Rose immediately paled. Her mind went blank like she had been struck by lightning. She panicked and was at a loss for what to do.
Had she really just insulted Alyssaâs brother right in front of her? Oh, that was a grave blunder!
Jasper sat calmly and observed the situation, barely concealing a smile. He empathized with Rose, though. Alyssa had too many siblings, and it wasnât unusual to bump into one of them on the streets.
Having once fallen victim to his own ignorance, he had suffered at the hands of Alyssaâs brothers as a result of not grasping their family dynamics.
Silas, on the other hand, watched Roseâs face transform from fear to anger, her cheeks turning as red as a ripe cherry.
Initially upset by her âsugar mommyâ remark, he couldnât help but soften when he saw her adorable flustered expression.
âYouâre not going to disown me for this, are you?â
âHmm,â Alyssa pretended to contemplate, resting her index finger under her chin.
âMadamâ¦â Rose pouted, looking close to tears.
Alyssa approached Rose with a serious demeanor before breaking into a wide grin.
âSilly thing, what on earth are you thinking? This isnât something worth getting upset over. I would have no mentee left if I were to disown you!â
Rose felt much more reassured but remained embarrassed.
âBesides, I know youâre a nice woman, Rose. If youâre mad at Silas, he must have done something really wrong,â Alyssa reassured Rose, shooting a stern glance at Silas.
Silas raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and chagrin on his face. Despite feeling slighted, he chose to keep silent.
He couldnât believe that Rose, the audacious woman who had crashed into his car and even mocked him, was Alyssaâs close friend. He considered himself unlucky.
At that moment, a group of guests showed up, and the party grew merrier.
Mandy, Colene, Jonah, Tatiana, and Cyrus-who was busy at work but forced to attend the party by Mandy hugged Alyssa in turns. The new couple, Landon and Lauren, went up to chat with Alyssa as well. They The scene resembled a festive family gathering, drawing the attention of other guests. It was a picturesque sight of a happy family parading their attractive children.
Amidst the celebration, Jasper sat alone in a corner, his eyes filled with melancholy as he gazed at Alyssa.
She was surrounded by loved ones who cherished her, an image that evoked envy in him. Soon, his eyes welled up with tears.
That was the life that Alyssa deserved to live. She had spent her first 20 years well-loved. The only suffering and pain she had experienced had been inflicted by him.
Jasper, who was a charismatic and powerful leader in business, sat there in a daze, feeling left out. No one cared to go up and greet him.
Feeling awkward, he pressed his lips and took a deep breath as he came to a decision. Even if Alyssa didnât end up with him, he would still protect her in this life.