Ch. 1961..1970

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1961-It was a difficult night for Jasper, whose soul was tormented the moment he saw Alyssa with Justin. When he was chatting with Justin, he forced a smile and made remarks that went against his true feelings.

Only God knew how much he wanted to snatch Alyssa and hide her far away from Justin. He didn't want Justin to take another look at the woman who belonged to him and only to him.

"Stop it… Stop thinking about it…" Alyssa sounded tearful as she managed to let out fragments of words. After years of dating, this was the first time he had forced himself on her in such a ruthless manner that drove her to tears.

"Lyse, you're mine. Never look at him again. You shall only have eyes for me!"

he growled as they inched toward climax.

After that, he carried the limp Alyssa to the bedroom. He placed her in the bed and attempted to make love to her again, but she wept and gently slapped him on the cheek. "I hate you! That's enough. You're bullying me. You're being super annoying tonight, you know?"

The slap did not hurt at all, but it woke him up. Snapping out of his delirium, he felt his heart racing. "I'm sorry, Lyse. It's my fault. I swear I will not do this to you again." He pulled her into a remorseful hug and repeatedly apologized.

"I know your worst fear." She closed her eyes and gently scratched him on the back as if calming him. "Jasper, don't be afraid. I'm yours. I'll forever be yours."

Alyssa enjoyed a good night's sleep, but Jasper drifted in and out of sleep. By dawn, he did not wake Alyssa up because she was still deep in sleep. He tiptoed to the bathroom to freshen up and change his clothes in preparation for a video conference.

The three-hour-long meeting kicked off at 9:00 am. Despite Jasper's best efforts to focus on the discussion, his mind kept wandering.

Finally, he survived the meeting and returned to the bedroom, where Alyssa was still asleep.

Given her self-discipline, she'd always wake up early for a workout session, followed by washing up and doing her makeup, even if they made love till late at night.

Feeling puzzled, Jasper sat by the bed and touched her shoulder, but he flinched at the hot touch and immediately withdrew his hand.

"Lyse? Lyse?" He flipped her over and saw her cheeks red from the fever. He touched her forehead again. She seemed to be running a scarily high fever.

He couldn't believe he was oblivious to her fever throughout the night.

"Mm. It's cold… So cold…" she moaned feebly.

Feeling nervous, he frantically grabbed a blanket and wrapped her up. Then, he pulled her into an embrace, but she wouldn't stop complaining about feeling cold.

She must have developed a fever from their lovemaking on the balcony last night. Jasper, saddled with guilt and regret, nearly slapped himself as a punishment for his rashness.

He decided against it, opting to be punished by Alyssa instead when she regained consciousness.

Meanwhile, Rosie was making lunch in the kitchen. She heard the doorbell and wiped her hands before answering the door.

She found herself staring at a charming and confident man clad in a black windbreaker. Stunned, she mumbled, "You are.?"

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1962-Axel placed his hand in his pockets in a callous manner. Cocking his head, he asked, "Is Lyse here?"

Rosie examined him. "Are you a friend of Madam's?"

"No."

A realization set in. Rosie widened her eyes and stared at him vigilantly, "You're not an admirer, are you? Are you Mr. Beckett's love rival?"

Rosie was acquainted with most of Alyssa's visitors to the villa, especially men.

As Axel was a stranger to her, she did not trust him at all.

"Pfft." Smirking, he arched a brow playfully. "If I were her admirer, Jasper wouldn't have stood a chance! He would've been out of the game ages ago!"

What a wild, arrogant man!

Rosie was about to snap at Axel when she heard Jasper's worried tone. "Mrs.

Rosie, do we have aspirin or ibuprofen at home?"

At the same time, his eyes lit up when he found Axel at the door. "Axel, my dearest brother-in-law! It's you!"

"Oh, you sweet talker." Grinning, Axel marched in boldly. Rosie's jaw fell when she realized Axel was one of Alyssa's brothers. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Jasper, whom she had raised with all her attention and love but was now at the lowest rung of the Taylor family hierarchy ever since dating Alyssa.

"Are you feeling sick? I'll get you some meds."

Jasper looked worried. "No, not me. It's Lyse."

"What? She's down with a fever?" Axel's chest tightened. He approached Jasper and barked, "Why did she fall sick? Where's she now?"

Lashes fluttering, Jasper found it difficult to tell Axel the truth behind Alyssa's fever. He led Axel to the bedroom, where Axel removed his windbreaker and tossed it aside.

Axel sat by the bed and gently called out to Alyssa, "Lyse? Lyse, it's Axel. How are you feeling? Lyse?"

Unattentive to her visitor, she opened her parched lips and moaned softly, "JJasper…"

Heartbroken, Axel glowered at the helpless Axel. He growled, "Lyse is calling for you! Come tend to her now!"

Jasper hurried over and went down on one knee by the bed. He worriedly caressed her feverish forehead and assured her, "Lyse, I'm here. Mrs. Rosie is looking for meds. Please hang in for a bit more. Do you want some water? Does it hurt anywhere? Let's go to the hospital."

"Mm…" She flared her nostrils and shook her head.

"Oh, quit that nonsense. She's delirious, can't you tell?" Feeling sorry for his sister, he lost his temper with Jasper. "Jasper Beckett, how are you taking care of Lyse? She's pretty tough compared to other girls because she trained with her brothers at a young age. How did you get her into this state?"

"I—" Jasper choked on guilt.

At that moment, Alyssa frowned in pain. She wiggled and turned around, revealing an area of her fair skin under the blanket.

The sight of the crazy red marks across her neck, collarbone, and shoulders shocked Axel.

His mind went blank. He finally pieced the puzzle and glowered at Jasper while cracking his knuckles. "Fuck you, Jasper Beckett!"

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1963-Jasper grappled with heartache. The contrast between his tall figure and his helpless demeanor made him the more pitiful.

Axel shot up from the bed and grabbed Jasper's collar. Fixing a piercing gaze on Jasper, he bellowed, "What have you done to my sister? Did you force her into BDSM?"

"No…"

"Why is she bruised all over? Fuck! You should've been the sub even in BDSM!"

Axel's grip inadvertently tore one of Jasper's buttons loose. Their faces were mere inches apart.

Axel continued, "We raised Lyse like she was our daughter. She is precious to us. Nothing good has happened to her ever since she dated you. How dare you mistreat her in such a way?

"You may appear a gentleman on the surface, but your behavior in the bedroom is nothing short of savage. You should consider her feelings in the bedroom!

How could you hurt her to satisfy your needs?

"Stay there. I'm getting that housekeeper of yours to check the injuries on Lyse's body, and I'll double that on yours."

Axel was visibly furious this time. His concern for Alyssa manifested in an outpouring of emotion, panic, and profanity.

"Axel." Alyssa struggled to open her eyes.

"I'm here!" Axel shoved Jasper aside, crouching by the bed to feel her forehead.

His own brow was dotted with sweat from all the worrying.

He remarked, "Your forehead is too hot to the touch. I could fry an egg on it!"

"You're being annoying," she managed to say weakly, mustering the energy to flick him on the head. "I'm a patient in need of rest. Are you. deliberately trying.

to disturb me?"

At that moment, Rosie jogged into the bedroom with an aspirin and a glass of water. Then, she took Alyssa's body temperature.

She gasped when she found that Alyssa was running a high fever of over 100°F.

"Good heavens! You can kill cancerous cells at that temperature! How are you still breathing?"

Feeling sorry for Alyssa and resentful of Jasper, she gave him a hard shove, causing him to stumble. "Mr. Beckett, you're an idiot! At this temperature, we should be getting her to a hospital, not an aspirin, or her health will suffer!"

Jasper was deeply remorseful for hurting his beloved over his ridiculous possessiveness. He and Rosie hurriedly changed her clothes while Axel turned his back to them out of respect. Axel's shoulders trembled violently from the anger.

At that moment, Alyssa resembled a young, defenseless child. Rosie helped her put on a jacket, and Jasper helped her put on shoes.

Right as Jasper was about to carry her in his arms, Axel pushed him away, unwilling to allow him contact with Alyssa.

Axel crouched, his back facing Alyssa. "Lyse, I'll carry you on my back."

"Axel, I can manage," Jasper offered without hidden intentions.

He merely wished to spare Axel any inconvenience.

Axel snapped, "Get lost." Jasper pursed his parched lips in bitterness.

"When young Lyse was sick, her brothers took turns carrying her to the hospital.

If she fell ill at night, each of us took our turn to comfort her and make her sleep." Axel effortlessly hoisted Alyssa onto his back, his eyes smoldering with anger. "She even rode on my shoulders when she was younger and upset!

"Jasper Beckett, you might think you love and dote on her, but you pale in comparison to what we've done for her. Now, I have reservations about entrusting her to your care."

Though Axel's words might have seemed exaggerated, they came from a place of genuine concern from an older brother who cherished his sister deeply.

"I'm sorry…" Looking pale, Jasper clenched his fist when Axel carried Alyssa out of the bedroom.

In the car, Alyssa weakly mumbled and insisted on sitting with Jasper. "Axel, do not blame him. He's always been clumsy and struggles to assert himself in front of you and others. He just panics." She tugged at Axel's shirt, pleading, "Don't be too hard on him. I know he didn't mean to."

"Lyse, you're too forgiving of him. You can't afford to be overly kind to men, or they'll take advantage!" Despite his simmering anger, Axel refrained from harsher words toward Jasper after Alyssa's attempt at defending Jasper.

"He's my husband. Of course I'll be nice to him. It's fine." She pressed her dry lips, which had started cracking from the fever. "Jasper has been struggling in his life. He's only clueless because he tasted happiness for the first time with me. Stop blaming him, okay?"

Consumed by guilt, Jasper battled his emotions, feeling overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy. Alyssa's understanding only intensified his feelings of inferiority, leading him to believe he wasn't worthy of her.

With Xavier driving and Axel in the front passenger seat, the luxury car sped toward the hospital. In the back, Jasper hugged Alyssa tightly. She was cocooned in a wool blanket.

He croaked, "Do you still feel cold?"

She snuggled against his chest, her words punctuated by the rhythm of his anxious breaths, "It's just a fever, darling. No need to fret. Just a gentle reminder to be more mindful next time."

That went without saying, as Jasper would never allow the same thing to happen to her.

Suddenly, the car came to a sudden brake. Frowning, Axel questioned, "Why aren't we moving?"

Xavier replied flatly, "Well, the lights turned red."

Axel raised a skeptical brow. "Lyse's fever is soaring above 100°F. The color of the light doesn't matter! She'll only suffer from all the delays! Just run the lights!"

"Axel, that's enough." She looked dumbstruck by Axel's overreaction. "I'm running a fever, not in labor. Can you please calm down—"

Her words weighed heavily on Jasper's heart, his shirt clinging damply with cold sweat.

Axel began, "Lyse, you're being too—" He was cut off by a dull, resounding thud —a man colliding forcefully with their windshield, his pale features twisted in a grimace.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1964-Axel's pupils dilated from the shock, but he gathered himself in no time due to his professional training. The same cannot be said for Xavier, who was freaked out and screamed, "Oh, my God!"

With steeled eyes, Jasper hugged Alyssa tightly and turned her face into his chest. "Lyse, don't look at it."

He was concerned that the scene would only spook her out and exacerbate her fever symptoms. Little did he know that Lyse was undaunted after witnessing much worse horrors on the battlefield years ago.

Far from feeling scared, she examined the scene with curiosity. At the same time, Axel grew excited at the situation. He opened the car door with a twinkle in

his eye. "Damn it! Are people getting so professional now? Did he put on makeup? That was pretty frightening. I'll go check it out. If he's fine, I'll make sure he isn't!"

Before Axel left the car, the victim got out of the car and ran away while dancing like a madman. Despite not being in the bustling downtown, the man's odd behavior received much attention from the passersby, who stayed away from him fearfully.

"Hahaha… Hahaha!" After letting out a series of cackles, the man suddenly suffered a seizure. His body later stiffened as he fell face-first onto the ground. A dull thud was heard when the back of his head hit the corner of the road divider.

Blood instantly started pooling under his head and colored the tar road.

A few brave passersby went up to check on the man with mortified expressions, debating whether or not to call the ambulance. Alyssa, despite being deep in delirium, immediately entered her role as a doctor at the sight of an injured patient.

When the three men in the car weren't paying attention, she sneaked out of the car. Jasper nervously ran after her in great strides, calling out to her, "Lyse!"

Wrapped in the blanket, Alyssa squeezed her way to the front of the crowd and crouched. Then, she checked on the man's vitals in a professional manner. Her sweat dripped profusely, yet it was the least of her concerns.

Jasper and Axel pushed their way through the crowd to stay guard by her side.

It was then Jasper noticed something on the collar of the victim's shirt, a sight that concerned him.

"Call the ambulance now!" a passerby yelled worriedly.

"No need for the ambulance. Just call the police." Alyssa let out a heavy sigh and pronounced sternly, "He's dead."

Terrified, the onlookers stumbled backward.

Ten minutes later, the police arrived and sealed off the scene. Then, they lifted the man's stiff corpse onto the stretcher and draped a white cloth over it.

Alyssa went back to the car, drenched in sweat, but her complexion seemed to have improved. Placing an arm around her shoulder, Jasper asked worriedly, "Lyse, how are you feeling? Are you alright?"

"I'm feeling better, even a little… stuffy." She wiggled with a pensive look.

"Wrap the blanket well. Be good. You'll feel worse if the chill seeps in." Holding her tight, he worried she might take off the blanket.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1965-"Lyse is like Dr. House. She gets excited at the sight of corpses," Axel couldn't help but tease his sister.

"Did that guy drop dead just like that? By hitting his head against the divider?"

Xavier grappled with the lingering fear when he recalled the horrifying expression on that man.

Alyssa, having spent a mere few minutes with the corpse, suspected there was more to the man's death. She analyzed, "That might not be the case. Before he fainted, he exhibited symptoms of a seizure.

"Besides, the muscles across his body contracted rhythmically while he lost consciousness. Epilepsy is a plausible cause of death, but we'll need to wait for

the post-mortem report."

"Epilepsy? People might think he overdosed." Axel pushed his tongue against his cheek, still indulging in the scene out of a horror movie just now. "I had experience dealing with some drug addicts when I was abroad. They looked exactly like the man just now when they were high or experienced withdrawal symptoms—zombie-like."

Alyssa panted gently in Jasper's embrace. Jasper lowered his gaze and wiped off the sweat on the tip of her nose. He remarked, "Lyse, the man was from The Ivory Gang."

"The Ivory Gang?" Astonished, she gasped, "How did you know about it?" The Ivory Gang was run by Colene's family.

"I noticed the gang logo of The Ivory Gang on his shirt just now," Jasper revealed.

Axel snorted. "Oh, so he was one of the gang members, eh? An overdose sounds possible. Serves him right."

"That's impossible. Colene told me that doing drugs is banned in the gang. If any of their members are found to be on drugs, they will be punished hardhandedly," Alyssa refuted Axel's speculation firmly.

"But that was the past. Marc Waters is now a dying man; he can no longer keep everyone in check. I bet he can't do much if one of his members wanted to break the rules behind his back." Squinting, Axel let out a contemptuous chuckle.

"Axel, stop it. You're talking about Colene's dad. Show him some respect even if you disagree with his actions."

"Not only is Marc Waters a gang leader, but his daughter willingly became the youngest wife of a tycoon. Sorry, I might be too conservative, but I can't show them any respect at all." Axel glanced out of the window, his tight jaw reflected on the glass.

It was evident to Jasper that Axel struggled to get over Winston's subsequent marriages. Every time the topic was breached, Axel would react with mockery and sarcasm.

"Colene is nice to Winston and me," Alyssa lowered her gaze and said in a feeble, glum voice, "She's had her uterus removed anyway, so she can't have a child with Winston."

The mind-shattering revelation made Jasper's eyes pop out. Even Xavier, shocked by the grave family secret, stole occasional glances through the rearview mirror.

"Hah. I guess my little sister is Mother Teresa, but unlike you, I lack empathy. I'm heartless. I can never approve of a woman who competes against my mom over a man.

"To me, she's no different than Mandy Lovelace and Lyla Nelson." With that, Axel folded his arms on his chest and shut his eyes, a sign to end the conversation.

Alyssa and Jasper exchanged glances before letting out helpless and bitter sighs.

Upon arriving at a private hospital with top-notch facilities, Alyssa went through the health checkups in no time, as no queuing was needed. After the blood test, she rested in a room while hooked to an IV drip.

After Alyssa drifted to sleep, Jasper sneaked out of the room, dodging Axel and Xavier's notice. He quietly arrived at the first floor and booked a consultation with a men's health specialist.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1966-Jasper's family name and his good looks added to the pressure of the doctor who received him. The doctor asked cautiously, "Um. Mr. Beckett, what brings you here?"

His shaky tone betrayed his nervousness, but he immediately assured Jasper with confidence, "Don't worry, Mr. Beckett. Our hospital prides itself on tight patient confidentiality. I will not say a word about your visit to me today."

Jasper wasn't too concerned about the gossip surrounding his visit to the men's health specialist. After all, his loyalty and love for Alyssa was a widely-known fact.

Although the speculations might sting his ego, it did not bother him very much.

Given how subservient he acted around Alyssa, he could handle the rumors of his alleged "erectile dysfunction" if it happened.

"Doctor, I have a question." A look of trouble crept up his face after a pause.

"Can a vasectomy potentially lower one's libido?"

"The primary purpose of a vasectomy is to prevent sperm from being ejaculated for fertilization. It doesn't impact libido," the doctor clarified.

Following a brief pause, Jasper hesitantly whispered, "Is there any way to lower my libido?"

The doctor, who had rarely come across a difficult male patient like Jasper, hesitated. "The only solution… is to take medication. Still, Mr. Beckett, I would caution against this measure to prevent any negative effects on your health.

"Besides, your problem is not an issue at all. Cold showers will offer a similar effect."

Jasper had tried taking cold showers in a futile attempt to rein in his uncontrollable desire for Alyssa, which had scared even himself. He had spiraled out of control, leading to the incident last night.

In the heat of the moment, all he had in mind was to dominate a woman as prideful as Alyssa, reducing her to crying and begging for mercy under him. He was too out of it and hot-blooded to process her pleas.

Every time he touched her, he couldn't hold back his feelings. Considering the mental pressure Justin had exerted on him, he feared that he might snap again soon. Yet, he could not afford to hurt Alyssa anymore.

"I'll take the medication. Which one would you recommend?" Jasper was resolved with his decision.

"How about I prescribe you some medication with sedative effects? That will reduce the negative impact on your health. I believe that the sedative effects might calm your nerves from high libido," the doctor proposed.

"Very well," Jasper agreed. Pursing his lips, he added, "Please schedule a vasectomy for me as well."

The doctor's jaw fell when he heard Jasper's request, particularly knowing his relationship with Alyssa Taylor, the heiress of Belbanks' most elite family. Why did Jasper decide on a vasectomy when the couple was young and childless?

"I know what you're thinking." Jasper, feeling a stabbing pain in his chest, said glumly, "We lost a child to miscarriage due to my neglect. Because of that incident, she is now infertile. If so, I would like to join her. If she can't have kids, I will get my vasectomy as well. I shall never dream of having children."

The doctor's eyes widened in shock at the depth of Jasper's affection for Alyssa.

Jasper slowly rose from his seat and repeated, "Please arrange for the vasectomy. I want it done as soon as possible."

After leaving the men's health specialist, Jasper inhaled deeply before making his way to Alyssa's room. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and spun around.

"Seems like you've forgotten everything you learned from military school." Axel, leaning against a pillar with folded arms, studied Jasper carefully not far away.

Jasper's eyes widened in surprise. Either he was too focused on thoughts about Alyssa to notice Axel tailing him, or Axel—an elite special agent—was exceptionally brilliant at covertly tracking the others.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1967-"Why are you seeing a men's health specialist? Something wrong down there?"

Axel walked up to Jasper, a playful gaze traveling from Jasper's eyes to his crotch. "I've seen that thing of yours. You had an erection even when you were unconscious. It certainly doesn't seem useless."

Jasper's expression froze in awkwardness. Was he supposed to thank Axel for that remark?

Right then, a nurse approached Jasper and handed him a form. "Mr. Beckett, please keep this form safe. Do come to the hospital at 9:00 am tomorrow for the surgery."

Jasper accepted the form with a nod. After the nurse left, Axel grabbed the form from Jasper. Upon taking a better look, he screamed, "Are you getting a vasectomy?"

Jasper felt flustered at Axel's loud disclosure of his medical information in public.

Axel, realizing he had been too loud, stopped himself and dragged Jasper to a quiet corner for a talk. He questioned, "Dude, what's going on?"

"You're aware of Lyse's condition. If I get a vasectomy, she won't feel as guilty about her inability to conceive. Plus, it'll serve as a personal reminder to respect her boundaries," Jasper stated flatly, trying to sound nonchalant about it.

However, Axel shrewdly saw through Jasper's thoughts. Gripping Jasper's forearm firmly, he almost dug his fingers in. "Jasper, seriously? You're not that petty, are you? I was a bit harsh to you before this because I was worried for Lyse. Considering what you did to her, can't I express my concerns as her brother? But you don't have to castrate yourself over it!"

Jasper couldn't hold back his laugh. "A vasectomy has nothing to do with impotence. You're overworrying. I admit I went overboard last night. That's why I felt the need to take proactive steps for Lyse's sake."

Axel finally dropped his cheekiness and adopted a serious look. "Jasper Beckett, do you not want to have kids with Lyse?"

"Let's drop the topic." Jasper avoided the topic that remained a painful memory.

His heart missed a beat.

"Since learning about her infertility, I've been tirelessly searching for treatments abroad. I haven't found one yet, but I haven't given up," Axel lamented. "How can you see her as barren when I'm still fighting for it? Do you truly believe she's destined to be childless in this life?"

Jasper drew a deep breath. The pain ripped through his chest. Of course he wanted to be a father. He dreamed of being Alyssa's husband and the father to their child. But his past mistakes, grave and inhumane, had robbed her of the chance to become a mother—it was God's punishment for his past naivety and reckless behavior.

"I'm not alone in doing this. I've heard that Jonah and Julien are exploring treatment options in Mosgravia," said Axel.

Placing a hand firmly on Jasper's shoulder, Axel fixed a burning gaze on the latter. "Even if you can't figure out something at the moment, you should never give up. A miracle is another word for effort.

"If you get a vasectomy, you won't stand any chance of becoming a father! You can't take my words to heart, or you'll find it tough to fit into our family once you're married to Lyse! My brothers are no less blunt than I am."

"I got it. Thank you, Axel." Jasper exchanged a smile with him. Feeling relieved, Axel tore the form in half.

Alyssa fell asleep after receiving the IV infusion. Jasper waited until she woke up before sending her home.

Axel showed up in Solana City unannounced for two reasons—to visit Alyssa and to attend Angelina's funeral, having received an invitation from Landon

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1968-Axel slept in the guest bedroom that night while Alyssa and Jasper cuddled in their bed.

Jasper let Alyssa rest her head on his arm while occasionally kissing her on her forehead, which was no longer hot to touch. Fortunately, her fever seemed to have reduced in intensity.

Languid and flushed, she purred as she nestled comfortably in his arms. Her vulnerable state and misty eyes stirred a desire within him to conquer her, but he firmly refused to act upon it. The deeper his love, the more he needed to exert self-control.

"Did Axel… tell you any nonsense?" Alyssa couldn't help but worry, knowing that Axel took after Winston's foul mouth.

He shook his head and tucked her in. "Rest early and get well soon. We need to get up early the day after."

"Right. We need to attend Angelina's funeral." A pang of sorrow pierced through her. Her tears started to well. "The recent events are tragic. I really hope nothing of that sort repeats. I want happiness for everyone."

"Of course, Lyse. We'll all be happy," he mumbled, kissing her soft lips.

"Seeing Axel's aversion today, I think he'll never get over the grudge." She pouted in frustration.

Jasper weighed his words before inquiring, "Lyse, did Madam Colene… really."

"Yes. Colene willingly removed her uterus." However, Alyssa had flashbacks of the time she vehemently opposed Colene from joining the family. Looking forlorn, she confessed, "No. Actually, I forced her to.

"I insulted her badly to stop her from marrying into our family. I, too, looked down on her origins. Not only that, I accused her of social climbing, of manipulating Winston's power to whitewash her family's connections to the gang, and of splitting up KS Group's assets.

"To prove that she wasn't after Winston's wealth, she removed her uterus and cut ties with her father. She hasn't visited home since."

Jasper quietly listened to Colene's story with a heavy heart. At the same time, he gently stroked Alyssa's hair to offer solace.

"Even now, I can't say if her decision was right. But I can't blame or resent her because, just like Mandy and Lyla, she was good to Winston, my brothers, and me." Tears brimmed in her eyes. "That's why I feel that I'm the guilty one. My youthful brazenness might have denied Colene her chance at motherhood. And karma has caught up with me now."

Jasper hurriedly silenced her. Breathing heavily, he felt like he had been stabbed various times in the chest. "Lyse, please don't say so. You're not at fault. If there's karmic retribution, it should fall on me instead."

She gave him a moist peck on the palm of his hand. "Your 'karma' has caught up with you—you're stuck with me forever, and I can be a difficult woman."

The hedonist party at Millennium continued past midnight. Meanwhile, Jameson was negotiating a significant deal with a Tsulu buyer.

Should Jameson succeed in exporting his new drugs to Tsulu and cornering the market, it would mark a significant breakthrough. His business stood to double, if not triple, in no time.

Once the demand steadily grew, so would his supply. The projected profits would be nothing short of astronomical.

Jameson engaged in a drinking session with the Tsulu buyer, switching seamlessly between Grunslandish and Tsulian with an air of grace. One wondered if he was born a refined man or if it was a skill honed by years of serving sir.

Despite being a gentleman on the surface, Jameson had committed atrocious crimes in the shadows.

Their drinking session was interrupted by a knock on the door. Carl shuffled into the lounge and whispered into Jameson's ear, "Mr. Schmidt, a member of the Lovelace family has arrived

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1969-The light in Jameson's eyes dimmed when he learned about it. "Make him wait for me in another lounge."

After settling the other client, Jameson took some time off to join Aidan at the lounge next door.

Right after he opened the door, Aidan, who was drinking alcohol to calm his nerves, shot up and rushed up to him.

Aidan glared at him. "What went wrong? Why did people die from it?"

"Mr. Aidan, I'm afraid I have no clue what you're talking about," Jameson wondered with a calm smile, a stark contrast to Aidan's panic.

Although no one else was in the lounge, Aidan made sure to speak in a whisper, "Are there quality issues with the latest delivery you provided for me? I distributed it just twice, and people had been overdosing and dying on it."

Still smiling, Jameson brushed off Aidan's worries. "Drugs are poison. Isn't it normal for addicts to die from overdosing?"

"But I have not seen a man who went crazy and dropped dead after taking it twice!"

"Well, now you have."

Aidan turned white. He grabbed Jameson by the collar and snarled, "Jameson Schmidt, you'd better not mess with me! You'll not get off the hook if something happens to me! You and I are in the same boat.

If I go down, I'll make sure to take you with me!"

"Look at you. You're too impatient. It's rather ominous to casually throw around the mentions of death." The smile on Jameson's face froze. He shoved Aidan away without warning before smoothing the creases on his shirt.

He explained, "That drug is a new product locally and abroad. It's very normal for users to feel sick after taking it for the first time."

"What do we do now? I heard that a man who took this drug went crazy, collapsed, and died on the streets. It was like epilepsy!" Gravely concerned, Aidan fretted, "The police will definitely perform an autopsy on him and trace it back to Lovelace Pharmaceuticals. What are we going to do, then?"

"I asked you to sell the drugs to the underground gangs in Solana City and other cities, didn't I?" Jameson settled gracefully on the couch and poured himself a glass of whiskey. He calmly added, "The man who died was from The Ivory Gang. He was a menace before his death. God knows what he'd taken before he took your drugs. The police won't bat an eye about people like him." "H-How could you be so sure?" Still skeptical, Aidan argued, "It's still a death, and it happened on the street! How could the police turn a blind eye to the case?"

Jameson shook his head with a contemptuous smile. Joseph Lovelace proved his brains by expanding the company business just on pharmaceutical sales. In comparison, his eldest son, Aidan, seemed like a total dunce.

"First of all, he suffered from a heart attack. No matter what he took before his death, it was not a case of homicide.

"Secondly, I admit that the drug has a side effect—it triggers the dormant illness in a human. The dead man might have had epilepsy without knowing it,"

Jameson calmly downed the alcohol while making up half-truths to muddle through.

Upon hearing that, Aidan's expression relaxed a little.

"Anyway, don't worry about it. The drugs are fine; the problem lies in the addicts themselves."

After that, Jameson enjoyed a short drinking session with Aidan before making Carl send him home.

Upon Carl's return, he looked rather gloomy. "Mr. Schmidt, things are getting complicated. If the police trace it back to Aidan, and if he rats you out…"

"Fret not. It's not that easy. Besides, I'll never give Aidan Lovelace a chance to implicate me." Jameson offered reassurance as his smile disappeared. The look in his eyes hardened. "But one thing is for sure— the second trial has failed."

Carl sighed in frustration. "Yes. I have organized the data into reports and sent them to Ms. Gillis. She'll pass them to the research lab in Mosgravia."

Jameson clenched his teeth unwillingly, simmering in anger from all the failed trials.

Can Not Win Me Back Chapter 1970-Lily's Alzheimer's had progressed into the later stages, making Jameson desperate for the new drug to work in order to save her.

"Reach out to Chief Novak. Tell him to get someone dependable to clean up the mess."

"Got it."

At the same time, Jameson's phone buzzed. He immediately sat upright when he saw the caller ID. Taking a deep breath, he answered the phone, "Sir."

"Did your experiment fail again?" Justin's resonant voice weighed on Jameson's heart.

Jameson, though knowing that the blame fell on the research team, not him, still felt nervous when confronted. "Yes."

"Oh, well. We have lots of ground-breaking work to be done." Justin's tone softened as if he was consoling himself. "But great idea there. I didn't expect us to get the Lovelaces involved in this scheme in no time. Jimmy, I was right about you. Looking back, I made the right decision to support and nurture you."

Precious and distant memories flooded Jameson's mind at the mention of his nickname.

The young and adorable Alyssa stood on top of a steep hill. Basked in sunlight, she stared at him with eyes resembling a sky full of stars.

Extending a hand to him, she encouraged him, "Don't be afraid! I'll hoist you up!"

The young Jameson, though fearful, managed to cast aside his feelings with her by his side. He only had one thought, which was to join her.

Struggling, he grasped her hand firmly, and the two of them made it to the top of the hill.

Thanks to Alyssa, he caught a glimpse of the breathtaking view that he could never forget. The wild roses bloomed gorgeously across the hills. He only had eyes for one rose—the girl beside him.

Blinking away the bitterness, he burst the bubble of his childhood memories, leaving him behind with nothing. There were no roses or Alyssa in reality. His world right now was made of blood and desire as he descended freely into the endless abyss.

"I have you to thank for my success today. I would never stand a chance of returning to Solana City and rejoining the Schmidt Group if not for you and my mom."

Justin remarked flatly, "But you need to put your guard up. The Lovelaces are a force to be reckoned with, especially their youngest heir, who's exceptionally close with Jonah Taylor and the rest of the Taylor family.

"Take a wrong step, and you risk getting hit back at. Your gains will not make up for your losses if that happens."

"I'm fully prepared for the possibility you suggested," Jameson hurriedly assured Justin.

"The Lovelaces are a distinguished family. They have been running a pharmaceutical business with an estimated worth of tens of billions. How did they end up in this state?" Justin's magnetic voice echoed in Jameson's ear.

"Their company is developing a new drug. Look for any problems with the new product. You might be able to weaponize that against them."

The look in Jameson's eyes hardened. "Got it."