Chapter 316

Chapter 316

As they exited the theater, Zoe clung to Jasper, just like how she did when they were younger. She

blabbered about her experiences abroad and professed her longing for him.

The only difference was that she'd hold hands with both Landon and Jasper when she was a kid.

Now, she treated Landon like a servant, completely disregarding him. She only had eyes for Jasper.

Landon trailed behind them with a gloomy expression. Even his sister had ditched him after Alyssa

rejected him. He started having doubts about his attractiveness.

Upon reaching the parking garage, Jasper abruptly came to a stop. He took a deep breath and

firmly withdrew his hand from Zoe's grip.

“Jasper, what's wrong?” She blinked innocently, her hand left suspended in mid-air.

"Zoe." He turned to her, looking cold and distant, a stark contrast to how he acted around her when

they were kids.

She froze up in panic.

“You're not a child anymore. Some of your behavior is inappropriate.”

“What's inappropriate about it? You're Jasper!” She frantically pressed on, “What's wrong with

holding your hand?”

“You can do that to Landon because he is your brother. You shouldn't do that with me.” He stopped

there,

not wanting to vocalize the harsh truth.

Zoe wore a pitiful pout that concealed her anger within. Jasper must have changed his attitude

because

of that beautiful lady just now!

When Zoe learned that Liana Gardner was no longer in the game, she rushed back to the country to

keep

Jasper company at his lowest moments, with the plan of winning his heart.

After years of yearning for him, she was determined not to let another woman take him away.

“Jasper, you're hurting her with your words.”

Landon couldn't stand to see Zoe hurt. He hurried up and gave Zoe a hug. “You two grew up

playing

games together. There's nothing wrong with holding hands now.

“Besides, you're both single. If you were taken, it would make sense to keep a distance from other

females. We're both bachelors. There's no point making a fuss.”

"Zoe will eventually date someone else,” Jasper reasoned, taking a deep breath and finding himself

oddly reminded of Alyssa.

He added, “She'll hold hands with her future boyfriend. And Ill save my hand-holding for the

woman I love.

After parting ways with Jameson, Alyssa left in her Rolls-Royce. She sneezed loudly in the car, likely

from the chilly air conditioning in the theater.

“Ms. Alyssa, did you catch a cold? I'll get you some medications when we get home and make you

some soup.” Sean handed her some tissue. She wiped her snot away, her nose as red as Rudolph's.

She joked, “I'm fine. Maybe someone's been gossiping about me behind my back.”

“I never thought we'd run into that bastard at a piano concert!” Sean grumbled unhappily and took

the snot -covered tissue from Alyssa without flinching.

Alyssa“s mood darkened at the thought of Zoe's intimacy with Jasper. She assumed that Jasper was

silently enjoying Zoe's touch because he did not ask her to stop.

While Alyssa had long been aware that Zoe was Landon’s sister, she had no inkling of the close

relationship between Zoe and Jasper. She shook her head coldly, thinking that her marriage was a

waste of time when she realized how little she truly knew about Jasper. 1

“Jasper, Jasper ..." she mockingly imitated Zoe's tone. “Hah, it seems Jasper’s not content with just

having two sisters at home. Now, he’s getting cozy with Landon'’s sister. What a scum!”

"What did you say?” asked Sean, who was confused by her soliloquy.

“Nothing. I was chanting a curse to ward off the bad luck Jasper brought with him.” She crossed her

arms

and shut her eyes,

Moments later, her phone rang. It was a call from Jonah.

“Jonah?”

“Lyse, please stay put after work, I'll swing by the hotel, and then we'll head over to Belbanks.”

“Belbanks? Did something happen to Dad?" Alyssa’s heart leaped into her throat.

“Don’t worry. Dad's perfectly fine,” Jonah explained gently. “Uncle Victor is visiting us with his two

sons. Dad wants everyone to be there if we can make it. He wants to give his old friend a warm

welcome.”