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Chapter_64
Alyssa’s entrance had stolen the spotlight, and now, the tension in the air was palpable. As Landon made his way off the stage, he cast a playful glance toward Alyssa, clearly captivated by her presence. His flirtatious wink didn’t go unnoticed, and for a moment, it felt like the entire room was holding its breath.
Betty, who had been obsessively eyeing Landon, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. She had imagined herself as the one who would capture Landon’s attention, but now she found herself competing for it. Alyssa, effortlessly radiant and poised, was an obstacle she hadn’t anticipated.
Meanwhile, Liana, still simmering with resentment, couldn’t suppress her anger. The brooch, the “Ragnarok,” was a symbol of Alyssa’s power and status. The fact that it had ended up with her—of all people—was too much to bear. As much as Liana wanted to claim Jasper and secure her place in the upper echelons of society, Alyssa seemed to be one step ahead of her at every turn.
“She’s really something,” Liana muttered under her breath, clenching her fists.
Rosaline, ever the strategist, was already calculating how to spin this to her advantage. She knew Liana was growing insecure, but it wouldn’t do for her to show weakness. She needed to bolster her daughter’s confidence, even if it meant biting her tongue for now.
Sophia, on the other hand, was quietly observing the scene unfold, her smile having disappeared entirely. Alyssa had not only inserted herself into the front row but had managed to do so in a way that seemed completely natural, as though she belonged there. And the brooch—Sophia had heard of “Ragnarok” before, but seeing it on Alyssa’s chest made it all the more real. That piece of jewelry, that symbol of status and luxury, was now a reflection of the woman wearing it. Alyssa had always known how to command attention without uttering a single word.
Jasper’s mind was in turmoil as he watched Alyssa. Her cold, aloof demeanor was a sharp contrast to the warmth he had once known. But now, as she sat there, exuding an aura of elegance and power, it became clear to him that the woman sitting before him was no longer the one who had walked away from their marriage. She had transformed into someone entirely different—someone who no longer needed his approval or affection. The sense of loss that gnawed at him grew heavier.
“Jonah must have pulled some strings to get her that brooch,” Landon continued, his voice filled with admiration. “I would’ve done anything to get my hands on it. But I guess Jonah had better luck.”
Jasper felt a pang of bitterness at the mention of Jonah. It wasn’t just the brooch—Jonah had done what Jasper hadn’t been able to do in their marriage: he had made Alyssa feel valued, cherished. And that realization stung.
As the auction continued, Alyssa’s presence remained a quiet storm in the background. The guests couldn’t help but steal glances at her. While they were supposed to be focused on the event at hand, the underlying current of curiosity and intrigue around Alyssa was undeniable.
For Jasper, the evening had already turned into a silent war of emotions. He had never been one to express his vulnerabilities, but watching Alyssa so effortlessly command the attention of the room—something he could never do for her—was a bitter pill to swallow.
But there was still something about her that drew him in, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. The ache in his chest deepened, and with it, the questions he had long suppressed about their past and their future. Would they ever find their way back to each other? Or was the divide between them now too wide to cross?
As the night wore on, Landon continued to engage with Alyssa, but Jasper remained distant, his gaze flickering between his ex-wife and the happenings around him. He had no answers, only the gnawing feeling that something had shifted between them, and it was something he couldn’t ignore.