Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Liana started, "I—"

"You shouldn't pick a fight. Alice did not give you a hard time today, did she?" Jasper cast a wintry look at Liana's pale face.

He continued, "You should put your grudges behind you since she and I are divorced. I will finalize the divorce after Grandpa's birthday. From then on, she and I will have nothing to do with each other. I hope you act sensibly. That's the only thing I ask of you." 2

After that, he did not speak to Liana until their Maybach arrived at Seaview Manor. She endured the silent treatment from her fiancé while silently cursing out Alice.

"I'll go get changed upstairs." He left her with a glum look.

Liana gritted her teeth, thinking that she hadn't done anything wrong. It was Alice who had robbed her of the marriage and claimed Jasper for three years. A couple of taunts were nothing. Even if she were to kill Alice, that wouldn't be enough to quell her resentment.

Why would Jasper side with Alice? Why?

Half an hour later, Jasper descended the stairs in casual wear with Mrs. Rosie at his heels. Halfway through, he overheard three women laughing and chatting in the living room.

Betty complained, "We should really change the chef. We've been served crap after Alice left. I suppose she isn't totally useless-she's pretty good at cooking."

Liana wondered aloud, "Did Alice have to prepare your meals daily?"

Betty replied, "Of course! That country bumpkin had to prove her worth somehow after marrying up. The maids were talking behind her back, saying that she was a nanny with the empty title of Mrs. Beckett. She might be a princess on paper, but she was only a pauper in reality!"

Jasper looked hostile as he clenched his fists.

Sophia chimed in, "I thought she'd cave in and get a divorce after one year. Jasper gave her the cold shoulder, and everyone in the family snubbed her. I was surprised when she took it all in for three years before getting a divorce. I couldn't have survived that if I were her. She was pretty hardy."

Betty agreed, "Thankfully, Lia's back. If not, I bet Alice would have hung around longer-that shameless bitch!"

Jasper could not take it anymore and growled, "Are you done?"

The air immediately froze.

"Jasper, we were..." Liana shot up to explain herself.

"You shouldn't be talking behind Alice's back when you have received her kindness," he cut her off with such seriousness that she shuddered.

Sophia and Betty scowled.

"What are you talking about? We ..."

"Not only did you not appreciate Alice's hard work, but you also treated her as a joke. Do you think you can walk all over me?" The look in his eyes sent a chill down their spines.

They were shocked by the way he mentioned Alice. In his three years of marriage to Alice, he rarely called her by her name. As a result of his cold treatment, everyone in the family perceived

Alice to be a pushover.

To their surprise, he now referred to Alice by her name, as though he was close with her during the marriage.

The three women looked pale. The other maids were quiet.

"Alice was once my wife. I will not allow anyone to humiliate her, especially within our family." Getting his teeth and frowning, he warned, "Sophia, Betty, as a wife and daughter, you'd better have some class. Don't make a fool of yourself!"

With that, he stormed up the stairs, leaving behind the three ladies who looked uneasy and ashamed. Sophia was especially triggered. Her well-maintained face was flushed with anger.

"Why are you standing there watching? Get to work!" Betty yelled at the maids to release her frustration.

Meanwhile, Liana still hadn't recovered from the situation. This was the first time she had seen Jasper's outburst at home.

"Take a good look at your fiancé, Liana. He's defending another woman in your face even before you're married," Sophia made a loaded remark with a smirk.

Enraged, Liana went after Jasper, only to be stopped by Mrs. Rosie. "I'm sorry, Ms. Gardner. Mr. Jasper is in a bad mood and will not join you for dinner. You're free to do as you please."