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Chapter_93
Alyssa’s face was flushed with anger, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to control her emotions. She had been through so much with Jasper, and yet here he was, still trying to manipulate her, still trying to control her life, even after everything had ended between them. The thought of him thinking he still had any claim over her made her stomach turn.
“Don’t bring Grandpa into this,” Alyssa snapped, her voice tight with restraint. “You don’t get to use him as a pawn in your games.”
Jasper’s expression faltered for a moment, as if something in her words had struck a chord. But then, the icy mask returned, and his grip tightened around her wrist again, though less forcefully this time.
“You know how much he means to me,” he said, his voice low and intense. “Do you really think I want him to suffer because of this?”
Alyssa’s eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through him like a blade. “If you really cared about Grandpa, you wouldn’t have treated me like this in the first place.” Her words were sharp, every syllable a reminder of the countless times Jasper had pushed her aside, ignored her, and disregarded her feelings.
But deep down, Alyssa knew that despite all the pain, despite the bitterness and resentment she felt, she couldn’t ignore Newton. He had always been there for her when she needed guidance, and she owed him more than she could express. He had been a source of wisdom and warmth, and the bond they shared transcended the complications with his grandson.
“I’ll go see him,” Alyssa said after a long pause, her voice cool, devoid of emotion. “But don’t think for a second that this changes anything between us.”
Jasper looked at her with a mixture of frustration and something more vulnerable—regret, perhaps, or guilt. But before he could respond, Alyssa turned on her heel, walking briskly toward the door. Her heart ached as she moved, the pain in her wrist still throbbing, a constant reminder of how far she had fallen from the woman who once loved him.
Jasper watched her retreating figure, his chest tight with a conflicting mixture of anger, helplessness, and a strange sense of loss. He had never expected her to be this resolute, this detached. It was as though the woman he had once known was gone, replaced by someone who barely tolerated his presence.
But what hurt more was that he knew she was right. He had failed her, over and over again, and now he was paying the price. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his frustration bubbling over.
“Alice…” he muttered under his breath, his voice breaking slightly. He wanted to say more, to explain himself, to apologize, but the words wouldn’t come.
Alyssa didn’t stop, didn’t turn around. She had made her decision, and she wasn’t about to let him drag her back into the mess they’d created together. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she was in control of her own life.
As she left the hotel, the cold night air hit her like a slap, but it did nothing to dull the ache in her heart. She wasn’t sure what the future held, or if she’d ever truly get over the pain Jasper had caused, but one thing was clear—she was done being a part of his world. For better or worse, she was walking away.
The cab ride to Newton’s nursing home felt long and heavy, the silence between her and the driver only adding to the weight pressing down on her chest. She couldn’t shake the image of Jasper’s face, the look of shock and pain in his eyes when she had refused him, when she had refused to let him back into her life.
But she knew it was for the best. There was nothing left for them to salvage. What they had was broken beyond repair, and it was time to move forward.
When the cab finally pulled up to the nursing home, Alyssa took a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of Jasper out of her mind. Newton was waiting for her. He always had a way of making everything feel a little bit more manageable, of offering her a sense of stability and comfort she could no longer find in her marriage to Jasper.
She entered the building, her footsteps echoing in the quiet halls, and made her way to Newton’s room. As she opened the door, she was greeted by his warm, welcoming smile. The sight of him, still sharp and full of life despite his age, softened the edges of her heart.
“Ah, Alice,” he said, his voice raspy but full of affection. “You came.”
Alyssa smiled softly, her heart swelling with gratitude for the man who had been like a father to her. “Of course, Grandpa. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
As she sat down beside him, the weight of everything that had happened that day seemed to fade, if only for a moment. Here, with Newton, she could find peace—a peace that had eluded her for far too long.
But even as she smiled and listened to him talk about his latest ideas for the hotel, a small, unshakable thought lingered in the back of her mind: she couldn’t keep running from her past, no matter how hard she tried. The ghosts of her marriage to Jasper were still there, haunting her every step.
And though she had made her choice, though she had walked away, part of her still wondered if she would ever truly be free of him.