As the night fell, they arrived at the ACE. It was one of Landonâs properties.
Jasper was feeling extremely depressed. So, he did something he had never done beforeâhe went out to drink with his friends.
Landon picked him up personally Jasper rarely took the initiative to contact him.
âSometimes, I feel like Iâm your mistress,â Landon murmured into Jasperâs ear. In front of others, he was bold and fearless. But he turned chatty and gossipy whenever he was around Jasper.
âIâve never stooped so low for any woman. But Iâm like a mistress waiting for her man when it comes to you. You just have to give me a booty call, and Iâll doll up and come running to you. Arenât I the best? Câmon, admit it! Even I feel touched by my actions!â
âYouâve never stooped low for any woman?â Jasper glanced at him. âWell, you were stooping pretty low for Alice.â
âThat was a oneâtime thing! Itâs mainly because your exâwife is too outstanding, and I ⦠I canât help myself,â Landon said.
Jasper resisted the urge to scream at him.
Just then, two blonde chicks clad in skimpy clothes passed them by. One of them even winked at Landon.
When Landon grinned from ear to ear, Jasper asked, âIs she that hot? Sheâs nothing compared to her.â
âWho? As hot as Alice?â
As if he had discovered something new, Landonâs eyes widened.
âDamn! Jasper, youâre cheating on me with Alice. And you claimed that your marriage was just a contract. Itâs true! All men do is lie! Okay, to be fair, with a stunning beauty like Alice around you, itâs no wonder youâll cave.â
Jasper was taken aback by his words and clenched his glass of whiskey. He had spoken as though he had seen Aliceâs body, as if they had been intimate.
âI havenât touched her. You think too much,â Jasper said, his cheeks slightly flushed. He quickly downed the drink in his glass.
How could he have such inappropriate thoughts about that woman?
As they continued drinking, Landon couldnât help but ask, âJasper, can I ask you a question? Iâve always been curious about it.â
âYeah,â Jasper replied.
âWhy must it be Liana? Why?â Landon asked, hugging Jasperâs neck. He pitied Alice. âYou saw it today. Those women wanted to tear Alice apart. If it wasnât for Lauren stepping in to defend her, she would have been torn into pieces. Itâs so unfair!â
Jasperâs gaze wavered, and he seemed lost in memories. âMy mother suffered from depression and couldnât bear the rumors and Javierâs cold treatment. She ended up jumping off a building.
She committed suicide.â
He continued, âI was overwhelmed by grief and couldnât escape my despair. I even thought about following my mother and leaving this world. I attempted suicide.â
Jasper removed his steel watch as he spoke, revealing a long, deep scar. For twenty years, he had kept it a secret. Landon was the first person he had confided in Landonâs heart ached, and he let out a sigh.
âIt was Liana who saved me in time. Since then, she has become my only friend. She would make desserts for me, invite me to her home, and give me her collection of toys. Back then, she was like my guardian, the hope that kept me alive. I promised to marry her. So, no matter what, I have to fulfill that promise.â
Landon sighed.
âBut Jasper, people change. You two havenât been together for so long. Do you think you still know her? What if you find out that sheâs drifting further and further away from the person you remember? What will you do then? Will you stubbornly hold on?
âYes, youâre grateful to him, and yes, you can repay her kindness. But Jasper, we canât lose sight of right and wrong and blindly support a person. Things like that arenât set in stone, right?â
Jasper put his watch back on. He was deep in thought. His mind was filled with Aliceâs eyes, clear and pure, untainted by the worldâs corruption.
His heart trembled, and he took another gulp of alcohol.
âAh, youâre an obsessive psycho. Once youâve made up your mind, nothing can pull you away,â Landon teased, clinking his glass with Jasperâs.
When they left the club, their luxury cars were already waiting at the entrance. The drivers. respectfully opened the doors for them.
âLandon, I have a question.â After holding it in all night, Jasper finally stopped Landon to ask.
âHmm?â Landon yawned.
Jasper hesitated for a moment. Then, he asked in a low voice, âWhy did Alice admit it? Why didnât âMaybe she just doesnât care anymore!â Landon replied, yawning again.
âDoesnât care about what?â Jasper asked further.
âSheâs already divorced you. So, why would she care about what you think? If she doesnât care about you, why would she bother about what the Becketts think of her? Sheâs probably lost all hope now. Given your vicious, cruel words, if I were Alice, Iâd probably find someone to beat you up!
With that, Landon got into his luxury car and said goodbye.
Jasperâs hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. He imagined strangling himself, choking himself breathless.