Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Alyssa, clinging to Jasper's arm, grumbled slightly, "You've got some nerve."
"I'll need to put in the effort to win my woman," Jasper rasped, casting a loving look at her.
She warned, "There are three things Winston hates the most in his life—taking away his wife, taking away his daughter, and
taking his wife and daughter away from him."
He stared at her, dumbfounded.
"You'd better look out. He's more vindictive than me. He won't go easy on you after what happened today," Alyssa muttered.
Suddenly, she questioned, "Are you ready, by the way?"
"Of course. I will always carry out your orders to the best of my abilities," he replied softly, causing her to blush.
Before she could speak, she noticed Zoe glowering at her from a few steps away. The sight of Zoe unsettled her. Although she
had accepted Jasper and put the past behind her, Jasper and Zoe's past scandal remained a thorn in her flesh.
"Jasper, I've been waiting for you," Zoe cooed with a bright smile.
"And I've never asked you to do so," Jasper responded in an icy tone that sent shivers down her spine.
Still, she gathered her courage and lied, "We agreed to make an entrance together, didn't we? You were distracted and went up
to Ms. Alyssa for a chat, so I waited for you. Jasper, did I upset you somehow?"
The look in Jasper's eyes darkened. Zoe was gripped by fear, but she couldn't afford to back down. She vowed to drive a wedge
between the two by all means.
Alyssa recoiled a little and loosened her grip on Jasper. Just when she experienced a moment of doubt, Jasper held her hand
firmly and walked past without casting another look at Zoe.
When he walked past Zoe, he snapped, "Get lost."
Humiliated, Zoe trembled in resentment as her cheeks reddened. The audacity to tell her to get lost in front of Alyssa!
Staring hatefully at the two figures, Zoe came up with a terrible idea.

Once they entered the racecourse, Alyssa shook off Jasper's hand and turned away from him with a frown.
He called out to her, "What's the matter? Are you upset? Lyse! Where are you going?" He anxiously trailed behind her when she
left without looking at him.
After they wandered into a deserted corridor, she finally stopped in her tracks when no one was around. Her eyes were red, and
color seemed to have drained from her lips.
She grumbled, "Why are you running after me? You should meet Zoe. She's waiting for you."
Knowing she was upset because of Zoe's action, Jasper hugged her as he grappled with indignation and worry. He explained,
"Lyse, she was talking nonsense to turn us against each other. Please do not trust her. I never asked her to wait for me!"
Alyssa's attempts to free herself were futile, and she gave up.