Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

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."

be happy," he mumbled, kissing her soft

I think he'll never get

his words before inquiring, "Lyse, did Madam

Alyssa had flashbacks of the time she vehemently opposed Colene from joining the family. Looking forlorn, she confessed, "No. Actually,

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

after Winston's wealth, she removed her uterus

heavy heart. At the same time, he

and me." Tears

in the chest. "Lyse, please don't say so. You're not at fault. If there's karmic retribution, it should fall on

him a moist peck on the palm of his hand. "Your 'karma' has