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Chapter_23
Chapter 23
Jasper stood motionless for a moment as Javier’s harsh words hung in the air. He had never fully understood the dynamics between his stepmother and father, but one thing was clear: he wasn’t going to play along with their manipulation. He wasn’t doing this for their pride or their family’s so-called honor. He only cared about Liana. The rest could burn.
“I’m doing this for Lia,” he muttered under his breath before leaving the room without sparing another glance at his father or Sophia.
His mind was already turning. The looming issue of Alyssa Taylor was becoming more than just a nuisance—it was a threat. The Taylors’ longstanding feud with the Gardners, their power, and the cold precision with which Alyssa was orchestrating everything sent a chill down Jasper’s spine. Was she truly this methodical, or was something else at play?
Meanwhile, Alyssa, still grappling with her own emotions, wasn’t merely playing a game with Jasper. Her bitterness ran deeper, fueled by years of resentment. As she shared dinner with Jonah, her sharp observations about their family’s complicated dynamics painted a clearer picture of her struggle.
Jonah, ever the concerned brother, saw the pain behind her sharp words and cold demeanor. “You know, Lyse, I get it. You can’t forgive Winston for what he’s done, but don’t you think Mom has moved on?”
Alyssa’s eyes flickered briefly with pain, but she quickly masked it. “Moved on? She has to, Jonah. But can anyone really accept being second to someone else forever? I was in that position. I loved someone who didn’t even see me. Who used me. Who took my kindness as weakness.”
Jonah’s concern deepened. “But that’s not the whole story, is it? Jasper’s been quiet for the past couple of days. Do you think he’s truly moved on from Alice?”
Alyssa scoffed, swirling her wine glass with a predatory gleam in her eyes. “I’m sure he’s busy trying to salvage the mess caused by his first love. It’s always been about her, hasn’t it? As if I’m just a stepping stone for him.”
Jonah’s face tightened as he considered the full weight of Alyssa’s words. “So, what’s your plan now? What are you going to do?”
“I’m done being the second choice. It’s time to confront him—not as some leftover piece of his past, but as Alyssa Taylor,” she declared coldly, her voice unwavering.
Her resolve was chilling. Alyssa wasn’t just fighting for vengeance anymore; she was reclaiming her position and asserting her control over a narrative that she believed had always been tilted against her. Her declaration to confront Jasper head-on, not as a subordinate or a footnote in his story, but as herself, spoke volumes about how far she was willing to go to make her mark.
Meanwhile, Jasper couldn’t help but feel the weight of her presence. His thoughts, which had been clouded with anger and confusion, now turned to something more unsettling: a confrontation with Alyssa Taylor seemed inevitable, and it wouldn’t be one that could be easily avoided or solved by simple power plays.