Big Novel

Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Alyssa jolted, and her gaze met Jasper's dark gaze. Her heart thumped heavily against her chest.
Right now, Jasper's classy suit was stretched tightly against his muscles. Even if he didn't take off his clothes, she could visualize it.
"Jasper." Justin coughed, his face pale. Unexpectedly, he was the one who
spoke up and tried to explain on Alyssa's behalf, as if they were hiding something from him.
"Nothing happened just now. I just met Ms. Alyssa at the entrance of the hospital. I wasn't feeling well so... I asked her to push me upstairs."
"Justin, did I even ask?"
Jasper smiled lightly, although it turned into a slight grimace. Nevertheless, he still tried. "You're my brother, and Lyse is your sister-in-law. We're a family. She's helping you as a sister would."
As he spoke, he strode to stand beside Alyssa. His gaze was gentle as he took over the wheelchair handles. "Let me do it."
"Sorry for the inconvenience, Jasper." Justin smiled as well while his gaze darkened.
Jasper bent down and whispered in Justin's ear, holding back his rippling emotions. "You are my brother; it's just my duty."
Outside the patient's room, Javier anxiously discussed Lauren's condition with the main physician.
"Dad!" Justin called out worriedly. He was wheelchair-bound, but he desperately wished that he could walk for himself.
"Justin! Your body still needs rest, so why are you here?" Seeing Justin's sickly face, Javier worried for him.
"I'm worried about Lauren, so I came to check on her condition. Coincidentally, I met Jasper and Ms.
Alyssa downstairs, so we came up together."
Justin asked grimly, "Dad, how is Lauren?"
Alyssa was also pale with anxiety; Jasper gripped her cold hands tightly.
"Landon is inside, keeping her company. It's a good thing that Landon is here, or else."
Javier sighed and lowered his head, feeling a weight in his heart. "But we can't go on like this. Lauren was already depressed in the first place, and now she's experienced such a traumatic event. I'm worried that her mental state will crumble!"
Jasper's heart twinged in pain. After thinking for a while, he said hesitantly, "If we really have no choice, we can only use modified electroconvulsive therapy."
Javier and Rory looked at each other and repeated, "Modified electroconvulsive therapy?"
"It's a treatment method using a safe amount of electricity to treat mental disorders. When I was in the Peacekeeping Forces, a lot of soldiers suffered from the horrors of watching death happen on the battlefield, and they got PTSD. After they left the military, the trauma prevented them from living a normal life, so they could only use this treatment."
Alyssa felt as if her heart was stabbed. She couldn't help but gaze at Jasper's strong profile, feeling complicated.
Javier asked, "Then, are there any side effects?"
Jasper said truthfully, "In the beginning, the patient will be prone to dizziness and nausea. Later, they may lose some memories. In the future, there will be
difficulties in recalling things to some extent."
"No, I don't suggest this treatment." Justin shook his head. "Is the only treatment
option to forget your memories? Must we kill off our past selves?"
Alyssa stared at him in shock. She never thought that he would be so
empathetic.
The atmosphere became awkward. The two brothers glared at each other with invisible gunfire clashing between them.
"Back then, I also received this kind of treatment. Again and again, nobody will understand how it feels. It's as if your soul is getting sucked out. That's just using another form of pain to distract yourself from the suffering."
Justin's expression darkened. "Then again, this method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. That woman, Angelina, she's an important person to Lauren.
"Even if Lauren forgets her temporarily, in the future, when something reminds her of that woman, her memories will come flooding back. If that happens, then what? Do we electrocute her again and force her to forget?"
His heartfelt words made Javier tear up. "Son... I had no idea you suffered so much."
Jasper pressed his lips together, feeling as if a needle pierced through his throat.
That year, the kidnapping gave Justin a lot of trauma. He had no choice but to choose this method to get through those dark days.
"Dad, it's all in the past. It's alright."
Justin's lips pursed, and he sighed. "I said all this only because I don't want
Lauren to go through this suffering."
Alyssa asked seriously, "Justin, do you have any other suggestions?"
Justin raised his head to meet her eyes. His eyes were gentle and earnest.
"Drugs."
Jasper noticed his gaze.

Advertisement