A vicious gleam flickered in Justin''s eyes. He cast a brief nce at Alyssa, who had her back turned to him and Rafe, before lowering his voice.


    "Let''s talk about this another time."


    "Why wait? Alyssa spun around suddenly, her tone sharp. "Is it because I''m in the way, Mr. Beckett? You can''t talk freely with me here?"


    A faint smile curved her lips. "It seems Mr. Beckett and I are merely coborators, not true partners. I suppose you and Mr. Gentry have plenty of secrets between you-ones you''d rather keep from me."


    Rafe let out a dryugh, darting a cautious nce at Justin. "That''s quite an exaggeration, Ms. Alyssa."


    But Alyssa had already pieced things together. Outwardly, Rafe was the government official and should''ve been the one with higher standing. Yet in reality, Justin was the one in control.


    Justin''s evasiveness about the research center confirmed it for her-there was something hidden beneath the surface, something murky, perhaps even illicit. Otherwise, why couldn''t he talk about it?


    When Justin stayed silent, Alyssa decided to push harder. She gave a cold, mocking smile. "Since you''re so wary of me, Mr. Beckett, you shouldn''t have invited me in the first ce. You''ve made me feel like an unwee guest. I''ll leave you both to your private conversation."


    Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode away.<fnb94e> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel</fnb94e>


    "Wait, Ms. Alyssa!" Justin called after her, his voice tight with urgency.


    But she pretended not to hear, storming off as though furious.


    Justin''s lips pressed into a hard line, turning pale. Usually calm andposed, he finally lost his cool. He shot up from his seat and went after her in long strides.


    The sight of that dumbfounded Rafe. Was this frantic man chasing after a woman really the same dignified Justin Beckett he knew?


    Truly, since the dawn of time, a woman''s charm had always been a man''s weakness, and even Justin was no exception.


    When Alyssa heard his footsteps closing in, she quickened her pace.


    By the time she reached the living room, Justin caught up and seized her wrist. "Lyse, don''t go!"


    Alyssa froze, her pupils dting slightly.


    Lyse.


    Jasper''s gentle voice echoed in her mind. Memories of their tender moments shed before her eyes, and tears welled silently.


    That same name, spoken with that same tone-yet it wasn''t Jasper standing behind her anymore.


    "Do you have something else to say, Mr. Beckett?" she asked coolly, still facing away from him.


    Justin stepped around to stand before her, his gaze burning into hers. The intensity made her blink rapidly, unable to meet his eyes for long.


    "Why are your eyes red?" he asked softly.


    His voice was low, almost tender. "Are you that angry because you think I''ve been hiding things from you?"


    Alyssa forced a scoff to hide her feelings. "Why shouldn''t I be? You keep talking about forming a strong partnership, about how much you value mine, yet you hide everything from me: How am I supposed to trust you when your actions contradict your words?"  s


    Justin frowned slightly.


    Alyssa gave a bitterugh. "I can understand, though. You and Jasper are rivals. Considering my past with him, it''s only natural you''d feel cautious, maybe even disgusted."


    "No," Justin said firmly. "That never once crossed my mind."


    His grip on her wrist tightened just enough to betray his growing possessiveness.


    "If your past with Jasper bothered me, Lyse, I wouldn''t have chosen to work with you in the first ce. I don''t care how you treat me but don''t misunderstand my intentions."


    Alyssa''s stomach twisted.


    Justin was a cunning and calcting man. His so-called sincerity was just another mask-a tool to disarm her.


    Still, she knew their rtionship would hit a wall if she kept rejecting him. Then she''d never get close enough to infiltrate his circle at the corporation.


    She needed to tread carefully; getting too close too quickly would look fake. And she had to convince


    him that her ties to Jasper were truly broken beyond repai repair. Only "Only then


    Would he finally lower his guard.  s


    "Mr. Beckett, there''s something I should make clear," she said, steadying her breath before meeting his gaze. "I''ve already offended my entire family by choosing to work with your My father and hada terable fight over it he copsed that day and has been in aa ever since.  s


    "I severed ties with Jasper because of you. I can''t even face Grandpa Newton anymore.


    "I''ve burned every bridge behind me for this partnership. So yes, I panic, I get emotional. I got scared. But I hope you can understand where I''ming from."


    "That was my oversight, Lyse." He tugged her gently toward him. "It won''t happen again."


    Alyssa tensed up, hiding her fierce resistance in her eyes.


    Just then, she heard cold, measured footsteps halt right behind her. She whipped around, and the sight immediately froze the blood in her veins.


    The air in the room thickened instantly.


    Jasper stood a few paces away, tall and rigid, fixedly staring at the suggestive scene. His frosty, grim gaze finally locked onto Justin''s hand mped around Alyssa''s wrist.


    A silent storm gathered between the two men.