Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_46
Alyssa’s attempt to cover her embarrassment with light teasing and dismissive comments only heightened the awkwardness between her and Sean. Her flushed cheeks, however, had little to do with wine. Her thoughts, tangled with the memory of Jasper, seemed to be the true cause of her discomfort. The shift from playful banter to an underlying tension was subtle, but palpable. As she tried to avoid confronting her emotions, her thoughts couldn’t help but wander back to him—Jasper. Her ideal man, someone taller and seemingly unattainable, lingered in her mind, despite her efforts to push him away.
The wine cellar, a luxurious space full of rare bottles, provided a momentary distraction, but Alyssa was still lost in her thoughts. Sean, oblivious to her internal struggle, was simply trying to be helpful, unaware that his proximity was only making her more flustered. The moment when he handed her the wine bottle felt intimate, though neither of them acknowledged it. The shift from discomfort to the reality of her injured arm was jarring. Alyssa’s nonchalance as she casually spoke about breaking her arm was an unsettling reminder of the stark difference between her present life and her past experiences. Her calm recounting of war, the lives lost, and the horrors she’d witnessed, shocked Sean. It painted a picture of her strength, resilience, and complexity—a far cry from the image of the pampered, privileged woman he had assumed her to be.
Meanwhile, the sudden influx of messages in the Secret Society group chat shifted the narrative from their personal moments to the ongoing intrigue and drama. Axel’s message about Jasper’s attempt to hack into their case files sent a ripple of tension through the group. Alyssa’s eyes widened at the news, processing the implications of what Axel was saying. Jasper, always meticulous, was now actively targeting them, but Axel’s quick reaction—upgrading the security to the highest level—revealed the depth of the chess game they were playing. It seemed Jasper’s suspicion was growing, and the back-and-forth between Silas and Axel only added fuel to the fire. The banter between them, though full of bravado, indicated a serious undercurrent of fear and distrust.
As the messages continued to flow, it became clear that the stakes were higher than anyone had anticipated. Jasper wasn’t just playing business games—he was stepping into a world of espionage and secrecy. And Alyssa, whether she liked it or not, was right in the middle of it all.