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Chapter_20
The next morning, Alyssa woke with a heavy head and a sour taste in her mouth. The room swam before her eyes, and she barely made it to the bathroom before the nausea hit again.
“Lyse, I remember you used to have a pretty good tolerance for alcohol. What happened?” Silas was quick to hand her a glass of water and some hangover medicine, his face creased with concern as he observed her disheveled state.
Alyssa took the water with a soft, exhausted sigh, her voice hoarse as she answered. “I haven’t had a drink in three years. So, yeah, yesterday was a bit much.” She gave him a tired smile, though it barely reached her eyes. She knew she had quit drinking during her marriage to Jasper, for the simple reason that he couldn’t stand the smell of alcohol on her.
Silas raised an eyebrow, his playful side seeping through despite the situation. “If I didn’t know you were drunk last night, I would have thought you were pregnant.”
A subtle pang of pain flashed across Alyssa’s face, the mention of pregnancy bringing back old memories. She forced a laugh, but it was laced with bitterness. “Haha. What would you do if I did get pregnant with Jasper’s child?”
Silas’s expression softened for a moment, and he reached out to pat her hand gently. “What else would we do? We’d take care of the child, no matter who the father is. The baby is innocent in all this.”
Despite the venom he held toward Jasper, Silas’s words were grounded in his upright values, shaped by his work as a legal practitioner. Alyssa gave a brief, dry laugh. “Do you really think I would want to bear his child?” she muttered under her breath, but there was a hollow sadness in her tone that made Silas pause.
“Don’t worry,” Silas added. “You’re not alone in this. Whatever happens, we’ve got your back.”
Alyssa took a sip of water, letting the cool liquid soothe her sore throat. “I remember a little from last night. I got into trouble with Dylan, and then it seems like… Jasper showed up?” Her voice trailed off, trying to piece together the fragmented memories of the night before.
Silas stared at her, assessing her reaction. “You really don’t remember?”
Alyssa frowned. “I think I saw a handsome guy helping me out. Oh my god, I was so drunk. If I hadn’t been, I would’ve definitely asked for his number.” She chuckled, but it was more nervousness than humor.
“That was Landon,” Silas explained, rolling his eyes. “We went to his newly opened club. Of course, you wouldn’t remember him.”
The mention of Landon immediately caused Alyssa’s interest to fizzle. “Forget it. That kid’s a disaster wherever he goes,” she replied dismissively, rolling her eyes.
But Silas wasn’t done yet. “Do you know that Jasper dragged you into the men’s restroom after all that?”
Alyssa’s eyes widened in shock, her hangover momentarily forgotten. “What? He did what?”
Silas shook his head, the memory clearly bothering him. “I don’t know what you two were up to, but when I went in, I saw you hugging him and wiping your nose on his shirt.” He seemed unable to hide the disgust in his tone as he rubbed his forehead in discomfort. “I couldn’t get you out of there fast enough.”
Alyssa was silent for a moment, processing the information. Her cheeks flushed, and she felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. “Wait, wait, what are you saying?” Her voice came out in disbelief.
“Lyse, if I hadn’t shown up, that brat might have…” Silas trailed off, but the implication was clear. He was furious with Jasper, and his protectiveness over Alyssa was palpable.
Alyssa rubbed her temples, annoyance and frustration flooding her chest. “It wouldn’t have happened. Jasper isn’t like Landon,” she snapped, though her words lacked conviction.
Silas’s face twisted with incredulity. “Now you’re defending him?”
“I’m not defending him! I’m just saying, despite his coldness and emotional ignorance, at least he’s still a gentleman!” The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them, and as soon as they did, her heart gave a painful lurch. She quickly took another sip of water, trying to calm the tremors inside her.
Silas wasn’t finished. “He’s a gentleman, huh? Funny how that’s the first thing you can say about him. But listen, he actually asked me if I’d marry you and told me not to mess with your feelings. Said I couldn’t handle love because I came from a small family.”
Alyssa blinked, stunned by what Silas was telling her. “Wait, what? Why would he bring that up with you?”
Silas’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Because he thought I was Jonah. So I just went with it and told him not to touch my woman in the future. He was probably frustrated by that.”
Alyssa’s jaw dropped. “Oh my god. Damn it, Silas, you’ve really done it now!” She smacked him lightly on the cheek, her anger bubbling over. “You didn’t have to stir things up like that!”
Sean, who had been quietly preparing breakfast in the kitchen, entered at that moment. The sight of Alyssa dressed in a pink slip dress caused him to turn a shade of crimson. He quickly averted his gaze, unsure of where to look.
“Hey, can you maybe consider our feelings here?” Silas muttered, still rubbing his swollen cheek.
Alyssa rolled her eyes and took a bite of bread. “I’ve worn nothing but white sneakers and dresses for three years. Now, I want to wear whatever I want. No one’s stopping me.”
Silas shot her an exasperated look. “Why white sneakers and dresses for three years? Were you teaching in the countryside? Will you corrupt the youth of our nation with your fashion choices?” he teased with a playful scowl.
Both Alyssa and Sean shot him identical glares. “Shut up,” they said in unison.
The morning passed with more banter, but Alyssa couldn’t shake the questions swirling in her head about Jasper’s actions the night before. Had he really cared for her, or was it just possessiveness triggered by seeing her with another man? It didn’t make sense. Jasper was never the type to show concern for her anymore, not after everything that had happened.
And yet, his words last night—those questions about marriage, about playing with Silas’s feelings—lingered in her mind, haunting her.
Alyssa shook her head as she prepared to leave for work. Her hangover still gnawed at her, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on it. She slipped into a stunning white suit dress, the transformation into a capable female executive complete. She couldn’t help but glow, even if it was just the facade she’d perfected over the years.
But as she walked into her office, the lingering thoughts of Jasper and Silas swirled in her mind, pulling her focus away from the work she needed to do. What did Jasper want? Did he truly care for her, or was it just about pride and possessiveness?
The answers seemed just out of reach, and Alyssa hated that she even had to question it.