Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

In the living room of the Bender residence, Sebastian clung tightly to Zayne, whose bruised and battered body slumped limply on the floor.

They held onto each other for warmth as they shivered.

Meanwhile, Alyssa and Jasper sat on the couch, but not without leaving a massive gap between them.

Once deeply in love, their current distance was a heartbreaking contrast to the intimacy they had shared. It was heartbreaking to see them like this.

Alyssa took a quick peek at Jasper's cold, expressionless face before turning her dull gaze away. Her hands lightly rested on her shoulders, where his touch still lingered—a ghost of warmth that refused to fade.

"How dare you attack my friend?" Landon sneered, towering over Sebastian and Zayne. His black leather gloves creaked as he clenched his fists. "You wouldn't know fear if it slapped you in the face. Maybe I should teach you a lesson." "M-Mr. Harper... Everything happened so quickly. Z-Zaynie just reacted out of fear and ended up overreacting..." Sebastian pleaded, "He was just worried aboutand ended up acting rashly. P-Please... Please spare him! You can beatup instead!" "Oh? A good son, is he?" Landon smirked, his voice dripping with disdain. "Tell me, Sebastian, does a good son gamble away his parents' money and rack up over ten million dollars in debt overseas? A good son who doesn't even dare return hwithout hiding? A good son, my foot!" Zayne shrank further into Sebastian, panic flashing across his face as his dirty secret was laid bare.

"Say what? Ten million dollars?" Sebastian couldn't believe his ears; his bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief. "Zayne, is it true? Are you really owing the gambling house that much money?" Deep down, Alyssa was surprised.

Landon was right. This useless son of Sebastian's had indeed racked up massive debt in a gambling house overseas and almost lost his limbs because of that.

Subsequently, he had put his family's manor, the one they were in right now, as collateral before he was allowed to return to Solana City.

That being said, it was a pity that realty prices were plummeting. Even if the Bender family sold this manor, they wouldn't be able to pay back Zayne's debt. Not only that, but he would also have interest to pay.

Although Landon and Sebastian had nothing to do with one another, he had gotten such a clear understanding of his background. There was no doubt that he had done so at Jasper's request.

Alyssa smiled slightly. This time, they had the sidea again.

Zayne's silence confirmed the truth. Fury overtook Sebastian as he began striking Zayne in a fit of helpless rage. "You ungrateful brat! Are you trying to drive your mother andto our graves?" But it was of no use.

"Tell me, Jasper. What do you plan on doing?" Landon gazed casually at Jasper, who was looking cold and aloof. He smirked and continued, " am the best in Solana City when it comes to teaching people a lesson." Content belongs to en.kikistoriesQUMS Without saying a word, Jasper simply watched Sebastian and Zayne with a calm gaze. Even so, that intense intimidation coming from him was chilling enough.

"M-Mr. Beckett, what in the world do you want from us? Pray tell!" Sebastian cried out.

With a cold look in his eyes, Jasper questioned in a frosty tone, "Who was it who instructed you to setup? It was Justin Beckett, wasn't it?" "I-I..." Sebastian's anxious state made him tongue-tied.

Jasper seemed to be in a fairly decent mood today, but that was not the case for Landon. He lifted his leg and kicked Zayne down to the ground once again, causing him to groan in pain.

"Stop it! Stop it! I'll tell you!" At this point, Sebastian's heart ached for Zayne. He stuttered, "I-It was... Ms. Gillis. Ms. Gillis ctoand gotto hand in your blood test report." The moment he said that, Jasper and Alyssa actually looked at one another. Their eyes met.

Their unspoken connection, forged through years of shared experiences, was undeniable. No one could replace the bond they shared.

"Ms. Gillis didn't mention whether Mr. Justin had sent her. She simply toldto hand in the report... She even askedto step forward as a witness when it was tto do so." Sebastian wiped the sweat off his face. "I didn't agree to it at first... But she has a hold on my weaknesses.- She knows that I'm really short of money. My wife has to under fet surgery, and Zaynie is just a good-for-nothing... She helpedout, so I agreed to do as she said..." Content belongs to en.kikistories"Didn't you think we could also get a hold of your weaknesses just like she did?" Alyssa glared at him et mercilessly: "You have signed a contract with the devil the moment you agreed to that deal with her. She will manipulate you, take advantage of you, and even force you into illegal deeds tand tagain. Content belongs to en.kikistories"A moment of misstep out of desperation is all it takes to land yourself in a lifetof trouble. Moreover, she's treating you as a pawn.

"What do you think will becof you when you end up stuck in between the Beckett brothers? You will only end up dying a horrible death."