Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Jasper's heart raced, his lips quivering slightly as he continued to gaze at her, unable to find his voice. Who was he, for the likes of extraordinary figures such as Winston and Alyssa, to worry about?
"Your brother's reappearance will elicit sympathy from the public, including your father," Alyssa said, her eyes filled with concern. "If he has any intentions of seizing your position, public opinion will be his most potent weapon. Jasper, you need to understand this. A person's words can be as lethal as any weapon..."
Without a word, Jasper cupped her face and drew her into a passionate kiss. It began with a tenderness that quickly deepened, both fueled by a potent mix of desire and unspoken anxieties. Alyssa clung to him, her breath catching in her throat.
When they finally broke apart, Jasper's eyes held a new tenderness. He wrapped her in a protective embrace, as if afraid to lose her.
"I promised to be your guardian angel," he murmured. "Why has it turned out the other way around?"
Alyssa nestled her head against his broad shoulder, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "Remember, the only person who can truly protect you is me."
Jasper chuckled, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "You still remember that?"
Her eyelids fluttered shut as she tightened her hold around him. "I remember everything you've said."
In the depths of their passionate love, Alyssa remembered every detail of their journey since they met at age 11. Her mind was like a meticulously accurate recorder, preserving each event by its day and time.
However, Jasper might not recall some of those moments. It wasn't that he forgot —rather, he had never realized that she had been there during every life- threatening situation they faced.
Regardless, she hadn't planned to reveal her presence. Her intention was simply to protect him silently.
After offering his condolences, Justin declined any interviews and swiftly departed through the back door of the funeral parlor, avoiding the crowd.
The luxurious car whisked him away toward Seaview Manor. The silence inside was thick, as the driver and Sheryl were afraid to even breathe too loudly.
Suddenly, Justin chuckled.
Startled, Sheryl asked cautiously, "What are you thinking, Mr. Justin?"
Some things are worth witnessing firsthand," Justin replied with a faint smile. "When I saw Jasper standing with the Taylors today, I realized they were as close as family. Judging by Winston's demeanor, he seems to have already accepted him as his son-in-law."
Sheryl's eyes were filled with disdain and a vicious hint of hatred. "He's finally become the million-dollar son-in-law, reaping the rewards of his flattery toward Alyssa and Winston. It seems that fortune favors those who ingratiate themselves."
Justin kept his eyes closed as his smile widened. "My brother grew up in poverty and had a difficult life. Now, through hard work, he's found the happiness he deserves. I'm genuinely happy for him."
"Mr. Justin, why do you say such things to upset yourself? If you hadn't sacrificed yourself to help Jasper escape, everything he has now would've been yours," Sheryl said, feeling a pang of injustice for her boss.
Justin opened his eyes slightly, a dark glint flickering within. "Yes, everything would've been mine. But would Alyssa have been mine too?"
Sheryl's heart tightened. After a moment of hesitation, she asked softly, "Mr. Justin, d-do you fancy Alyssa?"
"Didn't you say everything he has should have been mine?" Justin countered, a dangerous glint in his eyes and a hint of hidden desire playing on his lips.
Shocked, Sheryl furrowed her brows tightly. "It's natural to desire everything, but please forgive my bluntness. Alyssa and Jasper share a deep bond. There's no room for anyone else. Otherwise, Jameson would have succeeded. They've been childhood sweethearts, after all."
Justin let out a humorless chuckle. "Not to mention my condition. No woman would want to be with me like this."
"Don't say that, Mr. Justin," Sheryl countered, her voice filled with unexpected warmth. Her gaze locked onto his, and she reached out to clasp his cold hand in hers. "If you'll allow me... I'm willing to be by your side for the rest of my life."
Justin held her gaze for a long moment, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes before they settled back into their dark depths. Sheryl's heart pounded in her chest, momentarily thrown off balance.
Despite their different mothers, the resemblance between Justin and Jasper was striking, especially in their eyes.
Until now, she had always considered Jasper to have the most captivating eyes in Solana City. But Justin's dark gaze held a depth and intensity that rivaled his brother's.
A pang of regret washed over Sheryl. Back then, if Sophia hadn't manipulated her into focusing all her attention on Jasper, she might have chosen to stand by Justin when he was injured. Perhaps she could have even convinced him to take her with him to Mosgravia.
The Beckett Group could have been theirs.
Interrupting Sheryl's thoughts, Justin swiftly retracted his hand. "Find out which
hospital Winston was treated at in Mosgravia. Obtain his medical records and
history as quickly as possible."
Sheryl clenched her empty hand and nodded. "Yes, Mr. Justin."