Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

As Alyssa stared at the man in the photo, her heart clenched with each beat, then raced erratically.

The yellowing border indicated the photo's age.

In the image, Jonah and the man appeared intimately affectionate.

Even though the photo couldn't speak, Alyssa could tell that Jonah and he were lovers. Their affection for each other was evident in

the depth of their eyes.

Jonah's smile in the photo was so bright and warm. Even Alyssa, who had been raised by Jonah since childhood, had never seen

such a smile on his face, not even when he was with Julien.

Somehow, a murky and inexplicable emotion lodged in Alyssa's chest, causing her discomfort.

Suddenly, she heard steady footsteps outside the study.

Alyssa quickly put the Bible back in its place and slipped the photo into her pocket.

The door to the study clicked open.

When he saw Alyssa, a

you wait for

"Not too long."

face stiffened slightly as she glanced outside.

to sleep in. We had a good tlast night, so | doubt he'll be up before afternoon."

affection as he

bit her lip and took a deep breath before saying, "Jonah, could you close the door? |

He turned to close the door and then returned to stand in front of her.

What happened?”

eyelashes and slowly retrieved the photo from her pocket before handing it to Jonah.

Jonah?"

his face instantly drained of color. His heart clenched painfully before plunging

palpitations.

but his heart still pounded violently when

the affirmative

he took the photo. His voice was hoarse. "You

it. You know how | like to snoop around. | often like to go 'treasure hunting’ in your

smiled, but his eyes were tinged with sadness, and he felt stifled. "When | was still

He used to be one of the most trusted and cherished people in my

course, Alyssa knew about