Immediately, Jasper reached for the seatbelt and helped Alyssa fasten it.
She clenched her jaw and flinched as though she was in contact with filth. âWhere are you bringing me?â
âLast night, we agreed on picking up your stuff from my place today.â He let go of her and leisurely placed his hands on the steering wheel.
âI will be there. You didnât have to pick me up!â
âI donât trust you.â He started the engine and stole a glance at her. âYouâre a bloody good liar. How many times did you lie to me in the past three years? Were you ever honest with me?â
âHad I never?â She smirked. âThink what you want. It doesnât matter.â
Her words were like bullets to his chest. He felt chills in his body. Sometimes, heâd rather she had never fallen for him. At least, he wouldnât have felt guilty for his poor treatment of her.
The Ferrari sped on the highway as the scenic view passed them by in a blur.
Since Alyssa could not escape, she decided to take things as they came. She crossed her arms and had a comfortable shutâeye after adjusting her seat.
Sheâd rather keep him out of her sight.
âIâm sorry about that.â He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
âAbout what?â
Something was not quite right with Jasper ever since the divorce. He was stubborn as a donkey in the past, but now, he would own up to his mistakes.
She couldnât help but wonder if Liana had given him lessons on manners.
âI did not know that Jonah was your brother.â
âIgnorance is not a sin. Youâre forgiven.â She was indifferent toward the matter.
âWhy didnât you explain yourself?â He examined her soft and lovely side profile.
âWould you have believed me if I insisted that he and I were innocent?â
He choked.
+15 BONOS She shook her head. âThe world is always hostile to women. If I were Alice White instead of Jonahâs sister, you and everyone else in this world would think of me as a shameless goldâdigger.
Thatâs why I never care for anyoneâs opinion unless they are someone I love and care for.â
Blood drained from his face as he gripped hard on the steering wheel.
Was she implying that she no longer loved and cared for him?
There was nothing wrong with that except that he felt oddly distressed at the thought.
After a while of sitting in the depressing air, he suddenly questioned, âSo, Jonah and Silas Taylor are your older brothers? Is your third bother, Axel Whitaker? He took your momâs last name.â
âJasper Beckett.â Her expression steeled. âPeople looking into my family members is my pet peeve.â
He was about to explain himself when she spoke, âI tolerated your unruly behavior only because I am Alyssa Taylor. I received an elite education, and because of that, I will carry myself with grace and manners.
âI do not wish to fight with you because thatâs too unbecoming. However, if you try to do anything to my family, I will not go easy on you, no matter who you are. Shape up or ship out.â
He pursed his lips while digging his fingernails into the steering wheelâs leather. âI did not deliberately look into him. When I fought him the last time, I thought he looked familiar, from his appearance to his skills.
âI went through the yearbook of my military school and found his photo there. It was then I realized he was an old schoolmate.â
She pettily looked out of the window and ignored him. He glanced at her and called Xavier, not forgetting to set the call to speaker mode.
âHi, Mr. Beckett. Any orders?â Xavier picked up right away.
âGet a pair of heels for Ms. Alyssa Taylor. Pick a pair from Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, or Manolo Blahnik that suits her style. Send them to Seaview Manor.â
Alyssa glared at his calm expression. The brands he rattled off were her usual favorites.
âYes! Iâll get them ready for madam!â Xavier sounded overjoyed that one might think he was about Jasper stared at her feet with a gleam in his eyes. âHer shoe size is 5.5. Get that right.â