Ch. 1401..1410
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1401-Maggie cried some more once she returned home, having revealed so much of her painful past to Alyssa all at once. She ended up falling asleep and only waking up in the afternoon the next day. Her mother had gone to work already.
Maggie struggled to get out of bed. She really didn't feel like going out, so she called the shopowner of the tailor shop she used to work at to order some fabrics. She planned to start making a bag for Xavier.
In all honesty, if it was someone else who'd asked Maggie to do this, she wouldn't have actually gone through with it.
But Xavier's eyes had been so bright and his tone so earnest when he asked. Maggie couldn't help but want to finish making it for him as fast as she could.
The tailor shop owner called Maggie in the evening and informed her that he'd sent a runner to drop off the fabrics. The runner was about to reach her home.
Maggie thanked the shop owner profusely and patiently waited.
Sometime later, someone knocked on her door.
Maggie was eager to open it. But when she placed her hand on the doorknob, she still asked cautiously, "Who is it?"
The person outside paused briefly before saying, "Delivery guy. I have something for you."
Delivery? Wasn't this person a runner?
Maggie grew suspicious. "I've made a lot of orders recently. Where is your delivery from? Here or out of state?"
"See for yourself once you open the door."
Something was wrong.
Something was very, very wrong!
Maggie was on extremely high alert, possibly due to her past abuse. She had a strong feeling that the person outside the door was not well-intentioned at all!
She couldn't open this door no matter what!
"I-I haven't bought anything online recently. Are you sure you got the right place? Why don't you try another house?"
Bam!
Something heavy slammed against the door.
Maggie jolted and trembled in fear. She clasped her mouth tightly and frantically took several steps back.
Bam! Bam!
The door began shaking in its frame as if ready to shatter at any moment.
When Maggie was about to call the police, a tall, dark figure broke into the house.
"Help me!" Maggie screamed, bursting into tears out of sheer fright.
The man had already pinned her to the floor before she could see his face. He tightened his hands around her throat.
"Help… help…" Maggie's face grew purple from suffocation as she tried to tear the man's rough hands away. Despair flooded her being as the air was choked out of her. Her vision slowly swam. Even the sounds of the man's harsh breathing grew faint.
All of a sudden, Maggie felt the hands on her throat loosen.
What followed was the sound of fighting. Two figures battled it out at the edge of her vision.
Seconds before Maggie passed out, she heard someone yell, "Hold on, Maggie!"
It sounded like Xavier.
In the end, Maggie still closed her eyes and blacked out.
Xavier was furiously attacking the man in black in Maggie's living room.
He had come over to check up on Maggie on Jasper's orders and also to give her some cash to help her. Who knew Xavier would bump into someone trying to kill her?
Xavier did his best to fight the man, but his skills weren't like Sean's. Pretty soon, he was beaten and bruised on the floor. It felt like every bone in his body had shattered.
"Fucking busybody. I'll kill you both then!" The killer grabbed a cleaver from the kitchen and aimed it right at Xavier's chest.
Cling!
"Fuck!"
A sharp butterfly knife suddenly cut through the air, slashing right across the killer's arm. The pain made him release the cleaver. It fell to the floor with a loud clang.
"Mr. Cyrus?" Xavier's eyes widened in disbelief.
Before the killer could react, Cyrus had executed a powerful roundhouse kick, making him crash to the floor.
"Move again, and I'll shoot!" Cyrus snapped, using his knee to press into the killer's spine and pressing the butt of his gun against his head.
The killer didn't dare fight back. His arm wound was still bleeding, making him grind his teeth in pain.
"Chief Taylor! Chief Taylor, are you alright?"
Two police officers from Cyrus' team hurried over just then to cuff the killer up.
"Send him to the station and call an ambulance. We have an injured female here!" Cyrus instructed swiftly.
"Yes, sir!"
Cyrus' subordinates then arrested the killer and sent him away, eradicating the danger once and for all.
Just then, Xavier pushed himself up from the floor and used all the strength he had left to lift into his arms.
"Hold on, Maggie… you must hold on!" Xavier grunted out.
The moment he took a step forward, he nearly fell from how much pain he was in. Luckily, Cyrus caught him.
"What are you doing, Xavier? Do you have any idea how badly injured you are?"
"I. I need to send her to the hospital!" Xavier panted out, holding tightly onto Maggie. His vision was swimming. "I can drive faster than the ambulance can. So I need to get her there right away!"
"Leave the rest to me now, Xavier!" Cyrus said, feeling both pitiful and touched by the scene. He gently squeezed Xavier's shoulder. "As important as it is to protect a case witness, you're an important person to my sister and Jasper, too. That's why I can't let anything happen to you!"
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1402-In the dingy old neighborhood, several police cars and an ambulance converged. The local residents looked on cautiously, having heard that there had been a break-and-entering.
Worried, Cyrus had his men send the killer back to the station before going to the hospital in the ambulance with Xavier and Maggie. Cyrus also notified Alyssa and Jasper of what happened.
The medics had strapped an oxygen mask on Maggie's face. Her body had passed out from shock after being asphyxiated. Now that the blood had stopped rushing to her face, her skin appeared stark white.
"You… You have to be okay, Maggie," Xavier said worriedly. He could care less about how injured he was right now. He kept on checking up on Maggie's condition, holding onto her hand. "Her vitals have stabilized, so there's no need to worry anymore," Cyrus consoled him. He could tell that Xavier's concern for Maggie extended beyond her role as a key witness in the case against David Schmidt.
"Why. Why were you guys on the scene so suddenly?" Xavier asked curiously after calming himself down.
"Lyse had me come over to check up on Maggie and her mother as well as talk some sense into her about letting Maggie be a witness. Maggie is still underage, after all, and this is an important matter. It's only right to inform Maggie's mother about it. Lyse also thought Maggie's mother might find the police more trustworthy."
Cyrus couldn't imagine what would've happened if he had come a second later. His expression was cold and stern. "Who knew this would happen? Looks like someone has grown impatient."
Xavier was stunned.
Jasper had sent him, whereas Alyssa had sent Cyrus. Though neither Jasper nor Alyssa had discussed this, their thoughts and intentions were still aligned!
Xavier had heard about couples looking similar before but not about thinking similarly!
"By the way, this is. here you go." Xavier reached into his pocket with a trembling hand and took out the butterfly knife from within. He handed it to Cyrus. "You forgot to take it."
Cyrus felt touched seeing how Xavier was still considerate of him even in such an injured state. He held the knife in hand. "My memory really is shit. Thank you, Xavier. Thank you so much."
"I remember Madam had a knife like this too."
"Yes. It's the same as mine. Jonah gifted them to us."
Warmth surfaced in Cyrus' eyes as he reminisced about his childhood. "Jonah was like a War of God to us. His weaponry skills are actually far better than Axel's.
"While other children's brothers played games with them, Jonah played knives with Lyse and me. He loved all sorts of blades and knives. In fact, there are over thousands in our family's collection."
Cold sweat beaded on Xavier's back as he stayed silent.
He would need to remind Jasper once Jasper married into the Taylor family to never fight with Alyssa.
Jasper would need to take great caution before doing things. Otherwise, he might end up losing his own life.
"When Jonah realized Lyse and I was gifted when it came to working with blades, he graciously gifted us each a butterfly knife." Cyrus gazed at the delicately crafted blade, his smile deepening.
He continued, "Lyse is far more skilled than I am. I usually don't use it, nor do I have the heart to. But the situation earlier was an emergency. Using my pistol in a neighborhood would only cause chaos, so I had no choice but to use this blade. Luckily, my skills haven't really deteriorated."
Xavier gaped in shock.
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1403-Xavier pondered inwardly, "If 'Blade' himself is admitting that his skills aren't as good as Alyssa's… Just how skilled is Alyssa?"
Alyssa and Jasper had hurried over to Taylor General Hospital the moment they heard the news.
Maggie was stabilized in time and transferred to a normal ward for recovery. Meanwhile, Xavier was arranged to stay in the next ward. He wasn't too injured save for some bruises and a fractured left arm.
But Xavier was in no mood to stay put and rest. The moment they secured the bones in his arm, he ran over to check up on Maggie.
The hospital staff let Jasper and Alyssa take over while Cyrus returned to the police station to deal with the murderous killer.
Abel was personally checking up on Maggie right now.
"Don't worry, Lyse. No matter what, Maggie is fine now. That's the best thing we could hope for," Jasper consoled Alyssa, who leaned in his arms as he gently held her.
Alyssa gazed at Maggie with reddened eyes. Guilt filled her chest. "Thank goodness you thought of sending Xavier to her place while I sent Cyrus to talk to her mother. What if we hadn't? What if. What if Xavier and Cyrus arrived a second later?"
Though these were all what-ifs, both Alyssa and Jasper were still apprehensive.
If those what-ifs had happened, they would've either caused the death of an innocent teen or a loyal friend on the battlefield.
Regardless, the loss of either one of them would be enough to make them feel guilty for the rest of their lives.
Jasper's heart pained as he saw how frightened and sad Alyssa was. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes.
He swiftly wrapped her in a hug, gently caressing her back, doing his best to offer solace. Heck, he didn't even know what he was saying. All he wanted was to ease Alyssa's distress and prevent her from blaming herself.
Xavier felt helpless. "M-Madam, Maggie, and I are both alive and well. Don't cry! I'll cry if you cry!"
"I could've done better to protect her." Alyssa did her best to maintain her composure, yet a tear still fell down her cheek. "But our enemy still finds a way past our defenses. I'm so stupid!" "If you're stupid, then I'm an idiot," Jasper teased before kissing Alyssa's forehead. "We're a true match made in heaven."
"Tch… An idiot wouldn't have spent so much time looking so fit." Alyssa jabbed Jasper's abs and giggled. "You're more dog-like, always following me around." Xavier quietly chuckled.
Jasper's choice of words might be peculiar, but it was fine as long as it worked.
After Abel finished checking up on Maggie, he sighed and said, "Poor girl. She's so incredibly thin; it's obvious she's malnourished. She's still in the stages of puberty right now. Why aren't her parents feeding her better?"
Alyssa and Jasper stayed silent, though their hearts ached in tandem. Xavier's eyes reddened.
"Look at those bruises on her neck. If her attacker had used any more force, he would've snapped the bone right through!" Abel exclaimed before leaving, shaking his head.
Alyssa ground her teeth together, now consumed with fury. "Who else would've tried to kill Maggie besides the Schmidts?"
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1404-"Throughout the execution of our plans, we were vigilant, and no information slipped out." Jasper's eyes darkened.
He continued, "Looks like the Schmidt family has set up spies near the witnesses' homes to watch their every move. When they found out we'd sought Maggie out, they feared she might participate in the case as a witness. That was why they wanted to end her life so quickly."
"Damn them!" Alyssa and Xavier said at the same time.
"David is still in police custody, so there's no way he could have had any external contact. Who helped him then? Jamebitch?" Xavier exclaimed hatefully.
Alyssa shook her head lightly. "No way it was Jamiper. He's the one person in the entire Schmidt family who wants to see everyone crash and burn. He would never help David. It must've been either Victor or Josh."
"Josh. It must be Josh," Jasper deduced, eyes sharp.
Alyssa's eyes glinted. She held Jasper's hand. "Why do you think it's him, Jasper?"
"Victor isn't from the underworld. He's not the kind to get rid of someone just because he doesn't like them. He's a pretty successful businessman, and businessmen like him know to steer clear of committing criminal acts at all times. He wouldn't have done something so drastic unless held at gunpoint," Jasper explained.
"Even if David were convicted, he'd be released as early as in a decade if his family pulled some strings. If David got sentenced to death, Victor still wouldn't go to the extent of killing someone to save his son. He's the chairman of his company's board, after all. Plus, he's not lacking in sons."
Jasper then continued, "David isn't his only child. With Josh and Jameson still in the picture, Victor can't afford to dirty his hands. But Josh's situation is different. You understand just how complex the relations amongst the Schmidt family members are, Lyse."
All of a sudden, Alyssa gained clarity. "Josh must be furious with how much Jamiper is being doted on by Victor. That's why Josh is doing all he can to regain his father's affection, even going to such lengths.
"I'm sure Josh is trying to prove himself to his father by freeing David of this situation. And I know Jameson went through a lot of bullying from his siblings when he was a kid.
"David and Daisy never really stopped abusing him, even in adulthood. If Josh helped exonarate David from this crime, he'd secure support for himself. After all, David still has shares in Schmidt Group."
Jasper swallowed, feeling irritated all of a sudden. "Do you pity Jameson, Lyse?"
"Yes, I do."
Jasper's breathing caught as his grip around Alyssa's waist tightened.
"I pity the Jameson from 15 years ago, not the cunning and cruel demon he's become today," Alyssa said.
Complex emotions flooded her as she recalled her friendship with Jameson when they were children.
Her gaze stayed firm, however. "I thought those who've been hurt before would grow to care for others more.
"Who knew Jameson would end up hurting others even more? I don't know what happened in Kontina to have made him become like this. But none of it can justify him stooping to such lows."
Based on their pasts alone, Jameson's experiences didn't come close to the hardships and suffering Jasper had endured. Yet, time and change did nothing to corrode Jasper's kindness and righteous soul.
That was why Alyssa loved Jasper.
Who wouldn't love someone righteous and kind?
Jasper smiled upon hearing this. He then kissed Alyssa's cheek.
"I'll have someone look into Josh's actions right away, sir, ma'am!" Xavier exclaimed, eyes burning with hatred.
"You don't have to do anything for the time being except to let your injuries heal, Xavier," Jasper said seriously. "Alyssa and I will figure out a way to deal with Josh. My seventh brother-in-law will deal with the man who hurt Maggie."
Alyssa cocked an eyebrow upon hearing Jasper's words.
Seventh brother-in-law, eh?
"B-But I still can't let this go!" Xavier panted harshly, heart aching. "Whenever I think about how that man had his hands on Maggie's neck, how she pleaded desperately for help, I… I want to rip him to shreds!"
"If you can't let this go, then stay by Maggie's side," Alyssa said gently, seeing through Xavier's feelings right away. "Take good care of her and make sure she gains healthy weight. That's your main priority right now."
"Madam." Grateful tears filled Xavier's eyes. He was about to say something when someone knocked on the ward door.
"Are you in there, Ms. Alyssa?" Sean called out, having rushed over after hearing what happened.
"Sean!"
Alyssa and Jasper went over to open the door.
Sean was standing outside, sweating. He said anxiously, "Ms. Alyssa, I happened to run into Maggie's mother and another victim's parents on my way here. They want to see you in person!"
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1405-Jasper's heart sank. Looking at Alyssa, he announced, "Lyse, I'll meet with them."
He was worried about the gossip and malicious comments about Alyssa. Her reputation would further suffer if she got into a fight with the witnesses' families at a hospital.
Jasper was totally capable of managing the fallout if he were the target. However, he refused to let Alyssa go through the suffering.
"Jasper, I understand your concern," Clasping his hand, she soothed him, "…but they wanted to see me. Things wouldn't have spiraled if I hadn't requested to meet with Maggie.
"It's imperative that I show up and offer my apology. You know me; I never run away from problems."
"Well, I happen to be the same." Staring affectionately at her, Jasper held her hands with fingers interlocked. "So, I'll go with you."
Although the VIP suite, where Maggie got warded, was safe and secure, Sean had arranged for his men to lead the victims' families to the open area in the VIP lounge, just in case they made a scene and ruined Alyssa's reputation.
Standing side by side with Jasper in the corridor, Alyssa calmly watched as Gina and the mother of another victim approached them. Despite her calmness, her heart was racing.
The parents of the two victims came to a stop in front of Alyssa, Jasper, and Sean. Jasper examined them warily. Similarly, Sean did not let his guard down, as he was afraid that they might lash out against Alyssa.
Gina's cheeks were stained in tears, and her eyes were red from the exhaustion. She hadn't spoken a word, but her resentment against Alyssa was clearly written across her face.
Alyssa clenched her numb fingers and was about to speak, but she was interrupted by the parents of the other victim, Colton Tanner and Lorna Cooper, who both collapsed onto the floor in front of her.
They pleaded, "Ms. Alyssa, Mr. Beckett, please… Please save our daughter! We're begging you!" "Sir, ma'am, please get up from the floor. Please don't do this. Let's stay calm and have a talk." Alyssa and Jasper hurried up to help the parents up from the ground.
The couple, crying their hearts out, remained stubbornly glued to the floor. Had it not been for Sean's timely help, Alyssa might not have been able to lift the poor Lorna from the ground.
"Please save my child. I won't budge if you refuse to save her!" Tears streamed down Lorna's face.
Anyone would feel sorry to see her in such a state.
Heart aching, Alyssa teared up. "Please stop crying. You'll only ruin your health. Please get up now, and let's have a chat."
"What's the point of crying in front of Ms. Alyssa now?" Xavier stormed over, looking disgruntled by the parents, whose attitude had only softened after they ran into trouble. "I reached out to you on behalf of Ms. Alyssa and Mr. Beckett, but remember how you treated me?
"Ms. Alyssa had wanted to offer you help, but you declined her kindness!"
"Xavier, that's enough!" chided Jasper, who glared at Xavier.
"Help? How dare you claim that you're helping?" Gina blurted out and pointed a finger angrily at Alyssa. "They wouldn't have harmed my daughter if you didn't get involved. All you wanted was to get her to testify so that you could get rid of the thorn in your side!
"Have you ever considered the lives of ordinary citizens like us? Maggie is only 17 years old this year.
It was her rotten luck to have run into that bastard. All she wanted was a peaceful life. Why didn't you give her a chance to do so?"
Xavier panted and glowered out of fury, but he held back and showed some respect to Gina because she was Maggie's mother. Still, he was enraged by Gina's unfair accusation.
How could Maggie be more level-headed than Gina? Had Gina not matured emotionally over all these years? He couldn't believe that Gina was qualified to be Maggie's legal guardian.
"The Schmidts have been keeping tabs on you. Do you wish to subject your daughter to such scrutiny for the rest of her life?" Jasper voiced out with a frown, boggled by Gina's unreasonable outburst.
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1406-"I was aware. I knew it from the beginning. But what choice did I have?" Gina trembled violently as she grew hysterical. "I'd rather sweep everything under the rug than open up my daughter's wound and put her in harm's way.
"She's just managed to get a footing, and things were looking up, but you came along and messed it all up! She nearly lost her life because of you—you arrogant, wealthy pricks who judge us from the comforts of life. What gives you the right?"
Alyssa felt a stinging pain in her chest. With her usual sharp wit, she could have retorted. However, the weight of guilt left her speechless.
"You're being naive." Jasper, keeping his composure, placed his hand on Alyssa's waist. He appeared as omniscient as divinity. "You're currently enjoying a short-lived peace because the Schmidt Group is in hot water. The Schmidts are too preoccupied to pay attention to you, especially with David Schmidt still in detention."
Gina's expression froze. Her bloodshot eyes looked vacant.
"Once they resolve David's legal issues and release him, they'll go back to wreaking havoc. Do you think David, that petty bastard, would go easy on Maggie? We need to get rid of him once and for all, or Maggie will be in endless trouble." "Mr. Beckett, everything you said is right. Gina, it's time to wake up!" Colton carried himself with determination even though he was choking on tears. He cast a helpless look at Alyssa and Jasper.
"We didn't mean to reject your help. The Schmidts cornered us, threatening us to keep quiet or they'd make us vanish from Solana City. We couldn't go against them."
Lorna chimed in, "Before we could determine if you were helpful, we chose to lay low and avoid contact with you. But lately, my daughter's been having mental breakdowns. Two days ago, she locked herself in her room and attempted to cut her wrist."
The revelation made Alyssa's blood boil. A fresh swell of rage rose in her.
"What?" Gina was stunned.
"My Anora is just 16 years old this year. She's younger than Maggie and not as mentally strong…"
Lorna cried her heart out. "That bastard should've been run over by a car or struck by lightning! Why did he have to put Anora through this suffering? What had she done to deserve that?"
Colton hissed, "We tried to swallow the humiliation, but what good is doing so when my daughter will never be the same? She's physically and mentally crushed, all because of that beast!
"If so, what's the point of backing down? My daughter might be alive, but she's as good as dead."
"Sir, ma'am, how is she doing? Is she out of critical condition now?" Alyssa, fighting back tears, was concerned about Anora Tanner's condition. "If she's still hospitalized, I can arrange to transfer her to a hospital under the KS Group. We'll take care of all her expenses."
"Ms. Alyssa…" The Tanner couple were moved by her kindness.
"By the way, when your daughter's back to full health, I'll hire the best psychologist for her. I believe that she'll heal from the trauma one day."
"Thank you! Thank you, Ms. Alyssa! You're a godsend!"
Gina was taken aback by Alyssa's generosity. At first, she had expected Alyssa to humiliate the Tanners to make up for their harsh rejections earlier. To her surprise, Alyssa earnestly offered help regardless of past grievances.
She couldn't help but wonder if she had misjudged Alyssa.
"Mrs. Madison." Approaching Gina, Alyssa gently held her calloused hands and tightened her grip. "I'm not a mother, but I feel you because I detest David Schmidt just as much.
"Remember, my sister is a victim too. I admit that my actions stem from personal grudges. What I want is to work with all the victims to demand justice from the Schmidts. Can you. help me out?"
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1407-Maggie finally regained consciousness the next afternoon. She found Gina and Xavier waiting by her bed. Feeling touched, she wrapped Gina in an embrace. The mother and daughter cried and cried after the close brush with death yesterday.
Xavier thought he must be feeling emotional because he was getting old. He shed a few tears but quickly wiped them away. As an uncle figure to Maggie, he resolved to keep a tough exterior.
"Mom, I won't change my mind no matter what you say." Maggie gently wiped away Gina's tears with a look of determination. "I have decided to testify in court. No one could help me if I don't fight for myself; not even Ms. Alyssa and Mr. Beckett."
Sobbing, Gina confessed, "Maggie, I… I feel so bad for you."
"Mom, do not stop me from testifying if you feel bad for me. I'm doing this to seek justice on behalf of the victims of David Schmidt."
Xavier's eyes wavered upon hearing Maggie's declaration. His heart pounding, he found that Maggie seemed to have grown up overnight. He even saw Alyssa in Maggie's staunch gaze.
"Maggie, it's all my fault. I was being silly." Nodding firmly, Gina hugged her daughter tightly. "I will respect your decision."
When Xavier was about to sneak out of the room, Maggie suddenly put on a smile and introduced him to Gina, "Mom, this is Xavier Hall. He's Mr. Beckett's secretary. He was the one who risked his life to save me yesterday. He's my savior."
"Thank you! Thank you so much, good sir!" Gina shed tears of gratitude.
Scratching his head sheepishly, Xavier blushed. "Gosh, just call me Xavier."
"Mom, I'll have to trouble you to get the fabric and my sewing kit from home." Maggie cast a shy glance at Xavier and pressed her lips. "I'm bored at the hospital, so. I wanted to sew a bag for Xavier like I've promised. I don't want to keep him waiting."
Xavier breathed ruggedly, and his heart pounded wildly. "I-It's fine, Ms. Madison! You should focus on your recovery. Don't bother!"
Maggie chuckled and shook her head. Her bright eyes shimmered in tears. "It's just handicraft. It won't take up much energy. Xavier, I know you have everything in life. I have nothing good to offer you. So, I hope you don't mind this little token of gratitude."
In the lounge next door, Alyssa and Jasper sat side by side on the couch. Alyssa was eating while Jasper was busy working on the laptop.
"Mm. Jasper, take a break and eat." She handed him a piece of cut grilled chicken on a fork. "The lunchboxes sold around the hospital are pretty good."
Still staring at the screen, Jasper leaned toward her but continued typing. He took a bite of the chicken and slowly munched on it.
How could he look so sexy just eating grilled chicken?
"Hm. It's greasy," Jasper remarked with a furrow of the brows.
"Just be thankful that you have food to eat. This restaurant is highly rated, so you're just being picky."
She devoured the grilled chicken.
Jasper found Alyssa adorable. Alyssa was never fussy and acclimated well to any type of challenging environment. He felt at home whenever he was with her.
Enveloped in a warm sensation, the affection in his eyes deepened. He gave her a sudden kiss on her greasy lips. She blinked, feeling a jolt through her body, and grumbled, "Ah! I haven't wiped my lips clean. Don't you find it gross?"
"No, 'cause I love you." He inched closer until his face was right in front of hers. It was as if he'd fight her for the grilled chicken. "I'll make some for you when we're home. My grilled chicken tastes better than this."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and purred, "Sure. Looking forward to tasting it. Just don't burn it."
They had their lunch while flirting with each other. A thought struck Alyssa, causing her to smile.
"Xavier seems very concerned about Maggie. Could he be."
"No, that's not right." Frowning, Jasper shook his head.
"Why? Can't your secretary date?" She squinted at him and placed an elbow on his broad shoulder.
"He can date alright. I'm just worried for Maggie. Isn't she taking college entrance exams this year?
She needs to focus on her studies." Jasper lovingly placed his fingers under her chin with a worried look as if he was a parent. "Besides, they first met a few days ago. They can't possibly develop feelings for each other. I don't believe in love at first sight."
"Oh, you don't?" Her warm breath tickled the sculpted tip of his nose. "But you fell for me at first sight."
"Lyse, you first met me at Crater Mountain Park when you were 11, right?" He smiled at her.
"Yeah. I fell for you when I was 11, and I pursued you." Alyssa did not conceal her feelings for him, a tender gaze forming in her eyes.
Seeing that, Jasper was overcome by bitterness and guilt. He teared up.
It didn't matter which of them fell in love first as long as they both ended up with each other. Still, her words made him feel so guilty that he couldn't raise his head.
They were interrupted by an incoming call to Alyssa's phone. She hurriedly picked up the call from Cyrus. "Cyrus, how was it? Has anything come out of the investigation?"
"The man has admitted to guilt. We looked into his background and learned that he was once a thug who worked for David Schmidt."
Alyssa and Jasper looked stunned. "Who? David Schmidt?"
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1408-"I had thought Josh or Victor would be the mastermind, but it was the doing of David's man," Cyrus explained with doubt. "I was worried that David would pull some tricks, so I sent someone to keep an eye on his attorney. After all, he hasn't met with anyone except for his attorney.
"But we found nothing suspicious about his attorney. We dug into his call log—he did not contact the culprit."
"That's odd. Did one of David's men act without permission out of his loyalty to David? Was he worried that David's scandal would be publicized? Does David even have a lackey who's that sharp-witted?"
Frowning, Alyssa fell into deep thought.
Then, she suddenly chuckled. "Maybe Josh had a card up his sleeve and pulled an act of killing with a borrowed knife."
"Is he using David?" Jasper wondered in a low, icy voice. "As impatient as Josh, he must have wanted to silence Maggie after his men noticed we had reached out to her." Alyssa might be hot-tempered, but she always remained cool-headed in times of urgency.
She analyzed carefully, "But the risk of silencing Maggie was high because he had to succeed at one go under our noses. It was certainly a dangerous feat.
"That's why he thought of getting David's man to pull it off. Even if we got hold of the weapon, we'd suspect David instead of him, and he'd get out of this."
While she was speaking, Jasper fixed an admiring gaze on her. She glowed radiantly like an angel who had descended onto earth. He swooned after her, unable to think straight.
"Hah! The Schmidts are indeed a loving family, aren't they?" Cyrus sneered with resentment. "I'll look into Josh Schmidt. He and his brother will not get away this time."
"I believe Josh has gotten the news and cleared himself of suspicion. It's hard to accuse him of anything if he did not personally reach out to the culprit. I'm afraid it's impossible to arrest him," Alyssa argued with a stern face.
"I am now obsessed with arresting him. I can't eat well until I close the case," Cyrus thundered. "I hate the humiliating feeling of failing to arrest a known culprit."
"It's fine, Cyrus. Go with the flow. Do not get anxious or obsessed. You might stumble upon new clues as things unfold."
After the call, silence descended on the lounge.
"Lyse." Jasper hugged her and rubbed his chin on the top of her head. Her hair smelled fragrant. "This might sound horrible, but I quite like the idea.
"If all pieces of evidence were against David, he wouldn't just be arrested on sexual assault charges; he'd be facing charges of contract killing and attempted first-degree murder. He'd be in jail forever if he serves a consecutive sentence."
"I'm speechless. Why do we always share the same thought?" Alyssa moved closer to him and wrapped an arm around his waist.
His eyes were colored with lust when she lay gently on his chest. She added, "But a ten-year sentence is too light of a punishment for a bastard like David Schmidt. I had been planning to hire the top legal team for Maggie and Anora to ensure the maximum penalty for David, but it turned out that Josh had made a move before me. What a loving brother he is."
"The Schmidts are a bunch of heartless and immoral pricks who have no care about their family. Even if we do nothing, it's a matter of time before they go down from all the infighting," Jasper remarked calmly as his hand slithered underneath Alyssa's shirt.
His fingertips rubbed against her smooth skin. With each touch, he was further aroused.
At his touch, she melted like butter, fireworks going off in her head. He kissed her deeply on the lips.
Jasper, on the brink of insanity, rubbed his lips against her ear and croaked, "I'll lock the door."
A jolt of electricity coursed through her veins. Just as her desire had overtaken her rationality, she suddenly pinched him on the back. "Stop! We're at the hospital. It's no place for sex."
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1409-Josh, of course, had gotten wind of the culprit's arrest. He had prepared himself for the outcome, but he lost sleep when he learned that Cyrus was the police on the case. His mind whirred nonstop to come up with solutions.
"Mr. Schmidt, there is no need to panic," Josh's right-hand man, Cliff McMahon, advised with a sly grin.
"You foresaw this coming and made the necessary arrangements, didn't you?
"Besides, you never had any direct contact with Magnus Vale. Since his wife and children are in our hands, he will not rat on you. He has no choice but to keep his mouth shut for his family's sake." "It's not enough to keep his mouth shut," said Josh, who rubbed his sore forehead.
There was a threatening gleam in his eyes with dark circles. He added, "We need him to point a finger at David. There needs to be a mastermind responsible for the assassination, or the Taylors will not let this slide because they're a crazy bunch."
Cliff nodded furiously. "You're right."
Josh lifted the whiskey glass from the table and rattled the ice cubes with a snicker. "It's David's man who carried out the orders anyway, so it's only fair for him to clean up the mess. I shall consider it David's final contribution to the Schmidt Group."
"Mr. Schmidt, we have another problem at hand. We need to think of a way to get Cyrus Taylor off the case for our convenience."
Squinting dangerously, Josh replied to Cliff, "Hmph. I have a good idea."
The next day, news about Cyrus Taylor being the son of Winston Taylor spread like wildfire across the internet, causing a huge stir. The netizens had a field day with it.
"Wow, is that handsome policeman the son of Winston Taylor? He keeps a low profile, though."
"Is he really Alyssa Taylor's brother? They don't look alike at all."
"I heard he's the son of the second wife. If this was centuries ago, he would have been a bastard son."
"A bastard son? Winston Taylor married Mandy Lovelace after the death of his first wife. She's his legal spouse."
"Yeah. Stop parading your idiocy. All of Mandy Lovelace's children are successful in their careers. You'll never hold a candle to them!"
Although the majority of netizens held a positive opinion of Cyrus, he was taken off David's case by his superiors. As Tatiana was one of the victims, Cyrus was obliged to transfer the case to other teams due to a conflict of interest.
On the day of the handover, the leader of Team 2 addressed Cyrus with glee, "Chief Taylor, you've worked hard. Anything else we need to know?"
Cyrus tilted his head and jokingly said, "It's time to test if you're a corrupted cop."
The leader frowned. "What do you mean?"
Cyrus deliberately raised his voice and replied, "It's no secret that the Schmidts love bribing the authorities. They had succeeded in covering up this case until my sister fought against the pressure to expose David Schmidt's evil deeds to the nation."
Cyrus' colleagues turned toward him.
"So, I'm speaking to you as a victim's family instead of a colleague. Please make sure David Schmidt goes to jail, and please pursue the maximum penalty on him. The Taylor family shall wait for your good news."
The leader quivered with a frozen look on his face. Cyrus patted his shoulder with an amused smile before leaving.
Can’t Win Me Back Chapter 1410-Following the arrest of Magnus Vale, who broke into Maggie's room to harm her, Maggie and Anora, accompanied by their families, arrived at the police station to file a formal report against David. They were under the protection of private security, courtesy of Alyssa and Jasper.
The charges against David for sexually assaulting minors were firm. There was no getting away with it.
The media thronged the police station, and the news spread rapidly.
Throughout the process, the police carefully maintained the confidentiality of the two victims. Although the media failed to capture any photos of the two girls, the news still dominated the headlines.
The headlines read, "David Schmidt's Sexual Assault Allegations Confirmed,"
"Victims' Families Allege Threats from the Schmidts."
"David Schmidt Suspected of Orchestrating a Contract Killing."
"David Schmidt Faces Inescapable Doom."
The public opinion online marked a swift turn. Commentaries that had previously doubted and criticized Tatiana were replaced with commendations and applause.
"Good job, Tatiana Taylor, for exposing her pain to speak up for the victims!"
"Where are those fools who accused her of seeking attention? Why are they silent now?"
"How dare the Schmidts threaten the victims' families? They are out of control. Without Tatiana Taylor's advocacy, these cases would be buried forever!"
"The rich are always above the law. LMAO!"
"If David Schmidt was handed anything other than the life sentence, it would be a dark day in the nation's legal history."
The Schmidts, who had experienced a brief respite, found themselves once again in the court of public opinion. Thankfully, Jameson had stabilized the company's stock price and kickstarted some projects in Kontina, which helped cushion the blow.
After a meeting at the Schmidt Group, members of the upper management left the room. Victor specifically instructed Josh and Jameson to stay behind.
Then, Victor tossed all the documents on the table in Josh's face, but Josh agilely dodged the attack.
"Why is there a new charge of attempted first-degree murder? Isn't it just rape?" Victor, nearly fainting from anger, bellowed, "How did you handle the situation? Why is it escalating? Do you no longer want the role of president?"
Jameson remained stoic, but his lips betrayed a hint of a smile as he adjusted his glasses.
"Dad! I have nothing to do with this. I've done everything in my power to defend David," Josh argued with a disgruntled expression. "But he was hasty and mistrustful. How could he even think of silencing the victim? He has dragged us down with him, and he's come to a dead end.
"Since the two girls have testified under Alyssa and Jasper's protection, I believe that it's unwise for us to protect David."
"That's odd. Under detention, David can't do much even if he wants to," Jameson remarked as he toyed with a pen.
Then, he lifted his brow and suggested, "Say, Josh, did you help David out but messed it up instead?
You were the only person he met in jail, aside from his attorney."
"Jameson Schmidt, do not falsely accuse me!" Josh felt a surge of panic. "I'm not as stupid as David!"
"So, what do we do now?" Victor pointed a finger at Josh's troubled face. "Come up with a solution before the next evening, or hand your presidency to Jimmy."