Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Tears welled up in Jameson's eyes. He bit his lip until it turned white.
He played a man who felt wronged and pitiful from being misunderstood by the love of his life so well. He was so immersed in
playing this character that he had forgotten—he was the man who brought Alyssa these deadly troubles.
Alyssa stared at him. Inexplicable emotions swirled in her lifeless eyes.
"What happened? Can you tell me, Lyse? What did I do to have caused such a misunderstanding? Even if I were to die, I need
to die with proper closure!" Jameson kept asking questions. His forehead was dripping with cold sweat.
The elegant and dignified Jameson Schmidt had never been so disheveled.
Alyssa knew she wouldn't be able to get anything out of him all along. Her statements were a calculated warning to Jameson,
intending to apply pressure. She aimed to induce panic, hoping he might inadvertently reveal something.
She also wanted to use this cruel way to tell him to stop having fantasies of her. They would never be a couple and would no
longer be friends.
"Okay, you're not admitting to knowing Inigo. Fine. How about Miley and Jeremy?"
Alyssa's shoulders trembled violently from her massive rage. "When you were in Kontina, you wanted them dead for your
benefit. Are you planning to let this slip?"
"Lyse, some of the people in the Schmidt Group did do heinous things to your brother-in-law, Jeremy. But when I found out that
Jeremy's wife was your sister, I immediately ordered them to stop all projects.
"You have to understand I'm not the only voice in the Schmidt Group. Several shareholders in the group have a say, too. When I
stopped the projects, they were strongly against it and retaliated.
"I tried to deal with them but couldn't completely stop them, especially when they have more secret tricks hidden up their
sleeves."
Jameson's voice was hoarse as he continued to explain, "Lyse, please believe me! I love you so much. I've loved you for 15
years. Why would I risk upsetting you and hurting your family?"
Alyssa only stared at him. A suffocating sense of loneliness sprouted between them.

After a long time, she parted her lips slightly. "Go home. If you don't, I will."
As she turned, Jameson suddenly hugged her from the back. He pleaded, "Lyse, don't leave me."
"Let go! Don't touch me!"
Alyssa felt a chill in her heart. She tried her best to break free like a porcupine with its spike up.
Jameson staggered back. His delicate face was stiff as ever. There was palpable sadness in his eyes.
"Jameson, I love someone else. I have a boyfriend now. Even if I don't, you shouldn't take advantage of me!" Alyssa was
repulsed by his touch.
"Is it Jasper?"
Jameson's face fell. It was as if his soul was shattered to pieces. "Did both of you get back together?"
"Why not? Jasper avenged me by risking his life to capture the bad guys. He saved me and Jonah and barely came back from
Tsulu alive. I was almost separated from him forever because of Inigo."
Alyssa thought about how Jasper went into a bloody battle for her. He came out tattered and bruised. She instantly choked. "Why
would I not want a man who loves me with his life? Why shouldn't I love him back?
"Leave. I'll investigate this Inigo person thoroughly. I hope you've been honest with your words. If you were truly the instigator,
Jameson, you know what I'd do. I don't care who this person is. I will never let an unrighteous person run scot-free."
Jameson gasped for air as Alyssa was about to disappear from his sight. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Lyse, my mother is seriously ill."
Alyssa suddenly stopped in her tracks, but she didn't turn around.
"She is in the late stages of Alzheimer's. She's hardly lucid, and even eating has become a challenge. Her limbs are paralyzed.
"Lately, I've set aside all my work to be by her side at the hospital. I've managed to find some time in the past two days to
address a few crucial matters."

A tear escaped from the corner of Jameson's eye as his voice resonated with bitter guilt. "Lyse, I've been tending to my mother,
and in doing so, I've neglected you. You've gone through so much, but I couldn't even help you. I'm sorry.
"Even if you doubt me because of this, I still want to apologize for causing you so much trouble. My mother usually doesn't
recognize me, but she always talks about you. She even asked me when she could see you.
"I know it's shameless to ask, but she doesn't have much time left. Please visit her, I beg you. Talk to her. It will help with her
condition."