âDo I look pitiful, dumb, and laughable toyou?â Jasperâs voice was surprisingly scorched. He forced a bitter smile.
Landon shook his head with seriousness.âNo, Jasper. Iâm your only friend and best bud. I wonât laugh at you no matter what happens. Itâs just ⦠a pity.â
âA pity?â Jasper closed his raging eyesand mentally shredded the memories of Liana at the birthday party.
âItâs not a pity. If anything, I was blindand bad at judging her character. I deserved everything that had happened to me.â
âNo, itâs not that.âLandon sighedwistfully.âI think it was a pity that you missed the chance of making your marriage work in the three years, all because of Liana. You could have been happy with Alyssa instead of turning into enemies like now. Donât you think?â
Jasper froze up at the possibility of a happy life with Alyssa. He fell into a daze, replaying memories.
âJasper, can we not get a divorce? Itâsbecause ⦠I love you.â
A loud ringing persisted in his ears, along with a terrible headache. He quickly held onto the wall as his fingers curled into a fist. He felt his throat closing up and his chest pounding in pain.
Alyss a had once begged him not to get a divorce in tears. He dismissed her plea as a last-ditch attempt to keep the marriage. Ignoring her plea, he perceived her as a prison that he needed to get out of.
He realized too late that Alyss a never intended to tie him down. She humbly professed her love for him one last time in hopes that she could keep loving him.
Knowing he had never loved her, she tried her best to keep him around because she feared losing the right to love him after the divorce.
âThat poor little girl must have beenaround three or four. That means Liana Gardner had been sleeping with that man behind your back when she was at Mosgravia.
âIf my memory serves me correctly, shewas stringing you along and bothering you. She gave off the impression that she was in exile at Mosgravia because she was willing to give in and wait for you. It seems she had a pretty busy social life behind your back.â
Jasper grabbed his collar. He trembled violently from the heartache, and each breath he took felt like the end of him.
âLiana was never short of men. You werejust one of them.âLandon stared deep into Jasperâs eyes.âBut you were Lyseâs only love. Do you still remember that rainy night you went to her place? Do you know what she said to me?â
Jasper returned a blank stare. His forehead was drenched in sweat.
âI confessed my love to her, but sheturned me down right away.â Landon smiled bitterly. He was never a man who needed to go to such lengths for a woman.
He continued, âShe told me that she wouldnât have fallen in love without you and would not fall for any man after leaving you.â
Jasperâs eyes wavered in shock. He felt as though he was stabbed everywhere across his body as the pain spread.
âAlyssa Taylor, you said that you wouldnot love anyone until I showed up,âhe thought. He wondered if that meant he had show n up way earlier in her life.
He needed answers. He demanded an answer from her.
Jasperâs phone buzzed in his pocket. He took out the phone with shaking hands. It was a call from Ben, which reminded him that something might have happened to Newton.
He hurriedly picked up.âMr. Gorham, did something happen to Grandpa?â
âMr. Jasper, your grandfather hassuffered a sudden stroke. Please hurry to the Solana City General Hospital now!â
âWhat?â Jasper felt his chest tighten.
âDonât worry too much. Heâs been movedto the VIP room from the ER. Heâs in a stable condition.â Ben reported with lingering fear, âThis is all thanks to Ms. Taylor. She administered first aid to Mr. Newton just in time. Had it not been for her, Mr. Newton would have been in a critical situation!â
Jasperâs cheeks were burning in shame, as though someone had slapped him multiple times.