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Chapter_72
Alyssa’s heart was pounding in her chest, but her determination to stand up for herself and for what was right only grew stronger. She hadn’t planned on slapping Liana, but in that moment, the sight of Liana’s smug, self-righteous face—coupled with the immense pain of the broken bracelet—was too much to bear.
Her hand stung from the force of the slap, but the satisfaction of seeing Liana’s shocked expression outweighed the discomfort. Liana staggered back, her hand shooting up to her cheek, as if unable to comprehend what had just happened. The silence in the room was deafening. Everyone was still trying to process what they had just witnessed.
Jasper’s eyes flashed with anger, but something deeper, something darker, flickered behind the rage. His gaze shifted from Liana to Alyssa, and for the first time, he saw her in a different light. The anger in his eyes was quickly followed by a hint of confusion, as if he didn’t understand why she had acted out.
“Alice, you’ve crossed the line!” Jasper’s voice was low, yet powerful, the fury evident in every syllable. He stepped forward, his body tense, ready to lash out.
But Alyssa didn’t flinch. She stood tall, her head held high, her eyes unwavering as she looked directly into Jasper’s gaze. The air was thick with tension, and for a moment, she thought he might snap at her, might lash out in his anger. But instead, something surprising happened. His eyes softened, just a fraction, as they fell to her injured wrist.
Alyssa’s breath hitched in her throat. She had almost forgotten about the red mark on her wrist, the reminder of Liana’s viciousness. It stung, but it wasn’t just the physical pain. The emotional weight of everything she had endured—from the necklace to the slap—was crashing down on her all at once.
“Jasper,” she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of exhaustion and anger. “You’re so quick to defend Liana, but have you ever stopped to consider what she’s really done? You’ve been blind to it for so long, and I’ve had enough.”
Liana, still holding her throbbing cheek, shot Alyssa a hateful glare. “You’ll regret this, Alice. You’ll regret everything you’ve done to me,” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.
Alyssa let out a sharp breath, her anger boiling over once more. “I’m not afraid of you, Liana. You can’t control me, and you certainly can’t manipulate me anymore. You’re not a victim—you’re a bully. And I’m done letting you get away with it.”
The room was filled with a heavy silence. No one dared speak, as if they were all waiting for the next move.
Jasper, still seething with anger, finally turned away from Alyssa, his jaw clenched tight. “Enough. We’re done here,” he growled. He shot one last, resentful glance at Alyssa before pulling Liana into his arms, guiding her away from the crowd.
Betty and the Kirkman sisters exchanged confused, concerned glances. They had never seen such a side of Alyssa—so fierce, so unapologetic. It was as if she had shed her previous self entirely.
Landon stepped up, his voice firm as he addressed the rest of the crowd. “This isn’t the time or the place for this drama. Everyone, please return to your business.”
Alyssa’s eyes lingered on Jasper for a moment longer before she turned and walked away. As she did, her mind was racing, but there was a small flicker of satisfaction deep within her. For once, she had stood her ground, and maybe—just maybe—she had made Jasper see the truth.