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Chapter_94
Alyssa struggled against the firm grip that Jasper had on her waist, the sudden shift in power making her heart race with a mixture of frustration and anger. “What the hell, Jasper?” she snapped, glaring at him through the window. “You can’t just force me into your car like this!”
Jasper’s expression was a mix of stubbornness and something deeper, something she couldn’t quite place. “I don’t trust you, Alice,” he muttered, his voice low, as though that explanation somehow justified his actions.
His words stung, more than she expected. The idea that he didn’t trust her, that he thought she was somehow capable of doing something underhanded, made her blood boil. “You think I’m up to no good? After everything, you’re the one I can’t trust!”
The car was silent for a beat, the tension thick in the air between them. Jasper didn’t move, didn’t budge, as though he was daring her to make another move.
Alyssa’s pulse pounded in her ears. She could feel the heat of his presence—so close, so suffocating. And for a fleeting moment, her mind flashed back to all the times she had once felt his protective touch in a different, gentler context, back when they had been… them. But those days were gone. There was no place for sentiment now.
With a sharp exhale, Alyssa crossed her arms and leaned back against the seat, deliberately turning her head away from him, determined to keep her composure. “Let me out, Jasper. Now.”
Jasper’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t respond right away. He simply studied her, as if trying to decipher something he couldn’t understand. It wasn’t the same intensity he had when they were married—the heat of passion, of rivalry—but something darker, more unresolved, lingered between them.
“I’m not going to sit here and play this game with you,” Alyssa said, her voice steady but laced with contempt. “If you think I’ll just fall back into your control, you’re mistaken.”
Jasper exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his gaze. “I’m not trying to control you, Alice,” he said, his words tinged with annoyance. “But you make everything so damn difficult.”
Her eyes flicked back to him, her jaw tightening. “You’re the one who made everything difficult. If you hadn’t been so… so focused on your own damn priorities, maybe we wouldn’t be here.”
His hand gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white, as if the argument wasn’t enough to contain his emotions. He knew she was right, but he wasn’t going to admit it. Not yet.
“I don’t have time for this,” she muttered. “Just get it over with.”
Jasper’s gaze softened for a moment—only for a moment—before it hardened again. “Fine, we’ll go to Newton. But don’t think this changes anything. Not between us.”
Alyssa clenched her teeth, forcing herself to maintain a semblance of control. Her gaze shifted to the window, the city lights blurring past them as the car sped down the road. Everything felt like it was slipping further away, but she couldn’t stop now. She couldn’t let him see how much his words were still affecting her.
The ride to Newton’s place was painfully quiet, neither of them willing to speak. Alyssa felt the weight of his presence beside her, but her mind was focused elsewhere. She had made her choice. She couldn’t go back, couldn’t allow herself to care about the man who had broken her heart.
When they finally arrived at the nursing home, Alyssa didn’t wait for him to open her door. She stepped out on her own, ignoring the pang of hurt that flickered in her chest.
“I’ll go in alone,” she said, not looking back. “You don’t need to be here.”
Jasper didn’t respond right away, and for a moment, she thought he might protest. But then, his voice reached her, low and tight. “Fine. But don’t think this is over, Alice. We’re not done yet.”
She didn’t answer, just walked toward the entrance, her steps steady but heavy. She had her own battles to fight now. Whatever was left between them, whatever strings still connected her to him, would have to be severed in time.
For now, she had to focus on the person who mattered most—Newton.