Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Jasper's heart sank. Looking at Alyssa, he announced, "Lyse, I'll meet with them."
He was worried about the gossip and malicious comments about Alyssa. Her reputation would further suffer if she got into a fight
with the witnesses' families at a hospital.
Jasper was totally capable of managing the fallout if he were the target. However, he refused to let Alyssa go through the
suffering.
"Jasper, I understand your concern," Clasping his hand, she soothed him, "...but they wanted to see me. Things wouldn't have
spiraled if I hadn't requested to meet with Maggie.
"It's imperative that I show up and offer my apology. You know me; I never run away from problems."
"Well, I happen to be the same." Staring affectionately at her, Jasper held her hands with fingers interlocked. "So, I'll go with
you."
Although the VIP suite, where Maggie got warded, was safe and secure, Sean had arranged for his men to lead the victims'
families to the open area in the VIP lounge, just in case they made a scene and ruined Alyssa's reputation.
Standing side by side with Jasper in the corridor, Alyssa calmly watched as Gina and the mother of another victim approached
them. Despite her calmness, her heart was racing.
The parents of the two victims came to a stop in front of Alyssa, Jasper, and Sean. Jasper examined them warily. Similarly, Sean
did not let his guard down, as he was afraid that they might lash out against Alyssa.

Gina's cheeks were stained in tears, and her eyes were red from the exhaustion. She hadn't spoken a word, but her resentment
against Alyssa was clearly written across her face.
Alyssa clenched her numb fingers and was about to speak, but she was interrupted by the parents of the other victim, Colton
Tanner and Lorna Cooper, who both collapsed onto the floor in front of her. They pleaded, "Ms. Alyssa, Mr. Beckett, please...
Please save our daughter! We're begging you!"
"Sir, ma'am, please get up from the floor. Please don't do this. Let's stay calm and have a talk." Alyssa and Jasper hurried up to
help the parents up from the ground.
The couple, crying their hearts out, remained stubbornly glued to the floor. Had it not been for Sean's timely help, Alyssa might
not have been able to lift the poor Lorna from the ground.
"Please save my child. I won't budge if you refuse to save her!" Tears streamed down Lorna's face. Anyone would feel sorry to
see her in such a state.
Heart aching, Alyssa teared up. "Please stop crying. You'll only ruin your health. Please get up now, and let's have a chat."
"What's the point of crying in front of Ms. Alyssa now?" Xavier stormed over, looking disgruntled by the parents, whose attitude
had only softened after they ran into trouble. "I reached out to you on behalf of Ms. Alyssa and Mr. Beckett, but remember how
you treated me?
"Ms. Alyssa had wanted to offer you help, but you declined her kindness!"
"Xavier, that's enough!" chided Jasper, who glared at Xavier.

"Help? How dare you claim that you're helping?" Gina blurted out and pointed a finger angrily at Alyssa. "They wouldn't have
harmed my daughter if you didn't get involved. All you wanted was to get her to testify so that you could get rid of the thorn in
your side!
"Have you ever considered the lives of ordinary citizens like us? Maggie is only 17 years old this year. It was her rotten luck to
have run into that bastard. All she wanted was a peaceful life. Why didn't you give her a chance to do so?"
Xavier panted and glowered out of fury, but he held back and showed some respect to Gina because she was Maggie's mother.
Still, he was enraged by Gina's unfair accusation.
How could Maggie be more level-headed than Gina? Had Gina not matured emotionally over all these years? He couldn't believe
that Gina was qualified to be Maggie's legal guardian.
"The Schmidts have been keeping tabs on you. Do you wish to subject your daughter to such scrutiny for the rest of her life?"
Jasper voiced out with a frown, boggled by Gina's unreasonable outburst.