Alyssa, meanwhile, was singing a heart-rending aria to Jonah dressed in a sky-blue dress, her voice resounding in the wind. Her hair was pulled up into a casual bun and secured by a jeweled pin. She was the very image of an alluring beauty.Jonah broke into applause once the song was over, his eyes brimming with indulgence. "Not bad. You were taught well. You would've been someone's duchess or something back in the day.""Do I look like I want to be someone's duchess? I want to be a queen who shines with confidence. Men aren't loyal anyway." She shattered the illusion of being a perfect lady in a split second as she cracked her knuckles."So what? We wouldn't have ourselves three stepmothers otherwise." Jonah smiled bitterly.Alyssa adjusted her skirts and sat beside him. The mere mention of her father's three other wives brought a complicated expression to her face."Lyse, it's been three years. They miss you. They care about you enough to ask me about you in private.""What are

"Lia?" Jasper said, calming himself down."Help me, Jasper!" Liana pleaded for help through her sobs. "I'm being surrounded by reporters at Beckett Group … I'm scared!""I'm coming downstairs!" Jasper grabbed his coat and left without a second thought."No, Mr. Jasper!" Xavier stopped him in his tracks. "You should have security head downstairs to escort her instead. You'll be mobbed by the reporters if you go!"Jasper's expression turned somber, and there was not a lick of hesitation as he rushed out the door...."When will the wedding between you and Mr. Beckett be scheduled, Ms. Gardner?""The exposé claims that you and Mr. Beckett are childhood sweethearts. Did you two meet many years ago?""What are your opinions on Mr. Beckett's ex-wife? Is it true that his ex-wife interfered in your relationship?"The reporters were shoving their cameras into Liana's face. Despite there being bodyguards on-site, the situation was still chaotic. The woman played up her meek and weak fac

Golden rays shone through the clouds as the sun began to set. Jasper was slumped in the back seat of a luxury car that was on its way to Seaview Manor."I've dealt with the social media accounts that spread gossip about Madam Alice, Mr. Jasper. Their accounts have been shut down, and a lawyer's letter has also been issued. It should be enough for now. But the news about your marriage … We weren't able to remove it from the trending searches. Things … are looking difficult." Xavier looked apologetic.Jasper looked out the window sullenly. All this while, there were multiple occasions when he wanted to contact Alice upon remembering how badly their last conversation had gone. It was embarrassing having to go through Jonah to speak with her. Even if she did answer, what was he supposed to say? Should he apologize for what happened today? He couldn't do that. The words wouldn't come. It felt as if he were being crushed beneath a bolder that was so heavy he could barely breathe.Just as

"Bitch, how dare you splash me in the face? Do you know who I am?" Dylan angrily wiped his face and cursed."I don't care who you are. You drugged a woman and tried to force her to drink it. You're worse than a dog." Alyssa casually flicked her hair, her eyes filled with seduction.Dylan was furious, and his rage was reaching its boiling point. How dare this woman insult him?If it weren't for the crowd around them, he would have rushed forward and slapped this despicable woman!At that moment, two bodyguards from the Gardner family caught up. Dylan immediately signaled them to take her away.She needed a good beating, and Dylan wanted Alyssa to learn her lesson on the bed.The two burly bodyguards lunged at Alyssa. Even though she was tipsy, her muscle memory allowed her to swiftly dodge their attacks, causing the two bodyguards to stumble."Too slow." Alyssa yawned."Capture her!" Dylan shouted angrily as he wiped his face.One of the bodyguards crawled up and reached out to

Alyssa's mind was clouded, and she even mistook Jasper for her brother. She choked and cried, "Why doesn't Jasper like me? Why ..."Jasper's heart skipped a beat, his thin lips tightly pressed together as he listened to her lament."I tried so hard. I really tried. But it seems the harder I tried, the more he disliked me. Why is that? Tell me!"Suddenly, she turned around and clung to Jasper while sobbing heavily in his chest. Her tears, running nose, and makeup smeared his clean shirt.He stood rooted to the ground, his throat tightening as he felt her scorching tears searing into his chest and saturating his heart.After a while, his voice deepened as he asked, "Do you really love Jasper?"Alyssa raised her tear-stained face, her cherry lips slightly parted.Jasper gulped as he struggled against the strong temptation of pure desire. He regretted asking that question.So what if she loved him? So what if she didn't? Their divorce was a done deal, and his life partner could onl