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Chapter_37
Alyssa’s words cut through the air like ice, but they didn’t reach Jasper’s ears the way they once had. The sharpness in her tone, the resolve in her stance—it all spoke volumes. Landon, sensing the tension between them, tried to step in, but Alyssa’s next words stopped him cold.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s Jasper who helped me, not you,” she said, her voice calm but laced with an undeniable edge. “It’s not your place to take credit for someone else’s actions.”
Landon’s grin faltered, and for a moment, he considered backing off. But the challenge in her words kept him on the offensive. “Have I done something wrong, Ms. White? Why can’t you give me a chance? Is it because you’re with Jonah?” His voice was laced with arrogance, but there was a hint of something else beneath it—was it frustration?
Alyssa’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “It’s not about first or last in relationships,” she said, her voice unwavering. “It’s about having shame and morals. Something you seem to lack.”
She paused, her gaze locking with his, before she added, “When I was married to Jasper, my heart was his, and now, with Jonah, it’s the same. I don’t mind if it’s not perfect, but I will not let anyone try to ruin it. So, Mr. Harper, I suggest you mind your business.”
Her words hit him harder than he expected, and Alyssa could feel the weight of her own emotions behind them—bitterness, regret, and a fierce desire to protect what little she had left. The anger simmered beneath the surface, but she held it in check, for now.
Landon, who had been ready with a retort, faltered for a moment. But his gaze softened when he saw the hurt in her eyes. Alyssa turned to leave, and that was when everything changed.
Jasper.
The very last person she expected to show up in this moment. He stood at the entrance, his presence radiating an almost palpable coldness, sending a chill through the air. Alyssa’s heart skipped a beat as their eyes locked, and she couldn’t help but remember the past—the way his gaze had once held so much warmth for her, a warmth that had since turned to ice.
Jasper’s gaze was sharp, unwavering, but it wasn’t the warmth of love that she had once cherished. It was anger—pure, unadulterated anger. He walked toward her, each step deliberate, his voice like a blade. “What are you doing here?”
“Work,” she responded, her tone cold and distant.
Jasper’s brow furrowed, and for a moment, Alyssa could see the old frustration that used to consume him whenever she defied him. “Is there something wrong with your memory? You know very well that as long as the divorce isn’t finalized, you’re still a part of the Beckett family. Beckett Group and Taylor Group are rivals, and yet, you chose to work at one of their hotels. What were you thinking? Are you trying to piss me off? Humiliate me?”
His words stung, but Alyssa didn’t flinch. She’d heard it all before. The accusations, the bitter accusations that had marked their marriage—nothing new. But this time, she wouldn’t allow him to control her.
“If that’s what you think, then let’s end it today,” she replied, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. “Then maybe you’ll finally stop haunting me.”
“Alice White!” Jasper growled, his patience wearing thin.
Alyssa didn’t flinch, her expression as cold as ice. “What? You don’t have everything you need with you? Have Xavier deliver it to you. I carry my things with me at all times, after all. I pray every day that they’ll be put to good use.”
Her words were laced with disdain, but they also held an underlying truth that shook Jasper to his core. The once-submissive wife was now a woman who stood her ground. She wasn’t afraid of him, not anymore.
Jasper’s anger flared, and before she could react, he grabbed her arm with a force that made her wince. His grip was tight, possessive, as if he were trying to stop her from slipping away. But in his moment of rage, he didn’t realize the danger of his actions.
A sharp pain shot through Alyssa’s arm, and she gasped, her body going rigid. She felt the telltale pop, the unmistakable sensation of something being dislocated. Sweat beaded on her forehead as her breath hitched in pain.
Jasper froze, his eyes wide with realization. His grip loosened, but the damage had already been done. His heart raced, the panic and guilt setting in as he looked at her, horrified.
“Alyssa…” he breathed, his voice low and filled with regret. But it was too late. The cold distance between them was no longer just emotional—it was physical.
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