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Chapter_97
Jasper stepped into the study, his heart still pounding from the conversation he had with Liana. But when he saw Alyssa, her tear-streaked face and the raw vulnerability she was displaying, his thoughts scattered.
He wanted to say something, anything to comfort her, but the words felt stuck in his throat. The truth was, seeing her like this—broken and guilt-ridden—messed with him. The cold, distant walls he had built over the years felt like they were crumbling with every tear that fell from her eyes.
Newton’s voice broke through his reverie. “Don’t just stand there like a fool, boy! Go and comfort her.”
Jasper glanced at his grandfather, whose face softened with a kind of quiet affection as he looked at Alyssa. Newton had always been a doting figure for her, but now, seeing Alyssa so fragile, it was clear that his affection ran deeper than that of a mere relative.
Jasper’s gaze flickered back to Alyssa. The sight of her red-rimmed eyes and the way she still held herself—so guarded, yet so broken—made his chest tighten. He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
“Alyssa…” His voice was low, almost a whisper, as he knelt down beside her. “I’m… I’m here.”
Alyssa’s tear-filled eyes met his, and for a second, everything seemed to stand still. She didn’t speak, but the look in her eyes was enough to convey the storm inside her. She wanted to push him away, but she also wanted him to stay. Jasper could see it, feel it in the air between them.
Newton’s voice softened as he spoke, his old eyes twinkling with a knowing warmth. “You two need to stop hiding from each other. Jasper, comfort her. She’s your wife, and I know you care for her.”
The words hung in the air like a weight, heavy and undeniable.
Jasper didn’t know what to say in response. His heart was a mess—torn between his past with Liana and the unexpected swell of feelings that had started to bloom, unbidden, for Alyssa. He reached out slowly, his hand brushing against hers. Her skin was warm, but her fingers trembled slightly, betraying the walls she’d tried to put up.
“I didn’t mean to lie to you, Jasper,” Alyssa finally spoke, her voice small and broken. “I just… I didn’t want to disappoint you or Grandpa.”
Jasper’s thumb gently caressed her hand, a small, tender gesture, as his heart clenched. “You didn’t disappoint anyone, Alyssa. I should’ve known… I should’ve noticed what you were going through.”
The guilt in his voice was palpable, and for the first time in a long time, he wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was. His past, his future, and the mess of emotions tangled between Liana and Alyssa were pulling him in so many different directions.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, and for a fleeting moment, Jasper wondered if she was apologizing to him or to herself.
His thumb brushed over her wrist, and for a brief moment, he forgot everything else—Liana, the past, the future. There was only Alyssa in front of him, the woman who had been a part of his life for so long, yet still remained an enigma to him.
“Please don’t cry anymore,” Jasper murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “I… I don’t want to see you like this.”
Alyssa’s sobs had slowed, but she didn’t pull away. Her body was still trembling, but it was as if she found comfort in his presence. Jasper didn’t know what would come next between them, but for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel the need to have all the answers. For now, he just wanted to be there for her.