Jasper recalled the many times during their marriage that he was irritated at Alyssa.
He felt she took too long in the shower. He found her skincare routine fussy. When she prepared a table full of food for him, he thought she wasted her time in the kitchen.
As these mundane memories of their marriage flashed before his eyes, they stung his heart.
The bathroom door creaked open. Alyssa appeared, her hair wrapped up in a white towel. She emerged from the condensation bare-faced, looking as lovely as ever.
Jasper was captivated by her youthful and radiant face. He gulped and remarked, âYou look even better without makeup âThatâs enough. Youâve said the same thing before. Donât repeat yourself.â Alyssa shot back, holding the towel on her head as she sat on the couch with a gloomy expression.
She added, âDonât force yourself to give compliments if youâre not good at it. âYou look better without makeup? Obviously! I look gorgeous all the time!â
âYes, youâre absolutely gorgeous,â he agreed, staring at her blankly. âIâve always thought you were beautiful.
âOf course you do,â she dismissed him.
âIâve found you beautiful since the day we got married,â he confessed sincerely.
âDo you even believe what youâre saying?â She smirked in disdain. âYou wouldnât have ignored me if you truly thought I was beautiful.â
Jasper fell silent when he realized that anything he said would get him into trouble.
He made a decision to gradually win her heart back.
After all, she was like a coconut that was tough outside but soft within, wasnât she?
Things would eventually get better, and they would reconcile one day.
She said, âIâm sleepy. You should sleep too.â She stretched like a cat and was about to lay on the couch when she heard a knock on the door Xavier inquired from the outside, âMr. Beckett, Madam, are you both heading to bed now?â
Alyssa frowned. Jasper beat her to the response, saying. âNo, come on in.â
She had never looked down on him, but she was scarred. Even though he was sincere, she couldnât bring herself to get closer.
She had once loved him like a moth to a flame, but he had shattered her hopes, making it difficult to rekindle her passion for him.
âLyse, Iâll freshen up a bit. Just wait for me,â he said, worried that she might avoid his room due to his smell. He tried to leave the bad.
She freed herself from his grip and replied, âQuit it. You shouldnât be in contact with water. Keep stinking. Iâll wash up.â
Jasper felt weak but was reluctant to show his vulnerability due to his male ego. He believed he should be protecting his woman.
Besides, he considered a minor head injury insignificant. Having been shot on the battlefield before, he was perplexed by his frailty and felt ashamed to display it in front of Alyssa.
He leaned against the headboard and listened to the sound of the running water in the bathroom. It had been a while since he had experienced such simple peace and happiness.
Suddenly, tears welled up in his eyes as he grasped the bedsheet.