Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

After making the arrangements, Jasper and Alyssa traveled home to Solana City. During the journey, he pulled her into a hug, kissing her on the ear. "Lyse, thank you. How can I ever thank you enough?"

"Why so formal?" Alyssa wrapped her arm behind his neck while tapping the tip of his nose, sending his heart fluttering. "In return, how about you take Mrs. Rosie's place and cook for me for a month?"

"A month? You're underestimating me." He squinted at her with an affectionate look. "I can cook for you forever."

She shook her head. "Oh, never mind then. I appreciate the thought. Eating your cooking forever will only be torture."

She rendered Jasper speechless with that remark. Pouting, she added, "To be honest, I feel sorry for putting this burden on Cyrus, but it's the only way to pressure the Hodgsons into calling off the marriage.

"Only when the Hodgsons give up on Lauren will Landon have the luxury of time to focus on his family matters. He'll stand a chance to get back with Lauren once he sorts out his family issues."

"Lyse, I have other ways to deal with the Hodgsons," Jasper began.

She shook her head. "I know you're prepared, but you shouldn't get into trouble with the politicians in Solana City."

He said coldly, "I don't mind crossing anyone for Lauren and Landon's sake."

now. You can't give him ammunition against you. If he thinks you're a liability to the Beckett Group, he has more reason to get rid of you." She sat up

business and assets for years. I'm sure she will make the Hodgsons give up on

grin. He was about to kiss her again when her

reported urgently, "We got news

great news, then." She spoke in a low voice, her eyes shining with a chilling look, "Get someone to monitor her. After she

"Got it, Ms. Alyssa!"

low fever for a week at Mosgravia. The fever did not subside even though she

fees in Mosgravia. Her allowance was a pittance that wasn't enough to sustain her lavish lifestyle,

her for something as minor as a prick in the finger. The difference in

late at night, as new symptoms such as lethargy and

dirty jacket and drifted to sleep on

a nurse woke her up and reminded her

glanced at Betty's test results. Finally, he said in a low voice, "Madam, I'm sorry to let you know that you have caught HIV.

She fixed a blank stare on the

who couldn't properly grasp Grunslandish. Still, she understood the doctor's diagnosis upon hearing the term "HIV". Her slow response was