Alasa was taken aback but didnât reach out to take the box. She hadnât expected Jasper to have kept that by his side all this time.
Ace couldaât possibly accept that from you. Iâll do it in her stead.â Before Alyssa could say anything, Colene had taken the box from Jasper.
toside was a gorgeous bracelet carved from the finest lavender moon quartz. It gleamed with a soft light, looking like a treasure from centuries before Alyssa could instantly tell this was a oneâofâaâkind material, not usually for sale to the public. If Jasper had given this to her years ago, she would have been so happy she wouldnât have been able to sleep.
But her low was now buried beneath a cold, lonely desert. Unrequited love was a waste of time, along with the gifts it brought.
Hector, but even I can tell how expensive this must be. Look at this crystal. Youâre very kind, Mr.
Beckett Colene drawled.
She suddenly raised her hand. What followed was the sound of something breaking into pieces on the ground. Just like that, the quartz bracelet shattered at Alyssaâs and Jasperâs feel.
Jasperâs expression darkened almost immediately. His heart throbbed painfully as he witnessed his gift being humiliated. 1 Ab a turned away, avoiding his eyes.
âHow could you, Madam? Mr. Beckett had this made just for Ms. White. You didnât have to break it if you didnât intend on keeping it!â Xavier cried, so upset that his neck had turned red.
âA. Beckett, if you had a gift for Alice, why didnât you give it to her before the divorce? Do you have any idea what this looks like now that youâre giving this to her?
âPure embarrassment. Or are you just upset to see her happy with someone else? When will you finally give up?â Colene shrieked.
She stomped her heels on the broken bracelet. âAlice has accepted your token. Now scram! Back to Solana City you go. Youâre not welcome here!
Those words shot through Jasperâs chest like arrows.
He gazed brokenly at Alice one last time, trying to say something though no words would come.
Alyssa ignored his gaze and went to Colene, holding onto the womanâs arm. âLetâs go back inside.â
âMadam? Youâ Xavier was stunned that Alice wasnât helping his boss. The feeling then turned into pure disappointment.
Meanwhile, Jasper felt like a doll with its strings cut.
âLetâs go. We donât want strangers or busybodies ruining our evening.â Colene snorted and went back into the manor with Alyssa by her side.
Mandy shot a look at Jasper and then shook her head. âWhat an embarrassment.â
When Alyssa returned to the house, she could finally let down her defenses. Exhaustion had consumed her entirely.
She felt terrible as she recalled the broken bracelet, followed by Jasperâs desperate and painâfilled gaze.
Mandy and Colene had only been doing what they thought was best for her, but it was too much.
Alyssa started feeling like the bad guy here.
âLyse! Just then, Silas ran up to her, panting. âAxel has gotten into a light with Dad. Dad even hit him!â