup into a bowl and offered it to Alyssa.


    "Take it away. I don''t need any of your concern!"


    Without warning, a wave of emotion hit Alyssa. She flung her arm, still tethered to the tube, and the hot soup sttered all over Jasper. His crisply ironed suit was now soaked and stained.


    Sweat trickled down her forehead as she huddled on the bed, instinctively pulling away from Jasper. His gesture of kindness only seemed to heighten her distress.


    Jasper''s pupils constricted. It was only at this moment that he noticed her hands wrapped inyers of bandages, as she had been hiding them under the covers the whole time.


    "Go... Go away!" Alyssa cried out as she tried to hide her bandaged hands under the covers again.


    She couldn''t show her weakness. She refused to, and it was something she''d never allow herself to do.


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