Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Jasper's eyes widened slightly as a jolt ran through his entire being. He wrapped a warm hand around Alyssa's nape and
deepened their kiss uncontrollably.
The stall owner turned around to clear some dishes. She didn't want to intrude on such an intimate moment.
Meanwhile, Jameson bore witness to this tender kiss between Alyssa and Jasper. His heart and body felt like they were being
ripped to shreds. Pain and anguish filled his chest.
Carl sullenly sighed upon seeing the same thing Jameson saw.
One could attain anything through effort and calculation, except for love.
Jameson had given Alyssa his all and tried his best, yet Alyssa still returned to Jasper without a shred of care.
What a waste of effort!
Alyssa gently withdrew her lips from Jasper's, a spark of desire in her eyes. Her voice was somewhat strained. "You've...
suffered a lot, Jasper. It's a good thing that the past is behind us now. From now on, only good times await us."
"Every single day spent with you by my side makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world." Jasper hugged Alyssa tightly,
hope for their future apparent in his eyes.
Jasper wasn't good at romance or sweet-talking. But he was willing to learn it for Lyse.
Alyssa rested against his chest. She sniffled as she listened to Jasper's heartbeat.
"Are you crying, Lyse?" Jasper asked, surprised.

"It's all your fault," Alyssa grumbled, nuzzling into his chest.
Jasper's heart trembled. "What is it? Are you feeling sad for me?"
Alyssa was too shy to respond, though the tears in her eyes sufficed as an answer.
"What are you crying for, silly? I never fear trouble. In fact, I enjoy it—what doesn't kill me makes me stronger."
Jasper wasn't sure what emotion he was feeling. He felt guilty yet overjoyed at the same time for Alyssa's love. "Do you know
how grateful I am that I didn't die when I was a child nor when I was in the military in Luminara, Lyse? How else would I have had
the chance to love you?"
The cool night wind blew against Alyssa and Jasper as a cozy atmosphere settled around them. Neither noticed the car waiting
across the road from them nor the person inside who had been watching them for some time.
"It's late, Mr. Schmidt. Why don't we go back?" asked Carl tentatively.
Jameson felt empty inside. He leaned back in the car seat, closed his eyes, and took off his glasses.
What followed was a loud snap.
"Mr. Schmidt?" Carl looked over in shock.
Jameson had shattered his glasses, his hand still balled into a fist. The glass shards had pierced into his skin, making blood flow
out and drip down.
Carl was shocked to his core.

Jameson had had this pair of glasses ever since Carl started working for him. Yet, Jameson broke them without a second
thought. One could see how deeply pained he was!
"You said Winston Taylor didn't know Lyse's whereabouts, right? Hmm... He's about to get it."
With that, Jameson slowly opened his eyes and called Winston's number.
The next day, Josh walked out of the Investigative Bureau, drained. He had undergone what felt like ages of interrogation prior.