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Novel Catalog
Chapter_8
Liana’s dramatic fall left everyone in stunned silence for a moment. Her frantic cries pierced the air, but Sophia’s sharp gaze quickly caught the surveillance camera above them. Her instincts kicked in to try and salvage the situation before it spiraled out of control.
“Liana? Are you okay?” Sophia’s voice trembled with concern, but the glint in her eyes revealed her underlying amusement.
Jasper, always the protector, immediately moved to help Liana up. However, Liana remained sprawled on the ground, her face contorted in mock pain.
“Jasper, it hurts… Carry me,” Liana whimpered, her voice sweet and shrill, a melodramatic contrast to the situation.
Alyssa stood with her arms crossed, her gaze icy as she watched the scene unfold before her. Liana’s theatrics were a well-worn performance, and Alyssa couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly. The woman was a master of manipulation, and sadly, Jasper was blind to it.
“Jasper… Alice pushed me!” Liana’s voice cracked with a mix of pain and fury, as she clung to him, her eyes flashing dangerously at Alyssa.
Jasper blinked in confusion, looking between Liana and Alyssa. “What? Are you sure I pushed you?”
Alyssa’s lips curled into a faint, almost pitying smile. “Could I have fallen to the ground by myself then?” she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She wasn’t angry. This was just too easy.
Liana’s anger flared, and her voice became a high-pitched whine as she retorted, “You—You did it on purpose!”
Alyssa tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness. “It’s possible,” she said dryly. “After all, you look so fragile you could die at any moment. A gust of wind could’ve knocked you over, really.”
Liana’s face reddened in anger, her fists clenching at her sides. “You’re jinxing me!” she hissed, her voice rising. “You pushed me! Don’t lie!”
Alyssa didn’t back down. “Ms. Gardner, we live in a lawful society,” she said with growing composure, her gaze unwavering. “There’s surveillance everywhere, so I’m sure we can clarify this little misunderstanding.” Her eyes narrowed. “Once I find the evidence, I’ll be happy to sue you for slander.”
The tension in the air grew thick. Jasper, who had been silent until now, was visibly stunned by the way Alyssa spoke. He had expected her to cower, to apologize. Instead, she was the one calling the shots now. When did Alice become so bold? he thought, a sinking feeling stirring in his chest.
Liana, now fully aware she was losing control of the situation, shot a desperate look at Sophia, who seemed unfazed by the whole exchange.
“It’s all a misunderstanding!” Sophia tried to salvage the moment, glancing at the camera. She spoke quickly, hoping to smooth over the awkwardness. “Liana must have tripped and brushed against Alice. That’s why she thought she was pushed. It’s a simple mistake.”
Alyssa let out a soft laugh, not buying it for a second. “Liana, did you really trip?” she asked, her voice level. She locked eyes with Jasper, who was looking at Liana with an expression of disbelief.
“I… I thought she pushed me…” Liana faltered under his gaze, her voice weaker now.
Alyssa, ever the sharp observer, didn’t let up. “If I had pushed you, would you still be standing?” she pointed out. “Or did your own clumsiness lead you to trip?”
The air between them thickened as Liana’s anger escalated. But Alyssa wasn’t done.
“Actually, if this is truly your heirloom, Ms. Gardner,” Alyssa continued, “you should be thanking me.” She held up the half-broken emerald bracelet under the light, and it sparkled with a mocking gleam. “This is fake.”
“What?” Liana’s mouth dropped open, and even Sophia was taken aback.
Alyssa smiled coldly. “The center of this emerald is filled with glue. It’s not just a poor replica—it’s dangerous. The chemicals in the glue can seep through your skin, harming your health. You should really be careful wearing this long-term.”
With that, she tossed the broken emerald into the trash, as if it were nothing more than a common piece of garbage.
Jasper, who had been silent up until this point, couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He stared at the emerald with disbelief. How could she be so brazen? He thought back to all the moments he had trusted Liana, wondering how much of their world had been built on lies.
Alyssa’s voice rang out with a teasing edge. “Mr. Jasper, Ms. Gardner is your girlfriend, right? You should at least get her some decent jewelry. This one’s a joke.”
Jasper’s jaw clenched, his patience fraying as he turned to look at her. “Alice White…”
Alyssa ignored the sharpness in his tone and continued, unfazed. “There are some genuine emerald ornaments in my room at the Becketts’ estate. If you want, you can take a few and make yourself a new bracelet.” She casually dusted off her hands, as if the whole affair had been a minor inconvenience.
Liana’s face turned crimson with humiliation, but before she could say anything, Alyssa turned her back and walked away.
Outside the hospital, Alyssa couldn’t hold back a quiet laugh. The thought of Liana’s desperate attempt to cling to the illusion of superiority was almost comical.
“Alice White,” came the smooth, familiar voice of Jasper from behind her.
She paused, the cool evening breeze lifting her hair as she turned toward him.
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Beckett?” she asked, her tone icy and formal. “If Ms. Gardner is still upset about her bracelet, I’ll be happy to send her a new one tomorrow.”
Jasper’s eyes narrowed, but his expression softened slightly as he approached her. “In the ward earlier, you told Grandpa…” His words trailed off as he stared at her, his voice lowering. “Why?”
Alyssa’s smile remained cool and indifferent. “Oh, about that? Don’t overthink it,” she replied lightly. “I just didn’t want Grandpa to get upset. He’s had enough stress lately.”
She paused, her gaze softening when she mentioned Newton. “We’re even now.”
Jasper raised an eyebrow, still puzzled by her demeanor. “We’re even now?” he echoed, his tone sharp with disbelief. “You faked your identity to marry me. Don’t pretend like that’s something we can just forget about.”
Alyssa’s heart skipped a beat. Can I deny it? she thought, her pulse quickening. But the truth had always been her burden to bear.
Jasper’s eyes were filled with a quiet intensity as he moved closer. “Tell me why you used a fake identity to get close to Grandpa. What was your real motive?”
Alyssa’s chest tightened. Her breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively took a step back, only to trip on a small step behind her. She felt herself tipping backward, but before she could fall, Jasper’s strong arm caught her around the waist.
For a brief, fleeting moment, everything felt suspended. Their eyes met, and she could feel the heat of his breath against her skin. Her cheeks flushed with warmth, and a strange, familiar ache settled deep within her. This wasn’t the first time he had been this close, but this time was different.
“Thank you,” she whispered, trying to steady herself.
But Jasper wasn’t done. His gaze remained fixed on her, his voice low. “Answer my question.”
Alyssa straightened, but her voice was sharp as she spoke, “I’m no longer your wife, Jasper. I’m not obligated to tell you anything.”
She turned away, her back to him now. “Since you said we’re even, why don’t you just let me go? Even if I did use a fake identity, I never did anything to hurt you during our marriage. Is that not enough for you?”
Jasper’s hand shot out, grabbing her arm before she could walk away. “We’re not officially divorced,” he growled. “You’re still legally my wife. You have no choice but to answer me.”
Alyssa’s heart pounded, her emotions crashing in waves. She had known this moment would come. She had known he would push her for answers, for the truth. But now that it was happening, she wasn’t sure she was ready.
“I can’t tell you,” she managed to whisper, her eyes misting with unshed tears. “Mr. Jasper, you talk about responsibility. But do you ever think about what you owe me? Have you ever fulfilled your role as a husband? Why should I be the one to carry the weight of our past?”
Jasper’s eyes darkened with frustration, and his grip tightened on her arm. “Don’t think I won’t have other ways to deal with you.”
Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms. The intensity of his touch made her breath hitch, and their proximity made her head spin.
“Go ahead,” she muttered. “Investigate me all you want. What’s the point of asking?”
She broke free from his grasp and turned away.
Jasper watched her retreating figure, his expression conflicted. His feelings for her had always been complicated, but seeing her like this—strong, defiant, unyielding—made something shift inside him. Why did she change like this? he wondered. Is this for Jonah?
His thoughts were interrupted when Xavier ran over, panting heavily. “Mr. Jasper, Ms. Gardner said her ankle’s twisted, and she’s crying for you.”
Before he could respond, the roar of a sports car engine reached his ears.
“That’s Madam Alice!” someone called out.
Jasper’s eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the sleek Bugatti speed past him. His ex-wife, the woman he had once known as Alice, was now a stranger in his eyes.
“Alice White, secretly rich?” Xavier murmured, astonished.
Jasper’s expression darkened, his fists clenching as the realization sank in. “Go after her,” he commanded, his voice cold with urgency.