Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Justin Beckett?
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Justin's name was synonymous with the immense suffering he had endured. He had survived a brutal kidnapping that resulted in severe mutilation. To receive proper treatment in Mosgravia, he had to relinquish his right to succeed.
He was finally back!
Jonah and Silas exchanged wide-eyed glances.
The hushed atmosphere shattered as cameras flashed, a cacophony of questions drowning out Justin's polite greeting.
"Oh, it's you, Mr. Justin. The pleasure is mine," Winston greeted, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly. Despite any internal turmoil, he remained composed, extending his hand to shake with the legendary figure of Justin Beckett.
Justin's hand felt cold as ice, its smooth and clean appearance contrasting starkly with the roughness of Jasper's hands. Winston couldn't help but note the difference.
Jasper's hands were so calloused that Winston wouldn't have been surprised if Jasper had done hard labor in his spare time. Winston didn't think Alyssa was particularly difficult to look after.
"I heard you've been undergoing treatment overseas. How is your health?" After all, Justin was Jasper's brother. Thus, Winston felt compelled to express some
concern.
"It's good. Thank you for asking." Justin's gentle gaze shifted to Jasper's uneasy demeanor. "Jasper, make sure Mr. Winston is taken care of. I'll head inside."
"Okay, Justin," Jasper responded softly, his heart pounding against his ribs. He wasn't a man easily shaken, yet his brother's unexpected return had thrown him into turmoil.
He couldn't shake the sense that there was more to Justin's demeanor than met the eye.
Jasper, Jonah, and Silas escorted Winston to his car.
"Take care, Winston."
"Jasper, come with me. I have something to ask you."
Jasper hesitated for a moment before complying, sliding into the backseat with Winston.
"Your brother's timing is... curious," Winston began, his voice laced with concern. "Choosing the Harper family's funeral for his public return seems calculated. It garnered a significant amount of attention, something both your grandfather and father likely wanted to avoid, hence their absence. And your presence as
Landon's best friend makes perfect sense."
"However," Winston continued, his brow furrowing, "Justin has been absent from Solana City for over a decade. His lack of connection to the Harpers makes his appearance here. unsettling, to say the least."
Jasper remained silent, uncertain of how to respond. He didn't wish to speculate on his brother's motives without knowing the full story.
"You're too kind for your own good," Winston remarked with a helpless glance, recognizing Jasper's reluctance to engage in gossip. Sensing Jasper's discomfort, he shifted the conversation. "How would you describe your relationship with your brother?"
Jasper's gaze softened as he delved into memories from long ago. "I returned to the Beckett family with my mother when I was five years old. While we're not blood-related, Justin always showed care and concern for me. He never held any resentment toward me, even after Dad brought me home years later. He was everything a good brother should be."
"How about now?"