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Chapter_44
Jasper’s mind was racing, and everything seemed to blur together. Alice, once so plain and predictable, had suddenly transformed into someone with hidden talents, someone who seemed more than capable. But why hadn’t he seen any of this before? Had she always been like this, or was it something that had only emerged after their separation? His thoughts were chaotic as he replayed Newton’s words about Alice’s calligraphy and art skills. It was as if a curtain had lifted, revealing a person he had never truly known.
The coincidence of Alice’s writing style matching the calligraphy hanging in Alyssa’s office sent a chill down Jasper’s spine. It couldn’t be a coincidence, could it? Alice and Alyssa—two women he never thought to connect—now seemed entwined in a way that made everything more complicated. Could Alice and Alyssa be the same person? The thought seemed absurd, yet Jasper couldn’t ignore the mounting evidence.
The moment of realization hit him hard. His mind jumped to the time he had seen Alice at the hotel where Alyssa worked. The echo of her footsteps in the hallway, the fleeting glance he had caught of her when he was leaving Alyssa’s office, all felt like pieces of a puzzle he hadn’t noticed until now.
But was it possible? Alice, who had been meek and compliant, seemed an unlikely match for the cunning and confident Alyssa. But Jasper couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was going on. Could Alice have been hiding her true self all along? Or worse, could she have been playing a game of her own?
Jasper snapped back to the present, focusing on Newton’s ramblings about the past. His grandfather’s bitterness about the Gardner family and his obsession with Alice were distractions. Jasper was no longer concerned with Alice’s background alone. The mystery of Alyssa and Alice loomed larger now than ever. But he couldn’t afford to let that take precedence. His family’s future, the Beckett Group’s survival, and his fiancée, Lia, all needed his attention.
At the same time, in Belbanks, Jonah was sitting with his father, Winston, and Silas, relishing in the success of his recent trip. Jonah, though a man of principle, had crossed into a murkier territory this time. His methods—so uncharacteristically underhanded for a man who valued peace—had caught Winston’s attention. Jonah’s philosophical musings about peace and the wind were clearly more than just idle chatter. There was a deeper, personal motive at play here. Jonah had been working behind the scenes, using the Beckett Group’s internal conflicts to his advantage. It was no longer just a matter of business; it was personal, especially given the history between their families.
“Jonah, it’s not like you to suddenly spoil the Beckett Group’s soup like this,” Winston remarked, raising an eyebrow in amusement. “Why resort to such methods? You’re sounding more like me than I care to admit.”
Jonah’s response was measured, but there was an edge to his voice. “Peace is like a cloud in the sky. It looks like it’s always there. But you’ll never know when the wind will blow it away.” He sipped his water, a deliberate and graceful action that belied the deeper conflict brewing beneath his calm exterior. Jonah was always strategic, but this was a side of him that his father rarely saw—one that was willing to go to extremes for the sake of his family’s revenge.
Winston’s smile deepened, and he placed a hand on Jonah’s shoulder with pride. “I knew you’d understand. Javier and I have had our differences, but there’s more at play here than just business rivalry. His grandfather wronged your great-grandmother, and we’ve never forgotten it. It’s time for us to take our revenge.”
Jonah remained silent, his mind processing his father’s words. The rivalry between their families ran deep, and Winston’s desire for vengeance seemed to burn hotter than ever. But Jonah’s mind was not just on family grudges—it was also on the larger picture. He had been maneuvering, quietly positioning himself to deal the Beckett Group a blow, and now, with the Gardner Group’s troubles, it was the perfect opportunity. But was it enough to break the Beckett Group’s resolve?
As Winston continued to express his satisfaction, Silas observed quietly, no doubt aware of how deeply embedded the grudges ran in their family. Jonah’s move against the Beckett Group was more than just business—it was the continuation of a long-standing feud. And as the tension between the families mounted, it was clear that this rivalry would shape not only the future of the Beckett Group but also the lives of those caught in the crossfire.