Axel seemed to have inherited the Taylorsâ traits of being vindictive and bitter.
Every time Axel thought of how Jasper treated his sister, he couldnât help but take a jab at Jasper. For a second, he almost forgot that Jasper was battling for his life in the operating room.
âHe faced bullying in school due to his background, but he hid his wounds to avoid worrying his mom.
He never shared his struggles with her.â
Axel interjected angrily, âFuck! I hate school bullies the most! They are pure evil.â Crushing his cigarette box, he felt a fire burning within.â Why was Jasper so weak? He could have beaten the hell out of them.
I couldnât believe that Jasper Beckett was bullied. He should ha rammed them with his Rolls-Royce or something.â
âItâs easy to go against a guy or two, but what happens when bullies you?â Landon questioned with pangs of sympathy.
Axelâs eyes wavered as he inadvertently clenched his fists.
Landon explained, âAxel, you were born to Mr. Taylor and the woma he loved the most, and you were raised pampered. Just like you, I grew up in a relatively simple family-the only son to loving parents.
People like us will never understand Jasperâs pain of bearing the mark of an illegitimate child. We probably will never understand the pressure of walking on thin ice at home.â
Axel fell into deep thoughts upon hearing that. Indeed, Jasper was the child of Javier Beckettâs lover, and he had an older half-brother. Later on, Javier married the calculative and cruel Sophia Kirkman.
Since then, Jasper had been suffering in silence.
âThatâs why I said I was Jasperâs only friend. He is averse to making. new friends, or in other words, he has sealed off his heart. Besides, heâs used to loneliness and is fine being alone.â
However, no one would truly enjoy solitude. Those who lived in solitude were the ones who had no choice.
Axel blurted out, âI take back what I said.â
âWhat?â
âLooks like the Harper family raises their children well. At least you. did not blindly bully Jasper just because everyone ganged up against him.â
Axelâs remark reminded Landon of Zoeâs horrible behavior and her devilish expression, which he would rather forget when she bullied. Lauren.
Smiling bitterly, he secretly blamed himself for not guiding hi onto the right path. He felt as if he had failed as Zoeâs father life.
âYou might look like a fool, but youâre a good egg,â Axel remarked, patting Landon on the shoulder when he walked past. âJasper Beck will have one more friend starting today.â
Feeling touched, Landon turned around, only to find Axel disappearing toward the end of the corridor.
Meanwhile, Jonah and Miley kept Alyssa company in the corridor outside the operating room, anxiously waiting for the surgery to end.
âLyse, the major operation might last until dawn. Why donât you take a rest in an empty room?â Miley hugged Alyssa and sensed the lack of warmth on Alyssaâs skin.
Not only that, Alyssa was trembling. Miley worried that Alyssaâs. health might suffer from pulling an all-
nighter.
Alyssa insisted, âIâm fine. Iâll just wait here. Iâm too worried to fall asleep anyway when heâs still in surgery.â
âLyse.â Jonah sat beside her and questioned sternly, âWhat are your thoughts on Inigo Montoye-the person that the police chief mentioned?â
Hearing that, Miley grumbled, âGosh, Jonah. Let Lyse take a rest. Canât you discuss this another day?
Jeremy and I will also pressure the Tsulu authorities to look into this case. We wonât let this slip.â
Alyssa gently patted Miley on the arm and reassured her, âItâs fine, Miley. I wanted to discuss it too.â
She turned to Jonah with a somber look and said, âJonah, I find the attack on you and Jasper at Shelland Island quite suspicious.â