Chapter 471
Alyssa was quiet on the way from Belbanks to Solana City. There was no hint of her good
mood from days ago. Her face was shrouded in gloominess.
Back at the hotel, she kept Sean out and locked herself in her office. Then, she plunged
into her investigations about Lyla’s incident years ago.
“The anniversary celebration was the darkest moment in Lyla’s life. Yet, it was because of
this incident that her relationship with Winston Taylor blossomed,” wrote an article.
“The internet was in its early stages back in those days. People read their news from
magazines or
newspapers.
“Winston Taylor was rumored to have bought all the publications that reported on the
incident and
destroyed all the evidence to suppress the news.
“On top of that, he meted out punishments for the reporters who penned stories on Lyla’s
mishap.”
“Still, there were some foreign media at the event. Someone filmed the incident and
uploaded it to the internet. Winston Taylor had sent his men to take the videos down, but
fragments of it lingered on the
internet.”
Alyssa inhaled deeply and stared keenly at the computer screen while typing away
furiously. Before long, she unearthed a blurry recording of the event that had remained
buried for over two decades.
In the video, a visibly pale Lyla Nelson was half squatting and shaking violently. She
appeared vulnerable,
teetering on the brink of a breakdown.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe spotlight shone mercilessly on top of her head, further intensifying her despair. The
audience’s horrified gasps and mocking jeers inundated her, almost drowning and
crushing her.
At that moment, a tall figure rushed up to the stage and marched steadily toward her.
Alyssa could tell he
was Winston from the look of his back.
Without a word, he swiftly removed his jacket, knelt before Lyla, and secured it around her
waist.
A hushed silence fell over the audience. Then, the recording abruptly ended.
Alyssa stared blankly at the screen. She leaned into the chair with slumped shoulders. Was
that how
Winston won Lyla’s heart?
She mused, “Interesting? That old man is certainly an expert in wooing women. He could
very well have
founded his own school on the subject.”
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She was interrupted by her phone’s ringing. Gathering herself, she picked up her phone
and said, “Sean,
what is it?”
“Landon Harper is here with his sister.”
Alyssa initially wished to turn Landon and Zoe away due to her foul mood over Lyla’s past
incident, but
she changed her mind when Sean revealed that Landon had brought Zoe over to offer an
apology.
Perhaps the sight of a disgruntled Zoe would lift her spirits. She decided to see it as a form
of
entertainment, as finding joy in another’s misfortune could be rather satisfying.
Sean, his expression marked by a frown, came to her by the entrance of the guest
meeting room. He
whispered, “Sorry, Ms. Alyssa. I wasn’t informed that Jasper Beckett had tagged along as
well. He’s in
there.”
She looked at him coldly and asked, “Why didn’t you punch him in the face and kick him
out?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Alyssa,” replied Sean, who knew he didn’t do his job right.
The problem was that Jasper was sneaky. When Sean led Landon and Zoe into the meeting
room, Jasper
wasn’t there.
However, when Sean came back to check, he was aghast to see that bastard sitting on the
couch and
sipping coffee unabashed.
“Whatever. You can’t beat him anyway,” scorned Alyssa, who gestured at Sean to open
the door with a lift
of her chin.
Then, she strutted into the room with a regal air in her high heels and black suit.
“Lyse…” Landon rose from the couch. His throat was dry from the nervousness.
Alyssa was as breathtaking as usual. She looked just like a beautiful and heartless
gangster. Her beauty
shook him.
Jasper glanced at Alyssa, feeling tense all over. His heart skipped a beat.
All the while, Zoe was hiding behind Landon, staring squarely at Alyssa’s haughty
expression with clenched fists.
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“Wow. Everyone’s here,” remarked Alyssa, who shook off her jacket from her shoulders.
Sean promptly received it.
Next, she turned to Jasper, who had been staring at her. She snickered. “Oh, Jasper, you
are such a darling. Are you here to lend your support for Ms. Harper?”
The way Alyssa mimicked Zoe’s tone irked Jasper. He shot her a begrudging look and
coughed in anger
at her taunting expression.
Alyssa had been mean to him as usual and would say things that he hated. That was
Alyssa for you. She
was no Alice White. And Jasper was willing to deal with a rose with thorns.
Zoe was gleeful to see Alyssa misunderstood Jasper’s purpose of visit. She grabbed her
chance and
trotted over to Jasper with a pitiful look.
“Alyssa, I was a bad judge of character, that I admit. But why are you getting worse by the
day as well?”
Jasper remained poised and looked at her with an expression that wasn’t completely
innocent.
Jasper stated, “I’m not anyone’s lover. I’m just your ex-husband. I was exhausted enough
as a husband. I had no time and mood for anyone else.”
Hearing that, Zoe stood frozen as though she was struck by lightning. Jasper had cleared
the air with her some time ago, but she refused to let go and clung to her delusions.
The way he clarified his relationship with Zoe in front of Alyssa was a slap to her face.
“I am indeed here to lend some support, but not to Ms. Harper,” commented Jasper, who
quickly hid his embarrassment by sipping coffee.
He forced himself to down the piping hot coffee, scalding his tongue in the process.
He was fine with these sentiments roaming his mind. Declaring them out loud, however,
was rather embarrassing.
Frowning, Alyssa was surprised by the meaning behind his words. Who else would he lend
his support to if not Zoe? Was he here to support Landon?
Well, that was no different from supporting Zoe!