Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

"I can understand if Betty has lost her mind. She wasn't a normal person in the first place. But how did she lose so much blood?" Alyssa grazed her lips against Jasper's palm.
"I heard she was laughing and cursing at the detention center. She'd grab anyone she saw and claim to be a Beckett, saying that her father is the president of the Beckett Group. The inmates beat her up. The more they beat, the more agitated she became."
Jasper's heart melted at Alyssa's submissive demeanor. He couldn't resist trailing his fingertips over her milk-stained lips.
"What an ambitious lunatic." Alyssa sneered.
"Last night, something must have snapped in Betty's head. She cut her hand and smeared blood on her cellmate and the wall, hence the blood loss."
"Perhaps she was already teetering on the edge of sanity then. She still
remembered that she had contracted AIDS. She probably used her disease as a means to retaliate against the inmates."
Alyssa's eyes hardened as a cruel glint flickered within them. "But honestly, it's better this way. I was at a loss about what to do with her."
Legally, Betty would face three to five years for assault. However, if deemed mentally unstable, she'd be committed to a mental institution. There, she could continue to cling to her delusion of being a Beckett and live out her days.
That day marked Cornelius' funeral.
A shocking tragedy had struck the Harper household, leaving a family shattered by internal strife.
Landon bore the weight of great misfortune. Yet, despite the turmoil, the funeral proceeded smoothly thanks to his efforts.
Cornelius had been a legend and a powerful figure in his time. To face such a tragedy at the end of his life was devastating.
Yet, more often than not, once an influential person lost their position of power, others ceased to care. The attendees were mostly acquaintances from the business world or old friends. Loyal to a fault, these "people of the trade" ensured a respectable ceremony even amidst the Harper Group's controversies.
Landon, Cornelius' eldest grandson, wore a simple black suit and carried his grandfather's photo as they made their way to the burial site. His heavy steps mirrored the weight of his grief while his emotionless eyes, a stoic mask concealing utter devastation.
Malicious online articles from media vultures questioned Landon's playboy past, casting doubt on his ability to succeed Cornelius. Thankfully, the Becketts and Taylors stood by him. Jasper and Alyssa, representing their families, offered unwavering support, flanking Landon-the new head of the house.
Landon was the only one present from the Harper family at the funeral. Yet, he remained unfazed by the criticism, standing tall and resolute, his gaze unwavering and commanding. Those who sought to stir trouble didn't dare in his presence.
The mourning hall was somber, filled with loved ones offering flowers and tearful farewells to the man who had built the Harper Group from scratch.
Alyssa and Jasper stood by, their hearts seething with anger at the desolation before them.
Alyssa remembered attending funerals of the wealthy in her youth. The turnout was often disappointing for families of such stature.
The sycophants looked down on Landon, assuming he would lead the Harper Group to ruin.
A new wave of tension filled the air as footsteps echoed through the hall. "The chairman of the Schmidt Group, Victor Schmidt, and president, Jameson Schmidt, have arrived," the announcement boomed.
Landon's reddened eyes locked on theirs, his gaze cold and sharp while Jasper's and Alyssa's expressions darkened.