Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Alyssa was simply teasing Jasper by playing coy. After all, she trusted him completely. However, her playful joke backfired. Jasper panicked, dropping to one knee with a serious expression. "Lyse," he declared solemnly, "I, Jasper Beckett, swear my loyalty to you. You are the only woman I love, the only one I desire, in this life, the next, and the one after. If I ever break this vow, may lightning strike me down!"

"Alright, alright, Jasper, I was just kidding!" Alyssa couldn't bear to see him like this. She tried to cover his mouth, but he grabbed her hand tightly.

"It's true that I went out last night. I went to The Millennium with Axel and Cyrus."

Alyssa's eyes widened in alarm. Her voice trembled as she cupped his cheek. "Oh my word, why didn't you tell me? Did something bad happen?"

"Don't worry, everything's fine," Jasper reassured her, taking her hand and stroking it gently. "Axel found the person who hired the hitman to kill Mrs. Novak. It was Jameson's secretary, Carl Moses."

"You were still asleep when he called. I couldn't wake you, but I was worried about Axel's safety. So, I rushed over. I wouldn't have let you go anyway."

Alyssa's heart melted. She cupped his face and kissed his forehead.

"Unfortunately, Jameson had taken precautions. He terminated operations at The Millennium and dismissed everyone. He, along with Carl, left Solana City overnight. In fact, they're already out of the country." Jasper gritted his teeth in contrition. "It was my fault. We were too late."

Alyssa's heart sank. "How... How about Amber?"

"She left yesterday. According to the female escorts there, she is getting married to Carl."

"What? In that case, Axel-"

"The only one who can help him is

"Amber... I'm sure it's not easy on her. It's

long acknowledged Amber as her friend and her future sister-in-law. It didn't matter to her how horrid her past might've been. She didn't care about that at all. All she hoped for was that she could have a

away her tears. "We won't give up on finding Ms.

such a hurry, he likely wasn't well-prepared," Alyssa said, pulling him to sit beside her on the bed. She leaned into him and stroked his jaw. "Jasper, if you were in his shoes, where

loving smile gracing his lips. He felt captivated by her, like a king

he gave her

criminal, so I wouldn't need to hide. Even if

agreed, resting her head on his arm.

makes things more difficult.

Kontina was the land that

have to try," Alyssa insisted through gritted teeth. "We can't let him get away this time! I'll contact Miley and Jeremy to see if they can help track

situation at Schmidt Group changed dramatically overnight, causing widespread unease. News of their chairman's sudden disappearance

led a team from

about the Investigative Bureau's visit circulated

just an upturn. It was

the investigative team. However, the team had come prepared and couldn't

and don't move!" Silas barked as he

were frantically trying